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THE REFLECTOR.
MILLKDGEV1LLE, (i. TUESDAY, Al’RlL 7, 1818.
NO. 22.
UBLIC DOCUMENTS.
SPANISH PATRIOTS.
! and House of TlcpreaentuLves of the U. S.
enmrial of Vicente l’azos, of Peru,
agent of the authorities acting in
of the r«|)iililics of Venezuela, New
ami Mexico,
tfully represents, That several duly
ed authorities of the independent
ents of South A merle aft having met
this enlightened, friendly ant!
ountry ; and being convinced that
could tend more to the at'* ..neement.
eat cause, in which all the friends
tint, from the bay of San Francisco
i Horn, are deeply engaged, than the
of Florida, w hich would cut off the
of intercourse between the Spanish
and the United States, and thus pa
te operations of the government of
in the important contiguous islands,
ng thereby the fulfilment of the ar-
sircs of those Islanders for cmanci-
from the most cruel oppression ; thest
Red authorities determined upon tin
of Amelia Island, as the most direr,
f obtaining possession of the content-
bjcct.
views were privately made known
individuals in the United States
emigrated to this country in const 1
f the bloody scenes of Carthagem
or places of Smith America; anti t>
f the, disbanded soldiers of the Brit-
other nations, whose profession was
arms. They were invited to repa
clia Island, many of them wishing u
and others desirous of assisting in
triot cause, under promises of satis-
proportioned to their grades
but cautiously avoiding whatevei
be construed as a violation of the so-
nty of this highly respectable republic,
tudiously careful to guard against what
[could, in the most remote degree, hi
dcred as infracting the laws of nation
met at the place of rendezvous, they
ked, they took, they kept possession of
land of Amelia, with only the vanguard
expected the arrival of those patriots
oreigners who had voluntarily offered
Ti them : but to the surprise, to the
rending regret of all the friends of this
revolution, the volunteers were atop
their egress from the United Stales,
any of them were thrown into prison
measure, totally unexpected, changed
ce the whole appearance of our views
ad of being enabled to take possession
lorida, (intended finally for the United
es) we were confined to Amelia Island ‘
chiefs of the expedition were subjected to
'cion, many men deserted, anil but few
left to sustain the shock of arms, which
daily threatened by the Spanish troops ;
remained, however, unappalled ; they
ed a formidable attack ; but being by
{•ointments before mentioned, incapable
tive operations, the abandonment of the
was contemplated at the time of gene*
urv’s arrival, whose reinforcements
led the patriots not only to remain mas-
of the Island, nvaiting for an augincn-
n of forces for ulterior operations, but
were enabled to fit out several vessels to
y the Spanish trade.
he great importance and ronsequenre ol
apture of Amelia Island, as a key to 11>>
and to the. channel of the Bahamas, will
ore easily comprehended by a perusal of
intercepted despatches which accom-
v this memorial,* from the minister of
treasury of the island of Cuba to the
jy Morillo, wdiose supplies were iurnish-
hiefly from that island : and the island
ved those supplies from the United States
ugh the Floridas. The money requisite
the, prosecution of the war against the in-
‘ndents, was obtained by loans from the
bitants of Cuba, but these, judging cor-
y, that if the patriots could take and hold
elia Island, they would proreed to possess
oselvrs of the, rest of the Floridas, and fi-
y of Cuba,long ready for revolt, and that
lie event of a revolution of these, the mii-
Icnt their government would be lost, re-
d those advances on the faith of govern-
it that they hail been accustomed to make,
’hus may the government of the United
tes now see the importance of these pri-
ry movements of the patriots, which were
ributed to other causes of a confined, a
vote, and even of a sinister nature, by
iters in the public papers of this country,
a imputed motives of the most diabolical
d to the chiefs of this expedition :—They
ded them with every insulting epithet, and
rged the whole with the irregularities that
c committed by unprinrpled individuals
had assumed the patriot flags to cover
depredations ; thus involving in one
inon disgrace, those who wero duly com-
Toned, and who had acted in conformity
cknou lodged laws, with those who had
n guilty of this piratical assumption. The
patriots tiHik many Spanish vessels engaged
in the slave trade, and carried them into
Fernandinn. It would be unworthy the dig
nity of this memorial, to descend to the sus
picion that the persons so violent in these
barges, were directly engaged in this infer
nal trade ; but the opposition appears to
have augmented against the patriots, in pro
portion to the injury done thereto.
These captured slave-ships were taken,
likenthrr vessels, because declaredly belong
ing to the enemy ; but there is * i instance of
the captors having violated the laws of this
country, in attempting the introduction of the
aptured slaves into the U. States : and if
my individual had even attempted so irre-
ular a proceeding, he would have been sub
jeet to the laws: but his disgrace would sure
ly not be imputed to those who disclaim any
such act.
The documents, now in the hands of the
executive of this government, give the most
itnple testimony of the regular attention paid
to the laws of the United States by the, pa
triots ; and your memorialist was in hopes
oat these favorable representations would
tave produced a very different result to the
me experienced.
The unfavorable impression made upon the
government of this country, against the per
sons employed in this enterprise, appeared
to be corroborated by facts appertaining sole
ly to those who, totally disconnected with
the patriots, had, without authority assumed
their flag; and partly under the plea that
!iis impression, but especially under the pi
if the floridas* having been pledged to this
government, the officers thereof were direct
■d to take possession of Amelia Island, which
hey did in a hostile manner, but which the
patriots refused to defend, under the convic
tion that a government professing friendly
sentiments to those who were following its
wn glorious example, would, upon due coil
sideration of the subject, under proper re
presentations, redress any grievances to
which that exertion of power might have
subjected their friends, the patriots : and un
der such consoling expectations your memo
rialist had the honor of addressing the. chief
magistrate of this respected republic.* Af
ter waiting, however, for a month (though
every day’s delay is highly injurious to the
great cause in which we are engaged) instead
of receiving such satisfaction as the patriots
had vainly anticipated, your memorialist has
Ibis day received a letter from the bon. John
(£. Adams, secretary of state, excluding all
hopes of that reparation of the injuries sus
tained, that was expected from a great and
magnanimous people, whose glorious exam*
pie hail fired the bosoms of their brethren of
the, south ; anti nothing remains now, in the
fulfilment of the duties of your memorialist
to the patriots, whom lie represents, but to
submit to the august assemblies whom, lie has
tiie honor now to address, those evidences of
injuries so grievous to the cause of liberty
and the progress of the revolution, which in
volves the happiness of so many millions.
In this exposition of the grievances ami
sufferings alluded to, your memorialist begs
leave to call the attention of your honorable
Houses to the following.
It must be advanced (and your memorial
ist hopes it will be admitted) that the, capture
of Florida Would hasten the great events of
the revolution : and that, this being accom
plished, it was the avowed intention of the
patriots to cede that country to the United
States, under such circumstances as might be
mutually beneficial.
It must also be advanced, that they knew
not of any existing engagment that hail been
so concluded between this country and Spain
as to subject the attack, in any manner, to
the suspicion of an implication of hostility to
the pre-engagements or ultimate views of this
republic : For the patriots could not suppose
a nation, so powerful as the United States,
would permit the king of Spain to keep pos
session of a country, virtually theirs, as a
compensation for the extensive spoliations
committed on their trade, so long ago; and
especially as the governor of Florida is daily
disposing of the lands, leaving nothing final
ly, but the sovereignty and the sand-hanks ;
and more especially, as the law of congress
on that subject was passed in the year 1811,
which by the constitution became effectually
null in two years ; add to which, a nation,
of such political forecast as the United States
knowing that the patriots of the- south having
declared all the American continental posses
sions of Spain in a state of revolution, could
not he expected to leave undecided a question
of so much moment as the possession of Flo
rida, if actually theirs, at a time when it was
subject to an attack from without, or a revo
lution frotn withirf; and under a conviction
that if left to an external attack, it would in-
olve the United States in a contest with the
captors, (for Spain had left it almost defence
less,) or virtually, decoying a force to be
idly spent, which might have been efficiently
engaged elsewhere, in the great, cause.
Marked.
Under all these circumstances,your memo
rialist finds it difficult to abstract his mind
from a dilemma which presents itself, and
which lie submits with great deference.
Either the United States did possess Flori
da, or (hey did not. If they did, why not
occupy the snmc and display the American
flag ( Which would have prevented the patri
ots from attempting the conquest of a country
that had consummated its wishes. If they did
not possess Florida, why have they, vi et ar-
mis, taken from the patriots a part thereof,
wltieh they had fairly, and by force of arms,
onquered, and kept against every attack
from their only declared enemy ? • • ■
It is in vain to urge that the patriots were
considered as pirates ; because it is not the
usage of nations to accept from pirates terms
of capitulation ; and your memorialist begs
ave to solicit your honorable, houses to pnn-
t well upon the sensibility of this nation,
when the Danes delivered up to the English
minister the vessels captured from that nation
by com. Faul Jones, who, because lie had been
an English subject, was denominated anti
threatened by them as a pirate ; for the Danes
tad not then acknowledged your indepen
dence. This subject was thought worthy, at
a subsequent time, of a formal representa
tion through your minister, Mr. Jefferson,
then at the court of Versailles ; and the inju
ry sustained then, was, till within a short
period, made a plea against the restoration
f even private property, belonging to the
subjects of that crown ;* and so lasting was
the impression of that injury, that it lias been
tho’t worthy of remembrance, until this day
Even your venerable and respected philo
sopher Franklin, though eloathed with minis
terial dignity, was called a hoary headed
traitor!
The situation of those whom your memo
rialist lias the honor to represent, calls for
the reminiscence of these circumstances, that
your honorable houses may judge, by the
feelings of those days, of the impressions
which your acts are calculated to stamp upon
the minds of the patriots, which are peculi-
ary alive to every sentiment emanating from
so high anti so esteemed a source.
The patriots have not only been deprived
of the captured territory, but of all the war-*
like stores found thereon ; they have remait*
ed uncompensated for all their expenditures
in the erection of barracks anti other neces
sary buildings : they have not only been de
prived of the captured vessels, but of their
cargoes, j
The validity of these prizes, anil of the
property taken, has been, by request of the
Spanish agents, subjected to the courts of ad
miralty of the United States for adjudication,
though these courts can have no competent
jurisdiction over property taken by the cit
izens of another power, from another peo
ple, on the high seas : And yet the court of
admiralty of Savannah has lately decided a-
gainst the srlir. Tantativa’s being a gootl
prize to the Brutus privateer, commissioned
iy the Mexican government: also against a
brig prize to the Gen. San Martin, under
Buenos Ayres colors, seized on the coasl
The cargo, too, of a brig prize to the Mexi
can Congress, wrecked on the coast of N
Carolina, has been sold by the colloctor, and
the money deposited in his office.
The patriots have not only been precluded
from recovering debts to a large amount due
for the legal sales in the United States of va
rious goods, but their liberties are endanger
ed by the threats o fereditors, to whom com
paratively small debts are due, and at tin
time that these threats are made, the stfffcr-
ers of all these injuries arc ordered peremp
torily, by the officers of the United States, to
quit a territory that has never belonged to
this government, who seem, thereby, to have
espoused the cause of our enemies, and tt
have entered into league against us. All
these tilings, too, are done when the govern
ment of this country are acquainted with the
reports of the junction of the Russian and
Spanisli fleets, whose destination is declared
to be against the patriots ; and thus shall w
be subjected, while waiting for the restora
turn of our property, to the risk of having
our vessels blockaded in port, thereby haz
arding their loss with the prize goods, and
thus giving advantages to an enemy insatia
hie in blood ; and to whom reconciliation is
impossible : an enemy who may bcrome.for-
midable by sucli unexpected interferences
bnt whom the patriots would otherwise, ne
ver hesitate to meet boldly.
In repeating those manifold grievances to
your honorable houses, your memorialist
looks with confidence, for the dignified and
sincere support of the great republican cause
in which those whom he represents arc so
deeply engaged : and he reposes in the bo
som of your august assemblies those repre
srntations, depending on such a redress of
grievances as shall comport with the honor
dignity and justice of the government of the
U. States. VICENTE PAZOS
City of Washington, March 6. 1818.
Extract of a letter from Mr. Secretary Ad
ams to Don Luis Ue Onis, dated March 12,
1818.
“ You perceive, sir, that the government
of the United States is not prepared cither
to renounce any of the claims which it has
been so long urging upon the justice of Spain,
or to acquiesce irt any of those arguments
which appear to you so luminous and irre
sistible. Determined to pursue the estab
lishment of their rights, as long as by any
possibility they can be pursued through the
paths of peace, they have acquiesced, as the
Message-of the President at the commence
ment of the present session of Congress has
informed you, in that policy of Spain which
has hitherto procrastinated the amicable ad
justment of these interests ; not from an in
sensibility to their importance to this union*
nor from any indifference to the object of be
ing upon terms of cordial harmony with
Spain ; but, because peace is among the
dearest and most earnest objects of their
policy ; and because they have considered,
and still consider it, more congenial to the
principlesof humanity, and to the. 'perma
nent welfare of both nations, to wait for the
favorable operation of time upon the preju
dices and passions opposed to them, -than to
resort to the unnceessary agency of force.
After a lapse of thirteen years of-patient
forbearance, in waiting for the moment when
Spain should find it expedient to meet their
constant desire of bringing to a happy and
harmonious termination all the conflicting;
interests between them, it will need little, ad
ditional effort to wait somewhat longer with
the same exportation. The President deems
this course even more advisable than that of
ferring the questions depending between
tlie two nations to the arbitrament of
mediation of one or more friendly European
powers, as you have been authorised to pro
pose. The statement in your note of the 10th
of February, in reference to tliis subject, is
not altogether correct. It is not the British
overnment which, on this occasion, lias of-
red ; but your government w hich, without
insulting or asking the concurrence o£
ited States, has requested the media-
Geeat Britain. The British govern
ment, as must be well known to you; have dc-
lined the offer of their mediation, unless it
should be requested by both parties; anti
avc communicated to the government of tho
United States this overture on the part of
Spain. The president has (honclit proper,
oni motives which he has no doubt will he
deemed satisfactory; both to Great Britain
md Spain, to d|ylinc uniting in this request*
lie is indeed fully persuaded that, notwith
standing any ^possessions which the Brit-
iitni
iie^epn
»Mi'
t Mn t
Addrfi-s in the hands of the executive,
• Cane o: hrllcnry, 6tc. •
| The documents are in the lands of the executive.
isli governmenT*lnay heretofore have enter
tained with regard to any of the points iu
controversy, they would have been entirely
lisrarucd in assuming the office of mediator.
But it has hitherto been tho policy, both of
Europe and the United States, to keep a.
lool froin the general federative system of
each other. TUp European States arc com
bined together, and contacted With one an
other, by p multitude of important interest^
aid relations, with which the United States
have fio colirern, with which they liava
always manifested the determination not to
interferere, ami of which no communication
being made to them by the governments of
Europe, they have not information compe
tent to enable them to estimate their extent
and bearings, The United StRtes, in justice
to themselves, in justice to that harmony
which they earnestly desire to cultivate with
all the powers of Europe, in justice to that
fundamental system of policy w hich forbids
them from entering the labyrinth of Europe
an polities, must decline soliciting or acced
ing to the interference of any other govern
ment of Europe, for the settlement of their
differences with Spain. • : l
But however discouraging the tenor and
character of your recent notes have Seen to
the hopes which the promises and professions
of your government had excited, that tho
time for adjustment of these differences with
Spain, herself, had at length arrived, the, U*
nited States will not abandon the expectation
that more correct views of the subject, w ill
ultimately be suggested to our government,
and they will always be disposed to meet
them in the spirit of justice and amity.—,
With regard to those parts of the province of
Louisiana, which have been incorporated
within the state of that name.it is time that
the discussion should cease—forming part of
the territory of a sovereign and independent
state of this union, to dispose of them is not
within the competency of thccxrciitivegovern
ment of the United States ; nor w ill the. dis
cussion be Hereafter continued. But if you
have proposals to make, to which it is. pos
sible for the government of the United States
to listen with a prospect of bringing them to
any practicable conclusion, I am authorised
to receive them, and to conclude with you a
treaty for the adjustment of all the differen
ces between the two nations, upuu terms which
may be satisfactory to both.
With regard to the motives for the occu-