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

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be rcSofted to by the United States, the frs, thing ne.
cessary TO secure success, is to protect, countenonce.
and support the officer employed to execute them; and
in any measures which he may adopt recurring ouernv
OF action, he ought not to be discouraged and depraded
oy punishment before complaint, or removed from his
command without being allowed the opportunity of ex.
planning his reasons for his conduct. Without such as.
snrances, no officer in his senses would willingly under
take The delicate duties which / have been performing.
ana compelled, would, from his apprehension of shar-
ny my ia'e, scarcely meet the expectations of the gov
ern'heht and people ofthe United States. The discour-
ssmg circumstance OF my removal for the offence of
'ahoihg on Porto Rico, and Furnishing the accessories
VI P"a.eS' The authorities of FoXario, may have a much
more important effect in fet.rdipg the Suppression of
P""'y' ''an Is at present apprchendcd. So long as the
governors and people Of the small tow rs of Porto Rico
~ Nuo'' are satisfied that they may imprison us with
ihPuhi'V' anu That punishment certainly follows any
aVeihpt on our part TO obtain redress and security to our
persons, So long the suppression of piracy is itnrossiblc.
ana he who on those terms is willing to undertake il
loses sight OF his own responsibility, and OF the rcspecta-
bility of his nation and flag.
lhaye satisfactorily shown that, BY the laws of nations
L had a right TO land on the shores of Porto Rico. in
pursuit oi my enemy. have shown that. against the che
my IN pursuit OF whom / was authorized to land, war
'"o oeeii formally declared BY my country. | have
shown that the allies, aiders, abettors, sc. Of this enemy.
we're by the laws of nations, and of England, and by
mercantile laws, also my cncmIes, and liable to the same
punishment as their principals. ! have, in fact. shown
that, by the laws of nations alone. / was nerfec,ic ;,s,;
hcd III landing and chastising, eren 10 hanging. IL, ~
tiioritics OF Foxardo. l have further shown that with
o"t S'e tc IOrlnalty oil 4 declaration of war and
without even heing ordered by their own will and sense
OF right, other officers, under similar circumstances
nave invaded foreign territory and committed acts OF
way ana their motives being good, their conduct was
approved ot, on their own representation of if. have
now 10 show that, besides national and Civil law, open
ueclaratians oil war, and precedent, TO support me. / have
orocrs 10 pass the territorial boundary of a foreign ma
uop' III pursuit OF pirates, or those whom ! have Just
cause l" suspect OF being such, to seize and bring them
10 justice: and, in the event of the local aulhoriti les "a
using TO prosecute such persons, | am then ordered to
'ahe 'hern from such territory, on board the vessel under
my command. The orders are full and exnlicit and
III the absence ofother justfying circumstances. shmIj
be Wiling to rest the defence of my conduct on them
alone. The following are the orders alluded to, dated
Feb. LIST, 1928.
STR: You have been appointed to the command of Il
sIIa"r"h' hi'ed out under am act of Congress of the 10Th
of IL December last, to cruise in the West India seas. and
Gun j Mexico, for the purpose of REFRESHING piracy, and
ar"rdins efFectuai protection to tie citizens and commerce
81 the United States. Your attention Will also be extended
to the suppression uf the slave trade, according to the po-
visions OF the several acts of Congress on that subject;
copies OF which, and the instructions heretofore siven 10
our naval commanders thereon, are herewith sent to you.
" "Hc At Is your duty To pfoiectour commerce against all un-
iawf"' interruptions, and To guard the rights, both of person
and pfoPorty, of the citizens of the United States, wherever il
shall become necessary, you will observe the utmost caution
not II encroach upon the rights of others; and should YOU
at any time be brought into discussion OF collision with any
foreign power, in relation to such rights, it will be expedient
ana proper that the same should be conducted with as much
moderation and forbearance as is consistent with the honor
OF your country, and the just claims of its citizens.
"ohould you, in your cruise, fall in with any forsign
naval iorce engaged lii the suppression of piracy, il is desi-
rabie that harmony and u good understanding should be
cultivated between you; and you will do every thing on
your part that accords with the honor of the A American
flag 10 promote this object.
$50 soon as the vessels AT Norfolk shall be ready for sea,
you YIN proceed 10 me est Indies, by such route as YOU
shah Judge best, for the purpose of efecting the objects Of
your cruise. You will establish at Thompson's Island,
usually called Key West, a depot, and land the ordnance
"ha marines to protect the stores and provision. If how
ever you snail ind any important objection To this place,
"'' Z" "Wie SuItaule. ana a convenient one can be iDuni
you are at liberty to select it as "A depot.
You Will announce your arrival and object TO The
a"tH"ri'irs' civil and military, of the Island Of Cuba. and
rndeavour to obtain, as far as shall he practicable. ,hcir
co "Perat'Hn' or at least, their favorable and friendly sup
port, giving them the most umcuuivocal assurance ,L,, vo,r
sole object is the destruction Of piratrs.
THE system of piracy which has grown up in the West
ihnies' mas obviously arisen from the war between Spain
III new governments, her late PROVINCES in this hemis-
Pher", and from the limited force in the islands and ,beir
par P"l'"i'tlnn' many portions at each being entirely un-
inhabited and dcsnlate, To which Inc active autbo,it Nv If The
government does not extend. Ii is understood ,tat cs,ob-
'Snmenis have been made by parties Of these banditti in
nose ""iihah''ed parts 10 which they carry their plumber.
ana retreat III time of danger. 1t cannot be presumed thu,
me government OF any island will afford amy protection nf
countenance to such robbers. 1t may, on the contrary.
confidently he believed, that all governments. and parncn-
'"'y oSe most exposed, will afford all means id their
power Tor their suppression. Pirates are considered bv the
laws OF nations, the enemies OF ,hc human race. 1t is the
duty of all nations to but Them down; and none who reSpect
tneT own character or interest will refuse TO do il. much,
cSS AFFORD them an asylum and protection. The nation
'''' ii me greatest exertions 10 suppress such bauditti,
'"S WV Sic"ttSi merit IN making such exertiOuS, it has n
riSht 10 the aid OF every other power to the extent of is
means and to the enjoymcnt, under its sanction, of all
us flSh's IN the pursuit of the object. In the case Of bclli-
gcrents, where the army of one party enters the territory
OF a neutral power, the army of the other has a right TO fol
low it there.
"n the case of pirates, the right of the armed force Of
oc power to follow them into the territory of another, is
more complete. In regard to pirates, there is no neutral
party; they beng the enemies of the human race, all ma
lions are parties against them, and may be considered as
"'i'eS' II onJect and inieniicr Of one government is 10
respect the feelings, as well as the rights of others, both
III substance amt IN form, III all the measures which may be
ADOPTED to accomplish the end in view. Should, therefore.
INC crews OF any vessels which you have seen engaged IN
a'tS o. piracy, 0T which you have just cause to suspect as
oelng d mat Character, retreat into the ports, harbors, Or
seVIed parts OF the Islands, you may enter, in pursuit of
men, such ports, harbors, and settled parts of the country,
TOT the purpose OF aiding the local authorities or people, as
Inc case may be, to seize aud bring the offenders 10 Justice.
previously giving notice that this is your sole object
', mere a government exists and is felt, you will, in all in
stances, respect the local authorities, and ONLY act in aid of.
ana cooperation with them, it being the exclusive purpose
OF ue Government of the United States TO suppress piracy,
an ooJect III which all nations are equally interested, and,
III inc accomplishment Of which, the Spanish authorities