The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1819-01-13


,ilities against the United States, but as
placing, beyond doubt, that participa- ::
ton OF this hostile spirit in the comman-
dant of st. Marks, which Gen. Jackson so
Justly complains of, and ofwhich we have
20 well-fcunded right to demand the
punishment. Here is the commandant
Of Spanish fort, bound by the sacred en-
gagcment Of q treaty, to restrain, by force,
the Indians thin his command, fiom
committing hostilities against the United
-tatcs, conspiring with those same In
dians, and deliberately giving his written
appreciation 10 their appointment of 70.
reigner, British subject, as their agent to
solicit assistance and supplies from the
governor geRcral of the Havana, and
from the British government, Tor carry
ing on these same hostilities. e
Let us come to the case of Ambristcr.
He was taken in arms; leading and COM
handing the Indians, in the war against
the American troops; and to that charge
upon his trial, pleading guilty. But the
primary object of his coming there, was
still more hostile to Spain, LVIII3 than
to the United States. You find that he
told three efthe witnesses, who testified
at his trial, that he had come to this coun-
try upon Mr.. Woodbine's business at
Tampa Bay--to see the negroes righted;
and one of them that he had commits
sion in the patriot army under M'Gregor;
and that he expected a captaincv. And
what was the intended business of Nj Gre
gor and Woodbine, at Tampa Bay? 1t
was the conquest of Florida from Spain,
by the use of those very Indians and Ne
goes, whom the Commandant of ST
Marks was so ready to aid and support in
war against the United States. The
chain of proof that establishes this fact, is
contained IN the documents communica-
ted by the President to Congress at their
last session, relating to the occupation of
LVl melia island by NJ .regor.-
From these documents you will find, that
while M'Gregor was there, Woodbinc
went from New-Providence, in schoon-
er of his own, to Join him: That he had
arrived at Amelia Island, just as More
gor, abandoning the companions of his
achievements there, was leaving it: That
M'Gregor, quitting the vessel in which
he had embarked at Amelia, went on
board that of Woodbire, and returned
with him TO New-Providence: That
Woodbme had persuaded him they could
yet accomplish the conquest of Florida,
with soldiers to be recruited at Nassau,
from the corps of Colonial Marines,
which had served under Nichols curing
the late wa with the United States, which
corps had been lately dsbanded and with
negroes to be found at Tampa Bay, and
1900 Indians, already then engaged 10
Woodbine who pretend that they -LvlI.
a. b. had made a grant OF all their lands
there to him. Among the papers The
originals (which are in our possession,
in M'Gregor's own hand writing, instruc-
tons for sailing into Tampa Bay, with the
assertion that he calculated to be there BY
the last OF April orfrs; of Td.1 May, o.
the Presentyear; a letter dated 18th De
cember last, to one of his Acquaintance
IN this country, disclosing the same inten
ton; e. and the extract of proclama
ton which was to have been issued at
Tampa Bay, to the inhabitants of Florida,
by the person charged with making tn.
settlement there, before his arrival all
nouncing his approach, for the purpose Of
ilOlI llIC uCSDOtlSIh Ol
Spain, and of enabling them 10 form a go.
vernment for themselves. He had per
snaded those who would listen to hin,
mere, that his ultimate object was to sci
The Fioridas to the United Stat .s.-Therc
Is some reason to suppose that he haG.
made indirect overtures, of 4 similar ma
ture, to the British government. Thi5:
was Ambristcr's business in Florida
lie arrived there in March, XIX the
precursor of M'Gregor and Woodbine,
and, Immediately upon his arrival, he is
found seizing upon Arbuthnot's goods,
and distributing them among the negroes
and Indians; seizing upon his vessel, and
compelling its master to pilot him, with
body of armed negroes towards the fort
OF st. Marks, with the declared purpose
| OF taking IT by surprize, in the night
Writing letters to Governor Cameron,
OF New Providence, urgently calling Tor
supplies OF munitions OF war, ana of can
non, tor the war against the Americans );
and letters to col. Nichols, renewing the
| same demands of supplies; informing
him, that he is With 500 negroes "a few OF
| our Bluff people, who mad ssucK to the
| cause, and were relying upon the faith Of
Nicnolls's promises. Our Bluff people
were the people of the negro fort, collect.
! ed by Nichols and Woodbine's procla-
II 49,. H. IL