Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-10

cute such persons, am then ordered to take them
from such territory, on board the Vessels under my
command. The orders iUll and explicit, and
in the absence OF oher justifying circumstances,
should lie willing TO res the defence OF my con-
duct on Them alone. The following are the orders
alluded to, dated Feb. Is, 1923:
Extract.
g SIR You have been appointed 10 the COM
mand OF squadron, fitted cut under act of
Congress OF the 10Th OF December last, 10 cruise
in the West india SEES, and Gulf of Mexico for The
purpose progressing piracy, and afIordng eitectu
al protection TO the citizens and commerce of the
United States. Your attention will also be extend
cd TO The suppression OF the slave trade according
to the provisions OF the several OF Congress
that subject; copies OF which, AID the Instructions
heretofore given TO our naval commanders thereon,
are herewith sent to you. While it is your duly
to protect our commerce against all unaw iul inter
rup;ions, and TO guard the rights, both of person
and property OF the citizens of the United States,
wherever 1t shall become necessary, you will OBJ
serve heutmost caution not 10 enroach upon the
rights OF others; and should YOU at any time be
brought INTO discussion collision with any foreign
power, IN relation TO such rights, it will be eNpe
dlent and proper that the same shoudbe conduct
| ed with as much moderation and forbearance as is
consistent with the honor OF your country, and the
| just claims ofits citizens.
. Should you, in your cruise, fall in with any
foreign naval force engaged in the Suppression of pi-
racy, 1t is desirable that harmony and a good UNI
Outstanding should be cultivated between you; and
on will do every thing our part that accords
with the honor of the American flag promote this
| object.
Sc So soon as the vessels at Norfolk shall be ready
tor sea, you will proceed TO the West Indies, by
such route you shall Judge best for the purpose
| he If va
establish at Thompson's Island, usually called Key
West, adepo, and land the ordnance and marines 10
protect the stores and provision IT, however, you
shall And any important objection to this place,
! and more suitable and convenient one can be
ound, you are at liberty TO select it a depot,
| "You will announce your arrival and object 10
The authorities, civil aud military OF the Island of
Cuba, and endeavor to obtain, as far as shall be
practicable their cooperation, or, at least their
| favorable and friendly support, giving them the
most unequivocal assurance that your sole object
| is the destruction of pirates.
| The system of piracy which has grown up in
he West ladies', has bviously arisen from the war
oetw cen Spain and he new governments, her late
provinces in this hemisphere, and from the limit Ell
force In the isands and their sparse population
many portions of each being entirely uninhabied
| nd desoate, to which the active authority OF the
government does not extend. 1t is understood
| hat establishments have been made by parties o.
| these banditti in those unnhabed parts TO which
hey carry their plumber and retreat in time OF dan
ger. 1t cannot be presumed that the governIs ent
OF any island will afford any protection coVn-
tenarceto such robbers 1t may, on the contrary,
confidently be believed that all governments and
particularly those most exposed, will afford all
means in their power for their suppression. Pirates
are considered by the laws of nations the enemies
oil the human race. IL is the duty OF all nations 10
| put them down and none who respect their own
character or interest will refuse to do it, much less
afford them an asylum and protection The nation
that makes the greatest exertons 10 suppress such
oanditti, has the greatest merit. In making such
exertons, 1t has right TO the aid of every other
power 10 the extent OF its means, and TO the en-
oymen', under its sanction of all its rights in the
pursuit OF the object In the case of belligerents,
where the army OF one party enters the territory
| a neutral power, the army OF the other has right
to follow it there.
| g In the case OF pirates, the right OF the armed
| orce OF one power, 10 follow them into the terrific
ry OF another, is more complete. In regard to pi-
rates, there is neutral party they being the
enemies of the human race, all nations are parties
against them, and may be considered as allies The
object and Intention OF one government is 10 res
pect the feelings, as well the rights of Others,
thoth in substance and in form, in all the mea sures
which may be adopted to accomplish the end 10
view. Should, therefore, the crews of any vessels
which you have seen engaged in acts of piracy, or
winch you have gust cause to suspect as being oil
that character, retreat into the ports, harbors,
settled parts of the Islands, you may enter, in pur-
suit of the such ports harbors, and settled parts OF
the country, for the purpose OF aiding the local al
thorues or people, as the may be- TO seize and
bring the offenders to justice, previously giving
| notice that this is your cole obiect.--Where p
government exists and is felt, you will in all instan
ces, respect the local authorities, and only act in
and OF, and cooperation with them, it being the
exclusive purpose of the Government of the
! United States to suppress piracy, an object in
which all nations are equally interested, and.
IN the Accomplishment of which, the Span
ism authorities and people will, it is presumed,
/ cordially cooperate with you. If, in the pur-
SUIT or pirates found at sea- they shall retreat in
to the unsettled parts Of the Islands or foreign ter
r,ory, you are at liberty to pursue them, so long
only as there is reasonable prospect OF being able to
apprehend them, and IN case are Won at liberty
! TO pursue and apprehend any one after having
cen forbidden 20 to do by competent authority of
the local government. And should you, on such
pursuit, apprehend any pirates upon land, you will
deliver them over to the proper authority, 10 be
dealt with according to law, and YOU will furnish
such evidence as shall be IN your power to prove
the offence alledged against them Should the To-
cal authorities refuse to receive and prosecute such
persons, 20 apprehended, your furnishing them
%i'i le@SonaO!e eYiuehce OF their guilt, you will
then keep them safely and securely on board some
OIL inc vessels under your command, ard report
without delay to this Department, the particular
circumstances such cases"
think, after an attentive perusa Of the forego-
ing orders and instructions, no one will accuse me
OF having gone beyond the authority given TO me,
by intimidating the authorities and inhabitants of
town, which, from being the rendezvous of pirates
and robbers, and from the taken by the peo-
pie and authorities TO defeat the object of those
uir1firoI