The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-28

session oe il by 70. eign power: and YOU
will also see that Gen. Matthews instructi-
ons, of which 4 copy is likewise inclosed,
correspond full, wlib the law.
BY the documents in possession OF the go
vernment it aDpea' that neither of these
contingencies have happened, that instead
OF AN 'nicabie surrender By the governor
or other l. Cal authority, the troops of til.
United States have been used to dispossess
the Spanish authority by force. forbcar
tod~ell on the details this transaction be-
Cause it is painful TO revts them. BY the
letter t. Serera Matthew's, which is inClo-
sed, open for Your perusal. you will fully
comprehend the views Of the governr0 Mt
respecting the late transaction, aud By the
law, the former instructions 20 the general
and the late letter now forwarded, you will
be made acquainted with the course Of CON
duct which it is expected of you to pursue
in future, in discharging the duties hereto
fore enicired on him.
1t is the desire of the President that you
shsu'l turn your attention &s,li'ecr y,ur ef-
rtsin the first instan &c, to the restoration of
that state cf things in the province which
existed before the late transactions. The
Executive considers it proper to restore
back to the Spanish authorit es, Amelia Is
land and such other parts, if any, of East
Florida as may have thus been taken from
them. With this view it will be necessary
Tor you 10 communicate Girectiy with the
governor or principal officer Of Spain in that
province. and toact in harmony with him
in the attainment OF It. It is presumed that
the arrange ment will be easily and AMIGA
by made between you. ] inclcse you an
order from the ,ary at war to the COM
marder "t The troops OF he United States to
evacuate sc Country, when reque te To
do by YOU, and t0pay the same respect to
your order in fulfilling the duties enjoined
BY the law, that he haG been Instructed TO
do to that of Gen. Matthew'S.
In restoring to the Spanish AUTH rites
Amelia Island and such uther parts of Eas
Florida as may have been taken possession
of in the name Of the United States, there is
another object to which your particular at
tention will be lue.-in the measures lately
adopted by gen. Matthews to take poses
sion ct that territory, 1t is probable tnat
much reliance has been placed by the peo-
pie who acted in 1T on the counteuance and
support of the United states. It will be
improper to expose these people to the
resentment of the Spanish authorities Ii is
iot to be presumed that those authorities,
IN regainng possession ut the territory, i'll
his amicable mode, from the United States,
viii be disposed To indulge any such feeling
to full understanding with the Spanish
governor on this subject, and not fail 10 ob
tain from hum The most explicit and salts
factory assurance respecting it. OF this as
surance you will duly apprize the parties
interested, and of the confidence which they
may repose in IT. It's hoped that on this deli
Gaze 8 vey interest ng point, the Spanish go
vernon will avalIhImself of the opportunity
II presents TO evince the friendly disposit-
on OF his government towards the United
S, tes.
THERE'S one otherrem aiming circumstance
only to which wish to cali I, our atteutI, n
and that relates 10 general Matthews him
self. his gallant and meritori Us services
in our revolution and patriotlc conduct SINCE,
have always been held in high estimation
by the government. His errors in TINS in
stance are imputed eltogether 10 his zeal t.
promote the Welfare of his Counlr, bul
they are of nature to impose ON the go
Vernmeht the necessity of the measures now
taken, IN given effect to which you will
doubtless feel disposition to consult, as ia.
as may be, his personal sensibiLty.
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) JAMES MONROE.
+. , Should you find 1t .mpractlcable to
execute the d Atts ,lesi 5nated III the sbove
requests, you Nil ogpId as {, en-
pi2y some respectable character to represent
you mt, 10 whom lou are authorised to al
low asimiiar comp 'ns;,tioh. 1t is nppe.
however that j. may be able al end
III person, Tor REASONS which l need no: Z
er INTO. lie expenses to which yCd may
De exposed VIII be promptly paid TO your
draft ON this department.
Ihe Secretary Of State 10 d b. Mitchell,
Esq. Governor Of Georgia.
DEPARTMENT OF oTATE,
May 81, 1912.
SIR have. had the honor to receive
your letter of the ID inst. from ST. Mary's
where you had arrived in discharge of the
trust reposcd in you by the President, III nc
latien to East Florida.
My letter by Mr.. Isaacs has, presume,
substantially answered the most importan,
OF the queries submitted in Your letter.
put Will give each & more distinct an
swer:
BY the law, of which copy was forwar-
ded to you. it is made the duty of the Pres
dent TO prevent the occupation of East Flo.
rida by any foreign power 1t follows that
you are authorised to consider the entrance,
or attempt to enter, especially under exls-
ting circumstances, Ut British troops Of an,
description, as the case contemplated by
the law, and TO use the proper means to de
Feat it.
An instruction will be. Immediately for
warded to the comm ander OF tile naval
force Of the United States, in Tie naighbor
aood OF East Florida, to give you any assis-
lance, In case Of emergency, which you nj av
think necessary, aud require.
1t is not expected, il you find it proper to
withdraw the troops, that yOu should inter