Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-09


ployed on behelf eiiherparty, j, is ,i,oir
business 20 look Ia il, am,i'not curs. Lei
the conduct OF the persons prosecuted, he
regarded in lis most uniaverablt hsht ::
let II be considered as the pasSaue Of
troops through our country. ano there
was Dotl,ingin ourueuiial obligations Tor
bidding II. The passa;,e OF troops iIlro'
country, according 20 has in press
sions, was question depending en- tic
particnlar interest, quiet or ren0Ss' ~ the
country traversed, aud Uig'u granted
or refused, at It's discretion, wifhou. la a.
ny degree fleeing I e obligations Of the
neutral Ia either of the parties engaged in
the controversy. But surely, Mr. c.
sand, ihlS was not case of The passage OF
troops; tic persons unprecedented aos be-
ing III sufficient number, nor organized
or equipped in such 9manner, as, un,ler
my construction, to constitute u military
corps. On this case, he wouit deian
the House no longer, he said Tor he MAS
satisfied they could not but agree.wiih
him, if the law justified The proceeding
that had taken place, that law ought 10
be Immediately amended. Oiher cases
had occurred in which it appeared 10
linn 1t became the Congress TO interpose
lis authority. Persons sailing under tie
ed III or courts, and tried for piracy i'm
one case, after having been arraign-
ed, tried and acquitted of piracy. Tie
same individuals, OF tile instigalicn of
Spanish officer CIR agent, lad been
again arraigned for the sane offence.
Tile gentlemen from Massachusetts
would correct i:im if he was wrong for
the case had occurred in the town of BOs-
ton. We admit the FLAG Of these colonies
into our ports, said MIR. c.; we profess
10 he neutral; but is our laws pronounce,
that, The moment the property and per-
sons under that flag enter our ports, they
shall be seized, the one claimed by tho
Spanish minister or consul as The pro-
perly OF Spain, and the other prosecuted
as pirates, that law ought 10 be altered If
we mean 10 perform our neutral profess
slons. | have brought the subject be-
fore this House thus prompily, said Mr..
Z. because trust That al Ills Rurse tie
cause VIII ind justice; that, however
treated elsewhere, on this hOO~ viii be
found guardian interest attending 10
our performance of ihe just obligations
of neutrality. Hitherto, he said, what
ever might have been our intentions. our
acts had been all on the Other SIDE. From
the proclamation of 1915, issujG 10 ter
gsnIZlng III Louisiana, an expedition ex-
isting only in the mind OF lie Chsyalier
de Onis, down TO the laie act---whetlIcr
the measure was proper one or not, he
did not say his confidence i'll The eXrcu-
tive led him 10 suppose II was adopted on
sufficient grounds-Gown TO the order for
suppressiDg, as II was called, the esfa-
blishunents at Amelia Island and Galcez-
tonn-all the acts of the government had
been oil one side they all bore against
the colonies, against the cause i'm vi ich
the patriots OF South America were ardu-
ousiy engaged. Ii became us, he SAID.
TO look to the other side, honestly intend
ing neutrality as he believed we did
let us recolect the condition of the IA
trIots; no minister here to spur on our
government, as was said in All interesting
and If appeared to him very candid
work recently published in this country.
respecting the progress Of the South A
meTlcan revOlution-no minister here to
be rewarded by noble hon0rs in conse-
qucnce of the influence lie is supposed
TO possess with the American govern
ment. Mo- their unfortunate case, Mr..
{. said, was what ours had been IN he
years l779 aud i779-their ministers. like
our FTanklins and jays at that day. we're
rahia legitimacy one kind loOk-some aid
TO terminate q war affecting TO humanity.
Nay, their situation was worse Than ours
for we had one great and magnanimous
ally TO recognize us, but no nation had
stepped forward TO acklowIodge any #
these provinces. Snch disparity between
the parties, Mr. &. said, demanded Just
attention 10 the interests of Tie party
which was unrcPreSented : and If tie
facts Whlci lie had mentioned, and others
which had come TO his knowledge. we're
correct, they loudly demanded he inter.
position of Congress. He trusted the
House would give the subject their alien
lion, and slew thai here, in this place.
tle obligations Of neutrality would he
strictly regarded III respect 10 Spanish A.
meriCd.
Mr.. SERGEANT rose, in consequence
of the gentleman having appealed TO him.
not 10 enter into any discussion Of n q
question presented By tie amendment.
but TO speak Of tie facts which we're with.
III his knowledge. The statement pafe
by the Speaker WAS subslaniially correct !.
II was also correct that the circumstance
had OcCasiOnCd considerable sensatjpu A.
mOng all parties in The city of Pljia1.l.
pllia. Mr.. y. recapiiUated the pripcipaF
idclS, duuhs, lBdt me vessel 10 WhiS n
these persons embarked was laden with
munitions Of vas. As respected lheyiev 5
and intentions of tie persons sppre-
hended, Mr.. 5. said, be believed tliev jp d
neither any intention nor any idea Of Vi.
nlaiing ihc laws ofihe United States. ard
that Heir conduct had been perfectly
decorous and correct The court lad
thought they had offended against ibe
Act Of Congress of the last session o,
were so far at least Of tbat opinion. ibai
they thoeght il necessary TO drtain fl,ftn
The bail demanded Wa not L;pL D.,