Brooks: Diplomacy and the Borderlads


fall of 1814, Spain again endeavored to intrude upon the negotia-
tions. Fernhn Nfiez once more received instructions to try to in-
fluence the British ministry in that direction. Spain now demanded
the return of all of Louisiana (disregarding her approvalof the
purchase, given in 1806), and asserted that Great Britain had
promised the return to Spain of all her territory occupied by the
United States." But this gesture was also fruitless, and, as the
United States' commissioners again went uninstructed toward any
settlement suitable to Spain, the Floridas were omitted from the
treaty, as was Louisiana.
 Spanish confidence was further shattered by the postwar victory
of Jackson at New Orleans; and it was with evident disappoint-
ment that Onis wrote, on hearing of the conclusion reached at
Ghent, as follows:
 If in this treaty nothing has been stipulated relative to the conclusion of
 the discussions pending between His Majesty and this government, I foreee
 great difficulties in settling them in an advantageous manner, and I fear that
 we have lost the most favorable occasion which could present itself for ae-
 complishing that end. Of course Louisiana and New Orleans have been fortified
 for the attack of the English, there has gathered in them a respectable army,
 and although it is regular that with the conclusion of peace the militias should
 disband and return to their homes, to rest on their laurels, I cannot may that
 General Jackson, moved by his vainglory over the defense of New Orleans,
 and the taking of Pensaeola, will not try energetically to aid the insurgents
 of the Provineias Internas.

 This was not Jackson's first threat to the Spanish outposts, nor
 was the dangerous situation on the frontier suddenly created at
 this time. To understand later diplomacy one must turn to a survey
 of conditions and the development of controversies along that ex-
 tensive and undetermined line. And one must continually ask how
 far the territorial claims of the two countries coincided with move-
 ments of population, or with exploits of isolated explorers, traders,
 or settlers; and how far such factors may have guided diplomatic
 arrangements.