The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-04

tes but Of the profit would OF the value
OF the island, am unable 10 speak
lam with much is'pse'. your obedie,, servant m,x
| Master Commandani United States Navy,
| J. WHITEHEAD. esq"
This is the testimony Of commander in the navy, who
participated in the duties OF that naval STATEN He
one Of the officers of Commodore Porter and he tells
you that in obedience TO his orders, Commodore Porter
occupied the whole Island, and the owner Of the island
| was allowed TO only much as Commodore Porter
permitted Whose testimony could be better than that of
officer OF the government, who, ii he had any sympa
thy with either party, would not certainly have for the
inhabitants OF the island Another Of these officers,
Mr.. Morebead. who was left on the island in command
when Commodore Perry first took possession and left the
island, says this
| Commodore Potiers authority was exercised as posi-,
lively on the island any OF his vessels He unhes
tangy used such portions Of as In his opinion the public
service required"
That is the testimony OF an officer who was left in
command of the island, and wh0 OF all witnesses the
face OF the earth most competent TO testify for he
left in command under Commodore Porter, and he tells
you that Commodore Porter exercised authority the
island precisely his vessel that he unhes-
tangy used such discipline as the public service re-
quired
Delaware calculated to beget the idea that there
quiet acquiescence in the acts OF Commodore Porter
the part Of the inhabitants Of the island The inhabitants
OF the island knew very well that Commodore Porter was
acting in conformity with his authority because he had
proclaimed his authority and told them that he took pos
session in the name of the United States and he erected
|
required further proof of his authority; and they
entered several personal protests in consequence Of
quarres which were daily occurring between the nhab
tests was formally entered BY P. c. Green s. Co. ad-
dressed to the officers at Key West. as follows
Yon have this day at the head Of guard Of marines,
employed by u.s. and confined him in the guard house for
obeying our orders In laying the foundation Of ware
upon our own soil or property You have also placed
sentinel on the spot to prevent the continuance Of
0bisSt W, +. ,sbv a.n,od .,.... !, i. -,
mason John Cobonme and the removal of the sentinel
from our PREMISES which, II refused will result in serious
complained q. besides others equally Illegal
committed by you We shall make you amenable TO the
fered the i'm prsonmen of helpless innocent man. acting
under ORDERS the execution Of your threats towards
''You have exhibited order from Commodore Por-
s, to Justify your proceedings this day t1|srds US On
that he there considers our right to improve dependent
entirely his ideas Of the good injury which may result
to be deprived OF the lot in question for other
poses than The navy required we have reason e. 70 G believe
ifcaton OF malice against us Whether not you
issue them when thereby 10 be deprived
@ is well known that we are the owners of this island
the tides to which undispued except by Commodore
Porter; and we can see no consistency or popriey in
driving by orce from the enjoyment OF our property, TO
give II 10 favoriie individuas
This sir is only one of the numerous protests one of
the exhibitions OF the quaels going on day after day,
resulting from the occupation OF the island against The
right OF the proprieors As TO the ownership OF the
island all know that 1t was private Spanish grant,
long before It's occupation by Commander Perrya gran,
with which our government could not interfere except
for the purposes eminent domain. That the only
right which government had to the land, under the
treaty with Spain In pursuance OF this protest. when
Commodore Porter returned TO the island ihe same par
ties addressed 10 him another protest. dated January 25
1925. Ii is as follows
SRi During your absence, Lieutenant vamum has, by
military foce caused us TO suspend the building Of ware
on n
necessarily obliged 10 encroach upon the lot south OF us by
Ne
You on tho subject, previous 70 your departure
willing we should take The few fee, required and as they
about laying the foundation OF their warehouse you
viii obge us by giving such orders as will enable us TO re
With great respect your SSedent q s;asrsT ,sfySp co
/ Commodore PORTER Commander in chief
This letter bears evidence on its face that the proprie
tors were obliged to consult the officers OF the govern
ment before they could dare TO occupy their own soil
Commodore Porter's reply was in these terms
UNITED STATES SHIr Joms ADAMS
Thompsoa's Island, January 2sth, 1895.
GsTLENEs; ] have received yours Of this date In
build within the limits OF the enclosure occupied by
you and Of the length the adjoining the navy
yard the ground outside and 10 the south OF your euclo
sure reserved Tor the Of the United Safes whenever
es aos9 II 10 Sss
right TO renquish II to you should not have iet my
sell juuh'ols IN allowing any one 70 occupy piece o.
The permission gave Mr. Greene still be-
given but, without entering into any discus
sion your claims the island without making any
remarks the nature OF letter to Lieutenant Varnu
| take this occasion TO observe that by and
decorons deportmen. and disposition to accommodate
selves crcum that cannot CONTROL Will
find IL most to nscress during the existence OF
military the island 10 pursue line Of conduct
dcren, from that which you have thought proper to
adopt
Lieutenant Vamum's conduct has met with my appro-
baton and II he does his duty believe he will, he
will always use military force when the public interests
| cannot be protected by other
Very respectfully your obedient servant
Me,su. P. O. GREKw & Co.. Merchants, Thompson's
Island.
Now there proprietor OF the soil who, in the
cupailon OF his property and in erecting ware.
house, had his wokmen arrested and put IN prison
by military officers and he informed by those acting
under the government that military force would be used
when the rights OF the government could not be pro-
tected without il.
II Now, in the of proof as TO the occupation OF
the land and as TO It's value will state that the docu
full and distinct TO the time IL occupied,
as well as the purposes for which il occupied The
testimony of John Patrick, who a member OF the
mercantile house OF Jenners & Patrick, says:
"Thst he member OF the commercial house OF
Jenners Patrick, which established Key Wes in
until the part Of 1926 ortbe beginning OF iSN
To the second, he saith that IL miliisy-the island
being under the charge OF the United States naval com
mander Of the West India ation, who claimed as the
property Of the United States"
Now we have here number of nterrogatores put TO
Mr. w Hail. the third OF which is very important,
to whether the progress OF the town was checked IN
consequence Of its occupation by the United States and
TO this he answers hat the improvement OF the island
was checked, nasmuch as the citizens were permitted to