Of the vessels of Porter's squadron, we only know positively that the Terrier, Lieutenant Paine, was continuously in the West Indian waters during that summer. On August 17, she captured, off Havana, a piratical launch and six men,1 and on August 26, a schooner at Bahia Honda.2
Again we are indebted to Mr. Randall. Under dates of September 6 and 15, he gives accurate information as to the organized system by which piracy was fostered and by which it was able to flourish to an extent now incredible; winked at, if not indeed encouraged, by the local officials. He writes to the Secretary of State, under date of September 6, from Havana, as follows;
1MWHP ; E, 78; NEE, 310.
2Log Terrier; CHN, III, 28; NEE, 310.
. . . . At the same time, the brig Industry, of Baltimore, when in the harbor of Matanzas, and only a few miles from the city, was attacked by five piratical boats, which were beaten off. The firing was distinctly heard in Matanzas. A Spanish brig of war lay in the port, but no efforts were made to capture the boats…..
Large quantities of their plunder are known to have been introduced by the pirates into Matanzas, and are vending there at prices which, alone, betray the nature of the property. Many articles, of a peculiar fabric, and known not to have been regularly introduced, are seen there constantly, such as French hats, of the newest fashions, on the heads of vulgar ruffians. The retailers of goods are seen travelling to the coast with pack-horses, for the known purpose of making purchases from the pirates. A respectable Englishman, who keeps the ferry near the city, informed me that the returns from his ferry give certain indications when prizes are on the coast, from the number of persons who resort from Matanzas to their rendezvous. No effectual measures are taken to stop this traffic. If, occasionally, goods are seized in the attempt to smuggle them into the city, the affair terminates by their condemnation, or being taken by the officers of the customs, and nothing more is heard of it. Persons, known to be pirates, walk the streets unmolested, no one being willing to incur the risk of denouncing them.
. . . . Information having been given to Capt. Graham, of the British sloop of war Icarus, an expedition was fitted out in his boats, which proceeded to Baya Honda, on the 21st ult. succeeded in capturing two pirate vessels, and in killing several of the pirates. On the approach of the boats, the pirates, about 40 in number, fled into the bushes. On board one of the pirate vessels were confined the captain and crew of the brig Henry, of Hartford, Conn. who were most seasonably released. The Henry was captured on the 16th ult. bound from a port in Mexico to Matanzas, with a cargo of mules. The captain and his crew were treated with the accustomed cruelty of those ruffians, and were designed to be killed the next day, after they had assisted in landing the mules. The Henry was dismasted and stripped.
In the bay, were found the wrecks of 12 vessels, recently destroyed by the pirates, the crews of all of which are supposed to have been murdered. Some of the vessels were very large, and the British officers computed that their crews could not have consisted of a less number than one hundred and twenty persons Some of the crew of the Henry were told by the pirates, that all those vessels, 12 in number, had been captured and destroyed by them; and, upon being asked what had been done with their crews, they very significantly shrugged their shoulders, but gave no answer.
. . . . Captain Graham states that the Governor of the Isle of Pines had, a short time before, presented to this notorious pirate an elegant pair of pistols. On the destruction of his party by the English, this same Governor claimed great merit for the aid he afforded. I have also been told, and have reason to believe, that the Spanish brig of War El Marie, Don Jose Apodaca commander, a few days since fell in with, and boarded, a pirate vessel, the consort of those destroyed by the boats of the Icarus. The visit terminated, however, in mutual civilities. The officers of the man of war received various presents from the pirates, and let him pass, although his character was well known to all on board. The pirate urged that he only cruized against the enemies of Spain. The account is given by a seaman who was on board the Marta, and visited the pirate. . . . .3
Again, on September 15, Mr. Randall writes to the Secretary of State and says:
The pirates at Key Sal, and to the windward, have lately received an increase of numbers, which threatens to give more extensions to their ravages. Several slave vessels, and others, were captured by a Colombian privateer, and their crews, to the number of 140 men, sent into Matanzas. A large number of those desperadoes stole boats, and left that place avowedly to join the pirates. . . . .
3FR, V, 494.
Some persons have been lately arrested at or near Baya Honda, and sent in custody to this city, charged with being concerned in the late piracies committeed in that quarter. Some of them belong to Regla, a village in this harbor, which has ever been the head quarters of the pirates. . . . . 4
As the Spanish authorities in the West Indies sheltered their apathy under the thin pretext that he government at Madrid was alone empowered to deal with international relations and the subject of co-operation with our naval forces, our Minister to Spain, on September 7, addressed a strong letter of protest and warning to Don Luis Maria de Salazar, Secretary of State, demanding prompt action and reparation for damages done to American shipping by pirates operating from Cuba.5
No practical answer to these remonstrances was ever made, and the depredations on our commerce continued without interference by the Spanish Government. On "October 11—The brig Edward, Langham, was captured in the Mona passage. The captain was killed on the spot. Three men escaped in a boat who gave the above information."6
Mr. Mountain informs Mr. Randall of this atrocity, in a letter dated at Havana, November 25:
Piracies are not at an end: we learn, via Nassau, that the brig Edward, of New York, Dillingham, master, from France, has been taken by the pirates, on the 15th day of October, off Cape Maise, by four boats, manned by Spaniards. The captain and crew were murdered, except the Supercargo and three men, who made their escape in an open boat, and, after 15 days' exposure, landed in a small key near Turks Island, and from thence were taken to Nassau, New Providence.7
Another capture occurred a few days later:
October 21—The brig Laura Ann, Shaw, of New-York, was captured off Port Escondido; the captain and two mates hung, and the remainder of the crew murdered with the exception of one man who hid himself and escaped by swimming. The brig was burnt. About the same time a brig and schooner were taken—the crews murdered.8
However, the pirates were not having things altogether to their liking, since, on "October 16th—the U. S. brig Enterprise, off Cape St. Antonio, took four schooners and a sloop, in the act of robbing several vessels."9
4FR, V, 496.
5N, November 6, 1824.
6MWHP.
7FR, V, 499.
8MWHP ; NEP, November 15 and 19, 1824. Vide Introduction.
9MWHP.
On October 20, the Porpoise, Lieutenant C. W. Skinner, near Matanzas, took a piratical schooner as prize and the same day her boats, under Lieutenant Hunter, seized three piratical boats in Sigaumpa Bay.10 His official report is as follows:
U. S. SCHOONER "PORPOISE,"
MATANZAS, 24th October, 1824.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, after leaving the convoy from Havana, I stretched in for this port, where I anchored on the evening of the 18th. On inquiry, I was informed no piracies had recently been committed in this vicinity. I, however, determined to despatch the boats secretly from the harbor, and examine the adjacent bays and inlets. On the night of the 19th, I placed them under command of Lieut. Hunter, and acting Lieut. Johnson, with orders to examine about point Yeacos, Sewappa and Camrioca, places long notorious as a retreat for pirates. On the evening of the 22d, Lieut. Hunter returned with a piratical schooner of one carriage gun, one new American cutter, and two other boats; one, having three men on board, he captured in Sewappa bay. Every appearance justified the suspicion of piracy. The persons informed Lieut. Hunter their vessel had been taken by armed men; the boat they were in given in exchange, with a promise of returning in a few days and restoring their vessel. The next day, off Camrioca, Lieut. Hunter discovered a suspicious schooner standing to sea, in chase of a vessel in sight. On his approach, the schooner tacked, and made for the shore, closely pursued by the boats. The crew abandoned the vessel, and fled to the wood, where they were sought for in vain; she proved to be a pirate, mounting one gun, and small arms. From the number of nautical instruments, trunks of clothing, rigging, and sails, with three sets of American colors, found on board, she must have robbed several vessels. From stains of blood on the clothes, and other articles on board, I fear the unfortunate persons to whom they belonged, must have been murdered. No papers were discovered which could lead to the name of the vessel or vessels captured: several articles of clothing were marked "Captain Shaw," a number with the initials "A. S." A bag on board was lettered "brig Morning Star's letter bag." One waistcoat contained in the pocket a printed card, "Mr. M. Loris's boarding house, Charleston, South Carolina," and appeared to have been newly printed. A medicine chest on board was put up in New York. I have delivered the prisoners to the Governor of Matanzas, and shall furnish him all the testimony in my power which can throw light on their character. The schooner I sent out last night, under command of acting Lieutenant .Browne, in hopes of decoying some of her former comrades. I sail with convoy to-morrow, and after joining the prize at sea, shall proceed to Thompson's Island for supplies, and return to the protection of commerce on this coast. I trust, sir, should the prize be sufficiently fortunate to meet with pirates, I shall have the pleasure to give a satisfactory account of them.
10N, November 6, 1824; E, 78; Log Porpoise; S. O. (O. L.) LXXXVI, 112; CH, III, 28.
I do myself the honor to enclose the correspondence relative to the capture of the vessels and prisoners.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, sir,
Your obedient servant,
CH. W. SKINNER.
To the Hon. Samuel L. Southard,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington City.11
Having somewhat recovered his health, Porter sailed for his station in the John Adams, leaving Philadelphia early in November.12 Other vessels of his squadron had also returned to the West Indies, with the following results:
On October 27, the Beagle captured a piratical sloop off Crab Island.13 The crew escaped, but six were taken prisoners by the local authorities.14
November 4—The U. S. schooner Porpoise captured a piratical boat off Cape St. Antonio. Crew escaped.15
November 11—The U. S. schooner Terrier re-captured from the pirates, the French ship Calypso and cargo. The pirates on board were also taken.15
A brief account of this last-mentioned capture is as follows:
Several captures of boats, &c., have been made by our small vessels, cruising off the coast of Cuba; but the pirates have, very generally, made their escape, though some have been taken. The fine French brig Calypso, with a full cargo of coffee, has been recaptured from the sea-robbers, by the United States schooner Terrier, lieut. Paine, after they had had possession of her for five days. The pirates who had charge of her were made prisoners. Com. Porter has by this time arrived, and will give increased energy to this harassing and dangerous service ; but we fear that the trade cannot be broken up, unless authority is given to pursue and capture on the land as well as on the water.16
11N, November 20, 1824.
12N, November 6, 1824.
13Vieques Island, just east of Porto Rico.
14NEP, November 22, 1824.
15MWHP; NEP, December 16, 1824.
16N, December 25, 1824.
Soon after the return of Porter to the West Indies, what is known as the Foxardo affair occurred. This episode, for its sequel, deserves careful treatment, but to deal with it at length here would interrupt the narrative which only undertakes to place on record, consecutively, the depredations of the pirates and the activities of our cruisers. For this reason only is it referred to in these pages. The following is a very brief account:
On the 26th of October Lieutenant Charles T. Platt, of the Beagle, learned that the storehouse of the American consul at St. Thomas had been broken into and goods valued at five thousand dollars taken from it. It was believed that the stolen property had been carried to Foxardo, a small port on the eastern end of Porto Rico. Lieutenant Platt anchored off that port, and, waiting upon the civil authorities informed them of his mission and asked their assistance in recovering the plunder and apprehending the robbers. The town officers treated him with great incivility and as the American lieutenant had landed without his uniform they demanded his commission. On his producing that paper it was pronounced a forgery, and Lieutenant Platt was arrested on the charge of being a pirate. He and Midshipman Robert Ritchie, who accompanied him, were placed under arrest, and were only released and allowed to return to their vessel after being subjected to great indignities. On hearing of this affair, Captain Porter, having his flag on the John Adams, anchored off the port with the Beagle and the Grampus, and the boats of the John Adams, under the command of Master-Commandant Alexander James Dallas, ran into the harbor. In a letter dated November 12th, addressed to the alcalde, Captain Porter demanded an explanation of the treatment the American officers had received, giving that magistrate one hour for an answer. The letter was sent by a lieutenant under the flag of truce. While waiting for an answer, Captain Porter noticed that preparations were being made in a shore battery to fire on him, whereupon he detailed a detachment of seamen and marines, who captured the battery and spiked the guns. Captain Porter now landed,17 and, after spiking a 2-gun battery that commanded the road, he reached the town in half an hour. Finding that the people were prepared to defend themselves, he halted to await the flag of truce. In a short time the alcaldc and the captain of the port appeared and offered ample apology to Lieutenant Platt for the indignities to which they had subjected him, and expressed regret at the whole occurrence, upon which the Americans returned to their ships.
This affair incurred the displeasure of the United States Government, and, in an order dated December 27, 1824, Captain Porter was ordered home, and on being tried by court-martial he was sentenced to be suspended from the service for six months. Believing that he had been wronged, Captain Porter resigned, and entered the Mexican navy, where he remained until 1829, when he was appointed by President Jackson as United States consul-general at Algiers. Afterward he became the Minister to Turkey, and he died at Pera, March 28, 1843. His body was brought home and is buried in the grounds of the Naval Academy [then] at Philadelphia.18
17November 14—E, 78.
18M, II, 38 et seq.
Since our history abounds in cases of abuse of the pardoning power by weak Presidents and Governors, it is not surprising that pirates should, in their turn, profit by a maudlin sympathy which subordinates the interest of the state to the comfort of the individual. Undeterred by the illuminating example of the Baratarians, who promptly returned to their evil practices when pardoned, and by other pardoned criminals of the same kidney, the regrettable custom seems to have been kept up at the White House.19
PIRACY—It will be seen by our extracts from the Norfolk papers that the pirates who find shelter in the ports of Cuba, are as daring and blood thirsty as ever, What else can be expected when our executive almost uniformly pardons these merciless freebooters after being convicted on a regular trial? The British, by inforcing the sentences pronounced by their tribunals, have struck terror among the depredators, who, finding that they can plunder and murder our citizens with impunity, now confine their attacks to our commerce, while that of almost every other nation is unmolested. Experience has shown that the naval armament we have in the West Indies is but a feeble protection to our citizens, and can never be depended on so long as our government neglects to adopt efficient measures to compel the Spanish authorities to demolish the nests of pirates, who are not only left to do as they please, but who at all times find a ready market for their plunder in the city of Havana. Can it be believed after the recent arbitrary restrictions imposed on our regular commerce by the governor of Cuba, and the other symptoms of hostility towards our citizens, that the civil authorities of this island are averse to the dreadful scenes that are daily taking place there in open day? How long shall this deplorable state of things be endured? There prevails such a general, and we fear a well grounded, impression, that these wretches find their conduct at least winked at, if not countenanced by the inhabitants and even authorities of Cuba, that it ought immediately to command the attention of the nation, and to become the subject of immediate enquiry in the next Congress.20
19Read, for example, the story of the trial, conviction, sentence and pardon of Jose Perez, supra.
20NEP, November 15, 1824.
The government in Washington could not plead ignorance of the situation in Cuban waters at this time for it was fully, vigorously and earnestly informed by its energetic agent in those parts. Surely, if words alone could move, Mr. Randall's protests and appeals should have borne abundant fruit, based as they were on indisputable facts and acts of inhuman atrocity. He writes again to the Secretary of State from Havana, on October 31, 1824:
. . . . Several American vessels were captured about the 20th instant, near Matanzas, by a large launch from Regla, their crews all murdered, with the exception of one seaman, and the vessels burnt. Two of the vessels are known, viz: the Laura Ann and the Morning Star, both of New York, the latter supposed to have been bound to New Orleans, with passengers.21 From the first named vessel one seaman escaped, by secreting himself under the cargo, when his companions were murdered. The pirates, after setting fire to the vessel, deserted her, when this seaman escaped by swimming to the shore. He reached Matanzas, and has there given a detail of the horrid affair. . . . .
21Also N, November 20, 1824.
It cannot be endured, that this band of remorseless wretches should be suffered longer to cumber the earth. The robberies and cruelties of the Barbary States, which have so often roused all Christendom to arms, were trifling in extent and ferocity, compared with those of the pirates of Cuba. It is in vain for commercial nations to rely for security upon mere preventive measures at sea, or upon the efforts of the authorities and people of this island to extirpate it. The authorities cannot restrain if they would. Even the present Governor, characterized as he is for firmness and moral courage, feels his power too precarious, at this crisis, to venture upon the measures of rigor and severity essential to its suppression. The ridiculous issue of the late expedition from this port, has only served to display in full relief the weakness of the Government, and to afford another argument of security to the pirates. The unprincipled and wicked have obtained the complete ascendancy, and the honest few dare not denounce or pursue the criminals. In such a state of things, the pirates must be pursued by foreign forces into their retreats on land, and this community coerced by a severe and just retribution to aid in ejecting those miscreants from its bosom.
The temporary cessation of piracies some time before, caused by the presence of a large force on the coast, seems to have induced a delusive and fatal opinion, that the evil was extinguished, and to have led to the diversion of too large a portion of the force, to objects of infinitely less pecuniary, and of scarcely any national importance. I allude to the carrying of specie for our merchants in vessels of war, the whole effect of which is to give a trifling premium of insurance to one class of the community, which would otherwise be paid to another class. In denouncing this practice as detrimental to the best interests of the nation, I but repeat the common sentiment of every man who has witnessed its effects during the past summer. If the benefit to commerce, by this medium, for the transportation of specie, be of sufficient importance, it may be effected by vessels especially designated for that purpose. But experience shows that the suppression of piracy and the transportation of specie, on the late system, are incompatible. . . . . 22
22FR, V, 496.
The official view of the situation is contained in the annual report of the Secretary of the Navy, dated December 1, which is adopted and reiterated with emphasis by the President in his message to Congress of December 7. The former states:
There are few, if any, piratical vessels of a large size in the neighborhood of Cuba, and none are now seen at a distance from the land; but the pirates conceal themselves, with their boats, in small creeks, bays, and inlets, and finding vessels becalmed, or in a defenceless situation, assail and destroy them. When discovered, they readily and safely retreat into the country, where our forces cannot follow, and, by the plunder which they have obtained, and which they sell at prices low and tempting to the population, and by the apprehensions which they are able to create in those who would otherwise give information, they remain secure, and mingle, at pleasure, in the business of the town, and transactions of society, and acquire all the information necessary to accomplish their purposes. Against such a system, no naval force, within the control of this department, can afford complete security, unless aided by the cordial, unwavering, and energetic co-operation of the local governments; a co-operation which would render their lurking places on land unsafe, and make punishment the certain consequence of detection. Unless this co-operation be obtained, additional means ought to be entrusted to the Executive, to be used in such manner as experience may dictate.23
The President's words on this same subject are:
The force employed in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the neighbouring seas, for the suppression of piracy, has likewise been preserved essentially in the state in which it was during the last year. A persevering effort has been made for the accomplishment of that object, and much protection has thereby been afforded to our commerce; but still the practice is far from being suppressed. From every view which has been taken on the subject, it is thought that it will be necessary rather to augment than to diminish our force in that quarter. There is reason to believe that the piracies now complained of, are committed by bands of robbers who inhabit the land, and who, by preserving good intelligence with the towns, and seizing favourable opportunities, rush forth and fall on unprotected merchant vessels, of which they make an easy prey. The pillage thus taken, they carry to their lurking places and dispose of afterwards, at prices tending- to seduce the neighbouring population. The combination is understood to be of great extent, and is the more to be deprecated, because the crime of piracy is often attended with the murder of the crews, these robbers knowing if they survived, their lurking places would be exposed and they be caught and punished. That this atrocious practice should be carried to such extent, is cause of equal surprise and regret. It is presumed that it must be attributed to the relaxed and feeble state of the local governments, since it was doubted, from the high character of the governor of Cuba, who is well known and much respected here, that if he had the power he would promptly suppress it. Whether these robbers should be pursued on the land, the local authorities be made responsible for these atrocities, or any other measure be resorted to, to suppress them, is submitted to the consideration of Congress.24
23ASP, I, 1004.
24Monroe's Eighth Annual Message, December 7, 1824.
The executive and legislative departments of the government were now so deeply interested in the subject as to confer upon ways and means. The following was addressed by the Secretary of the Navy to the Honorable Benjamin V. Crowinshield, Chairman of the Naval Committee in the House of Representatives :
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
December 21st, 1824.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst. making certain inquiries respecting the suppression of piracy, to which I submit the following answer. . . . .
There have lately been very few, if any, vessels of a large size, engaged in piratical depredations, at a distance from the land. The naval force which has been employed, and which is stated in the report referred to, has succeeded in driving away, or destroying, vessels of that description, and has thus effected the immediate object for which it was created. But the evil has assumed another shape, for which this force does not seem to be well fitted. Our vessels, even the smallest, cannot follow the pirates into many of the creeks and inlets to which they resort—this must always be done in boats, which cannot be carried by them in sufficient numbers to be effectual; nor can the greater part of them, on account of their size, and the want of accommodations for water and stores, remain long at sea, so as permanently and effectually to watch even the most suspected places.
I would therefore respectfully recommend three or more frigates, or sloops of war, as an addition to the forces now in the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico, or as a substitute for the small vessels. The sloops would be as competent to the object as the frigates, and would be much less expensive. We cannot, however, detatch that, or even a less number, from the stations where they now are, without weakening our squadrons too much.
It will be necessary to build them, which can be done in less time, and at less expense, than would require to repair and fit for sea the same number of frigates. Two, or perhaps three, might be finished in four or five months. These vessels would be able to lie or cruise steadily, and for long periods where their presence was most needed; and, being well provided with boats, could pursue into any waters where escape was attempted.
In addition to this provision, our officers should be authorized to pursue the pirates wherever they may fly. The authority which has heretofore been given on this point, will be seen by the extracts from the orders to Com. Porter,25 . . . . The right to follow should be extended to the settled as well as the unsettled parts of the Islands; and, should this prove ineffectual, a resort will be necessary to such a general and rigorous blockade, as will make both the local Governments and their subjects feel that their interest, as well as their honor, requires a respect for our rights, and the rights of humanity. For such an extremity, the proposed sloops of war will be indispensable. . . . . 26
The shipping community, naturally exasperated by the continuance of piratical acts, gave expression to its sentiments in memorials to Congress. Very outspoken, if possibly somewhat exaggerating the facts, as recited in general terms, were the merchants of Portland, Maine.
25Vide supra.
26ASP, II, 183.
Piracies on the Commerce of the United States in the West Indies, communicated to the House of Representatives December 16th, 1824.
To the honorable the Senate and the honorable the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled:
The subscribers, a committee selected for the purpose by the merchants of the town of Portland, in the State of Maine, beg leave respectfully to represent, that for many years the trade of Cuba and the other islands and ports in the West India seas has occupied the principal part of the tonnage of this collection district; that of late this trade has been much annoyed by a set of pirates, who have constantly watched every opportunity to commit the most lawless depredations. At first, they were content to plunder and maltreat the crews of our vessels, without proceeding to actual murder. Of late, however, they have not stopped short of the most brutal and inhuman outrages. In some instances whole crews, humble and unoffending, have fallen victims to their barbarous and unrelenting fury.
We are in nowise unmindful of the efforts of our own Government, made with a view to the suppression of these intolerable practices, and we are moreover aware that these efforts have, in some measure, been crowned with success. It can but be observed, nevertheless, that the effect has been, at the same time, to add to the desperation and fury of these freebooters. They seem now to consider themselves as engaged with the people of the United States in a war of extermination as well as of plunder. To this they have been led by motives of revenge, and a hope thereby to avoid the means of detection.
These enemies of the human race are found almost wholly in the vicinity of Spanish territory and Spanish population, and are themselves generally Spaniards, and uniformly come from and fly to Spanish territory for succor and protection; and the goods plundered are unblushingly exposed to sale, not unfrequently, in the most public marts of the Spanish West Indies, and in such a manner and under such circumstances as clearly to evince the connivance, if not of the officers of the Government themselves, certainly of a portion of their citizens. It is not even too much to infer, from what has currently taken place, that a very considerable part of the population of the Spanish islands are concerned, directly or indirectly, in these piratical expeditions; and, furthermore, that if the Spanish authorities are not actually implicated in these atrocities, they are at least overawed by those who are.
Your memorialists would not, without manifest reason, depart from that comity which is ordinarily due from one nation to another, and would not on any occasion entertain jealousies and suspicions without adequate foundation. But such has been the frequency and publicity of these acts of piracy, especially on the coasts of Cuba; so formidable and imposing have been their numbers and their armaments; and so long have they been tolerated there, with scarcely the color of an effort on the part of the Spanish authorities to suppress them, that none but the most infatuated or the most wilfully blind can hope for any voluntary exertions on the part of the Spaniards or their Government to afford redress.
Your memorialists cannot hesitate to believe that the time has arrived when it is incumbent on the United States to assume such an attitude, in relation to the Government of these islands, as shall induce them to consider that we shall hold them responsible for these hostilities of their own people. Have we not already made Spain responsible for spoliations committed upon our commerce in those very seas? And do we not hold all nations answerable for the acts of their people?
It will be replied, perhaps, that Spain constantly disavows and disapproves of these lawless acts; that she professes to abhor piracy, and considers pirates as outlaws, and as her enemies, as well as the enemies of the human race. If so, let her acts correspond with her professions, and sincerity will be accorded to her. Till then, and while she continues a forbearance nothing short in its effect of direct encouragement, we must and ought to hold her identified with the pirates themselves, and answerable for their depredations.
The trade from this part of the country to the West Indies is carried on almost wholly by the shipment of lumber, great portions of which are necessarily carried on deck, perhaps to the amount of one-third, at least. Hence we cannot arm in our defence. And, besides, these lumber cargoes are of small comparative value, and would by no means admit of such an expense. We have, therefore, but one resource; a reliance upon the arm of the Government for protection—a Government, we trust, that will not be duped by empty profession, and that will not with impunity see its peaceful and unoffending citizens wantonly butchered by the desperadoes of any nation.
We do not stop to calculate the value, although inestimable, of our trade to Cuba or to the West Indies. It should suffice that we have a right to a free and uninterrupted navigation of those seas. When whole crews of our fellow-citizens, in the pursuit of a lawful commerce, are seized and unrelentingly butchered, shall we coolly set ourselves down to a calculation of profit and loss before we determine to seek redress? The means are in our power to secure protection to our suffering fellow-citizens, and it is not to be apprehended that we shall be backward in using them.
Your memorialists would respectfully suggest that the class of small cruisers heretofore destined to this service should be increased, and kept constantly upon the alert in those seas, and particularly upon the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico; and that during the summer and sickly season they should never be allowed to enter any of the ports in that climate but from necessity or in pursuit of pirates; by which means our commerce would be effectually guarded, and the health of our brave seamen effectually secured. Whether a system of convoying can be established in the vicinity of Cuba is also respectfully submitted to the wisdom of Congress. And, as in duty bound, &c.
EZEKIEL WHITMAN,
ASA CLAPP,
ALBERT NEWHALL
WM. SWANN,
CHARLES FOX,
PORTLAND, December 9, 1824. Committee.27
27FR, V. 471
More restrained were the merchants of New York, who contented themselves with modest requests. In December, certain citizens, after reciting their grievances, memorialized Congress to pass a law
authorizing merchant vessels to arm for their own protection . . . . that the squadron on the Cuban station should be reinforced, that decoy vessels should be employed and that ships of war be furnished with additional launches and boats calculated to pursue the pirates into their retreats and fastnesses.28
Moved by these appeals and by a recognition of the necessity for prompt and adequate measures, a bill was introduced in December appropriating $500,000 for the suppression of piracy.
The pirates, being restricted afloat, found scope for their activities on shore. Mr. Francis Adams, Commercial Agent of the United States, writes from Matanzas, to the Secretary of State, under date of December 30, 1824:
Those piratical bands, who have become the disgrace and scourge of the island, are for the present restrained by the number and vigilance of the forces sent by the United States and Great Britain for their suppression, but that they are only restrained and not extirpated is certain, from the fact that few or none have been captured, and that depredations have recently been committed on land, by bodies of fifteen to twenty persons, by which the foreign settlers on the coast have been the sufferers. Their migratory course of life, and the various points of the coast which afford fine harbors, and are at the same time distant from any military post, or even inhabited districts, renders their extirpation by the authorities of the island difficult, if not impossible; and the arming of merchant vessels to resist the attacks of small boats, and the constant presence of a naval force sufficient to prevent the egress of larger vessels, appears to be the only means of securing our trade from their depredations, until the hopelessness of their employment, or the revival of Spanish commerce, shall have induced an abandonment of their desperate course of life.29
28PG, December 13, 1824; FR, V, 428.
29FR, V, 589. Communicated to the House of Representatives February
11, 1825, 18C-2S.