The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-02-07


i.oo ior re adjustment o. Gigsenccs. When
we coD,ilss how ion, your government IA.
maintained what is deemed al un;us, posses
sion more especially, whcn-we reeoilec, that
the injSries before received are slill unre-
dressed, and ,ha, o:ners have been since ren-
aered, there can oe, j, Is presumed, but one
opinion, as TO the great moderation OF this
governmsot In acquiescing In IL. But why
restore this province to Spain, If Il is the in
teuiion of your gavernrnen, TO make The title
to h, in connection with other differences,
suhiset of amicable negotiation aud arrange
meht May not such rnegolia,ion be eD.er.
ed into, as well while il is in the occupancy
OF the T.. S,s,es, as If i, were 10 that ct Spain
You demand, nex,, that Ms. Toledo aud
Others, whom you mention, charged with
promoting revolt IN the Spanish provinces,
aad exciting ciiixcos of the United States to
loia in il, shall be arrested aud Iied--,her
troops disarmed, and Dispersed
You intimate, that troops are levying in
Keo,ucky, Tennessee, Louisiana and Geosgis,
for tho invasion OF The Spanish Provinces, of
whom Que thousand arc from Kentucky, and'
thrcc hundred from Tennessee, TO sc com
fnandcd by Amsrcsn ci,izens, but you do not
state. at what points ,hese 'nen are collected,
or by whom commanded md o, to ihe lor-
ecs said TO be raised 10 Louisiana and Gear
gia, your communication is sill moe iudc6-
mite. The informaticn recently ootsiued by
this department., from persons OF high con-
sideration, is Of very dihersnt character. II
Is stated, that no men are collected, nor is
thsre evidence Of az attempt os design to col
lect any 40 Kentucky, Tennessee, or Georgia,
tor the purpose stated und that the force
said to be assembled under Mr.. Toledo is
sefy Uncomfortable, and composed principal
" OF Spaniards and Frenchmen. Ii any por-
ten OF il consists Of citizens Of tho Uuile,l
Sistes, their couduc, is unauthorized and IL
legal This force is.no, within rhc settled
parts of Louisiana, but in the wilderness, be-
sween the settlements Of the United States
sod Spain, beyond lhe ac,osl operation of our
laws. have 10 request that you will have
the goodness 10 stale, at what points in Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Louisiana, ,any
force is collected the numberiu each instance,
and by whom commanded Il such force is
collected, or collecting, within the United
States, for the purpose suggested, or other
illegal purpose, il will be dispersed, and the
parties prosecuted, according TO law.
The goveramen is under no obligations,
nor has il the power, by any law or Treaty, TO
surrender any inhsbitant Of Spain or the Span
ish provinccs, on lbe demand of the go,crD-
ment Of Spain |; nor is any such inhabitani
punishable by the laws Of the United States
for acts committed beyond their jurisdiction,
the case Of pirates only excepted. There is
fundamental law of our system. II is not,
hnwssar,scon6ped "a US. IL !. believed TO be
she law of all civilized ns,ioas, where not
particularly varied by treaties.
In reply 10 your third demand, the exclu-
sion Of the flag Of the revolving provinces,
have to observe, that in consequence of the
unsettled state OK macy countries, and the re-
pealed changes of the ruling authority in
each, ,here being at the same time several
competitors, and each party bearing its ap-
propriate .las, the President though, it pro-
per, some time past, to give orders to the
coilecv,rs, not 10 make the flag Of any vessel
the criterion or condition Of its admission in
% the ports oF the u. States. Hsviug taken
no part in the differences and convulsons
which have GisuEped those countries, II is
consistent W. Toe jost principles, and il Is
with tue interests of the Uni.ed STATES, to re.
ceivc the vessels of all countries into their
ports, 10 wda,evec party belonging, and I'm.
der whssever tlag sailing, piea,cs excepted,
requiring Of them OILY The payment of tie
dulies, and obedience to The laws whi,c under
their iuriss,c zion witnout adver,ing to the
question, whs tber they had committed any
violation of IN allegiance or laws obligatory
on them in t'Se countries 10 which they be-
iooged, ei,t.er IN assuming such aig, or in
any other respect;
In the. differences which have suSsistcd be.
tween Spain and her colorics, the Y. States
have observed all proper respect TO their
fri, .pdiy relations with Spain. They took no
~ leasure to Indemnify themselves Tor Losses
+. and injuries none TO guard agsins, The oc.
capancy of the Spanish territory by the Brit
ish forces in the late war, or TO occupy The
territory 10 which the United S,s,es consider
their title good, except in the ins,sIee Of w.
Florida, and 10 tha, instance, under circurn.
stances which made their interposition as
much an act Of accommodation to the Span
ish authority there, ss Of security to them.