Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-12-06

lust cause OF complaint, .e power 10
which the offenders belong, provided it be
extended to all equally. In this case,
every circumstance which occurred, indi-
Gated fixed purpose to violate our rev.
enue laws. Had the party intended to
have pursued fair trade, he would have
entered our ports, and paid the duties; or
had he intended to have carried on legi-
innate circUitous commerce, with the u
nited States, he would have entered the
port Of some other power, landed his
goods at the custom house according to
law, and re-shipped and sent them in the
vessel of such power, OF of some other
power which might lawfully bring them,
free from such duties, to port Of the u.
States. But. the conduct of the party
in this case, was altogether different. He
enteIed the river St. Marys, the bounda-
ry between the United States, and Fleri-
da, and took his position on the Spanish
side, on which, in the whole extent Of the
river, there was no town, no port, or Gus
tom house, and scarcely any settlement.
His purpose therefore, was not to sell his
goods to the inhabitants of Florida, but TO
citizens of the United States, in exchange
for their productions, which could not be
done, without direct and palpable breach
Of our laws. 1t is known that a regular
systematic plan, had been formed by GER
tain other persons for the violation of our
revenue system, which made it the more
necessary to check the proceeding in its
com mencemenl.
That the unsettled bank of river SO
remote from the Spanish garrisons and
population, conld give no protection to
any party, in such practice, is believed
to be in strict accord, with the law of ma
tions. 1t would not have comported with
friendly policy in Spain herself, to have
established custom house there, since it
could have subserved no other purpose,
than to elude our revenue laws But the
government of spain did not adopt that
measure. On the contrary, it is UNDER
stood, the Captain General Of Cuba, to
whom an application to that effect made,
by these adventures, had not acceded to
it. The condition of those provinces for
many years, before they were coded to
the United States, need not now be dwelt
on. Inhabited by different tribes of In
dams, and an inroad for every kind Of
adventurer, the jurisdiction of Spain may
be said to have been, almost exclusively,
confined to her garrsons. 1t certainly
could not extend to'places, where she had
no authority The rules therefore, appl-
cable to settled countries. governed by
laws, could not be deemed so, to the des-
erts OF Florida, and to the occurrences
there. 1t merits attention, also. that the
territory had been coded to the United
States, by treaty, the ratification OF
which had not been refused, and which
has since been performed. Under such
circumstances therefore. Spain became
less responsible for such acts, committed
there. and the United States, more at lib
erty to exercise authority, to prevent SO
great mischief. The conduct of this
Government, has, in every instance, been
conciliatory aud friendly to France
The construction of our revenue law, in
its application to the cases, which have
formed the ground OF such serious COM
plant on her part, and the order of the
Collector OF St. Marv's, in accord with it,
were given two years before these cases
occurred, and in reference to a breach,
which was attempted by the sub ects Of a
mother power. lis application, therefore:
to the cases in question, was inevitable -
AS soon as the Treaty, by which these
provinces were ceded to the United States
was ratified, and all danger of further
breach of our revenue laws ceased, an or
der was, given for the release of the vessel,
which had been seized, and Cor the dis
mission Of the libel, which had been i'll
siituted against her.
The principles of this system Of rccirro-
city, founded Oh the law OF the Sd OF March,
1915, have been carried since into effect
with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Swe.
den, Prussia. and with Hamburg, Bremen,
Luheck, and Olden5urg, With provision
made by subsequent laws, in regard TO the
Netherlands. Prussia, Hamburg, and Bre.
men, that such produce and manufactures
rs could only be. or more usually we're, FIRST
shipped from the ports OF those countries
tn. same being imported in vessels: wholly
belonging 10 their subjects, should be con-
sidered and admitted as their own manutac
lures and productions.
The government of Norway has by al
ordinance, opened tie ports OF that part o
the dominions of the King of Sweden, TO The
vessels OF the United States, upon the pay
ment of no other or higher duties, thar
are paid by the Norwegian vessels, iron
whatever place arriving, and with whateve
articles laden.--They have requested 'h'
reciprocal allowance for vessels OF Norway
in the ports Of the United Stales,--A
this privilege is moi within The scope o