Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-12

OF briug oppressed. This maxim is in
c"nirstible, but the application Of il 10
practice is very delicate. A sovereign,
who wuuld moi be considered as the
disiurber OF the public rrpose, will no,
lac induced abruptly To attack him who
bas mol refused pacific measures, If he
* moi able to justify 10 the whole wnrli,
''iat he has r-ason 10 consider these
appearances OF peace, as an ar,ifice
lendine 10 aniuse and surprise him.
10 pretcnd 10 be authorised by his
mere suspicious alone, is 10 shake all
the foundations of the safety Of sa-
TONS That our case falls not within
either al these exceptions, there is no
need OF argument TO prove. am spared
that labor. Our government has offered
10 restore 10 Spain the possessions con-
quered from her. by General jackson
though whether the offer be Of any avail
or not, without his concurrence, NAV
well admit Of doubt; since his conduc,
is approved and justified throughout;
and, consequently, his power OF waging
war against Spain, and Of c6ngueriDg her
domiDlons, rs in ef1ect allowed. Now, in
general, he In whom the power of making
war resides, is alone competent TO adjust
the basis OF accommodation, whether The
uti possidefis or status quo ante belllta. The
constitution of the United States is ano
malous In that respect. To return: the
restoration of her possessions TO Spain,
amounts TO distinct admission nv our
government, that The wrongs committed
against us by her, constituted no such
privatlon or invasion of our essential
rights, and afforded no such reason TO
aipprehend danger TO our safety from the
delays incident 10 negotiation, as to JUS
my, according to the principles of the
law OF nations, an abrupt and unceremo-
NOUS recourse to arms. This alone were
conclusive. But more; at the very mo-
ment of General Jackson's Eruption into
Florida, and of his fcrcible seizure of
Pensacola and It's dependencies, Il neg0-
iiatlon was actually pending between The
United States and Spain, tie objects OF
winch were compensation for all the,in-
Jnries we complain of at her hands, and
the cession of both the Floridas.
III the doctrines quoted from vattel,
were lees unequlvoeal and authoritative
than they are, should still find ample
support for the opinions entertain, in the
invariable practice of our own govern
ment, through series of years, under ev-
cry administration, IN variety of cases,
and those of inconparably greater ur-
sency and importance than that in which
Gen. Jackson saw no remedy but instant
war. Examples rise III quick succession
10 condemn his rash mot to say mad) re-
course 10 arms, and 10 coufound his de-
tenders. The retention of the western
posts by Great Britain, in violation oft
treaty OF peace The spoliaiions, 10 the
amount of millions, committed by France
upon our commerce, before and during
your fathers administration the denial
by Spain OF our right of deposit at New
Orleans, contrary TO her solemn engage
meDts: theaitack upon the Chesapeake,
than which more shameful abuse ofth
hospitality, and violent outrage,upon the
sovereignty of the nation, can hardly be
imagined; the impressment of our sea-
men, toy British crtizers, Oh the high seas,
In spite OF their projections, persisted in
for years; the sacrifice of neutral rights
to belilgerent interests, which was the a.
vowed purpose and certain effect OF the
French Berlin and Milan DEGREES, and the
British ordersin council: ailthese wrongs
were The subject OF long and patient ne
go!laiion. Nor did the nation resort TO
arms except in one single case; and then
not till every effort of negotiation, every
mIlder met5od ofredress and contraven-
lion, had, III the opinion of the govern
meut, been tried I'm vain and exhausted.
know, that the history of military gov
ernmenis furnishes cases enough of a con
trary complexion; and five initiate their
example, we saall Us Justly deserve, aswe
shall surely lncGr, the.sane punishment
which Providence has visited on their fol-
~ and madness.
But, to my utter asiOnIshment, YOU in
timaie an opinion, that the proceedings
ofGen. Jackson in Florida, ought MOI 10
be regarded as measures of hostility "a
~ Q 4
that power, and the imbecility of her 90
vernment, she would resent such AN in
situation as an insult more unpardonarle
than The injury. Neither Gen. Jackson's
acts are. equivocsl, nor are his motives
and designs left TO conjecture. As TO ST.
Marks, II the facts were as You state land
| may not contradict Your facts.) that
as lie approached that place, he was
" Informed, direct from the Governor of
" Pensacola, that a party of hostile In
= diaDs had threatened TO seize the Fort,
" aud that he apprehended the Spanish
garrison there was not IN sufficient
=" strength TO defend it against them ;"
! will not deny that he was warranted by
The law of nations (supposing the orders
OF his own government imposed no re-
stralnt upon lIim) "in anticipating his
enemy, by the amieabie, and that being
" refused, by The forcible occupation of
" The fort" But, for his operations
against Pensacola, no suchexcuse Is pre-
tended. They amounted 10 open war, in
form, III fact and in consequence. Iwant
70 evidence but his own. In his letter To
The Spanish Governor, of the 9th April,
1919, he details The facts, which, III his
judgment, proved the uHjusi conduct or
ilie Spanish agents in Florida, and con
ola lps MI
" Their conduct" he says, " can no lon
~ nnr I've tnlnrafed and alllnn.ll q 20