The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-07 00:00:00

PIRACY.

. .
tain the " Richmond Equirer.".f t
The atrocities which have been practisea on
the coasts of Cuba, by piratei, On our commerce; Ought not
only to be resisted by our cruizers, but by the most urgent re-;
monstrances to the Government of Spain.. The: executive of
the United States have manifested no inconsiderable energy in
sending out a naval force to the West India seas. Much-hat
already been done by our vesselt. Many a pirate has been
taken, and Many a prize sated from his fangs. It remains for'
us to treat the Loicamer who falls into our power with tbe
verity which is necessary to strike an awe into his companions.
But the evil goes on. Cut off one head of this hydra, and
anotheigrows up in its plice. The rich booty pretiented by the
extensive commerce Of the West Indies tempts the idle and --
profligate seaman to embark in-the enterprise: The immuni..
ties held out prineipally in the island of Cuba ; the facilitiej
of fitting out the' pirate, and disposing of his booty, encourage,
Phis nefarious speculation. The scenes are horrible to relate.
Passenger's are stripped of their all ; females are insulted and
violated ; the ereWs and captains are hung up and tortured to
extort confessions of concealed money.
Our naval- force has done its duty: What, :though - the
Spaniel navy has slept upon its, oars, and seen in the very
sight of their harbours' such atrocities perpetrated upon their
friends or even upon thernSelveS } What, though the 1080.
ships of Britain have remained inactife, while their merchaa -
ships have fallen victims, or been only
.saved from rapacity -b
the exertions of Our seamen ! The disgrace is' theirs, the gltry
is ours. Our little navy his done its dutY...-they have-done 0.11.,-
that they could do—unlesS our large ships were commissioned''
with corps of marines to land and cut up the nests of bucanitrs,
on shore. But whatever doubts may attend this expedient._,'
both as to its policy and expence, there is one measure whidi
the Government is bound to pursue. Where are the. nests of;
these pirates principally, found Lei the following extract of-;
a letter from on board the United States' schooner Grampiisv,
at Havannah, inform .
. _

" The priUcipal establishment of the pirates is near Principe; -
the capital of the island, and it hardly seems possible for the
United States, without the aid of Government, (honestly af-1
forded), to put these marauders dihr. Most of these expedi.
tions are fitted out, in the first instance, ,at a village called Re.
piles, one quarter of a mile from this city, and under the eye oft-
the Government. More than one hundred persons belonging: •
to this place are known to he concerned in this infamous and 't.
abominable business : however, but little can be expected
froth the Present rulers here, while they keep the men of war
in pott, and suffer the little patriot cruisers to capture their-
merchant vessels almost under the guns of the.. Moro, and on
all parts of the coast. Tie, British cruisers seem to be as care-
less of protecting their defencelegs nierchantruen from the pi.
rates, as they are anxious to run from port .to prt, carrying
Specie."
And are we to suffet in patience this horrible weakness,.
neglect, connivance (state it as you will) from, Spain ? (tuba(where the Villa del Principe is) belongs to Spain. She It -
liable for the use that she makes, or suffers to be made, of ••
her jurisdietion. If she wants the will to drire the pirates
away; she is liable; if' she wants the poWef, she is equally ssef
She is as much so, as if we wefe to suffer belligerent vessaktb.-
equip and aim in' our ports, for . the express purpose of going ,
out to plunder our friends. This is the law of .nations ; it is r -
the language of common sense. We have a right, therefore;
to reittess-from Spain, as much Its'we had a right to inderrinitys
for. the rareoch
,spollations committed under her cloak or corks..
nivance. We demanded indemnity for this wrong—we obtained
it. We must make a'shifilar demand for the piracies ihich,slie
is either too weak or unwilling to prevent.: If she refuses
if she will not, put forth her strength to _prevent their repetitietts,,:
—we-should 'even be justified in taking temporary possession trt
the obnoxious- places. We must speak .a plain language to. -
her—amino time ought to be lost Of any has beerractuallf
.
lost) in making our demand.
Have our unfortunate merchants laid the details Of their
coMplaints beforeilitit•Joirn Government .
Have the Insuraziee Offices stated their losses • • • .•
Have our 'Chambers of "Cpwriterce come forward—As -they
did in.ll3ol,gin the very 'case of Spain, and in Many itistarfccs
which.aTe,,to be found in our ".State Paper's ?" •
The slays trade andpiracparg,an oPprobrium.to the age..ill• •
ivhich toe live.civilized tharitiine states ought to combine
together tor, their suppressidn. If others forget their duty, let
us at least be true to ourselves:

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