Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-02-12
Whole \ No, 1906

Hed ffom noufo"H '}iahnys ana csafmed the
hospitality Of our hemisphere. win no, be heard
with indifference.
The undersigned Syomish Em'xrunfs 10
the Citissns II a.s U. !staies,s n
Worthy descendants of Washington
The political storms of Spain have
thrown us upon your shores, and when
we assert that We have lost all but our
honour, we arc compelled to declare the
causes OF our unmeritcd misfortunss.--
Those who plotted and cpnsummaied
the ruin Of the Peninsula, sulicitcn ind
obtained from the Cortcz, then ut Cadiz.
that extraordinary powers should he
vested in the Executive; and as Mey did
not blush to make the demand, the Re-
representatives. of the Nation, on their.
part, were not scandalized at their bare
mention, nor did they hesitate soon ST.
ter to grant them. One Of these. extra
ordinary privileges bestowed upon ii .
Executive was The power Of erderip:r
from one part Of the Kingdom to ano--
ther, and thence TO the adjacent islands
without any Judicial proceeding or AM
public information, any SpanlarI WHO
should be suspected OF conspir;nc a.
gainst the liberties Of the country or a.
gainst public order. No sooner did thk
the Ministry feel itself entrusted with 50
singular a power than Il abused It; for il
characterized rs criminal, an enthusiasm
for civil liberty and those who had will
the greatest fnrtitude maintained tic
Constitutional 81 stem, and defended the
greatest fortitude maintained the Com
stitutional system, ard defended The
rights of the people against the tyranhi-
cal attempts of men in power, WERE
called Eraltsd, (Exaltados) and their
exertions misconstrued into desire Of
destroying the public peace. sssuch
as were sent TO the Canary Islands in
the month of August last, thus dep,iunc
the citizens OF Cadiz Of some;of their
best friends and Of whose fidelity tkey
had received many proofy--mer,. who
on some occasions Had defended
interests with the sword; had often done.
itwith theirpons, notwithout some eficc.
by their speeches, and had sometimes
even headed their more active exertion.,
Transported to the Canary Islands.
the newly appointed Commanders Ca
reral, d. Ramon Tolo, concerning viii,
the political chief, ID. Federico Kodr;-
guez Castanon, and complying with the ;
orders Of the ministers, ordered rs Ii,
the islands Of Hero and Comera giving
at the same time most minute nstrur--
tons to prevent our escape. At This
time took place the political casa ,tronhe
of Spain--Gencral ID. tiJoro Uriarte.
destined to tyfannize over the Canary
Islands, had scarcely received his COM
mission, than he issued orders 10 have
our persons seized and conducted us AZ j.
prisoners TO the Island of 'Teneriffe
where he then resided. However. some
yirtuous and no less courageous coun-
trymen, undertook, and in a manner
nearly miraculous, succeeded in saving
us from the fury of this despotic chief
We were then conveyedto anjAmxr;car
vessel by which we have safely arrived
in this port. The limits Of this address
will not allow ,s any further remarks 4
on this subject, nor does it belong 10 ux
to detail the services we are CONSCIOUS
OF having rendered to the cause of req
son and justice, in defending. for Mar
bis rights against that league &c oppres-.
sors which torments and would degrade
him. Many public journals, TO which
we have contributed or of which we have
been the editors, among which we nav
name The ZurTi0go, Gosro, Disy q
Gad tano, &c. vouch in Europe, for.oaf
constancy and unrsmiited efforts ia corr
batting the arbitrary measures Of q De-
moralized ministry, who had usurped tho
power Of governing nation which had
adopted liberal principles.
Such, Americans, is the character ne {
those spaniards who now claim ro,,y
hospitality. That you should apprgej-
ate, esteem, and approve their politics,
conduct, IS what they desire, and which :
more than any thing else Is calculated
to give them consolation. They have
lost every thing; expelled from their
country, separated from their wives
their children, parents, friends, and snro-
perry, they will soon be deprived &C
their very clothing But ia so destitut,.
and affective situation, however neces-
sitous they may be, and expectant Of re-
lief from the generosity of Americans
they indulge more in the consolatorv
thought, that as lovers of virtue. vi,
viii grant your esteem 10 men who have
mace themselves known as her friends.