Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-12-31
CAPT. SPENCE's LETTER.

dressed the following letter 10 General
Morales, on the subject OF his late procla~
nation relative to foreigners.
SIR-I have been presented with your
excellency's public decree OF the 18th
September lasl-a declaration OF the most
Gespotic and saDguinary nature, against all
foreigners, whose love OF glory, CONNER
cial pursuits and lawful occupations, may
enlist them in the service, or dstain them
10 the territories possessed by the enemies
Of Spain, recognised by the United States
as, independeDt governments.
A manifesto so extraordinary, so hostile
to the rights of nations, so disparaging and
prejudicial t. the character of the era in
which we live, cannot fail 10 excite asto-
nisbment, and to attract the attention OF
all who wish to preserve civilization from
the enCroachments of barbarism, or have
rights to protect from military mBruIe and
invasion.
AS commander in chief of the royal for
ces Intellectually employed in Venezuela,
you are accountable to your king only for
your proceedings against his subjects -
But tor acts OF rapscity, cruelty and OPP
preston, exercised against Foreigners
for their illegal Imprisonment for their
seizure and con5scation of their property
for their degradation under the aforesaid
proclamation, you are snswerabie TO the
world, because by such acts OF hostility
you wage an indlscriminate war against
all governments, and by trampling on the
sacred tights OF men, place at defiance
nations, who hold the laws and humane u
sageS Of civilized society as rules OF ac-
ton.
War, under the miIdest aspect, is ca"
lamity to be deDIored nut whento its IN.
seperable horrors are ,uperadded,cruelties
perpe rated without necessity, and men
pursuing peaceable avocatiOns are iDclu.
ded in the most sanguinsry prescriptions,
without reference or respect to the nation
which owes them protection, it becomes a
dcmoniac scourge, hydra curse, which
policy and humanity are equally interest
ed N a'Testlng,
Against such course at ViOtance as
you have proclaimed TO the world, IN be-
hall of my countrymen protest, and do
hereby premonish your eXcellency not 10
enforce the penalty, punishment and igno-
miny threatened IN your manifesto against
the citizens of the United States, who are
a present, or who may hereafter be found
by your exCellency, in the independent
territories to which you refer, prosecuting
their commercial concerns under the qua
rantee OF laws and usages, which no chris
tian soldier, fighting either for glory, his
monarch, or his country, can vloAte with
impunity. The sollier, whose sword IS
stained With blood OF unOffending men, SUI
pelhuOusly shed, wins not the wreath OF
the warrior, but the reputation of re-
creant.
The blockade declared by Gen. Moril-
10, to which your eIcelIeDCy alades, ex-
lists not, neither has it at any anterior pc
Rod, been enforced in conformity TO rules
prescribed by the accepted decisions OF
the highest authorities, rendered valid by
time and aCquieseenCe. 1t therefore has
hitherto been mere pretext for the inter-
ceptiOD of our lawful traCe-tOT the SET
cure and detention OF our property--for
the abuse and matrealment oil our mari
ners-tor purposes OF plumber ana OUT
rsge-ail of which evils It has produced.
For spoliatious consisted 90 tue com
MERGE Of the United States, unde: the
tuition will be required and TO the d'gnl.
ty, which characteristics the government OF
the republic, is Spain indebted tor that
magnanimous toFbearance from rePrIsal,
justiiable on every prinCiple OF seit-pre-
servation and defence.
The citizens of the United States, from
the peaceful and peutral course prescribed
by their government, are Justly entitled to
the respect of the belligerent parties, and
II their enterprise induces them to reap
the advantages of lawful trade within
territories alternately in the occupancy Of
either, they are there as citizens OF ;ru-
ly neutral lower "a power that has at no
time afforded aid, or exercised influence
Of any kind in the present unhappy con-
test.
Between the United States and toe sov-
ereigH OF Spain there exists treaty re-
Gently made, AMI Consecraled by the most
formal observances. the acknowledged ba-
sls OF viii b is good will and a cordial
spirit OF cancellation. How then, IN the
face of this pledge and concord, do you,
SIT, undertake 10 threaten with foTieitures,
and ignominious penalties--With slavery
and deatb--the citizens OF republic who
have right to expect, under this token of
friendship. safety and exemption from mo.
lestCtion.
Wrongs and injuries that may accrue to
citizens of the union, from your unlawful
DEGREES, whether visited on their persons
or property, will be numbered with the
catalogue Of outrages already sustained,
and for which Spain must be answerable.