Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-11-07

government IN the fpr,dis. To secure 10
the inhaoitants all the evtit nee OF their
right of property--'i'he improper con
duet OF the captain general OF Havana III
withholding documents or archives OF This
nature, from an agent expressly sent 10
receive them, increased tue nee esstty Ci
vigilance OH my part 1t was mace kho"h
to me by satisfactory evidence, that there
were do uments of this character III me
hands OF an individual here. and that these
documents were necessary TO establish Tie
right of property in this country. Inc
fact ascertained, my duty was Gear a."
NJ alternative was left NE. nat inuNia-
ual was ordered TO SURRENDER them 50
that in pursuance Of the second Article o.
the treaty, and of my proclamation, the
inhabl ants might be secured in ther
right Of =. operty. The individual thus
orde Led to deliver them. instead OF obey
ing as he ought the commands o! The gov
erDn.ent under which he was projected.
and which could know no superior, excep-
ting the congress OF president Of the Uni
TED States, shifted them into the hanGs OF
the person VINO lately administered the
government of this province, and who had
been authorised BY the captain genera OF
Cuba to surrender the country agreeable
to the stipulations OF the treaty. Tins
person. whether from mlsaPpreienslon. or
from worse motives, considered himself
not responsible for any act Of h!s to the
government of the Floridas, and appeared
entirely insensible to the inpropresy "
not Aaoing made detiUery efths doc1
menfs of his Darn accord. Whatever di-
pluKatIc privileges he might have been
entit.ed to. these privileges had ceased
upon the surrender Of this country, and
he was then not known to me, or Tecog-
nized IS having any other rights than
those of common individual. 1t was
not enough for ham to consider hlmseh
public agent o. the king OF Spain, and re-
side here Tor the purpose OF transactlng
Official business with the agents oil the =.
States, but it was necessary that he should
have made known the object and purpose
of his stay, had ne done SO. he would have
been informed at once by me, that ny
own functions having ceased as tomms
sioner, no one but the p es'dent vi tie Y.
States had any power to z i've him per.
mission to remain here as diplomatic
agent enjoying tie privileges Of for
sign minister. The natural consequences
OF his conduct are too we'll known, aud
need not be detailed.
With The exception Of this solitary in-
stance, | feel the utmost confidence III say
ing, that nothing has occurred. no'wlth-
andmg the numerous cases in which |
have been called upon to interpose my
authority, either III a judicial or execu-
live capacity, to occasion any thing like
distrust. disc intent, or want ofcohtiGence,
and cheerfnlly take this occasion to ex-
press my satisfaction with the peaceful
obedient and orderly conduct OF ali those
whose allegiance has been transferred to
the u. States by the cession OF the ccun-
try. 1t is true, the recent occnrrenc"
connected with the enc referred to. has
compelled me to ia 30 measures concc!v-
ed necessary for the character. dignity
ana harmony Of tie government admin
lster. and which. at thc same time were
the mildest the circumstances would ad-
INIT. | ailUde 10 the conduct o. number
OF the Spanish officers remaining here Al
ter the ccsSion without my PERMISSION.
bat which would certainly not have been
Withheld from them so long as they de.
meGred themselves respectfully TO the
existing authori les, and reirained from
any improper Interference with the mea.
sure OF the government This respect S
due from foreign officers in al countries
their situation is materially different
from that o! other aliens, and their con-
duct ought therefore 10 be more circuln-
spect. In the Cuitcd States those re
severely punished, who are guilty Of wri-
ting in a libe.ious manner Of proceedings
in courts of Justice. For what tends to
bring the judiciary into dlsrepute. shakes
the public confidence in that part of the
government, that is looked upon as the
most sacred depository Of individual
rights Hence in both these points OF
view, without noticing the singular con
duet OF the Spanish officers acting as II
they considered themselves distant and
seperate nody-an IMPERIUM IN IMPERIo
they we're guilty OF great lndIscretion
and improperly, in publishing most in
decent libel against the judicial proceed
Ings Of the highest tribunal in the Fori-
das. Had consulted my personal feel
ings, having entertained a favorable opin-
ion OF some Of them, and enmlty TO none,
| should have been disposed to have suf-
fered the act to sink into oblivion Bot
the dignity and honor OF the government
forbade that conduct so outrageous should