The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 185
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The Louisiana-Texas Frontier
Godoy, to make sure that both Spaniards thoroughly understood
them."3
Monroe believed that nothing would be done in reference to the
negotiation except possibly through fear-a fear that would equally
impress France and Spain. Unfortunately both nations believed
the United States absolutely wedded to a peace policy. He rather
expected Cevallos to send him another long memoir on the western
limits, for the Spaniard had mentioned that he should send to
Madrid and later to Mexico for documents. Such a course of ex-
amination would consume years of time, as was actually the case
when the work was seriously undertaken. But Cevallos for once
did not delay his answer. On May 15th he sent a curt note reject-
ing the American propositions and reiterating his previous position
in regard to the commercial claims, West Florida, and the western
boundary. This reply had the expected effect of bring the negotia-
lion to an abrupt close. Six days later Monroe took formal leave of
His Majesty."
In his dispatch of May 22, Pinckney summarized the negotiation
from the preceding February. He stated that in Cevallos' position
on the western boundary, he saw the grasping hand of Talleyrand,
moved directly by Napoleon. Those men wished to be thrice paid
for the territory west of the Mississippi. Once as they had already
been, when the United States acquired Louisiana. In the second
place by Spain, as that power was now doing to save West Florida
and Texas. In the third place, when they should sell the Floridas
to us, as they had already proposed to do, at a price comparable to
that paid for Louisiana. In this as in the other cases France
alone was to profit." In their joint note of the following day the
diplomats dwelt upon the reasonableness of their claim to the Bravo
-the ostensible object that broke up the negotiation. In their
view this was as well founded as that of Spain to any vacant por-
tion of Mexico."3
One can hardly say that Monroe and Pinckney conducted the
negotiation in a manner to enhance their own or their nation's
credit. They had attempted to force from an unwilling opponent
certain concessions based on extravagant commercial and terri-
88Ibid.
"Am. State Papers, For. Rel., II, 667.
"Spanish Despatches, VI.
"Am. State Papers, For. Rel., II, 667-669.185
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/189/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.