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

J Frepcnl e'f lad cha; sed as with using the Se-
1 minQies Use porr,-Iese did Artigas. as a
masked h1iiefY 20 eiTert AN OBJECT we had so
= much af ctoc' Some OF our countryuen had
fallen iitn the tfe tatio'i. They advised us
= 10 Aetp trat Hg '1d gil Spain was So weak
and tnric. Nas So 3b,e. They seemed to
have tuNf SIC frc1 otorl constitutions, which
places Tie .pgvtter iaakIr, war in the hands
] at congress-. -SApErst lAf. Monroe had fallen
in,o tnis snaIe. N10 can SAY that that nice
sense Ofpub,ic ne; as, by wh.ch we have been
disting U,saed, might not have been blunted!
! that a precedent might not have been set, by
Which tLiUre presidents nj s,tt have screened
more outrageous acts that sane of onr con-
stiiutIonal bulwa,ks, might not have been in
| danger OF being swept aYays that the law
| might not have been put under the E It of the
military power! Nothing could have saved
| us irom the coIlseG uences, but tue virtue of
| thepCopie. They must have Indignantly iIsa-
vowed the executive act; or else alden to The
constitution anu honor OF then countr,
But the President has shown his respect for
| the laws ofnatiOns-aud il has been his daily to
| teach some of his couutrymeu the respect
which Is due by the executive 90 the power
OF the people -" TO have re.
tanned these posts, under present circunstan-
ces, would certainly have had the ecldt ofbeing
a strong measure; but We hope never to see
President "a uie Uuiied States disposed 10 be
stronger than the constitution Of ais country
tor that is the palladium of Interests far more
sacred, aud of infinitely higher import TO the
general cause OF human liberty, than any &C.
QUESTION OF territory, however vast OF advan.
tageous. These are fac sentiments coHyeyCd
In line language.
1he Washington article has done every pos
sibleJ Justice TO the Commanding GeneraI-and
treated hiinwiih all possible deiicGcy. II as
cflOes his conduct to motive of the Iurest
| pdtrioiism."-lic administration viii urgues-
tonaDiy show every respect winch il can, 10,
| tile hero of Orleans But the majesty of the
laws has also claim upon every citizen.
Gen. Jackson will in all probability demand
| an enquiry into his conduct He Viii visa iur
an opportunity to justify himself, aad To lay
before the nation the facts upOp which he
acted. We horele will beiudutged, with an
opportunity OF making such an election. But
| II Gen. jackson waves il, il viii b. ,hem time
enough tor the President OF the u. States 10
deteiEiin the course that ought TO be taken.
we live ~ a republic. The law il our only
sheet auchor. No man is great enough 10 be
| aboN e tile laws.
Spain should weigh the events that l!avc lust
tianspired, with the utmost discretion though
hef posts are given up to her, yet she ought
to IecOllect how incompetent she IL { . maintain
her authority ia so eXteuded an empire-that
Florida has frequently been, aud j. still likely
| to be, a source of heart.burnng and a bone OF
contention between us-She has seen with
what facility our trOops have twice marched
| to Pensacola, and how incapable she is of
resisting our force. Size SHOULD also recollect
our wrongs, our resentmeniS, and our power.
The day cannot be far distant when they will
burst upon her, unless, b. an Smicable arrange.
ment, she averIS the attack. The thunder has
long rolled over her head-tlIe bolt must tall al
| her feet
AS TO the rumour from the Havana of Spaiu's
having ceded Florida 10 the United states. we
lend no ear 20 it Iheneps iStOO good TO be trae
The course which the administration have
taken is already attacked by the Baltimore
Federal RePR6ticag-it chars es them witiI - i.
| pto'natic logic parallel fOr ihe shallow eva.
| sive artitice, of Don Ouls himself the presf
dent Gt says) is we'll aware that the regu;siii0,,
demanded by him cannot he complied with on
the part OF Spain'-and adds that il this re.
| qa'sitton be an indispensable lem we have nc
hesitation IN saying that the Fioridas belong %
the United States Now, who supposes ihat IL
is an indispensable itemi 1t is not expressed a.
| condition 10 the REIMBURSEMENT of the Spanish
pests; but as one of those things which under
the treaty OF 80, We have right 10 require
Spain may comply with 1.-THE Seminole war
may terminate, and never more reVive-the
Congress OF the United Sia.aS nun he dispos.
ed 10 pass no law, or only contingent one,
| Tor occupying Florida. But. certainly the
posts will pass at cuce is,e tie hands Of the
SpanIards.-I The circumstance suggested j. no
condition Tor ala Immediate deiIv ery-but re.
qhiSIta0n as To future eventS--It Is no fault of
/ MIR. Monroe's that the Federal Republicancan.
| not distinguish" between hawk and hand
saww