Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-04

the new, could not esoapeahe notice OF an
administration, equally yigilant and intel
!igent, and sufficiently indicated the mo-
ment. when TO war of words. they might
safely superadd li,tle physical force. The
page ofrevolulionary Europe was also open
before them, and abundantly showed the
facility and convenience of finding, or OF
making state of things, within the colony
or dependence of a neighboring & exhaust
ed power, which should give to an act OF
the most direct hostility, the air only of
cautionary or defensive policy. Two men
of the name of Kempfer, were the first to
raise the standard otrevolt among the Span
ish colonists outrages were multiplied
instructions existed; conventions held ;
constitution Of government, Independent
of Spain agreed upon and declared, and a
Presidential protege elected Governor; but
here the pantomime ended, the new Re-
public vanished like dream, and the U.
States were found in quiet possession ofthe
greater and better part of West Florida
OF the errors OF great men, it has been
said, that they are twice mischieyous -
first by theirneCessary and direct operation,
and again by the herd of initiating fools
whom they produce In the hands OF a JEFF
ierson, this miserable policy would but
form an isolated case, AMI be restricted to
its least possible sphere of mischief; but
under successors ofiess capacity who might
even mistake sit tor storke OF great politi-
cal genius--its injuries would be incalcula-
be and History seizes the occasion to
admonish rulers, that per6dy is not policy,
that Justice AMI wisdom are sufficient for
their own legitimate purposes and that the
magistrate or nation that creeps and crawls
to an object by false preterces and vile in
struments, is both wicked and contempt
bic. 1881
So See NJ. Talleyrand's letter to gen.
Armstrong of the 18th July, 1907 "For
! more than eighty years no controversy had
existed beleen France and Spain, with re-
gard TO The limits Of Louisiana.
81 See Mr.. Monroe's lettero June l6,
1916, Ia Mr. Onis.
Be- See Mr.. Champagny letter on the
western limit OF louisiana written 10 gene
raj Armstrong on the Sd Sept 1907.
49, This iniillible nostrum tor Territorial
enlargement was again employed, in 1872
IS, under Governor Matthews, Of Virginia.
in an attempt on East Florida, but without
success. We have since seen M'Gregor's
capture of Amelia Island, his retire At from
it aud its subsequent occupation by the
arms OF the United States. Were not Mat
thews and M'Gregor the kempters of a la
ter period And would it-be either extra
VACANT or uucliaritahle TO suppose that the
French establishmei at the mouth OF the
Trinity, has an impulse and jeCts not
dlssimilar from those we have mentioned.
While the ink is actually flowing from
our pen We in3 it announced, in southern
paper, that General Riply was in march
to disposess the French pirate, and seize on
the whole province of Texas" Ee 90 not
ask under whose authority Laiemand went
to the Trinity? because we know, that
when a commission WIS demanded it WIS
refused but may We not ask, at whose so.
licitation he made this establishment and
whether, in making it, the support and pro-
lection ofthe u. States were nol pledged ?
Ifhe has acted withoutthe privity and con-
nyance of government, why has he been
so long tolerated ? Why was not commo-
dore Patterson's proposition 60 break up
the establishment immediately accepted ?
To have wiIled its suppression then, was
alone necessary 10 have effected il. The
answer is Obvious it was imprudcnt to un-
mask this new battery on Spain until we
were assured that the plumber of that unior-
tunate nation no longer excited either sym
pathy or support.