Star.
London, England, 1818-08-31 00:00:00

" TO TUE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.

" SlR—The capture of Pensacola, and the fort of 1
Barrancas, by General Jackson, the dispossession of '
the Spanish Authorities there, and the establishment 1
of a territorial Government, with a military corn-
mender at its head, and of a Custom-house under
the laws of the United States, are acts of such an
extraordinary ciaracter, that they have astonished
the people. This is a direct attack on Spain. It is
an act of plain and palpable WAR. It must and will
be viewed by Spain and the other Powers of Europe,
as a proof that this Republic is governed by a grasp-
ing and dominant spirit of ambition, which in its
anxiety to enlarge our territory, overlooks and de-
spises the claims and the possessions of other nations.
It will be viewia as an act of PERFIDY. It was only '
* few months since, that our Secretary of State de-
clared to the Minister of Spain, that we were at-
tached to peace, and that having foe fourteen years
borne with patience the insults and wrongs heaped
rya us by Spain, we would still bear the vexations de-
lays of that nation, until a sense of justice should re-
turn to her, rather than resort to war. The declara-
tion was hardly proclaimed to the world, before our
military commander makes war, by seizing on one
of her provinces, and usurping its government. Does
Lot this conduct look like Italian duplicity ? Can
high-minded Americans reconcile it to themselves?
Heretofore, in our contest with other nations, it has
been our boast that we had justice on our side, and
-! thrice is hearmed, who bath his quarrel just.' But
we cannot,,nciw make this boast. Our Major-General
izas placed-vs entirely_ in the wrong."
44 In his general orders, ,General Jackson declares
that the United States are not actuated by a hostile
towards'Spain, nor by a desire to extend
o%r te*torial'possessions. This declaration will be
-contrasted with the fact of our taking possession of
an adjoining territory by force of arms, in time of
profound Peace, and will not be believed. He places
it on the grouted of self defence. After beating the
*etninoles in our own country, and in Florida, with
the power of beating them again and at all times,
can it be prntended that self-preservation required
that we shoirld overthrow the Spanish government in
norida, and seize upon their territory ?
" It is clear that Spain has great reason to com-
plain of the conduct of General Jackson, but in my
httmble opiniow the people of the United States have
nit' eh:greater reason to complain of that conduct.
44 :4The Cortgress of the United States alone have
power to ,declare war. The People and the States
_would not trot this great and awful power to any
other* tribunal than their own immediate Represen-

,

tatives. In the present instance this power has been
taken frcim thesii.
a Did the President authorize General Jackson to
take possession or Pensacola, and the Government of
West Illorida ? If biralid, he has certainly usurped
the legislative functions, and for his conduct he must
answer to the people. This 'case has been likened to'
the capture of Amelia Maid. But they are not pa-
rallel cases. That act was justified on the ground of
the law of 1811 which authorized it, but here there
is no such authority. If the plea of self-defence is a
sufficient excuse in she present instance, that plea
ought to have been judged of, not by rental Jack-
slim, nor by the President, but the Congress alone.—
'That is the only tribunal which had a right to say
that it is necessary to take possession of Florida, to
guard us against the ravages of the Seminoles.

" I cannot believe that the President has' autho-
rised this conduct of the General. I cannot believe
that Colonel Monroe would do an act by which he
may forfeit all claim to the love and veneration of
his countrymen; I cannot believe that under the
cover of the Republican Egis, he would undermine
the Authority of the people's Representatives. If I
could believe it, I should say, that he has given a
more fatal blow to our Republican Government than
any President we have ever had, or than Could pos-1
sibly have been expected from a man who was ele-
vated to his high. Office, because of his undeviating
and inflexible support of republican principles.
" I must theu believe, until the contrary be shewn,
that General Jackson has acted without orders. If
so, in what situation are we placed? The peace and

welfare of this country subject to the controul of, and
jeopardized by, a self-willed Military Commander!
The services, great as they were, of the Horn of New
Orleans, are but a poor compensation for the loss of
our liberty !

" What, under present circumstances, must be
made to wipe out this stain upon oar national charac-
ter? I see no other alternative than restitution and
reparation. The re-delivery of the province to Spain,
(unless by a prompt negotiation we can fairly retain
it) and the arrest and cashiering of the thicer who
has done the wrong. g, mires."

rliox Tint

ADVIRTISIM OP JULY 27.

, An American at Jacquemel to his friend in Bos-
ton, under date of the 9th July, writes as follows :
" Christophe is but 13 leagues from Port-au-
Prince, on his way to make war with the Republic
with most of his army. The people here are in high
spirits, and anxious to meet him, and confident of
success. The produce of this country is so exceed-
ingly scarce andhigh, that, many vessels which have
been here several months from Europe, are obliged
to wait for the next crops for their cargoes."
Underthe head of Interesting state Affairs, the
Washington Gazette says:
" If we were to form any opinion of our affairs at
this moment, we might conjecture that in two or three
departments of the general Government, business of
moment was under consideration. There are at this
time at the seat of Government, his Excellency James
Monroe, President of the United Stator—Heads of
12epartments, H. J. Q. Adams, Secretary of State;
William H. Crawford,, Secretary of Treasury; John
C. Calhoun, Secretary at War.—Foreign Ministers-L
His Excellency Hyde de Neuville, 'froth France;
Charles Bagott, from Great Britain ; Louis Don Onis,
from Spain; and J. W. Fencall, from Holland."
In noticing the return of two of the Commts-
sicmers sent to South America, the Washington City
Gazette has these remarks—" We hear that they have
completed the object of their mission, and that they
have transmitted, by Mr. Graham, to the President,
dispatches embracing the points wherein the Execu-
tive was desirous of obtaining particular information.
At the first thought it must be obvious that the time
occupied for making up an opinion of such vast im-
portance to the nation is much too limited :—they
have only been absent for the short period of seven
months, during which four months have been spent
in performing the voyage, which only leaves three
months to look about them in a country entirely new
to our visitors in its language and customs.
" This is not said with any view to anticipate the
sentiments of the Commissioners, because, from every
source of information, the Republic is knows to be'
in a prosperous state in their civil, military, and
commercial affairs. The continued residence of Mr.
Bland is no doubt a good omen, though we do not hear
even a conjecture afloat as to the nature of the offi-
cial communication made to the Executive. Until
this is published by authority, we must content our-
selves with the speculations that may leak out on
this topic from the usual indirect channels of infor-
mation."

This morning arrived a Flanders and a Hamburgh
Mail. The following are extracts :

AIR-LA-CHAPELLE, AUGUST itS.

Besides the battalion of the guards, we shall have
here eight battalions of infantry of the line and land-
wehr, and a regiment of cavalry. These last corps,
after having attended at the ceremony which will take
place at the entrance of the Sovereigns into our city,
and at the opening of the sittings of the Congress,
will return to their garrisons.