(His Majesty – Carlos III)

THE JUST MOTIVES FOR HIS ROYAL RESOLUTION

OF THE 21^ST OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR (1779), AUTHORIZING

HIS AMERICAN VASSALS TO SEEK AMENDS,

BY WAY OF REPRISALS AND HOSTILITIES,

ON LAND AND SEA, AGAINST THE SUBJECTS

OF THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN.

<SPAIN’S ROYAL SEAL>

AÑO 1779

ON THE PRESS OF PEDRO MARIN



THE KING

One of the goals to which I have been attentive since my exhaltation to the throne of Spain has been to maintain, as much as possible, the tranquility of Europe and America and for the intimately-connected happiness of the inhabitants of both regions. To curtail the calamities of the present war raging between France and England, and to prevent those fatal results from extending into my dominions, I have tried various methods dictated by humanity and sane politics.

Since the beginning of this discord, I have observed the most generous and sincere impartiality between the belligerent powers, while making vigorous attempts to reduce their differences to an honorable and reciprocal settlement to accommodate their respective circumstances. While giving weight to these negotiations, I have opened my treasury and arranged for a respectable naval armada to protect my possessions from all insult, and have placed in my hands the balance of power between the two armed nations. While setting aside all considerations and without showing the least tendency regarding this war, I have dedicated myself towards benefiting my realm with the fruit of peace by promoting agriculture, commerce, and the reduction or elimination of many taxes; all of which are not ambiguous testimonials of my peaceful disposition. (By which I have sought only) to establish prosperity and abundance among my vassals.

The proposals made to the contending powers, who expressed their desire for my mediation, have been most fair and analogous to their interests. Nevertheless, it is with great sadness that I have seen my efforts to be fruitless; resulting in the misunderstanding of my hopes to re-establish peace within the European community. The London courts, after having entertained much time with studies, promises and delays, have had to be forced to recognize the justice of these proposals, wherein it has been discovered the ambitious spirit that dominates them.

Their truthful goal has been to lull Spain to sleep under cover of negotiations, to maintain disarray of the naval forces of the August House of Bourbon, and give themselves time to develop (England’s) project to regain, by usurpation, some of my American dominions in those areas where losses have already been suffered.

Thus, I have learned from experience that I have been provoked with various new and cunning enemies among the barbarous nations of Florida after they had been seduced to conspire against my innocent vassals in Louisiana. Not only have secret negotiations been undertaken to arm these tribes and dispossess me of my natural allies in case of a (military) outbreak.

In further abusing my moderation, it has been verified that:

Their agents have repeatedly insulted the Spanish flag;

They have recognized and yet robbed our ships;

They have attacked others that fortunately had the arms needed to defend themselves;

They have made unjust seizures;

They have opened and torn up official registries and sealed documents from my own mail packet boats, and executed other hostile acts of violence upon my vassals.

Finally, they have gone as far as to usurp me of my sovereignty in the province of Darien (Central America), by authorizing the (British) Governor of Jamaica, with the rank of Captain General, to cause Indian rebellions in those regions, and then seized Spanish possessions in La Bahia de Honduras where Spaniards were imprisoned and dispossessed of their properties.

In addition, there has been immense and continual contraband trade practiced in my dominion of the Indies, supported many times by their own ships of war, followed by the destruction of the peoples’ rights and the good faith of the treaties that recognize their just compensation for the bloodshed and fortunes spent by them in the discovery, acquisition, and defense of those properties. With all of these offenses, there is not yet any satisfaction at the English ministries, wherein specific promises have evaporated, only to have the experience of my seeing them repeated.

Under these circumstances, with no dignity shown to my crown, nor my personal decorum, nor the protection which I have granted to my beloved vassals, they have permitted these insults to continue for some time with impunity.

In spite of my natural disposition to preserve the imponderable good of peace in these difficult times, I have seen:

The sensible ordered retirement of my Ambassador from the London courts, and the ceasing of all communications, trade and commerce between my vassals and those of the British king as the result of my Royal Decree of June 21^st.

By using these means, I am placing my trust in the Almighty for justice for myself, which has not yet been obtained despite being sought in so many ways. Consequently, I authorize all my vassals:

To seek amends by way of reprisals and to commence hostilities, on land and by sea, against the subjects, ships and estates of His British Majesty, treating them as my true enemies and as their own; and

Towards this end, they shall arm as many ships as possible in conformity with the Royal Ordinance on this matter, with knowledge that all (naval) seizures are to used by our shipbuilders without any reservations on my part.

Without any doubt, my American vassals have seen my extraordinary efforts to maintain public tranquility and… (The singular favors that have been dispensed upon them, by conceding ample liberty for their travel and navigation, the abolishment or moderation of established taxes, and the exemption of other tariffs to attain their highest level of opulence and happiness)… that, upon learning of my resolution, they will show very evident examples of their loyalty and love for my service by effectively concurring with the defense of the state, to the offense of these invaders and enemies of it, and to the glory and splendor of my arms, which are in the direct interest of their own homes, their lives, and their religion, and that the vigor of their hostilities shall determine the swiftness of the re-establishment of peace, which is the goal of all just wars and the principle object of my orders.

With this well founded trust, I command all of my Viceroys, Presidents, Governors, Captains General, Courts of Justice, Magistrates, Mayordomos, Royal Officials, Alcaldes Mayores, Judges, and the remainder of the Justices of my dominions of the Indies, that they shall:

Be zealous and cautiously attend to the security and defense of the provinces, plazas, ports and coasts subject to their jurisdiction, in accordance with the procedures in the laws of the Indies and of my latest Royal Orders.

In addition, they shall undertake expeditions against those English armed forces and establishments which they judge to be opportune and conducent to the good of the nation and the honor of my arms.

Also, I command and entrust, most particularly to all government councils of the cities, towns, and places in those dominions, that by all possible means, they display their loyalty, principally by their own example, in unifying the spirits of their citizens and to inspire noble feelings that will motivate them towards the end that all of my loyal vassals will view that the defense to the mother country, and the rights of my Royal Crown, as the primary obligation by which they have access to enjoy the benefits of society and of my sovereign protection.

And finally, I charge the Reverend Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Ecclesiastic Vicars, Cathedral (Rectors), Parish Priests, and religious communities to continue in their public and private prayers to the God of our Spanish Armies, and for our armed forces that are gathered under His divine protection, and that they advise all of the faithful, in their frequent speeches and exhortations, that the defense of the nation is inseparably united with the true religion that they profess, because their enemies are also (enemies) of it; and that, as good Catholics, they should (be willing) to shed their last drop of blood before seeing their churches profaned, their holy images destroyed, or religious objects desecrated and defiled.

Given in Madrid on the 8^th of July of 1779, YO, EL REY (I, THE KING)

Dispatched to Don Joseph de Galvez (Prime Minister of Spain)

New Mexico Colonial Patriots, 1779-1783