The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-01-28

O,bcs ,;sxurn,ta.,css ssre tbeueht 10 b6
Ho Tess deserving OF attentions. Tho ins,iia-
ton Of a government, by foreiGn sdsen'ure's
| in the Island, dis,inct from the colonial gov
crnmen,s of Boenos hyres, VeoezueIs,
or Mexico, pretending TO sovereignty, and
exercising It's highest Offices, particularly IN
granting com missions 10 privaiecrs, were ae's
whieh could non fail TO draw after them the
most serious conseqences. X was tho duty
Of the executive, either TO oxssod TO this es'
tablishmept all The advantages CT that neo-
| teali,y. which the United States had pro-
cl,imeJ, and have observed in favor oi inc
| colonies OF Spain, who by the strength OF
| heir own population and resources, had &c
cIarGi their Independence, and were s'iofo-
| ing strong proof Of their ability 10 maio,sin
| IL, or 10 make the discrimination which cif-
I cuf,stynces required. Had ihe first course
\ been pursued, we should not only have saac'
,ioned all the unlawful claims and pracuces
| of this pretended government, in regard 10
| IA the UnNed States, bot TO have countsnahc.
! ed a system Of privatceting IN the tuit OF
Mexico, and elswhcre, tn cill cffcc,s oil which
might and prc5sbly would have been deeply
| nd very extensively felt. The path oi duty
| was plain from the commencement; but u
WIS painful 70 enter upon " while the obi'ea-
ion could DO resisted. The law Of 1911,
usely published, and which 1t 10, thcreiose'
3,opcr now TO mention, was conSdefed ap'
p;icable to the case from the moment thet
ne prociauaation Of the chict Of the entcr'
Prise, was sean, and its obligation was daily
| increased by oiber considerations OF bigh
| ,,nportauec, already mentioned, which were
lses,ed sufficiently strong IN ihomselvxs TO
| dictate tie eonrsc which has been pursued.
Early limitations having been received OF
| the dangerous purposes OF these advcnturers,
| timely precautions were taken, by the esiab'
ment of u force near the ST. Mary's,to pre-.
;ent their effect, or il is probable thatn would
have been sensibiy feh.
To such establishment, made SO near 10
| our settlements, in the expectation OF de'iv'
iog uid from, il is particularly gratifying, TO
fad that very little encouragement was given.
The example so coAspicuous only displayed
BY our fellow cirizeo., that their sympa'hies
canno, DO pleveued TO io,i,' optr purposes,
bnt that love OF county tho influence OF
moral principles, and a sespecl for the laws,
are predominant with them, Is sure pledge,
that oil the very Hlttetlng anlicipations,
which havo been formed Of The ,uccess Of
our instructions, will be realised This eH-
ample has proved, that If our yeIa,iops with
foreign power. are to bc changed, 1t mus, be
done by the constituted authorities, who alone,
ac,iag OH the high res! .ousiolL,y, are compe'
tent TO the purpose, and until such thanee is
thus made, ,ha, our fellow ciiizens viii res
pect the existing relations, By tai.ntui ad-
herencc TO the laws which secure them.
Believing that this enterprise thoogA IN
! dertakeu hy persons, sotnc of whom may
IL f,f,r af th,,
colonies, was unsu,horized, by end unknown
TO, the colonial governments, iull coahde'cc
| is ente rtaincd that II will be disclaimcd by
them, and that Heciual measures will DO taxi
| en, to prevent the abnas Of their authority, 10
| all cases TO tue injury Of the Uiied States.
For those io,aries, especially those pro-
cecding from Amelia Island, Spain would DO
| responsible, ii il was not manifest, ,ha, al
though committed in the latter instance,
| ths oush her territory, she was utterly unable
| TO prevent them. Her. territory however
| ought not to be mace ins,tumenlal th'oagh
her inability 10 defend it, to purposes so 10.
| inrious to the United States. 4 couDtry,
over which she tsils TO 'nsln,ain her authority
1 and which she permits To be converted TO tho
| annoyance OF ter ncighbors, her jufialie,ion
| fo? tho time necessarily ceases 10 exist.
| The territory oi Spsin will nevertheless be
| respected, so fsr as IL may be tonc, &C ,sis,.
| entity with tho essential interests and afcy
| of The United States. In expclling ,hce ad.
| vcntarcrs Eeo'n these posts, II was moi iTenJ-
ed to make any cooques, from Spain, O IN.
| jurc In any degree the cause OF the eosn,cs
| Care will DO taken tha. no par, ct the teriio.
| ry eontc mpiatcd by tho law Of 81 shsl be
occupied by any foreign government q any
kind, or that, injuries Of the baturc OF those
| complsincd OF shall be repealed bur his IL
| expected will DO provided for, with every
other interest, in spirit of sn,i,y, IN tbe ne
| goiia,ion now depending with the gtvern-
mcnt OF Spain. JAMES MONROE.
DOCUMENTS ...r
| Accompanying the Presides,'s Message, rchtng TO