Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-03


I years. We left these scenes of horror,
and in going into the country, i met the
slaves retaining from their labor. The
| clang of the chains OF those who were
heavily ironed, called my attention TO
| theIr extreme fatigues and detection
they were attended by infideis with large
| whips. "-p. ll-l3.
The ravages oftiese detestable pirates
| are chiefly committed upon the vessels of
the weaker powers, and upon the defence
less coast of Sicily, Sardinia, Calabra,
aud the eastern side of Italy but no
ports of tine Mediterranean shores, except
| France, are free from their incursions-
When they venture TO seize an English or
French ship, they butcher the whole crew
to avoid the detection which must ensue
from their prisoners being examined by
the coDsuls. But when they capture tie
vessels of weaker states, they lead the
crews into the hopeless bondage which
we have been contemplating, unless, in
deed, that the lateTeaty with Naples and
Sardinia, concluded under our sanction,
must expose the crews of their ships to
the same fate with those of England and
France. But the worse vengeance of
these barbarians is reserved for their
coasts. They land on any exposed point,
and fall upon the defenceless houses and
villages, burning and destroying every
thing they cannot take away, and carry
ing off whole inhabitants, even chill
dren at the breast. The terror in which
those people live who are thus exposed,
can Hardly be Imagined. There arewhole
ranges OF coast where no house is TO be
seen from the sea and, In many places,
Martello tower and ditch are regular
parts of a nobleman's villa. The promise
TO clear the sea of the pirates, used TO be
| one OF the great engines of English infiu
ence in the Italian courts. Oar long for
bearance has of late nightly injured our
characterln those countries; and the treaty
just now alluded TO, land which formed the
subject of Mr.. Broughams motion, has
still further contributed TO place our con-
duct i'll light disadvantageous TO Our re-
putation.
The treaties not having been laid be-
fore the public, II is impossible to state in
detail what have been the proceedings Of
government; but it was admitted in the
late discussion that our admiral had as
sisted in concluding bargain with the
pirates, by which the 'Eeapolitan sls,ves
were ransomed at about fifty pCGnds a
head, ard the Sardinians at something
less; and the piratical court stipulated, fora
further yearly sum, to capture no vessels
belonging TO either of those two powers,
without regular declaration Of war
Now, 10 what does the sanction, If not
the actual negotiation, of such treatries
by England, amount? Most certainly to
an indirect sanction Of the outragcs by
which the wretched captives were taken:
but If we admit that there WAS some in
ducemeRt rather TO negotiate than 10 COM
pei their liberation, Ill order 10 avoid the
risk they might run of being massacred'
during ourmilitary operations against the
Dey IN their behalf, still the worst part of
the argument remains undeieuded it is
a taeit permission given by England to
whatever depredations the barbarians may
commit upon all the vessels and coasts
not protected by the treaties that is, up
on every country which has not paid tri-
butte for an exemption from lawless VIC
lence. 1t what other light can the affair
be viewed by the rest of Europe? Is it
not evident that every nation which con
tinues subject TO the piTacies of the cor
sairs, viii charge us both with having left
it unprotected, and with having authori-
zed the claim of the robbers to obtain a
price for their torbearance But the
robbers themselves will doubtless view it
in the same light; they will act as if they
had the countenance of the English go
vernment III their Outrages, and will, at
TIC very ltdSl, COUSltlCI dis per
mitted by us to plnnder every one who
cannot, or will not pay for their indemni-
ty. We say, at the very least; for there
is no reason TO expect that these savage
marauders will be satisfied with extending
the arrangement recently made TO all o.
Their nations. 1t is far more likely that
they begrudge the loss Of apart Of their
field ofplunder, dndwill notconsent torres
trlctltfurther. lnall probability they have
been induced TO allow the limitation now
imposed, as much for the sake OF tile au-
thority which our inierposltion 81, cs TO
their remaining depredations, as for the
gain Immediately derived from Tie bar
gain. At all events, there can be no
doubt, that. excluded from one part OftIIe
Mediterranean shores, they will consc-
crate tl9lr forces, and pour them upon the
coasts which remain unprotected by any
stipulation or that tbC fair fields OF Ius-
cany and the Roman territory will paw
Tor the exemption purchased by Sardinia
and Naples.
This, at least, is the universal cxpecta-
ton III those countries and the Charac-
Ter OF the English is lowered in their esti-
nation accordingly. In iic late discus
sion, a fact transpired which must excite
Tie mos, bitter sentiments of shame in
every lover Of his country Lord Coch
raDe stated that he bad himself, three orr
years ago, The humiliating duty assigned
bun, ofcarrying to the ley Of Alters
rich presents from our government and
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