Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-20

zion of trea,s, These f,e:s- are ne.:s:ri.
Gus among mercantile men, and may he
tested by o,r:rs al any Of the custom hou-
scs. ~
rs IT would be as unnecessary to refu,e
the crude observations deduced from the
misrepresentation we have exposed. as /;
would be 10 remark upon the writer's pro-
babie Object, he is ler;, with his motives,
10 the Judgment which the public cunnot
laii to pass upon so clumsy and sbortiye
an attempt to palla,e foreign depreda,ions
at the expense of the Executive.
I From rhe Gazette oftke ". States.
SPANISH TaeATv.-In compliance with our
promise in our last we subjoin The 17sh article of
the Treaty of Arity. Limits and Navigation"
between the King of Spain and the United States,
ratihed at San Lorcnzo el Real, the 9th of on.
l79S. II is in the following words:
Art, XVII. Z" To the end that all manner OF
cissensiens and quarrels may be avoided and pre-
vented on the one side and the other, it is agreed
that IN case either Of the parties hereto should
he engaged in war, the ships and vessels be-
longing 70 the Subjects or people of the other
party must be furnished with sea letters or pass.
ports expressing the name, property and bulk of
the ship, as also, the name and place OF habitat.
on oil the master or commander Of said ship. thar
it may appear thereby that the ship really and
truly belongs to the subjects of one of the pcrties,
which passports shall be made on, and granted
according TO the form annexed 10 this treaty.
They shall likewise be recalled every year that
Ia, Ut the ship happens to return home within the
space OF year. Il is likewise agreed tha, SUCH
SHIPS being laden, are TO be provided not only
with passports, as above mentioned, but also with
certificates containing the several particulars of
no -t1
so II .r'ay be known whether any forbidden or
contrahand goods be on board the same which
certificates shall be made or by the officers sf the
place whence the ship sailed, in the accustomed
form and If any one shall think il fit or advisa-
bic 70 express in tina said certificates the person
to whom the So5dS on board belong, he may free
" DO so; without which requisites they may be
sent to the ports Of the other Contracting party,
and adiudse6 by the competen, tribunal, accord.
ing 20 what Is above set fouh, that all the cir
cums,snces of this OMISSION having been well ex.
amined, thry tblH te nd;aGgsd 70 Be legal triscs
unless they shall give legal satisfaction OF their
property by testimony entirely equivalent
BY this article it appears thar it became The
] cuty OF our government, as soon Spain was
known to be involved in war, 10 give informant
; on to the merchants, of the conditions rpon
which commerce with the enemies of thar go
vernmer might safely be carried on, and 10 snrn-
ISL the officers of the customs IN the respesaive
ports with the FORMS of the passports and certi-
hcatcs stipulated in the treaty. and TO make it
tpabicly known that without these documents
! every vessel filling in with Spanish cruiser,
would be liable to capture and conGscation as ie-
gal prizes.
Instead OF this administration have besn
looking on,appsreniy indifferent spectators, and
seeing vesse! after vessel seized and confiscated
and the first information which our merchants
ger OF the cause OF these captures is from the o.
Their side OF the water; and behold it turns ov,,
that from sheer neg!ea in our government those
vessels are all Iawiulprife by express stipulation
of treaty. Under these circumstances oursrser-
chants would do we'll TO risk no more property
/ within reach of the Spanish cruisers, until go.
vernn,ent shall see fit to furnish the requisite
passports.
/ What viii the aattercrs ef the administration
say now. when it appears that al the indignant
on which has been expressed against the corr
dua o; Spain, ought TO be directed against our
! own government, and thas ell the losses, which
sc 50 severeis felt. have been wart5h sacrifice,
/ either by the ignorance or tho Indifference OF
those who are richly paid for protecting our
rights, and who are soleninly sworn to perform
'he duties imposed upon them by the constitution
and The laws!