They infested the West Indian seas and the northern coast of South
America. Against these pirates and to protect American commerce, the
United States sent Commodore Perry, with two ships of war, in the spring
of 1819. Perry died of yellow fever soon after his arrival in southern
waters. In June, 1822, Captain Allen, of the United States schooner
_Alligator_, successfully fought a band of pirates in the West Indies,
captured one of their schooners, and recaptured five American vessels;
but Captain Allen was subsequently killed in an encounter with the bold
buccaneers. The next year Commodore Porter, with a larger force,
entered the pirate infested waters and almost completely destroyed the
buccaneers. It was the policy of the government of the United States to
favor the revolt of the Spanish-American provinces, whose flag these
pirates had dishonored, as a means for preventing the establishment, in
the future, of monarchical powers on the American continent. The latter
policy was avowed by the president, and has never been lost sight of by
our government, and is known in history as the "Monroe Doctrine."
Accordingly, on the recommendation of the president, congress, early in
1822, resolved by a unanimous vote to recognize the independence of five
of the revolted colonies, and appropriated $100,000 to defray the
expenses of envoys to the seat of government of each, whom the president
soon afterward appointed.
Pages:
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369