Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-19

one may lind who will take the trouble to looi
them out Bat in the opinion of AlgernoI
Sidney. il was indispensable that cur govern
mcnt, before it carried its operations stey
beyond the Florida line, in pursuit Of the sava
ges and their accomplices, who had retreates
from the cruel and bloody scenes of thei
depredations and murders, shoHld have linger
ed on its border, until the dilatory Court OF
would do-whether she intended, or was, In
fact, able TO comply with her solemn engage
mentS. Her agents acknowledged frequently
her Inability to perform them. Yet the dut,
wasimperative onSpain, or the pacific relations
between the two countries became instanti,
so tar suspended. Can il be imagined By the
weakest understanding, that the United State,
would have consented 10 hold the territory oil
Florida sacred and invioable, without having
provided for the safety of her frontier citizens
from the inhumaH attacks of the indians inba
biting there? The duty Of the government to
Protsctits citizens, is Que which il has no right
or powerto dispense with. Thisis necessary
partof the contract between the governors and
governed from whence all the OF the lat Ell
TO the former take their rise. And surely the
frontier citizens are equally entitled to safety
and protection az the rest. Let us consider
bow the stipulation to RESTRAIN the Indians
came TO pass. Both nations we're aware that
unless this agreement was entered into, and
faithfully executed they would often have no
otber alternative than mutual violations of
territory, or tame submission to all the depre-
datohs and barbar,ties of savage ipcursions.
IL was then to avoid this necessity OF overleap
Ing the boundaries, which separated the two
countries every occasion of IBdian hostility
that produced the agreement mutually 10 re
pres. aud control their wages Ifthe
condition beiIfringed g. neglected on one side,
does the corresponding obligation remain firm
and mistaken Spain was aware of her duty
she had entered Into the obligation with all
due form aud solemnity. aud indeed so far as
u is favorable to herself. seems very tenacious
q N ESDr T. I,1. L..
force in Florida adequate to the faithful per.
Torrance of ter obligations, seeing too with
what exactitude she demands the fuifilmeut OF
those OF the United Statesl The pretensiOns OF
Aigernon Sidney and of Spain, are in my hum
bic estimation. equally unjust, MOTTO say pre-
sumptnous. The United States, forsooth, must
observe the provisions of the treaty with the
most Punctilions fidelity. But as forApain, she
may give her stipulations Ito the winds, and
Tue Uuied States are 10 take il out in applica.
tions for redress. Spain by emitting to keep
her Indians in peace with the United States,
lost all claim TO the obsei vance OF her terrific
rial rights in Florida. Not only her Indians
but her officers who should have been the
watchtul guardians of the United States from
tier, we're coujOintly engaged with foreign
iucendiaries, IL committing barbarites against
our borders at which human nature biushe S
Tor its degradation. Who woui,lnot have revil-
ed The pusiliaDimity of the United States il
they had patiently submitted TO all these
wrongs, for the purpose OF observing treaty
which had been scandaously and VIGOROUSLY
disregarded by the corresponding party? Sir,
should have been indignant al this policy,
purssed AT moment when eur frontier citi gems
were weitering in Indian carnage, or living i'm
daily and nightly expectation of its horrors
TAX OF the blood Of Arbutlmotamd Ambrister
and Is American blood worth nothing that il
| may he shed with the impunity that Algernon
Sidney asks for the perpetrators For consi
der every thing short OF capital punishment
virtual IMMUNITY, when applied 10 atrocities OF
such d character. Algernon Sidney NAV
sympathise in the cause of humanity and so
will bat an not ashamed to confess that nv
heart beats stronger IN behalf of my country
and couulrymen. And what would have been
the result of ap application to Spain What
her speed IN answering the just demands of the
United States! 10 these questions we may
extract an answer, from the course of her
protraeted negotiation with us by the tedious
ness of which think our executive must be
nearly worn threadbare patience. 1t alone
mas anorded the most honorable and unequivo.
cal proof of the peaceaEie policy of the United
States. Again, il may well be doubtedi Spain
possess fiie ability 10 comply with her stipu.
iations OF restraining Indian hostiities. The
distracted coDdition of her affairs in South
America demands all her scamty means AID
feeble exertfons. Ii may also well admit of a
DOUBT whether Spain he DESTROYS of obseryi z
her treaty with ms. Her weakness prcmpfs
her TO preserve the name of peace with the
URited states ~ order to bind them and give
4
idea Of being compelled To cede Florida
raDEies at her heart. Her avarice is proverbiaI.
size no doubt.pi III secret, at the apprehpD.
siUn OF losing at the same time portion of he r
much loved metals, Ofwhich she thinks perad,
venture there may be some undiscovered mines
in Florida. AlgeTnon Sidney pretends to com.
pare the present case with retention of tue
western ports, spOliatious on commerce, sc.
Bnt who does not see the giarng difference
between those and the present case They
were SImDlN al
injuries opposed TO our citizens at sea Ii was
wen 10 await the event of negotiation in such
cases, wherein can discern no attack upon
me lives or our fellow citizens, their homes and
FAMILIES. How unlike are these cases Can
the pref diceS OF AIgernou Sidney so complete
~ blind him that lie can see no disparity in
themf Ii they can, why argument IS unneces-
sary and he must be abaedOned 10 the enjoy.
meht OF his Opinions, as unreciaimabi BILE
"isSenter JUDEX, JUDICIS.
N.B. Propose in future address, az can
ind leisu,e) TO examine If our transactions I'M
tlorida amount 10 waging of war against
SPAN. II this be proved in the negative, (as
believe il may Notwithstanding the ditIiculty
OF proving negatives, then all the noise about
Inc usurpation of the General and of the
Executive or Legislative powers all the cla-
iaour about the violation of the constitution,
may be given TO the winds" j also propose
10 make AN impartial examination of rbutI.
not and Ambristers cases upon the founda
lions OF the law of uatioRs, by which however,
they were no more entitled to be tried, than
F." Hemattlemico." C ].
Bank Credit.-li gives us pleasure TO
state on unquesionable authority, that
the Mechanics Bank ofAlexandria, " lIicb
Tor few days did not redeem its paper.
has resumedits payments, and is perfectly
restored 10 credit. Communicated.
80, Ertrnct Of letter from VGd,ington
lhe Report Of the Military Committee on
the cases IT ArbutbDst aud Amb,ister. is from
the pen of L. nj. Nelson, Esq aud will remain
"a perpetual evidence OF his iirmness and deci.
sion OF character. While the Splendor of Gen.
gacksons reDown shall continue, posterity,