Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-10-22
@ottCa,S:
Tuesday, October %, 1916.
Sponi,h outrage on The Firebraud.


Spanish outrage on The Firebrand.
"A letter from person on board the Eirebrand
gives the particulars of the treat ent received from
three Spanish vessels while cruising 10 the bay of
Mexico. On discovering, she made for them, at
the same time two of the Spanish vessels stood for
the Firebrand, but did not list her colcurs--N hen
within pistol shot, one of the spanish vessels, with
out hailing, fred into her. 1t. Cunningham, the
Commander, did not return the FIRE but endeavour-
ed to obtain an explanation, aud was answered
with short aud abusive language. Ii. G. sent his
Lieutenant on board the Spanish Commodore in
Consequence of threats to sink The vessel and offer
ed to surrender, which not accepted--Altor a
detention of several hours the +. was permitted TO
depart The Spanish Officer gave as reason for
this Outrageous conduct, that the Americans had
no right to navigate the gulf OF Mexico that they
had no commerce there TO protect, that the Gov
General had declared the coast in state of block
ade and ordered the coast be secured aud TO res
pect the dag OF no nation AMI that 10 them there
was no difference between the flag of the nsurgent
and the L. 5.
u. S. Squadron M Tho Msd,ter ranean
II is stated not to be the intention OF Govern
inent to reduce the strength of The q. S. Squadron
IN the Mediterranean at present. s4fc
u 20
We presume no apologyis necessary for occupy
iDg large portion of this days Gazette with the
sketch on the debates on the extraordinary and
monstrous Report adopted hya aority of the
brunswick Convention. We could have wished
that the sketch had been more complete, tho we
are assured il contains the substance OF the argt-
ments pro and con. They will furnish matter Tor
reflection If not conviction and confirmation TO
those nho prefedd to doabt aud hesitate. For we
. sa rla inJ,u hat
is halt degree above common IDIOT who has read
the Act concerning the separation, that viii say
either upon his honor bis conscience that the re-
port Is, IN the smallest degree conf0fmabie to the
law or common sense Those who voted for the
report say they did it with the motive of keeping
the separation question al're. The same reason
might be given by hnnggy man who should take
his neighbours purse to keep himself nttue when,
at the same time he might support himself by hon.
est industry. Such logic might answer for the
biack.Iegged gentry !" but an honest and indie
pendent man would spurn it.
The Argus labours hard to make its readers
swallow John Holiness report but il will prove
sorry business. The thing is every where condemn
ed aud hoeted at as well i'll the deuocratick, as
fedei al papers. Some extracts from tie Boston
Yankee, will be found on the FIRST page. The ed-
tor o5sesyes that the report is so ageous that
TO the publick. The Editor of the Boston Patriot
observes an istefesfed silence The fact is the adj,
yocates OF separation tells Ny. Ballard oitpuper,
that II he dare publish any thing against the separa-
ton they shall cease taking his paper. What liber-
Atty part aud Independence on the otter !.
The Salem Gazette intimates that it ]. of but lit
tie consequence TO Massachusetts, wbeihe Maine
be separated or not, and chat majority Of Maine
an In he fay Of tiin baxa
and do conceive that the onion Of Maine, with
Massachusetts r. of great i.npog,anee 10 The Did
state AT any rate If Massachusetts, we're disposed
to agree TO the separation on fair and bouorable
principles. she will have too much regard to her
own honor to give her consent under crcunlsi ances
that would unite her in the disgrace that attaches
to John Holmes aud his blind followers. When
Massachusetts hnds that not twelve thousand vo-
tiers, OF the forty thousand of VI aine are favor Of
separation, and that among the opponents most
81 the talents of Maine she will not be rash in dis
solving eur connexian. Ii viii be ercei,ed by
the opposition vote that there Is not that great
anxiety anoug ourselves, that universal Of
the people of Maine that can alone justify the sepa-
ration; 90 the other hand take ont the counties
of kennebeck and Somerset, and there are a major
ity oil The votes cast against the separation, and
cry man OF common sense, knows under what mo-.
tves those counties voted. Iu many counties there
serious question with the Legislature whether they
have right to disfrancli.e those counties. We
know Of no constitutional right that lie whole Dis
trict Of Maine has TO controui even a single county
there is no such body polite or corporate as the
District of Maine. But counties. have corporate
rights under the government OF Massachusetts, and
IL may eventually be important to consider whether
they can be deprived OF those rights.
1t is evident from the tone Of the last Argus that
some new master hasassuned the editorial task From
the high encomiums of John Holmes there can be
no question but that he lent helpful hand. He
will need, il is confidently believed, more talents
than even he possesses TO yindicate himself and his
conduct in the Brunswick Convention, before the
tribunal of the People Of Maine, lie has over
whelmed the whole District With disgrace. His
report is the subject of universal derison. Impair
tiai men of both political parties, in Massachusetts
proper and in neshbouring states, consider it as
the masterpieces Of folly. The Eastern Argus is
the only paper in the Union, that dsres To commit
itself by speaking in its praise. How much repn-
iaton that paper has 70 1--we is well knowa 10
every one. ALFRED. Z
Mn pprNTrR e