Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-12-09
DOCUMENTS
IooNcLuDrD i
COPY.
MatcDtoches, ds'Hst 81, 1906.

my COmmunicafi08oi sHG @osn su's.
Icon.inue of ypinion that the advance
OF Spanish ssooys within territory claim.
ed by the Unissd States, is evidence OF an
unfriendly disposition nor can lperceive
any thing 10 your excellency's letter (which
can Justly or extenaate the offensive con,
duct observed towards Mr. Freeman and
his associates. or the iadigai;y offered II
the Csddo IA ion to The American flag.
You have not denie6, sir, ,tat the French
when in possession OF Louisiana, had esta-
blished garrison on the Red river, far
beyond the place where Mr.. freeman aud
his associates were arrested on their voy
age; or that the Caddo lGdians were for
meriy considered as under the protection
of the Frenoh government: The silence
cf Jour excellency on these points, pro-
ceeds probably from aknowsedse on your
part of the correctness Of my statements.
shall, however, touch no further on these
transactions in my correspondence with
your cxceilency bat viii hasten 10 aythe
same before The president OF the United
States, who will kaew what measures TO
direct when wrongs are offered to the Ame.
rican patton.
| cannot, however, refrain from express
sirg nay d,spleasure at the arrest and de-
tention under your excetiency's orders, OF
the three citizens of the United States.
Shaw. irwin and Brewster they are charg.
ed wich no offence which would warrant
imprisonment and iransportatieo TO SAM
tonic. A state of actual war between our
two nations could not have justified your
conduct towards those unoaendiog citizens
can venture to assert that the suspicious
of your exceliency as to the objects of
Shaw, Irwin and Brewster, are uofonnd.
ed They certainly could nave no pafticn-
lar iRducr men,s TO notice she POSITIONS and
movements of your troops. The tact
believe is, thai these men were DESTROYS CT
gratifying their curiosity, and wished your
excellency's passports to visit ST. Antonio.
Under this Impression, and from the CIR
cumstauce that they were within the terri.
tory claimed by the United States deem
il my duty 20 demand their release and
speedy restoration 10 their country. 1t
CANNOT be supposed that the distance TO ST..
Anlonio, or their personal convenience, oc
casionSd the escort which attended them.
They appear, on The contrary, 10 have been
treated by your excellency as state prison
ers, and assuch have information OF their
having passed shrough,N acogdoches under
a strong guard. Your excelency will re
collect that the subjects of hisCashollc ma.
jesty, are daily 10 the habit of visiting the
post Of Natchi,oehes, and cannot bns 90.
serve The positions and movements of the
American troops they, however, are per-
United to pass without molestatloa.
a friendly and innocent intercourse be-
tween. the citizens of the one, and the
subjects of the other power, has not as yet
been in,erdic,ed by this government. /
am persuaded, therefore, that your excel
lency viii zee that the arrest OF Shaw, ir.
vim and Brewster, was premature, and that
their detention is highly improper. have
no personal knowledge fthese three men:
they are American citizens. and of course
under the protection of the government of
the United States. 10 the name of that
government, therefore, do now demand
their release, and that they be restored TO
their country as soon as possible.
Pending the negotiation between our
respective governments, could wish that
hostilities should not commence ia this
quarter, but, if provoked to it, by toe IN.
Jus, aggressions of the forces of his Ca
tholic majesty, the troops of the United
States will endeavor to maistain their own
and their corutry's hoCor.
Lieut.. Duforest. of the American army,
is charged ~i,h the delivery of this letter
to your excellency, and to bear me such
answer as YOU may think proper TO return.
Irenew TO your exceliency the assuran.
ces OF my respectful consideration.
lSigued)
VIM. C. C. CLAIBORNE.