Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1821-11-10
rRo& riIE fLoslDiAu.
To The Citizen Of the FYor1das.

meat OF lhese PROVINCES, according to tho
act OF Congress oil the last session, and to the
powers conferred on me by the President of
the United States, 1 have the satisfaction to
announce, is now complete. II il possesses
imPerfections, or defects, the ref1ectine man
will make due allowance, when ne considers.
that It's duration will be but short, and that
1t Is tho beet that circumstances would per-
NIT. taking iato view the difficulties / have
had to encounter Where the rule or law in
certain, have considered it my duty 70 fol.
low II strictlyi but where this has not been
the case, l have endeavored to make the beat
provisions in my power, believing that gos
vernDent Of some kind was absolutely mecca
sary. IL is my sincere hope that the subiecs
Will attract the earliest attention of the Con.
gress OF the United States, and that The in
habitants OF these provinces will be relieved
from the state of uncertainty and doubt,
wnich AZ this moment must necessarily pre-
vail.
In the organization of the presen, tsmnc.
rary government, and in its execution. 4
have kept steadily in view the securing to
the inhabitants of the Flordas all the priviie.
ges and immunitie, guaranteed to them bv
the treaty The principal of these, Is tho
projection OF their persons, property, and re.
hgioo, until they shall be- Incorporated into
the Union, and become entitled to all tho
privileges and immunities of citizens of the
Chited States In performing thi. impor tane
part OF my functions, l have enoeayored IN
pursue the spirit of our political institutions
have made no discrimination of person,-
my mouse has been surrounded by no guards.
no one has been kept at distance by repul-
s'Ve iornaIi'ies, all have had free adniltsnce
shd found ready ear, when they required
ny AID Tor the protection Of their rights
m
That II IS the freest, 10 perhaps the s,ronye,t
IN the world because, the most wealthv and
most powerful in society are as weak in on,
position TO 1T, as the most humble and oh.
scure. II knows no distinction between an ex
governor and peasant. In the course of nv
snort administration, one case has unfortu,
hatei} occurred which required the exe.,iu.,
OF that authority which is no resnecter of
persons That tho necessity should have ex.
Isted has occa stoned me pain and REQ ret. and
especially as it has b. en- misupder,tood bJ,
some Of the inhabitants of this coupt,y. from,
want OF a sufficient acquaintance with the
'acts OF The case as well as with the charac
ter and principles of our government. It.
was my duty under the treaty, exercising thu
government In the Floridss, TO secure to ,h,
'""eo'tahts an the evifence OF their righ of
property. ne Improper conduct Of the cap.
6NCnn
men,s or archives of this nature. from an a.
gent expressly sent to receive them. inc,eased
line necessity OF vigiiencs on my part. /, VIA
made known TO me, by ga isfactcry evidence
mat theTe were documents Of lhis character
I'D 'he hands OF an individual here and thar
these documents were necessary TO estsbl,.h
the F'Sht ot property in This country The iact
ascertalned. ny duty was clear end no oI,er-
native was lief: me. That individual WI. or.
derrd to surrender them, so that in pursue
ance OF the second article of the treaty. and
OF my Proclamation, the inhabitants might
be secure IN their right of property.
The individual thus ordered TO deliver
'hem' instead ct oheyios as he ought the
commands OF the government under which
he was protected, and which could know no
superior, excepting the Congre.s or President.
OF Inc United States, shifted them into the
bands Of The person who lately admjnisIersa
the government of this province. and wbo
mad been Authorized by The captain general
OF Cuba to surrender the country, agIeeably
10 lhesshpulaiions of the treaty
iils person. whether from misapprehen.
sion or from worse motives, considered him.
'e" not responsible tor any act of his 10 tie
government OF the Floridas. and appeared en~
tireiy lnsensibie 10 the improprieiy of NOR
hd0ang ana0s detirc,y Of these docuguents
% ms ozrn accord. Whatever Diplomatic.
privileges he might have been entitled to
these privileges ceased upon surrender Of
Inc country, and he was then no, known tn
me, or recognized, as having any other right.
than those of common individual. Il WAS
not enough for linn to consider himself a
puo'ic agent OF the king Of Spain, and reside
mere ior the purpose of Transferring official
business with the agents Of the United States.
Out IL was necessary that he should have
! made known the object of his stay had he
done SO, he would have been informed at
o"ce ey me, that my own functions having
ceasea as commissioner, nc one but the Pre-.
soent OF the United States had any power T.,
give him permission to remain here as di.
P'omatIc agent enjoying TIE priuiIeges of e
foretgn minister The natural cons. auenc.a
OF ms Conduct ore too well known, and NEED
not be detsiled. With the exception of this
solitary instance, | feel the utmost confidence
IN saying, that nothing has occurred. not
outstanding the numerous cases in which 4
nave been called upon TO inteIpose my au-
'hofi'y, either IN judicial OF executive ca.
pacity, to occasion any thing like distrust.
oscontent, or want Of confidence. and !
c"eeIiuisy take this occasion 10 express my
satsfsctIon With the peaceful. obsdient. and
orderly conduct Of all those whose a,lepi,nce
mas been transferred TO the United States hv
The ces'Ion OF the country 1t is true. re,
cent occurrence, connected with the ope - 4
terred TO, has compelled me to take mes,nres
conceived necessary for the character, die :
DIty, and harmony of the government adj,
minister, and which at the same lime ue,e
the mildest the circumstances yopId admit
aiinoe 10 the conduct ef a number of Ssan.
'Sn "ihcer' rema'nIog hers after the ces,ion