3033. FLORIDA, Buying.—[continued].
The extension of the war in Europe leaving us without danger of a
sudden peace, depriving us of the chance of
an ally, I proposed [in cabinet] that we should
address ourselves to France, informing her
it was a last effort at amicable settlement with
Spain, and offer to her or through her, 1. a
sum of money for the rights of Spain east of
Iberville, say the Floridas. 2. To cede the
part of Louisiana from the Rio Bravo to the
Guadaloupe. 3. Spain to pay within a certain
time spoliations under her own flag, agreed to
by the convention (which we guess to be one
hundred vessels worth two million dollars);
and those subsequent (worth as much more),
and to hypothecate to us for those payments
the country from Guadaloupe to Rio Bravo.
Armstrong was to be employed. The 1st was
to be the exciting motive with France to whom
Spain is in arrears for subsidies, and who
will be glad also to secure us from going into
the scale of England. The 2d. the soothing
motive with Spain, which France would press
bona fide, because she claimed to the Rio
Bravo. The 3d. to quiet our merchants. It
was agreed to unanimously, and the sum to be
offered fixed not to exceed five million dollars.
Mr. Gallatin did not like purchasing Florida
under an apprehension of war, lest we should
be thought, in fact, to purchase peace. We
thought this over-weighed by taking advantage
of an opportunity, which might not occur again,
of getting a country essential to our peace,
and to the security of the commerce of the
Mississippi.—
The Anas.
Ford ed., i,
308.
(Nov. 12, 1805)
