Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-12-01
EXTRACT OF a LETTER, DATED,
2oaom of Washington, DTisstssihki
Ier7itoru, October 20, 1901.

Territory, October 90, 1904.
"VXpecting that this will meet you at
Washington, 1 shall dire6 it to you there.
find from the papers that the Spanish
minister has been detected in attempting
to engage Major Jackson in his service, to
advocate their claim to West Florida, and
that the president has been accused of en-
cOuragng the insurrection which lately
took place there. informed you before
that had been down to the heights, and
IS far as the line of demarcation. At
Pinckneyville, ! saw the two Kempers and
the two Cobbs and number OF their as
sociates after they had fed from West
Florida; and was informed by one of the
Cobbs, pretty intelligent man, that they
had been excited 10 the attempt they had
made only on their own private accounts,
Tor The injustice and III usage they had re-
ceiVed from Grandpree, the Spanish GO
sermon or commandant at Baton Rouge.
lot word was said of receiving any en-
enlargement from the president or any o.
Their person in the United States: but they
appeared to have been actua,ed merely
from the expectation that the country
wodId soonbe delivered TO the u. States s,
and in that event to keep possession, or
rather regain possession, OF The proper
ty of which they said Grandpree had un-
justly deprived them. AS they asked me
OF the prospect OF the country being deli
Vered up, and mplained ofthe treatment
OF the governor, | advised them that it
was not known to me when it would be de-
livered up, and that it had been very inn
prudent and absurd in them, with few
men 10 brave the Spanish government, as
their conduct would not be justified by
the United States, nor could :hey expect
with only 80 men to withstand the power
OF the Spanish government and that il
was best Tor them to remain quiet until
the country should be delivered over; for
that complaint would be made against
them, in which case they would not be per
mitted TO carry on hostilities against the
Spsniards and retire into the territory as
an asylum, for this would involve the u
nited States i'm war with Spain, which was
contrary TO the wishes of our government
They answered that they should not at
tempt any thing further, but would re
main quiet. But believe all the Ameri-
can inhabitants of that country, and all
others but the few Spaniards that are in
it, are veiyanxious for the change, though
but few Of them were imprudent enough
To Join Kemper. Thi, BUSINESS has made
much more noise to the eastward than it
was entitled to; the Spanards, probably
thinking that KemPer was encouraged
by the United States, have been much a.
harmed, and have been, as informed you
IN my last letter, INCREASING their force at
Baton Rouge. am also informed, that
all the officers OF the Floridas are to as
sembe at Baton Rouge in short time to
hold a consultation on this business. Ma
jor S. Minor who lives near Natchez, and
is still Spanish officer, it seems has been
sent for, and is about TO go to meet them
there.
" Except the Island of Orleans, West
Florida is Of more importance to the u
Dited States at present than all the rest Of
the cession of louisiana, and therefore
trust that the United States will never
relinquish their just claim to it: though
hope the Spaniards will not be so fool
ID as to oblige us to demand it by force !;
tCr II war commenced between the two