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

' to a complete cessi0n 10 he n. Strides o,
" that portion Of tie Fioridas hitherto nude,
" TIE government of Don Jose AfaSot, :" the
Spanish governor of Pensacola; aud that
he had organized Il provisional govern
AIenf (; resc,nded the Spanish CONNER
cial code |; established The revenue laws
of the u. States, and appointed a collect
or. With respect 10 Spain, this was moi
only war, but conquest With respect to
the u. States, II was something more ii
was tile exercise of powers oflegislaiion.
belonging exclusively to Congress, and oil
the power appointment, coniided 10 the
President and Senate.
have only two more observations to add
on this part Of the subject. The frs, is,
that while agree the Floritlas would be ii
valuable acquisition to the u. States. and
one which II is wise and right in us 70 IN
sist on, | should think them dearly pur-
chased at The expence OF our own charac-
ter Tor moderation and justice, much
more at The expence OF the constitutions.
The other Is, that discarding all respect
Tor The laws oinations, all concern for the
rights of Spain, sound policy required,
that for our own sake, Gen. Jarkson's
proceedings in Florida should have been
disavowed, disapproved and rcprehcnd
w w oUt xOVcTuIttHt. 4 uOUDI III YOU
could lave devised course better cal
cuIated 10 prevent the voluntary cession
oftllat province by Spain to the u States,
than tins open contempt OF her sovereign
~. You have pigued herpride, and con-
tirmed her obstinacy and while a spark
of life shall animate her sinking empire.
the sense of the indignity will still rankIe
at her heart, and fear withhold her from
the REIMBURSEMENT of a territory, useless
to her own power and interest, and bene-
neral only to us; cessioD which sound
policy not only justifiesus in demanding,
bui should prompt her 10 make. And, If
at last we go 10 war with her, (as we pro-
badly soon shall, we may find, in lie
Jealousies excited abroad, and divi-
sions al home, ii not in the dispensalons
OF Providence, tllatii Is an in,muiabe max
I'm OF wisdom and policy 10 be abso-
iulely certain always in whatever contest
we are engaged, that our adversary be
in the wrong"
Hitherto, have considered CEN Jack
sons conduct with view 10 lis bearing
on our relations with Spain; but these
transactions present other questions of
tar deeper interest, touching the relations
between thai officer and The executive,
and between the executive and the ma
ton.
Ii is now ascertained beyond doubt,
from the documents accompanying the
Presidents message TO Congress Gf some
Information be not pIrposely withheld
from the public, which am far from sus-
pectng) that In his hostile operations a
gainst The domlnions and subjects ofSpain,
Gen. Jackson acted not only without or
ders from government, but directly con
trary 10 orders. The government hesita-
ted long, before il would authorize It's for
ces, To cross the line into Florida, in quest
OF their savage foe; and when al last il
gave the order. lis instructions were mark
ed with caution, suitable 10 the delica-
cy and importance of the measure You
inform US yourself 4" that the officer i'm
e command Immediately before Geaeral
+" Jackson, vas specially instructed TO re-
spect, as far as possible, The Spanish
" authority, wherever il was maintain
4" ed: and copies of those orders were
f" furnished Gen. Jackson, upon his la
king the command" To ascertain Gen.
Jackson's Instructions, therefore, we must
refer to those which had been given TO
Gen. Games. II seems General Gaines
had suggested The proprety of such in
slructions: which nevertheless las we
learn from The two letters fe that officer.
from Mr.. Graham, acting secretary of
war, Of the 3Oih October and end
December, 1919 had been twice refused,
as unnecessary and impolitic. The in
stuctloDs that were al length given him
from thewar department, appear i'm two
letters of the secretary, Mr.. Calhoun, of
the 9th and 10th December. I'm The first,
the secretary says +" Referring TO the
" letters addressed TO You from this de-
partment, on the 3Oth OF October and
Sc I'd of December, as manifesting the
f" views of the President, have TO re-
questthat you conform 10 The instruc-
" tons therein given. Should the Indi.
&c ans, however, assemble i'll force on the
=" Spanish side Of the line, and persevere
-" in committing liosiiliiies within the Ii
" miis OF the United States, YOU will in
:" that event exercise a sound discretion,
4" as 10 The proprieiy Of crossing the line,
f." for tie purpose Of attacking them and
" 6reaking up their totms:" thus regula-
ting his discretion i'll the execution of his
ordcrs,b by designating the objects towhich
he was 10 continents operations. The oih.
er letter is in these words " On the re-
celpi OF this letter, should HE Seminole.
" Indians still refuse TO make PREPARATION
'' for their ouirages and drpredatioDs on
:" the citizens OF the United States, il is
" HE wish of The President, that you con
F." side yourself at liberty TO march across
Z" The Florida line, and IN attack them
Z" within lis limits, should ii be foirnd neces-
g sayy. unless Mey shOnid shelter MemseiveS
Z" under a Spanish fo,t. In tie lust epemt, you
g 'ciH immeotiateiy noiiIy this department"
Here. the government warIiy and express
~ reserves 10 itself, the control and direc-
tion of any measures that might affect
the neutrality of Spain, In my opinion,
Gen. jackson yiclsicd these orders when
he seized ST. Marks: il was measure,
which the orders did not place within his
IL 4. L.