Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-10

,h;oEbe declared. that although orcers had
bean piyen TO pass the Spanish territory. they
wefess;y guarded as that the local authorities OF
Soain should be respected. How respected:
The President, 10y the documents accompany
ing the message, the orders themselves winch
issued from the department oil war 10 the com"
manding; general, had assured the legislature
that if the enemy should take shelter under
Spanish fortress, the fortress was not 10 DE
attacked, but the fact to be reported 10 the
depari ment TOR further orders. Yet on inc
very same 25th day of March, does Gen Jack-
son write from his head quarters; that he shaii
lake ST. Marks as d necessary depot-Whlrh
he cid. Was ever the just confidence OF the
legislative body in the assurance OF the Chiel
Magistrate, more abused!
t On the goth April the Genera! writes, that
he believes the war is a, an end for the present.
He repeats the same opinion six days after
But on the Esd May, on bis way home, he re-
cciye Sa letter from lie cornmahdant OF Pensa-
cola intimating KS surprise al the invasion oil
the Spanish Territory, and MS delcrminAii1hH
such acts VI hn5t$y are persisted III. 10 en-
ploy force 10 repei them. Let us pause and eLa-
,nlre this proceedings vert hnstlie * aitron.'s
in the views Of General Jackson. Recollect that
he was Governor OF Florida-then he had no
orders from his superiorS To allow passage
10 the American army--that he had heard o!
the reduction OF ST Marks, and that General
Jackson at The head oil hs army was apfroacn-
ing in the direction Of Pensacola. he had
seen the Presidents Message the 25th March,
and reminded Gcn. Jackson OF 1t. Mr Clay
said, that he. could no, read the alusion made
by the Governor 10 that Message, Without feel
ing that the Charge OF insncerity which Is I'M
Piled, had at least 100 much The appearance OF
truth in il. Could the Governor have done less
than write such letter! t'eh Jackson says,
that when he received tnat le'Ief he 20 longer
hesia'ed. No, sir, he did no longer hcsiaie.
He received II on the 25rd--he was IN fehsa,
cola Oh The oath, and immediately SET himself
before TIT fortress OF Barranc"s which he short
" reduced. Wonderful energy! Admirable
promptiludc. Alas. that 1t had been an ener
81 aud rrqmpt'tude within the pale OF the
constitution, ana according TO The orders OF the
Chief III Glstra:c. 1t vas Impossible 10 give
any definition 81 war that would not eOr,pre.
hcnd these acts. There was no Justification lur
the occupation OF Pensacola aud HE attack OF
the BarrInces in the Message oi The President,
or the orders 10 the General. The President
acted ia conformity 10 The constitution, when
he forbade the olt.,k ot Spanish post, and
when in the same spirit he surrendered the
pests Themselves.
Re wohli,po, rrspass much longer upon the
time Of She committee; but be trusted he should
be INDUCED VITA some few reflections upon the
danger Of permitting the conduct on which il
had been his painful dnly to anlnadvcri, ic
pass, without solemn eXpte'a' on OF the disap-
probation Of tn, house. Recall TO your reco!-
lection, said he, the free natons which have
gone before us. Where are they now!
Gone. elimmering through the dream of things that
a school boys tale, the wonder Of hour. [were,
Ard how have they lost their libertIes? we
could transport ourselves back to the ages
when Greece ana Rome noulished in their
greatest prosperity. and ,min~ling in the ,hrong,
sbo,ld ask a Greciap If he did not fear thai
some daring military chief air, covered with
glory. some phiiip or Alexander, wonlI one
d,v oyer,brow lie liberties of his country? the
ro.,G,icn, and ndlcnan, Grec;an would exclaim
no, no, we have uo,hinc, to fear from our he
roes. our ,;bemi.s will he eternal. IF Roman
citizen had br,n asked. if he did not fear that
The co,uucror of Gaul n,irh, establish a throne