In 1823, attempts by Richard Worsam Meade a wealthy business man to obtain indemnity payments under the Adams–Onís Treaty led to a series of international incidents between the United States, Spain and France. More than that it is a fascinating story about a fight over $500,000 that lost it's final appeal 50 years later in the Supreme Court. Mr. Meade might just be one of the biggest victim of circumstances there ever was.
Richard Worsam Meade was a land speculator from Philadelphia who became a very wealthy banker and merchant in the port city of Cádiz while also serving as U.S. naval agent at the Spanish port. During time Meade was forced to give up much of his wealth to help Spain fund their war against France. Meade's attempt to recover his losses were futile, and even led to his arrest and sentencing to the Castle of Catalina in Spain. The Adams–Onís Treaty gave Meade new hope of receiving the $491,153.62 that was owed to him by Spain. According to the 11th article of the treaty, the money was to be distributed by an American Board of Commissions. Citizens who had claims would bring them to the American board who would judge the legitimacy of the claim and make determination of the payout. But due to lack of supporting documentation, Meade was unable to collect.
In order to receive the almost $500,000 owed to Meade, the board required evidence that the King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a decree of a special tribunal to pay or "liquidate" the demand Meade made of the monarchy. The story may seem strange, but this request caused a national incident where the King of Spain refused to admit the American ambassador, especially since there was no denial that the money was owed to Meade by either Spain nor the United States. After Meade had exhausted every means of within his power to obtain payment from Spain, he brought his case before the Adams Onis commission in Washington. The commission refused to accept it, simply because the documentation that Meade had was signed by Spain after 1819 when the Adams-Onis treaty was signed. If Meade was to receive any payment, he had to obtain the original documentation signed prior to the treaty. But those documents were still in Spain and could only be released under authority of the King. Meade immediately set out to comply with the commissioner's directive, and requested from Spain the original documents and vouchers that the judgement of Spain was in his favor. But the government of Spain refused, and replied to his request, "that his Catholic Majesty knew too well what was due to the reputation of his officers, and the integrity of his tribunals, to furnish the original vouchers". In other works, the King was insulted that another country would request official government documents. In April of 1823, the board issued a public opinion which was ready by the honorable H.L. White confirming that the papers Meade submitted would be rejected, and consenting to the demand of the original documents from Spain. So, on April 18, the board sent a letter to John Quincy Adams, the Secretary of State in order that a demand officially made on behalf of Meade would be sent to Spain. In turn, JQA sent Hugh Nelson, the U.S. minister to Spain with instructions to Spain to turn over the required documents. Nelson intermediately set about to sail to Spain, but upon arriving at Cadiz, he found it blockade by a French squadron. Because of this delay, Nelson arrived in Madrid only a few months before the board of commissioner's in Washington would close their sessions. Time was now of great essence. Mr. Nelson met with the Spanish government about the documents, and they promise to turn over the documents, but due to the large number of documents, there would be some delay. On May 29, 1824 just 10 days before the official close of the commission, word of this delay was received and Mr. Meade's claim was rejected.
President Monroe made no mention of Meade's case, nor the reason for Nelson's trip to Cadiz, but he did single out France for what he called "an infringement of the rights of ambassadors and of nations". In 1823, France had been authorized by the Congress of Verona in October of 1822 to help restore the rule of King Ferdinand VII and the Spanish Parliament after a rebellion led by Rafael del Riego y Nuñez. The blockade by the French squadron was legitimate, but refusing to allow a U.S. minister through was and insult to the Monroe and the United States. So America insulted Spain by demanding official documents and France insulted the United States for refusing to allow Mr. Nelson to pass though their blockade and enter Cadiz.
"The minister appointed to Spain proceeded soon after his appointment for Cadiz, the residence of the Sovereign to whom he was accredited. In approaching that port the frigate which conveyed him was warned off by the commander of the French squadron by which it was blockaded and not permitted to enter, although apprised by the captain of the frigate of the public character of the person whom he had on board, the landing of whom was the sole object of his proposed entry. This act, being considered an infringement of the rights of ambassadors and of nations, will form a just cause of complaint to the Government of France against the officer by whom it was committed."Just a few months later, French forces moved in to fight the rebels at Cádiz, and besieged the fort of Trocadero. On August 31, 1823 just months after Nelson demanded the documents, the French launched a surprise bayonet attack from the shore and took over the fort. On September 23, 1832 Cádiz was forced to surrender and King Ferdinand was released from the rebels. Things were very tense in 1823, and Richard W. Meade suffered the consequences. In any other time, he probably would have won his claim. Three years later, Senator John Forsyth of Georgia took up the Meade's case and sponsored a bill that would allow Meade the opportunity of establishing his claim even though the Board of Commissioners no longer existed. Forsyth argued that Meade was being punished for something that was out of his control. Despite, Forsyth's appeal no payments were ever made. In 1828, Richard Worsam Meade died leaving his wife Margaret a widow. Over the next 40 years, the case of Meade would be fought in the courts until the final appeal was lost in the U.S. Supreme court in 1869.
In this sames section, President Monroe shared a few words of other ministers. Worth noting, but I did not find any interesting stories to tell.
"The ministers who were appointed to the Republics of Colombia and Buenos Ayres during the last session of Congress proceeded shortly afterwards to their destinations. Of their arrival there official intelligence has not yet been received. The minister appointed to the Republic of Chile will sail in a few days. An early appointment will also be made to Mexico. A minister has been received from Colombia, and the other Governments have been informed that ministers, or diplomatic agents of inferior grade, would be received from each, accordingly as they might prefer the one or the other."
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29465
Public Documents printed by the order of the Senate of the United States 1836
Report of the Senate of the United States, March 11 1836
The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Margaret Meade, widow and executrix of Richard W. Meade, have had the same under consideration and report:
John Forsyth: Political Tactician by Dr. Alvin Laroy Duckett (2017)
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