Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-12-08

met Win resistance winch sense oil
honour prescribed to some small garrisons
which were attacked in the midst of peace
by numerous body of troops. In gene.
raj the territory of his Majesty was attack
ed in the most revolving manner, the for
tresses and depots of arms have been taken
by force, the garrisons made prisoners,
and then sent out of the provinces, where
his Majesty had ordered them to serve.
Nay, subjects of powers in friendship with
his Majesty have been executed upon
Spanish ground, and this act Of barbarity
cloaked with Judicial forms, which, in that
situation. and in those circumstances, can
only be considered as a refinement of cru
city. 1t cannot be doubted but these ex-
cesses are known TO the Government of
Washington; and it does not appear that
orders are given TO put an end to them, or
give to the Spanish government the only
satisfaction which they admit Of. In this
situation his Majesty considers it TO be due
to his own dignity, and that of the people
whom he governs, to order me, at the
same time that again most solemnly pro-
test against all that has been done by
General Jackson, from the day that he
set his foot on the territory of Florida, TO
add further that your excellency will be
pleased to inform your Government that
the King is of opinion that from the ma
ture of the said injuries, and really hos
tile proceedings, the course of the nego-
Citations pending between the two powers
| is, and must remain, interrupted and
broken off, till the. Government of the
United States has marked the conduct Of
General Jackson in manner suitable to
its honour, and which, it seems, can be no
other than to disapprove of the excuses
committed /; to give orders to place things
on the same footing as they were in before
the invasion and to inflict an appropriate
punishment on the author of so many dis
orders.
"I 1t is extremely disagreeable to his
Majesty to be compelled to this decla-
ration, which is more necessary con-
sequence of the nature of the affair, than
an act of his Royal will, whose wishes
and endeavours have always been direct
ed to making an equitable arrangement Of
the matters in debate between the two
governments but the whole impartial
world will equally recognize in the pres
ent state Of things the improperly that
must ensue, If negotiations, which suppose
a state of perfect political friendship, were
to be continued at time when such great
insults have been offered without provo
cation. The occupation Of the larger and
better part of Florida in 1910, by the
United States, who deprived his Majesty,
during his captivity Of q ceaatry in. which
| he vas 10 peaceable possession, under pre-
ten.es, which, If they had been even well
founded, ought never to have been en-
forced by violence and the late improper
attack on Amelia Island, were facts of the
same nature and tendency, equally unjust
in their principles, and equally protested
against on the part of Spain; but as they
were less offensive in their kind, and
under these circumstances his Majesty
believed at the same time he gave proofs
of his moderation, that he might wait for
satisfaction on these points till the defini-
tive arrangements Of the points 10 dispute,
which it was expected would soon take
place. The same is not the case IN the
present instance. The. Americans have
no claim, either founded or unfounded, to
the territory which Gen. jackson has at
tacked-no real or pretended revolution
of the inhabitants could serve as pretext
no previous attack by robbers, which
was alIedged as reason for the unjust
seizure of Amelia Island the Spanish
flag was flying on the fortresses of San
Marcos and Pensacola, when they were
attacked; and to complete the measure OF
insults, that has been taken by violence,
which his Majesty had offered 10 the pend
ing negotiations to cede to the U. States
in an honorable manner, SO that il seems
to have been preferred to seize it by VIC
lence, rather than to acquire it from the
generous friendship of the King. These
extraordinary circumstances have induced
his Majesty to take the resolution, that it
is incompatible with the dignity OF his ex-
allied character to continue negotiations,
till an affair has been settled and termi-
mated in suitable manner, which takes
the precedence of all other points in dis
pute between the two Governments, and
which, from its Importance, is calculated
Essentially to change, in their whole ex-
tent, the political relations between the
two countries.
" At the same time, to give a proof Of
the peaceable and moderate sentiments
which characterized the conduct of the
Spanish government, i must acquaint your
Excelency, that his Majesty has, in
charging me to communicate to his Minis
ter at Washington the declared rupture
of negotiations, has likewise commanded