Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-04

| ger airy longer threatened The Spaniard
from the miserable fugitive Indians. who
fed on allsides upon his approach. Aud,
sir, upon what plea is Ibis violation Of
orders, and this act OF war upon "A foreign
power, attempted to he justified? Upon
the grounds of the CONVENIENCE OF the
depot and The Indian threat. The first
he would moi seriously examine and ex-
pose. 1t the Spanish character of the
tort had been totally merged in the In
dian character, il might have been JUS
tiiiable TO seize II. But that was moi the
iaei, ana the bare possibility Of IFS bcihg
iorcibly taken by the Indians could not
Justify our anticipating their blow. OF
all the odious transactions which occurred
during the late war between France, and
England, none was more condemned in
Europe and IN this country than her
seizure OF The fleet of Denmark at CO.
penhageu. Aud he lamenied 10 be OBJ
igcd 10 notice the analogy which existed
IN The defcuces madc OF the Two cases.
it his recollection did not deceive him,
boDaparte had passed the Rhine and The
Alps, had conquered Italy, the Neither
lands, Hanover, Lubec, and Hamburg,
and extended his empire as far as Altona
on HE side of Denmark. A few DAY $
march would have carried him through
iioistein, over the two Belts, through
funen and into the island of Zealand.
What then was the conduct OF England
Ii was my lot, Mr.. e.. said, To fall into
conversation with an intelligent English
man IN this subject. I'VE knew (said
he) that we were fighting for our exis-
tence. twas absolutely necessary that
we should preserve The command of The
seas. II the tlset of Denmark Tell into
The cnemy's hands, combined with his
other fleets, that command might be rem
dered doubtful. Denmark had only
nominal independence. She was, il,
truth, subject 10 his sway. We said TO
her, give us your fleet ii will otherwise
he taken possession ofby your secret and
our open enemy. We will preserve it,
aud restore IL TO you whenever the dan
ger shall be over. Denmark refused.-
Copenhagen was bombarded, CALAMITY
defended, but The feet was seized E
very where The conduct of England Was
censured and the name even of the ne
sotlator'who was employed by her, and
who was subsequently the Minister near
tins government, was scarcely ever pro-
nouuced here without coupling with il an
epiihet indicating his participation in the
disgraeeiul transaction. And vel We are
ted by ourselves, which but too much re-
semble II What an important differ
ence, too, between the relative condiiion
OF England and of this country She
perhaps was struggling for her existence.
ohe was combating, single handed. the
most enormous military power That the
world has ever known. Who were We
coniendngwlilI! Wit, aif w hal! starved,
bait clothed, wreiched Indians and tugi-
tive slaves. And, whilst carrying on this
lngiorous war-inglorious as il regards
the !aureis or renowD won In five vio-
late N uiral rights, which the government
had solemnly pledged itself 10 respect,
upon the principle Of convenience, or
upon the light presumption ilai, by pos
sibiiiiy, a posi- might b. taken by this
miserable combination of Indians and
slaves.
On the 9Th Of April the General writes from
ST. Marks, that he shall MAJ ch for the Sawanev
river the destroying of the establishments OH
which will, in his opinion, bring the war to a
close. Accordingly, having effected that object
lac writes, on The 10Th Of April. that he believes
he may say the is at an end for the present
lie repeats The same opinion III his letter TO the
Secretary OF War written six DAYS after The
war being thus ended, II might have been hop
cd that 10 further hostiiities would have been
committees. But OH the I'D of May, on his way
home, he receives letter from the command
ant OF Pensacola, Eliminating his surprise at the
invasion OF the Spanish territory aud the acts
OF hostility performed by the American army,
and his determinatIOb,if persisted III, TO employ
force to repel them. Let us pause and examine
this proceeding OF the governor, SO very hostile
and aiirontiyc in tue view OF General jackson.
kecoiiect that he was Governor of Florida -
that he had received no orders from his superb
oIs, 10 allow passage To the American army
That he had heard of the reduction OF st Marks;
and that General jackson, at the head of his
army, was approaching in the direction of Pen.
sacoia. lie had seen ihe Presidents me sage
OF the 18th of March. aud reminded General
Jackson OF 1t, 10 satisfy him that the American
government copid not have authorized all those
measures. G1r. &. said he could not read the
aiusion made by the Governor TO that message,
without feeling that The charge of insincerity,
which II implied, had at least but TOO much tile
appearance oftruth in it. Could the Governor
have done less than write some sucl, letter p
we lave only 10 reverse situations, and to
suppose him to have been an American Gov
ernor. General jackson SAYS, that when lie
received tliat letter, he no longer besitated-
No, sir, he did no longer hesitate HI eceived
II on the 23d /; he was in Pensacola on The 9th,
and Immediately sethimself before the fortress
San Carlos dc Barancas. which lie shortly re-
dnced. Peni, ridi rtci. WoHderfu energy =
Admirable promptitude ! Alas that il had not
been an energy and prompiitude within the
pale OF tho constitution, and according 10 the
orders OF the Chief Magistratci 1T was impos
sihle 10 give any definition OF war that would
not comprehend these acts. Ii was opeu
undisguised and unauthorized hostility.
The hon. gentleman from Massachusetts had
endeavored 10 derive some authority TO Gen.
jackson from the message of The President,
and The letter oil The Secretary Of War to Gov.
Bibb. The message declares that the Spanish
authorities aie 10 he respected wherever
maintained. What the President means bv
their being maintained, is explained in The
orders themselves, ny the extleme case being
put Of The enemy seeking shelter under s pan.
ish tort. Ii even ia that case he wa; not to
attack, certainly he was not to attack in any
case of less strength. The letter to Gov BIB
admits OF similar explanation. v hen the
Secretary SAWS. in that Letter lllht Cen Jack son