The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-01

Case Of the LtstIe Graft, Psqusna ArneIis.
We never heard u more liberal sding than
that q the seizure. condemnation, conGscation and
sale Of the Spanish sloop Pequea Amelia at the port
OF Key West, within short time. The circum-
stances connected with IL novel, that we think
we justified in stating them.
Tie little sfoop IL OF the burden Of only ten tons,
and is the smallest vessel that ever crossed the At
antic She started from Cadix, in SPAIN for Havana,
in the Island Of Cuba; and after various and manifold
yicisstndcs, finally reached that port III safety The
ient was one Of daring, and its successful accomplish
ment may justly be considered heroic achievement
On the eighth Of The present month, this little vessel
left Havana for Carenas, but forced BY stress OF
weather to seek the port or Key West in the State Of
Florida, Apprehending that, according to our nayi
CATION laws, there might be some difficulty in obtain
ing the assistance which the captain needed in lis
emergency, he obtained permission from the AIneri-
can authorities TO sell enough Of the merchandise
which he had hoard, topurchase food, and pay for
the expense Of putting his little craIt IN seaworthy
condition again. But this privilege was afterwards
denied To him; and In day or two after this denial,
while The little craft lay disabled from the elements
from prosecuting her voyage, she was seized by the
agents Of the American governments and, alter the
regular proceedings were instituted, the Pequena
Amelia was confscated and sold, Spaniard becoln-
ing the purchaser
This Is certainly novel and exciting cass. Our
laws prohibit any foreign trading vessel, Of less
tonnage than thirty TONS from entering any haTbor IN
the United States But here Is vessel driven by
stress OF weather into OF ports, and because
the judge who tried the ease may have thought that
the anival OF the little vessel al Key West was pre-
meditated, she was condemned and sold. A case OF
greater hardship occurred within our recolec-
ion. How should feel II OF little craft Of
the burden Of ten TONS after successfully busng the
pillows and storms Of the wild Atlantic, had finally
reached port in Spain, Cadiz for instance, or been
driven into other Spanish port BY stress Of
iherhow should feel II the gallant little vessel
Were belled, condemned, and sold for infrzction
Of the navigation laws Of Spaini Why, we would
buster and tak--we would create an excitement
from end oil the tnion the other, and denounce
the authorities that would so summarily dispose OF
such an extraordinary Yet such is precisely the
condition Of this affair, only substituting Spain Tor the
United Sates instead Of an American vessel having
been treated in this by the Spanish authori
ties Spanish vessel, bearing the flag Of her country,
and the only vessel Of her size that crossed the
Atlantic, has been driven by stress Of weather into
Of our ports and because she less than Thirty
tons IN burden, she was thus summary disposed u.
We trust that the general government win take
most liberal and comprehensive and inagnanimous
view OF this matter We sincerely hope that the pro.
ceedngs in the seizure condemnation and sale Of this
gallant little craft, may be set aside, and that the
Pequena Amelia will not only be restored to her en-.
terpr,sng captain but that all his expenses OF deten
tion AMI other damages which he has sustained will
be recompensed to him, and that he will be permitted
to 60 On his way rejoicing ~. y. Herald n