Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-16

racteY Of permaneney, which the honor o
the United States required Should be
speedily concluded, and with the most ex-
emplary punishment. The commandant
at st. Marks himself acknowledged that
his command was at The mercy of the In
dams and negroes he ought, therefore,
hailed the approach of General Jackson,
with his American forces as deliverer,
and to have co-operated with him in the
common cause when be was assured that the
object was military occupation, tor the
express purpose of putting an end to the
Seminole war, and not for conquest. But
the facts present this subject yet in much
stronger light to the committee. The In
dams received not only shelter, but com
forts and munitions, and all the facilities
for carrying on the war, which Spanish
army could have received from that post.
Did this conduct on the part of tie Spanish
commandment, result from a hostile dispo-
sition If so, he became a party ia the
war. Or was il the effect of imbecility,
as his professions of great friendship would
imply ? If so, the act OF garrissonins ST.
Marks with an American force. bears no
character of hostility 10 Spain, but was
warranted by the law of nalions-by the
treaty with Spain, and by The first law OF
natures fprotection Had the Govern
or of West Florida maintained the neutral
character which was confidently expected,
and which it was his duty to have done,
the Seminole war had here ended, and our
flag would not have been unfurled in that
territory. The Indian establishments at
Mickasuky and Suwaney broken up-thcir
villages burnt-their supplies cut off-St.
Marks occupied by our troops, their power
in East Florida was entirely annhIlated.
In the firm conviction that the war was
ended, General Jackson had ordered the
Georgia militia 10 he disbanded, and was
upon the point of returning himself, with
the Tennessee and Kentucky volunteers,
when he learned that the object OF the CAM
paign was not yet entirely accomplished.
The vanquished enemy crossing inio W.
Florida, where the authorities OF Spain pro-
we'd as imbecile as in the eastern province,
renewed their depredations, by their in
cursicns into the adjoining territory ofthe
United States, and committing murders
upon our frontier settlers. Every circuni-
stance, which not only justified the act, hut
which rendered it an imperious duty for
him to enter the Spanish territory Of East
Florida, was equally applicable to The act
of his crossing the Appalachicola, to break
down the power Of the enemy in West
Florida But the conduct e. the Governor,
taken in connection with the circumstan-
ces which minced the entrance into Pen
sacola, rn5tled SIS occupancy by Gen.
Jackson, if possible. yet more paIpably
necessary, than that Of St, Marks. Well
apprised of Gen. Jackson's object, that he
had not entered the Floriias in hostility
TO Spain, but to do that which Spain was
bound to do, both by treaty ana by the
laws Of nations, to give security to our own
citizens, within our own territory, by de-
stroying the power of the savage foe =
The Governor of Pensacola in equal Vi
olation Of the laws Of neutrality and Of hui
mainly, succoured those enemies, supplied
them with munitions of war, sheltered and
conveyed f-'m the hand Of justice those Of
them who were returning from the bloody
prey; and when General Jackson was ex-
ecuiing the righteous mandates. Of an
/; injured and indignant nation upon them,
; the Governor commanded him to depart
from the territory, threatening 10 oppose
force by force, should he not comply. Thus
circunstanced, what should general Jack
son have done Should he have been
induced, by the unrrovoked and gascona-
ding menaces of foreign Governor. TO
retrace his steps ? Or should he have re-
NAMED stationary, until lie could have des-
patched messenger 10 the Executive, for
instructions bow 10 oct This would have
ill-become an American General, whose
. movement were sanctioned by the sacred
laws oil nature and Of nations, and by the
solemn stipulations Of the foreign prince,
, as well as by the authority of his own go
vernment.
Should he have left it in quiet possession
CT a savage foe This would have defeat