Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-02-23

dian occupation as it regards Pensacola
and the Barrsncas. Pensacola was TO De
restored Internationally, and mishI
therefore, Immediately have come into the
possession of the Indians, if they had the
power and the will to take it. The gen
tleman was in a dilemma, from which
there was no escape. lie gave up Uen,
Jackson when he supported the President ;
aud gave up the President when he sup
ported Gen. jackson. Mr.. @. said he
reioiced TO have seen the President mani
Testing, by the restoration OF Pensacola,
| his degotedness to the constitution, When
the whole country was ringing with plau-
dts for its capture, he said, aud he said
alone, in the limited circle in which he
moved, that the President must surrender
it; that he could not hold it. Ii was mo-
his Intention, he said, to enquire whether
the army was or was not constilntlonaiiy
marched into Florida. Ii was not clear
question, aad he was inclined TO think
that the express authority oil Congress
ought 10 have been asked. The gentle
man from Massachusetts would allow him
to refer TO part of the correspondence a,
Client. different trom that which he had
quoted. He would fad the condition oil
the Indians there accurately defined.
And it was widely variant frem the gen
tleman's ideas on this subject The in-
dians according to the statement OF the
American commissioners at Ghent, inhsb
iting the United States, have qualified
sovereignty only, and the supreme sove
Ireiguty residing ~ he government Of the
Uuied States. They live under their
own laws aud customs. may inhabit aud
hunt their lands; but acknowledge the
protection OF the United States, aud have
10 right to sell their lands but to the gov
ernment OF the United States. Foreiga
pewers or foreign subjects have no right
10 maintain any Intercourse with them,
without our permission. They are not,
therefore, independent nations, as the gen
tleman supposed. Maintaining The rela
ton described with them, we must allow
a similar relation TO exist between Spain
and the Indians residing within her de-
minions She must be, therefore, regard
ed as the sovereign Of Florida, and we are
accordingly treating with her for the pur-
chase of it. In strictuess, then, we ought
first TO have demanded right of passage
for our army. But, if the President had
the power to march an army into Florida
without consulting Spain, aud without the
authority Of Congress, he had no power
TO authorize any act Of hostility against
her. If the gentleman had even succeed
ed in shelving that an authority was con
veyed by the Executive to Gen. Jackson
to take the Spanish posts, he would only
have established that unconstitutional or
ders had been given, and thereby trans
ierred the disapprobation from the militia.
ry officer to the Executive. Bnt no such
orders were, IN truth, given. The Pres.
ident had acted in conformity to the con
stiiution, when he forbade the attack of
Spanish fort, and when. in the same spir
il. he surrendered the posts themselves.
! IIe would not trespass much longer up
ION the time of the committee; but he
trusted he should he INDUCED with some
few reflections upon the danger of per-
hitting the conduct, on which il has been
his painful duty TO animadvert, TO pass
without solemn expression of the disap
probation of this House. Recall TO ynur
recollection, said he, he free nations
which have gone before US. Where are
they now, and how have they lost their
liberties? If we could transport ourselves
back to the ayes when Greece and Rome
flourished in their greatest prosperity. and
mingling in the tbrong, ask -Grecian if
he did not fear some daring military chief
tain, covered with glory, some Philip or
Alexander, would one day overthrow his
liberties Not MOI the confden, and
indignant Grecian would exciaim, we have
roihing to fear from our heroes; our lib
critics will be eternal. If a Roman citizen
had been asked, if he did not fear the
conqueror of Gaul might establish
throne upon the ruins of the public liber-
ty, he would have instantly repealed the
unjust insimation. Yet Greece had fall
en-. Caesar had passed the Rubicon, and
the patriotic arm even of Brutus could moi
preserve the liberties of his country The
celebrated Madam de Stael, in her last and
perhaps best work, has said, that in the
very year, almost the very month, when
the President and the Directory declared
that monarchy would never more show
its frightful head in France, Bonaparte,
with his grenadiers, entered the palace Of
St. Cloud, aud, dispensing, with the bay
onet, the deputies of the people, delibe
rating on the affairs Of state, laid the
foundations Of that vast fabric of despo,-
ISM which overshsdowed all Europe. H
hoped not to be misunderstood he was
far from intimatiag that Gen. Jackson
cherished any designs inimicsl to the
liberties Of the country. He believed