The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-11-24

every nation, and particularly OF the United
/ States while it presented temptation TO
every people, on whose seduction It's success
principally depended. In regard TO the Uni
ted States, the pernicious effect OF this unlaw
| ful combination, was not confined 70 The
ocean. The Indian tribes have constituted
the effective force in. Florida. With these
| tribes, these adventures had formed, at an
early period, connection, with view to
avail themselves of that force, 10 promote their
own project Of accumulation and aggrandize-
ment. Ii is to the interference OF some OF
these adventures, in misreprcsentng the
claims and titles of the indians 10 land, and in
practising on their savage propensites, that
TIE Seminole war is principally TO be traced.
| Men who thus connect themselves with saw
| age communities, and stimulate them to war,
which is always attended, on their part, with
acts of barbarlty the most shocking, deserve
| TO be viewed in worse light than the sava-
ges. They would certainly have no claim 10
an immunity from the punishment, which, ac-
cording TO the rules Of warfare practised BY
the savages, might justly be inflicted Oh tie
savages, themselves.
| II the embarrassments of Spain pfeyented
her from making an indemnity to our citizens,
for so long time, from her treasury, for their
losses by spoliation, and otherwise, il was
always in her power TO have provided it, by
the cession Of this territory. Of this, her
| government has been repeatedly apprized,
and tie ceSsion was the more 10 have been
anticipated, as Spain must have known that,
in ceding it, she would, in effect, cede what
I had become of little value TO her, and would
likewise relieve herself from the important
obligation secured by the treaty Of 1895, and
all other compIomitments respecting II. Ii
The United States, from consideration of these
EMBELLISHMENTS, declined Pressing their
claims in spirit OF hospitality, the motive
! ought al least 10 have been duly appreciated
| by The government OF Spain. IL is well known
to her government, that other powers have
made 10 The United States an indemnity for
like losses, sustained by their citizens al the
same epoch.
/ There is, nevertheless, a limit beyond
which this spirit Of amiy and forbearance can,
IN no instance, tie justified. lit was proper
TO rely on amicable negotiation Tor an lndem
nifty Tor losses, il would not have been so, TO
have permitted the inability OF SPAN 70 fulfill
her engagements, and 10 sustain her authority
III the Floridas, 10 be perverted BY foreign adj
venturers and sayages to purposes 50 destruc
| tive TO the lives Of our fellow citizens, and
the highest interests OF tie United States.
he right OF selt-deience never ceases. It's
among The most sacred and alike necessary 10
nations and to individuals. And, whether
the attack be made BY Spain herself, or by
those who abuse her power, its obligation is
not The less strong. The invaders OF Amelia
Island had assumed popular and respected
title, under which they might approach and
wound Us AS their object was distinctly
seen, and the duty imposed on the Executive,
by an existing law, was profoundly felt, that
mask was not permitted TO protect them. 1t
was thought incumbent on the United States
10 suppress the establishment, and ii was &C
cordngly done. The combination in Florida
Tor The unlawful purposes stated, the acts per
petrated by that combination, and, above all,
| The incltement OF the indians 10 massacre our
fellow citizens, OF every age, and OF both sex
es, meriled like treatment, and received it.
In pursuing these sayages TO an imaginary line
10 the woods, it would have been the height
OF folly TO have suffered that line 10 protect
them. Had that been done, the war could
never cease. Even if the territory had been
exclusively, that OF Spain, and her power com
plete overit, we had right, by the LAW Of
nations, TO follow the enemy on il, and to sub
due him there. But the territory belonged,
III certain sense al least, TO the savage ene-
my who inhabited it, the power Of Spain had
ceased to exist over it, and protection was
sought, under her title. by those who had
committed on our citizens hostilities, which
she was bound by treaty 10 have prevented,
Out had not the power to prevent To have
stopped at that line, would have given new en-
enlargement TO these savages, and new yigour
10 The whole combination existing there, in
me prosecution OF all its pernicious purposes
IN suppressing the establishment al Amelia
Island, no antrIendliness was manifested To-
wards Spain, because the post was taken from
toroe which had wrested il from her. The
measure, IT IS true, was not adopted in concert
WIN The Spanish government, or those in au-
thority under It, beeause, IN transactions con-
hectea with The war in which Spain and her
colonies are engaged, it was thought proper.
m doing justice to the United States, ID main
tain strict mpartaity towards both the bel
iiserent parties, without consulting or acting
~ concert with either.--lt gives me pleasure
10 state that the governments of Buenos Ayres
ana venezuela, whose names were assumed.
nave explicitly diSclaimed all participation IN
lhose measures, and even the knowledge 81
lrrNt, 4