Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-27

my first communication, any doubt that may occur
o the reader will be easily dspcllcd by my answer
No. IL To them likewise leave the consideration
ct the language used by Mr.. Worthngton in his note
and the improper importantly with which hc attempts
To outrage my nation by satire very inticcatc
and entirely foreign 10 purpose II is easily To
DC perceived by my last official note that necessity
required the most prompt measures should he taken
TO avod continuation of the fraud committed on the
interest OF SPAIN and when expected a speedy an
swer tor under these circumstances t WAS almost rs
well nos 10 give us della, i six DAYS elapsed with
out ny receiving any as j1s6caton OF my pro-
cee,ingst passed him the official note No. Is, TO
which he answered with that OF No. IL, making the
excuses contained therein and promising to answer
M The course OF few days; from the 18th of Sept.
Until the I'd Oct elapsed without any attention being
paid tn my communications, when on that latter me-
morabie day, the archives under my charge, by his
immediate ordcrw were demanded OF me, by the Al
cI!dc Colune Forbes, the P.ocur:,tor John c. Bird
and the Sheriff John lianhym these had not for
war'ied To The Havana, heing DESTROYS that they should
| accompany me, and ilTt probably the government
might order the delivery OF OF the documents
therein, a"reealy 10 the request of Col Butler con-
tanned IN his note No g, and that moreover | might
require some oi the papers aniecedents To my cor
| rrSpndcioe 10 my well grounded tud Just opposi-
ton succeeded the violence of forcing the door of
my Sccreiys Office aud the carrying OF NIL the pa
pcrs found therein this happened precisely in the
manner expressed in protest No Is
With - knowledge of such decisive rompocts made
| 10y persons commissioned for the intent who could
baye expected IN attack so contrary NIL the laws
and customs ol civilized nations am given TO nm
| dcrstand by Mr. Worthiagioms official notc.No III
that could not do amy thing in the capacity ef
Spanish Commissioners because the time siipuatelin
the iih article of had expired hut supuosiou
though Il never could br allowed this was the case
could ms give him. or General Jackson with whom
II Is s;'id the oUtrr originated, right 10 storm the
house of I'M inhabi;an. force open s doors and de-
priye HIM OF has property well that of Friendly
nation, such the archives OF the correspondence of
the Governors of Florida There cannot exist
property more sacred no' which ought to be treated
more invioiaby !h;n the private papers OF govern
ment It's secrets, its interest are deposcd in them
wan what authority then they forcibly taken
without previous examination and inventory For
what purpose Does ~ the receipt of delivery
clearly state that before the 10Th july " ne aihea,i-
" eated Inventories and puiS of proprt and sorereiq-
~ Of ne Spaaish .TAioa Ia he Prcrnce, had been
| The treaty does not mention the delivery OF
any Other papers or archives. To what other. lien
had tile American Commissioners right, or wat
more could he wish when he acknowledges the re-
eeipt oi the papers and documents returned in the
ueaty IL is evident that the seizure has been real
pl:agc, committed during profound peace, thereby
| a,nsng NIL confidence. committing Il breach of ex-
Phcii contracts ami rampIing Oh the rights of the
people.
The Archye of the Notary subject to the decision
oi both governments, is ut the same time taken as
appears 10y the protest No. 10. Nothing appcars in
these act> hut tyranny, opps esson and violence if
| 9pan ard the United States had been involved i'm
the most sangunary war, it Is probable nny other a,-
'hority, but that actually comman,Iin, in Florida
would have respected those deposit. and would not
have dared 10 dcspo! The Notary o his private mo-
perry nor one OF my papers which with those
the govrrnment-and what plausible reason can he
addGced Tor the exercise of these military operations
| he archives lad not been removed nor l,1d in
tended II, nothing mt part had been omitted after
t'c delivery oil the ErovInce to what had proy-
Siony agreed asa necessary transactions To comply
III time with the essential part OF the Treaty, which
was I" give possession OF the territory the United
! states within The term ot six months after IN cx-
change of publications.. Surprising howe -, they had
an ufgcnt necessity for more documents of the
archivc, why did they not demand them with mode
| tprH
Piled, and am SIRE il they had proc eeed with frank
ness sou;c new medium would have conciIiated us
mn no General Jackson Or0m whom It'll said these
niorS arose. IN dccreeng this seizure, woul, find no
other csisiancc hat that OF against force but
II has brought ON him blcmsh which will tarnish his
reputation in the opinion Of those who love JUS
nee and abIor tyranny and Gcspotism.
But let examine the affair i'm another lioh, and
| suppose that MIR. NoTthington could not afford me
Inc assistance requested insure the interests OF
Spaiil that he should consider rs IA simple indi-
'idutl That he should disregard The conract which
made with Col Butler when there could he no doubt
OF my beng Spanish commissioner, and that dicu-
ments should have been found IN nv possession TO
which, the United States had an iniispuable rjoht
hut suppo~ins ! say, all this to he true. could ,hey
without previous Justification, without an order from
JudIcial Tribunal and without giving me n tcnriny
condemn me, as 1 was condemned l,y taking the M,
pers OF their pretended right with those thai had no
connection Whatever with them, and those of my pri-
waite property, stnrming my house. and forcing ooen
my doors, brcase resisted this proceeding with that
reason cnanaing from the natural risht Of ,Icc, ding
property m!r'Isted TO me, together with what was
exclusively nv own what legislation allows , nor
son 10 take justice at his hands Thus tben
tcvcn allowing all the preceding statements in favor
oil The Governor OF F!orida) it will he they have
proceeded win despotlsm and injustice, by their own
authority, regardless of the limits and forms which
the laws OF enlightened and liberal nations have es.
tabiShed, TO storm the house of citizen and seize
| upon his property
After these occurrences the letters No n and "a
were sent TO me, to which thought no other answer
was Que Than that fShibted by No. 10 and 90
~ 'heSe IT appears commission is appointed exa-
"he ana separate the papers, which is equivalent to
my Saying, that although there is treatv made Lv
which Spain ought deliver It's certain archives we
place no confidence IN IFS commissioner, and we do
not WISH 10 wait FOR superior orders we will per,se
NOR CORE spondenre, interests and secrets and we
WI take those which may think proper When |
'cse letters were sent to me did they look upon me
as commissioner simple ind yidual One would
naturally suppose the former. Was my intervention
necessary 10 give the coOrng they wished TO ttc nG
Iar lhis Is the Inference he drawn but thcv |
must seek some other subieriuge for it is very
easy TO- compronlit honorable who are guided by
sound intentions through the paths Of reason and nus
tee. -
will conclude hy observing tLal the rcoeon for |
my eing IN possession OF the annexed COPIES prior
10 these wants is that by a most fortunate chance nv
secretary IN commission adiutant Don Tomas Sala-
|an had them 1T ms own dwelling when the archives
were taken, otherwise they would have shared thc
same fate Is those, and which bcfel the originaI orr
dtrs communicated 70 me for the delivery of the
province, one OF the authenticated receipts of said
mission "a, governor ~
Ihis IS Faithfully the truth of he late events in ST
Augustine arising from the ccssion I will not exn,-
tate make IN aiiniveis of them C,r t,n, de-,
selves clearly exhibit he procedure which has been
observed, and LEI them bc received in whatever fg
they may the only conclusion to be drawn is tLat il
has been Dn-i extraordinary violence unyoTtl,v tls
history Of an cniigiten cd and liberal age VIZ
a. SgnedD JOSEPH COPPINGER
Ph!ludelphia, Nov f.. fG11
DREADFUL WHlRININD