Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-31


at quantity OF American property which We're
supposed TO be secrcted .heGe, aud carrying with |
h;ln sufficient Testimonials Of his object and charac
tel, was, after he had made all known you, Sir,
arrested through your orders, by armed men aud
600 :''r inSulted and abused in your presence
lnt. III Of the port, and that, after he was
rs by your orders, and set at liberty, he
suited and abused afrosh by the Inhabitants
81 ''. tos.r.-Iiis object in visiting Faardo has
hrn tcstrlted through these means, and for these
'.rHc.s mere has been made neither cTpiation
rhe object Of my visit is to obtain both, and
leave entirely your choice, either come with
the captain of the port and the other Offenders
where am, to give satisfaction for the part
which you have all had i'll this shameful affair; or
Ia expect my visit in your If you, sir, decline
to come 70 me, shall take with me an armed force
competent to chasse the trGnsgrc and if any
resistance be made, the total destruction OF Fajar
do shall be the certain and immediate consequence.
II atonement for the injury is promptly made,
those innocent of the offence shall escape all pu-
nlshment: but there must and shall be an atone
ment, and il impeded they shall be involved
in the general punishment.
shall hold the town and the vessels i'll port, if
the officer who is with this letter be detained or
liberated.
grant you, SIR an hour to decide on the subject.
at the expiration of which period if Won do rot pre-
sent yourself i'll person before me, shall march to
Fajardo,
i have the honor to be, with great respect, your
obedient servant.
(Signed) d. N. PORTER,
Commander of the Naval Forces of the United
Sta'e. n the coast of Africa and Florida, in the
sHtile, and the Gulf of Mexico.
TO The Alcalde of Faardo."
tHe Alcaide says that. to avoid the consequent
SsS Wi'' which he saw the town threatened. he
rssolEg to go and speak Commodore Porter
"'ih ON lie held conference in the friendly
.'.~!.ner and, after having removed all difficulties
retired. After this he supposes they spiked the four
pieces of artillery at the port
Various persons who were present say, that Com
Porter and the Alcade having intcrchangcd invi- |
fatonS to partake of refreshments, the former ac-
cepte; the Invitation of the latter passing to the
town. but THAI wien he arrived where the people |
oil me ncighborhood were collected, who had can
non ready with lighted match, and VIXEN lie saw |
their boldness and resolution, he excused himself
under various pretcnccs, anl retired immediately.
1t IS inferred from the contenis of commodore |
Portcrs letter, that he made his threat with the in
ten'ion OF taking command OF the town, before dis
einoafkipg; but me must know the people of |
Porto Rico well enough, 10 be convinced that even |
tne small time lie allowed Them, might have cost |
MIN dear, and that only by abusing good faith and
eohfdence in the friendly relations of the flag he
bore, could he have succeeded in entering upon the
territory without paying for it with the life of as
many as were bold enough 10 make the attempt
and so was he in person at the head of his troops
TIL they were commanded to halt at the entrance
of the town.
The arrogant tone of Captain Porter in his threat
to the miserable Alcaide OF il defcnceess town. of
fiedly nation- demanding satisfaction for an Of
renee winch IS denied have been committed, and
s'"'action Tor which, even if certain, should have
oeeh exacted only from the Sovereign, with arms in
ihf' Is sufficient proof that his conuc, has been
erEf against the laws of nations and of honor
u captain Porter has acted officer of the
navy d the United States, only has he offended
tH' spanish nation by violating its territory, and
uniting hostilities and outrages when it was
reposinS III the confidence that he brought peace
with ''im, but he has committed an offence against
all the recognized nations of the civilized world:
ana even against his own, by usumping sovcrcignty
10 which only it appcrtains to change a state Of
peace to of war.
1t will be enough to tell Commodore Porter, the
iaWs winch ought to be observed III respect to the
rightS OF nations. "if private person., says Vat
tel wishes 10 prosecute his rights in opposition to
me Sabject OF q foreign power, he apply to the
Sovereign OF his adversary the Magistrate who
exercises the public authority, and if he does hot
obtain justice, he ought to apply to his own soyc-
relsn' who Is bound to protect him"
TO take up arms says the author, sit is nece.-
saFy' INST, that we have just cause of complaint;
secondly that we have been denied reasonable
satsia"iIon." And in another place Inc says, ''tO
en'cr with an army into neighbouring country
which we have not threatened, and without ha wing
tfied to obtain an equitable rcparation for the
wrongs we think have received will he to intro
d"ce method fatal to humanity, and TO destroy
the f0unnation of the tranquility and security of
|.
oil civilized people had prescribed this mode of
IT would be necessary remain always
armed and TO lie III The state of preparation
In fuii peace as in open war." Compare for a mo-
eht TINS doctrine with The OF the letter of
the American Captain and with hi, conduct. ard
you viii sec Immediately tie crimiEaty which his
proceedings involve
among the causes, which the author from whom
We nave taken these doctrines, gives those which
WA JUSTIFY nation in having recourse 10 arms, is
q just motive of complaint, of which reasonable
Satisfaction has been refused. Independent Of the
want of authority in Captain Porter, to make use I
oil the arms given him for othe. purposes the ca use
OF complaint rests iii Injury which he supposcs to
rave been d0nc to al. officer under his command Ac-
eo'dins to another author, injury To person can
be done ~ three ways; either by denying him that
which is due by deprving him of that which is his
lne, ~ aapri2ing him OF that which he lawfully
iold= or L., 1ong him an evil which there is no !
ign 20 do uu;p him"
N"ic ~ 'ucsc three circumstances is observed in
ne edas which commodore Porter brings forward
'nd Il. 'afcr concur in his pcFfdinus aggression
" hen the cnp i'm of the port of Fa do wished to
assure ifrsti' II the lawfuoss Of The proceedings
II tie choa"s Beagle, he used Il very legal right,
md TO the Use Of which occasion was given by .
he "ffu-g o. he vessel, by the character of the
're"7 "l.n III the enemies vessels are manned ,
and by the ahviceS. mentioned above, which had
been received. But applying this to commoGor
Porter, we find him deny tic Governor of the island
he indisPutdble tight I've has to administer Justice
&c find BIN usurp the exercise Of this authority
asc of private property lcpivug the p olc of The
tranquility they enjoyed, and his Maeity of the
Use ofIi5 arms and committing h0stiiiiios without
my authority.
Tothrcatcu the whole population Of little town
4 .=tr ss.,,, r Ia