Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-01

nsherieS, boundaries, &c.-We hail this
attempt with pleasure, because il denotes
wise disposition III our government 10
spare no effort TO remain at peace with
u. Britain. Ii breathes an dmicable spi-
rit, which Will conclllate The good wishes
OF DINER nations; but we can scarcely
Halter ourselves with any success from
Tins negotiation. The pride OF Britain
has been too much CALLED by the results
OF the recent war 10 permit, her TO yield in
appearance one of the material poinis
which provoked 1.-THE iInpressment of
our seanen we viii never submit 10, aud
she viii not Immediately abandon-but
every day adds 10 our strength and in a
very JeW years more, we shall be able TO
exact what her pride now refuses TO grant
We are advancing 10 our destiny with The
rapIdiiy OF an eagle: and while our pre-
tensions are unchanged, our power to AS
sert them will grow with our growth,
and strengthen with our strength.
The interesting question of Florida
conesnext into ,iew.-it would have been
desirable 10 have discussed this measure
IN all lis aspects with the documents be-
Tore us.-Bui as some time may @iapse
before they are put into our possession, we
must decide OH The lights before us !;
piedging ourselves 10 analyze those docu-
winch We now advance, IL tl.ev should
sin against the facts.-The President
Justly observes, that though we might
wall some time upon the Justice of Spain
ioran adjustment OF boundaries, er claims,
yet when selt-defence called upon us 10
act, there MAS a limit 10 this spirit of
amilN and iorbearanCe. The ouirages of
The SeminOles called upon US 10 take MP
arms-and We had a right to cross the
Florida lines IN pursuit of The retiring
Indians, whose settlements besides law
| indiscrImlnatrly within our onn, and the
Spanish territories. Gen. jackson was
accordingly authorized To pursue them
mic Florida, but moi TO encruach on the
rights oi Spain. In The execution of this
order, however, l,c found thai The Spanish
| authority had given sucl, aid and coun-
ienance 10 Tie indians, that he should IN
erect accomplish nothing, il lie did not
deprive them Of thc resource OH which
they had calculaied-he therefore oc-
cupied The two Spanish posts.-But
however justiiiallr this conduct OF The
commanding general was, ""yet, the ami
cable relations existing between The Uni
led States and Spain could not be alter
ed by That act alone. Bv ordering the
restitution OF the posts, those relax ions
were preserved. To IA change OF them,
Tie power of the Executive is deemed la
competent. Ii is vested in Congress a
lone. Is, therefore, 10 be re
delivered" Internationally 10 any perSon
duly authorized 10 receive IL; and ST.
Marks, winch Is III the heart OF III Indian
country, OH the arrival of competent
force To deiend II against those sayages
and their associates"
These are tie great facts in the case,
and they point 10 these conclusions:
LIST. Tia, our government did not or
der the Spanish posts To be taken; and
have ordered the most important of them,
the key 10 all West Florida, TO be uncon,
dltionally surrendered aud ST. Marks
also TO be given up, as soon as the Span
lards had dispatched a sufficient force 10
keep the Indians quiet, which they are
bound to do by the 5ll article of the
treaty like surrender Of Pensacola
speaks more for the honor and mayuani-
ty OF this nation than thousand proies
SONS. 1t has given All example of dislp-
tereStedness which the present race OF
kings is unable TO furnish. 1t paints in
The most attractive colors the simplicity OF
republics, and puts down all ilai misera-
bic cIamor, which the court satellites of
Europe had raised about our ambii,on.-
Ii has raised the character OF The United
States even higher than II was before,
and caused the praises of Europe TO be
laVislied on our government.
2t. That Gen. Jackson had taken up
OF himself 10 violate his orders by al at
tack on the Spanish posts-ior this viola.
ton, he ought 10. answer before a cour,
martial. Whenevera commanding officer
directly disobeys the orders which are
gwen to him, particularly whenever he
commits All act of war, and jeopardizes
The peace OF his country, however pure
his motives, or however unsuitable" his
conduct, he ought 10 answer for it, He
ought 10 show IN The most formal man
ner that his motives were thus pure, his
conduct thus jusiifable otherwise, HE
prace OF tie nation NAV be coElisuaiiy
exposed, upon this precedent by The
disobedlence of an officer, on The alleged
necessity IN which he was placed. We
suspect that no such imminent necessity
can be plead iii the present case and
that though Gen. ]. may have erred from
pure motives, lie did err in taking upon
himself 10 do an act of war, which Con
gress alone can cOnstitutionally authorize
BY a declaratioD.-The President, we
think, therefore, ought, if be did not wish
TO speak IN stronger terms Of Gen. is
conduct, TO have called him 10 a military
tribunal TO see whether his conduct was
really justitiable.
Sd. That The Spanish authorities have
violated the treaty-and, therefore, be
fore she can cOmplais of Gen. j. she
ought TO punish her own officers first
Let her do equity before she claims it
Agan-as the treaty may hereafter be
violated IN the same manner as il may
be violated at this moment as tie Semi
noles may not yet be thoroughly sub
dued, and our froatier may be exposed to
danger. without Spain BEING able OF Wi.