The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-05-04
WHAT We ONE SPAIN.
MANY ACTS OF FRIENDSHIP DUR
ING WARRIOR INDEP EVIDENCE.
How She Behaved Towards Us in the
Stirring Days of the Birth
of cold Glory"

Extract from speech delivered at Fan
uil Hall, Boston. in 1882 by George
Sumner, brother of Chas Sumner.
"But it was not france alone which
came to our aid during that summer
of 1916. One of those brave men who
were the creators of the naval glory of
our country, Captain John Lee, of
MarbIehead, cruising under commls-
sion from congress, having taken and
sent home five valuable prizes, and,
finding it necessary to refit and obtain
supplies and munitions of war, enter
ed the port of Bilboa, Spain. The cap.
tain Of two Of his prizes and a part OF
their crews were on board. These Of
ficer5 Immediately protested against
their capture, and had Captain Lee ar
rested on the charge of piracy. The
local AUTHORITIES sent the documents Of
the case to Madrid, together with the
commission granted by this new and
unknown power. Here was a critical
juucture in our affairs. On the decis-
ion Of the Spanish ministry depended,
not alone the fate Captain Lee, but
whether some Of the most important
ports in Europe should be opened or
closed to our cruisers and priyateers.
The English minister in Spain brought
all his influence to bear against us At
this moment the declaration of the
Fourth of July reached Madrid. The
complaint against Captain Lee was dis
missed; supplies for his ship and aid in
repairing were furnished, and public
declaration made that in Spanish
ports the new flag Of America was as
free and welcome as the old and
naughty flag of England.
This open act Of friendship. had
been preceded by another. On the
9Th of June, 177G, the Spanish minis
ter of foreign affairs sent to Count
Amanda, ambassador of Spain, in Par
is, 100000 francs, as a free gift for
the American colonies, q have seen
the dispatch enclosing this draft); and
on August II this money was paid over
to the agent with whom Silas Deane
and Arthur Lee, as delegates of con
gress, were in treaty for the shipment
arms aud supplies.
"But this was not all. Cargoes of
military stores were sent to us from
Bilboa. Then the hint was given that
5000 barrels Of powder stored at New
Orleans were at our service; the port
at Havana was open to us on the same
terms as to France, and the further
hint given that if an American ship
would look III there, occasionally it
would find the door of a certain maya
zine open, and something in it useful
to the colonies.
'NOr was this the end of Spanish IA
vors. Blankets for ten regiments
were sent as a present to congress
through John Langdon, of Ports
mouth; ship-loads of stores were de-
spatChed through the house of Gardu-
qui, at Madrid, as minister of the new
states, without any provision being
made by congress for money to pay
even his house rent. Another gift of
$500 was made to him for us.
"4dore yet. Though the declaration
in regard to Captain Lee was the ear
Hest act of recognition by any power
except France, Spain abstained from
making treaty with our minister, for
the very excellent reason that to do so
would have been tantamount to a de-
claratiOn of war against England, for
which she was not prepared. BuU the
eminent man who, on February 10,
l777, took the reins of power, Flori-
da Blanco, was not idle. He immedi-
ately commenced building new ships
and arming those already built, and,
in the spring OF 70, thirty-six ships Of
the line, mounting more guns than any
fleet she ever had, being ready for sea,
she declared war against England.
This immense fleet, Of which seven
were threedeckeTs of 100 to POO guns
(our solitary three-decker, the Penn
sylvania, has never yet got to seal,
joined the French fleet, sailed to at
tack the common enemy, and during
that and the succeeding year inter
cepted the troops and supplies which
had been sent to aid in our conquest.
FLORIDA Blanco did not stop here,
but while engaged in his naval prepar-
atiOns made a treaty with the Emperor
of Morocco which closed his ports to
the English. He also opened relations
with Hyder Ali in India, and fomented
war which that powerful prince main
tanned against England. Benjamin
Rush, writing shortly after to Gen
eral Gates, says:
Heaven prosper our allies! Hyder
der Ali is the standing toast at my
table,
FLORIDA Blanco did not rest content
with this, but used all the wies of d.