Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-31

Capt. Plat went to Porto Rico with the clerk
OF Mcssrs. Cabot, Bay & Co. OF his own accord.
or whether he was dispatched thithcr by his
commander; for, though il is mentioned that
Capt. Platt Showed the Spanish officers his
commission and orders, it is not explained whe
ther these were his general sailing orders, OF
particular orders for that service. 1t is very
difficult TO conceive how it was, or low it was
imagined to be, the official duty of Commodore
Porter, to send Capt. Plat with the Beagle. or
OF Capt. Plat (supposing him TO have taken
the step without special orders 10 go with his
vessel, from the Danish island of ST. Thomas,
to the Spanish Island of Porto Rico to assist
IN recovering goods puromcd from The ware
house of Messrs. Cabot, BaiIy & 60. or to
carry their clerk thtlicr To recover the goods
The service on which Commodore Porter and
his squadron are sent to the West India seas $50
far a the publcis iuorned) is, TO cruise against
the pira cs who inies, those seas and TO project
American property qfoai, and, consequentially
the commerce OF all nations, from their depre-
datIops. l hope the modern doctrine of land
pirates has not found IFS way into the navy; that it
is not supposed to be within the Commodore,s
commission, and that is no part of his instruc-
| tons, TO cruise against all kinds of robbers on
land, as we'll rs on the high against sea-
royers.-I1owever, will not positively affirm,
without better information than pretend to pos
sess, that the service on which Capt. Plat was
sent, or went, 10 Porto Rico was wholly out of
the line of duty of our naval commander and his
squadron in the West Indies: and | atn very nm
willing TO believe any thing wrong in this re-
spect. Yet, that Capt Plat and his schooner
should have been employed as they were, does
seem strange TO me! i can readily believe there
fore, that to tile Spanish commanders AT Porto
RICO, whowereno strangers 10 the general nature
and objects of Com. Porters service, the visit of
the Beagle, on such an Grand seemed inconsis-
Spb fha
unaccountable. Those seas have been much
infested with vessels of suspicious and even nj
| raticai character. The Spaniards had no per-
sona knowledge of Capt. Plat. Spurious com.
! missions and spurious orders are no very uncom-
mon devices. We are not informed whether
in the apology TO Capt Platt, which was eXtor-
ted from the Spanish officers, they admitted that
/ they had acted with knowledge of his true cha.
ractcr, Or attributed their treatment of him to
| their real ignorance and doubts of If. Perhaps
| they were sincere i'll their doubts concerning the
uatIona' character ofthe Beagle, till those doubts
were removed BY conversation witt, her officers
| Perhaps, the seizure and detention of our Off
GERS was imputable to the stupidity, imprudence,
or the fears, of some subaltcrn, and the release
! of them 10 the orders of his superiors On ali
these points, wait for information; and in the
name of q people accustomed to government
OF laws, demand of those whose duty it is to
! giveit, full and accurate information.
FOR the present. let us take it for granted,
that q willul insult was offered, By the Spanish
/ authorities at Fexardo, TO the American flag, in
the person of Capt. Platt--that knowing his
true character, they seized and detained him,
while employd in the regular execution of the
| regular orders of the American Commodore; of
orders strictly within the line OF his service. BY
what right, on what pretence OF authority, did
| Commodore Porter take upon himself to redress
by force, the national wrong, or to chastise the
national insult, however unprovosed outrage
Gus, and unjustifable'
| The acts of the Spanish authorities at Fcxar-
| do, and o! every other tie most Insignificant de
| tendency of the Spanish Crown, are, in every
! politica view, national acts: the Crown of Spain
| is responsible for them Insult TO any of
cur officers; injury to any of our citizens,
| Is an aiirOnt or wrong to tic United States: IL
| belongs to our government to demand redress
and filling TO obtain it, to yindicatc the rights
and honor of the nation; TO retaliatc, chastise
avenge. The naval aud military officers of the
| u. States have more right to resent an af-
! front offered TO their country in their persons
! by nation at peace with ours, than any other
| citizen. Ii was an abuse of their commission
| to employ the force entrusted to their command
! tor other purposes, in eXaclIng an apology from
| the Spanish authorities at FeXardo, for the in
suit they had received from them. To prove
this TO the satisfaction of all mems minds let us
only suppose that Commodore Porter and his
! 200 men had been defeated and taken by the
| Spanards and II will not say ereCutcd for wag-
/ inc war without shadow of lawful authority,
| butt made prisoners: what if such misfortune
| had belallen, would have been the efficiency OF
| the American squadron in the West India seas,
! for the purposes for which it was sent to that
| station2
In the present case, an apology demanded by
our government of Spain, and suitable atone
ment soIemnly made by her, would have much
better comported with the dignity of the nation,
and even with that Of the officers through whom
the nation was insulted, than that which was
cxtorted from the base fear; of thepetty civil
and military commanders of Ecxarlo; dastatds,
who had not the spirit to apply the ready burn
inc match TO the printing of their loaded cannon
i'm defence of their wives and children and
! friends and sacred home With such men,
there can be no honor in contest, no glory in
victory-Co commodore Porter has reversed the
state ofthe quarrel; he has put as in the wrong:
| Spain is now the injured party; and has just
| right TO claim redress of the u. States.
1t has been said ''that summary justice was
! commodore Porer's true policy under such
'prOvocation as he appears 10 have received"
| because EESpain has means nor disposition to
| "redress wrongs committed by her officers in the
| ssWest Tndies.n The fact is assumed if it be
| true, it belongs to our government. surely, to
prescribe the course, which such state of i'm
becility and vice makes il wise and Just to pur
sue towards her. This apologist had certainly
given better reason why Commodore Portcr's
measures were the ''truc policy" and one pro
! badly more accordant with bis real sentiments.
! il he had said, that Spain has no means nor dis
| position to enforce redress for wrongs committed
ON her officers in the West Indies. w ould Com
L. hoo, ..crJ