In 1830, American merchants were caught up in a blockade off the Island of Terceira about 1300 miles off the coast of Portugal. Portugal was embroiled in a civil war, and a Portuguese fleet captured several American merchant vessels and seized their cargo. Under President Andrew Jackson, the United State reached an agreement with Portugal in 1832 that they would pay the merchants full indemnity in three installments. Two years later, because of the on-going Civil war, Portugal made a deal with the Jackson administration to lower duties on American rice if the indemnity payments could be postponed until after the Civil War. Yet, by 1836 Jackson's last year in office and two years after the Civil War ended, Portugal was still not ready to make the payments.
Portugal Civil War
In 1826, the death of King João VI created a dispute over the royal succession between the brothers Dom Pedro who was the Emperor of Brazil and Miguel Petro who had supported the independence of Brazil. Don Pedro proceeded to draw up a charter that would form the basis of a moderate parliamentary government but abdicated the crown in favor of his 7-year-old daughter on the condition that she marry his brother Miguel. The Parliamentary party received the new charter with joy and foolishly appointed Dom Miquel to be the regent in Portugal. The reign of Miguel turned out to be a reign of terror and his progressive opponents challenged his alleged usurpation of power. In May of 1828, the Liberals started a rebellion in the city of Porto and it spread to other cities including the Island of Terceira about 1300 miles off the coast of Portugal where they not submitted themselves to the new charter. Instead of recognizing Dom Miguel, the Island of Terceira declared themselves the rightful regent of the young queen.On August 11, 1829 a Portuguese Fleet was sent by Dom Miguel to Praia Bay, just off the coast of Terceira Island. The fleet attempted to disembark troops on the island but were defeated by troops loyal to the Duke of Terceira who controlled about a dozen small forts and artillery batteries. Meanwhile, the Portuguese fleet enforced a blockade of the Island of Terceira and a number of American vessels were seized, and their cargo condemned in Portuguese courts. One of these vessels was the brig Planter from Edgartown, Massachusetts which in 1830 was making her way home with a cargo of sperm oil when it was illegally captured by the Portuguese squadron off the island. Other vessels condemned include the schooner Gleaner, brig Ann of Providence, brig Galatea, and the brig Osprey. Andrew Jackson, addressed the blockade in his 1830 State of the Union Address delivered in writing on December 06, 1830. Jackson made a brief mention of the "alleged depredations” but did not yet have enough information to "express a definitive opinion".
"Several alleged depredations have been recently committed on our commerce by the national vessels of Portugal. They have been made the subject of immediate remonstrance and reclamation. I am not yet possessed of sufficient information to express a definitive opinion of their character, but expect soon to receive it. No proper means shall be omitted to obtain for our citizens all the redress to which they may appear to be entitled."In Jackson's 1831 State of the Union address, he expanded on the blockade. Jackson explained that he was on the verge of dispatching an armed force to prevent any additional violence against American vessels when he received official assurances from the Portuguese government the the matter would be soon resolved. Jackson shared with Congress his expectations that the matter would be quickly resolved, and the two countries would soon be on the same footing as those with "most favored nation" status.
"In the late blockade of Terceira some of the Portuguese fleet captured several of our vessels and committed other excesses, for which reparation was demanded, and I was on the point of dispatching an armed force to prevent any recurrence of a similar violence and protect our citizens in the prosecution of their lawful commerce when official assurances, on which I relied, made the sailing of the ships unnecessary. Since that period frequent promises have been made that full indemnity shall be given for the injuries inflicted and the losses sustained. In the performance there has been some, perhaps unavoidable, delay; but I have the fullest confidence that my earnest desire that this business may at once be closed, which our minister has been instructed strongly to express, will very soon be gratified. I have the better ground for this hope from the evidence of a friendly disposition which that Government has shown an actual reduction in the duty on rice the produce of our Southern States, authorizing the anticipation that this important article of our export will soon be admitted on the same footing with that produced by the most favored nation."On January 19, 1832 an arrangement between Portugal and the United Sates was reached for the indemnification of American Citizens, for their Vessels captured by the Portuguese blockading squadron off Terceira. In December, Jackson shared this news with Congress, but had to regret that not all the claims had been paid yet. The payments were promised in three installments, but only the first one had been received. Portugal, had asked for an extension on the payments because the "embarrassments" (disturbance) in their finances resulting from the civil war they were engaged in.
"The demands against Portugal for illegal captures in the blockade of Terceira have been allowed to the full amount of the accounts presented by the claimants, and payment was promised to be made in three installments. The first of these has been paid; the second, although due, had not at the date of our last advices been received, owing, it was alleged, to embarrassments in the finances consequent on the civil war in which that nation is engaged."In addition, new complaints from American citizens were being added to the list. Jackson assured these citizens that while their claims are being delayed, they were not being neglected.
"Some agitations naturally attendant on an infant reign have prevailed in the Empire of Brazil, which have had the usual effect upon commercial operations, and while they suspended the consideration of claims created on similar occasions, they have given rise to new complaints on the part of our citizens. A proper consideration for calamities and difficulties of this nature has made us less urgent and peremptory in our demands for justice than duty to our fellow citizens would under other circumstances have required. But their claims are not neglected, and will on all proper occasions be urged, and it is hoped with effect."In 1833, Portugal was still unable to pay the installments due to the cost of war they were engaged in and they were ready to make a deal. Portugal offered to reduce the tariffs on rice from the United States into Portugal. They offered to allow US rice into Portugal at the same duties as Brazilian rice. Jackson accepted the offer as the best arrangement that could be made. He concluded with some discouraging words that there was no end in sight for the Civil war that Portugal remained engaged in.
"Congress were informed at the opening of the last session that "owing, as was alleged, to embarrassments in the finances of Portugal, consequent upon the civil war in which that nation was engaged", payment had been made of only one installment of the amount which the Portuguese Government had stipulated to pay for indemnifying our citizens for property illegally captured in the blockade of Terceira. Since that time a postponement for two years, with interest, of the 2 remaining installments was requested by the Portuguese Government, and as a consideration it offered to stipulate that rice of the United States should be admitted into Portugal at the same duties as Brazilian rice. Being satisfied that no better arrangement could be made, my consent was given, and a royal order of the King of Portugal was accordingly issued on 1833-02-04 for the reduction of the duty on rice of the United States. It would give me great pleasure if in speaking of that country, in whose prosperity the United States are so much interested, and with whom a long- subsisting, extensive, and mutually advantageous commercial intercourse has strengthened the relation of friendship, I could announce to you the restoration of its internal tranquillity."Thus, in exchange for lower duties on American rice, the United States government authorized Portugal to postpone indemnity payments to a few American merchants. Merchants like the owner of the brig Planter reached out to their local representatives like Senator Daniel Webster and Congressman John Reed Sr. of Massachusetts for assistance. In 1834, Congressman John Reed proposed that the United States Government pay the owners of the brig Planter directly since they had authorized the government of Portugal to postpone the said payments. But, then in 1834 the Civil war in Portugal had ended, and Jackson announced in his sixth State of the Union that diplomatic relations would soon be resumed. Because of our long-standing friendship with Portugal, Jackson was confident that the "balance due will receive prompt attention".
"Internal tranquillity is happily restored to Portugal. The distracted state of the country rendered unavoidable the postponement of a final payment of the just claims of our citizens. Our diplomatic relations will be soon resumed, and the long-subsisting friendship with that power affords the strongest guaranty that the balance due will receive prompt attention."One year after the Civil War had ended, diplomatic relations had been restored and Jackson told Congress in his seventh State of the Union Address that it was expected that the claims of our citizens like the owners of the brig Planter would be fully satisfied, just as soon as the "Queen's Government will permit the proper attention to the subject of them".
"Our diplomatic intercourse with Portugal has been renewed, and it is expected that the claims of our citizens, partially paid, will be fully satisfied as soon as the condition of the Queen's Government will permit the proper attention to the subject of them. That Government has, I am happy to inform you, manifested a determination to act upon the liberal principles which have marked our commercial policy. The happiest effects upon the future trade between the United States and Portugal are anticipated from it, and the time is not thought to be remote when a system of perfect reciprocity will be established."But, in 1836 during Jackson's final State of the Union Address, that payments have once again "unfortunately delayed by frequent political changes in that Kingdom".
"The claims of our citizens on Portugal are admitted to be just, but provision for the payment of them has been unfortunately delayed by frequent political changes in that Kingdom."
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Second Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/second-annual-message-3 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Third Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/third-annual-message-3 [Accessed 2 July. 2019].
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Fourth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fourth-annual-message-3 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Fifth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fifth-annual-message-2 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Sixth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/sixth-annual-message-2 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Seventh Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/seventh-annual-message-2 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Eigth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/eighth-annual-message-2 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
British and Foreign State Papers, Volume 19. (1834). Great Britain: James Ridgway and Sons, p.1379. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?id=i1NDAQAAMAAJ [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
Congressional Series of United States Public Documents, Volume 202. (1834). U.S. Government Printing Office, p.163. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?id=X5RHAQAAIAAJ [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
Register of Debates in Congress: Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Eighteenth Congress. (1834). 10th ed. Gale & Seaton, p.436. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?id=6ajVAAAAMAAJ [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
(1885). Encyclopædia Britannica. 20th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, p.552.
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Liberal Wars. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Wars [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019].
No comments:
Post a Comment