The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-10-13
.ArJuthnot and Ambristie.

soo,,s n have awakened loud tone OF lndig-
nation in some of the English papers, which
has been vented 10 severe reproacneS against
our government, for conduct which they Term
crurl and uniusti6abe. limitations are CIV
en- in these papers that the British soSe."-
ment has commenced serious investigator
Of it. and that they will make such commuhi
cations to cur government as the importance
&c the subject demands. That strong ex-
element should be produced in that nation by
this event, will not be subject OF sufpf'ze 10
any who have witnessed what has been the
state of feeling in this country under circum-
stances somew hat similar. we all recoiiec'
what spirit of resentment Peryaded our ma
ton against Spain, while she held III conilne-
ment one of our citizens and how the killing
of Pearce and the unhappy catastrophe OF
Dartmoor prison kindled in every breast'sen
tments of the strongest sympathy and regret
England without doubt feels as deep an inter
est in the lives of her citizens, and as high
sense OF national character and rights.
How our government, when they shall be
called upon, will justify this procedure, we
| are al loss to conceive. And that they
themselves apprehend serious dIfhcuity ~
doing il, we inter from the profound silence
they have kept upon the subject since lis &c
currence, and from omission 10 make vihdlt
cation of conduct which has been so frequent
ly and SO loudly impeached. SupPosng all
The facts to be true which are offered as
justification Of the execution OF these two per
sons il does not appear 10 US that they constr
tute an offence which should subject them 10
the tlial which they have had, or to The pun
lshment which has been inflicted upon them.
One charge against ArOuhnot was, that he
was spy. The idea, however, was so alb
surd, that man found IN The enemy's camp
| could be a spy, that this charge was soon a.
| bandoned. -Another charge against him was,
that he furnished the Indians with arms anG
ammunition of war; This he might have done,
| we conceive, and still have been perfectly in
nocent OF any hostile designs against our
country, or OF any views TO render Them
more formidable enemy 10 US. He was
| British merchant, residing among the Indians
| for The purpose OF trade. Arms and am
| munition are considered by them as iair
subjects Of barter. They depend upon
the chase for support, and, TO pursue this,
| it is of course necessary that they should
be furnished with the requisite means
The mere circumstance OF a war existing
between Them and us coulJ not impose an Oh
| legation on him 10 withhold from them those
| things which, by reason OF their mode OF lite,
are essential 10 their existence. But even
were these arms and ammunition furnished as
| munitions of war, and with that intent, ii Is
doubtful whether such conduct could subject
| him to be treated as criminal, and render
him deserving OF capital punishment. Had
| the war existed between civilized nations, in
stead OF one party TO it being an Indian tribe,
| il would have exposed him TO the forfeiture OF
| the contraband goods, and nothing more
| Why in the present case there should be any
difference III The construction put upon the
act, we do not readily perceive. An Indian
| nation has as much right 10 wage war as a
civilized one, and it is by no means certain
that lis pretences do not as often constitute
justitable grounds.
The last charge is, that they took part with
the indians in their acts OF hostility. That
this conduct is tar from being unwarranted by
the usages of nations, any one who is at all
OOHtClSdu Win uiOGNtu Wdto, AhbSA &c oalto-
fed. Nothing is more common, than tor The
individuals Of neutral nation 10 enlist in the
cause of beligerent and they are always
identified with it, and receive the same treat
ment when they fall into the hands of the en-
envy. Numberless instances occurred during
our revolutionary war, Marquis La Fayette,
and Gen. Kosciusco both, fought our battles
and helped achieve our independence. So al
SO in the Spanish colonies, at The present mo-
inert, there are individuals from almost every
nation on the globe, who are co operating with
the native inhabitants for the emancipation of
that country .-lt is little singular that we,
who during the late war carried this doctrine
TO such an extreme length, should now con-
test it, At that time we maintained that an
individual might expatrate himself, enlist in-
TO the military service OF nations fighting a.
gainst his aative country land wage war,agaInst
that country. Certainly if this principle be
just, an individual may espouse The cause Of
one not contending against bis own country,
but against nation with whom lie is con.
nected by no ties of birth or allegiance.
Worcester Spy
The piris Of Emigration Our shores,
| says the Pittsburgh Gazette Of the Goth of