The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-10-17


myself enyeloped, unprotected by the laws,
the moment at length arrived when Gov.
jackson dreweout, among other papers, a
written order, which, agreeable to the inter-
probation made to me. contained the mandate
for my being sent to the Jail. When informed
thereof, requested the interpreter to ask
him for me if he did not shudder at the perpe-
tration ofsuch deeds? That protested before
the Government Of the United States against
the author of these atrocious outrages com
mitted against my person and the character
represented. The Govemourr eplied this time
through his interpreter, that he was alone
answerable to his Government; that he did
not care for the consequences, and that
might protest before God himself. ! was in
fact carried to Jail at the hour of midnight,
in my delicate state of health = My house
was left open to the mercy of the soldiers !! =
The Spanish officers and other persons Of my
confidence, who were there or repaired thither,
were ordered of, and none of them permitted
TO remain. My papers and those OF the Gov
eminent which were under my charge were
left without any inventory or account of the
same; the keys of my trunks were left my
property and that belonging 10 my Govern
ment for the purposes Of the Commission,
account or inventory, as also all my other per-
s0nal property. At eleven, on the following
morning of the esd, writ Of habeas corpus
was issued by the Judge, Don Elijius Fromen-
tin but Govenour Jackson treated it with
contempt, stating that be did not think proper
to allow it to be carried into effect.
At about FIVE in the afternoon Of the same
day, was iniormedby the officer Of the guard
at the prison, of an order OF the GOVERNOR,
which stated should be set at liberty and
accompanied by the officer of the day to my
house, as he had now got possession of the
papers and I might see if the cases were
closed and sealed. told the officer who de-
livered the. order, that could not enter my
house unless accompanied by a Judge. He
said might look for one-and then | came
out Of pSison.a The officer accompanied me
with lAany other persons, and went to the
house of Judge Fromentin, as being the only
one in West-Florida. Il found him indisposed !;
and before every one present | made a sue
cinct relation of all these facts, and begged
that he would extend to nay person and house
the protection of the law. He informed me
that his indisposition prevented him from ac-
companying me, and that, in his place, should
take witnesses to be present at the recognition.
then went to the house, accompanied by
many people and the officers of the day.
found armed troops inside; my papers scatter
ed on the table case of papers which had
been nailed and sealed with eighteen wax
seals, with the impress of the seal of my gov
eminent, was found fractured and reclosed
and sealed with different seal. NY state of
health had not hitherto permitted me to make:
the necessary examination of my private nor
publick papers, nor the confidential ones of
my government during my administration, nor
the documents Of my commission. The mon
ey was entire.
The foregoing relation comprehends the
outrages committed against my person and
official character in Pensacola, on the pod day
of August, 1921, by Gov. Andrew Jackson
This narrative is the most sacred truth. In il
have not suppressed any previous circumstan-
ces--the history of the facts had no other
origin. The motive am entirely ignorant of
and that the whole is a true exposition, 90
solemnly swear. tender the proofs, and pro-.
test with the same solemnity before God, be-
fore my government, before that of the United
States. and before all men, against. the au-,
thors and perpetrators of these deeds. also
swear, under the same obligation, that have
always observed during my administration as
GOVERNOR of West-Florida, indiscrimnately
to every individual ofthe United States, wbeth-
erresident or transientpersons, the utmost con-
sideration that have respected and caused
to be respected their persons and property
When any one has been guilty of any deln-
quency, he has always been treated with in
diligence and a generous lenity !; and so true.
is what have manifested, that if publick no.
tice were to be fixed throughout the whole
States, there would not be single individual,
who could show the least cause of resentment,
This conduct emanates from my own natural
disposition, and from the orders prescribed to.
me by my government that this is my propensi-
ty so to act with all mankind indscriminateIy.
cannot be impugned by the strictest investiga-
ton into my conduct during my life, and the
commands which have held.