Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-09-28
THE GAZE r TE
AND A DVERTI E. &.
PUBLISHED
BY SAMUEL SNOWDEN,
At five dollars per annum.
PIRACY.

cteS, comes from source WDlcn We
know to be respectable in every point Of
view. IL 10 the result of personal OBJ.
servation and inquiry, and refers to ID
terests too important to be left in 40
uncertain condition. Great Britain
and the Uoited States will have to de.
wise and execute. in consert, some plan
fer the suppression of the pisstical sys-
ten, more peremptory and cogent than
any measures hitherto employed for the
purpose. The government of Spain
has no real power in the West Indies.
Paitad. Gag.
Fresh DISTANCES having just occurred
of Piracies, on the coast of Cubs, and
90 an alarming extent, it becomes the
duty of every friend OF humanity TO De-
stow the sxertions he is capable of, to-
wards ohsckiog system, the cruelty of
which, 1 venture to Gay, has no parallel
10 history. Entire crews Of vessel af-
asr vessel disappearing from existence,
families reduced to distress and mourn.
ing, property to an unhesrd of amount
laid waste. and the barbarous perpe-
TRAITORS exulting in the deed,
With this view | take the liberty Of
making few reflections. Having just
arrived from the island, have had op.
portunities Of seeing and hearing of
these nsfarious transactions at Havana
and Matapzas. and | appeal to every
countryman, to every stranger estab-
lished at Cuba, for the truth OF what
am about TO state.
have for long time Witnessed with
che greatest regret the continuance of
our little squadron destined for the
suppression of piracy. for although no
one can entertain higher opinion than
myself of the energies of both officers
and men employed in that harrassing
service, AN firmly of opinien that
their success has been by no means ad-
equate TO the loss Of the. valuable lives
of our connsrymeo which have been sa.
crificed 10 action and by disease, and to
she enormous expense incurred In these
Ou,f Ats. am aware that this is bold
assertion; but au borae oet in it by
oircu nstances of which the American
people have yet faint idea. The burst
of indignation caused by the first rec
ports of these transactions, found relief
in the proposal TO send after these ma
Gauders our gallant tars, and never has
expectation been disappointed 1chsnever
chess could find them. But our ven.
geancs has been wrongly directed. We
do not strike at the root. The hydra
still exists: head after head mas been cut
off. Others sproIt up, and at the expira.
zion Of full three years wa have still to
ask what manner more effectual can be
suggested for thu object We have in
view.
The organ 0fthis barbarous practice
has already been traced to the dissolute
sni immoral habits of the lower orders
of people of the Island of Cuba, to dis
Banded priyateersmen, ADD to crews Of
sss,sls formerly employed in the Afri.
can trade. Bot sufficient observation
has u been directed to other causes
mot less important, and these are the q.
patty and egotism of the mass of the
population, rich and poor-the SympG-
shy of others, although they may not be
1i ecslv concerned u pirac'es and last
ly, gross and slavish self interest,
which brings forward crowds of per.
sons, in defiance of all law, to purchase
from these msrsaders, goods of every
description, at low prices; persons o.
sherwise of good character, and respect
I'D in the community, but who have not
the slightest idea thst in this they are
acting smiss. Il is OWN to the apathy
/ speak of, that the Island is 80 quiet
under any government, or any change,
but that also is owing to the little con.
cesn which any Individual takes In the
interest of his neishbor of the public,
insomuct that one is thought deficient
so common prudence, who would put
forward his talents, his persos, or his
purse either in detecting delinquent,
or advancing the common good.
10 any other oOsntry, the leas, insin.
uation of crime COMMITTED, would call
forth the indignation of every iudividu-
al 10 the community, which would rise
en- masse, if necessary, to bring the
perpetrator to condign puDishmsat. 10
Cuba, the greatest crimes are spoken of
with indifference, nay, such is the NAN
snsr of administering the laws {othsr.
wise good in shemselses.) that the OBJ
,ie { with judges. as with lawyers. is to
make meDey from suit, or the embar
rassmsnt of an iodlvidusl rather than
- .,;.;, it, no nv Nth iustica nee