The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-01-10
GENERAL MORALES, INrrnn,

usually treated. '''d afe
GENERAL MORALES INFERNO,
captain Spence, of the evan. ~ i
dressed the following letter 10 Grn.. ,,a9 ~ 40
Iales, on Tue subject OF bis late PROCLAIM
ton relative to Foreigners. s'a'''s'
SIR have been presented with 60.
Exceliency's public decree of I'M. ,s Nv
sept. last-a declaration Of the mos, :,
spotIc and sangunary nature. ag.;ns, VI
foreigners, whose love Of glory. cn,n az
cIal pursuit, and lawful occupaiions
enlist them IN the service, or d.tain duo a!
III the territories possessed by IN. .a.
MES oil SPAN, recognized by the T.;
TED States as Independent goyermen,.
a manifesto 50 extraordinary. so ~,
TO the rights Of nations, so disparag;no... ',',
preludiciai to the character of the era an -
winch we 1--we, cannot fail to excite as,a,
lshment, and to attract the attention If a.
who wish TO preserve civilization from ~, ="
encroachments of barbarism. or ''e
rights to protect from military misrule and
Invasion. u"S
As commander in chief of the royaI e.,
ocs Intellectually employed in Veneznah
you are accountable To y our King only G,n
your proceedings against his subiec,s.
But Tor acts of RI pacity, cruelty ard e'
preston, exercised against Foreigners 81.
their illegal mprisonment-ror their sa G'
Hure and conhscation of their prope.ty--
for their degradation under the aIorsS.;a
proclamation, you are answerable to ,hs
world, because by such acts of host;r,,,
you wage an indiscriminate war against ,iI
governments, and by trampling on the ga
cred rights of men, place at defiance ma.
tons, who hold the laws and humane.
'lsages of civilized society as rules of ac.
ton.
war, under the mildest aspect, is "a.
lamity to be deplored but when Ia il.
lnseparable horrors are superaddeJ cru.l.
ties perpetrated without necessity, and
| men pursuing peaeeable avocations are in.
Guided IN the most sanguinary proscrip.
tons, without reference or respect to the
nation which owes them protection, it he
comes demonac scourge, a hydra curse
which policy and humanity are equally in.
terested in arres,ing.
Against such course o. violence az Won
have proclaimed TO the world, in behalf NJ
my countrymen protest, and do hereby
premonlsh your cxcellency not to enforce
the penalty, punishment aud ignominy.
threatened IN your manifesto against ti,s
citizens Of the United States, who are n,
present, or who may hereafter be found by
your cScellency, III the independent terri
tories TO which you refer, prosecuting thrir
commercial concerns under the guarantee
OF laws and usages, which no christian SOL
der, lighting either for glory, his monarch
or ms country, can violate with impunity.
The soldier, whose sword il stained with
the blood of unofending men, superhuous.
~ Sized, wins not the wreath of the war,
nor, but the reputation of recreant
The blockade declared by Gen. Moril.
10, to which your Excelency audes. cx-
ISIS not, neither has it, at any anterior pe-
rod, been enforced in conformity to rules
prescribed by the accepted decisions Of
the highest authorities, rendered valid BY
time and acquiescencc. 1t therefore has
hitherto been mere pretext for the inter
ceptlon of eur lawful trade for the seizure
and detention Of our property, for the y
buse and maltreatment of our mariners-
| tor purposes of piunder and outrage-ak
OF which evils it has produced.
The spoliations committed on the com.
mcrce OF the United States under the sane.
ton OF that paper introduction, res titu ion
WIZ be reqdlred-and to the dignity which
| characterlzes the government of the repub.
llcis Spain indebted for that magnanilnous
torbearance from rcprisal, Unsuitable ON
every principle of self-preservation and
defence.
The citizens Of the United States. from
the peaceful and neutral course prescribe
by their government, are Justly entitled to
the respect OF the belligerent parties, and
II Their enterprise Induces them to reap the
advantages OF a lawful trade within Terri.
tories alternately in tho occupancy Of ei.
Their, they are there as citizens of A truly
neutral power-a power that has at no
time Afforded aid, or exercised influence
OF any KIND, in the present unhappy cons
test.
Between the United States and tn.
Sovereign of Spain there exists treaty
recently made, aud consacrated by tho
most formal observances, the acknowledg
ed basis OF which is good will and cor.
DIAL spirit of cancellation. How then In
the face Of this pledge and concord, do
you, sir, undertake to threaten with forfei.
lures and lSnominious penalti,s--wiih
slavery and death--the citizens of RI.
pubic who have right to expect, under
TINS token of friendship, safety and exemt-
ton from molestation.
wrongs and injuries that may accrue 10
Cltzens of the Union, from ysur unlawhI
DEGREES, whether visited on their person,
or property, will De Numbered with the
catalogue OF odtrages already sustained.
ahu Tor which Spain must be aDsweratk,
aennst all such wrongs and injuries Ipro-
TEST and do hereby solemnly call upon
your t.xceIlency to abstain from the adop'
uoh OF measures fraught with most evil
eohsequehcts-mcasures coercing a spirit
OF retaliation and reaction. the end and Sc