Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-30

II could not have been has design "to sub
vert the authority of the South Americans
at Amelia. :" The encouragement Of pri-
vatcers" was always regarded, boil, by
McGregor and his officers. as Of vital i'm
poriance to the success of his scheme "a
gainst the Floridas. Persons owning them
were invited 10 cooperate In the expedi-
tion from the moment ii was undertaken.
Ii was believed that considerable reve-
nue. might be derived from duties on
prize goods, and that any position taken
upon Tie eneHiy's coast, would be render
Ell more secure by making il rendezvous
Tor prlvateers-That it was the policy of
The Patriots " 10 encourage privateers" is
NEST evident, and that they were actually
encouraged will be siewn hereafter.
We come now 10 that part Of the state
menf, which charges Col. 2. in direct
terms with having received S $4,000 in Il
Southern City, "ior the express purpose
of dealing in slaves" A charge made
with all the cold blooded Indifference of
one hackneyed in the base arts OF detrac-
ton, and as unfounded as il is wanion
and malicious! The Editor of the Aurora,
has not informed us from what source he
derived a knowledge of this transaction.
II rs an assertion without proof, and there
fore can be met only by direct denial of
its truth. The Editor of the Aurora, with
all his means of information is challenged
TO bring forward asingle title of evidence
worthy OF credit, in support of this allega-
ton.
Col. P. if is true, did raise money ain
a Southern City," not as is alledged for
the purpose of dealing in slaves" but for
the support of the expedition against the
Floridas. For this object, he received
written powers from McGregor, (Which
are now I'm the possession of his friends
and can be produced if necessary to the
vindication of his character,) authorizing
him to negotiate Il loan with such indivi-
duals, as might be disposed to advance
money for the enterprise, upon the secu-
rity of the lands of Florida. In this way
S 80, 900 were raised, of which McGregor
received Sl7 900, and the balance was APP
proprlated TO tile purchase of provisions
and munitions of war. No stipulations
were ever made by Col. P. with the gem
tlemen who advanced this sum, or any
others upon the subject of the African
trade. He would have been the last per-
son IN existence, to have adopted mea-
sures calculated TO prolong an odious traf-
flc, repugnant 10 every feeling and senti-
ment of his heart
Let us see IL the Editor is not mistaken
i'll some other of his assertions. The in
struciions of AcGregor, limited him t9
Amelia Island. II this be true, he certain
ly practised IA gross fraud upon his fol-
lowers, and acted himself in contraven-
ton to those Instructions from the mo-
ment he received them, not only by his
declarations, but by his public acts-As
lst, by issuing land certificates for the
purpose lot raising revenue: a form of
those certificates is given below, by which
it will appear that the lands of Florida are
expressly pledged for the redemption of
the sums borrowed upon them. 2dly, by
making an allotment of the lands in Flo
rida, among his officers and soldiers
3dly, by publishing proclamation early
in July, Immediately after the eHemy's a
abandonment of his works OH the river ST.
Johns, and in consequence of thai mea
sure, declaring the people of the eastern
and western districts snder the authority
and protection of the Republic of Florida.
4th, by giving the officer the
| advanced guard of his army, dlscretiona-
| ry orders to reconnoitre the country up
| the river ST. Johns, with view to the Sc
| lection ola position preparatory TO move
| ment against st. Augustine; and if prac-
| ficable or proper, of striking al the enemy,
wherever he might be found OIL that river
If then, the Instructions given TO McGre-
gor were of the nature stated, it is evident
from those acts. that he took the liberty
of disregardng them, and extended his
views far beyond Amelia Island"
AS To :" the regulations concerning pri-
vateers," the Editor is certainly not cor
rectly informed. -Four vessels were com-
missioned by McGregor during his con-
iinuance on the Island-a small schooner
without an armament, two open boats,t
and the General McGregor, fine brig,
mounting l6 guns-all fitted out in tile
y. States, and having OF board not
single South american. The only security
| that was or could be exacted, was the
oath of the commanders, not TO violate
the laws or nsages of nations-And this
only security was on more than one occa-
sion taken from men who acknowledge
no God but Mammon, and no law but
force.
These misStatemeBtS of the Editor have
been referred TO for the purpose Of show
ing that lie is not quite so well acquaint-
ed with the transactions at Amelia Island
as he would lave his readers TO believe,
and that as he is VIGOROUSLY mistaken III
some things, lie may most probably be in
error as TO others. Indeed, lie seems to
nave taken an erroneous view Of the sub
Jet altogether.-ln supposing that the
ptan OF selzing upon the providers ofFlo-
rida originated with tile fagitives from Car
thage,a, he may possibly be correct; but
he labors under gross misconcepton if
ne imagines that the occupation Of Anne
liza Island was effected by any of those
persons. As has been before asserted,
every man engaged in that enterprise,
WITH the exception OF General Meoregor
and ms private secretary, and every cent 0f
money expended NpOa it until the arrival Of
Awy, was drawn from the U. States,
chiefly through the agency and influence
OF Col. Posey, at whose expense the Edi-