Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-10-15

terry, ana his troops had commenced
their march, he sent flag with his con-
ditlons of peace. He halted near the
town, and compelled lis chief officer to
come to him: he required an apology
for the insult offered to Lieut., p. which
should be satisfactory, mol only to the
injured man himself, but to the officers
present. The apology was made under
the threat that the town should be de-
molished, and lis inhabitants, innocent
and guilty, suffer alike. A high threat
Indeed solemn responsibility assum-
ed by an officer OF the American Navy
10 US this proceeding appears TO be a
combination OF 7uar, with the most alb
surd aud silly boasiing.
1t was actually war--war upon a town
where a regular$governmenl existed
upon people--not openly and avowed-
iy piraiical or plundering, but with all
the forms of civil society, and the regu-
lations OF existing government. Whe-
ther they were pure, yirluous, and hon
est people, it was not for Commodore
Porter 10 inquire. He had no right to
act in reference to their moral or civil
character. Upon this transaction sever
al remarks suggest themselves as pro-
per IN this place:
LIST. He committed an act of direct
and open war, upon the single represen.
,ation OF an officer who protested 10 have
been injured; thus relying solely on one
who sought his revenge.
%. He made no inquiry Of any other
person, whether The facts were true-no
demand for redress, no claim for salts
faction of the aggressors. Even this
government never dId, and we lcarlessly
affirm, never will, on the complaint OF
the injured alone, and without asking Tor
explanation or redress, wage war on any
people. Com. Porter has thus presum-
ed 10 do that which his government has
never done, and which, we may venture
to say, 1t would never dare to do.
Sd. In thus acllng, he has, unqnes-
tionaby, violated the constitution OF the
United States, which prescribes the only
mode IN which war can be made.
4th. He has, as Clearly, violated his
Instructions. There was government
existing at Foxardo, and he was directed
to respect the government wereyer il
was found TO eXis.
5h. The excuse which is rendered
nov, is not that which was first made
Commodore P2rtet's report 10 the Gov
ernment placed il solely on the injury TO
Lieut.. Plat. Has letter says not a word
ABOUT piracy. This is evidently an after
thought, inspired, il may De presumed,
by the remarks Which some o! our pa
pers have SO freely INDUCED since the
return of the Commodore. He never
mentioned 1t, until they had assumed the
ground for HIM. That we are right in
this view is manifest, not Only from his
own letter, but from every act in the
case. He said not one word about sto.
len goods a, Foxagdo, nor one word
about pirates-he did no, ask for the
price OF the former, nor an apology for
the latter. If be went there TO punish
pirates, he resorted to q singular meth
cd, at least: OF executing his propose
Who before ever heard OF publishing pi-
rates, by asking ain apology LOT an in,nlt
from the Governor of the town where
the pirates were supposed TO be & The
Commodore and his friends degrade him,
and leave the inference Of "a shameful
neglect OF duly, by THIS excuse. 1t were
infinitely better that he should res. his
defence upon the Impulse o! bis high
and honorable feelings, when he heard
that brother officer had been insulted.
10 such an apology every proud Amer
lean heart would have yielded lis par
don, il not its applause.
But there is, to our feelings, something
Of the burleSque mingled with the indg.
nant, in the transactions at the town.
The Governor is called out like a school,
boy, to make MS bow, and TO ask pardon
OF the youth whom he had offended, in
the presence Of his fellows land the
pardon being asked, and promise made
Of better behavior for the future, the
culprit is told to go abou, his business.
We are unwilling, however, to treat a
grave sdbject lightly, though the indig
nifty was certainly offered in boyish style.
There is another remark worth ma
King, which is calculated to test the pro-
prie,y of Com. P's conduct. There
were two cannons so placed as to COM
nand the road by which he approached
the town. Suppose FIVE Americans, or
i've men OF any country, not towards,
had been placed at those guns, and Com.
P's men had been cut down and destroy
ed. Or suppose the Governor had been