Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-18

RESTRAIN, even by force, tnose savageS, from
acts of hostility against the United States,
could not fail to excite surprise. The COM
handing general was convinced that he
should fail in his object, that he should in
effect, accomplish nothing, if he did not
deprive those savages of the resource on
which they had calculated. and Of the pro-
lection on which they had relied, in making
the war. As all the documents, relating to
this occurrence, WILDE laid before Congress,
il is not necessary to enter into further de-
tail respecting it.
Although The reasons which induced Ma
jor General Jackson to take these posts
were duly appreciated, there was, never
theless, no hesitation in deciding on the
course which il became the government TO
pursue. As there was reason to believe
that the commanders Of these posts had
violated their Instructions, there was no
disposition TO impute TO their government
conduct SO unprovoked and hostile An
order was in consequence issued to the ge-
neral in command there, TO deliver the
posts; Pensacola, Internationally to any
person duly authorised TO receive il; and
St. Marks, which is in the heart Of the In
dian country, on the arrival OF a competent
force to defend il against those savsges and
their associates.
In entering Florida to suppress this
combination. no idea was entertained Of
hostility 10 Spain, and, however justi6able
the commanding general was, in conse-
quence Of the misconduct of the Spanish
officers, in entering St. Marks and Fen
sacola, to terminate i, by proving to the
savages and their associates, that they
should not be protected, even there: yet
the amicable relations existing between
the United States and Spain could not be
altered by that act alone. by ordering
the restitution of the posts, those relations
were preserved. To a change of them,
the power of the Executive is deemed in
competent. 1t is vested in Congress
only.
BY this measure, so promptly taken,
due respect was shewn to the government
Of Spain. The misconduct of her officers
has not been imputed to her. She was
enabled to review with candor her rela:
tons with the United States, and her own
situation, particularly in respect to the
territory in question, with the dangers
inseparable from it; and, regarding the
losses we have sustained, for which in.
demnity has been so long withheld, and
tho injuries we have suffered through that
territory, and her means OF redress, she
was likewise enabled to take, with honor,
the course best calculated to do Justice to
the United States, and to promote her
own Welfare.
Copies of the Instructions to the conf
mandine. general d his correspondence
with the Secretary of War, explaining
his motives, and justilying his conduct,
with a copy Of the proceedings Of the
courts martial, in the trial of Arbulhnot
and Am.ristle ; and OF the correspon-
dence between the Secretary Of State and
the Minister Plenipotentiary Of Spain,
near this government; and Of the Minis
ter Plenipotehtiary of the United States
at Madrid, with the government Of Spain
will be laid before Congress.
The civil war, which has so long pre-
vailed between Spain and the provinces
in South America, still continues without
any prospect Of its speedy termination.
The information respecting the condition
OF those countries, which has been collect
ed by the commissioners, recently return!
ed from thence, will be laid before Con:
gtess, in copies oftheir reports, with such
other information as has been received
from other agents Of the United States.
ltappears from these communications,
that the government of Buenos Ayres
declared itself independent inJuIy 1916,
having previously exercised the lower Of
an independent government though in the
name ofthe King Of Spain, from the year
1910; that the Banda Oriental, Entire
Reos, and Paraguay, with the city of San
ia Fec, all of which are also independent,
are unconnected with the present govern
ment of Buenos Ayres; that Chill has
declared itself independent, and is closely
connected with Buenos Ayfes: that Vc-
nezuela has also declared itself indepen-
dent, and now maintains the conflict with
various success and that the remaining
parts of South America, except Monte
Video, and such other portions Of the
Eastern bank of the La Plata as are held
by Portugal, are still in the possession Of
Spain, OF in certain degree under her
influence.
BY circular note addressed by the
Ministers of Spain to the Allied Powers,
with whom they are respectively accre-
di:ed, it appears tina, the Allies have I'M
dertsken to mediate between Spain and
the South American provinces, and that
the manner and extent Of their inter2osi-
ton would be settled by Congress,
which was to have met at Aix-la-Cha-