Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-18

ocean: the Indiap tribes have constituted
the effective force in Florida. With these
tribes these adventures had formed, at an
early peiiOd, cOnnexion, with view to
avail themselves of that force TO promote
their own projects OF accumulation and az.
grandZement. Ii is to the interference OF
some of these Adventures, in misrepresen-
ting the claims and titles OF the Indians TO
land, and in practising on their savage pro-
pensities, that the Seminole war is prlnci!
paily to be traced. Menwho thus connect
themselves with savage communities, and
stimulate them TO war, which is always at
tended on their part with acts of barbarily
the most shocking, deserve to be viewed IN
aworse light than the savages. They would
certainly have no claim to an immunity
from the punishment, which, according to
the rules of warfare practised by the saya-
ges, might justly be inflicted on the sava-
ges, themselves.
II the embanassments of Spain prevent
ed her from making an indemnity to our
citizens, for so long time, FROM her trea.
sury, for their losses by spoliation, and
otherwise, it was always in her power to
have provided it, by the cession oil this ter
ritory. OF this, her government has been
repeatedly apprized; and the cession was
the more to be anticipated, as Spain must
have known that, in ceding il, she would,
In effect, cede what had become Of little
value 10 her, and would likewise relieve
herself from the important obligation secu-
red by the treaty of 1875, and all other
compartments respecting it. If the U.
States, from consideration Of these embar-
easements, declined pressing their claims
in spirit Of hostility, the motive ought, at
least, to have been duly appreciated by the
government OF Spain. Ii is well known to
her government, that other powers have
made to the United States an indemnity for
like losses, sustained by their citizens at
the same epoch.
There is, nevertheless, a limit beyond
which, this spirit Of amity and forbearance
can, in no instance, be justified. lfit was
proper, to rely on amicable negotiation,
for an indemnify for losses, it would not
have been SO, to have permitted the inabi..
lily Of Spain 10 fulfil her engagements, and
10 sustain her authority in the Floridas, to
be perverted by foreign Adventures and
sapages, to purposes so destructive to the
lives of our fellow citizens, and the highest
interests Of the United States. The right
of self-defence never ceases. Ii is among
the most sacred, and alike necessary to ma
tions and to individuals. And, whether the
attack be made by Spain, herself, or by
those who abuse her power, its obligation
is moi the less strong. The invaders of A
melia Island had assumed popular and
respected title, under which they might
approach and wound US. As their object
was distinctly seen, and the duty imposed
on the Executive, by an existing law, was
profoundly felt, that mask was not permit
ted to protect them. TWAS thought incum-
bent on the United States, to suppress the
establishment, and it was accordingly done.
The combination in Florida, for the unlaw-
full purposes stated, the acts perpetratedby
that combination, and, above all, the in
citement OF the Indians, TO massacre our
fellow-citizens, OF every age, and OF both
sexes, merited like treatment, and re
ceived it. In pursuing these savages TO an
imaginary line, in The woods, il would have
been the height of folly to have suffered
that line to protect them. Had that been
done, the war could never cease. Even II
thesterritory had been, exclusively, that of
Spain, and Der pow er complete over II, we
had right, by the Law of nations, TO follow
the enemy on it, and 10 subdue him there.
But the territory belonged, in certain
sense, al least, TO the savage enemy who in
habited 1t, the power Of SPAN had ceased
TO exist over it, and protection was sought,
under her title, by those who had Commit!
ted on our citizens hOstilities, which she
was bound, by treaty, to have prevented,
but had not the power TO prevent. To have
stopped at that line, would have given new
encouragement to these savages, and new
vigor to the whole combination existing
there, in the prose Of all its perni-
cious purposes.
In suppressing the establishment at A.
melia Island, no unfriendliness was mani
tested towards Spain, because the post was
taken from force which had wrested It
from her. The measure, il is true, was not
adopted in concert with the Spanish 60
yernment, or those in authority under it,
because, in transactions connected with the
war, in which Spain and her colonies are
engaged, il was thought proper, in doing
justice to the United States, 70 maintain
strict impartiality towards both the belli-
gerent parties, without consulting or act
ing In concert with either. II gives me
pleasure to state that the governments OF
Buenos Ayfes and Venezuela, whose names
were assumed. have explicitly disclaimed
all participation in those measures, and
even the knowledge oftbem, until commu-
nicated by this government, and have also
expressed their satisfaction, that course
ofproceeding had been suppressed. which,
ifjustly imputable 10 them, would disbonor
their cause.
In autborising Major General Jackson to
enter Florida, in pursuit Of The Semino!es,
care was taken not 10 encroach on The
rights of Spain. Iregret TO have to add,
that. in executing This order, facts were
disclosed, respecting the conduct of the