Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-10-27

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positively expressed In the acknowledge
ment OF the delivery, for which reasons
he ought to continue in the same capacity
he now holds, until the conclusion ct tie
AFORESAID determination; and that the
aforesaid Colonel Forbes insisted upon
the delivery of the archives, as he had
positive orders which he must intie2ibly
fulfil. The deponent again repeated, that
he would not In any wise do SO voluntarl-
Wand if the American Government,
contrary to the rights of nations. against
the inviolabihty OF his house, and the par
ticular property ofhis nation and OF him
self, should take by force, by which made
alone they could obtain them, that he
protested solemniy against such an at.
tempt, contrary to the laws OF nations,
the protection of individual security and
property. and more especially in the pres.
ent case, wherein the aggression was di.
rected against the CHS Of his person, in
which he represented his Government, by
virtue of his office, as commissioner for
the cession, which was not yet even con-
cluded-and upon his psrsisting in this
refusal and firm determination, notwith-
standing, all the arguments which were
urged to him, the Sheriff went out, and
in very snort time Capt Bell with Mr..
Gay, came in and made similar represen-
tations, producing paper which they
said contained the order OF Gen. Jackson,
to proceed in that manner, on which this
deponent referred them to what he had
already stated; and repeated that he pro-
tested against the attempts which already
appeared to have been begun; this protest
was made in the presence Of the Ameri-
can Gen. John Geddes, his son Maj. John
Geddes, and resident of this town Don
Joseph Mariana Hernandez, who at this
time were In his house, and that after va
rious alterations which were reciprocal
ly made between the parties. the execu.
ton of the or1er of Gen. Jackson being
insisted on, by one party, and by this de-
ponent the injustice and violence which
would be committed by the performance
thereof; he maintaining always that by
force alone, should the required archives
be taken away; they then went to where
the office was, and hnding the door lock.
ed with the key, they forced it open and
without any participation on his part, pro-
ceeded to take away all the papers and
documents therein, carrying them out Of
his aforesaid house in boxes, which had
been placed in the said office for the pur.
pose Of having them carried to the fla.
vana when his com .ission should be COM
pletely fulfilled. Then after it had De-
come dusk he went down from the upper
floor, where he had remained, to the office,
accompanied by the aforesaid Gen. Ged-
des and his son, Don Joseph Hernandez
and other persons, and found the door
forced at the lock, and the papers CARR.
ed away; aud this deponent further a!leds-
es, that at the same time that this outrage
was committed in his holse, he was in
formed by Don Juan de Entralgo that
they had removed from his in the same
manner by order of the Government, the
archives, his own property, and amongst
which were those otparticular individual,
of East Fiorida, the same being denomi-
mated the Notary's archives. which had
been lett subject as Is before stated to the
mutual decision OF both governments.
whereby the contract has been violated
which was made between Colonel Butler
and this deponeIt. And he further saith
that, without prejudice to the protest
which the SAID Don Juan dc EatralCo ha s
made, this deponent likewise declares, in
discharge of his responsibility, that he
reserves to himself the right OF represent
ing against each ore and all the persons
who are and ought to be responsible for
the violences committed by the seizure Of
both archives, that they may be adiudged
to the Constitution of the
United States of America, and other laws.
protecting private property and the rights
of dwellings from being forcibly entered
into, broken, or any violence committed
therein or upon the persons inhabiting the
same, they living under the immediate
protection of the American government,
either as persons who, in public charac
ter, enjoy privileges, OF as private indi-
viduals.
Wherefore the said Don Joseph Cop
pinger declared to protest, and the said
Notary aforesaid, at his special instance
and request, have protested, and by these
presents do most solemnly protest against
all the consequences, damages and preiu-
dices, which have or may occur from the
proceedings, and against all
persons concerned therein, and against all
losses that may be sustained for or by
reason or means of the aforesaid proceed
ings or otherwise relating thereto. All |
which matters and things were declared,
alleged and affirmed, as before is set forth