A Proposal for the Barter and Sale of Spanish America in 1800

Abstract

A S EARLY AS 1775 Count Aranda perceived that the Lstruggle between England and her colonies could shake the foundations of Spanish rule in America. A few years later he submitted to Charles III a proposal for the drastic reform of colonial government, which he hoped would weaken the independence movement within the colonies and forestall the encroachment of the United States upon Spanish possessions. The possible dismemberment of the empire was not an event which Aranda viewed with any satisfaction: he was simply sceptical of Spain's ability to defend her territorial rights against the putative aggression of other powers. So far as I know, Valentin de Foronda was the first-and perhaps the only one-to suggest that Spain give up her colonies voluntarily and, having become a purely peniinsular kingdom, thereby increase the wealth and happiness of the Spanish people. Valentin Tadeo Echavarri de Foronda was born in Vitoria in 1751. After gaining some prominence as a writer, a member of the Sociedad Vascongada de los Amigos del Pa's, and a professor in the Society's Seminario Patriotico at Vergara, he secured appointment as consul-general in the United States. He took up residence in Philadelphia in 1801, became a member of the American Philosophical Society, and during the last three years of his stay in this country served as Spanish charge d'affaires. His liberal views on political and economic issues put him in the distinguished ranks of the dissenters whom Ferdinand VII clapped in jail in 1814. After a trial in la Coru-na, he was banished to Pamplona until 1820.1 Foronda's views on the colonial question are set forth in the appended Carta sobre lo, que, debe hacer wn principe que tenga colonias a gran distancia.2 The Carta, is dated at V ... (probably Vergara),