Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-17
POLITICAL.
OCCUPATIONS OF THE FLOR{D

-
States, are from Bells London ~ csssneer OF
May 8, received At the office of the Boston
Patriot
Severa. foreign vessels lave arrived mp
10 very late date, and II appears from
their concurrent testimony, that sorie-
thing OF al inportan, nature is eXpectedto
he impending from America. The talents
of MIR. Monroe, as we'll us his discreet mo-
deratloi,. are well known; but he is noiori-
ously one oil!lc men ofihe Franklmschool,
who pursue important objects with The
coOlueSS, de'lberatiou, and patient eXpcc-
| ancy ol mcuoi business, instead of The
ardour and ambition of Kings and Gen
erals. Europe has been so mach accus-
tomed 10 he military spirit, as to have
OecOmc rather ineN parieuCed IN d spirit
Of more ci.criuai knd--ihc poliic..!
spirii-ihr slow bun sure system of po-
| iticai management 10 obtain a secret end.
This end, as regards America, is The
possession OF the country between her
present frontier anu the shore OF the Gulf
OF Mexico, or, in other words, Che FlCrl-
das. But aposiiive obligation o! public
law opposes these pretcnsions, and would
render any direct violence an outrage a.
gainst the civilized world. Here, tIore-
fore, is the difficulty. Upon the one part.
MIR. Monroe desires The object; upon lie
| other, he is unwilling to incur thereproach
OF the attempt. In order Ia cOnci!iate
| these opposite principles, America has
| been long IN negotiation with the Spanish
| government, III order 10 procure Tie a.
rect cessIon. " You owe uSso much mo-
| ney, say the American negocialorS. Tor
| injuries upon our trace, Iiat we feel il
| incumbent Upon our natlonsI honor 10
| demand satisfaction. Either pay Us The
| money, or ccdc the F!orldas asan cqulva-
| lent" To these proposals Spain replies
| IN The language OF sovernmnnt which,
! conscious OF lis own weakness, seeks lis
| ends in cunning rather ihan IN lis direct
| power: Ii neither consents nor refuses
| Ii employs every effort 10 keep the neSo-
clalicu III suspense, That IL may thus con
| troll The American government from assist
| ing its revolied subjects. Blu; that Ihis
management should have any effect, il is
necessary ihai il Should be secret--ihai j,
| should not be known by Inc party against
| WHOM il is directed. But so far Is tins
| from beng he circumstance, that in the
recent annual Eap0Se of the American
| goVeTnment, HE President, With 4 bold
candor and admirable dexieriiy, has both
| declared. ms political intrigue OF Spain,
! and defended the American executive Tor
| the patient endurance OF ii. We sui
ficicriiy understand" says MIR. Monroe,
6 lhc policy Of Spain IN pvotracliug The
negotiation respecting lhe FIoridas; but
IS her 0biec; IN thls policy does n0t COZ
trade. ours, we suffer herto continue liis
! system. Another state OF things may de-
mand another policy"
This season, indeed, now seems 10 have
! arrived; as by the last Charleston papers,
II appears that the American government
| have issued an ORDER for deiachmein 10
march and fake possession Ui the il0r-
das. This is the first step, which Ia the
usua! language Of such proceedings, viii
be mOdesily termed d" d provisional oc-
| cupation," for the purpose OF preventing
any mischief 10 American property from
the proximity Of the parties engaged in
| civil war and Tie Floridas once thus pre-
giOuiy occupied, will soon he permanent
| ly alicna'ed. Such occupation, indeed, is
equivalent TO an actual seizure, and always
terminates init
1t remains 10 be seen, how Ferdinand
the Seventh will endure this proceeding.
| His wisest course will certainly he that
OF patience. Our own opinion is, Thai
the loss of Spanish America would be The
redintegratiOm of Old Spain In speak
ing and thinking of tlis kingdom, we al
ways separate the people from their So
| vereigu. A more noble people does not
! exist III The civilized world. And where,
lei It's ask, can the civilized world produce
two Sovereigns which can mattel! the two
branches of the Spanish famly-that Of
Naples. and that of Madrid?
| Ii appears that tie South American
Congress are exercising all the functions
OF legislative assembly, and are con
! ductlng themselves with more moderation
than could have been expected from ihe
irritation OF the popular mind under civil
! war. Perhaps America will come into The
field III due time TO complete tlIe revolu-
ton INTO regular independent govern
meni. 1t is matter of establishment to
lis, indeed, how MIR. Monroe, with all his
acknowledged ability, has been enabled
10 restrain The popular mind in America,
and TO induce tie people TO await the
slow progress of their executive. But
the policy Of Mr.. Monroe, is, perhaps,
better known IN America than even here
and as the people understand that his
wishes and their own are concurrent,
aud that he is only waiting The suitable
occasion, they are wise enough TO leave
to him the Judgment upon this occasion.
NASSAU, n. p. June 27.-Bv an arri-
val from tie Caicos, intelligence is
brought OF numerous cruizers under Au-
| RVS commission being in Ire passage
aud reports are circulated that they were
threatening retaliation for the late ser
zure of Africans at Heneaguc that they
openly avow their hostile intentions to-
wards the seizor and those who we're con-
ccrned III The removal Of The negroes
and go, indeed, so far as 10 menace the
settlements on the Islands.
The circular from the Treasury Depart
meDt of the United States, will be found
explanatory Of The late Act Of Congress