Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-12-07

NAV Il 10 acknowledge the re-
ceipt of Your letter of the Soih uit. writ
ten TO me in Spanish, together with
translation thereof, by Mr.. VIM. Simp-
son, which is as follows -
"Thrce or four nights ago, Schooner
Cato, commanded by Cadet Freret, pass
ed this port, as is customary and required,
having stopped to present manifest, or
list OF her cargo, and here, as she ought
TO have done, paid the duties thereon.
Col. Marent regrets that such attempts
should be made in opposition to the Laws
Of his Government, aud requests that you
will, as commandant and collector at Fort
Stodder,, forward him by The first occasi-
on copy OF the clearance or cargo ofthe
schooner, that this government may on
/ her return, make legal demand of the
duties on her cargo. He moreover begs
IN future, that you will desire all PATRONS
of vessels to stop at this port, and present
their clearance from Fort Stoddert, in orr
der to prevent unnecessary delay or trou-
ble."
inreply 10 your communication, deem
Il my duty 10 inform you, that the Schoon-
er Cato is owned and navgated by the CT.
tizens OF The United States, as appears
from the enrolment and license, which
wee granted by the collector of New-Or-
leans for Carrying on the coasling trade
and that on the esd ult. the said schoon-
er cleared out at This office, for the port OF
Eaylon st. Johns, laden with cotton, the
growth and product of This country, togo
Their with a few beaver skins she had
therefore, an indeieasible right to proceed
without touching at any intermediate
point. "a
1t is ny earnest desire at all times, 10
preserve the good correspondence and
harmony which has hitherto silbsisted be-
tween the citizens of this place and our
Spanish neighbors and / shall most
cheertuily. use esery proper means in my
power, TO prevent iniringemeDts of any
law OF Spain which comes within my
knowledge but being we'll assured that
no law can exist, which con,ravenes the
stipu'ations and provisions contained in
The treaty between the United States and
Spain, and beng we'll convinced that the
exact'on oil duties as practised on our
commerce passing the city of Mobile, is
no. sanctioned by the letter Of chat treaty,
and is directly opposed TO the spirit and
reasonable construction thereof; must
therefore doubt the existence OF law au.
thorising such imposiiions, and trust they
will not be practised in future.
Under these impressions ] cannot con-
sent to forward the papers which you re-
quest; nor can !, by any means, comply
with the late clause of your letter; be-
cause the laws of the United States hold
her citizens strictly accountable for their
actions; and l am in like manner held
accountable for mine: they alike myself
deem 1t no crime, for United States YES.
sells, regularly licensed for carrying on
the coasting trade, to sail freely from one |
OF our own ports TO another, without suf !
iering illegal detention, or imposition,
whatever. Every proper measure has
been adopted by our government to Sc
cure to her citizens the enjoyment of free /
and uninterrupted commerce, SO far as |
her own laws can extend; and treaties |
have been entered into with our neigh
bors, which secure, and extend as far as |
we can expect or wish, those precious !
privileges. Is IL because few Of our !
timid traders have failed TO embrace these |
privileges, and have submitted to being !
otippSu VI ditUuSt OnC cigntn OF tneir Il
cargoes, when passing Mobile from one |
of our own ports TO another, that you now |
call on me to aid you in this iniquiious |
practice! Or is it because this Practice (
has tor some time prevailed, in contra
ventIon OF existing treaties, that it is now
10 be adopted, and the solemn stipulations
contained in those treaties disregarded
II is presumed not.
Our government possesses in most
extensive degree, the affection and conf
dence Of her citizens, her laws and trea-
ties are observed by them, with the high
est respect and veneratioD.
Our treaty with Spain points out how
fsr the privileges Of navigation and com.
mcrce shall extend, and while that treaty
allows Us to pass with cur vessels and el-
'ecis 10 the Jreesf manner, even to ports
belonging to an enemy, we End the oil
GERS of Spain at Mobile assuming the
power Of prohibiting this freedom Of com
mefee TO extend from one Of our own
ports TO another.
These extraordinary proceedings will
doubtless undergo a proper investigation