Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-11-24

tised various frauds on our revenue, and
committed every kind of outrage on our
peaceable citizens, which their proximity
to us enabled them TO perpetrate. The in-
vasion OF Amelia Island last year, by
small band Of Adventures, not exceeding
one hundred ard fifty in number, who
wrested il from the inconsiderabie Spanish
force stationed there, and held it several
months, during which, single feeble eff
fort only was made TO recover it, which
failed, clearly proves how completely ex-
tinct the Spanish authority had become, as
the conduct of those adventurers. while in
possession of the island, as distinctly shews
the pernicious purposes for which their
combination had been formed.
This country had, in fact, become the
theatre of every species Of lawless adven-
lure. With little population OF its own,
the Spanish authority almost extinct, and
the colonial governments 10 state of rev.
olution, having no pretension to ii, aud
sufficiently employed in their own con-
Germs, it was, in great measure, derelict,
and The object of cupidity, TO every adyen-
turer. A system Of buccaneering was
rapidly organizing over it, which menaced,
in its consequences, the lawful commerce
of every nation, and particularly Of the
United States; while it presented temp
tation to every people, on whose seduction
its success pripeipally depended. Infe
gard to the United States, the pernicious
effect of this unlawful combination was
not confined to the ocean; the Indian
tribes have constituted the effective force
| in Florida. With these tribes these adj
ventarers had formed, at an early period,
connection, with a view to avail them
selves of that force to promote their own
projects Of accumulation and aggrandize-
ment 1t is TO the interference Of some of
these adgenturers, la misrepresenting the
! claims and titles of the Indians to land,
and in practising on their savage propen-
sites, that the Seminole war is principally
TO be traced. Men who thus connect them
selves with savage communities, and
stimulate them TO war, which is always at
tended on their part with acts OF barbarity
The most shocking, deserve to be viewed
10 worse light than the savages. They
would certainly have no claim to an inl-
munity from the punishment, which, ac-
cording to the rules Of warfare practised
by the savages, might justly be inflicted on
the savages themselves.
If the embarrassmeDts of Spain prevent
ed her from making an indemnity TO our
citizens, for SO long time, from her trea-
sury, for their losses by spoliaiion, and
otherwise, it was always in her power to
have provided ii, by the cession of this
territory. 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 it. she
would, in effect, cede what had become Of
little value to her, and would likewise re-
lieve herself from the important obliga-
ton secured by the treaty of 1875, and ali
other compartments respecting it. If
the United States, from consideration of
these embarrassments, declined pressing
their claims TO a spirit Of hostility, the
motive ought, at least, to have been duly
appreciated by the government of Spain.
1t is we'll known to her government, that
other powers have made to the U. States
an indemnity for like losses, sustained by
their citizens at the same epoch.
There is, nevertheless, limit, beyond
which, this spirit Of amity and forbearance
can, in no instance, be justified. ii was
proper to rely on amicable, negotiations
for an indemnity for losses, it would not
have been SO, to have permitted the ina-
bility of Spain TO fulfil her engagements,
and to sustain her authority in the Floridas,
to be perverted by foreign adventures
aud savages, to purposes SO destructive to
the lives Of our fellow citizens, and the
highest interests of the u. States. The
right of selfdelence never ceases. 1t is
among the most sacred, and alike necessa-
ry to nations and individuals. And wheth-
er the attack be made by Spain herself, or
by those who abuse her power, its obliga-
ton is not the less strong. The invaders
of Amelia 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 permitted TO protect them. 1t was
thought incumbent on the United States,
TO suppress the establishment, and it was
accordingly done. The combination in
Florida, for the unlawful purposes stated,
the acts perpetrated by that combination,
and above all, the Indictment Of the Indians,
to massacre our felIow.citizens, OF every
ace. and Of both sexes, merited like
treatment and received 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
a H. tl,o xro