Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-23


20 communicate the same 10 our correspon.
dents.
PoRro RICO, Nov. 23d, 1924.
SHAMEFUL AGGRESSION,
By Captain Porter of The Uniied States
frigate John Adams, in violation OF the
rights of nations
On the l4tb of the present month, the
commander of the United States frigats
John Adams. displaying the Gag of ma
siou with which we are az peace, and with
which there vas 10 appearance OF our
having declared war, anchored IN the por'
of Faiardo, with two schooners, landed q
number of armed troops, and placing BIN.
self at their head, undsr specious pretexts.
threatened destruction to the town and to
the lives OF its inhabitants, who had no o.
ther bu!wsrk but their own courage. and
no other authority in their front but that
OF an AcaIde, and Of a military otiicer OF
the district. He carried ms lnconsiderate
enterprise so far, (taking advantage OF the
surprise OF the moment and OF the stale OF
peace in which we are with the nation
whose Gag waved over him, as to spike
Ell artillery, re embarking when the peo-
pe began 10 collect, By which he avoided
che punishment which was bis due. II his
pr, clpitats embarkatiun and The weak
ness of the Alcalde. (wbom We cannot po.
s,tively pronounce culpable on account OF
our not being yet acquainted with all the
circumstances saved captain Porter from
che indignation OF people mos airoc,ous-
" iusulted, and for the present from the
punishment which the laws OF society inn
pose; the thinking world Will judge of the
crlminalny in both cases OF The aforesaid
Porter. as public man commanding the
naval forces oi civilized nation, and as
private individual. according to the result
of The facts we are about 10 relate.
Under date OF the 3olh OF October, the
Alcalde of the aforementioned town OF Fa.
Sardo gave notice that at o'clock on the
evening oil the 26th, the &,nerlcan war
schooner Beagle ,cspt.J Plat, had arrived
at that port, having on board Mr.. George
Beafon, clerk in the house OF Cabot aud
Bailey, in the island of St. Thomas, with
orders aud recommendations from Mr..
John Campos, Of that place, in search OF
some goods said 10 have been stolen from
che ssiG house on the night OF the 24-25lb
of March.
The captain Of the port, Ito whom, as
we'll as tothe other military authorities, vi
GLANCE was recommended on account OF
ehe number Ot vessels which. according 10
advices received had been 6tted out IN
the United States under the Gags OF what
are called the insurgent s'ates) had his
suspicious of the brig. and requested the
assistance OF the Alcalde 10 examine her
papers, when finding then regular, ne
gave The schooner liberty 10 proceed on
her voyage the same day,
Under the date of the 18th be says, that
st seven O'Clock OF that day, information
xg As received OF TWO American scbooners.
nth launches IN tow, having passed the
isie of Palominos, which is 10 front OF the
Dor that from these launcbes. bea, ing
She American flag, one hundred snd atty
armed mes landed, and with drum beat
ing marched TO the town, where the peo'
ole OF the neig hborhood had already be.
gun 10 assemble, armed with whatever
they could lay their hands on, and resolv-
ed as good Spaniards to sell dear the
ground they occupied hen they observed
q white Gag borne IN front, and having
been commanded to halt. be went out and
met an officer. who brought the Alcslde
letter 10 English, literal translation OF
whch follows:
US Frigots John Adams, Non "a, 1924.
Sir have bssn officially informed that
40 fl oer under my orders who visited
the town OF Fajardo OF which you are
chief 10 search OF which with a great
quantity of American property were sup>
posed to be seCreted there, and carrying
with him sufficient testimonials OF his Ob-
Ject and char 4Cter, wds, after he had made
al known TO you, Sir, arrested through
your orders, by armed men. aud shame
fully insulted and abused 10 your presence
by TIE captsin of the port, and that after
be was sent away by your orders, and set
ut liberty be was insuted and abused a
fresh by the inhsbi ,anls OF The town, His
object ~ visiting FaUardo has been frus-
trsted through tbese'means, and for these
offences has been made neither expiration
nol explanation
The object OF ny visit is TO obtain both,
and leave il entirely TO yoar choice, Ell.
ther to come with the captain Of The port
aud the other offenders where ! am, TO
give De Satisfaction for The paIt which
sou have all had Ill this shameful affair, or
to expect my visit IN your t0wn. Ii you,
Sir decline 10 come 10 me, | shall take
with me an armed force co petent TO
caastise the traDsgressors; and il any re-
si,tance be made, the total destruction OF
Fsjardo shall be the certain and immediate
consequence.
Ii aionement tor the injury is promptly
made, those innocent oil the offence shall
escape all punishment; but there must nd
shall be an aionemen aud 4 | am ,mped