Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-16

Cothpiy Win the treaty ~ icft J.rhst
assuring them that The ian.s :. .i.,
The Uni'ed Siaies by Them IN 1914. u,v
to be restored by virtue Of The ,r.aiy
peace with Great Britain s,n. Jacks,
ordered hmm To be tried by court niaQ
tiai, consisting OF 10 respectable oilice,I
with MAJ. gen. Gaines president. IL
ccurtwas directed 10 decide upon The IA,
oi als guilt or innocence: aud. If gnibI
Mhat punishment showld be inflicted
Upon satisfactory testimony, lie Was COL
victed oil lnciilng aud stirring up The hoI
ne Creeks to war against the United
Sia'es ana her citizens : and oil aiding.
peii'ng ana comforting the enemy, supph
my then wi'h'he means OF war, and
me court sentenced to be hung. RobeiM
Z. Ambrisier, late Lieutenant Of H.
british marine corps, and with the hos,iU
ihaians ana fasilive negroes, the success
sor OF WoodbiIIr, OF notorious men,or
Was taken near the mouth of Suwan,
river. II being well know n that he liza
been the leader and commander of n
hostile Indians and fugitive slaves. &c,
Jackson also directed him 10 be trsed L,I
The same court martial. Upon saiista,
tors evidence. he Was convicted ofhayiu
aided and comforted The enemy, suppl,I
ing them wiilfil,e means of war by yiyi,',
'iiem intelligence of the movements and
operations OF Tie army Of the u. States
and by sending the lndians and ncgror,|
10 meet and hght against Them; and n, !
on his Own confession, as well AS In.
clearesi evidence of having led aud con-,
nianded tile lower Greeks in carr, ing o,I
the war againsi the United States, VAS by|
Inc courf sentenced TO be shot. One I'D
INC members requesting a reconsideration
OF the sentence, IT Was agreed to (; ant.
on a revision, tue court sentenced him ,,I
receive % stripes on his bare back. and
be confined with a ball and chain TO hard
labor Tor l2 caleUdar months. General
Jacksona approved ihe sentence i'm the c asc
OF Arbu,lrnot; and, III the case of Am.
pfister, ne dlsapproved The reconsidera
lion, and confirmed the first sentence
hey we're both executed accordingly.
In relation TO these Transactions, cues
lions OF The first magnitude present them
serves. winch the committee have deemed
II their duty TO investigate. Was General
Jackson justifablr, after marching his
army across the line, INTO the territory of
Spain, III taking possession, by force Of
arms, OF the Spanish posts, ST. Marks ana
Pensacola Had he the right TO punish
Alexander Arbuthnot, aud Roberto. AM
brister?
From the facts sub mitted, it Is perfect
~ evident that the Spanish authorities in
FLORIDA did not retain that neutral cha
racier which was necessary 10 render It's
territory sacred; but, by their own acts
either OF hostility or imbecility, they made
That territory The seat of war. Indepen-
dent of The solemn obligations of treaty.
whereby Spain engaged 10 keep The Indi-
aus within her territory at peace with the
Oniied States, 10 principle is more firmly
established, by the laws of nations. than
ihis, That nation al war has the right 10
pursue the hostile army into the territory
oi neutral nation, and TO make that Ter
ritory lie seat of war, when either the
weakness or partiali,y OF the neutral ma
tion shall suffer the belligertnt army, re-
ueatiilg iHio ITS territory, there 10 rally,
collect strength, and provide supplies,
10 enable them to renew the conflict, and
especially when munitions of war Shall
be supplied, either by the citizens or au-
thorIties OF The neutral nation.
But, IN the consideration oftbis subject.
II should never be forgotten that Spain
was bound, by the solemn stipulations
OF treaty with the Uni,ed States, herself
to have fought these battles; or, if too
weak To have done so, at least to have
made common cause with The United
States against these lawless tribes of sava-
Ses. HE United States have never re-
cosnized The Indians, within her territorial
iiihits, as nations absolutely independent
behce IL mas ever been considered the du-
iy OF ihe Executive, when they have been
gully OF murders and depredations upon
our citizens, either in plundering parties,
Illn I..l.I
dian armies, to order against them the
milltary force OF the country, or call into
service the militia, as tie case may require.
10 check their barbarities, aud 10 punisl,
their crimes.
In accordance with this principle, the Exc
cntive has ever acted since the commencement
OF the present government. Repeated and
bloody depredations upon our southern from
,ier, IN which peaceful husbapdmen, defence
iess women, and innocent children were made
The victims OF savage ferOcity, not only render
eult necessary to put into operation the military
force of the nation but the sheIleIine OF the.
Indians beyond the limits OF the United States
gave occasion ior the orders to gen. Jackson,
TO pursue them beyond these limits If Spain
regards the Indians in the same light, il was a
duty no less incumbent upon her by the laws OF
nations, than by treaty, to have repressed theiv
la"lesS depTedations and, in her agents fail.
ing TO 40 SOFT, through neglect they made
parties in the war or If through
weakness, they forfeited the right of sovereign
~ IN that territory where tbey failed to main
tain it. Bnt if Spain regards the Indians as
communities absolutely independent, then the
territory, by right of occupancy, belonged to
the Indians, and not TO Spain, and the INVASION
was OF the enemy's territory Had the com.
maBdant OF the Spanish post at st. Marks done
his duty, in withholding from the enemy SNIP
plies, and in denying them a refuge within the
reach of his own fort, the necessity OF inter.
ruptiDg his garrison would not have existed
nor is itpresumed that any attempt would have
been made by Gen. Jackson TO possess himself
OF that post. Aud il is also presumed that his
orders to respect the Spanish posts were predi.
Gated upon this supposed state of things. Bnt.
as the object OF the entrance into Florida, was
the reduction Ofthe Indian force-te bring the