The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-11-25

prs, dsfslici, and the object Of cupidity, 10
every adventurss. A system OF buccsnssr
inS was rapidly organizing ovss 1t, which
msnacsd, in iss consequences, tho lawful
commerce Of every nation, and particularly
Of the United states; whiIs IL presented
temptation to every people, on whose scduc-
tion It's success principally depended. ln
regard 10 the United States, the pcrnicioos
effect Of 1his unlawful csnbinstion, was not
confined to the ocean tho Indian tribes have
constituted the effective force in florida.
With those tribes these advsniursrs had
formed, At an early period, 4 connection, with
q view TO avail themselves Of that force TO
promote their own projects of accumulation
and az sggraodixemen,. Il is 10 the interfer-
once OF some Of these adventures, in misrsp.
rsseniing the claims and titlos Of tho Indians
to lend, and IN practising on their savage pro-
pensitiss, that the Seminole was iaprincipally
70 be traced. Mon who thus connee. them-
selves with savage communities, and sus'u-t Z
late them to war, which is always attended
90 their part with acts Of barbariiy the most
shocking, deserve to be viewed in a.vorse
light than tho sassses. They would cedsin.
ly have no Slain 10 an immuniy from the
punishment which, sccordine TO the rules Of
warfare practissd by thesavsges, might justly
be inflicted on tho savayes, ths mselves
II tho cmbsrrassmen,s Of Spain prevented
her from making sa indc mnity 70 our ci,izeDs,
for so long time, from her treasury, tor
their losses Of spoiiistion, and othe rwiss, Il
was slwsy, 10 her power TO have provided 1t,
by the cession Of this lerri,o'y. OF ,his, her
government has been repeatedly appuz5d (;
aud the ccssiUn vas the more - be anlirlpsl
ed, as Spain must have known tnai, in ceding
IL, sho would, IN effect, eedI what had become
OF little valno 20 her, end would likewise re
lieye herself from tho irapoftan, obliga aion
secured by the treaty Of 1873, aD5sai oiher
respecting H. IL the Unt
ed States, from consideration Of these sm
declined pressing ihoir ciaims
in a spirit OF hostility, the motive ought, at
Issst, TO have been duly appreciated by the
government OF Spain. Ii Is well knownt TO
ssr gsvsrnmeot, thar other powers have
n.io TO the United States an indemnify for
like losses, sustained by their cl;izcns at the
same epoch.
1ksTe is, nevertheless, a limit beyond
which, this ,piIit Of a ity and forbsafsnce
Gao, 10 ns instance be justified. If i, was
proper, TO rely % amiesbie ncgo,ia,ioa, for
an inds mniiy Tor losses, il would not have |
been so, to 5ave psrniited the Inability of
Spain to fn!hl her engagements and 10 sss.
tsin ne authority IN the Floridas, to DO por-
ser'ed by foreiga adveniurers and sayages,
10 purposes 80 destructive te the lives'of our
fellow ciiizohs, and tho highes, interests OF
he Uo'cd States. Tbs righ, Of self defence
nsvr' ceases. !, Is among the most sacted
,nd alika n:cessary 10 nations and 10 ind'vid-
nsls. AID, whether the attack be msds by
spain, herself, or by thoso who abuse he;
pc wer, its obligation ia not tho less strong.
Emo invaders OF Amelia Island had assumed
popl'ar and respected title, under which
hay might spprosch and wouad US. As
heir object WAS dis,:aetly seen, and the day
imposed on the Excessive, by an ssisting
aw, was profoundly teit, that mask was not
permitted TO protect them. II was thought
nc nmbent on the United States, TO suppress
he osisblishmcnt, snd ], WAS accordingly
ions. The combination in Florida, for the
inIawlul purposes stated, tho acts pcrpe,ral-
ID by that combination, and, above st, The
ncitsment of the lndiaps, to massacre our
allow citizens, of svoly sgs, d Of both ST res,
nerited q liks ueaimeo,, and received, it. |
IN pursuing these savsges TO an imaginary
neigh, OF folly 30 hsvs suffered that line to
protect them. Had thar been done, the Jwsr
wculd never cease. Even il the territory had
'ssn, exclusively, tha, sf Spain, and hor pow
'r complete over il, we had rish,, by the |
aw OF nations, 10 follow the cncmy on il, and |
o subdue him there. But tho tsrtitory be- I
ooged, in q cersin sense, al least, to the
'avsgs enemy who ichahi,ed 1t, the pcwer Of |
spain had ceased 10, exist over il, AID pro, |
ecucn was sought, under her title, by .hoso
who had mmi,ted on our citizens hos,iities, |
which she was bound, by treaty, to have pre-. |
'eoted, bu, had not tho power to prevent. |
10 have stopped ct that line. would have !
given new encouragement TO these savsges,
md ocw vigor TO the whole combinatioR exist |
ng there, IN the prosecution Of ail its pernic. |
ous purposes.
Io suppressins the sstoeiisLnent st Amelia |
Island, 90 uafrieDdliness was manifested to- |
wards Spain, because the psst wastsksR frsn
force which bad wrss,sd IL from her. The
Measure, Il Is true, was not adopted in con. |
'srt with the spanish govsrnnen,, or those |
n authority under IL, because, In transactions |
connected with the war, 10 which Spain 81 |
- - 4. A L. r. II