Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-26
INSTRUCTIONS TO CON. IoRTER.
Many Department, Fec. |, 1923

the command Of a squadron, fitted on,
under an act of Congress Of the Goth Of
Dec. last, to cruize in the West India
seas and Gulf of Mexico, for the Dur.
pose Of suppressing piracy, and afford.
ing effectual protection to the citizens
and commerce Of the United States
Your attention will also be extended n
the suppression of the slave trade, ac.
cording to the provisions of the several
acts of congress on that subject; co.
pies of which, and of the Instruction.
heretofore given TO our naval com.
manders thereon, are herewith sent to
you. While it is your duty to protect
our commerce against all unlawful in.
terruption, and to guard the rights
both ofperSon and property, Of the ci.
tizens Of the United States, wherevs,
itshall become necessary, you will OBJ.
serve the utmost caution not to en-.
croach upon the rights of others; and
should you, at any time, be brought in.
to discussion or collision, with anv 70.
reign power, in relation to such rights,
it will be expedient and proper that
the same should be conducted with as
much moderation and forbearance as is
consistent with the honor Of your coun-
try, and the just claims Of its citizens.
Should you, in your eruize, fall in with
any foreign naval force, engaged in the
suppression of piracy, it is desirable
that harmony and good understand.
ing should be cultivated between you;
and you will do every thing on your
part that accords with the honor of the
American flag to promote this object.
So soon as the vessels at Norfolk shall
be ready for sea, you will proceed to
the West Indies, by such route as you
shall Judge best for the purpose Of CT.
fecting the object of your cruize. You
will establish at Thompson's Island,
usually called Key West, a depot, and
land the ordnance and marines to pro-
tect the stores and provisions; if, how
ever, you shall find any important OBJ
lection to this place, and a more sui,a-
bic and convenient one can be found,
you are at liberty to select it as a de-
pot.
You will announce your arrival and
object to the authorities, civil and mi
litary, Of the island Of Cuba, and en-
deavor to obtain, as far as shall be
practicable, their cooperation, or at
least their favorable and friendly sup
port, giving them the most unequivo-
cal assurance, that your sole object is
the destruction Of pirates. The sys-
tenn Of piracy which has grown up in
the West Indies, has obviously arisen
from the war between Spain and the
new Governments, her late provinces,
in this hemisphere, and from the limi-
ted force in the islands, and their spare
population, many portions of each be-
Ing entirely uninhabited and desolate,
to which the active authority oft go-
vernment does not extend. 1t is under
stood that establishments have been
made by parties of those banditti, in
those uninhabited parts, to which they
carry their plumber and retreat in time
Of danger. Itcannot be presumed that
the government of any island will al
ford any protection or countenance to
such robbers. Itmay, on the contrary,
confidently be believed, that all govern.
ments, and particularly those most ex-
posed, will afford all means in their
power for their suppression.
Pirates are considered, by the law Of
nations, the enemies of the human race.
1t is the duty Of all nations to put
them down; and none who respect their
own character or interest will refuse to
do it, much less afford them an asylum
and protection. The nation that makes
the greatest exertions to suppress such
banditti, has the greatest merit. In
such exertions, it has right
to the aid ofevery other power, to the
extent of its means, and to the enjoy,
ment, under its sanction, Of all its
rights in the pursuit Of the object.
In the case of belligerents, where
the army of one party enters the terri
tory Of a neutral power, the army OF
the other has right to follow it there.
In the case of pirates, the right of the
armed force Of one power to follow
them into the territory of another, is
more complete. In regard to pirates,
there is no neutral party, they being
the enemies of the human race; all ma
tions are parties against them, and may
be considered as allies. The object
and intention of our government is, to
respect the feelings as well as the
rights of others, both in substance and
in form, in all the measures which may
be adopted to accomplish the end in
view. Should, therefore, the crews Of
any vessels which you have seen en-
gagged in acts of piracy, or which you
have just cause to suspect Of being OF
that character, retreat into the ports,
harbours, or settled parts of the island,
you may enter, in pursuit of them, such
ports, harbors, and settled parts OF the
country, for the purpose Of aiding the
-noDIa fhp (aSn