The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1821-03-21

traiity between them, which has been main.
tained by the government, with the s,rictest
impauiaIiiy. No aid has been affor ded 10 eli.
ther, nor has any privilege been enjoyed by
the one, which has not been equally open to
the Other party; and every exer,ioD has been
made 10 lis power, TO enforce tho e:"cution
OF tie laws prohibiting illegal equipments,
with equal rgor against both.
Ny this equality between the parties, their
! public vessels have been received in cur
ports on the same footing they have enj y
ed an equal right to purchase and expor,
| arms, munitions Of war, and every other sup.
p!y--the expectation OF all articles whatever
being pernired under laws which were pass
ed long before the commencement OF the
con.esI our citizens have traded equally
with both, and their commerce with each has
been slike protected by the government.
Respecting the attitude which il may be
proper for the United States to maintain
hereate, between the parties, have no hes
i,aiion 10 sia!Dg it as my opinion, that the
neut' aity her eiofo,e obsev we'd, should still be
adhered TO. From the change IN the gov
ernmeni OF Spain and the negotiation now de
pending, invned by the Cores and accepted
by he colonies, II may be presumed tha,
their diff c'ences will be setled on he terms
| p opposed by the colonies. Should he war be
continued, the United States, 'egarding its
occurrences, which will always have il in
their power 10 adopt such measures tespecl-
ing 1t, as their honor and interest may re-
quire.
Shortly af!er tho general peace, a band OF
adventures took advantage Of this couiicl,
and of the facility which it DO dcd, 10 cs'sb
liSh syssem Of buccaHeeIIng in the neigh
boring seas, 10 the great annoyance OF the
commerce OF the United States, and, as wac
| represented, OF that of oIher powers. OF this
spirit, and of Its inju fous bearing on the u
| nited StaIes, strong proofs we,e afforded, by
| the establishment at Amelia Island, and the
purposes to which II was made instrumental,
by this band in 1917, and By the occurrences
whice took place IN other parts Oi Florida, IN
1918 The details of which, in both instances !,
a'e 100 we'll known 10 require 20 be now reci-
ted. l am satisfied, had a lest decisive
course bsen adopted, that the worst conse-
quences would have resulted from il. We
| havc seen that these checks, decisive as they
| We're, were not sufiicien, TO crush that pratt.
Cal Epsfit MANY Cuiptrs, ofous III within our
.mi's, have been condemned TO suffer death,
me punishment due to that atrocious crime.
The decision of upright and enlightened lr
buuas tall equally on all, whose crimes sub.
Ject them, ~ tai, Interpretation Of The law,
| to Its censure. 1t belongs 10 the Executive
not 10 sutler the executions, uDder these de
| cisIoDs, to uansccnd the great purpose for
which punishment Is Necessary The iui
benefit OF example being secured, policy, as
well 10 humanity equally IorbIds tha, they
should be carried iuIthe'. l have acted on
this principle, par doning those who appear 10
have been led astray by ignorance OF the
crimlna'y o. the acts they lad committed,
and suffering the law to take fec, on those
| only, in whose favor no extenusting circ am-
stances could be urged.
Great confidence is entertained, that the
la,e treaty with Spsin, which has been rat,fi
ed by both ihe partics, and the ,aIics,ions
" .ereOf have been exchanged, has placed
,ne relations OF The TWO countries on a basis
OF permanen friendship. The provision made
W il for sucn oi our ciliz.ns as have claims
! on Spain, of the cnaracte, de ,cribed, will, il
is presumed, be very satisfactory to them |;
and The boundary which is established be-
tween the terrific les Of the parties, westward
OF the Mississippi, heretofore in dispute, has
il is thought, been setled on conditions Just
and advantageous to TO II. But, to the ac-
quIsi.on OF Florida, too much impo lance can
not be attached. 1t secures to the United
States d territory important in itself, and
whose importance is much increased bS its
bearing on many OF the highest interests OF
the Union. l. opens TO several of the neigh
boring states free passage to the ocean thro'
the province ceded, by several riVers, having
their sources high up within theit limits. /,
secures US agalnsl all future annoy yance from
powerful lCdan tribes. II gives US several
excellent harbors in the Gulf Of Mexico for
ships ofwas of the largest size. i, covers, by
it's position in the Gulf, the Mississippi anc
other great waters within our extended linn
its, and thereby enables the United States TO
Sffotd complete protection to the vast and We.
ry valuable productions OF our whole western
county, which find a market through those
streams.
BY treaty with the British government,