Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-07

will be reluctantly compelled 10 rely, fol
The protection of their borders, upon
themselves alone.
You are authorized to communicate
the whole of this letter and the accom-.
panying documents tn the Spanish gov.
eminent. have the'honor, &c. Ac.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Extract Of a letter No. o. from IIr. Adoms "a
Mr. Erring. dated
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. !
Washington, December 2, 1878.
On the 2Tth OF March last lie Spanish
Minister here, MIR. Onis, addressed a letter to
tins department, for the proiessed purpose OF
Spanish commanding officers i'm Florida, and
ct proving that they had invariably discharged
their duties ef friendly proceeding towards
The United States, and the obligations of the
treaty of i7oo, by which Spain was bound 10
restrain by force, the hostil,ics of lac 1utiians
IN Fioridaagalnstthe u. States. 10 this lettfr
are annexed fourteen documents, the create;
part OF winch CONSISTS OF icmonStrances, adj
dressed, during the late war between the
united States and Great Britain. 10 Brtisi,
oincers, against their continual violations of
the neutrality uf the Spanish territory. Ii i
mol however 10 these documents, bur 10 tue two
til numbered 10 and II. as annexed To that
letter, that wish To ihyi,r Your attention.
OIL No. IL is the translation Ola letter, pui-
porting TO be from Bowiegs, me ct the Indian
Seminole Chiefs most lnveteiattiy hostile TO
,he UNITED States, To Don Jose Coppinyer.
Governor of ST. Angustiae-a translation, yon
VIII saS-why translation and from what
language! Neither Governor Coppinger nor
MIR. Onis furnish the means on answering that
question. They are furnished hsweyer by the
papers OF ArbuthHot, which tell into General
Jarkson,s hands--the language was English,
NJ ana The original was written by Arhuth-
nor. Il He draft was round among his papers,
and was produced TO the Court Martial upon
No.2J his trial. We naturally suppose that
Hovernor Copringer, upon receiving a letter
III Ehsiish, from Seminole Indian Chief must
nave Deen surprized, unless he knew from
wnom aud whence IL came. The substance OF
ms answer shews that he did know, boih
whence IL came and the character Of him by
whoiii 10 was written. By tbs copies of The
TWO letters which are enclosed YOU will see, in
mat OF BOwlegs, a part of the systematic M
lrigues of Aibuthnot TO instigate as well the
SpaWsh Commanders III Florida as the saya-
ges. against the United States-and in that of
SaNe'noT Coppineer, direct declaration TO
,hs Indian, that all his supposed canses OF
alarm and complaint proceed from the infor-
NATION OF persons in whom he ought moi to
. place Tie smallest confidence. il beng their
principle to employ such opportunities for
me purpose OF sedocing him and his people
from their daily labor" Afier Offering his own
friendly advice, the governor adds, .. 1 am
feattui however that the sentiments of those
VINO come into the territory, under the
appearance OF friendship, but with bad inten-
"ohs, may influence your minds, and obtain
your confidence, by their ilatterny represent
tatioDs. And, finally, lie complains, that
TWO persons had lately pa esented themselves
as commissioners OF the English nation and
carried on several runaway negroes, belong
" ihe 10 inha bitants of the + ovincc" Ii is
apparent from tins letter, that Governor Cop
pinger was well informed of tie operations of
ArDnihhot and Woodbne aud that he saw
mem III Their true cOlors. How, then, does il
naPpen that year afterwards the Spanish
mn g.
leagued with Arbuthnot as to sign his name 10
me appreciation OF a power OF attorney givc,,
TO Nun by the hostile chiefs. 10 write letters and
deliver talks III heir names-to hold councils
OF war with them at his quarter 10 hold,
as prisoners, white persons, inhabila u of the
province. taken 10y tem-amd to write aiettcr
10 Atbuthnot, asking hmtoi come and confer
with HIM upon subjects which could not he
committed to paper The original OF that let
Yer; which is IN bad French, and in the hand
4o writing OF the commandment of ST. Marks,
signed by him, is in our possession, a copy of
" is among the papers enclosed. We cannot
doubt that the Spanish government will consi.
DER u as proof OF the conspiracy OF the com.
mandant 81 81. Marks with ArDuthpet and the
INDIANS against the United States. Should he
be put npon ,'s trial, as you are instructed to
demand, the original Ie tier itself, will be trans.
mitted. 10 be exhibited 10 the court.
~ Is 10 he observed, that The original draft,
IN the hand writing OF the letter OF iSowIeys Ia
Governor Coppmge', differs in several para
graphs from the translation communicated by
Mr.. OnIs, as received by him from Governor
Coppnger. The following passage particular.
~. which appears III the draft produced before
The Couri Martial, is not in the translation
furnished by Governor COppingcr +" The
" Spanish subjects IN the FIoridas, are too
" much III the interest of the Americans TO be
our friends: for the governors shall always
: enttrtaln the greatest regard but for the
people, they do not act so AS 10 merit my
esteem ard election" IlieireHlnindcr of q
ietteris nearly the same We do not suppose
that The omission was made by the Governor
but rather that Arbnthnot, ye, uncertain how
such reflection would be received, omitted i,
from the letter itself, which was transmitted tC
the Governor.
The papers marked LXII. LXIII. and
LAVlll. are copies OF originals, in the hanG
writing of ArbuthnOt, taken with tie resi- n
ms papers, but not exhibited before the Conr
Martial. The sheet OF his journal is of som,
importance. as establishing his come ction ant
dissatisfaction with Woodbine. LXV is
letter from him, said TO he to officer Of RAM
IN England, quo doubt Nicilols,) dated BOIL
January, 1913. only three months before h,
was taken. The sheet OF the journal shew
mat Arbuihnot arrived. with WoOdbDe. iron
New Providence, at Snwahny, about the las
OF October, 1916. and that they immediately
commenced their operations, with the Indians
against the United States. Bowiegs' letter Il
Governor CoPplnger, is dated the 18TH O
November, OF that year, and apologies for IN
not having sooner ans wered letter OF Septem
ber, from the Governor, by the impossibiii,
he had been under, of finding person to writ,
The answer for bin. Among other complaint
against Woodbine. in this journal, there is on,
distinctly, that he had promised the savage
assistance frOm the British government with
put authority, and by direct falsehood ant
he expresses AN apprehension, that when tn
Indians find that none of those promises ar
realized, their fury will fall upon himself"
- ri.
the above letters refer documents contained in IN
Appendix thereto, which will be published so soon a
we can obtain copies of them. fNaf. Int
FOREIGN.