Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-28
From the Ne1v 1ork Evening Post.
THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
No. XII.


The boldest and most unprincipled attack
upon my reputation is a charge, that IN the
wear 1895 had given deposition, which
the general now undertakes to assert was
false. Fhe proof, however, on which he
relies to support this assertion SO complete
" contradicts it, that did not think 1t ne
cessasy 10 make any thing more than
denial of the charge, hoping that no one
would give creaat 60 SO foul an asPerslon,
without weighing the proofs produced IN
its support, and knowing that such an sxa-
mipation must result IN the CONVICTION OF
my innocence. Further reflection, however
has taught me to believe that some more Sc
9;nns my .ti sration on this point might be
expected. therefore en,reat the attention
of nv fellow-citizens TO the following state
nent. which will enable them to Judge cor
rectly on this point, SO important 10 my re-
putation.
By the letter of the Spanish commercial
laws, all trade is prohibited to her COLONIES,
except it Be carried en- by natives, or natur
ralized residents. The exsrefi'e rigor OF
this rule defeated its execution, and the We.
~ existence Of several OF It's colonies de-
pendcd on It's relaxation. lhis according
IL took place at New-Orleans, particularly
during the administration of the Baron &c
Carondelet. The first indulgence was grant
ed, by extending the privilege to residents,
although not nasuralized. The second,
by the officers of government con,enting
themselves with the simple declaration OF
any Individual, commonly the consignee,
that he was the owner OF the vessel. Ihls
declaration was rotmade under oath nor was
it in most cases supported hy any docu.
ments. Sometimes II was even accepted
from a person, who, though not actually
resident, had declared his intention OF max
;ng settlement IN the country, or who had
obtained licence to introduce goods. 1t
deceived nobody, but it furnished the Off
GERS of government with very aimsy pre-
text for registering the vessel On their
books as Spanish property, and thus pre-
serving an apparent complapce with the
law but so little attention was paid to this
formality, that the governor and intendant
gave certificates that the vessel was Ameri-
can property even while she stood Oh their
custom house hooks as being owned by
resident. This is proved beyond contra
tsics;on by the certificates, (Nos. So, 81 and
ss) the fist granted in the very case now
in question; the TWO last III that OF the brig
Charleston.
This being &he state of things, a Mr.. !
Wooster, an American, alledging that he
intended 10 settle in Newt Orleans, ob,ained
permission to introduce a cargo OF rer-
chanJlize. This lieence he transferred TO
John Blagee, John Jackson, and Aetfert
feferts. of New-York in consideration, a.
mone other things, that he should have q
passage for himself and family IN TIE vessel
that was to carry out the cargo. These gen.
slemcn accordingly sent out the brig Grand
Sachem, belonging TO them, with cargo,
which arriyedfat New Orleans carly III the
year 1899, with Mr.. Wooster and bis Ia
mily on board. The permit being in his
name, the vessel and cargo were OF course
introduced as has ;-but the real owner had
sheir supercargo, MIR. Matthias Nichols on
board, who had the sole charge OF the adj
venture, MIR. Wooster having no manner:
of interest whatever nor having ever re-
ceived any transfer, either real or covered
for the Same.
Soon after his arrival Mr.. Nichols be-
came suspicious of the conduct Of Wooster,
experimenting that he might ase the circum-
s.ance of the vessels being reported at the
custom house as his TO some fraudulent pur-
pose. In order TO avoid this, Wooster was
with some difficulty induced to pass no
minal sale 10 resident merchant, which
was accordingly egecteda to me. | knew
that he had no title. never paid any con-
alteration, or received any interest; my
only object in lending my name to the tran
saction being to defeat any fraudulent at
tempt that Wooster might, by tho pressure