Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-09

lion. they have no RICH, 10 complain Of the Elk"
ecuIiyc.
! Tie British nation is not ia The habit IF to-
! lerating calmly any insul, 10 It's hlg, or out
rare on he liberty or property OF lis subjects
| Their vessels have been detained and their car
goes lost OF deeriora'cd, by the operation Of
this very blockade And what has been the
cours. adopted b, the Brush Governmenl?--
The Secretary Of Foreign Affairs recently ex-
plainrd il in the House of Commons, in am
swer to an inquiry on the subject.
"With respect to The blockade, which GER
tainly, by putting an end 10 all our commerce
! by locking up large portion Of our capital,
did our merchants great injury; The mob lord
assured the house, that this Government had
ak N the only steps, which, under the cIrcum-
stances, they cou d resort TO. AS soon as he
| heard Of the blockade and of its consequences,
| he los, no 'ime in laving the papers before The
law officers Of rhe crown, by whose advice, and
bv whose advice alone, he was bound TO act
He put t" them The question, whether that
bloc kade was an effective blockad,; and If these
officers had declared that the blockade was nat
.ffecrual, then the most speedy means would
have been taken to disregard il. The opinion
of The law officers was. that we were nos hen
in possession of such information IS could lead
US to think thai he blockade what is called
a paper blockade. But whenever it sh3l turn
out that it is not an effec tual ockade, then it
shall be disre garded."
And this is undoubtedly the only safe and le
gal course 10 be pursued. But it will be obs
jec,ed, that surprising the blockade 10 be enfor-
ced by suffi lent power, some Of our vessels
have been seized without shy inteh;ion OF evad-
ing it, and the Brazilian Government has made
no compensation for the damages ooCa>ioned
by their Illegal detention. The remaining ques
ton is, therefore, whether the Executive Of
| the United States has taken such measures TO
inquire into these cases, anG demand repara-
tIon, as was due to the dignity Of this country,
and proper vindca!on Of the rights Of our
citizens
We think ,hat the correspondence between
Mr.. Clay and Mr. Rebello, sufficiently proved
that this has been done. \ further explana-
zion, made by Nh Everett, Chairman of the
Committee Of Foreign Relations, on Tues.
day last, in cons, qucnce of resolution
offered by Mr.. Coulter, shows conclusivrly
tba, such is the case. The facts, Invested Of
idle and irrelevan; circums ances, are these: In
consequence OF charge against his character,
made in Brazilian newspaper, wholly unoffi-
cal, Mr.. Racquet the American Minister al Rio
Janeiro, thought Fl abruptly TO return TO The
United States, without even in.ima'ing his de-
sign to them thus assuming 10 himself he re-
spnnsibility Of perhaps breaking off The Ii lend
ly relations between the two governments. He
made this complaint at large to his Govern.
mrn:. The Brazilian Minister, ar Washing
ton, addressed the Secretary Of STATE, requiring
tina, the Government should express its disap-
pr ,bation of Mr.. Raguet's conduct. The S-cre-
answerabIe for his official acts only to his own
Government. The result Of the corresponds
ence between Mr. Clay and Mr. RebelIo was an
official assurance on the part OF the latter. that
the Brazilian Government would make full in
demnity for any wrong shown to have been
done to an American citizen, in his rights or
properly, and pledge OH the part of the Exc
cutiye OF The United States, that new Minis
ter should be sent TO Brazil, with all cow enicnt
despatch, with power to settle the business
This orrespondence, together with the rcpre-
sentation Of Ar. RaSuei, laid before the
Committee Of Foreign Relations, who reported
in the early part OF the present session In
their report they stated, in relation TO Mr.. RAJ
guet's complaint, "ihat they believed the char
ges against him in The Brazilian paper, un-
founded and lbelous; without shadow Of
truth; that his character was unim 2eaChed; that
the Executive Government Of his own country
had not disapproved his conduct, which they
believed had been actuated by honest and pa
,riotic motives; and that the libelous asper-
sions Of any anonymous foreign journalist were
beneath the notice Of the Congress OF the Unit
ed States"
| During the last year, the American Consul a:
Lima, gentleman judged mos' competent to
discharge the responsible trust, was appointed
Mr.. Raguet's successor. 1t must, Of course
have taken considerable time to communicate
his appointment to him, and i, must, also, have
taken him long time to reach the place ofhis
destination. There he has undoubtedly arriv-
ed, and is engaged in ascertaining what amount
Of indemnify is due to those whose property
has been unjustly detained or taken from them,
or who have been illegally imprisoned. The
faith Of the Brazilian Government, is pledged
to make them whole; and when this pledge has
been violated, it will be time enough to accuse
the Government Of want of energy, il effeclual
measures are not adopted TO enforce it.
Ofthe propriety or improperly OF the course
1 ID -. L,o.x r