American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-02-22
REPORT ON PIRACY &c.

REPORT ON PIRACY &c.
Extract from the Report of the Committee OF For.
epo Relations of the House of Representatives,
on Piracy and Outrages on American Commerce
by Spanish prvatrcrs.
From an attentive examination of the letters OF
The agent who was sent to Cuba TO obtain informa-
ton, relative to the pirates who have long infested
the coast of that island it would seem that no fresh
pursuit on land will eradicate the evil. Authority
must exis, TO search in the suspected settlements
COR persons believed to be guilty of piracy, and Tor
The evidence OF their guilt. and TO bring them be-
fore our tribunals for trial and punishment. This
authority Congress cannot give, without making
war upon Spain. Ii cannot be used without wrest-
ing tom Spain, her municipal jurisdiction The
evil lies deep TO be reached by any ordinary inca
sures, which foreign powers can apply 10 IT,
The government OF Spain must give to the local
authority what it is said 10 wan,-sufficent strength
10 prevent and to punish crimes; il must perform
its duties or those who suffer from its neglect or
weakness, will be driven, By the necessity oil the
case to apply the corrective. The committee
would bring more distinctly into view the only Ell
fcapt remedy, and recommend resort 10 IT. 1t they
believed sufficient time had elapsed since remonsran
ces we're made by our government TO Spain, to
prove incontestibly that she wanted either the pow
err or the will to do her duty, although they are
aware that the conduct OF any government, IN ap-
plying that remedy, without previous concert with
other nations alike interested in the question, would
be liable to msconcepton, and excite we'll founded
iealouses. The Committee cannot doubt that the
Execu i've applying all proper means to prevent, to
detect and punish the crime OF piracy, and pres
sipg upon Spain, and her local authorities, that the
honor and the interest Of Spain requires their best
exerons for the purpose, will not Tail to con.
cur with the great commercial nations, on the ex
naordinary measures to be used ii the object is moi
speedily accompshedby the faithful exertion of the
powers OF Spain.
The danger 10 which our commerce is exposed
and the injuries has suffered from privateers acting
under regular or irregular commissions. is Of diff
fercnt character, and requires different remedy
The committee understand that outrages ofthis kin
have almost, If entirely ceased for those whic
have been indicted, which may hereafter be infic,
ed, Spain is directly responsible Reparation mus
be had by negotiation, or BY the exercise OF suc
powers as may for that purpose, be invested 10 tn
Executive by Congress.
To guard against future injury, the safest resourc
is to enforce promptly ample redress for that whic
has been suffered The committee have already re
ferred to the injuries suffered, IN consequence OF tn
proclamation OF Morales Those injuries are not y,
redressed. The Government of Spain has not a
tempted to justify proclamation, declaring, with
naval force insufficient to shut up the smallest po
on the coast, sea coast of twelve hundred miles
a state of blockade, nor the absurd pretenson TIL
the property of all neutral nations, is under the ct
ional law Of Spain, liable to con6scatlon if taken
its way to Spanish America; but the property
American citizens captured by prisateers from Il
Islands of Porto Rico and Cuba, and Porto Cabell
il now withheld under these pretensons The SIP
nish government having formally revoked the bloc
ade, gives to the tribunals OF Spain an excuse t
the condemnation Of all property seized prior to tn
revocation; an excuse OF which they do not hesta
10 avail themselves. Acting under instructions fro
the president. of the 28th April, 1928, the mlnist
OF the Unued States at the court OF Spain demand
satisfaction in January 1924, from that governme
for the outrages committed from Porto Cabelo a
the islands Of Porto Rico and Cuba, upon the col
merce of the United States and for the wanton m,
der OF one of our gallant officers in the harbor Of
Johns by the officer commanding the fort at its {
trance. In September OF the same year, Spain "
again called upon to indemnify those who had s
fered in person property under the proclamat
Of blockade, or from The introduction Of neutral co
merce to the Spanish Main. In October, the j
reciamations of our government were, for the tn
time formally made to the government OF Spa
No satisfaction has been given, no indemnity
been promised nor has there been even satisf
tory excuse given for the delay to answer the
demands Of the minister of the u States.