Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-04-24

ChAkLES ION, March %.
The very extraordinary conduct OF our
naval and military officers in receiving the
island of Amelia from a few persons calling
themselves patriots, and erecting thereon,
the flag of the United States, 10 pregnant
with the most serious consequences. From
our personal knowledge of Commodore
Campbell, of the correctness of his princi.
pies, and of his sound Judgment, We can.
not persuade ourselves that he would have
acted extensively against a power with
whom We are at peace, and with whom We
are now carrying on the most lucrative
commerce, without being authorised so to
do by his government IL he had been a
Young mar of ardent feelings and warm
tempvv, he might have been t%repanned into
acts 1t hostility by the calls OF a patriot
force sinking of the trauhmels ofoppression
and tyranny, and without viewing the con-
sequences which might result TO his u
try fo"m it-but when We know his deilbe.
rate Judgment and sound mind, controlled
as IL IS D, the experience of time, We have
full confidence that he has authority for
what he has done. Against the province
OF East. Florida, the United States have
never presumed to offer any claim OF right
We have not even the apology OF a disputed
boundary, as we had with West. Florida,
to offer as an excuse for seizing upon this
province of a friendly power. And when
we take into view the situation 10 which
Spain is placed by the invasion OF the Cor.
sican t,rant, the friends of American honor
must blush at this unprecedented conduct
Of our officers. At the moment when the
mother country is struggling for her exist.
ence. we are despoiling her OF her colonies,
and cutrisg off a part Of her resources against
her enemy. Without adverting to the ruin
Gus consequences which will inevitably re-
suit from this increase of our territory, we
must view the alliance which sub.ists be.
tween Spain and 6. Britain, and the guar
antee of the integrity of the Spanish posses.
sions made by the latter. If the subjects OF
the colonies throw off their allegiance and
erect a form of government more congeniai
to their necessities and wishes, it is a right
which the people possess so to do. hut
when = foreign nation invades and takes
possession Of their territory /; their honor,
their interest, and their policy, compel
them to avenge it. Great Britain, who is
lavishing both her blood and her treasure in
support of the injured Ferdinand, will un-
questionably view the occupation of Amelia
as actual wal commenced against their ally,
and will not remain unconcerned spectators
of the event. The Governor of Cuba is
the Governor of Florida, and bis duty will
compel him to protect his government BY
all the means 10 his power. Gu merchants
and seamen, who, unconscious of the storm
which their government has been gathering
about the m, are now in his harbors, will,
we fear, feel the FIRST effects OF his resent.
ment. There is also one other circumstance
TO be taken into consideration, a circum.
stance as well known to the Spanish autho.
rites as to ourselves, and that is, that ma
nv of these very men who call themselves
Spanish Patriots, are in fact native citizens
of the United States, and some of them
holding at this civil and military
situations under this government. And
these ousrages have taken place too, at the
very when our own government
are crying out against the conduct of Great.
Britain, for an alleged outrage of a similar
kind.
March so.
LATEST FROM FLORIDA.
BY Saturdays mail, and by the arrival on
Saturday evening of the schooner Rising
Sun. In two days from Amelia Island. our
accounts from East Florida, are bro't down
to Thursday noon.-The statement which
we published of the taking possession of
that Province, in last Fridays Courier,
on the authority of a gentleman from thence,
is folly confirmed in all its particulars by
letters which we have seen, and by infor-
nation received from several gentlemen,
passengers in the Rising-Sun. The A,
merican troops remained in quiet posses