Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-29

vi tne TlSbtS Oh OlneTs, SnOul0 YOU, at any
time, be brought into discussion or collision it'll
any foreign power, IN relation tn such rights, II
will be exped'ent and proper that tn same should
be conducted with as much moderation and for
bearance as IS consistent with the honour of your
country, and the Just claims of its citizens.-
Should you, IN your cruise, fall in with any for
eign naval force, engaged IN the suppression oil
piracy, 1t is desirable that harmony and good
understanding should be cultivated between you;
and you will do every thing OH your part that
aCcords with the honour OF the American flag,
to promote this object. So SOON rs the vessels
at Norfolk shall be ready for sea, you will pro-
coed 10 the West Indies, by such route You
shall Judge best for the purpose of efIectpg the
object of your cruise. You will establish at
ThomPson's Island, usually called Key West,
depot, and land the ordinance aud marines 10
protect the stores and provisions; if, however,
you shall find any important objection to this
| place, and more suitable and convenient one
can be found, you are at liberty TO select ii
depot.
| You will announce your arrival and object To
the authorities, civil and military, of the island
of Cuba, and endeayour To obtain, as far as shall
! be practicable, their cooperation, or at least
! their favourable and friendly support, giving
| ti'rm the most unequlvocal assurance, that Your
! sole object is the destruction of pirates. The
system of piracy which has grown M in the
| West Indies has obviously arisen from the war
between SPAN aud the new Governments, her
late provinces, in this hemlsp here, and from the
limited force in the islands, and their spare popu-
lation, many portions of each being entirely I'M
inhabited and dcsUate. to which the active au-
thority of the Government does not extend. 1t
Is understood that establishments have been
made by parties of those bauditi, in those unu-
habted parts 10 which they carry their plumber;
and retreat in time of danger. 1t cannot be
presumed that the government of any island will
afford any protection or coun!enanCe to such
robbers 1T may, on the contrary, confidently
| be believed, that all governments, and particu-
| larlv those most exposed, will afford all means
| In their power for their suppression.
| Pirates are considered, by the law of nations,
| the enemies OF the human rare. 1t is the dut,
of all nations to put them down; and none who
resnect their own character or interest, will re-
fuse to do it, much less afford them an asylum
and protection. The nation that makes the
greatest merit. In making such cxertions il
has right TO the aid of every other power, to
! the extent of ITS means, and to the endowment.
under its sanction of all its rights in the pur-
suit Of the object.
In the case of belligerents, where the army of
one party enters the territory of neutral pow
err. the army of the other has right to follow il
there. liz tn" case of pirates, the right Of the
armed force o. one power To follow them into the
/ territory of another, is more complete. In re-
gard to pirates, there is no neutral party, they
being tire enemies of the human race; all nations
are parties against them, and NAV be considered
as allies. The object and intention of our Go
vernment is TO respect the feelings As " ell as
| the rights Of others, both in sub lance and il,
form, in ali the measures which may be adopted
20 accomplish tke end III view. Should there
tore, the crews of any vessels which YOU have
seen engaged in acts of piracy, or which yc,
have Just cause to suspect of being of that aha
racter, retire INTO the ports, harbours, or e.
tied parts of the island, you NAV enter IN u -
Siit OF them, s9rh ports, harbours and settled
parts Of the country, FOR the purpose OF aiding
tite local authorities people, as the case MAY
be, to seize and bring the offender to Justice.
previously giving notice that this is your sole OBJ
! ject.
Where government exists, and is felt, Won
WI, IN all instances, respect the local au,h0ri-
ties, ant only act IN aid OF and Corporation
with them; 1t being the exclusive purpose o tn
| United States ~ suppress pI acy, an object IN
winch all nations are equally interested: and IN
the accomplishment OF which, the Spanish au
thoritIcs and people will. ii is presumed cordial
iy cooperate with you. If, in the pursuit OF nj
| r; les, found at sea, they Shall retreat into The
unsettled parts OF the islands, or foreign terrific
~, you are at liberty to pursue them, so long
only as there is reasonable prospect of being a.
BILE to apprehend them; and in case are YOU at
liberty to pursue and apprehent any one, after
having been folbidden to do by competent
authority of the local government
AMI should you, on such pursuit, apprehend
any pirates upon land, yUu viii deliver them over
to the proper authority, To be deli with according
toIaw, nd Ouwill furnish such eyIdence as shall
| he in YOUR power, 10 prove the cFcnce alleged
4 EInnlI
fuse 10 receive and prosecute such persons. so
aPnrehen ed on your furnishing them with rea
sonaole evidencepi thei: guilt on will then keen
| them, safely and securely, on board some of the
vessels under your command, and report with
put delay, to this Department. the particular cir
Gu INSTANCES OF such cases. G,cat COMPLAINTS
are made of the interruption and injury to our
commerce, by priyateers fitted out from Spauisi,
ports. You will cudcavor 10 obtain, from Span
ish Authorities a list of the vessels so commits
stoned. and ascertain how tar they have been in
structed TO intercept our trade with Mexico and
the lonbian Republic, increasing upon them.
that, ACCORDING to the well settled rule of the
law of nations, the United States will not con
slider arypUrton OF Coast upon the Gufof Mex
Ico as legally bIockaded, except where a naval
force IS stationed, sufficient To- carry into effect
the blockading order or decree and that tbis
Government does not recognise the right or AN
thorlty of Spain to inter}iCt. or interrupt orr
commerce with any portion Of the Coast nclu
dcd within the Colombian Rupubic or Mexican
Government not actually bIockaded by com
petcnt force.
All the United States ships and vessels Of war
10 the West Indies of which list is herewith
enclosed, are placed under your command, and
you will distribute them 10 such stations as shall
appear to you best calculated TO afford complete
protection to our commerce, in which Won will