Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-17
PENSACOLA

have been unsucccSs 'ui. We learn that
there are many complaints on the part of
the Spanish garrison and subjects, hat
the articles oi capiiulat,on haNe moi been
strictly observed on the part OF the Amc-
ricaDs. We would with great reluctance
give credence 10 report of this nature
IL is an old observation and Il true one,
that the unfortunate will always com
plain. We have for long time held the
opinion that no positive orders for The Ia
king of Pensacola issued from the war
department-we are confirmed i'm that o.
plulon from The pcrsual of Geu. Jacksons
order dated at Barancas, Nav 2oih"
in which he says, but how great was
the disappointment, when he heard Of
the recent murders committed on the A
iahama, by party of the enemy from
Pensacola, where they were furnished
with provisions and ammunition by "a
friendly power"
Pensacola, it we are correctly inform
ed, presents an extraordinary political
aspect. Spanish law prevails as to every
thing except the CustOmhOuse and reve-
nue. laws, and as 10 those the laws of the
United States are in force. We have
heard that both Spanish and American
property has been seized in The Port of
Pensacola and seat to the u. =. for adju-
dIcatIon.
Believing, as we do, that taking pos
session, Is an act unauthorized by our go
vernment, no provision having been made
for an event OF The kind, innnmerabIe e.
wills will unavoidably result much l,tiga
ton Will ensue, which cannot be ended
but by the general government passing
an act making every thing Illegal that
has been transacted, but what is not in
pursuance OF Spanish law. We always
have been and are still Of opinion, thai
the Floridas ought TO belong TO the Uni
led States, and we hope that the United
Slales government will not hastily reiin-
quish what they now hold.
WAsHINGToN, july I4.-The last ac-
counts we have from PENSACOLA, are by
way of Mobile, under date 9th 10Th
ulhmo. We are sorry to find il stated, in
the Mobile Gazette, as repor, entitled
10 some degree Of credit, thai b" there are
many complaints on the part of The Spa
Dish garrison and subjects in Pensacola,
that the articles of capituaiion have not
been strictly observed on the part of HE
Americans"
This complaint may have arisen from
general feeling on the part OF the Spanish
inhabitants, without any particular fOun-
dalion in fact or from HE difficulty " hicl,
may occur from our officers not accurate
ly discriminating between positive con
quest of the soil and sovereignty, and IA
temporary occupation Of il, supposed TO
be made necessary TO the safely of our
frontier, by the indisposition or inabiIi-
ty of the Spanish authorities to cause good
iaitl. 10 the United States TO be observed
therein.
The same paper informs us. that Pen
sacola, if the information ofihe Editor of
The Gazette be correct, presents an ex-
iraordinary political aspect; that Span
sh law prevails rs 10 every thing except
the Custom House and Revenue Laws,
and as 10 those the laws of the United
States are III force and that both Span
iSlI and American property had been
seized in The port OF Pensacola and sent
TO the United States for adjudication" II
is easy 10 toresee that this state of things
will give sufficient employment TO our
courts in that quarter aud that, although
Pensacola has been occupied by The mil
iiary authority, nothing short of an act
Of Congress can reconcile the existing
incongrulIies III The administration of law
IN that territory
With respect to the occupation of that
post, we are yet without any other in
formation than that afforded by the two
General Orders Of the General commau-
ding the southern Division, already pub
lished. The dispatches received the
other day by express, and which were
reported to contain an ample justification
OF Gen. J acksOu's conduct, the Public
have not yet seen. IL is presumed they
will be made public when the Executive
shall lave acted OF them.
The conduct Of The Executive and Of
General Jackson in The occupation of PEN
sacola, had been arraigncd by writers in
The Georgia Journal, and one or two other
respectable papers, not TO notice the
grimaces OF some habiiual snarlers di-
rected against the former exclusively.
The Executive iG blamed for what is
termed ans indirect war on Spain, if The
measure should have been authorized {:
and General Jackson is censured, ifwilh-
out such authority, ii shall appear that he
has assumed the responsibility of this
act. These are points, III attempting to
investigate either OF which we find our
selves siOpi, az HmiHe, by The question,
what were the Instructions Of Gen. Jack
son When that fact is asccrlaIncd, we
shall not be so entirely at sea as al pres
emf wc shall have some landmark TO
guide us in the pursuit OF correct con-
clusion, which We now seek in vain.
What are 90 be the consequences of This
step, though they may he surmised can
not be predicted; but we shall rot err
greatly in wing, that much will depend
OIL the course which tie Executive shall
now pursue. That course, it is easy TO
conceive, may be encumbcred by such
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