Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/231

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CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.
199

Majesty’s readiness to cede both the Floridas to the United States * * * in consideration of a suitable equivalent to be made to His Majesty in a district of territory situated to the westward of the Mississippi." Soon after this note the news arrived that Pensacola had been seized by the United States, and negotiations were suspended. They were resumed at Washington, October 24, by a note from Chevalier Luis de Onis to Mr. Adams, making proposals to cede the Floridas. Projects and counter projects were exchanged, without coming to an agreement. At this juncture, Mr. Hyde de, Neuville, the French minister, took part in the negotiations, and a conclusion was speedily reached. The treaty was signed on the part of the United States by John Quincy Adams, secretary of state, and on the part of Spain by "the Most Excellent Lord Don Luis de Onis, Gonzales, Lopez y Vara, Lord of the town of Rayaces, Perpetual Regidor of the corporation of Salamanca, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal American Order of Isabella the Catholic, decorated with the Lys of La Vendee, 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. "

By this treaty "his Catholic Majesty ceded to the United States" * * * "all the territories which be long to him, situated to the eastward of the Mississippi, known by the name of East Florida and West Florida." The boundary of Louisiana is defined west of the Mississippi. The line was to begin at the Sabine and run on the west bank of that river to the 32d degree of latitude. Its course from that point is described until it reaches the Arkansas and follows the course of that river to the 42d parallel, and then follows the 42d parallel to the sea. The United States cedes to his Catholic Majesty "all