Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-10-14

the same IN substance and have already stated
1st that the seizures acts of violence perpetrated
by Napoleon, and for which, at the time Murat
nor Louis responsible; 2dy that had they been the
acts oil the usurpers Mura and Louis, caim for
Pcnsation could hold against the rghtiul sovercgns
their successors. To these reply in brief that the
conscations the official acts of the Neapotan and
Dutch rulers the degree ofinfuenCe of violence
practised on them, by the French ruler is point of
which we know nothing; and which, though it NAV very
equitaby affect the claims OF the present governments
of Naples and Holland against France cannot touch u.s.
The Kings Murat and Louis, had good reasons for
taking the property of our merchants. What those
were, is not for to inquire very possibly
may say undoubtedly, to prevent worse consequent
ces. His imperial majesty wanted money, and would
have If. He had adopted the Horatian MAXIM very
decidedly lie wanted ii from all quarters, from
Naples, some from Holland. Our good ships were
convenient fund, their coDscation easy resort. Had
tins not presented ITSELF does any think that Holland
aud Naples would have paid frthng the less to nour
ISL the ambitious the luxurious wants of Napolean.
Not farthiDg
But the anxiety with which the second argument is
pressed, shows distrst of the validity OF the
first. Though Murat aud Louis plundercd the Ameri-
cans. they were usurpcrs, and no claim exist against
their legitimate successors. The King of Naples, ,vho
of plain and familiar manners, used TO say to Mr.
Degen why, the fellow took your ships il is true but
he took my kingdom; suffered more than YOU d i'd !
lost ALL and shall have besides my own losses to bear
yours This, though buny put, contains the gst the
| Il
though more plausible in that OF Naples than Holland
But the claim is neither against hIurat nor Fcrdnand
it is against Naples For certain reasons best known
TO themselves the people of Naples choose to perform
their public acts by hereditary king; and we by an
elective Congress. 1t is the nation, III both cases.
that is responsible. The United States would look but
| tneany III the eyes of Europe, they to refuse TO
perform obligations founded in Justice either to repair
wrong or 10 do right, on the ground that the
tive or legislative servants, had acted foolishy wick
IurOpe WOu.u hay nrO-
fessed, before the world, to act your national ca
pacity by the agency of chosen rulers YOU chose
these kuaves or fools. and you must acqut their OBJ
| lig atoms. In like manner say 10 Naples. You
have preferred monarchica governments YOU boast OF
It's advantages; you say il concentrated and encr
gec; you point to your own history and other his
tory, TO show It's beneficial effects You must take
it for better and for Conquest and military pow
err of old familiar and valid titles to any crown
Foreigners cannot discriminate. You elect none Of
your kings. NIurat king by the same title that
Alexander regns at Warsaw; Austria in Gaicia and
Milan; Prussia at Cologne; the King of Sardinia at
Genoa the English in all India. Is not the king of
Sweden able tn contract For that nation? And what
placed him on the throne And besides though it does
not alter the case Murat popular in Naples There
never was hand raised against him. The old Neapo-
nobility graced his COURT and the historian, end
to revolutionary kings, declares, that the kingdom
benefited during his reign. The brgands were crush
Cd, public buildings erected the ruins OF the ancient
cities--one of the great attractions at Naples
eXcavated, and the government administered with vi
gor unknown to the feeble monarcls Of the legitimate
line. Finally the Emperor of Austria did bv treaty
guaranty the throne of Naples TO Nura and England
soemny consented 10 the arrangement. But none of
all These circumstances had existed, Murat was never
theess de tdcto king, and it is the fundamental prmc
pie OF monarchicai government that the nation acts by
Its sovereign, alike for good and evil;
QHicqwid deIiraa reyes placzunt,lr 4cairi
What in fact be futile, than to suppose that we
clam indemnity out of the private purse of the present
king? We claim it of the nation. He was il is true
dethroned and banishcd; but another ruled in his place
and that by the acquescence of his people. The ma
ton remains the same.
But IT Is hard, you urge to come upon poor Ferdi-
nand upon poor Naples, to refund the property
thus contlscated Perhaps so hard as it NAV seem
Some OF the vessels coniiscated were taken into the
pubic service; and were the service of the restored
king, at the time lie disclamcd all participation in the
plumber The rest, with their cargoes, were Sold and
went to furnish the MEANS with which the Neapolitan
Popuace received their avorte largess of pane cir
ccnSeS: with which the streets and squares of Pompe
were uncovered with which new and spacious avenue
was opened to Naples with which an efficient police
was maintained; with which bands of robbers hitherto
triumphant, were swept from the passes of Puela and
Caabria Surely 1t is vain TO attempt to discriminate
between these expenses and the personal uxuries OF
Mura his expenditures in foreign wars or his tribute
money to his master Napoleon. Surely is in vain TO
affect To put mark the particular dollars paid into
ms hands from the sale of American property aud say
Even could 1T be done. it would avail nothing in the ar
gument for what is palmer than that in this case the
national resources relieved of so much of the bur
den OF the government, in consequence of tire supply
derived from our plumber.
IL is not then SO h7,d it may at first appear But
grant were hard: II Is not therefore unjust 1t is hard
for an innocent endoscr pay the note for which he
became responsible, with such expectation. II is
hard for the citizen be taxed beyond his means TO
support measures for national policy, which he disap-
proves; IS always hard to bear burdens to suffer ca
iamitles, TO look ruin in the face 1t is hard for the
American merchant engaged in honest trade, on the
FAITH OF pubic law, and believing that he the citizen of
arePublc able to protect him in his rights TO have his
property torn from his vessels, both sold to defray the
expenses OF the Neapoltan government; and then be
told, for all answer, that the government at that time
happened to rest on no stronger title, than that of two
thirds OF the kings of Europe.
But let us turn to the Dutch claim, and see how il
looks in reference to the obligation OF legitimate govern
men5 to pay the debts OF their usurpng predecessors
No country ever fought harder, or longer or suffered
more, Tor free government, than the Dutch. In an
age wien freedom d holder word, than il has since
become with tyranny staring them in the face in all the
surrounding nations, both sides of the channel they