Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-31

ton of Indian outrages, that should the
Indians assemble In force on the Spanish
side OF the line, and perscvere in COM
miiting h0stiliiies within the limits of
the United States, the American officer
was authorized in that event TO exercise
a sound discretion, as 10 the propriety of
crossing the line, for The purpose Of al
lacking them, aud breaking up their towns
On the 10th Of December, upon intor-
nation that an officer of the u. States,
with detachment of forty men had been
attacked, and all destroyed with the ex-
ception of six, VINO made their escape,
four of whom were wounded the insiruc-
ton of which the following is copy, was
issued from the Department of War to
the American general then in command.
On receipt OF this letter, should tue
Seminole Indians still refuse to make re-
paratien for the outrages and depreda;ons
on the citizens of the United States, ii is
the wish of the President that you consi-
der yourself ut liberty to march across
tile Florida line, and 10 attack them with
IN IFS limits, should il be found necessary,
unless they should sbelferiliemselves un-
der Spanish fort. In the last event, you
viii Immediately notify this Department"
These, witha subsequent instruction oil
the Goth December, 10 the command
er In chief referring 10 them, and direct
ing him, with view TO them, 10 adopt
the necessary measures 10 terminate a
conflict which il had ever been the desire
OF tile President, from consideration of
humanity, TO avoid, but which was made
necessary by the settled hosiilities of the
indians, are all the instructions given in
relation 10 Florida.
By the ordinary laws and usages of ma.
lions, the right OF pursuing an enemy
who seeks refuge from actual conflict,
within neutral territory, is ineontesia-
bile. But i'll this case the territory of Flor
ida was not even neutral il was itself, so
Tar as Indian savages possess territorial
right. the territory of Indians, with whom
the United States were at war il was
their place of abode, and Spain was
bound by treaty TO restrain them by force
from committing hostilities against the u.
States an engagement which the COM
handing officer of Spain i'll Florida, had
acknowledged himself unable 10 fulfil.
Or the necessity there was for crossing
the line, what stronger proofs could be
adduced, than that il was within that
line That the American General met the
principal resistance from the Indians,
which he encountered in the whole cam
palgn thai, within that line, at their
towns, which, he destroyed, he found dis
played, as barbarous trophies, the mutt
lated remnants OF our wretched fellow CT
fiZens, the murdered women andchiliren,
The accumulated barbarlties of many
years ?
You have seen that no instruction or
authority, inconsistent with the deciara-
ton in the message of the President OF the
United States, of The 25th of March last,
TO Congress, was ever issued 10 the com
mander of The American forces. The pos
session which he took of the Fort of ST.
Marks, aud subseque nily of Pensacola,
was upon motives WhiclI he himself has
explained, and upon his own responsible
lty. For his justification of the adoption
OF both these measures, he states them O
have been necessary upon the immutable
principles OF selfdefcnve that, at an ear
~ period of his operations, lie had given
full notice Of their object 10 The Govern
or OF Pensacola, by communication, da
ted the 25th of March last, warning him
that every attempt on his part TO succour
the Indians, or prevent the passage of
provisions for the American troops, in the
Escambia, would be view ed as acts oflios-
ton, the Governor Of Pensacola did both
give succour TO The Indians, and delay the
passage of the provisions 10 lie Ameri-
can army, and thereby subjected them to
the greatest privaiions (; that the Govern
or of Pensacola had caused it to be direct
ly reported TO the American Gen. that
Fort St. Marks had been threatened by
The Indians and negroes, and expressed
serious apprebensions, from the weakness
of the garrison, and detenceless state OF
the work, for It's safety that this infor-
nation was confirmed 10 the American
General from other sources, upon which
he could rely, and completely warranted
the amicable occupation, by him, of That
Fort that, upon his entering the tort, ey-
idence, clear, unequivocaj, and manifold,
was evinced, OF The dupllclty and nnirlend-
ly feeling of the cUnmandant evidence
demonstrating, beyond the power of de.
MIL, that, far from acting IN the spirit OF
that sacred engagement of his sovereign,
10 restrain by force his Indians from hos
tilities against tie United States, he had
made himself, by every acl in his power,
partner and accomplice of the hostile
indians, and of their foreign iusiigaiors !;
that The same spirit Of hostility to Tie u.
States, was discovered %y the Governor
Of Pensacola himself by his refusal 10
permit, unless by The payment of cXor-
bifant du!ics, the passage of provisions 10
the American army--by the reception and
succour given TO The Indians at various
times--and, finally, by letter which he
sent 10 the American General, denouD-
cling his entry into Florida as an agrees
sion against Spain, and threatening, IN.
less he should Immediately Withdraw from
it, and should he continue what lie thus
styled aggressions, that he would repel
force by force. This was so open an ill.,
dication of hostile feeling on the part of
Gov. Masoi, after he had been early and
well advised Of the object of General