The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-06 00:00:00

AMONG the various arguments brought forward on
behalf of the mist= of Pensacola by Hannibal the
(heat, (which tae attacked by him as Saguntum was
by the lesser Hannibal), during a period of professed
peace, it is curious that the Republicans have already
abandoned the pretexts on which they attempted to
justify that outrage, and are satisfied, at length, with
bugging of the advantages which may result from it.
One patriot (a member possibly of the New Cartha-
giniab staff) tells us, that the Floridas ass useful tu-
wards strengthening the southern frontier; and there•
fore they must be retained. Another says, that Florida
abounds in live oak, which has become rather scarce
in mere northern tountries ; and thereon 'e we must
keep the Floridas." A third supposes it " not impro-
bable" that the British may hold Havannah ; and
since Pensacola would afford, in case of heetilities, a
commanding harbour, the Floridas ought not to be
given up. A fourth honest gentleman acknowledges
his frank belief that the Spanish provinces were wrong-
fully laid hold of ; but, with he, " since the blow bus
been struck," the Government must not shrink from
its own actions ; the people ivishlot the Floridas, and
" they must not ba surrendered." :n point of morality,
and in point of logic, we hive seldom had the good
fortune to meet a parallel for this ; nor do we•eonceive
that its fellow could be found in any school of practical
reasoners, except such as emigrate periodically from
the River Thames to the eastern shores of New Hol-
land. Arc the Republicans aware that every consi-
deration which they have urged in favour of retaining
the Spanish provinces, becomes as equally forcible mo-
tive with other nations for compelling the United States
to restore them? That if the possible contingency of
a war with England be a sufficient reason for strength-
ening the southern frontier—for plundering from Spain
supply of ship timber—for obtaining against Great
Britain a commanding port—the same contingency is
an argument of precisely the same value in the eyes of
the people thus menaced in they isions of repu bl ican states-
men, fbr preventing that of frontier strength ;
fur withholding that supply of all-conquering live cak ;
and fur wresting felons Nord► America that commanding
,part. The declaration, that because the offence has been
eommitted, it must be maintained ; bemuse the goods
stolen are of high price, the rubbery must be defended ;
and because the Gcvernment has been guilty of an
catruge. it becomes a daty, instead of repairing, to per-
sist in it I—Really the notions of right and wrong
which must prevail where such doctrines and principles
are circulated, would have some better title to the ad.
egrationotEnglishmen, if they did not betray so strong.
16 resemblance to that system of ethics so long estab.
I:shed at Newgate. The fashion of wholesale robbery
seems accordingly to thrive in all parts of North Ame-
rica. • Lefevre Desnouettes, and his corps of " honour-
able' exiles, actuated, we presume, by the double sti-
mulus of old propensities aril recent example, have
Prised a 4:44nital, a province to themselves—the pro-
tnce of Team, namely—which, as it happens to be
claimed at once by the Spanish Government and the
bnited States, Messrs.. Dennouettes and Co. pronounce
he property of neither, and have therefore appro.
irriated it to their own uses.

Since writing the above, we hare received the Ane-.1
i:'can sournals, which contain a document that appears
-6! be.un exposition, in substance, though not in form,
qf the settilmeots entertained by the Washington cabi-
net, as to the invasion of Florida, and the seizure of
Pea:tacola. 'lt establishes two points of high importance
t, honour of t'..3 :*..ted States, and intotrotits
,;!;V:2c I —t. Jacks x: GA only ez,