Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-14

truction ofthe town, | tried amicable, before | resorted
to iorciole means, to obtain the satisfaction which the
violence and insult offered 20 my country, III the person
of one of IFS officers, loudly demanded. "By all the
laws OF neutrality and war, as well as of prudence and
humanity" | was warranted in chasusing and intinida-
uhS inc authorities and people of Foxardo; l was war
rahtcu IN taking measures to prevent INJURY to me, and
those under my command, seeing that injury was intend
ed by spihIug their guns; and which, rs appears by
Lieut.. barton's testimony, was not done, or even order
ed to be done, until the batteries were manned, and the
guns trained on our vessels, (all bearing the American
haS) with evident design ofhostility. | was warrant
cd, IN tact, III anticipating my enemy.
"ihere will need CONTINUES MIR. Adams) no cita-
tons from printed trea;iscs on international law, to
prove the correctness of this principle. 1t is engravcu
on adamant on the common sense of mankind; no writer
upon the laws ufnations ever pretended TO contradict il
none oil any reputation or authority ever omitted to
insert it,"
The manly vindication of Genera. jackson, in the fol-
lowing quotation, and from the same pen, would alone,
IN the absence of all Instructions, and all other guides
and lights on the subject, have satisfied me Of the pro-
priety of my conduct:
"ic General Jackson took possession therefore OF
Pensacola, and of The Fort Barrancas, as he had done OF
81 Marks, not IN Il spirit of hostility 10 Spain, but as .
necessary measure of self defence, giving notice that
they should be restored, whenever Spain should place
commanders and Il force there, able and willing to fulfil
the engagements ofSpain towards the United States, of
restraining, by force, the Florida Indians from hostilitics
against their citizens. The President Of the United
States. To give a signal manifestation of his confidence
in the disposition Of the King of spain TO perform, with
good faith, this Indispensable engagements. and TO de-
monstrate IN the world, that neither the desire of con-
quest, nor hostility 10 Spain, had any interest in Tic
councils ofthe United States, has directed the uncondi.
tonal restoration 10 any Spanish or:cer, duly authuri-
Zcd 10 receive them, OF Pensacola and Barrancas, and
That Ot 81. Marks 10 any Spanish force, adeuualc for its
defence against the attack ofthc saya~es. But The Pre-
s.dcnt will neither iniict punishment. nor pass Il ccnsurc
upon General jackson for that conduct, the motives for
which were founded in the purest patriotism, of the ne
cessIty for which he had the most Immediate and efTec-
tlal means of forming n Judgment, and the yindicatiou
Oh WINCH IS written IN every page Of the law of nations,
rs wei as IN the first law of nature, selftiefcnce. He
thinks II, on the contrary, due To { the Justice which the
United States have a right to claim from Spain, and Won
are accordingly instructed 10 demand of the Spanish Co
vcrnincnl, that inquiry shall be instituted into the con
unct oi Don Jose Aiasat, Governor Of Pensacola, and
oil Don Francisco {. Luergo, Commandment at St.
Marks, ana a suitable punishment inflicted unon thom
tor having IN defiance and violation of the engagements
OF SPAN with the United States, aided and assisted these
hordes of sayages in those very hostilities arainst the
Inltcd States, which it was their official duty TO res
tram. This inquiry is due to the characters of those oc.
AceFs themselves, and To the honor of the Spanish Go
Vcrnmcnt."
The obligation of Spain to restrain. by force tho In
dams of Florida from hostilities against the United
states and Their citizens, Is explicit, is positive, is un-
The fact, that for a series of yeals they lave
received shelter, assistance, supplies, and protection.
III the practice Of such hostiiilies, from tLe Snaui.L
commanders in tloi ida, is clear and uneauivocal If
as the commanders, both at Pensacola and St. Marks
nave alleged, thishas beenthc result oftheir weakness ra-
t'er tlan der Will; n they have assisted the Indians
against The CnI!ed States, To avert their hostiIities from
the province which they bad not sulic ient force to do
tei'i against ihem1 1t may serve, III some measure. To
eNcuipate Individually those officers: but il must carry
demonstration irresistible to the Spanish Government
'Iat Ilc right oi the United States can as little com
pound with impotence as with perfdv, and that Snain
must immediately make her election either TO Mace =
'oIce III L Ior!da, adequate to the protection of her en-
SageIienis. or cede TO the United States a province. OF
winch she retains nothing but the nominal possession,
out winch Is, IN fact, d district open TO the OCCUPANCY of
every enemy, civilized or savage, of the United States.
Hi" serving no othcr earthly purpose than as a rost of
TO them"
L might here lei the matter rest, and if NAV anuoar
lef''ie IN me TO give any other reasons or authority for
my conduct than those have cited, but I have still more
cogcnt reasons than any | have vet stated. I actcd ~
only on the supposed wishes of the government and ma.
tion at large, loudly and repeatedly expressed hut on
orders intended TO have met tho case, and no doub.
would have met 1T precisely, if it could have even been
That 50 great an outrage could have been COM
United by the authorities of any place. professirr fr;onI
ship to the United States, as was committed ON the ner-
son % AiF' rat ut cannot be presumed, (says my
Ihs'ructohS) That the government ofauy island vii at
ioiu any protection or CountenanCe to such robbers. II
may, on the contrary, confidently be belicyp1 iEot ali
governments, and particularly those most exposed. viii
"I'oF d means IN their power for their suppression. -
l ct the government and people of Foxardo did not only
aiioId projection aud countcnancc" to pirates, and so
lar from aHordiDg ''all means in their power for tI,oir
suppression" did, to cap the climax of their atrocity
se'Sc, tHP1a@on, and insult, an American officer, while
- '"C 'NCC"tOu u hia IdWlul OutlcS. and while aciinO
IN strict conformity with the orders of the government,
thus losing all respect for their own character, and for
letting the respect of others, by idenlifying themselves
and interests with frcebooters and outlaws, and maxine
common cause with the enemies of the human race
against the civilized world.
int is asked where find the wishes and opinions ofthe
nation and the government so often and so loudly express
sea as 10 Justiiy NJ operations at toXardo, | answer. in
the messages and co communications of the Executive 10
Iongress at various times, tue acts of Congress for thc
5uPpressIoHof piracy, reports of Committees, and speecb-
IS OF members of Congress; in the petitions of the mer.
camille part ofthe Community to Congress, and TO the
Executive, in the public prints, and in The GENERAL son.
tlrnent of the body of the people.
l could give numerous extracts from the yarious an
tlorIties cited, but their publicity renders il nunccessary
tnat l should do so; shall, therefore, merely refer TO the
residents message, and communications ofthe Score
taries of State and Navy, the acts declaring war aoainet
PIRATES and making appropriations for their suppression
inc reports OF the Chairmen Of Committees 10 whom fbo
SUBJECT was referred. 1t is unnecessary TO cite the Va.
rIous petitions and memorials of the merchants in orr
sea ports, the numerous speeches of members of Con.
grcss on the occasion, and it would be almost as innos
SIDE 10 enurnerate the various newspaper publications
ID Tue subject, as ii would be TO collect the sentiments
uttered by our citizens. All unite in deprerafinn 81