Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-22


knew Capt. Elton,' he remarks to Mr.. Nelson.
lNwhat language could reply in terms of intvna.
ton adequate to the unworthiness OF this charge
And how shall now express suitable sense of
II, when say that it was advanced irihtoni n sbo
tor of proof, upon the mere original assertion of
Escondall, 1.-THE prize-master] made i'm the most
suspicious manner, and which the very docu-
ments from Porto Caveo tended rather TO dis
prove than to sustain" Again: 'erhe absur,lity
OF the imputaton of avaricious motives to Can
tam Elton, is demonstrated by the fact that he
delivered up the prize, which was Dutch YES
Sci, to the Governor of Aruba, and to her orp.i-
nal captain and to that ofhis having co ,c nied
EScondeifs papers, to bring him and six innocent
| men to the gibbet, can c, en- now notice il only
| to leave to the candour of the Spanish govern
ment ,ohethcr IL ought erer TO be ansleersd.
| Mr.. Adams entered into minute examination
and explanation OF the several documents, copies
of which accompanied his instructions to Mr..
Nelson IN this case and closes it with the follow
7 ing brief summary Of the facts:
''On brief review of the whole transaction
as demonstrated by these documents it will be
seen that the conduct of Captain Elton was fair
honourable, cautiously regardfiIl of the possible
rights Of the captors and Spanish Governments
and emiaeatly disiateressc3.-He retook the Mem
tune, Dutch vessel, at the request of an officer
or the Dutch government He had already known
and protected her, as a neutral before tie res
and upon the sole condition that the Dutch go
vernon should restore to their owners. citizens
OF the United States, the proceeds Of vessel and
cargo also wrongfullv captured by Spanish
prvateer, and which had been brought within
his jurisdiction. And ne provided, that, if the
capture of the Neptune should eventually prove
to have been lawfully made, the Dutch com
mandant and the Capt. of the Nep unc himself
should be responsible to the Spanish and Amer-
can governments and to the captors for the re-
suit
have entered into the detail, (he continues.
OF the evidence in this case, NOT only In pivr
you the means of satsfying the Spanis, gov
eminent that the com, laints of Mr.. Au,!u ga.
against Captain Elton, were as groundf IS in
substance as they were unjust to him, and dis
respectful to this government am nation j.,
ior'i; out To vlnd'cate from unmerited reproach
the memory OF a gallant officer, of whose faith
trl and valuable services his cuuntr, had been
deprived, by death, only twenty DAYS before
these dishonourabic imputations were cast upon
hlm by MIR. Anduaga"
The prelext for the capture of the Neptunn
ny the Spanish privateer, was that she was i7n-
ding with the independent Patriots in violation
OF i pretended blockade; AID part OF her car
so, which had been taken out before her re-
capture by the Spark, and sent TO Porto |aycI-
10, was there conde.nrd upUn tins sole ground.
Aud, what is not the least extraordinary nart OF
the transaction Is, that the very captain who
had issued the pivateer,s commission, sal AS tho
Admiralty Judge upon the prize; thus acting in
the threshold capacity of a naval officer, OF
magistrate ISSUING commissions 10 privateers,
and OF Judge, to decide upon the prizes taken
by them.
| happy example of the peculiar force and
logical precision of Mr.. Adams's mode of rea
soning, occurs in his remarks upon the decision
Of this Captain Judge, the whole foundation OF
which he ptonounCes to be a nuillq. The
blockade was public wrOng.-The introduction
OF all trade was an outrage upon the rights OF
all neutral nations: and the resort 10 two cxpe-
dients, bears on lis face the demonstration, tk-S
they who assumed them both hal no reliance
upon the justice of either; for If the iniericlion
of MI neutral trade with the independents were
lawful, there was neither use nor necessity for
the bIockade and if the blockade were lawful
there could be as little occasion Or pretence for
the introduction of tue trade. The correctness
OF this reasoning can no longer be contested
by the Spanish government itself The block
ade and Introduction ottrade have, from the first
notice OF them, not only been renouncei and
protested against BY The government and Off
GERS of the United States, bu, by those of G lat
Britain, even when the ally of Spain, and who
has not yet acknowledged the independence of
these pretensions have brcn still more serious to
Spain, since they terminated in notification by
the British government, that they had sssned
orders to their squadron in tue West Indies. to
capture all Spanish vessels, until satisfaction
should be made for the property OF all British
subjects, taken or detained uuder colour of hi,
prepostcrOus blockade and Introduction. And
Spain has formally pledged herselfto Nd se this
demanded reparation.n III
The second case that brought forth. Che com
plants of Mr.. ABduaga, was the capture of the
PGi0ty5W, privateer from Porto RICO, hv the
United States schooner Cramps. As the his.
tory of tins case, together with the conflicting
DEGREES of the District and Circuit Courts ofthe
United States, upon the conduct of Lieutenant
Gregory, the commander of the Grampus. has
already been given to the public with full and
ample explanations, we pass over the animal
versions and Instructions of Mr.. Adams on the
subject, for the purpose Of introducing his re-
marks on two other points of MIR. Anduaga's !
letter.
"In the same letter Of nth December, Mr.. !
Anduaga, with more ingenuity than candor, at !
temps at once to raise wall of separation be- /
tween the pirates of Cuba. and the privatGcrs- /
men of Porto Rico and Porto CavellU and to |
identify the pirates, not only with all those who !
at prior period, had abused tire several indie
pendent flags Of South America, but with advcn- I
turers from the United States, WHO at different /
times, have engaged in tire patriot service. and I
he endcayours 20 bIiud them all with ihe foolish .
expedition Of last summer against Porto Rico .
While INDUCING his propensity to complain, he |
revives all the long exploded aud grourdIcss /
charges of his predecessors, IN former wears,
and does not scruplC 10 inSjpuG'e That ne CUbn .
pirates hcmseiccs orc North .}merjt0ps from
II