Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-23

n
choriDg under Snake Island the same dav
prepared his boats, and drafted 600 men for
an expedition against Fexardo, induced bv
Capt. flatts representation of the treatment
he had received from the Spanish authorize.
ot that place. Early On the mornng of IN.
if'i' TIE commodore having repaired in per-
sun aboard the Granpus, she aud the Beagle.
wan the, men destined Cor the expedition ON
ooa'u' anu me boats in tow, sailed for the
eight aud nine o'clock. The boats were i'm.
mediately manned. A lieutenant with ,b;r,v
men. IN the launch Of the Granpus, pulled far
the Tort, landed. and mounted To The assam,
me SpanIards He'd from their gum niibont
daring resistance; the fort was taken nos..s.
sion al the guns spiked and the rammers
broken. Meanwhile, Commodore Porter IF.
Iecteu ms landing on the beach, about a ouar.
Ter OF inlie from the fort, formed his me,
a'u marenfu tor fexardo. a town abouttwo
miles IN the interior, containing about n, h,,
drcd houses. About a mile from IN. h.aci,
the Spaniards had planted two nine pound,,s
IN a favorable position for defence: bu, I,-ra
again, as al The fort, they abandoned Their
guns without firing shot. These. also. vera
taken possession Of, and spiked. Arter adj.
vanc'ns some distanc further, the Con,nn.
dore hait.d,and sent hag-of-truce, TO demand
snitao!e apology frr The insult ofared IN tho
american H'g, IN the person of Cant. Pla,i /.
Tor "hieh one nour was allowed. The Span
ist civil and military commander, re,,,rna.,
win The flag; wien the Commodore in Gor,r,.
ed the,n OF the object of his visit, and Ina, ,
suitable apology to Capt. Plat for the treat.
n''h' lie mad received. and a promise tina, the
american lag should be treated with The M
mos. respect, was absolutely necessary. 9. mr.
.'la' ne should instantly proceed 10 hostiiiies,,
a. ,'s 10 one account, Another account
.' u'a' '"n alternative he threatened was.
that they should hare 3" thsir to,,o 5,,,,, -
,;,;.;' ".e'e cou'u nafo'y be any other hos
Titles against people that would nnt s.ana
10 hsh'. The Spanla,ds acceded 10 the ,.r,ns
dictated to them; and Captain Plat bor;,,g
expressed himself satisfied wmh the copc, .
si"n' made" the Comnudore marched in
To- the towo merely TO shrw them ina, ne b..i
| them IN his power, snd then returned ,n hi,
hoa's, and left the place." Notfifny but ~"
aeJect co"ardtcr of the Spaniards SAVED ,h,.ir
town from the flames ''''
Had the Spaulards been az obs;joata nc
nope Americans would have hee. in s;n,i,,r
circumstances tyouid Com Porter hart b,,r,.
"a me foion! | do not ask the oues,ino ,,,.,,
may say, like Charles l. 80 tn. punishmen,
uhethihks. exceeds the ofrncs - but hac.,,.n
Tie answer To 1t viii determine the tru,, rh,r
acter OF this proceeding. Il ,cas ,rars r.
Judge fairly on this subject, beg nv coun.rr
men 10 imagine themselves (if they CAM in
.he same circumstances in which these Snan-
'a'os were lsced, and Look TO the probabIs
consequence suppose British naval oif;.ar
were 10 come TO any of the villages ON orr
coast, To assist in The recovery or IN nro,,,n',
me restoration OF stolen goods and IN. ;us-
'ices q! Inc peace, with or wilt,out rs.s,,
s"o'Iu commit him-suppOse the comm,nd'
CT vi 'he british squadron to which this az;
Ger belonged, should land al the head of oon
men demand suitable apology for the IF.
,'"" anu therefore, iflt should he refused n
"u, III" Town; suppose these humi!ia:inp t,.rn,.
"u em'""S r'Jectsd-and suppose the town
actually Reduced 10 ashes! I will nor ins',It
my couhlrymrn by asking " hat would h.. ,ho
national ieeng but | must tell them. ,ba,
| between nation aud nation, as b.iwn..,, -.
anu man, me eternal rule OF right is-"Do I'M
% otners as you would they should do mic
You" uo uuto
we are not told, who Messrs. Cabo, R,;,y
- 20. were, or where they resided or wbv
oohiiaodore Porter, any of his Officers
.ohs'uefeo them or their property, as in any
10y unuer 'heir protection presume they
were ciiizens Of The u. States, and ,nerch.ni.
residing at St Thomas, under the nrotec,;oo
Oh the Danish Government of The island W.
are nor Informed whether Capt Plat went IN
Z oi'o Haico with the clerk of Messrs Cahot
Dd'il q 90. OF his own accord, or wbeiher
lie was dispatched thther by his commands,
ior, thoAga II is mentioned that Cant PIsrt
showed Inc Spanish officers his Commission
ana orders, it's cot explained whether ihese
were his general sailing orders, or particular
orders Tor that service. It's very difficult I'm
conceive how II was, or, how it was imagined
10 ~ me Official duty of Commodore Porter
10 SEND Capt. Plat with the Beagle. mr. ~
C'p' iiatt tsupPosinS him to have taken The
sep without special crders) TO go with his
vessel from the Danish island of 81. Thomas
10 the Spanish Island of Porto Rico to assist
recovering goods purloint d from the ware
mousse OF Messrs Cabot, Bailey g. Co, or to
carry their clerk thither 10 recover the goods
ihe service on which Commodore Port.r
ana ms squadron are seat 10 the West India
seas $50 lar as the public is informed) is. TO
e'"'se "Saihsi the pirates who inlest those
a.aS, dnu 10 project American property qj2oa,,
anu q. ueo"srqnepiiaiiy, the commerce OF all ma.
.'ons rom their dtpredations. l hope the
modern doctrine of tand pirates has NOT found
-, 10 way ,nlo me pa,y that il is not supposed
10 De "I'liID the COmmOdoTe's commission
and that ii is 10 part of his instrnct;nna -,
cruise against all kinds Of robbers ON I,nJ N
Nell as on the high seas against sea.ro,arg
however, will not positis civ affirm. ,yitbouf
DETER information than pretend to po.sr.s.
that the service on which Can't. Platt wac
sent, or went, TO Porto Rico, was wholly on,
Oh me i'ne OF duty of our naval commander
ana his squadron ia the West Indies and
am very unwilling TO believe any thing wronr
'n tbIs respect. Yet, that Capt. Plat and his
schooner should have been employed AS ,hev
were, does seeis strange 10 me. | can readilv
Oeheyc therefore, that TO The Spanish com.
DaDueTS at Porto Rico, Tho t,sr. M s,r..