The Portland gazette., 1818-08-04

be, vas justified bytAs necessity of,he case,
and was advancing the best interests Of his
country, the character Of Gen Jackson torbids
doubt. Ofthe important facts allie ged by
him, satisfactory proof, il IS understood. has
been already furnished 10 the President, and
proof of the other facts is confidently expect
ed. II is difficult to admit the belief that acts,
SO totally regardless of the amicable relations
between Spain and the U States, so directly
yepugnant to the stipulation OF the treaty a.
boye quoted and, in themselves, 81 hostile and
even cruel, will be avowed and adopted by
the King Of Spain. We trust that they were
the mere Unauthorized acts ofhs agents. But,
should they, contrary TO all rational expecta-
tion, be SO avowcd and adopted by that soyer-
eign, there can be little doubt that the means
of annoying US from that quarter will ere long
be taken from him. by the decision of the CON-
petent authority. to be restored no more.
In the mean time, as Congress. only. have
the power, under our Constitution. Of Gecla--
trg yor, and had made no such declaration
against Spain, il is understood that the Presi
dent does not conceive himself authorized 10
retain the Spanish posts insomuch as such re-
tention would be an act of war. II is on this
ground, we understand, that the resolution
has been taken to restore the posts, and to
demand from the King Of Spain the punish
ment Oft those officers, whose improper con-
duct led to their seizure.
| The President, no doubt, sees, in common
with bis countrymen, the great advantages
which the United States would derive from
the entire possession Of the Floridas; but,
confessedly great as these advantages would
be, he is not willing to gain them, but by the
sanction of an Act of Congress. To have re-
tanned these pests under present circumstan-
ces, would certainly have bad the eclat OF be-
| ing strong measure but we hope never to
see President of the United States disposed
TO be stronger than the Constitution Of his
country for that is the palladium OF Interests
for more sacred, and ofinhnitely higher i'm
port to the general cause Of human liberty,
than any acquisition of.errAory, however vast
or advantageous.
Notwithstanding this unexpected collision
| in the Eloridas, we trust that the relations Of
| amity between the two nations will be pre-
serred nor can we abandon the hope, thai
their differences may yet be settled, on fail
and honorable conditions. We may even in,
dulge the hope, that the incidents which have
grown out oil the Seminole war, however ad
verse their tendency may have appeared tc
be, may contribute essentially 10 produce
that happy resuIs.-Spain must see, and has
practically confessed, her ineompetency &c
maintain her authority in the Floridas, against
the Seminoles and foreign adyenurers and
we hope she will see that il will be much wis
| er for her 70 cede those provinces at once,
than to attempt to bold them on the in,pOssibl.
condition OF fulfilling her treaty with Us or,
on the condition now brosght home 10 her, by
experience, of subjectipg herself TO perpetual
collisions, and eventfnl losses, which she may
now avoid with ease and honor 10 herself