Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-09-08

the house of Governor coppinger, forced the
door Of his Office, without the pretence Of his
having any other than a military sanction, and
carried away six unsram,ned boxes of papers
found therein. Few persons can be found SO
insensible &c the claims Of Justice as 10 justify
the whole procedure. The manner in which II
was viewd by Spain will appear from the follow
ing extract from the remonstrance Of her MI
MISTER:
Don Joaquin de .Anduaga TO the Secretary
0fState.
"22d Nov. 1921.
"SlR: By your note of the 9Th August last,
to my predecessor, you were pleased 10 acquaint
him that copies Of the correspondence between
Don Jose Coppinger, Governor and Commits
sary, Sc. and Col. Butler, Commissary, &c.
had been received,
"The harmony and good understanding which
prevailed is very 2raiseworthy.
"By the aforementioned correspondence, ii
appears that doubts had arisen whether the ar
iillery, and certain archives, ought or ought not
be delivered over TO the United States; and that
you will have seen it clearly and defnifi,eiy set.
lied between Messrs. Coppinger and Butler That
both should remain in ST. augustine: the
former in deposite, in the possession Of the
Anglo American commissary, and the latter
in the state in which they were, and without the
possibility of their being carried to the Hava-
ma, until the determination o. both Govern
meuts, in certain time, should arrive. At the
departure Of Col. Butler from the said city after
the delivery had been Effected, he wrote off,
ciaKy to Col Coppinger, thar he should have 10
transact his business who succeeded; and with
out doubt, from the copies Of his corresPon-
Jence with Col. Coppinger, you will have oo'
served that, on various subjects which occurred,
we considered him (snd inerchanged letters
with him, recognising him still in the quality
Of Spanish Commssary.
con the arrival of Mr.. Worthing;on, who
came 10 St. Augustine to supply the place OF
Capt. Bell, the aspect of Affairs was changed.
An incident occurred relative to Spanish A.
gent, which gave rise 10 correspondence be
tween them. Col. Coppinger waited for the
answer 10 the protest which he had made to
Mr.. Worthington, upon the incident above.
mentioned; when, without any previous notice,
or any other cause, the offence was committed
which is related in the subloined protests OF
Col. Coppinger, and Of the Secretary"
"That the American Government had no
right 10 demand any paper from Col. Coppln-
ger, is evident from the recei pt OF the delivery,
given to him by Col. Butler, on the 10th OF Ju-
Iy last, which is given for the delivery Of what
the treaty stipulated: and which declares e1-
ressly, that the doubt relative to the artillery
and certain documents was left to the determi-
nation of both Governments.
"The Commissaries, Coppingcr and Butler,
had agreed, in virtue Of their respective pow
ers, that the archives in question should remain
in the state in which they were, appears from
the correspondence Of both.
wi 4.
for eaims 81 Ghssrd his officers give
"From all that ! have explained, and from
the accompanying documents, it results
81. That his Catholic Msjesty has been in-
suited in the person of his Commissary (Gov.
Coppinger)in the most scandalous manner.
80. That Gov. Jackson has broken, without
giving any reason for it. an agreement signed
by his own officers.
"3. That. in spoIafioa, or rather plunder,
committed in the HOUSE Of Col. Coppinger, The
law Of nations, and all the known laws OF civil
LIKED countries, have been trampled upon; mas.
much as he was the Commissary Of foreign
Power; and inastnuch as, without summons or
notice, without accusation, trial or sentence, the
DOORS Of his HOUSE HAVE BEEN BROKEN, and he !
has not only been ROBBED of his family and pyi> !
uaie papers, always sacred, but of those which,
being the correspondence Of office, and reserved
with his Government, belong 10 his Catholic
Majesty.
To be brief, at presen. demand, in his Royal
name
81. That the Government Of the u. States
show, in an authentic manner, its Gisapprobs>
ton Of the insults offered to the Spanish Com
missary.
"7. That the authors of them be punished as
they deserve.
So. That all the papers, Sc. without dis,nc.
ton, be restored, &c.
"That the Government Of the United States
satisfy Spain, and Don Jose Coppinger, for the
damages and injuries which they have sustain
ed by the Injustice Of the American authorities
in the Floridas.
"No doubt but the President will acknow.
ledge the justice of this remonstrance; and l
fa,ter myself that he will be pleased to give,
without delay, TO monarch who has given
such proofs Of his friendship for the U. States
a satisfaction which his and that of the Spanish
nation demands.