The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-02 00:00:00

CONGRLSA.

RALTrmoRs, Nov. 28.—0 n Monday next the
National. Legislature will convene at Washington.
Notwithstanding. the present is a.period of pro-
found peace in l ttrope, and the clarion of war is
not heard, save in the Southern Provinces of onr
own Conti►►ent, yet there can be no doubt that
subjects of much importance will occupy the de-
lilt:rations of Congress. We hope to see liberal,
enlarged, and really national policy adopted with
regard to our domestic manufac►ures, and that our
nt ernal relations .generally, as far as is expedient,
will receive the salutary influence of legislative
interference.

It is an opinion which has met with general
credence, that the cause and situation of the pa,
triode Governments of South America will he exa-
mined, and the propriety of acknowledging the in-
dependence of one or more of them attentively
considered. The official con►nttuticatious of the
megatiem appointed to inquire into the exile•
ttiency of the latter act, no doubt, will be pro-
ductive.of vet y important, and perhaps conclusive
weight, in the determination of the question.
It has been promulgated with an appearance of
authenticity, that Don Ouis, the Spanish Minister,
has in his possession sealed dispatches from his
Government, which are to be presented to Con-
gress at the succeeding Session. These are said to
he an offer, on the part of Ferdin4nd, to cede the
Horidas to.tl►e United States, 1.,,r a stipulated con-
sideration. Should this prove to be the fact, it is
sincerely hoped that tl►e attention of our legisla-
ture will be called to the subject at an early day
in the Session.

The present state of affairs at Amelia earnestly
requires the interference of some Power capable
of establishing outer and government, and afford-
ing it protection from the hand of pirates. and
freebooters by which it is now infested. When
that island fell into the power or the besiegers,
under •M'Gregor, we rejoiced at the event, be-
cause we regarded it as the first movement towards
the emancipation of the Floridan, and were im-
pressed with the belief that the possession of that
island would operate greatly to promote the com-
mon cause of South American freedom, by the
facilities which it would afford the patriots as a
place of rendezvous and equipment.
We do not censure the original intention of
M'Gregor ; the course of conduct which he pit.-
, sited, and the measures adopted by him at the
onset, furnish at least presumptive evidence that
his views were himourable, and that his object
was to have taken possession of St. Augustine. He
wAs- no doubt deceived in his expectations of aid ;
and we now see that the consequence has been,
the conversion of his conquest into a common
receptacle for freebooters of ail nations and hues;
of which, however, the sable appeals to bear the
predominance.
We cons;der.it a ditty enjoined on our Govern-
ment, as the head of an independent nation, to
arrest and completely put a period to these pro-
ceedinp7,s. Oor own commerce and the commerce
of the world demand their interference Let
them, by their determinations on the subject,
prove to other nations, that, however greatly they
value liberty and the freedom of states, yet it re-
(Ores something more than the mere name of
pa/riots to ensure their countenance and approba-
tion.

Should negociations not be entered into'With
the Svanisii (;overnmeut at an early day of the
Session,, t4.e trust and bHieve that Congress will
see the absolute necessi y of interposing, and
taking possessintn of the island of Amelia, with
such other ports„ within the territories of Spain,
in the vicinity of the United States, as may be
(keine(' expedient. to counteract and prevents de--
predations: upon our commerce, as well as. upon.
the commerce of otherivarions, from an unautho-
rized sonice. We believe we hazard nothing in,
asserting., lthat- the.;:titue is near at hand, when
hoth Amelia and Galvestown will he taken pos-
session of by
.o,fir Government, and held for future
disposal..