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

retaliation. Permit me 10 invite the a.
tention OF the committee TO that highly
finished specimen of diplomacy, which
has called forth SO many eulogiums, and
so justly, too, from the editors of news
papers-Secreiary Adam-'s letter to our
Munster al Madrid which has been pub
lished long since the commencement of
The present session al Congress If my
memory does not deceive ne, about the
2Sfh of November. Does that letter a
mount To complete justification Of The
whole course pursued by Gen. Jackson.
III the prosecution of The war against the
Seminole Indians Twill not attempt 10
draw the conclusion (; because this homo
rabie committee Is infinitely more capa-
Die OF arriving at a correct conclusion
Than am. But, sir, there is one part of
That letter which exciies my most serious
attention. II is The threat, contained in
iiiai letter. that, unless the Spanish gov
eminent maintains more completely her
neutral relations, and observes with bet
t"r iaifh her ireaiy, that those posts in
FLORIDA: will be re,akcn and held; Nal
iheS wili NOT again be surrendered. HE
'ci'er Is published for The benefit of the
people OF The United States. The olecla-
ration or threat is not, that this govern
mem WIN declare war against Spain, and
seize upon these posts by way OF indem-
niiy-but that they will be rriaken and
held. The honorable Secretary has not
consn'Ied Congress ON the subject. The
act is to be performed upon his own re-
sponsibiliy, or upon The responsibility of
i1e Executive branch of the government.
! pass on 10 The correspondence between
General Jackson and the Governor of
georgia. This correspondence presents
TO my mind most melancholy picture.
On HE 9Th OF May, 1918, General lacksnn
addressed letter TO Governor Ra bun, in
winch Will be found the singular and bold
declaration, that, f" You, sir. as Governor
OF State, have norighi TO give a military
order whilst ! am in the field" Have the
STATE authorities, thus early, ,twindled IN
I'D inslSnlilcance? recollcci, when we
ilrst went into committee of the whole
House, on the subject now before us,
some difficulty arose as 10 the proper
mode OF bringing into full and free dis
custom all il.e questions connected with
the Seminole war. An honorable MEM
Der from Virginia, (Mr. Alexander Smyih)
offered resolution of thanks TO General
Jackson, by way OF substitute for The re-
solution reported by the military commit
tee. would ask, whether if be4or the
treatment of the Governor of Georgia,
that this honorable member proposes TO
obtain from this House vote of thanks {?
Have we arrived at that singular period
of our history, when the division of the
United STATES into military districts, com
posed of two or moro states, and the plac-
ing of these divisions under the command
of Major Generals of the army of the T.
nicd States, ipso facto, repeats the con-
stitution of the several states and their
laws: That the moment the Major Gen
eral takes the field, even in war against
Indians and Negro brigands, the lips of
The several Governors. and the people of
the states composing the division, are to
be sealed, and all their powers, even of
sci. defence, 10 be suspended? If so, for
one, am disposed TO get rid, immed
ately, of your standing army? Sir, the
doctrine is iraught with the most danger.
Gus consequences.
Mr.. Chairman, have thus q fear, in a
disIointed manner) presented to the com
mii,ee my views on the interesting ques-
tons under consideration. have at
tempted, by fair and dispassionate argu-
ment, 10 prove The propriety and policy
of adopting the several resolutions on
yonr table. How far | have succeeded
Will be for the committee to decide
When the public feeling shall be sobere,i
by the passing wings OF time: when the
calm, slow ivy shall have leisure TO wreaihe
the soft green Of lis melancholy over the
tombS of lire present actors OH The busy
theatre of public life, these acts, these
presidents, will, by posteritv, be regard-
ed III light very different from that in
which we view them. That the calam-
tiles, likely to flow from these bold inva-
sIons of the constitution and laws of the
country. may he averted from future
generations, most fervently pray TO God
DEBATE TO BE coNriNuEu.)
IN SENATE-JANuARy 2s.
.Agreeably TO notice given, MIR. TAFT. having
obtained leave, introduced bill TO purchase