Minister to Spain, Charles Pinckney, writes from Madrid about his progress to obtain Florida and keep the port of New Orleans open. Spain will not concede Florida and leaves the New Orleans question to France.
Charles Pinckney (1786)
by Gilbert Stuart
Provided by the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, U.S. National Park Service.
As one of the authors of the Constitution, Charles Pinckney (October 26, 1757 – October 29, 1824) earned the nickname “Constitution Charlie.” He served abroad, notably as Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain from 1801 until 1805. Pinckney was a founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, alienating himself politically from his South Carolina family who were strong federalists.[1]“Charles Pinckney,” Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, https://www.nps.gov/chpi/learn/historyculture/charles-pinckney.htm accessed 2 June 2022.
May 4: 1803 in Madrid
Dear Sir
I have recieved the inclosed letter from Mr Cevallos in answer to the different applications made to him on the subject of the purchase of the Floridas & such parts of Louisiana as was convenient to us & indemnification for the Damages sustained by our Citizens in consequence of the irregular conduct of the Intendant at New Orleans. By his answer you will see his Catholic Majesty declines selling the Floridas & has referred us to the French Government for such purchases of Louisiana or a part of it as we wish . . . .
His manner of expressing himself on the subject of the navigation of the Misissipi—the Favour as he calls it of our being allowed a Deposit at New Orleans & its continuation after 1798 & of the revocation of the Edict of the Intendant, all serve to strengthen the Opinions that the French wished to recieve this country from the Spaniards . . . .
This answer appeared to me to be so important that I sent it off immediately to Mr: Livingston & Mr Monroe at Paris with my opinions tending to shew the absolute necessity there is for their now definitively arranging every Question respecting the Misissipi before the French can take possession.
with my most affectionate respects to the President Dear Sir always Yours Truly
Charles Pickney[2]Charles Pinckney to James Madison, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-04-02-0678 accessed 2 June 2022. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | “Charles Pinckney,” Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, https://www.nps.gov/chpi/learn/historyculture/charles-pinckney.htm accessed 2 June 2022. |
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| ↑2 | Charles Pinckney to James Madison, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-04-02-0678 accessed 2 June 2022. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 4, 8 October 1802–15 May 1803, ed. Mary A. Hackett, J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, Susan Holbrook Perdue, and Ellen J. Barber. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 571–573.] |
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- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
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