The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-12-17


copsuluso military corps. On this case he.
would deiain the House no logger, he said;
for he was stis6sd they could no, but agree
with h'w, il the law justified the proceeding
that had iakeB place, that Law ought TO be i'm
raediste.v amended, Other cases had occur
red in which il appeared to him 1t became
the Congrsss TO interpose It's authority. Per-
sons saiiing under the flag Of the provinces
mad been arfaiepcd, tried and acquitted Of
piracy, the ssme individuals, on the insiiga-
zion OF Spanish cniccr or agen', had been
again arrsigned, for the same offence. The
gentlemen from Massachusetts would cor,
reel him IL he was WRONG for the case had
occurred in the town oi Boston. We admin
this flag Of these colonies into our ports, said
Mr.. G.; we protcss 10 be neutral but If our
laws pronounce, that The moment the proper
~ and persons under that dag enter our ports,
they shall be seized the ono claimed by the
Spat'sh minister or consul as the property
of Spain, and the other prosecuted as pirates,
that Law ought TO be altered IL We mean 10
perform our neutral professions. have,
brought the subject before this House thps
promptly, said Mr. G. because I trust that in
tbis Hou c the cause will find justice that,
however treated elsewhere, on This floor will
be found gus' dian interest attending to our
performance of tho Just obligations Of neu-
trality. Hitherto, he said, whatever might
have been our intentions, our acts had been
all on the other side. FROM tho proclsma-
tion OF l8l s, issued to ter0ninste an expedn-
loo, supposed to be organizing in I.ouisisns,
an expedition existing only in the mind Of
the Cheavaiier de Onis, down TO the lsie act
whether the measure was proper one or
not he did not soy his confidence in the Elk.
ecutiye led him 10 suppose II was cpted OH
sufficient grounds--down 10 tho sider for
suppressing, AS il was called, the establish
ments at Amelia lslsnd and Cialvestown, all
the acts OF the government had been on ono
aide /: they all bore against the Colonies, a.
gainst the cause 10 whiCh h tho pat,iots of
South Ameiici were arduousiy cngsgrd. I;
became us, be said, TO look 10 the other side
honestly intending neu,raliiy, as he believed
we did. Let us recollect the condition Of
ne patriots no minister here Ia spur on our
COVE nn,eRt, es was said in an inic crcsting and
!; appeared 10 him very candid work recent
= published In this souotry respecting the
prueress OF the South American rcvoluiiop.--
no minisie here to be rewarded by noble hon.
ors 10 conss QueDce OF the influence be is sup
posed To possess With The Amet an govern
ment No their unfortunate case, Mr.. 6.
said was what ours had been in the years
i77S and l77o--theif Ministers, like our
Flankiins and jays az ,ha, day, were skuIking
aboul Europe, imploring inexhorable Iegiu-
macy one kind loek--som0 aid 10 terminate
war aMicting TO humanity. May, their sit.
uation WAS worse than ours: Tor we hid one
great and Wagnsnimous ally TO recognize Us,
but no nalipa bad stepped forward 10 scknowl-
edge any Of those PROVINCES. Such disparity
between rhe parties, Mr.. &. said, demanded
a just attention to the interests Of tho party
which was unrepresenitd: and il the facts
which he had mentioned, and others which
bad como 10 his knowledge, were correct,
they loudly demanded the interposi,ion Of
Congress-. Flo trusted The House would
give the subject their attention, and show
that here, in this place, the obligations Of neu
trsli'y would be strictly regarded in respect
to Spanish America.
Mr.. Sergeant rose, in consequence Of the
gentleman having appealed to him, not TO
ener into any discussion Of the question
presented by tho amendment, but to speak
Of The faets which were within his knowledge
The statement made by the Speaker was
substsptially correct il was also correct that
the circumstance had oc ccnsioned considerable
svnSutIou etuouH OH paTttes iu the city of
Philadelphia. Mr. S. reeapiluiated the prio
cipal facts, adding that the vessel in which
these persons embarked was laden with mu.
nitions Of war, As respected tho views and
Intentions ofthe persons apprehended, Mr.. 5.
said, he believed they had neither any in,eu.
ton nor any idea Of viols,Ing the laws of The
United S,stos, and that their conduc, had been
perfectly decorous and correct. The Court
had thought they offended az aiust the Act
Of Congress Of the last session or were so
Tar at least Of that opinion, that they thought
hueees.aryto detsin them. The bail de-
manded was Dot high; but they we're rot able
TO procure II, and were, thersiors con @it,ed
togsol. II was because of the correct do
pertinent oftbose persons, tbs, tho sentiments
10 their favor had been so general; bu, no
complaint was made Of the court, for which
the same respect was entertained with which
the Speaker himself he'd regsrded IL. He had
mentioned these facts only, that the house
might, when the time came, for acting on