Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-12-04


Withholding documents or archives oil
this nature, from an agent expressly sent
to receive them, increased the necessity
of vigilance on my part. 1t was made
known to me, by satisfactory evidence,
that there were documents of this cha
racter in the hands OF all individual here,
and that these documents were necessary
to establish the right oHproperty in this
country. The fact ascertained, my duly
was clear, and 10 alternative was left me.
That individual was orderld to surrender
them, SO that in pursuance ofthe second
article of the treaty, and Vt my procla-
nation, the inhabitants miaht be secured
in their right of property.
The individual thus ordesed to deliver
them, instead of obeying ashe ought the
commands of the government under
which he was protected, andwhich could
know no superior, excepting the Con
gress or President Of the United States,
shifted them into the hands Of the person
who lately administered the government
Of this province, and who hid been
authorized by the captain general OF
Cuba to surrender the country agrecably
to the stipulations of the treaE.
| This person, whether 'FRONT.' isappre-
hension or from worse motive|, consider
ed himself not responsible fen any act of
his TO the government Of TIC Floridas,
and appeared entirely inseIsiblc 10 the
impropricty efnothaoing mde delive-
| ry of'these documents efAisown accord.
Whatever diplomatic privileges he might
have been entitled to, thee privileges
had ceased upon the surfsnder Of this
country, and he was then nos known to
me, or recognized, as having any other
rights than those ola common Individual.
1t was not enough for him to Consider,
himself public agent OF thu King OF
Spain, and reside here for thd purpose
of transacting official busney with the
agents ofthe United States, )but it was
necessary that he should HAVE made
known the object and purpose OF his
stay had he done so, he would have
been informed at once by ne, that my
own functions having ceascdhs commits
sioner, no one but the Presh dent OF the
United States hadany power y give him
permission to remain here Us a diplo-
matte agent enjoying tie hri1Fieges Of n
foreign minister. The natufal conse-
quenccs Of his conduct are too well
| known, and need no, be detailed. With
the exception Of this solitary instance, |
feel the utmost confidence in saying, that
nothing has occurred, notwithstanding
the numerous cases in which | have
been called upon to interpose my huthori-
ty, either in judicial or executive Ca
pacity, to occasion any thing ike dis
trust, discomfort, or want of confidence,
and chceriul!y take this occasidn 10 ex-
press my satisfaction with, the peaceful,
obedient, and orderly conduct Of all
those whose allegiance has been trans
ferred to The United States by the ces-
sion ofthe country. 1t is true, recent
occurrence, connected with The one re-
ferred to, has compelled me to take
measures | conceived necessary for the
character, dignity, and harmony, OF the
government ! administer, and which at
the same time were the miltlcst the cir
cumstsaccs would admit. alludc to
the conduct of number of the Spanish
officers remaining here after the cession
withoutmy permission, but which would
certainly not have been Withheld from
them SO long as they demeancd them
selves respectfully 10 the existing au-
thorities, and refrained from any impro-
per interference with the MEASURES Of the
government. This respect is due from
foreign officers in all couhtries--theii'
situation is materially different from tina,
ofother aliens, and their cdnduct ought
therefore to be more circumspect.
lii the United States those are severe
ly punished who are guilty pf writing in
a libellious manner of The proceedings
in courts Of justice for what tends to
bring the Judiciary into disrepuic 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-
duct Of the Spanish officers acting as if
they considered themselves distinct and
separate body--an inferi1aa in imfaerao
----they were guilty. of greet indiscre..on
and improprie,y in publishing mostin-
decent libel against the judicial proceed,
ings Of the highest tri5una in the Z lori
las. Had consulted mi personal feel
ing, having entertained a favorable
opinion Of some of them, and ennity to
none, should have been disposed to
have suffered the act osink iato oblivion.
But the dignity and honor ofthe govern
ment forbade that conduct SO. outrageous