The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-12-13

was contradictory mot only to those which
mad been formerly alleged, but to the un-
iiorm practice and established laws OF
nations; 4 had been abandoned by Spain
herself in the convention which granted
indemnity to British subjects for captures,
made at the time, under the same circum-
stances, and for the same allegatio with
those Of which we complain.
1 however indulge the hope that fur
fher reflection will lead to other views,
T and feel confident that when His Catho-
lic Majesty shall be convinced of the
justice Of the claim, his desire to preserve
friendly relations between the two coun-
tres, which It is my earnest endeavor to
maintain, will induce him to accede to
our demand. | have therefore dispatch
ei special messenger with instructions
70 our Minister to bring the case once
more to his consideration; to the end that
II, which | cannot bring myself to be-
lieve, the same decision, that cannot but
be deemed an uniriendly denial ofjustice,
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 i'm
demnity with France seemed to present
favorable opportunity to renew our
claims ofa 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 argu-
ment against us. The desires of the
merchants who were the principal suffer-
ers have therefore been acceded 70, and
mission has been instituted for the
special purpose of obtaining for them
reparation already too long delayed.
This measure 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 events that might have rendered our
application Intellectual.
Our demands upon the Government, of
the Two Sicilies are of peculiar nature:
l.i.hAsisei.s-,er-7 r'vr n.sz tnr arrverty- dod
perfdy under which those. injuries were
perpetra,ed attempted to be extenuated.
The sole ground on which indemnity
has been refused is the alleged ilegality
OF the tenure by which the monarch who
made the seizures held his crown. This
defence, always unfounded in any prin-
ciple of the law of nations--now uniyer-
sally abandoned, even by those powers
upon whom the responsibility for acts of
past rulers bore the most heavily, will
unquestionably be given up by His Sic
Ilian Majesty; whose counses will re-
ceIve an impulse from that high sense of
honor and regard to justice which are
sand TO characterize hlm ;and | feel the
fullest confidence that the talents of the
citizen commissioned for that purpose
will place before him the just claims Of
our injured citizens in such light as
will enable me, before your adjournment,
to announce that they have been adjust
ed and secured. Precise instructions, to
the effect of bringing the negotiation to
u speedy issue, have been given aud will
be obeyed.
In the late blockade of Terceira,
some of the Portuguese fleet captured
several of our vessels and committed 9TH
er excesses for which reparaton was de-
manded and was on the poln. Of de-
spatching an armed force, to prevent any
recurrence of similar violence and pro-
tect our citizens in the prosecution OF
their lawful commerce, when official as
surances, on which relied, made the
sailing of the ships unnecessary. Since
that period frequent promises have been
made that full indemnity shall be gwen
for the injuries inflicted and the losses
sustained. In the performance there
has been some, perhaps unavoidable de-
lay; but have the fullest confidence
that my earnest desire that the business
may at once be clused, which our Minis
ter has been instructed strongly TO ex-
press, will very soon be gralilied.
have the better ground for this hope,
from the evidence of u friendly disposll-
ION which that Government has shewn
by al actual reduction IN the duty on
rice, the produce of our Southern States,
authorising the anticipation that this Inn
portant 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 discus
sIons for the redress of injuries. With
the Empire of the Russians, our political
connexio is Of the most friendly, and
commercial Of the most liberal kind.
We enjoy the advantages Of navigation
aud trade, given to the most favored ma
lion but it has not yet suited their poll
cy, or perhaps has not been found con-
yenient from other considerations, to
v,ve stah,Iitv and reciprocitv to those