Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-03-08
ycoNTrNurD.l

y
IF there is aa appeal TO the second, that APP
peal shall be tried and decided within Is
days. This preyisioa, in the present as
ein almost every other instance, has been
TOTALLY overlooked. Every ART was FIRST
tried to~entrap the captains and make them
sthe instruments Of their own defeat; and
no meaos however fraudulent were left un-
touched, by which corrupt Judgment
could be secured. One Of IN :se means is
worthy Of notice Our treaty with Spain
says that horses with their furniture are
econ,raband. On board of these vessels were
neither saddles nor alphabetically, how.
ever, vessel from Rhode Island came in
with supply of.both, which were immedi-
ately purchased by the thrice worthy agent,
Senior Don Josef Xavacir de Aranzi Men
di aud the captains, Trip and Anthony,
having certain information that it was IN.
tended secretly TO convey them on board
lh: r. vessels and afterward TO call asearch,
represented their fears to the governor, and
2petitioned to have the matches sealed, which
was done accordingly, in afew days after,
IN consequence CT this suspicion, or rather
of expressing it, they were arrested, aud,
as they would not betray their Informant.
imprisoned during fourteen or fifteen
days.
T, When every thing was prepared and
perfectly ripe, about the bsginrlng OF De-
~cembsr, degree of condemnation was pro.
:nounced by the corrupt and 6ri6ed don
Manuel Garcia, Auditor or Judge OF Ma.
srine, against both vessels and their cargoes,
without reserve. When this decree was
presented to the governor, he, sensible of
ITS in Justice, & previously aPprized of the
venality of the judge, wrote on the margin,
g can by no means confirm this sentence;
i, therefore, refer it to the Auditor OF
War, in order that Judgment maybe CIV
en- more conformably,o the principles OF
Justice and equity The Auditor of,War
condemned the horses, but liberated the
vessels and the remainder of their cargoes,
throwing 90 each party their owa costs.
OF this sentence have endsavored to pro.
cure a copy and send you a transiatlon.----
THUS they now stand; their voyages de-.
stroyed; their vessels detained near five
months, s not yet put In their possession,
exhibiting the appearance OF perfect
wrecks the state of the cargoes, or the
plumber committed, unknown, bat however
Z great the loss, wi,houtauy hope OF redress
'@or remuneration.
Let These few instances stand before the
eyes OF our countrymen, as striking exam
pies of Spanish justice, and as proofs OF
what said above, that if we have not sut.
fered as much in Porto Rico, as in Cuba,
I'VE have neither to thank the superior ex-
Scellence of the laws, Nor the superior vir'
tue of those who administer them.
1t is not merely against the result OF the
-adiadications in Spanish tribunals, that We
have to complain, but.against the slow ADD
.dsleterious nature of their proceedings.
With them every thing must be done IN
writing, and must originate with the go
vernon. No oral testimony is received
no sral pleadings permitted. he accused
is never confronted with the accuser; he
defendant never heard at the same time
with the plaintiff. The FIRST step Is always
"a petition 10 the governor-in'endan', IN
which the case is stated, and Justice de-
zmanded. He seldom decides himself, but
refers 10 the Auditor Of War or Marine,
sas the case may be. Perhaps, after de-
tseption of fortnight or three weeks, the
Judge may decide upon II; perhaps ne re-
fers it to the other party; who applies by
another petition, which is proceeded up
on in similar manner. Each answer or
leach decree produces asnewIemonstranse
and thus memorial follows memorial, an
swer follows answer, and decree follows
decree, until documents are multiplied to
"a eountless number, and the proceedings
in a trifling cause swelled into an immen-
sureable volume. The process IN the case
y of the Patty would make volume larger
ahan Coke upon Listleton.