Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-28


Grafton, has tendency to sap the fair |
fabric OF this sacred instrument, estab- |
lished at the expense of SO much blood |
and treasure. Against the nsmpation of
snch po'cer, by any individual, feel il !
my duty to raise both my hand and my
voice. No man can more highly appreci-
ate the distinguished services of General
Jackson than do. So far as those SER
wees have been virtuous and legal, have
joined my countrymen III crying well
done, good and faithful servant :" and in
besiowing upon him my plaudils and
warmest thanks. For such services am
still wiling 10 JOIN in crowding laurels
upon lis head, until il bends under the
weight of them. But, if they are to he
acquired by his trampling upon the con-
stiiuiion, and the best interests Of this
country, then shall wish to see each leaf
of these lam,els fade, and fall in ruin 10
the ground. Nay, the very brow which,
they enciIcle sink
TO The rite dilst from nhcnce hsrrung,
Unwept, HnhOn0red, and .insnns,"
Sir, upon the preservation of this insiru-
ment Ill lis purity, depends the freedom
and the happiness Of not only ii,e present
generation, bur, as would fopdl, be
iteve, Oh myriads Oi orr poslerity, yet un-
born
Bui to thepoint. That part of the con
stituiion which believe To have been
violated by the capture of the Spanish
| posts, Is The one yesting in Congress soicIy
the power of declaring war. Is il neces-
sary 10 enter upon course of reasoning
| to prove the policy of vesting this poweri in
congress, or III other words i'll the people?
| would fondly hope that there is no man
| upon tins floor, who wishes 10 see ii
| changed; aud feel that should be do
| ing them an injustice did even suspect
them of such wish. So clear, SO self
evident, is The policy of plating il where
the constitution has lett il, That, if
am nor mistaken, The immortal authors
OF The letters of Pub!ius, would moi con-
descend 10 consume one moment of time,
or waste one solitary argument in the
proof OF II. But suclla discussion is now
too late. Ii would be fruiiless--ihe point
Is settled IL as vested i'll Congr, ssh
tie people; and The true question is, will
you preserve il 10 them Hvioaiel Sir, so
long as II Is preserved TO the people we
nave The hest security against the aUIbi-
Ton OF indivlduais--we need fear 10 ty-
rants. III 1t Is once lost, ruin is The con-
sequence.
And permit me here To observe, that
from no portion of the people have we so
| much cause TO fear the loss OF this great
prerogative of peace and war, as from the
military. Ii il should ever be usurped,
depend upon it il will be by military
man: Ii is natural 10 the public mind 10
admire warlike deeds. In the spIendor
OF military achievements, our eyes are
blinded, and our reason is obscurcd. We
become so infatuated with the man hat
we lose sight of principle, and We are Of
fering him our toOySldp, before we are
aware that we have made him God. Sir.
| much fear that this spirit of adulatiun
has already pervaded the minds of the
| people OF this country TO "a most injurious
| extent.
But 10 the proof of violation of The
constitution. This question might at
| once be put to rest, by shelving that
war has been commenced and prosecuted
10 conclusion, and calling upon those
| who conducted il for their authority in
doing so. Sir, 10 such authority can be
found in your statute book. Will ii be
denied that war has been prosecuted a
| gaInsf the Spanish authorities in Florida?
What is war; but The exercise "of force,
| OF violence between nations, in the pro-
secution of their rights whether real or
| Imaginary Such, gentlemen will find 10
be lis definition, whether their own reason
or the best writers upon this subject be
| consulted. Such il is defined TO be in the
work which hold III my hand (Vattel)
That the Spanish posts were captured by
the exercise of tins force by the army Of
the UEIted States, is most evident, from
the communications of General Jackson
with the war department.. In his letter
of 5ih May, 1918, speaking Of the capture
OF st. Marks, he says, lie entered il by
violence" In his letter of 2d June fol
lowing, detailing his operations against
Pensacola, he SAYS, he demaIdedthe sur
render Of that place, and entered il only
with a show of resistance" Barancas he
regularly invested mounted batteries
against IL -" commenced offensive ope-
raiions ;" forced the Spanish garrison 10
capitulale," and granted them " more
favorable terms than a conquered enemy
would have merited." Here, then, is fur
uished most abundant evidence of thai
very circumstance, of force, necessary TO
constitute uar. OF the capture Of The
Spanish posts by war, then, there is no
doubt. But this is not all. Ii was an Of
fenSice war. To give il Tie character of "a
defensive war, II must appear that cur
country had been invaded, or was in i'm
minent danger of invasion by the Spanish
forces in East Florida, or elsewhere. Or
II this was not the case, il ought, az least
10 lie made 10 appear, that our army
which had been marched into East Florj-
da, in pursuit of our Indian enemy. had
been attacked bv the Spanlards or thai
they had ariayed themselves against MS
Tor the purpose OF preventing that pursuit
of our enemy. None of these eases an.
pear TO have happened. Tie Spanish
authorities spoke tie language of peace
The minister OF Spain Was here. We
had minister at Madrid; peace prevail
ed between the Two nations, aud negocia