Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-01-14

capturing the property ri nations VITA
which the United States are at peace.
nre or the objects of the occupation
Of Amclia Island, it appears, was to
~,pDssCSs a convenient resort for priya-
trerS oFthis description, equally repro
bated by the laws of nations, which re-
cogniSe them only under the denomi-
natiun Of pirates and by several OF
the treaties OF the United States with
different European powers, which ex-
pressly denominate them as such.' IL
was against the subjecrs OF Spain.
one OF the powers with which the o.
nited States have entered into stipula-
tions prohibiting their citizens from
taking any commission from any pow
erwith which she may be at war for
armSg any ships to act as privateers,
that these vessels have been commits
siontd to cruise; though as the com
nittee have observed, no flag, not G.
ven the flag Of our own country. has
proved q protection from them. The
immediate tendency of suffering such
ornaments, in defiance OF our laws.
would have been TO embroil the Uni
ted States, with all the nations whose
commerce with our own country was
4 suffering under these depredations
aud. il not checked by all the means
in the power of the government, Would
have authorized claims from lie sub
jects Of foreign governments for in
IDENTITIES. at The expense Of this ma
teii, for captures by our people. in
vessels fitted out in our ports. and, as
could not fail of being alleged. coun-
financially the very neglect ofthe ne
cessary means Tor SUI cssing them.
The possession Of Amelia Island as a
port of rcfage for such pri'atcers.
and Of Illicit trait; In the United States
Of their prizes, which were frequent
". "a btore stated, slave ships from
Africa, was a powerful encourage
ment aud temptation 10 multiply these
violations of our laws, and made it
the duty Of the government to use all
the means in It's power to secure the
security Of our own commerce, and
Of that Of friendly nations upon our
coasts. WHICH could in 40 other way
more effcctually be done than by ia
king from this pirarical and snug.
CLING combination their place Of re-
fage.
In order, therefore, to give full ef-
feet to the intention Of the Legisla-
ture, and in pursuance o. the proyi-
sinns Of the above fccited resolution
and acts, it became necessary Gas it
appears to your cOmmittce) to sup
press all establishments, of the hostile
nature Of chose above described. made
in our vicinity. the objects Of which
appear tn have been the occupation of
the Flor;das. the spoliation Of peace
fulcommerce upon AMI near OurCoasts
by piratiral priyatcers. the ciandes-
tine importation Of goods, and the IL
licit introduction OF slaves within our
limits. Such establishments. il suffer-
ed to subsiSt aud strengthen, would
probably have rendered nusatury all
provisions made by law for the exclu-
sion of prohibited persons. The
course pursued on this occasion, will
strongly mark the feelings and inten-
tions Of our government upon the
great question Of the slave tale,
Which is so Justly considered by mest
civilized nations as repasnaut to hui
maniry, and which, in our particular
case, is not less SO to all the dictates
Of a sound policy.
Your committee anticipate bcnef-
Cial results from the adoption Of
these measures by The executive,
in the promotion vi the security
of CDR Southern Frontier, and its
ncighbOring SEAS, and in the dimui-
mutton uf the cvasions, latterly
so frequent, Of our revenue and
prohibitury laws. The expert
cnce Of ten years has however e,inced
the necessity vt some new regulations
being adopted. in order effectually to
put stop to the further introduction
of slaves into the United States. In
the act Of Congress prohibiting this
Importation, The policy of giving the
whole fnfciture OF vrSse! and gnods
20 the uuited States, and no part
thereof to the informer. may Justly be
doubted. This is an oversight which
i should be remedied. The act does
1indecd give a part of the personal De-