FLORIDA.*

PREROGATIVES GRANTED TO CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

FERDINAND and ELIZABETH, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of Castile, of Leon, of Arragon, of Sicily, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Minorca, of Sevil, of Sardinia, of Faen, of Algarve, of Algezira, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, Count and Countess of Barcelona, Lord and Lady of Biscay and Molina, Duke and Duchess of Athens and Neopatria, Count and Countess of Rousillion and Cerdaigne, Marquess and Marchioness of Oristan and Gociano, &c. For as much as you, Christopher Columbus, are going by our command, with some of our vessels and men, to discover and subdue some Íslands and Continent in the ocean, and it is hoped that by God's assistance, some of the said Islands and Continent in the ocean will be discovered and conquered by your means and conduct, therefore it is but just and reasonable, that since you expose yourself to such danger to serve us, you should be rewarded for it. And we being willing to honour and favour you for the reasons aforesaid; Our will is, That you, Christopher Columbus, after discovering and conquering the said Islands and Continent in the said ocean, or any of them, shall be our Admiral of the said Islands and Continent you shall so discover and conquer; and that you be our Admiral, Vice-Roy, and Governour in them, and that for the future, you may call and stile yourself, D. Christopher Columbus, and that your sons and successors in the said employment, may call themselves Dons, Admirals, Vice-Roys, and Governours of them; and that you may exercise the office of Admiral, with the charge of Vice-Roy and Governour of the said Islands and Continent, which you and your Lieutenants shall conquer, and freely decide all causes, civil and criminal, appertaining to the said employment of Admiral, Vice-Roy, and Governour, as you shall think fit in justice, and as the Admirals of our kingdoms use to do; and that you have power to punish offenders; and you and your Lieutenants exercise the employments of Admiral, Vice-Roy, and Governour, in all things belonging to the said offices, or any of them; and that you enjoy the perquisites and salaries belonging to the said employments, and to each of them, in the same manner as the High Admiral of our kingdoms does. And by this our letter, or a copy of it signed by a Public Notary: We command Prince John, our most dearly beloved Son, the Infants, Dukes, Prelates, Marquesses, Great Masters and Military Orders, Priors, Commendaries, our Counsellors, Judges, and other Officers of Justice whatsoever, belonging to our Household, Courts, and Chancery, and Constables of Castles, Strong Houses, and others; and all Corporations, Bayliffs, Governours, Judges, Commanders, Sea Officers; and the Aldermen, Common Council, Officers, and Good People of all Cities, Lands, and Places in our Kingdoms and Dominions, and in those you shall conquer and subdue, and the captains, masters, mates, and other officers and sailors, our natural subjects now being, or that shall be for the time to come, and any of them, that when you shall have discovered the said Islands and Continent in the ocean; and you, or any that shall have your commission, shall have taken the usual oath in such cases, that they for the future, look upon you as long as you live, and after you, your son and heir, and so from one

Spain claimed and exercised the right of ultimate dominion over her possessions in America on the rights given by the discovery of America under this commission, and the grant of Pope Alexander. [See pages 305-307.]

heir to another forever, as our Admiral on our said Ocean, and as Vice-Roy and Governour of the said Islands and Continent, by you, Christopher Columbus, discovered and conquered; and that they treat you and your Lieutenants, by you appointed, for executing the employments of Admiral, Vice-Roy, and Governour, as such in all respects, and give you all the perquisites and other things belonging and appertaining to the said offices; and allow, and cause to be allowed you, all the honours, graces, concessions, preheminences, prerogatives, immunities, and other things, or any of them which are due to you, by virtue of your commands of Admiral, Vice-roy, and Governour, and to be observed completely, so that nothing be diminished; and that they make no objection to this, or any part of it, nor suffer it to be made; forasmuch as we from this time forward, by this our letter, bestow on you the employments of Admiral, Vice-Roy, and perpetual Governour forever; and we put you into possession of the said offices, and of every of them, and full power to use and exercise them, and to receive the perquisites and salaries belonging to them, or any of them, as was said above. Concerning all which things, if it be requisite, and you shall desire it, We command our Chancellour, Notaries, and other Officers, to pass, seal, and deliver to you, our Letter of Privilege, in such firm and legal manner, as you shall require or stand in need of. And that none of them presume to do any thing to the contrary, upon pain of our displeasure, and forfeiture of 30 ducats for each offence. And we command him, who shall show them this our Letter, that he summon them to appear before us at our Court, where we shall then be, within fifteen days after such summons, under the said penalty. Under which same, we also command any Public Notary whatsoever, that he give to him that shows it him, a certificate under his seal, that we may know how our command is obeyed. GIVEN at Granada, on the 30th of April, in the year of our Lord, 1492.

By their Majesties Command,

JOHN COLOMA,

Secretary to the King and Queen.

I, THE KING, I, THE QUEEN.

BULL OF POPE ALEXANDER CONCEDING AMERICA TO SPAIN. EXEMPLAR BULLÆ seu Donationis Authoritate cujus, Episcopus Romanus ALEXANDER ejus nominis Sextus, concessit et donavit CASTELLA Regibus et suis successoribus, Regiones et Insulas Novi Orbis in Oceano occidentali Hispanorum navigationibus repertas.

ALEXANDER Episcopus, Servus Servorum Dei, Charissimo in Christo Filio, Ferdinando Regi, et Charissima in Christo Filia Elizabeth Regina Castella, Legionis, Arragonum, Sicilia, et Granatæ, Illustribus, Salutem et Apostolicam Benedictionem.

INTER cætera Divinæ Majestati bene placita opera et cordis nostri desiderabilia, illud profecto potissimum existit, ut Fides Catholica et Christiana Religio nostris. præsertim temporibus exaltetur, ac ubilibet amplietur ac dilatetur, animarumque salus procuretur, ac barbara nationes deprimantur et ad Fidem ipsam reducantur. Unde cum ad hanc Sacram Petri Sedem Divina favente clementia (meritis licet imparibus) evocati fuerimus, cognoscentes vos tanquam vere Catholicos Reges et Principes: Quales semper fuisse novimus, et a vobis præclare gesta, toti pæne orbi notissima demonstrant, nedum id exoptare, sed omni conatu, studio, & diligentia, nullis laboribus, nullis impensis, nullisque parcendo periculis, etiam proprium sanguinem effundendo efficere, ac omnem animum vestrum, omnesque conatus ad hoc jamdudum dedicasse, quem admodum recuperatio Regni Granatæ a Tyrannide Saracenorum hodiernis temporibus per vos, cum tanta Divini nominis gloria facta, testatur. Digne

ducimur non immerito, et debemus illa vobis etiam sponte, ac favorabiliter concedere, per quæ hujusmodi sanctum ac laudabile ab immortali Deo acceptum propositum, indies ferventiori animo ad ipsus Dei honorem et Imperii Christiani propagationem, prosequi valeatis. Sane accepimus quod vos qui dudum animum proposueratis aliquas Insulas et Terras firmas remotas et incognitas, ac per alios hactenus non repertas, quærere et invenire, ut illarum incolas et habitatores ad colendum redemptorem nostrum et fidem Catholicam profitendum reduceritis, hactenus in expugnatione et recuperatione ipsius, Regni Granatæ plurimum occupati, hujusmodi sanctum et laudabile propositum vestrum ad optatum finem perducere nequivistis. Sed tandem sicut Domino placuit, Regno prædicto recuperato, volentes desiderium vestrum adimplere, dilectum filium Christophorum Colonum, virum utique dignum, et plurimum commendatum, ac tanto negotio aptum, cum navigiis et hominibus ad similia instructis, non sine maximis laboribus, ac periculis, et expensis destinastis ut Terras firmas et Insulas remotas et incognitas, hujusmodi per mare ubi hactenus navigatum non fuerat, diligenter inquireret. Qui tandem (Divino auxilio facta extrema diligentia in mari oceano navigantes) certas Insulas remotissimas, et etiam Terras firmas, quæ per alios hactenus repertæ non fuerant, invenerunt. In quibus plurimæ gentes pacifice viventes, et (ut asseritur) nudi incedentes, nec carnibus vescentes, inhabitant. Et ut præfati nuntii vestri possunt opinari, gentes ipsæ in insulis, et terris prædictis habitantes, credunt unum Deum Creatorem in Cœlis esse, ac ad fidem Catholicam amplexandum et bonis moribus imbuendum, satis apti videntur: Spesque habetur, quod si erudirentur, nomen salvatoris Domini nostri Jesu Christi in terris et insulis prædictis facile induAc præfatus Christophorus in una ex principalibus insulis prædictis, jam unam turrim satis munitam, in qua certos Christianos qui secum iverant, in custodiam, et ut alias insulas ac terras firmas remotas et incognitas inquirerent, posuit, construi et ædificari fecit. In quibus quidem insulis, et terris jam repertis, aurum, aromata, et aliæ quamplurimæ res prætiosæ diversi generis et diversæ qualitatis reperiuntur. Unde omnibus diligenter, et præsertim fidei Catholicæ exaltatione et dilatatione (prout decet Catholicos Reges et Principes) consideratis, more progenitorum vestrorum claræ memoriæ Regum, terras firmas et insulas prædictas, illarumque incolas et habitatores, vobis Divina favente clementia subjicere, et ad fidem Catholicam reducere proposuistis. Nos itaque hujusmodi vestrum sanctum et laudabile propositum plurimum in Domino commendantes, ac cupientes ut illud ad debitum finem perducatur, et ipsum nomen salvatoris nostri in partibus illis inducatur, hortamur vos quamplurimum in Domino, et per sacri lavacri susceptionem, qua mandatis apostolicis obligati estis, et per viscera misericordiæ Domini nostri Jesu Christi attente requirimus, ut cum expeditionem hujusmodi omnino prosequi et assumere prona mente orthodoxæ fidei zelo intendatis, populos in hujusmodi insulis et terris degentes, ad Christianam religionem suscipiendum inducere velitis et debeatis, nec pericula nec labores ullo unquam tempore vos deterreant, firma spe fiduciaque conceptis, quod Deus omnipotens conatus vestros fœliciter prosequetur. Et ut tanti negotii provinciam apostolicæ gratiæ largitate donati, liberius et audacius assumatis, motu proprio non ad vestram vel alterius pro vobis super hoc nobis oblatæ petitionis instantiam sed de nostra mera liberalitate, et ex certa scientia, ac de apostolicæ potestatis plenitudine, omnes insulas et terras firmas inventas et inveniendas, detectas et detegendas versus occidentem et meridiem, fabricando et construendo unam lineam a polo arctico, scilicet septentrione, ad polum antarcticum, scilicet meridiem, sive terræ firmæ et insulæ inventæ, et inveniendæ, sint versus Indiam, aut versus aliam quamcunque partem, quæ linea distet a qualibet insularum, quæ vulgariter nuncupantur de los Azores, et Cabo Verde, centum leucis versus occidentem et meridiem. Itaque omnes insulæ et terræ firmæ repertæ et reperiendæ, detectæ et detegendæ, a præfata linea versus occidentem et meridiem, quæ per alium Regem aut Principem Christianum non fuerint actualiter possessæ usque ad diem nativitatis Domini nostri Jesu Christi proxime præteritum, a quo incipit annus præsens millesimus quadringentesimus nonagesimus tertius, quando fuerunt per nuncios et capitaneos vestros inventæ aliquæ prædictarum insularum autoritate omnipotentis Dei nobis in beato Petro concessa, ac Vicariatus Jesu Christi qua fungimur in terris, cum omnibus illarum Dominiis, Civitatibus, Castris, Locis, et Villis, juribusque et ju

risdictionibus ac pertinentiis universis vobis, hæredibusque, et successoribus vestris (Castellæ et Legionis Regibus) in perpetuum tenore præsentium donamus, concedimus et assignamus: Vosque, et hæredes ac successores præfatos illarum Dominos, cum plena, libera et omnimoda potestate, autoritate et jurisdictione, facimus, constituimus, et deputamus. Decernentes nihilo minus per hujusmodi donationem, concessionem, et assignationem nostram, nullo Christiano Principi, qui actualiter præfatas insulas et terras firmas possederit usque ad prædictum diem nativitatis Domini nostri Jesu Christi jus quæsitum, sublatum intelligi posse, aut auferri debere.

Et insuper mandamus vobis in virtute sanctæ obedientiæ (ut sicut pollicemini, et non dubitamus pro vestra maxima devotione et regia magnanimitate vos esse facturos) ad terras firmas et insulas prædictas, viros probos et Deum timentes, doctos, peritos, et expertos ad instruendum incolas et habitatores praefatos in fide Catholica, et bonis moribus imbuendum, destinare debeatis, omnem debitam diligentiam in præmissis adhibentes. Ac quibuscunque personis, cujuscunque dignitatis, etiam Imperalis et Regalis status, gradus, ordinis vel conditionis, sub excommunicationis latae sententiæ pœna quam eo ipso, si contra fecerint incurrant, districtius inhibemus ne ad insulas et terras firmas inventas et inveniendas, detectas et detegendas, versus occidentem et meridiem, fabricando et construendo lineam a polo arctico ad polum antarcticum, sive terræ firmae et insulæ inventæ et inveniendæ sint versus Indiam aut versus aliam quamcunque partem, quæ linea distet a qualibet insularum, quæ, vulgariter nuncupantur de los Azores et Cabo Verde centum leucis versus occidentem et meridiem ut præfertur pro mercibus habendis, vel quavis alia causa accedere præsumat, absque vestra ac hæredum et successorum vestrorum prædictorum licentia speciali: Non obstantibus constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis, cæterisque quibuscunque, in illo in quo imperia et dominationes et bona cuncta procedunt: confidentes quod dirigente Domino actus vestros, si hujusmodi sanctum ac laudabile propositum prosequamini, brevi tempore cum felicitate et gloria totius populi Christiani, vestri labores et conatus exitum felicissimum consequenter. Verum quia difficile foret præsentes literas ad singula quæque loca in quibus expediens fuerit deferri, volumus ac motu et scientia. similibus decernimus, quod illarum transumptis manu publici notarii inde rogati subscriptis, et sigillo alicujus personæ in ecclesiastica dignitate constituat, seu curiæ ecclesiasticæ munitis, ea prorsus fides in judicio et extra, ac alias ubilibet adhibeatur, quæ præsentibus adhiberetur si essent adhibitæ vel ostensæ.

Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc Paginam nostræ commendationis, hortationis, requisitionis, donationis, concessionis, assignationis, constitutionis, deputationis, decreti, mandati, inhibitionis, et voluntatis, infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare præsumpserit, indignationem Omnipotentis Dei, ac beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum ejus, se noverit incursurum.

Datum Romæ, apud Sanctum Petrum, anno incarnationis Dominicæ 1493, quarto nonas Maii, Pontificatus nostri anno primo.

TREATY BETWEEN SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES-1795.

[This treaty, which can be found in volume eight of the Statutes at Large, edition of 1848, pages 138-153, provides that: "The southern boundary of the United States, which divides their territory from the Spanish colonies of East and West Florida, shall be designated by a line beginning on the river Mississippi, at the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of latitude north of the equator, which from thence shall be drawn due east to the middle of the river Apalachicola, or Catahouche, thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint: thence straight to the head of Saint Mary's River, and thence down the middle thereof to the Atlantic Ocean."

It was agreed that a commissioner and a surveyor should be appointed by each of

the contracting parties, who should meet at Natchez and proceed to run and mark this boundary; and it was further ageed that the two high contracting parties should, by all the means in their power, maintain peace and harmony among the several Indian nations who inhabit the country adjacent to the lines and rivers which formed the boundaries of the two Floridas.]

TREATY WITH SPAIN CEDING FLORIDA.*

Treaty of amity, settlement, and limits between the United States of America and His Catholic Majesty.

The United States of America and His Catholic Majesty, desiring to consolidate, on a permanent basis, the friendship and good correspondence which happily prevails between the two parties, have determined to settle and terminate all their differences and pretensions, by a treaty, which shall designate, with precision, the limits of their respective bordering territories in North America.

With this intention the President of the United States has furnished with their full powers John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State of the said United States; and His Catholic Majesty has appointed the Most Excellent Lord Don Luis De Onis, Gonzales, Lopez y Vara, Lord of the Town of Rayaces, Perpetual Regidor of the Corporation of the city of Salamanca, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal American Order of Isabella the Catholic, decorated with the Lys of La Vendée, Knight Pensioner of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles the Third, Member of the Supreme Assembly of the said Royal Order; of the Council of His Catholic Majesty; his Secretary, with Exercise of Decrees, and His Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near the United States of America.

And the said Plenipotentiaries, after having exchanged their powers, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

There shall be a firm and inviolable peace and sincere friendship between the United States and their citizens and His Catholic Majesty, his successors and subjects, without exception of persons or places.

ARTICLE II.

His Catholic Majesty cedes to the United States, in full property and sovereignty, all the territories which belong to him, situated to the eastward of the Mississippi, known by the name of East and West Florida. The adjacent islands dependent on said provinces, all public lots and squares, vacant lands, public edifices, fortifications,

* This treaty was concluded February 22, 1819. The ratifications were exchanged February 22, 1821, and proclaimed February 22, 1821. By the treaty of Saint Ildefonso, made October 1, 1800, Spain had ceded Louisiana to France; and France, by the treaty of Paris, signed April 30, 1803, had ceded it to the United States. Under this treaty the United States claimed the countries between the Iberville and the Perdido. Spain contended that her cession to France comprehended only that territory which, at the time of the cession, was denominated Louisiana, consisting of the island of New Orleans, and the country which had been originally ceded to her by France west of the Mississippi. Congress passed a joint resolution, approved January 15, 1811, declaring that the United States, under the peculiar circumstances of the existing crisis, could not, without serious inquietude, see any part of this disputed territory pass into the hands of any foreign power; and that a due regard to their own safety compelled them to provide, under certain contingencies, for the temporary occupation of the disputed territory; they, at the same time, declaring that the territory should, in their hands, remain subject to future negotiation. An act of Congress, approved on the same day, authorized the President to take possession of and occupy all or any part of the territory lying east of the river Perdido and south of the State of Georgia and the Mississippi Territory, in case an arrangement had been, or should be, made with the local authority of the said territory, for delivering up the possession of the same, or any part thereof, to the United States, or in the event of an attempt to occupy the said territory, or any part thereof, by any foreign government.