Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-22

was contrary to tle known policy OF the
government. Ii was not the Executive.
however, but the Senate, that refused Ia
give II sanction.
have here, sir, 10 mention fact, which
striking as II is, and decisive of the cha.
racter of the man, is hardly remsnibet-
ed, u II be not absolutely forgotten, cx,
cep' by few curious observers. General
Jackson's recent seizure of ST. Marks and
Pensacola. is not The first instance in
which he has, OF lis own independent So
yereig4 authority. declared and waged
war against ration with which his
country was at peace. La Noy. 1914, he
took Pensacola by Storm, though he COZ
ieSsedly knew a, the time, that the aet
Was contrary 20 The views and policy oi$
The government The Executive whose
commission ne abused, Congress. whose
powers heusmrped, looked on in profound
silence. As Ia the American people. thew
have ever seemed 10 imagine il impos-
sibIe, that an in,aSi0n of the rights of
Spain could he accompanied with AN in
vasion of their own.
Turn yonr eyes NOW, sir, tn The princi-
pal scene OF Gen. Jackson's glnry: hap
py il il were no, also the scene of un
restrained violence and tyranny. would
detract inoiliiIg from the real merit he
displayed in Iris memorable defence of
Rev Orleans in 1914 Is would not, if
he occasion were proper, enter into any
criticism of his military operations or
attempt 10 ascribc % fortune. any por,i-
on OF tie glory. which skill and valor
claim. That his success was complete.
thai his victory WAS 70 less beneficial i'm
lis consequences than brilliant in It's a.
cbieyement; all Ibis | gladly acknow-
ledge. But In tha, extravaganza of ma
tiouaI gratitude, which has manifested
Itself III a tame surrender of The consii-
tuition though In, for time, aud at the
civil liberty of any portion Of the good
people of this union how distant and
small soevcr, never will assent while
have breath 10 make my protest heard.
Gen. lackson's first step, after his arri-
val al New Orleans, was TO propose to the
legislature oi Louisiana. then in session,
a suspension of the hn5eaS corpus i; Undue
ed, II Is SAID, to recon mend that odous
measure, by representations made TO him
by Gov. Claiborne, 81 the disaiiection of
The people. II the Governors apprehen-
sions were not inspired by the General
himself, the GcneI.i knew, as well as apy
body, what reliance was 10 he placed on
the Governors Judgment. The l.eisla-
lure knew lis constituents as well as the
Governor, and hetter Than the General
tiiai body certainly was not disaffected:
Il was, doubtless, the best Judge, whether
the proposed measure was necessary or
even eXpedieui; and il Was celebrating,
We are told, @wilh great caution" Gas well
II might upon is righi andpower 10 "a
dopi such a measure" when Gen. Jack
son not only suspended Tie habeGS cor
pms, but proclaimed yndrti0iiGw. Forthwith
to, n a.
were converted into camp, and put un-
der rigorous military police.t
He rests lis defence, of course. upoh
the iyrani's plea, necessity. That such a
measure vas necessary, have the autho-
riiy ofihe Louisiana legislature for doubt
ing aud Gen. jackson has Gov. Clai-
borne's word for believing. If all that
Gov. Claiborne told him were nroved 10
be true, ! should still deny the necessity.
During the arduouS struggle of the revo-
iniIon, martial law was never once pro-
claimed. Amidst The distraction Of ci-
VII war, when whole regiments of refugees
and tories we're embodied in the service
Ofthe enemy, and their friends and kin
dred dispersed over The country, General
Washington, though for a fine clothed
with almost dictatoriaI powers, never pro-
claimed martial law. When Gen. Green
was flying beforeLord CORVALLIS through
the Carolinas, and his enemy was deiiv-
ing almost as much aid from the tories
as lie could obtain from Tie wings of that
country, lie yet never proclaimed martial
law. Did Mey want prudence, circum-
speciion, energy? No, sir but victory
Overthe enemy would have had no charms
for them, if achieved at The expense of
liberty. The ready resort 10 violent mea-
sures in all situations of difficulty, is &c
neraliy The result OF VI eakneSs of under
standing and wickedness OF heart combin-
cd.
shall make one more remark upon tie
pTIuciple OF this measure, which those who
have studied our institutions only will
ihiDk absurdly superfiuous, but which
whoever llas studied or history also, will
allow 10 be seas0p8hie There is no man
or body OF men in this nation, competent,
under any circumstances, 10 proclaim
nIariiallaw within our own territory. The
President cannot Congress caunot
boil! copcurring cannot the most they
can do, Ia 10 suspend Tie habcas corpus in
two specified cases, invasion and insu-
rection. and ilIeu only when necessary.
The Invasion orinsurrection does not ipso
tdctO crcalc the necessity.
But, il the necessity and wisdom Of
this measure, and Gen. Jacksou's COM
peiency TO adopt and enforce IL, be al
granted; II us see, sir, whether in The
actual exercise of lie high prcrogaii,c
with which he bad clothed himself, he
preserved any bounds OF moderation
whether he stopped short Of extremes,
which no necessity required, which no
expediency recommended, and t. which
he could have been melted, only by The
intoxjcaiiOu of absolute Dotyrr ti,a u an
sion
While The event Of the contest vas vet