Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-09-02
Our correspondent at Havana presents

Our correspondent at Havana presents
disceuraging picture Of the progress OF
piracy on the coast of Cuba; and it is not
The least disagreeable fact. that some OF
eur countrymen should be found among
these robbers on the sea. With regard 10
the Colombian privateering service, We
know mot how far citizens OF the Un'ed
States may be engaged in it; but should
regret 10 find the naval enterprise and skill
for which they are so justly celebrated,
perverted TO demoralizing kind OF war
tare, ia which they have no national con-
CEN.
Extract of letter 10 Tie Editors of the
New York Daily .4duertissr, dated
HAVANA, Aug. 18th, 1924.
The northern coast OF this Island has
lately been intestea By pirates and priva-
teers, who are making sad havoc with the
commerce OF this port. Scarcely vessel
that is bound TO Havana escapes one or
the other; and. in the opinion of all hon.
est men IN this city, the object OF both is
equally plumber, and both are fairly emit
tied to the sppeiation OF thieves Within
a few days past, | might say few weeks)
two pFivateers have appeared OH this coast,
protesting to be Colombians-one the lie
neral Padila, supposed to be- owned and
manned by parcel of rascas and raga>
mufias of all nations, black, white and
grew and the other called the Polly
Hampton, said TO be commanded by cap
tain with similar crew-which priva-
,eers have done incalculable damage TO
the ccastiRg trade of this island. They
have adopted the motto OF AlarIc-'HeVoc
and Spoil and Ruin are their gam They
seem determined to sink, burn and des-
troy. Already they have captured more
than forty droghers loaded with sugar and
moIasses, belonging principally TO persons
living in The Regia--tO men who are well
aware. that the PrIvateers are commanded
and owned by Amercans-to men, who,
being deprived oi the means OF obtaining a
living are determined to have revenge
70 men who will take revenge indIsCriml-
nateIy on any American they may meet
Within short, to men who are desperate
and enraged at their losses, because they
suppo~e that privateering is wlnked at, II
not approved and sanctioned, in the Unit
ed States.
This state of things is daily growing
worse. II is useless Tor US, q speak as an
American citizen. to deny that these Prl-
yateers, calling themselves Colomb'ans,
are owned, manned principally, and com
manded by native born citizens OF the u
States, and who still claim ali the rights
and privilege, of citizens. do rob the Spa
niards. That Americans who never saw
Colombia, and who care no more about us
republican government, or the interests OF
the country, than pirate does about mo-
raj honesty or neutrality-suspicious. who as.
sumo the name OF patriots TO legallze plum
der, and who FULLY realize Dr. Johnson's
detinhion of patriotism; { the last refuge
of scoundrei )-men whose only object
is to steal-who are pirates in principle,
and robbers in practlCe--that such men, |
say, should be suffered 10 fit and re6t
their vessels out of toe ports OF the United
States for the well known and avowed pur-
pose OF capturing Spanish property, is a
disgrace to our country; and so long as
this practice continues TO exist, so long
will it be impossible for our government to
put stop TO piracy
Il is said that Capt. Partridge contem-
plates removing his Military Academy in
the course of next year, from Norwich,
n ~