Newspaper Page Text
AMERICAN ADVOCATE.
No. XXX ]
Published weekly, on Thurs
day MORNING, BY GEORGE W.
WHEELER <&• JAMES CLARKE, AT
THEIR PRINTING-OFFICE, IN THE i
SOUTH-WEST (Lowek) ROOM OF
THE OLD STATE-HOUSE -AT *
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM—
ONE IN ADVANCE.
SPANISH MAGNANIMITY.
The Case of Richard Meade, esq.
Io justice of an abused fellow-citizen—to
exemplify the gratitude of Spanish royal
ists and hold them up to the approbation
they deserve, we have carefully abstracted
the following from a long detail of tacts and
many documents published in the Aurora.—
It appeals to contain M a view of the whole
ground.’’ i
Mr. Meade is an American citizen, who
jhas been for several years a merchant at Ca
diz ; and was consul, ad interim , ot that
port for the United States. When the city
was invested by the French, and even subse
quently, he advanced to the Spanish govern
ment sums to the amount of more than two
millions, for the subsistence of their armies.
A part of this was discharged by bills on
London, but it appears that about one mil
lion still remained due. While the cortez
*at at Cadiz he was imprisoned for refu
sing to surrender to them his property, and
that of the American merchants for whom
he was acting on commission, brom ih?
civil authorities, that executed this ba.se
outrage, he appealed, in a spirited manner,
to the cortez, and by this pro ured his re
lease $ notwithstanding which, bis stores
were broken open and his property taken.
Afterwards, in the course ot his mercan
tile business, he obtained f, y negotiation and
agency, one or two hundred thousand dol
lars of a credit on account of the Spanish
treasury ; and this, together with a further
credit in foreign countries, secured on toe
same account, he had, by conseut of the j
public authorities, plaeed as a liquidation I
of nn equal amount of debt due to him—
triplicate receipts being given to him to that i
effect.
’ Above a year after this affair hid been
thus adjusted, when anew set of hungry
public agents had got into power, he was
required to pay into the treasury a. sum o
qual to that for which he had obtained re
ceipts. On the 2d of May last, he was in
formed, by the auditor of w tr, that in on
gequence of a secret consultation , a royal
order had been issued, requiring of him,
under the peril of imprisonment, to pay
the money or furnish to the tribunal of
commerce satisfactory security.* He pro
tested against the demand, but to preserve
his personal liberty until a hearing could
oe had, he tendered the most ample secu
rity-consisting of a “ deposit ot notes, in
which the members of the tribunal were a
mong the signers.” The demand was then
changed, and no security bnt cash would be
accepted. Mr. Meade then offered bills and
orders of the king, ( libramientos) which he
possessed, to ten times the amount, on the
treasuries of the provinces—he offered to
give serurity for his person to any amount,
and to add the deposit ol notes proposed ;
i at he absolutely refused to augment the
debt already due to biin by the Spanish go
vernment, as an order bad issued declar
ing, that all contracts made prior to De
cember, 1814, should be considered as be
longing to the public debt; which was e
quivalent to a determination not to pay them
—their evidences of debt being at eighty or
ninety per cent enseount- It was then ob
served to him, that the order mode an ex
ception of debts diftl toforeigneis, to which
class he belonged. He replied ; o this, that
lie had a written declaration from the in
tendant of the treasury, staling that his
claims were included in the decree. On
which the auditors told him that they had
nothing to do with the justice or injustice of
•fjbe case, and that he must pay the sum re
quired, or be imprison'd. Ho was then
’■committed to the Castle of St. Catalina,
where he remained until the 27ih ot May
last.
The business and the seals of the consu
late had in ihe mean time, been committed;
to Mr. Robinett, when Mr. Cathcart arriv-.
ed and presented his protest to the captain 1
general, &<*. governor of Cadiz $ stating
that his Catholic majesty had, by bis own
royal sign nianuel, acknowledged the a
mount in question to be considered as de
posited in the royal treasury, and that a
former governor had given notice that it was
his majesty’s pleasure to order a suspension
of all proceeding, until the necessary funds
should be forthcoming to realize that de
* Upon the allegation, that they were
informed he intended to leave the Cj.lv.
LOUISVILLE, THU RSDAT, SEPTEMBER 12, 1816.
posit, &c. He complained likewise, that j
Mr. Meade was confined in a place “ that
had been used as a dungeon, with a sentry
constantly kept in view, upon the unfound
ed and absurd that he had intended
to leave the city .” He then demanded that
Mr. Meade should be permitted to go to
Madrid, to defend his rights under the au
spiees of the American envoy, then expect
ed there ; or at least, that be should be per
mitted to return to his bouse, he (Mr. Cath
carl) offering himself in his public of pri
vate capacity, responsible for Mr. Meade’s
person.
The governor replied that the imprison
ment was iq consequence of a decree from
ike royal and supreme council of tear, and
that ail reasoning with him about the injus
tice of the case was unnecessary ; as such
arguments should have been addressed to
the supreme authority. He refused to
grant Mr. Meade a passport to Madrid ;
but agreed that if Mr. Cathcart would be
come responsible for him, he would submit
that part of the matter to the consulado .
Mr. Uatheart repeated bis protest and
complaints, and concluded by pledging hirn
seiffor the personal security of Mr Mead*
He also requested a copy of the royal order,
and of the other proceedings in the affair,
offering to pay all expense himself.
The captain general then informed Mr.
Cathcart, that the offer of responsibility and
request of papers, had been loid before the
consulado.
This is followed by a letter from the go
vernor of the castle of Catalina, to the go
vernor of Cadiz, statiug that Mr. Meade
was used very well, that he had “ a very
decent apartment, plaistered, witii a large
window, and stub as is occasionally occu
pied by persons of all classes” and that ‘‘ al
though he supposes, from Mr. Meade’s res
pectable character, that he would be-oquaily
as safe walkiug the streets of Cadiz, as it
confined in tne narrowest duugeon,” yet he
hud told Mr. Meade with his “ accustomed
frankness,” he says, “ that he never chooses
to run the risk of being implicated for any
| person, nor would hefhave the officer of the
guard run auy risk.”
I The official decree of the eonstdudo is,
that the security proposed by tbe consul
of the United States is neither in its nature
nor object, such as could be approved as ad
missible,” &c. Upon which the governor
■ issues his decree, that he feels himseli o
bilged faithfully to observe the tenor of the
royal mandate of the supreme council of u'ar
that Mr. Mode’s loufiuement. cannot be
meliorated, as the castle ol Santa Cataliua,
from its locality, rendered all these pre
; cautions necessary ; and that it might be
I more aggravating to him to be removed to
■ another prison, where such precautions were
i not necessary.” Copies of the proceedings
’ should be furnished, with the exception of
i the royal decree of the supreme council,”
! whkh contains expressions indicating se
crecy.
From the Gleaner.
CARDEN & THE MACEDONIAN.
The Editor of the Gleaner was on a tour
through a part of New-England, and hap
pened to be at New-London, wlien Commo
dore Decatur came into port with his prize,
the Macedonian—the crew of which he
then had ou board the United States. At
that time the following circumstances were
related to him:—While the Macedonian
was building in the river Thames, a short
time previous to the late war, Gen. A il
likins, of Norwich, (Con.) was in England,
and was iuvited among other Americans
then there, to go and see the Macedonian
launched. He attended, in company with
captain Carden, who had already been se
j leeitd as commander of the new
j At that time much was said by ca.pt. Car
-1 den to the Americans concerning the excel
lent construction *f his ship; and the supe
rior state, in which he intended she should
be finished.
About a year afterwards it happened that
Gen. VS illiams was at Lisbon while the Ma
cedonian was there, and was invited by
Capt. Carden to go ou hoard his frigate,
which he said was in complete order, and
! hnd the finest crevv in the British Navy—
While on board, the commander took occa
sion to speak in the highest terms ot his
ship, and mude “some comparisons between
the Macedonian and the frigates of the U.
States, very unfavorable to our Navy, and
turning to the General—“ Sueh a ship as
this, Sir,” said he “ never was built in the
U States ! ’—yours have calico sides when
compared to this ! !’* “ 1 aui not the best
judge of ship building” sajd the General,
‘‘ but 1 am mil need to believe there are few
belter built ships than those which compos
the Amcri.au Navy.” “Poor, calico
.biugs,” replied Cardui, “ I was out few
months since to America, where I saw your i
best frigate the United Stales, why she is
not to be compared, Sir, with the Macedo
nian.” “ That may be,” replied the Gen
eral, “ but as the relations between our two j
countries, are very much unsettled, some ot j
your frigates may have an opportunity of
comparing themselves side and side with
the United States.”
Immediately on receiving the news of the
capture and arrival of the Macedonian,
Gen. Williams hasted to New-London, to
pay his compliments to capt. Carden, then a
prisoner on board the same ship, which ‘he !
bad affected to despise. The meeting was
such as might have been expeeteri—eaptain
Garden was much more disposed to talk of j
the flavor of the wine, the hospit Jity of A
inerieans, than to compare the Btftisk
.aid American frigates.
From the Democratic Fress.
f inn tbe glorCous subject fires my breast,
And my soul’s darling passion stands con
test j . ~ ,
Beyond or love’s or friendship’s sacred uand,
Beyond myself, I prize my native land.
Ou this Inundation would l build my lame,
And emulate the Greek and Roman came.
Rows.
Are ye not mark’d by all the circling world
As the great stake, the last resort of liberty.
Bjrooke.
Haughtiness of spirit has ever been deem
ed the prominent characteristic ol republics.
It is tbe effect which every free government
has upon tbe minds of its citizens: aim in
proportion to the liberty which prevails, is
the superiority felt by every member of the
community. ,
Tkjs temper of mind, so far as it and not
lead us into a blind confidence, which may
induce us to despise an enemy, or to a con
tempt. of foreign arts whkh may he benefi
eially naturalized, ought to he encouraged
rattier than depressed. At least, it is the
duty of every citizen to fester a love of coun
try,* which shall seek its gratification in pro
moting the public weal from domes'ic sour
ces, and in preserving tbe national diameter
distinct, unique and tree from every foreign
contamination. The Greeks in the days of
their prosperity and glory viewed the real of
the world as barbarians, comps?ed with
whom they were themselves as dfcmi gods.
This sentiment sprang from two causes.—
First, because they were free, being govern
ed bv laws to whieh each citizen was party ;
and ’secondly, because their cities end their
manners were embellished by tlie hue aits,
which were cultivated amongst them with
: more success than in any other [>ait of ice
globe, Each individual, inspired by tbe spi
rit of freedom, considered himself an over
match for any barbarians, who, wanting that
stimulus, were the slaves of fear and the
victims of despotism. To this opinion may
he ascribed their surprizing victories over
the Persians under Xerxes and his lieute
nants, and their still greater triumphs w hen
led by the euterprizing Alexander. They
judged correctly, that submission to the des
potic will of others unfi s a man for tbe
nobler parts of life, and reduces him to an
Automaton, whose value depends not upon
itself but upon him who moves the springs
by which it is set in motion. They also con
sidered the study of the sciences and the
fine arts as the means of mental improve
ment, which, by rendering the mind acute
and comprehensive, gave them the same ad
vantages over men not thus prepared, a# the
latter possessed over the brutes. Nor was
this feature leas remarkable in the Roman ■
republic. It was too strong perhaps in the
time of Cato the Censor, who refused to
receive the polished manners and learning
of the Greeks. But this national spirit was
not less serviceable to the Romans than tbe
Grecians, and contributed much to make
them maulers of the world. At the time the j
Roman glory and power w - at .(a lieighth,
the sense of superiority which marked the
nation, was founded not only on their great
er liberty, but also on f heir superior know
ledge, which is always the concomit nt of
freedom.
Great Britain, the freest of all tbe Eu
ropean nations, acquired under Cromwell,
(when she believed herself most free) a hau
teur of character wdiieh hes ever since dis
tinguished the nation. The great body ol*
the Eugiish people have, for ages, believed,
t hat an English yeoman was at all times able
To beat three Frenchmen Tbu English car
ried this pride to a ludicrous extent, of whieh
the following faet is an instance; yet, whilst
l gave it, I am disposed to believe that our
Lite contest may have been to tifeni a cor
rective.
In April *OS4, when Algiers had receiv
ed a merited chastisement fr om the arms of
Louis the 14'b, many Cfaristir.ti captives
Were deliver* and up on the requisition of the*
Fres cii commandant. Amongst them were
several Eugiish, who after having been re
ceived ou board the ship of Di.infrcville,
the French captain, obstinately contended
that their relaasr- vvas solely owing to the
consideration which the Algerines had for
his Britannic mejerty. This arrogance in
duced from Damfret iiie a punishment some
what severe, though just. Sending for the
Algerines,he re-delivered the English slaves
saying, 4 as these people pretend they were
jfree’d by tbe awe you have of their king,
mine eannot Sake the liberty to offer them
his protection. I put them, therefore, again
into your hands, that you may have an op
portunity to shew/ the respect you owe to
their sovereign.* It is needless to say tho
| English resumed their fetters.
| The character of tho American citizen
should exhibit a devotion to his count ry
without bounds; a delight in its constitution
and manners; a taste for the sciences and
tho polite arts, as the means of enriching
and embellishing it, and were it dashed wita
a little of that jierte which leod's us to highly
value ourselves, and to avoid on overman
jog respect for others, I should no? relish
ft tbs le3?. The first step to the rasp. r sos
others, is to respect ourselves, as the con
viction on the eve of battle that we shall
conquer, is the sorest presage of vb lory —*
What were the advantages which the Greeks*
the Romans, or British possessed over us ?
Did they boast of their liberty ? Our mild,
equal end steady system of government,
which ensures us a freedom as great as is
consistent with human happiness, is mink
injured by comparing it with the h sty
chsi*fß end bloody commotions which mark
the two former; or with the venality, cor
ruption and disguised oppression wi : h dis
grace the laiier. Did they pride themselves
on their wealth r In no country is wealth
so cqu. fry diffused as in tbe United Slates.
They might boast individuals of Grvsian
wealth, but Ikey most also have deplored
tb poverty of the prople AVere they our
superiors in morels ? We hove is much ge
nuine virtue as tie mendest could boast.
Compare the records of < ur courts with those
of auy other nation, oed the paucity of
‘ crime, ibe mildness ti and she rertainiy of our
pnni Jiments, will bear houortble testimony
to the enlightened morals of our people—.
Did the edventages of science t od ihe adorn
ments of taste elevate t! eir minds ? So
; would they elevate ours. V ha! country in
its infancy could display a equal to
. rhat which We have njt.de ? We were eaily
distinguished in astronomy and mturel phi
!os< phy; in useful mechanics we arc not
surpassed, and by Ameriean genuis, >n na
vigation, wo already mock the force ■’ ibe
most rapid rivers, and shall soon bid defi
ance to the storms of the ocean. In paint
ing wc rank equally high with the other
nations. Our West, Trumbull, and many
others that might be named, havi shed a
never fading lustre on the country ’’’so*
yet in our infancy, we have mad ,
attempt at epie poeiry ; ar-d „e -lenity
3hull enumerate the few', f? * < pia
j poems which the world ha. It “* tho
name of the Coiumbiad will m o got
ten. And lastly, if military fame be neces
sary to create a national pride, where shall
we find honors more highly merited, than
those which form the rays of the American
halo. Whilst the battle ol’ New Orleans
shall ever be considered as important
as that of Thermopylae, it will cot
be deemed less happy aid glorious than
■ those of Creasy and Agincourt. N< r w hen
the imagination of the historic reader shall
dwell with wonder upon the bloody om
bats of the Nile and Trafalgar, shall ho
hesitate to rank in equal glory the British
hero and the conquerors of Erie and Cham
! plain.
I With all these inducements to national
pride with all these excitements to sell
respect, may We find none who shall grossly
worship a foreign nation, and exchange tbo
sterling gold of patriotic pride for tbe gild
ed tins'” l of foreign r onity, who shall basely
part with tbe dt *tie garb, for a motley
cloak of foreign manner*, and lose the am
iable simplicity of the republican, in tho
hollow politeness of European courts.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
At this and the same moment, two cir
cumstances of an apparently opposite com
plexion present themselves together. If w-e
cast our view* abroad, we see the inhabi
tants of Europe king by hundreds to the
new world—232 om Hull and W .lerfiml
who nave just Coded a 1 New*Y'rk—lSO
from the north of In land, who are com ng
in tbe Liudsay—4Us &vri*s whu have sailed
|_VoL. I.