Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-28


offensive wars. They are so declared 10
be by the writer's on the subject of war.
hat such precisely were our objects i'm
Tue attack upon the Spanish posts, is ev,-
dent from the documents OH our table,
Not that we had much threatened danger
TO fear from them, for they threatened
none-wliat could we fear from such
handful OF soldiers as Spain there had
but because they had done US great
a'rongs, which it was our Intention 10 pun
isii: The Presidents message, and Cen
erai Jackson's letters are filled will The
details Of these wrongs. Such OF them az
are urged as aiiordng reasons for the at
tack OF 81. Marks aud Pensacola, are as
follows. That Spain had br0ken her
treaty, by which she Was bound 10 res:
train The Indians within her TERRITORY
from attacking us, that, SO far from doing
this. she departed from neutral con.
duct" and supplied tlle savages with arms,
anIniuii'iInn. &c. " encouraged them 10
make var on us, gave them refuge and
projections" protested against the in
vasion OF East F!oriia, and threatened to
resist force by force" sent menacine
letters 10 General Jackson" and tinally
because II was feared " he Spanish; posts
might fall into The hands OF Iniians."--
These reasons are some of them ridicu-
Ions III themselves, and such as, 10 say
the most of them, but causes of mdr.--
They contain wrongs which demand pun.
ishment.
But who, Mr.. Chairman. authorised or
directed this war That Congress. the
constitutional power, declared it. will not
he pretended. Tile Executive had no
power, had he been disposed. The Presi.
dent IN hls message disclaims any such
power" 1t belongs TO Congress alone"
says he, Ia change the relations existing
between Spain and the United States.
But this Is not'all. Ii all The orders issu.
ca TO the general commanding are laid
before us, II is evident TO me that ,he
Executive did no; au,lIorise this war up.
on the Spanish authorities expressly. or
by implication. Far be il for nlc 10 enter
tam The slightest wish to charge The Exc
CURVE viii, dupliciiy. will not say that
al 'fhe orders and spondence between
lie Executive and Gen ia kson have not
been laid before us. But candor compels
me 10 say, that there is something little
mysterious to me upon the face Of the
documents before us. ] will proceed 10
state the grounds for This mystery. I'm
the first place | cannot account for The
perfect confidence which General Jackson
shews, throughout his correspondence, in
the correctness of his proceedings, in
which he had clearly violated his orders,
as will hereafter shew. He ueye, cx-
presses a doubt that his conduct will be
approved Acting az he did, n,anifeAIy
contrary TO orders, lie never even attempts
to grouse himself. lie does not seem TO
iIlink that he has overleaped his orders.
he mas no apprehepsIonS, 10 fears, as to
lhe opinion the Executive might form Of
Ills proceedings. And yet, ii the orders
on our table are all that he received, il
appears Ia me lie must have known that
he had violated them. But am somewhat
staggered at another tact, if have made
no mistake. In his letter Of the 5l of
alay, 1918, which is the only one in which
he condescends 10 notice his Instructions
from the War Department, and under a
urn conviction that they alone were cal
culaied 10 ensure " peace aud security tothe
southern frontier Of Georgia" These last
words are gNent TO us as quotation, and,
one would believe, from the Generals or
derS. have not seen any order either to
Gen. Gaines or Gen ackson containing
these expressions. But, yet i may be
mistaken.
Again, taken in connection with these,
may be The letter from The Secretary at
War 10 Gov. Bibb. In that Tie Secretary
| says, that Gen. Jackson is vested with
y
| Her he wGy Judge best" This letter is dat
ed more than month qfte, the capture of 81.
Marks. Certainly no +" full powers" as d.
Sainst the Spanish authorities are laid be-
fore MS and yetn inlimaiion is given
That General Jackson had exceeded his
authority until orders were given 10 CT IL
eral Games 10 restore Pensacola and
Barancas III the August following-and
then II Is mol noticed, otherwise than by
directing restoration.
The last circumstance which shall TO-
lice as iDexpiicabIr 10 me, is tie fact that
Gen. Jackson has never been called 10
| account for his transceiIding his orders.
| All those circumstances do sfaggcr me.
But shall be glad If they can be explain
ed by gentlemen differing from me in @.
Pinlon, and who have taken better view
OF The documents. have M wish io be
lieve that there Is any mystery i'll These
proceedings.
Reasoning upon tic presumption tl,at
all the orders ever issued in relation Ia
this war have been communicated to "a
there is abundant cause to say not ONLY
that Gen. jackson was not nI1ieJed 10 al
tack the Spa,.ish posts, but was expressive
lfOfJiddeH to DO 20. Ii is fairly 10 be IN
ferred from the message, that he acted
without orders. And II VIC can be permit
ted TO refer TO lie unofficial eSpoJe issued
laeI summer, which every body knows
contained the views of the administration
on this subject, and therefore ought 10 be
viewed almost as an official paper, he is
there expressly said 10 have acted o..
iiIs own responsibility" The orders ihcnl
selves afford ample proof that he dbl.
presume no one will attempt to argue that
the orders laid before Congress we're not
| obligatory upon Gen. Jacks ~. because,