Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-23

titude and health, relyiugon the iu.i;cc al our
government to int rierc ia 80 iiagrant an out
rage upon the Law ofuationS, and of public jus
hce.--Our Minister at Madrid has done himself
honor aud AIN happyln enclosing To you "a CO.
py OF ~ letter from q. W. Ervng, Esq. 10 the
Spanish Minister OF state, concerning this IN
jnred n;,,,, which Goes equal justice TO his firm
ness, and tie rights of his cOuHtrN. Tins letter
Won will perceive, leaves il no longer anatter
of doubt, that this is nota suDjec, OF private
dispute, but OF pubic power exercised contra
~ 10 Justice against him; for II appears TINT
the Spanish nnSterhiasefhas Acknowledged
the iicga;ty OF bis Seil ure aud confinement,
aud Yet by some secret means ms release Is pre-
vented Some OF our countrymvn, nc tuatcd lay
motives that tOfbCar TO cali by the ptt PEI
name, had spread rum0uist TO his prejudice, aud
sought toirduce an opinion that II was mat
ter of private nature Altogether, and That
there was some private misconduct ou ms paJt;
the acknowledgements OF the Spanish minisie
and the deClaratiun OF the minister OF the Oai-
ted States, put rlunOrS of thiS Kind Ia their pro
per credit. This imprisonment is new NO long
or Il private aitGir, II IS much an outrage a.
sainSt the American nation rs any act OF the
Tnnlsians and 1igcrunes, upon which so mech
noble spirit has been displayed II Is 10 he mop
ed that the ambassador OF Spain does not hold
than pcrnic;ous ntuence in America which can
prevail agains the rights of an american free
man, or that man vino has on all occasions
done honor to the tag under which lie has ne
Yer ceased to rally, can b. thus made the victim
at English intrigue aud spanish degtaoatiOn.--
I hlS cruelty is exercised on him aud continued,
under other circumstances peculiarly disgrace
ful 20 the bcIsted honor OF spain the sovern-
ment owes Him large sum OF money, and thew
seem determined either not To pay MINI, or To
torture him 10 ueaJli, with the expectation of
eyading payment by that means. The letter oi
Mr.. Ervins Is enclosed lAHorG.
10 his Erce1iency Dr. Jose Pizqrro, FIRST
Secretary Of State, Sc. Sc. Madrid
MApRI0 Doth June Isl7
SIR, ''' --''' "'' '''''
My last note 10 you on the case OF 4. =.
Meade, was on the 9th vt May iaft that repre-
sentation induced your eXCeNeucy 20 repeat his
Alajesty's orders To the council of war, 10 the
end that IL might forthwith execute the consult
Ia which has betpso long since demanded from
1t. 1t was to be expected that in a case o; this
urgency, wien the liberty fortune, health aud
domestic happiness of an innocent man had
been WantOuiy sacrificed, that the tribunal
wouldh aye FASTENED To repair the errors which
1T had fallen into, more particularly as 1.-The
name Ofmy government, had demanded the
liberty Of this individual. Ii was nor, howe
yer, till the 10th May, that the 6Scals dict0BcR
was given. That document, after VAIN at
tempt TO justify the anterior proceeding COM
planned Of concludes in these words:
" But at present, when the deposit exists in
actual cash, as the treasurer general states, aud
wien the couSulado assure US that II demanded
Meade to make tho said depositiu the treasury
OF ihe reutS, itappears that he having complied
Longer TO continue
The conclusion which the fiscal has thus ar
rived at, and tie facts on which he has founded
II, cere as true tvelre moEtIsdgo, asthey are ao,c
In fine, here is formal confession OF the fiscal
himself, according to which there is no ground
TOR continuing the Imprisonment Of Mr.. .l4eede a
single moment but though this dietdmea was
given OH the 10th MAY fast, Mr.. Meade has moi
been yet released L therefore pray that your
eXcelency would be pleased TO order that the
council act in conformity to 1t without the least
delay. renew TO your eXcellency assurances
ofmy most distinguished considerations
(signcd) GEO. W. ERVING.
Translated ertract Of oaoiker letter fi.on a
Spanish gentleman dated Mddrid, 2Ot6
J~ly, 1917.
9 Ii is determined here to inllict capitalpuu-
shment on all who were, however remotely,
implicated ia the affair of general Lacy, bnt
with tIis cruel refinement Of discrimination
some are TO be siictto death IN irI!itary way
Others to be stramgIed (gWrete )-otherS are
TO he hanged on gbhets-aud some are 10 be
burnt a!ire; this IS the age OF civilization-and
among tie prisoners too there are many ladies
ef tie FIRST nobility"