Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-07
RICHMOND. JANUARY 5.
FOR THE ENQUIRER
10 THE HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
~ n

X.
10 THE HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
SECRETARY or STATE.
SIR....l have rcad your letter to our
minister "A Madrid, ofilie 2StIl November
1918, with -je profound interest aud at
trution winch the subject inspires and de-
niands, and with all the respect due TO
Nolr own character, and To The supreme
executive authority ofthe nation, ofwhich
Won are The organ. You will moi, pre-
sume, be surprised or offended, i'll regard
that paper as only in form ADDRESSED, 10
Mr.. Erylng, but really to the American
public, aud designed more to remove
doubts and dlscontenis al home, than 10
answer the complaints of the Spanish
government. In every view YOU are en-
titled to "A fall and fair hearing. If have
not bees. grossly msinformed, YOU, and
Won only, advised the course, Which the
President has thought proper 10 pursue,
IN raiafion To Gen. JackSou's proceedings
in Florida: and considering The heavy aud
awful responsibility YOU have incurred,
wonder neither al tie rarnesiness Of your
zeal nor al the copi0uSness of your clio.
quence. You have great advantages !;
nigh station, ii character justly respected,
acknowledged abilities, and every means
OF tall and precise information !: Aid 10
which, Ne recognise the professor of rhei-
orlc IN the Secretary Of State. But Won
viii hardly reconcile The understandings
and the hearts OF your countrymep, to
your new niaxims of public law, as dan
Serous as they are cruel, and abhorrent
from the national character for modera-
tIon, cleMency and justice F.; nor will Won
ever persuade us 10 lind. IN your rrcrimi-
nations against Spain, how ever Just and
well fnunded, satisfactory apology for
mi q
violations of our dearest rights.
The complaints of the Spanish minis
ter, Eiay be stated in his own words ::
since without pretending to deny The
actS complained Of, YOU avow them all
aad boldly maintain that they are perfect
IL ii*'i'iable. :" His Majesty
(sayS DDn PIzarro in his note To Mr.. En-
wing Of HE 29,ii August, 1879" has been
aineiuliy. invaded; his posts and pIa-
: ces violently seized on: their garrison
=" mad prisoners, and conveyed out Of the
province IN whlcl ey were employed
III Is majesiy's service; and, on the
Spanish sell, saa2slnary executions
nave taken place, OF tie subjects of
powers namiiy with the Kug an act
OF barharity gl0sSed over with the forms
OF Justice, and thereby rendered, com-
siterlng HE plase and other circumstan-
ceS, refinement Of cruelty" Ihe
SpaHiafd, probably. regarded those SAN
guiuary executions as oftriyia Importance
compared with ihe uucerenionious inva-
sion OF Florida. the hostile occupaiiou of
~. Marks and Pensacola, aud ife can
fure OF tie Spanish governor and garri-
sons while YOU 0or reasons obvious e.
hough, considering the real purposes Of
Your letter. regard those executions AS
he principal ground Of complaint against
q n. JacksOns proceedings, For nv
part. am content that you shall regulate
The cohrse ofthe discussion, according TO
Your own opinion of the importance OF
tie topics.
In the representation you make of the
cases OF ArbuilinOt and Ambrisler, OBJ
serve you refer 10 some evidence, which
L, "to have access to no source of infer
5nai'on whatever, but the newspapers,
nave never seen. Judging from The do
cumenfS and testimony that were before
fhe court martial, II was my deliberate
opinion, as have already told the public,
shai Arbuihnot was not-guilty Of the Of
'qhGfs Iaiu 10 his charge; and though
ShaIi nol lightly reDouncc that oninion.
ANA certainly not, out of mere Difference
10 your judgment; yet will not presnme
10 dispute The business Of inferences
Which YOU have drawn from additional
evidence that have never had Am nonor-
iunIty Of examining. For the nrrsen,
'hcu, will take tor granted, that vol,
rave come TO correct result as To facts
ihai ii Is true. " that Arbutlnot and Am
brlsier were mol only identified viii, tl,e
sasagcs (wiiil whom thev were carving
GA war against the United Siaiesj bat
that AFbutimO, was The moccr and TO-
incgler OF The war, which, withDuthis
interference aud false promises OF sun
port from the British government.
would Dcver have happcmed: and HAT
Ambrlsier was Tie Instrument Of war
against Spain as we'd as lie United
States, Commissioned by MGrcgnr.
and expedited bs Woodbiuc. upop ticir
:, project OF couquerlug Florida with the
Indians amd Negroes" Aud noW, SIR.
'he question shall be fairly stated IN tlo
words Oi your own cDGclusiOn: Wie-
,uher, "as ihe accomplices Of sdyages, ail!
:. tsntnlag against i!ieif . ter knowledge
worse than savdgeS. GvasTdi Jackson.