Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-16

SV"iV SoDieT. Anu nave COMMENDED
Thai the President possessed the whole
authority OF The u. States 10 act in Flo
rida, IN The suppression of the Seminoles.
whether derived from the law of nations
or from treaties.
will consider the objections that have
been made 10 iheproceedings of General
Jackson, I. noccupy ing ST. Marks. 2.ln
occupying Pensacola. 3. In executing
Arbuthnot and Ambrister. But here let
me remark, that the President has reius-
ed to censure or punish Gen. Jackson
for his proceedings in Florida; and thus
takes upon himself the responsibility for
them. Ii is the President that is respon
sihie TO Congress /; and we should mol
turn aside from him to censure subor
dlnate officer. 1t is againstahe President
that we should direct our measures, If we
take any. He has applauded Gen Jack
sons motives and excused his actions :;
and II is not for us 10 condemn Them
Tins House may impeach and The Sen
ate may Try the President bur General
Jackson is not responsible 10 either.
Let ms see if General Jackson was not
jusiihatte IN occupying ST. Marks.
have attempted 10 shew that, AS tie Uni
ted States had been compelled, By Tie
| delinquency OF Spain, Ia do the duties o.
\
sion # The means and so entitled 10 tn,
possession of the fort OF st. Marks. as q
means OF restraining the Indians | have
also she"n thai, by the law OF nations, ne
cessiy autllorises the temporary sei2ur.
o. place, for preventing the enemy from
seizl' z this place, when the neutral sove-
reign Is unable to defend il (q) To require
that the exercise OF this rigll, should be
pr; cededby declaration ofwar is 10 deny
| the right altogether, which is 10 lake pos
session of the fortress OF a neutral power
The Indians aud hegroes lad threatened
to occupy ST.. Marks, (,) and premedi,at
ed selZing that post. (S) Five hundred OF
| them had approached il 10 The alarm OF
The commander. O) The ease ia which il is
| Jnsii1ablc To seize neutral post, existed.
| The General therefore stands fully iusii-
| fed IN the seizure of ST Marks. THUS
The great Frederick, having ascertained
The Intended invasion and partition of his
donations by Russia and Austria, took
! Dresden in depot, thai he might be be-
| ftrehand with his enemies.
| will pass from ST. Marks 10 the occu-
patton of Pensacola. The orders of
| General Jackson were TO "adopi the
necessary measures" TO procure IA speedy
and efeciual termination oi The war, and
| peace on such terms as would be per-
inaneni, and honorable Ia the army OF
| Tie United States. But the war could
not b. speedily terminated, if The Span
ish Governor of Pensacola abeited, EN-
couraged, and supplied the sacages, and
obsirucied the arrival of supplies for the
American army. The possession of PEN
saco'a was necessary 10 the execution OF
his orders.
Provisions may be seized by force
when necessary. (n) Then post may
be occupied which obstructs their arri
val. The Spanish commandani of Pen
sacoia having endangered the existence
OF The American army by OBTAINING their
| supplies OF provisions, i, was necessa-
RS that he should be deprived of the
power OF doing the same again, during
fhe continuance OF The war
General Jackson was reminded, In his
orders, Of the honor of the United States,
and The honor of The army Ills duty
10 preserve both Inyiolaie vas thus par
iicularIy Impressed upon him. While
engaged IN snppressing the Seminoles,
end thus performing wha, il was the duty
OF Spain to have done, he was ordered
by the Governor Of Pensacola 10 retire
with his forces from West Florida. with a
threat 10 use force 10 compel him, If he
did not comply. (p) VIII any member
say, that, on receiving this order, Jack
son should have fed? Ought he 10 have
forgot the HONOR Of the United States,
the HONOR OF the American army, so
lately and particularly recommended, 10
lIIs safe-keeplng, and fed from " Flori-
da, before the Spanish cross, 10 avoid il,r
arms OF Don Jose NGzof? ! presume no
one would say he should have fed. -
| Whaisvcr doubt there might be as 10 the
\ a "A,
OF Pensacola before tie Governor isSurd
this menace, there Was none afterwards.
Gcn raj Jackson at once saw that II he
ffiIred, lie retired III disgrace, the honor
| 81 The United States aud Of tl'~ army
| arnlshed, and his orders slamelully
| violated. III became necessary that he
Sleuld deprive maZot OF the means Of
! carry ing his threat into execution. A
ifrrai which, ii he should not attempt
! ioexecuie against General Jackson him
| u, "biie his army remained III lull
! iorce, II now became extremely probable
| u Al he would carry into execution, will,
| Tie aid OF the savage and negro cBemy,
| 'gainst The diminished force which (ipn.
| Jackson might leave in Florida. The
! immediate occupaiioI lay General Jack
| son o! The fort OF Bsrrancas, was The ne.
cessary and proper result Of The hostile
| declaration OF Governor Mazot
Such threat is declaration Of hosti.
| iles. II it is made by one sovereign 10
| another, it is the commencement OF war.
! such declaration made by the king al
| Prussia 10 lie emperor Of France, com
mpnced the war in which was fought Me
battle Of jena, which bro'i lhc Prmssian
monarchy 10 the brink ofruin. The French
baialiops could not fly oui Of Germany
before tie Pfussiau eagle. Sir, such
lreal is not merely declaration of hos
tiliiies; IT IS even regarded as an attack,