The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-08


and has done so for a considerable time, and
has been in the habit of trading with his YES
sci, to and from different ports under Ameri-
can register, and wearing the colors OF the
United States, as shelving his security rest
ed ON those documents whilst traversing the
ocean.
1t is fully proven, that the Maggie was,
on the fifth day of January last, cleared out
mt the custom-house by Mr.. Dissent collec-
tor of St. Mary's, laden with an assorted car
go, and bound for the West-lndiss--that on
the sixth of the same month, the Maggie
hauled over to the Spanish side OF the river
ST. Mary's, (this river being the main water
course between Florida and Georgia, the use
of which is secured by treaty, as well TO the
Inhabitants of Spain as of the United States)
and soon after proceeded to the Spanish ISL
and Amelia about seven miles below the town
of ST. Mary's. where she lay several days,
waiting for fair wind to goto sea.
1t is fully satisfactory to my mind, that be-
fore the Maggie left the port of st. Mary S,
there was either direct or indirect know
ledge of the embargo Law of the 22d De-
cember, 1907, having passed, and that Baird,
the claimant, from every circumstance, as
we'll as other inhabitants of St. Mary's, was
apprized of this measure, and took precauti-
ons accordingly. 1t may be true, that the
collector had not official instructions on the
IL,
bly, would not have cleared ont the vessel that
had arrived at St. Mary in a short passage
from Philadelphia, and from whose captain
or others, intelligence had been brought, that
an embargo law had or would pass The
probability is, that they had knowledge of
the law having passed; but as the collector
had no particular instructions, it was, as
Baird says, not put in operation at st. Ma
rvs, and this, owing to the quick passage of
ell hat loh Ontt- 10 m m
its usual routine. This law directs that no
tice shall DC given to foreign vessels-not so
to our own vessels, because ut the well known
rule, that for those whom laws are made by
their own government, the citizens of that
government are bound to obey them, as the
law of the land; and from the vehicles of in :
telligence that float about, an American is
the last to plead ignorance of any legislative
measures, OF any people on earth.
l will go further, and say, that have lit
tie doubt but the embargo law was as we'll
known in Florida, Cuba, Amelia, as at Cum
Berland Island, or St. Mary's; the latter of
which places has become singular depot
for merchandise of all sorts. The reason is
obvious, need not record it.
In pursuing the rout of the Maggie, we
end her Tisvi5atsd by Boyd,
der Baird, which Boyd said he was an En-
glishman by birth, and subject of the sove-
reign of that country, sailing under an Anne
rican flag, in an American vessel engaged in
foreign voyages, and particularly the carry
ing trade by transporting the produce of
Spain from Matanzas to Augustine from
Augustine to Amelia all ports of his catho-
lie majesty, and with the produce ofhis coun-
tries, the property of his subjects resi-
dents in his dominions. 1t is this lucre OF
gain, this carving trade, so much sought at
ter, that causes the present political embar-
rassment and with other causes drives our
government to crisis of difficulties at least.
Hence dangers arise to our citizens in their
persons and property for want OF better
employment, which time anda Vlrtuous for
bearance will remedy.
The Maggie arrives from Matanzas, in
Augustine, with cargo; lands it there /;
takes in another, & with number of passcn-
gers, sail for Amelia island, which she was
prevented from an early arrival at, from ad
verse winds and bad weather, and compel
led from this, as from scarcity OF water &
victuals, and the request OF passengers, a
mongst whom was womsn and two chill
Gieii ~ enter at night the bar An
drews, port or bay to the northward of St.
Mary's river, and proceed the island passage
on the god of last April, and sailed along
the island Of Cumberland, within the port of
ST. Marv's, passing in her own waters the
hospitable mansions that invite those vino
NAV want succour, and III view OF one of the
national gun-boats, then lying as guard YES
sci. to enforce the laws and shelter the dis
tressed, without any mark Of attention for
getting that she wore the American colors,
an emblem of the sovereignty of the United
States and five believe what must be Gre
dited, the testimony of midshipman Max
vel and his cockswain. Mitchell, of the
launch tfat was sent ont from the gun-boat to
speak the Maggie, and only prevented there
from by strong winds and currents, with the
press of sail carried by the Maggie, and from
other circumstances that attach to this part
of the testimony, shelving design to avoid
and deceive the gun-boat, as If she was stan
ding up the river ST Mary's, until the launch
returned to the gun boat, when the Maggie
bore away for Joly's river, little below the
mouth of which, and in mid channel, was iy-
ing the gun-boat No 2, commanded by capt
Samuel Ebert a native born citizen, son of
an early born native of our country, and "a
mongst the most ardent and active of Anne
Tican patriots, now, with others, lying in the
dust. This young officer feeling for the ma
iesty OF the laws of his country, determined
not to suffer the American flag, quiverng o
yer his head, 10 be insul'ed; announces his
heroic intention, and impelled by a proper
sense of duty, discharges those cannon his