Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-31
DOMESTIC.

WASHINGTON, July 27.-The Presi-
dent OF the United States has, we under
stand, decided, that Pensacola, and the
other Spanish posts, which have been ia
ken by General Jackson. in the FIoridas.
shall be restored TO the Spanish au,hori-
ty but with requisiiion, that the King
OF Spain shall, hereafter, keep such a
force IN those colonies, as shall enable
Inn 10 execute, with fidelity, the filth ar
ilcie OF The treaty between The United
States and Spain. That article. so far as
IL affects this subject, is III ,Ile following
words: The two high contracting par
ties shall, by all the means In their pow
"er, maintain peace and harmony among
che several Indian nations who inhabit
the country adjacent to the lines and
rivers, which, by the preceding 2rticles,
" form the boundaries of the two Foridas :;
and, tie better 10 obtain this effect. both
"parties oblige themselves, expressly. to
g restrain, By force, all hostiliiies on tie
" part IF the Indian nations Hpine lcithi,,
p" their boundary so that .Spain wiH not
suffer her Indians to attack The citizens
cfthe United States, nor Me Indians IN (
I" hGbiting their territory nor will the
" United States permit these last men
toned Indians TO commence hostilities
" against the subjects OF His Catholic
Majesty, or his Indians, IN any manner
whatever"
On The strict execution of this article,
on the part OF Spain, ii is understood that
The President vigorously insists: and that
il was The failure 10 falfil if, which prcdu-
ced the necessity oil crossing The Spanish
boundary, during The present war with
the Seminole Indians.
These tribes occupy file lands on each
side Of the line between lie United States
and Florida much tie greater part Of
them living within the limits ofthe king
81 Spain. They are neither citizens OF
the United States, nor subiec OF the king
OF Span. They owe no allegiance TO The
laws OF either power. They cannot there
tore, be tried Tor treason OH account of
their levylng war against either nation,
within whose limits they dwell. They
are the owners of the soil which fhey
occupy ; hold at least 81 qualified sove-
reigniy over IT, and exercise, Oh all occa-
sions, the right of making war and peace.
10 tins purpose they are sovereign With
IN the country which they possess: TO
this purpose the country is their coun-
try =; and that country may and must, Of
N cessity, become the Legitimate seat of
war, il The war cannot be otherwise ter
minated.
This consideration becomes the stron.
ger, when If is remembered, that il was
owing TO the acknowledged incompetent
cy OF Spain to fulfil the stipulation Of her
treaty with us, by restraining the lIostil-
tiles Of tie SeminoIes, 6y force, that the
United States were compelled 10 take up
arms in their own defence. Yet such
was The delicacy of our government TO-
wards Spain, that the first order issued 10
the general commanding in that quarter,
expressly forbade him 10 cross The Spa
nish line. This inhibition was repealed
by second order. But, as ii was appa-
rent, that driving the Indians beyond
the limits Of the United States, was doing
nothing eifectual TO cxiinguish the war,
since III falling back within the limits Of
Florida they were still at home, with all
tie means OF incuTsioU and anBOyaace
which they possessed ~ the commence
meni Of hosiIliiics, third order was is
sued, which authorized The American pe-
neral, the indians should present them
selves ~ body, beyond The line, TO cross
n, and attack them. Shortly after issu.
ing this order, a massacre was committed
by The Indians, which demonstrated that
no alternatives were left for tie United
States, bDl 10 leave our frontier exposed
10 tie mercy Of The savages, or 10 carry
The war into Florida, aud thus 10 do, for
Spain. What she confessed herself unable
to do FOR herself, by Terminating by force
the hosiiliiies of these savages. a fourth
order was, therefore. issued, 10 this effect
to the American general but by the
same order he was expressly commanded,
II the Indians should take refuge under
Spanish fort, not TO attack them in that
situation, but 10 report The case 10 the