Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-16

under her old colonial laws. This ground
OF defence was contradictory, not only to
those which had been formerly alleged,
but to the uniform practice and establish
ed laws of nations ; and had been aban-
doned by Spain herself in the conven-
ton which granted indemnity to British
subjects for captures, made at the same
time, under the same circumstances, and
for the same allegations with those of
which we complain.
/ however indulge the hope that fur
Their reflection will lead to other views,
and feel confident that when His Catho-
lie Majesty shall be convinced of the
justice of the claim, his desire to pre-
serve friendly relations between the two
countries, which it is my earnest endea-
vor to maintain, will induce him to ac-
cede to our demand. have therefore
! despatched special messenger with in
struction to our Minister to bring the
case once more to his consideration TO
the end that if, which cannot bring
myself to believe, the same decision, that
cannot but be deemed an unfriendly de-
NAL of Justice, should be persisted in, the
matter may, before your adjournment,
be laid before you, the constitutional
judges of what is proper to be done when
negotiation for redress of injury fails.
The conclusion of Treaty for in
demnity with France seemed to present
favourable opportunity to renew our
claims of a similar nature on other pow
ers: and particularly in the case Of those
upon Naples, more especially as in the
course of former negotiations with that
power, our failure to induce France to
render US Justice was used as an argument
againstus. The desires of the merchants
who were the principal sufferers have
therefore been acceded to, and mis-
sion has been instituted for the special
purpose Of obtaining for them repara .
ton already too long delayed. This mea-
sure having been resolved on, it was put
in execution without waiting for the
meeting of Congress, because the state OF
Europe created an apprehension of E.
vents that might have rendered our APP
plication Intellectual.
Our demands upon the Government
of the Two Sicilies are ola peculiar ma
ture: The injuries on which thay are
founded are not denied, nor are the a
trocity and perfidy under which those
injuries were perpetrated attempted to
be extenuated. The sole ground on
which indemnity has been refused is the
alleged illegality of the tenure by which
the monarch who n ale the seizures held
his crown. This defence, always I'M
founded in any principle of the law of
nations-now universally abandoned
even by those powers upon whom
the responsibility for acts of past ru-
lers bore the most heavily, will un-
questionably be given up by His Sicilian
Majesty whose counsels will receive
an impulse from that high sense of honor
and regard to Justice which are said to
characterize him; and feel the fullest
confidence that the talents of the citizen
commissioned for that purpose will place
before him the just claims of our in iured
citizens in such light as will enable
me, before your adjournment, to an
nounce that they have been adjusted and
secured. Precise instructions, to the
effect of bringing the negotiation to O
speedy issue, have been given and will
be obeyed.
In the late blockade ofTerceira, some oil
the Portuguese fleet captured several of our
vessels and committed other excuses for
which reparatiOn was demanded and | was
on the point of despatching an armed force,
TO prevent any recurrence OF a similar vio-
! lence and protect our citizens in the prose
cution of their lawful commerce, when off
cial assurances, on which relied, made the
sailing OF the ships unnecessary. Since that
! period frequent promises have been made
that full indemnity shall be given for the in
juries inflicted and the losses sustained. In the
performance there has been some, perhaps,
unavailable, delay; but | have the fullest
| confidence that my earnest desire that this
| business may at once be closed, which our
| Minister has been instructed strongly TO eX-
press, will very soon be gratifed / have
the better ground for this hope, from the ev-
ldence Of a friendly disposition which that
Government has shewn by an actual reduC-
ton IN the duty on rice, the produce of our
Southern States, authorizing the anticipation
that this important article of our export will
soon be admitted on the same footing with
That produced by the most favored nation.
With the other powers of Europe, we
have fortunately had no cause of discussions
for the redress ofinjuries With the empire
of the Russias, our political connection is of
the most friendly, and our commercial of the
most liberal kind We enjoy the adyanta-
ges Of navigation and trade, given 10 the
most favored nation butt has not vet suit
ed the policy, or perhaps has not been found
convenient from other considerations to give
/ f.,