Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-07
SPIRITED REPORT.


The following report, made to the Senate of
the U. States by MIR. Barbour, breathes a spi-
rit which We most cordially approve.
IN SENATE-MARcH 81.
The committee of the Senate on FO-
reign relations, 10 whom was referred the
petition of sundry citizens Of Pililaael-
phia, asking the in,erposiiion Of Congress
in behalf of RICHARD w. MEADE, an
American citizen, unjustly and wanionly
confined in dungeon IN Spain, by the
authority OF that government, have given
to the subject the delibcration lis impur-
lance deserved, and beg leave 10 submit
the following report: 1t appears from the
documents, II. w. Meade is an Ame-
rican citizen, who went to Spain in the
year 1903, on lawful business; that IN
the wear 1906, such was The confidence
of the government III his inegiiiy, that
he was appointed navy aeeut for The
United States at the port of Caeliz, sta
ton which he held unit. The tim. of his
confinement. Such was the correctness
OF his department, as TO have been an
pointed bv the tribunal OF commerce AT
Cadiz, with the consent of all the par
ties concerned, assignee of bankrupt.
the amount of whose estate involved n
high responsibility. He performed the
duties Thus devolved upon him. honestly.
and, having collected for distribution
fifty thousand dollars, he several times
peiitioned the tribunal TO permit him TO
remit this sum 10 tho creditors of the
bankrupt resident in England; the only
proper cOurs" left him TO pursue, mas
much as he had, when appointed agent
of the bankrupt, given his bond TO that
tribunal conditioned to take charge ofthe
effects 1.-THE bankrupt, and to be response
bic soleiy to the tribunal .for the proceeds, be-
Tag prohibited under tie penalty of the
6onds from diSpoSing Of the fin,ds) wiiaout
The suction Of he tribunal. \ controversy
having arisen between the creditors and
bankrupt about the distribution, Meade
Offered the money TO either, if they would
give bond, with sureiies, to the sa,isiac
tion OF the tribunal of commerce. bv which
his own might he cancelled. This ihev
were unable 10 do The tribunal. of its
own accord, and unexpectedly, decided
THAR Meade should on the following
morning, place the money in the kings
treasury, until the parties litisaut should
give the security required ii being de-
clared, that Meade'S property should
be sequesiered in the case OF nom-pavment
at the time limited. The money was
forthwith paid by Meade into the trea-
sury, III treasury notes, equal to specie.
and hence acknowledged by the treasurer,
that tile depOsite had been made IA due form,
under his inspection, an etfsectiuc specie. and
that whenever tie tribunal shoald order its
payment, ms majesty OOatid pay Tin tie same
| coin.
Notwithstanding this Judgment and
the discharge thereof, by the payment
| aforesaid, MIR. Dermot, the agent for the
| British creditors, brought suit against
| Meade In the same court, to recover
the very sum he hal heretofore paid i'm
conformity TO its judgment. The court
awarded Judgment against Meade a Sc
| appealed 10 the superior tribunal, called
Abradas. During its pendency, il is
charged by Meade, that the cause was
removed, by the interposition of the Bri-
| tish minister, to the council of war. and
by the same interposiiion, his arrest
and confinement were procured, from
which he could be relieved only by re-
payment of the money. He has anguish
ed in confinement from the I'd of Nav,
| 1916, down TO the last accounts from
Spain.
| The Representative of this nation at
that court has repeatedly appealed 10 his
catholic majesty for the relief OF Meade ;
and the appeal has been in vain Tie
court of Spain having refused either 10
restore the money, deposited in lis own
treasury, by order gifts own competent
Judicial authority. or 70 release the person
o!Meade from the long confinement 10
which he has been doomed and, finally,
the President of the United States, whose
| peculiar province il is 10 take cognizance
OF subjects Of this kind, has caused a re-
presentation on the subject TO be made
| o the minister of Spain 10 the u. States,
demanding his immediate liberation. No
thing but d confidence that This represent
tation will produce the desired results.
would have restrained your committee
from recommending the adoption of mea-
sureS OF severe retribution.
| Your committee are of opinion that it
is due TO The dignity Of the United States
to adopt, as fundamental rule ofits po-
Icy, the principle, that one Gifts citizens,
to whatever region of the earth his lawful
business may carry him, and who de-
means himself as becomes his character
is entitled TO the protection of his govern
ment, and whatever intentional injury
may bo done him should be retaiated by
the employment, it necessary, of the
whole force Of the nation.
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