Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-13
RICHMOND, DECEMBER - 1871
Florida-and q IHe FIo17dian-o .

Il
We are not particularly anxious to renew
the topics of Pensacola, since there is so much
ground to believe that Gen. jackson will not
return to his Pachalate. From Philadelphia
we arc assured, that he has sent i'm the resig-
nation of his commission, which has been ac-
cepted On the other hand, the Albany
Statesman OF the 9TH, gives us rs his under
Standing, " that court of enquiry is soon 10
be held, when Il full and correct developement
OF Facts viii he made" For aught we know,
either OF these statements NAV be true but
both can scarcely he so; for how subject an
officer to an enquiry, whose official acts have
been cancelled with his surrendered commits
sion
But however willing we might be, in this
stage oil the information, to waive any partci-
lar anlmadycrsion on the scenes of Pensaco-
Ia yet we cannot overlook an article which
appeared in The Floridian' of the 9Th Nov.
1t was Intended as a reply to our remarks of
the Cd Oct. ; while we approve of the spirit
IN which 1T Is penned, we cannot subscribe to
ITS conclnsions.-We may be excused, there
fore, in ofernga few cuysory structures upon
it.
In stating the case of Cot. Caiiaua the Flo
fidian tells MS, that petition was presented
TO the governor, setting forth the Importance
OIL the papers In question, and the fears enter
famed OF their helng carried to- Havana that
The governor tracing them TO the house of
CoL Z. sent to him for them This request
falling, I" IL perenptory order" was then issued
Tor their delivery, which hcing disregarded.
Caiiava was summoned to appear before the
governor, then sitting in his judicial capacj
ty,' to answer ior the contempt No respect
having been paid TO the. summons, his person
was immediately surrounded by guard, and
lnrced INTO the presence of the Governor,
Dut sui refusing TO make any satisfactory an
swer as 70 the required documents. he was
" duly committed Tor the contempt sllewn 10
The supreme judicial TRIBUNAL of the Florjdas.
aud not To facilitate Inc acquisition Of the ma
pers." If, indeed, this he the only ground or
hs commitment, why did the governor con
line ms interrogatories to the subject oftht
papers Why was he not ax z,jnefi as IN the
contempt, and allowed an opportunity ofp,lrg
ing himself of il, according to the nsagas of
every court in the Union
According 10 the Fioridian's own sbe,yinr
Gen. jackson ought ia have been particuArlv
cautious how he had placed CaiIava i, the
predicament OF IL contempt. The Floridian
acknowledges that Col G. was A reptienan
holding high rank in the Spanish army. and
was late Governor ofthis province in which
station he had become very popular, and very
drservedly so from all we have heard.''-
Some even question whether his noyyers ~
n
events, he had so lately fulfilled it, ms well "a
the Office of governor, that every respec..
compatible with the interest of our citizens.
should have been extended to him No fn
ger ought to have been laid upon his person.
when the object could have been so nuch
better obtained by Il more conciliatory course.
why place him we repeat in this predetermined
oil a contempt? Why not exhaust every 9th
CT means before committing AN indgnity up
or his person !: When he would not snrrs,n
der the papers, why not issue a warrant ar
oncc, and seize them? This was the course
pursued at St Augustine There too the Of
ilcer IN possession Of the papers refused to
give them up: but we heard of no conte,npts.
u" SEIZURE OF the person, no temporary i,npri-
sonfncnt OF Coppinger. Not a hair of bfs
head was touched no ca so was issued no
files OF mon led forth in military parade but
the matter was done by "A process against tie
papers the exfeient by the bye, which
was ut last resorted to at Pensacola, to obtain
the documents wanted. Tie very precedent
oil 81. Augustine, therefore, Oyerthrows the ar
gumcnt ofthe Floridianabout the contempt and
ITS punishment The Furidian asks. whether
1t would have been more respectful towards
Col to haveissued the search warrant .jre
vous to any demand made ?" Certainly rot
but we lctort upon the FlOridian wasn't more
respectful towards him to seize and inlDri-
son his person, previous To TIE issuing of the
warrant ?-The Floridian SAYS. it was better
Tor Gen. j. " to pursue his object by civil pro-
cess" bsj0re " he sent an armed force, and CO.
creed the surrender ofthe papers at the point
ot the bayonet" But was it not proper for
hun first TO have exhausted his civil process a.
gainst the papers? to have seized them by the
authority of The Alcade ; and dispensed alio-
gcther with bayoncts? Was not this the mode
IN which" things were ordered" at St. Augax
tine ?
According to the further shelving Of the
Fiondlan HIMSELF some little forbearance was
due To CaIlava, for his motives in this very
affair:
:" Col. Callayas motives for refusing to deliver The
papers, never were supposed to bc corrupt: No one
thought hm personally inerestcd--he was influenced
solely ly a wish 70 maintain what lie conceived due
10 hrs station with him The contest was for The due
Observance of etiquette He considered himself as
sun clothed with the authorities privileges ofco
requiring the Governor to address him as
such, and otherwise refusing To answer Col CalIa-
'a was induced to take this stand, by the mistaken
zeal OF hrs friends for we have good reason to he
eye that he would have given up the papers on de
hrt application mads but for the advice OF one of his
officers, who urged it as necessary to his dignity
MAJ nc should insist on being recognized COM
missioner L ms course still more extraordinary
when we remember that the Governor had SOM,
lays before officially informed Col c. that he
YOU'D hoid no iurt or communication with him.
."'" VI N'''iia hcnn recognized as COM
there would have been no means az OH,
tanning the papers but through anoter sixteen wears
negotiation Tho commissioners privileges ToulJ
ave covered the papers, and hey would have
,een disposed Of at the Fll and pleasure of Colonel
1aiava We do not pretend to say that Col
Caava wished 10 make this use of his privileges for
we believe he would have delivered over the papers
immediately on the satisfactory adjustment of tho
'oni OF etiquette commended foi. Bot il goes to shey
Hearty, that the Governor WIS not ut liberty 10 Weld
he point lie felt himself bound 10 have the papers
delivered 70 the proper American oficer-and IL he
iad made the required concession, he would nj once
lnAn a-An..cL h....nlr ~ OF dill