Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-14
y. s. CON rRHss.
Monday, January 10.
IN SENATE.


iai our commerce, for years, has been har-
-rassct, and the lives of our citizens DESTROYED
oy pirates Issuing from the colonies Of Spain in
thS - EST iintieS, Is fact derived not only from
the message OF the President, but is Of univer-
SO hotorety' These outr3ges have been so
io'iS AHA SO often repeated, and marked with
such atroclous circumstances, that detail of the
particular cases would be rs imp,acticable as
unnecessary. Our government, with view to
protect our citHens, has resorted to the means
Withih their power, by stationing naval force
near the places where tho r;rates resort: n ,pe,
sure also pursued by other powers Every eff
fort heretofore, has been unayanr tn pnt an
enc 10 these atrocities. These desperadoes ac-
curing confidence from IMMUNITY. beco,n;ny
more ierocions from habit, and multinlvino- nv
recruits rom the most abandoned OF other ma
tiohs, thr raten the most disastrous mscbicf,
justly alarming TO that highly valuable and ,nost
respectable portion of our fellow citizens whose
pursuits are on the higt. seas liz is nau,ls.t ..
wei fron Facts derived from other sourc,, "a
from the message of the President, that the con-
unutnce ot thus evil is ascribable TO the ASYLUM
aiior'ed the banditti in the colonies of Spain
ifo government of the u. States, cherishjnr
the most ancable disposition towards Snain has
presented the subject with great earnestness TO
the Spanish governments, detnantinr renar,t;o,
1or the past and security for the futurc tn thosa
reiterated rernonStrances, no answer was return
eu tih very recently, and 10 this dav all that
mas oeen obtained IS n promise of a satisfactory
answer to the applications of the government of
the United States: altlou sh Spain has been So
Aehniy warned, that, If she did not promptly ac-
quit herself OF her obligations to US on this sub
Ject, our government would be constrained from
! the nature Of tie outrages, to become lis oyn
a'enSer, and, ayailing itself OF its own resources
project the commerce and lives of the American
citizens from destruction. In the same sp;rit of
concentration, an appeal has hoen made to the To-
cai authorities ACCOMPANIED with request that
H. from weakness, they were unable to ext.r
inmate the hordes of banhtti who t,,I, ehI,
from pursuit within their territories that per
mission might be given our forces to pursue them
OH ianu. This has been denied on the vain
punchilo OF national dignity The posture in
"hch SPAN now stands; is that 0f connyance
in oiese injuries, or incapacity tn prevent them
sovereign Who refuses to cause reparat,on 10
De made OF The damage caused by his subjects
or 10 PUNISH the guilty, or, in short to- deliver
MIN up, renders himself an accoinpiice in the
INJURY, and becomes responsible for it." If the
committee were or opinion that the refusal IN
Tue part OF SPAIN was wilfIIl. and not the result
81 i''ao'iity' they would. with full view of all
the consequences which the measure Involves
at once recommend an appeal to the last resort
OF nations against pain, and allherdependcDcieS
DHt believing a. they do. that courtesy requires
That her refusal to do US Justice should be pIaccd
on the ground of inability--an inability resuItinp
IRON causes which the committee Intentionally
forosAr 10 enunerate, they content themselves
with recommending only such measures as are
believed to be Indispensable effactualIv to roach
the mischief. And hence the, ben Ie3v, tn MO.
sent bill with suitable provisions for the enJ
designed. '''''
Accompanying the Report, Mr. b. reported
the I. flowing Bill:
A 3'i-7- for The suppression of piracy in tba
West indies " "
IS It e'4tcted 81. That, for the more eGectnal
SUPPRESSION OF pir.acies In the West Indies the
President of the United States be, AMI Inc i
nereoy, authorized TO to be built In adj
uitioa 10 the present naval force OF the United
states, a number OF Sloops OF War. moi ey
ceeei'S Ten, io carry no. less than twenty guns
each, OF such description and weight of metal
as the President may direct, and that the sum
OF - thousand dollars be, and the same is
hereby, appropriated for the aforesaid D,,,,p,se
ont OF any money in the Treasury moi othcr'
wise appropriated
sec 2 mt be it further enacted, That the
commanders and crews of the armed vessels of
ehe onitei States shall be, and lIev are ierehy
authorized, under such instructions as may bo
gwen 'i.etn oy the President ofthc United States
III Tue fresh pursuit of pirates in the Island of
Cuoa. or any other of the Islands of Spoin in
the w est indies, to land, whenever il NAV ho
necessary to secure the capture of the said -;
t''loS' ana tiIere TO subdue, yanquish and can
tltre tuem, To deliver them 10 TO the aufLoitt
Oh the Island where Captured, or to briner tberTn
ID The United states for trial and adiudic,t;on
as the SAID instructions of the President of the
United States may prescribe.
sec. s. INT be ii further cnrcied That Is
any OF The said pirates should cscape fron,I rho
HeSh pursuit oil the COMMANDING officers aoI
crews OF any armed vessel of ti,c Ertted s1a,cs
and hni refuge in any of the cities or ports of
inc said island OF Cuoa, other Island afore
sdl', t!ie President Of the United States on he
ing informed "I The fact i'll a manner satisfactory
10 nun oi us authenticity, shall be- aud he j.
hereoy, authorized, at his discretion, 10 declare
the said port or city TO be in state of bIocL.,J
ana slaii cause the same to be invested by The
naval force OF the United States till the s,d
pirates shall have been secured and ,no;.I,o,l ~
tn authorities of the said Island, or until sutiS.
faction shall otherwise have been made ,,I'oro
upon he shall deem it just and expcdienf 10 de
continue the said blockade. ~
Sec. i Ind he Il Gty.t4e, ennctoJ IT,. a..
commanders and crews of any armed ,oercbant
vessel of the United States be- and thp,. or,
hereby authorized, to recaDture any vessel .,,Ll
cargo taken by pirates upon the coast nf tio
Island OF Cuba, or the other Island, aforne,iJ
or ON the adjoining seas; and such vessel so re.
captured, being brought into auy iudi,.iaI dis
trict OF the United states, shall be adudrod In
he restored by any court Of the United Sfafag
having Admiralty jurisdictions lhcrcin tn tLo
former owner or owner, Of the Same he. mr. d.
paying for salvage not less tl,an one o;c,u ~
more than one half Of The true vaIuc ,f flc eli
vessel aud cargo, at the discretion of u,e court
for the. benefit Of the re-capfors. and in st,li,
proportions rs tho court snail direct. which 49,,
mcnts Of salvage shall be made without auv de.