Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-14

countries, nc. Thus the nation OF the UsbecSs Is gull
" OF all the robbcries committed by the individuals of
which 1t IS composed. The Princes, whose subjects are
robbed and massacred, and whose lands are infested by
uese robbers, may Justly punish the entire nation.-
w hat do say?-all nations have a right to enter into
a league against such a people, to reprcss them, and
10 treat them as the common enemies of the human
race"
Il nation of people, then, known TO be of a base and
mischievous character, who have been in the frequent
habit of making injurious attempts, such as the Barba-
ry Powers, and the people and authorities of Porto RICO,
and who, by policy, manners, or maSims of government,
encourage, accustoms, and authorizes lis citizens TO de-
Predatc on the property of others, not only justifies re-
prisal, but authorizes the nations injured by them TO
provide for their own security bv Furnishing the offend
or; by inGCtiDg 4 punishment on him calculated to de-
ter him from like attempts, and lettering others. 1t
has a right to use every honest attempt to prevent evil
to itself, even by anticipating the Vaccinations of the
people or power engaged in opposition TO its interests;
and put him out oil the condition to iniure it.
The following quotation Is so full on the subject. that
l deem it unnecessary to offer any thing more IN iustif.
cation and IN support of the principles adopted by my
self, except to show that, what a nation may do, may
be done, and has often been done, by individuals, acting
on the presumed wishes of the government 10 which
they belong:
Vattel, Book 2nd, chap. 4th, sec. So. at is safest 10
prevent the evil, when il can be done. "A nation has a
right to resist an injurious attempt; and 10 make use of
torce and every honest means against the power that is
engaged IN opposition TO it, and even to anticipate its
Vaccinations, always observing not TO attack ii upon
vague and uncertain suspicious, IN order to avoid ex-
posing itself to become an unjust aggrcssor. When
the evil Is done, the same right of security authorises
the offended To cnIcavour to obtain a complete repara-
ton and, if necessary, TO employ force for that pur-
pose"
lin short, the offended has a right to provide for his
security for the future, and 10 punish the offender BY in
iltctIng on him a pain capable OF daterring him after
w ards from thc like attempts, ami of iutimrIatinr those
who shall be tempted TO initiate him. He may even, if
necessary, put the a"Grcssor out If the condition to in
lure hra. liz. makes use of his right in all these mea-
sures' when guided by reason: AMI, if any evil results
from 1t to him WHO lays him under the necessity of
acting thus, he can accuse none but hi, own inius-
tice." "1"'
"ii, then, there IS. any where 4 nation Of a restless
ana lnifchIcvous disposition, always ready TO iniurc
others, to traverse their designs, and to raise domestic
troubles, 1t Is not to be doubted; that all have a right TO
JOIN, in order TO rcprces, chastise, and put it eyer after
out ot ITS power TO 'njuIc them"
Ia Book 3D., chap. 18th, sec. 223: Waite. lays if down
as a general principle, Chat there are occasions
"hel Inc subject may reasonably suppose ;Mc So
Vcrelgt'a VIII, and act IN consequence of his tacit com
n2nt'." IT was ti.s principle that authorized and JUS
t'ied Cotnnoforc Dale to commence hostil:;ies against
the Inpoltan5, IN 1901, when it was bclicvct! dat war
was intended hy them; neither Commodore Dale nor
Captain Stercit, thc officer who made the FIRST capture.
were cersurcd, butt 10 the contrary were hiriiIy applsud-
ei: and the latter received the thanks of Congress, and
a sw"Td' although, at the time, war had not been de-
clareti against TrinolI. II was this principle tIat au-
thorizcd ana justified Commodore Rodgers in biockad.
ing the port OF innis, and forcing tho Bey TO terms. and
afterwards drawing his ships up before tie batteries
nj iangler, an! threatening hostiitics 10 the Emperor
OF Morocco mthe year 1905. It also authorized and
justified Commodore Decatur In threatening hostjjities
10 the Bey OF Funi=, and the Basiaw of TripoIi. in
the year 1915, and forcing them 10 restore Iarre
amounts OF money, taken from our citizens. Neither
Of these officers were Censurei for conduct which thev
: believed 10 be III accordance with the wishes of the ma
ton, although the United states had not declared var
against those powers.
II is this principle that authoriscs and iustifes the Of
hcers commanding troops Oh our distant frontiers, to
commence hostlHtIes against the Indian tribes, without
declaration OF war on the part Of the nation. They
ac'. IN al cases on lis presumed wishes, and we know
OF no instance OF Ccnsure.
1t was tins principle that authorized and justified &c
neral jackson, wIthout orders, 10 take possession of
t0ft st. Marks, and afterwards Pensacola, and to issue
orders for the destruction of the Negro Fort on the SUI
%2nhee. The interest of our country, the safety of its !
cl'E.cns, the repose of our frontier, required that he
saoutd do So. He acted on the supposed will of the ma
ton; and, SO far from being ccnsurcd, he has been
rewarded with tie support of the government, and the
applause OF his country. In not one of the cases cited.
II Is believed, had the officers any instructions whatever,
that authorized the act.
In the case of General Jackson, il is expressly stated
nY r-r' Adams IN tH, correspondence with Mr.. Forsyth,
l'at Inc occupation OF these places in Florida, bv Gen.
Jackson, twas not by any order received bv him
rom the Government TO that effect, nor with any
new OF Wrestling tie province from the possession of
5AaIu, ror IN any spirit of hostility TO the Spanish Go
vcrnineni: that If arose from incidents which arose in
the prosecution of the war against the Indians: from
the imminent danger IN which the fort of st. Marks
was OF being seized by the Indians themsclvcs, and from
tie manifestations Of bostility 10 the United States bv
tue Comrnandant of ST. Marks, and the Governor OF
PENSACOLA, the proofs of which were made known toI
SS"rid 0dShsOhI ana iI0pclicd hiTn, from the necessity !
OIL SCH defence, to the step of which the Spanish Co
verntncnt complains.'o
l snail now proceed to point out the resemblance be-
tween Gen. JaCksOnhs case and mine: and dopbi not hpt
II Will be agreed, That the magnitude Of tie scale Of lis
OPERATION and the comparative insignifcance of mine,
90 not change the principle, for, should this be the case.
l am teH'oid criminal, in the numerous fishing huts IlIave
destroyed on the coast Of Cuba. For, to say that | am
lustihed 10 destroying fishing huts for arboring.pirate
ON nt TO threaten the destruction ola town for The same
onence; Wlnie Geocrai jackson, for the same reason, is
justified IN possessing himself Of province, is preposter-
Gus. ! have shown, before, that the same reasons that
Justine acting ~ the one case, would justify acting in
ne other. That the destruction of tie numerous fish.
ing establishments, and The breaking them M, almost
entirely, on the coast of CUBA. when suspected Of riy-
ing shelter to the common enemy, has never been con
sidcred a violation Of territory: have proofs. in the ac-
acknowledgement Of the Captain General, a ycrv short
time before leaving the West Indies, TO account for The
transactions at Fozardo; he expresses himsclfas fol-
lows.
81 regret very s~eHsibly, that You are about to retire
from the command Of the United stalcs' forces in these
-.nHH HL -I-