Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-22
Of the act, for It is impossible an eTent
50 singular should escape investigation.
JOSHUA A. COFFEE.

From the Me~-York EDening Post.
Ertraet sfa Second letter from 81. Ma
rus to a merchant in this city. The
first svas given yesterday.
The Province Of East Florida enjoy
/ ed, previous to the late rebellion, all cx-
tensive s. lucrative lumber trade; which
produced to some individuals upwards
Of thousand dollars per month lis
cotton Was equal to the best Georgia
Sea Island; aud the planters, if not rich,
were tranquil and happy. In one mo-
ment the demon of revolution assisted
by our iptrigues, has spread ruin and de-
ISOLATION over the whole Couatry the
|. lumber trade was destroyed, and the
planters we're obliged to fly from the
open country, and take refuge in the Ca
pital or in Amelia Island with their ne
groes, and leave their plantations to the
devastation Of the 5anaitti from Georgia;
for it is well known fact, Sir, and it
will bs some day, l hope, proved in
court of justice, that, had not the citi-
zens from Georgia joined in the rebel
lion, there would have been no move
ment, as by the far greater number Of the
inhabitants we're loyal,
Their first attempt to take the City of
St. Augustine having proved aboYtive
it would appear that they rcckoned on
starving the garrison to a surrender
Five months have elapsed, and they are
still as near their object, as on the first
day they presented themselves before
the walls, but you may imagine how
much the property of the loyal inhabi,
tants have suffered in the mean time,
from the depreda,lons of lawIess ban
ditti. To add To the general distress,
the Inlians, whose usual supplies had
been stopped by the plumber of the Ia
dian store at Pieolatta, and who found
themselves likely TO be deprived Of their
annual presents, came down ike tor.
rent, and compelled the insurgents to
fly in their turn--their plantations have
been pillaged, and their negroes plum
dered. and if consolation could be deriy-
ed from the retaliation, the loyal inha-
bltants might feel satisfaction at the c.
quail sufferings of their foes.
1t has become fashionable, | know, to
exclaim against employing the Indians
In our quarrcls, and perfectly agree in
that opinion on principles of humanity.
In the present Case, however, assert
that there was no disposition on the part
Of the Spaljards to Call in the Indians,
(else they woa!d not have waited FIVE
months te do SOY and that the provoca-
ton has proceeded from ourselves and
our allies the insurgents these misied
men, made desperate by their situation,
have lately promulgated their intentions
OF taking the Indian country, and in a
paper now before me, signed by John II
M'lntosh, who stiles himself Director,
five hundred acres of land is promised
TO each volunteer, and i'll proportion to-
eech officer, who shall sssistin burning
ard laying waste the Indian villages
Mr.. Madison from the elevation in whilh
he is placed at Washington, may pos
sibly survey without shuddering the
evils he has occasioned to an unot-
tending portion Of bis fellow creatures.
but | doubt whether it be possible that
the general mass of his fellow citizens
can be aware of the duplicity Of his cpa-
,iuct, else they would long since have
expressed in audible language their
feelings of detestation at conduct,
that has covered US, as . nation, will!
disgrace and infamy.
Had We gone manfully forward, Sir,
and taken possession Of the country Ill
payment of our claims on the Spanish
Government, We should have hcd the
appearance of doing ourselves an act
Of justice, and by gentle usage, the peo-
pie might have been reconciled to the
change, bot after our coalition with the
Bandtti of Soi-disant patriots, and our
abominable dup!icity; after the plumber
we have occasioned, the murders we
have tolerated, and the universal ruin we
have brought on the Inhabitants, we
must, if ever we obtain possession OF
the Province, be looked upon by them
with dctestation * abhorrcnee, as sneak
ing midnight ruff ms.