Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-02

nIttircu OF Tue same pTlNClptt. we nave
been so unfortunate as 10 differ from them.
but we can do them insiice. We have
found in them, generally, friends. warm,
frank. and obliging: some of them have
paid VS. compliments, which We do not
deserve and particularly our repuhlican
friends. the Editors Of tIlr Boston Patriot.
the Natiora, Advocat" OF N-w York,
and the Philadelphia Franklin Gazette,
in whose kindness on this occasion we
recognize the marks Of liberal and
honorable spirit. Our vanity almost
prompfs us to repuhlish what they have
said about us.-Bnt one or two ether re-
publican papers. have been so kind as to i'm
pngh our n,otires, or alarm us by a picture
of ihr consequences il may lrave ON oar par
~. We shall notice these in The sequel.
As 10 the federal prints. we have no reason
10 complain Of the terms in which they
have expressed themselves. They have
acted as we expected. They have dress
ed ns with praisesto give more consequence
to Tie crpsure uttered in this paper a
painst Jackson. But we know them well.
ITmeo Dnnoos ct dona ferenfes.
From the first moment Of the capture Of
Pensacola. and 81. Marks, down to the
pres NJ hour. the Enquirer has taken the
same grounds in relation fo these posts,
AMI Ia Gen. Jackson. This paper stood
almost al,nr--ti indeed, encountered
'fearfnl Odds" hut II did its duty most
cheerfullv. While most OF its republican
bretl,rcn were justiiying The capture Of
the Spanish posts: while GO many were
sayinc "lnt us keen Florida, as we have
got IT: LET us mt throw away, what our
arms have won for TIC let us keen il as some
f<x-
crivcd from Srain"--crc the course Of
our administration was announced: and
every body was looking to Washing
ton for The reformation. we then maintain
ed The princinlcs which have guided us 10
this hour. We then contended that The
United States ought 10 su~-endpr he
Spanish pos's that it was dishonorable
10 keep them in This way: that Jackson
had taken them, NOT only without. hut con
trarv TO orders: thathe ha seized them in
the verv face Of the constitution, which
gives the rower 10 do an act Of war 10 the
representatives Of the people alone: and
that the illustrious man who presides at
the head If affairs would be The last 10
conntcnance an act Of this description.
We took orr ground in the, No. Of The
30fli June. and maintained il bv various
remarks from time 10 time, until we pub
iished the first communication offered TO
us on that subject, under The signature
OF Girls. and written nv a man whom we
then said, and still say, vas worthy 10
he heard" CYris asks what we were -
do to wine ont this stain upon our pa
fional characier!" He saw emo other al.
Tentative than restitution and rcpara.ion !:
the re delivery Of the province 70 Spain,
and the arrest and cashiering Of tho eff
cor who has done the wroug"-We a.
greed with Ciwis. that Pensacola ought
TO be Immediately restored to the Spanish,
authorities" We said, that " the acts Of
tIie commanding officer, so deeplv inter
estipg to the honor and peace of This ma
ton ought not 10 be Dassed over" We
said so on the AL, July, and me ~ 80
stiR.
On tho 2Sih of the same month, we
placed our views (ihc same which we now
cnieriain,) fully before the publc. We
asserted the right OF the Executive 10
make war upon the Seminoles-we as
serted their right TO pursue them into
Florida-but had the slightest doubts
chung 10 us upon This subject, they
would all WELD TO flIe unanswerablc state
ment Of The Secretary of State, in his too
celebrated letter to Mr.. Erving.-On the
next point, viz " Had Gen. Jackson a
right to pursue them into Spanish fart !,
had he a right to storm it," We coniendcd,
aud still contend. that in doing so, he
has violated the orders he had received !:
that ga be'ligrrent is not justified (bni
from necessity in attacking neutral
while the neutral character is admitted,
and no war is declared :" that this ncu-
tralify must not be slight one, but in
fba tnpr ~ l. \
an e1treme necessity ;" as Barbevrac
calls If, great necessity" which can
authorize u belligerent TO make himself
master Of place situated in neural
country - or as the Edinbnrg Reuisp. in
its article in 1909 OF The Copenhagen erpe
dition charaateriZes il, as growing ont of
" "A danger so vast and imminentas as TO ius-
tify tIiegrossest violation Of general prin-
cIp!es." We attempted 10 show from the
lights then before lis, that no snch neces-
sity did exist, in the case of the Spanish
posts. as would Justify an act without
IL declaration of war by the constitution
al authority" in the very teeth loo Of
his orders; that Congress alone had a
right 10 declare war aud that in the very
situation in which Jacks was placed,
Tue President had no right 10 do an act
OF war; That NO such necessity did exist
as TO dispense with the general principle !;
Tor thai II was even better 10 wait, " sur
round Pensacola with Gordon Of troops.
and keep the Indians in ave, until Con-
gress could meet TO auihorise its occupa-
lion. We conieuded, that even il Span had
violated The 9th article Of her treaty, land
we did moi contest the poinD il was not
for military officer, bnt for the repre-
sentsilves ofthr people TO Judge. and 10
decide accordiDgly:-i fine. that the Pre-
sident Uoutd give up The posts.
We shall never forget the Joy which
thrilled through us when we heard that
he had actually done so. We gave vent