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


example in the history of nations.
| But Com. Dale and Captain Sterett commenced, hos
! uhues against the Tripotans i'm 1901 and were M
only not censured, but highly applaudcd Com
modore Rodgers blockaded the Port Of Tuns and eor
ed the Bey to terms,-and Commodore Decatur in ~,
threatened vengeance against the Bey of Tuns and III,
bashaw of Trpo and Compelled them 10 restore y,re
sums of money, of which they had robbed America,
citizens These officers discharged their duty NIT,
zeal and fidelity. and merited the gratitude of the na
ton. But if Commodore Porter had paused for ono mn
ment, he would readily have found their justification il
either the general special instructions from the Nav,
Department. The Barbary Powers being all pira,cal
we are at liberty to depart from the ordinary and cstab
ishcd mode OF conducting with them upon the au
thorty OF Vael AS they pirates there is no neces
sty for declaration of war, but the government can
command ITS naval forces upon the occurrence of anv
such event. as the seizure Of citizens or their pro-
Per'y' Immediately to attack and punish them But
SPAN has always been considered as civilized nation
ana we are bound in any dispute with her. to look upo
her as such, and in endeavourng to gain satisfaction
from her. TO follow the prescribed by the ia y,
nations
The example of General Jackson however is con
ceiVed to be precisely analogous and to afford sane
That the good sense of Commodore Porter yyoua have
taught him not TO walk in the footsteps of man who
IN every important situaon and on every occasion of
emergency 10 lite, has manifested thorough CONTEMPT
and an utter disregard for the laws and constitution of
~ ana II can not therefore reasonably be sup
posed that he ever entertained much vcneraon for the
''si'S Oh iorelgn powers. The conduct of General
'chsoh' In his hostile entry into Florida Commodore
rorer well KNEW or he ought to have known excited
use Indignation OF almost every intelligent and reflect.
ing man from one extremity of the United States to the
oter' and the debate on the Seminole war should have
convinced him, how deeply and powerfully the public
mind was agated by this fragrant infringement of tbe
fundamental principles of our Government If Cen
eraI jackson escaped the punishment which he then So
richly deserved, 1t was to be ascribcd entirely 10 the
want OF energy and hrmness, pure as amiabIc and
as honest statesman the world has ever seen But
CON- Porter can not gravey contend that there is
any resemblance between his and that of General
jackson. The objects of the two were widely differ
en General jackson believed that unless he invaded
Florida the terrible and destructive sconrrc of Indian
warfare, would rayagc frontier Commodore Porter
from his own statement, entered the territory of Spain
not In pursuit of pirates he pretends which he had
no authority odo-but for the ayowed purpose ofavon
gig an insult offered 10 the American Flag in the per
son OF 1t Patt which had been atonel for as soon A.
the error had been discovered and the apolomy wh;
lie accepted, clearly proves that was neither to puni.b
The peopie and authorities OF Foxar,lon for nirocr
nor for countenancng pirates,-lor for demanding tho
restoration OF property taken by them from our c;ti
zens, but simply TO extor apology for the in5jont
received by 1t. Plat.
III ou'rages OF this character permitted to escape
unPunished--if the commanders of soualrons and NJ.
tona vessels have the rgt;to involve their country in
war; for any real imaginary provocation the fabric
OF the happiness, safety and prosperity oevery country
VIII be sappcd to lis very foundation whole world
viii DE desolated with fire and sword-aDd the soc;e,v
OF nations, instead of being bound CLOSELY ,oebor h
Tie ties OF common naturc-oflin,lncss and rratern,
affection, will present vast and awful scene ofIoo
shed and wide spread devastation AercoaJlv 70 Com
Iorers Interpretation Of National Law he or any other
oihcer on the West India station has right to suppose
tie assent OF our Government, "lnd in acting in obcd
encc TO lis acit commands" TO bescgc and even sct
'iie 10 |a1- or Madrid, because he expressly says
that mot only Foxardo not only Porto Rico but even
oPh hersc is answerable for the conduct of her sub
Jecs' ana 1t She fails 10 restrain their mschieyous or
base attempts lays herself liable to the same punish
Hent as those WHO did the injury" And as he asserts
his right to burn Foxardo, he must necessarily assert
his right TO burn any city in Old Spain. In other ords
The war making is taken from Congress where il
was wisely lodged, and vested in him and his brethren
Of equal rank.
In relation TO the extracts from Mr.. Adams nstruc-
tons to Minister at Madrid we consider il
ry only TO mention, that have before admitted that
we chad just cause of complaint against Spain and Of
course Spain would have no right to insist upon the p,
nishment of Cen jackson, it was the offence against
our Own goyernment--and the assumption of power
never ntrusted to him, which we censure These re
ks therefore, have not they entitled on this
subject, TO the slightest weight.
Having then, as we think, satisfactorily shewn that
the principles of international law afford no sanction TO
his warlke "enterPrise upon Foxardo," because the
right of making and of judging of the just causes
of war; belongs only the Congress of the United States
that the "bgbly approved prccedentsn to which he
audcs, have not the slightest analogy his casc-tbat