Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-31

my Information, in order that | may
transmit, the same TO my government,
with all requisite despatch"
The next paper is letter from the
same 10 the SAM, dated at Bristol, July
81. requesting a prompt and categorical
answer 10 his former demands ami pro-
tests.
The next letter, being the answer Of
our government 10 the several demands
and protests OF the Spanish Minister re-
speeding the occupation OF the Spanish
posts in Florida by our army, il is tho't
proper TO publish entire:
The Secretary Of State 10 Den Luis c!e Onis.
Department ofState,
Washington, 23d July, 1918. {
SIR have had the honor of receiviag
Your letters OF the oath June, and 18th
inst. complaining of the conduct of Major
General jackson, in entering West Florida
with the forces under his command, TAX
ing The Spanish posts of ST. Marks and
Pensacola, &c.
Without recurring 10 the long standing
and heavy causes of complaint which the
United States have had against Spain, TO
The terbearance with which they have
been borne, without despairng of obtain.
ing Justice from her by amicable aieaaS;
10 the efforts equally m,c easing and una
vaiiing which they have made to obtain
iaat Justice, or To the extraordinary de-
lays BY which i, has been proiracted aud
is sill Withheld, it is thought proper, on
tins occasion 10 cali your attention, ts "a
series of events, which necessiiated and
justified the entrance of the troops the
United States upon The Spanish bouR-
Diary OF Florida, aud gave occasion to
those transactions of the commander OF
the American forces against which you
complain.
II cannot be unknown to you that for a
considerable time before the government
of the United States issued the orders for
military operations ia that quarter, the
inhabitants Of Their frontier had been ex-
posed 10 The depredaiIons, murders, and
maSsecres of tribe OF savages, small
part at which lived within the limits of
the United States, far tie greater number
Of them dwelling within the borders Of
Florida. The barbarous, unrelenting,
and DISCRIMINATING character of Indian
hostilIiies, is also well known TO YOU;
and, from the peculiar local position of
these tribes, IL was obvious that there
could be no possible security for the lives
%. The white inhabitants of those borders.
unless the United States and Spain should
be reciprJcally bound to restrain the por-
ilon OF the Indians respectively within
their territories from committing robbery
and butchery upon the citizens and sub
jects OF the other party. So forcibly was
this necessity felt by both, that in the 5tl
article OF the treaty OF 9th October, 795,
rhe following remarkable stipulation is
continued" The Two high contracting
parties shall by all the means in their
power maintain peace and harmony "a
nonS the several Indian nations who IN
habit the country adjacent 10 the lines
and rivers which by the preceding arii-
cles, form the boundaries Of the two Flo
Tidas :and the better TO obtain this effect
both parties Ublige themselves expressly
TO restrain by force all hostiIiiies OH the
part Of the Indian nations living within
their boundaries so that Spain will not
suffer her Indians TO attack the citizens
of the United States, nor the Indians in
habltng their territory nor will the u.
States permit these last mentioned Indi-
ans 10 commence hostilities against the
subjects of His Catholic Majesty, or his
Indians IN any manner whatever"
Notwithstanding this precise, express
and soies,n compact of Spain, numbers,
painful TO recollect, of the citizens of the
United States inhabiting the frontier =
numbers not merely of persons i'm active
manhood, but of the tender sex, OF de-
fcnceless age, and helpless infancy, had
al various times been butchered with all
the excavations and horrors of savage
cruelty, by Seminole Indians, aid by a
banditti OF negroes, sallying from Within
the Spanish border, and reireaiing TO il
again with the horrid fruits of their crime
Al former period the Governor of
Pensacola had been called upon, by let
trr from Major General Jackson, confor-
mably 10 the stipulated engagement Of
Spain. and 10 the duties of good neigh
borhood, TO Isterpose by force and break
up strong hold, of which this horde of
sdvages and fugitive slaves had possess
ei themselves, on the territory of Florida.
The answer acknowledged the obligation,
but pleaded an incompetency of force for
Its iuitllment. Copies of these impor-
tant documents are herewith transmitted
TO you; and it may be within your know
ledge and recollection thai the orders and
the competent force which Gov. Zuniga
stated IN his letter that he had solicited
from bis governor general, and without
which he declared himself unable 10 des-
troy his fort, erected upon Spanish ter
ritory, for purposes of united, civilized,
savage, and seryiIe war against the United
States, WAS never furnished, and ihatsthe
United States were finally compelled TO
accomplish its destruction by their own
force.
The permanent and unyarying policy
of the United States with regard 10 all
the Indian tribes within their borders, is
that of peace, friendship, and Iiberality--
and, so successful has the policy been,
thar for many years no instance has oc.
Cured Of their being III hostility with any
indian tribe, unless stimulated by tie IN
fuence of foreign incendiaries. Even
after the repeated commission Of these
depreaations and massacres by tue Semi