Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-31
rRoM rnE ENou1nER.
To he Editors.

AT forto tlco, recently published in the news
| papers, Is not little extraordinary, and in my
| opinion, deserves more attention than the pub
lie seems inclined TO bestow uponit. The facts
are, as yet, very iinperfectly ascertained. 1t
has not pleased the Executive of the u. States
To communicate TO the nation, the commodorc's
own report Of the affair, tho make no doubt it
has been received. | suspend all Judgment as
to questions of tatt, until shall see more de-
tailed and more authentic information. But the
principle of the law, of nations, by which the
propriety of his conduct in regard to Spain ought
to be Judged of, and the principles of the con
sttution and laws of the u. States, by which his
behaviour in relation to his own government
must be tested, ought to be generally under
stood. and the Importance OF indicating them
from every violation duly weighed Hardly any
variation in the state OF facts (supposing that the
whole story is not a fabrication) can essentially
change the more interesting questions, which il
behuyes the public to consider, or the decision
to be pronounced upon them. Matter of paili-
alton or excuse may be found in the degree or
nature of the proyocation; matter of aggrava-
| ton In the wantonness or ntemperance of hi.
conduct; the question of right depends on fixed
general principles. If his officers appear TO APP
plaud, the Executive TO acquicscc aud the pub
lie journals, without more enquiry some to JUS
tiy, some TO excuse, some 10 disregard, proceed
ings so unusual, tho Il say it in the bitterness
of sorrow not unprecedented; nothing remains
eide for themselves. In this country (yet awhile,
perhaps their sentiment may influence, in some
degree. the rulers they have placed over them.
/ They are false to themselves, If they permit the
slightest apparently irregular exercise of militia
! ry power to pass unquestioned.
! The facts gathered from all the accounts ]
| have seen, are these-the ware house of Messrs.
Cabot, Baily & Co. having been robbed of
gonds TO considerable amount; and it being
strongly suspected that the property had been
Carried TO some the small towns of Porto Rico;
the schooner Beagle, Captain Plat, sailed thi
Their, with one of the clerks of the house, for
! tho purpose of giving information, which il was
anticipated, would lead to the speedy recovery
/ OF the goods. On their arrival at FcXardo,
| Capt Plat and his Lieut.. were seized by the
| Spanish authorities there; and though they pro-
dnced their commissions and orders, were de
| famed las understand the account) for eight
hours-uDder the pretext that the Spaniards
| doubted whether the Beagle really an
American man of war: they even insnuated that
| she was pirate. The officers were, however,
at length, released; and the Beagle Departed
The Grampus sailed from ST. Thomas on the
eth November, and joined the Beagle off the
HARBOUR: when they were both soon joined by
Commodore Porter in the frigatc John Adams.
On the 18th, the Commodore sailed with the
squadron for Porto Rico; and anchoring under
Snake Island the same day, prepared his boats
and drafted 900 men for AN expedition against
feXardo, induced by Captain Piatt's represent
tation OF the treatment he had received from the
Spanish authorities of that place. Early on the
morning of the 18th, the commodore having re-
paired IN person aboard the Grampus, she and
the Beagle, with the men destined for the expe-
ditIon on board, and the boats in tow, sailed for
the harbour, where they came to anchor be-
tween eight and nine O'Clock. The boats were
| immediately manned. A lieutenant with thirty
men, in the launch of the Grampus, pulled for
the fort, landed, and mounted to the as. aut the
| Spaniards fled from their guns without daring
resistance; the fort was taken possession of; the
guns spiked and the hammers broken. Mean
while, Commodore Porter effected his landing
| on the beach, about quarter of mile from the
| fort, formed his men, and marched for Fexardo
town about two miles in the interior, con-
tanning about an hundred houses. About a
! mile from the beach, the Spaniards had planted
! two nine Founders, in a favorable position for
defence; but here again at the fort, they
| abandoned their guns without firing shot
These, also, were taken possession of, and spilx-
| cd After advancing some distance further, the
/ Commodore halted, and sent flag-of-truc 10
demand a suitable apology for the insult offered
TO the AmerInan flag, in the person of Captain
Plat; for which one hour was allowed. The
Spanish civil and military commanders returned
with the flag: when the Commodoi informed
them of the object his visit, and that suitable
apology to Capt Plat for the treatment he had
! received, and promise that the American flag
should be treated with the utmost respect, was
absolutely necessary; ''oT, that he should in
stantly proceed to hoStiiities,n according TO one
r account. Another account states, that the al
tentative he threatened was, that they should
tare "hteir torn bu,nt;n and indeed there could
| hardly be any other hostilities against a people
that would not stand to fight. The Spaniards
acceded to the terms dictated to them; and Cap
tain Plat having expressed himself satisfied with
the concessions maden--ss the Commodore
marched into the town merely to shew them that
he had them IN his power, and then returned 20
his boats, and left the plaCe.'M
Had the Spanards been as obstinate, as | hope
Americans would have been in similar circum-
stances; toould COm. Porter h0Ue burned Tie
tO'onH do not ask the question, that may say
like Charles |. ''the punishment, methinks, ex-
cecds the oIenCe:n but, because the answer to
1t will determine the true character of this pro-
ceeding. N ,ras 1Onr. To Judge fairly on this
subject, beg my countryDcn 10 imagine them
selves IF they CAM in the same circumstances in
which these Spaniards were placed, and look to
tie probable consequences. Suppose a British
naval officer were TO come to any the villages
on coast, to assist in the recovery, or to pro-
cure the restoration of stolen goods; and the
justices of the peace, with or without reason,
should commit him--suppose the commander of
the British squadron to which this officer be-
longed, should land at the head of 200 men; de-
mand suitable apology for the afIront; and
threaten, if it should be refused, to burn the
town: suppose these humiating terms indig-
nautIy rcjccted-and suppose the town actually
Produced TO ashes! / will not insult my country
men by asking what would be the national feel