Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-02-15

Hessfs. sergeant, S0utharu, ana newton among
he nays. To them beg to refer the meeting for
its further discussion, remarking only, that the en-
trance Of the American army into Florida, and
their provisional assertion of biligerent rights
in place Of the abused the derelict authority OF
Spain, was no violation Of neutrality, much less
an act of war; bu, an act strictly defensive; au
holzed by the principle Of self preservation which
is derived from the law OF nature itself is recoS-
nZed BY the law of nations, and conduccs to their
mutual safety, and under the obligations of which
the President, to whom the constitution commits
the defence of the nation, and the assertion OF its
rights, was bound TO prosecute the war with the
seminole Indians, to speedy and successful IS.
sue.
"This right of sef-defence, belonging to the ma
ton and committed to the President, carried with
it right to the means or its exercise (b.) And
the inability Of the Spanish authorities or their un.
Willingness to preserve towards US the general oh
legations Of neutrality, to comply with the posi-
tive stpulatons of treaty, binding them to res
train the Indians, within their limits, from hostiii-
ties against the citizens Of the United States
brought General Jackson's military operations, in
Florida, strictly within the number of these means
But whether regarded as they relate to the consti-
tuon of this country, or as they affected the
rights OF SPAIN they are equally insufficient to IN
culpate General Jackson. He acted like other
commanders, under the orders of his government
and these orders he executed with his usual ener-
~ and address"
He was not responsible for their nature, or FOR
the extent of operations which they commanded.
and therefore needed no defence. Aud the fact
Is, that IN the despatch of Mr. adams, when Secre-
tary Of State. to our Minister in Spain. dated 2Sth
November, 1878, (Which has been 50 invitliously-
and may say ignorantly-laudcd as an able and
liberal defence Of General Jackson, and which. so
far as it regards this matter, is nothing more than
a verbose and declamatOry rehearsal Of the Ell
dence and arguments furnished by the General
himself, in explanation Of his measures,) (c) the
name Of Jackson is introduced for no other than
the usual dipomatic purpose Of making the officer
the scape.oat for the government"
Cal This p,5h Of tie President of very recent
date As early the 18th october, 1915, when General
Armstrong, then Secretary Of War, the Canada
frontier Mr. Monroe, Secretary Of State thus EXPIRE
himself u Gov. Buunt, of Tennessee" Sir, am
ted by the President 10 acknoa ledge the receipt Of Your
EXceencys letter Of the 2Sih MI" Tile mInaccd in
yason of your State by the hostile Ccek,, must be
with decision which will not only give security your
selves, but be elt be Elf a, through the whole Of
our southern country Our citizens must not continue to
be the victims, either Of the aggressons Of that, or uay
otte' 7be, cheier they Ie roiGry be made NJ The
sngahon 81 Brihh Sponish Intrigue sed4tison."
The letter Containing t'ns passage vas forwarded by
Gov Blount TO Gen Jackson, and that early day con-
veyed to his mind proaer notion OF the views OF Mr..
Monroe respecting the chaac of the Indian var and Ut
the energetic which would be required 10 bring
i 70 speedy and efiectla conclusion.
(b) Vatcl, page 24l.
~ For the arguments and evidence here referred o,
see documents (25) accompanying the Presidents Mes
sage, December ID, 1873 particularly the Generals es-
patches of the 5h May and the % Of june 1873 aud their
enclosures, and compare them with Mr.. Adams letter 10
George Washington irving.