Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-10

bic to the peace vi the country OF eveb sompo'
IDLE with it, that General, on distant IRON
tier, with his eye intently fixed upon vaiuaoie
province, which his arms can overrun, shall
decide for himself and his Government what
acts shall be sufficient to make foreign So"-,
er an associate in war sgainst u.s.
"But the violation Of the orders OF the Exc
cutive Government by General Jackson, would
not, in his opinion, Mr.. l.. said, form case
which would require the interposit,on OF The
House. If il had not been combined with the as
sumption Of powers belonging neither to The
President nor the General. 1t seemed, indeed
10 be thought by the opposers OF the resolutions,
that independently of the orders or powers oil
the President, the Commanding General, as an
attribute of his station, had the right to attack
the Spanish forts under the circumstances In
which he acted. The argument would not
avail, unless he had right not only 10 do II
without orders, but against them. Let this OBJ
lection be waived and those which had been
used to show that the President had no power
to authorize proved equally that General Jack
son had none TO make the capture"
"But. in the recital OF, the different motives
which Influenced General Jackson to occupy
the Spanish forts, we find them all oil two clas-
ses-past injuries anG future convenience
Gentlemen might say that twas diitcuit pre-
cise,y 10 determine how strong must be the ur-
sency Of the occasion which would justify the
seizure of neutral fort. The capture Of Co.
peuhagen by England had been frequently adj
yer,ed 10 in the debate He was sure that we
should not adopt system Of political morality
more loose than that which was avowed by The
ministry who planned that expedition.
"But the threa. Of the Spanish Governor had
been considered by the opposers OF the rssolu-
ton, and particularly by gentleman from Fir-
pinia, (Gen. Smytb,) as rendering the alta ck
which followed absolutely unavoidable. lie
could not believe that General Jackson himself,
in the moment of irritation, would have repre-
sen,ed this threat as affording justification Tor
the attack Of Pensacola, il he had not supposed
that he bad other and better reasons for the
act. But there was some ground Tor alarm to
those who loved peace, and wished the Govern
meut to be the master of its own policy, in the
deliberate expression of an opinion by ma
tional representative that an insulting letter
from foreign to an American officer must be
resented by invasion and war. twas with the
resources of the country that this game OF chiv-
airy was to be played. They were notplaccd at
the disposition Of the Government, with such
view. On the whole Mr.. L. said, he consider.
ed il very clear that there was no military neces-
sity for the occupation Of St Marks or Pensa-
cola Reasons Of political expediency and mil
itary convenience there certainly were; and
the correspondence of Gen. Jackson Showed
that he had been attentive to both Of those
They were reasons which by the Constitution
could produce their proper effect only upon
the Legislature Of the Union But ifthe attack
upon Pensacola was the assumption of an un.
constitutional power, ought the House to de-
clare its disapprobation Of the ACT? Some gen.
tlemen even doubted its right 70 do SO, as if a
right to the free expression of its opinion on
matters connected with its powers and duties,
were not necessary in every department OF
free Government. This conservatory power
could not be denied to the Executive or the
Judges, and it was equally necessary to the Le-
gislature.
"But what occasion, it has been said, is there
to do any thing on the subject. None if Gen.
Jackson did not exceed the powers with which
he was entrusted; but if he exerted one OF the
highest prerogatives of Government which is
confded to no less authority than the entire lie.
gslature of the country, are we willing to en-
ploy our own powers when we think it right;
and, when we do not, to let any body else as
sumo them? The character of Gen. Jackson
is said to be implicated in the vote which is
proposed The opinion Of the world and of
posterity will not be affected by the vote. There
peach his military glory or his patriotism, But
the character Of the country does not depend
alone upon its military exploits. It's civil in
situations, its liberty and laws, elements
of the national reputation quite as valuable. To
suppress our disapprobation, if it were mer-
tied, would not raise the charac ter Of General
Jackson, but would impair our own
|. To these strong observations from Mr.. LowN-
DIES, il would be superhuous TO add other quo-
Ftations from that debate. We VIII make only
one other extract, and that is made because the
worthy veteran who spoke it has been lately
brought forward as witness 20 justify the
shooting Of six militia men, on the ground
that militia men deserving 10 The enemy were
shot during the Revolutionary War What
did general REED say in regard to the events of
the Seminole war? Hear him:
"Gentlemcn have said, if the. House pass the
resolutions, il will be disgracing General Jack
son. DO not think SO. | admit and no one
admires more the distinguished military ser,i-
ces of the General during The late war; but these
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