Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-28

10 CHERISH them, yet IN the feeble state ofinf;an
cys
Now, then, let us examine, and see how far
Spain andher different mOaarchs have claim nm
on our friendship.
On the 18th of February, $500, the kim of
Spain declared Gibraltar III a state of bIo,l 10
against our vessels, in ordcr,as nc termed II IN
make just reprisals against the enemies of his
Crown. Thus, he determined to obstruct oar
trade, the trade OF neutrals in amity with him.
IN order to intlict punishment on his enc
mics
On the 10th of February, 1907, the Kiur of
Spain declaredall the british Isles i'm a stale of
blockade, aud decreed the capture and the con
asoa.,on OF our vessels and property, on the
common highway OF nations, whenever bound
TO orirom the ports of England and her Deepen
denotes. Was this friendly Was itiust
Cn the ad OF JANUARY, lS0S, the King ofSpain
-the sovereign OF that religious and moral ma
lon, winch scrupulously observes the faith Ut
treaties, and pretcnds never To have wrongedu ms
published q decree, declaring all our vessels
touching at Il British port, ora port in British
possession, or even visited on the h,yb seas bX
British cruizer, good aud valid prizes. No
exemption was made i'll favour OF those that
might involuntarily have Ia put into M English
port by force on distress, OF that might rot be
aDie 20 escape from being visited BY vessel
OF mar nation, no matter where. All were de-
nati0nalized; all were adiudred alike l,vt;ll
prizes 10 the captor.
This last was signed by the famous Don Pc
drO Cev3llos, then minister minister ro,y and
avery leading and conspicuous one TOO. Man
we not, then, reasonably presume that whilst
the same minister continues TO enjoy confidence
ana favour with the present adorcd monarch
ms people, the same spirit of hostility exists
still, although in a different shape or more Sc
cret disguise; and that the man retained i'm
council, who had the influence, the wickedn
OF weakness, to recommend and lend himseifto
s0detestabie an act at that time would have
the dcspcuop the malice or propensity. TO
wrong us as much to-day ii he only had the
power and opportunity.
We viii pass over the unprincipled robberies
atSt. Sebastians, lest an apology for Spain
should be urged from the circumstance that
those atrocities took place under the reign of
an usurper.
twill be seen, on reference to the Journals.
ttat the instances of aggression on our vessels
our property and our citizens, AT various times
on thu ocean, in Spanish ports on our 'front.'
efs, ana even within our own territory have
peeh numerous enough under the legitimate gor-
eiRHentS OF Spain whose conduct towards us
has been marked with indignties and insults
heapedupOn Tvs beyond measure.
Hearken To the words of Mr.. Monroe Secrc-
tary oil State, III his letter Of the Sth of July,
iSil, lnrepiy 10 Mr.. FOSTER" might bring.
toyour view long catalogue of injuries which
tie United States have received from Spain
SINCE the conclusion of their revolutionary war
,ny one % Th'ch would most probably have
Dcen considered cause Of lrar, and resented as
such, by other powers. l will mention two of
these only the spOliatiOns that were commit
tSu on their commerce To a great amount in
me last war, and the suppression of their depo-
SIT at NeW Orleans, Just before The commence
neht OF the present war, i'll violation of solemn
treaty for neither OF these injuries has any re-
paratlon or atonement beenmade."
MIR Monroe replied 10 MIR. Foster again, on
the "a OF November, as follows -" The Exec
utivc could not believe thatthe government nf
SPAN would refuse TO the United States the
JUSTICE due TO those accumulated injuries when
.ue supJect shoEid be broIght soleinnly before
IL, Dya special mission.-lt IS known, that an
envoy eAtiaoI binary was sent 10 Madr in 1903
OH this SUBJECT, and that the mission did nor
accomplish tue object intended by it, The u.
S,ates nave considered the government OF
SPAN indebted 10 them greater sum than he
Pf0r.nce Of East florida can, by any fair sta,d
ara between the parties, be estimated at
lt"9id os htShty improper for tbe United states in
their respect tor Spain, teJOrgef ,c!lat Htey Que
20 faeif o'cn CHARACTER and to Tie r.ats ottIeic;,
jgred citizens" "
The accustomed proud and imperious tone
or the different Spanish plenpotentiarics. which
itwul ne recoliected, has sometimes resulted
IN their dismissal by our governments clearly
demonstrates the sentiments which have con
stahtiy actnated their court, and the policy and
conduct II has always been inclined 10 pursue
towards this ton.
During our late war, amanifeSt partiality was
eVincedDy Spain III favour OF England 1nuch
10 our prejudice. When she was the enemy of
England, we, although neutral and amicabIe.
were MADE TO suffer AS If a party in the con-
test and afterwards, when Spain became the
irlend OF England, we were as much treated
Win diSrespect scorn x injury, even bordering
on hostility
Ask the commanders of some of orr nrivate
armed vessels what reception they sometimes
metwIth IN Spanish ports, attlle very time that
the vessels OF our enemy would be honouredand
welcomed, and which often stationed them-
serves there IN security, to run out upon occa
sion, and surprise ours, which had hardly any
place OF refuge from home. Appeal to the
brave defenders of the Frigatc Essex at
tacked, overpOwered, and suffered to he taken
In neutral waters, III the Spanish port OF Valna
Taiso. Enquire oftbOse vaIor0us sons of Column
bia what friendship the Spaniards DISPLAYED for
us before andatter their Inisfortuues I'm the pa
cific Ocean
the sd OF July, IoIl says -" In ruuniur down
the coast of Chill and Peru, fell in with a Pc
ruvian corsair, which had on board ticentg-fo,lr
dptricaHS, rs prisoners, the crews of two whale
shipS she had taken OH the coast of Chilli The
captain informed me- that, as the allies of t,reat
Britain, they would capture all they should
meet with, III expectation of war between
spain * the u. States" Was this the respect
which tte Spaniards consider due to the sancti
y OF treaties!
Captain Porter, in his letter of the 18th of
July, 1911, writes as follows - When asked
Captain HIllyar il he intended to respect he
neutrality Of the port, he Replied You. sir
have paid such respect to the neutrality Of this
port, that | feel myself bound i'm honor to do
the same During the action, our Consul
General, MIR. P0insett, called OH the Governor
of Val paralsO, and requested that the batteries |
might protect the Essex. This request was
refused. There is no doubt there was perfect
understanding between them.'-1huS, the u
nited States SHIP Essex was captured at an
Choir, within pistol shot of the Spanish shore, |
a l.. Il. Al. "a