Description:

J. Q. Adams Re: His Treaty Getting Florida Franks John Graham's Letter "rejection of the Florida Treaty by the King of Spain"

In this letter, U.S. Minister to Portugal at Rio de Janeiro John Graham writes to General Henry Lee of Mason County, Kentucky. He mentions that he has not heard from his brother George Graham (1770-1830), who served as acting Secretary of War (1816-1817) and Commissioner of the General Land Office (1823-1830). He mentions receiving some letters from Washington, Kentucky, but had received none for six months. Washington was founded in 1786 by Lee's wife's first husband.

Graham hopes General Lee can aid him in establishing a place for his family. He mentions the possibility of creating a stock farm on Quicks Run, a stream that flowed into the Ohio River in Lewis County, Kentucky, just east of Mason County.

Graham also comments on the initial rejection by King Ferdinand VII of Spain of the Adams-Onís Treaty, which the Senate had ratified in February 1819. Spain eventually ratified the treaty in October 1820, and the Senate again ratified the treaty in February 1821. Spain agreed to cede East and West Florida to the United States, and the United States agreed to pay the legal claims of American citizens against Spain up to $5 million. It clarified the boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase by making Texas part of New Spain, but when Spain finally recognized the independence of Mexico in August 1821, Texas became a part of Mexico, setting the stage for the Mexican War of the 1840s.

President James Monroe, traveling with General Andrew Jackson and several aides, visited Kentucky for almost a month in the summer of 1819, visiting at least ten cities. Monroe went to Kentucky to inspect military posts and to strengthen his political network before the 1820 presidential election, though he won every state and had no major opponent. In his Annual Message to Congress of December 1819, President Monroe devoted much attention to the pending treaty with Spain, counseled patience, and suggested to Congress that the United States proceed to carry out the provisions of the treaty as if Spain had ratified it. He also reiterated American neutrality in the civil war between Spain and its American colonies.

JOHN GRAHAM, Autograph Letter Signed, to Major General Henry Lee, March 1, 1820, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 3 pp., 8" x 9.75". Expected folds; general toning; some tape repairs to separations; paper repairs to tears on opening. The integral address leaf is signed by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) as "Department of State: - / J.Q. Adams."

Complete Transcript
Rio de Janeiro
1st March 1820
Dear Sir
I wrote to you some time since but the Capt who was to have taken my Letter left Town sooner than I was told he would and therefore did not get it. I now forward it by the conveyance and have little to add to it except that I have not since heard from you and that my Health continues to decline so that I apprehend I shall not be able to remain long in this Count[r]y. This makes it the more important to me to have my operations pushed on at the Bottom for it is now I think more probable than it ever has been that my family will settle there. you will do me the favor to aid & assist in this object as far as you can.
I have letters from Washington but none since Octr from my Friends there & none from Mr Geo Graham since he went to Kentucky so that I am quite uninformed what has been done with his affairs & mine in that Country. The difficulties there about money matters have of course put down the price of every thing; but as my object was not to sell any Lands which might belong to me that is the less important, and as to the Plantation I take it for granted there was not much made there for sale particularly as I learn that the last season was a most unfavorable one. This year I trust they will do better. I am anxious to know whether any thing has been done towards a stock farm on Quicks Run. The land is so easily opened there & so favorable for grass that I wish the attempt may have been or may be made under such directions as you may think proper to give. We have nothing here which can interest you. bad Health & hot & wet weather have kept me so much at Home that I know little more of the country than when I came here.
You did not I presume see the President when he was in Kentucky as I see by the Papers that he did not pass by Washington. The rejection of the Florida Treaty by the King of Spain has I presume excited a good deal of sensation in the Western country. The plan recommended by the President in his message to Congress will I think settle the affair without a war, which we ought not now to wish.
I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of hearing from you and that you and Family are all well. I ask to be most kin[dly] remembered to them & am my Dear sir with great Respect & Regard,
Your Friend & Sert
John Graham
Gen'l Henry Lee
near Washington
[Kentucky]

John Graham (1774-1820) was born in Dumfries, Virginia, and graduated from Columbia University in 1790. He moved to Kentucky and served in the state legislature in 1800. He joined the State Department and held a variety of offices, including secretary and chargé d'affaires in the U.S. legation to Spain (1801-1803), secretary of Orleans Territory (1804-1806), investigator of the western conspiracy of Aaron Burr (1806), chief clerk of the State Department (1807-1817), member of the South American Commission (1817-1818), and U.S. minister to Portugal at Rio de Janeiro from June 1819 to June 1820. Shortly after his return to Washington, D.C., he died on August 6, 1820.

Henry Lee (1757-1845) was born in Prince William County, Virginia, the son of Stephen Lee (1715-1791) and Anne Murphy Lee (1721-1806). He is sometimes confused with his cousin General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee (1756-1818). In 1785, Henry Lee went to Kentucky, where he received warrants for 7,000 acres for service in the Continental Line. He was an early settler of Mason County, Kentucky, created in 1788 from Bourbon County. Lee served as captain of militia in Bourbon County (1786), surveyor of Mason County (1789), lieutenant colonel of the state militia (1792), brigadier-general of the state militia (1798), represented the district of Kentucky in the Virginia legislature and in the convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution. In 1787, he was a member of the convention at Danville and one of the commissioners who located the seat of government for the new state at Frankfort. He also served as lieutenant of Mason County. In 1795, he married a friend's young widow, Mary Young Fox (1769-1848), and they had ten children.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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