Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-24

Mrs. Garrett and family and of Lieut. Scott and
hi, men, that therefore General Gaines had been
=" directed To penetrate from AmeliaIslandthro,gh
FIo'ld1 and cooperate in au attack on the Semi
mole towns, II his force were sufficient for that
offensive operations; and that with this view he
himself was expected 10 concentrate his force &
adopt the necessary measures 10 terminate the
CONNECT fith 'chdt aIe,c, let me ask MesSrs.
Cabe!l, Call s, Stanard was General jackson to
concentrate his force and adopt his measures.''-
They can only answer, with the view of penctra-
ting into Florida, and carrying on within is limits
such military operations, as might be necessary
10 terminate the conflict" What Justification ra-
thcr what apology, can they offer against the tn
dignaton OF their readers, and the reproaches Of
truth for declaring, with the aeciation OF regret too
that this act oil General Jackson was in defiance
oil OF -ers! The orders themselves correspond
win the act, and the act conforms to the interpre
tation given to the orders by the government that
ISSUED them. On the 25th March 1873 the Pre-
sident In message TO Congress, adver,ing TO the
course and spirit of the Indian hos,iles says, &C.
neral jackson &c ordered TO the theatre Of &C
ton charged with the management Of the war,
ana vested with the powers necessary 10 give il
eject And on the 18th May following the Sc
cretary OF war writes 10 Gov. Bib: "General
jackson is vested with full powers 10 conduct the
war III the manner he may Judge best
Row how could General Jacksons discretion.
which was entrusted with these &c full powers fail
To determine on crossing the Florida line, in order
10 comply with MS instructions TO beat the enc
'''y, - ~ Wnen That enc
my was situated &c within the limits of Florida!'
1t Is counting nothing the justice of the Rich
nond meeting to affirm that even they viii admit
Il was impossible.
commanded by the President OF the United States,
whom as Major General in the service he was
Sound to obey, it is part of his defence, to dis
prove the allegation of its being in violation Of
provision OF the constitution. I his charge, were
IT sustainable, would evidently miss General Jack
son and hit hlr. Monroe. But il was debated in
the HouSe OF Representatives with intense eager
ness for about three weeks; discussed by so
members, and enforced b. all The boosted manage
ment and eloquence of MIR. Clay, and yet was de.
cided in the negative by vote of 100 to 70, with
the votes OF Messrs Sergeant, Southland, and New
ton among the nays. To them beg leave TO refer
the meeting for its further discussion remarl,ing
only that the entrance of the American army into
Florida, and their provisional assertion of be-
gerent rights i'll place of the abused the derelict
authority OF Spain, was violation of neutrality,
much less an act OF war, but strictly defensive;
authorized by the principle of self-preservafion,
winch IS derived from the law OF nature itself; is
recognised by the law of nations and conduces TO
their mutual safety, and under the obligations of
which, the President to whom the constitution
commits the defence THE nation and the assertion
OF It's rights, was bound 10 prosecute the with
The Seminole Indians, TO speedy and successful
issue.
This right of self-defence, belonging TO the ma
uon and committed to the president, carried with it
right 10 the means OF its exercise And the in
aoihty oil the Spanish authorities, or their unwi-
iinSnesS to preserve towards us the general obli-
gauons oil neutrality, TO comply with the positive
stipuiatons OF treaty binding them to restrain the
Indians, within their limits from hostilies 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 the constitution of this
country, or as they affected the rights of Spain,
they are equally insufficient 10 inculpate General
n Of 18th
the orders Of his Government, and these orders hc
executed with his usual energy and address. He
was not responsible for their nature or for the cx-
tent Oh operations which they commanded, and
therefore needed no defence. And the fact is that
IN the despatch Of bfr. Adams when Secretary of
State to our Minister in Spain, dated 18th Of No
vember, 1878, (Which has been so invidously-
and may say ignorantly--lauded as an able and
liberal defence OF General Jackson, and which, SO
'dr Us IT'S regards this matter, is nothing than
verbose and declamatory rehearsal of the evidence
and arguments furnished by the General himself,
In explanation ell measures,t - the name ofJack
son Is introduced for no other than the usual di
piomatc purpose OF making The officer the scape-
goat for the government.
The next charge of the Richmond meeting, &c he
has suspended the writ Of h16eGs corpus upon his
individual authority" besides the fault Of express
sion, in using individual where 1;;ciai was re-
CURED, and the giarng incongruity between he
ief In these charges and the early declaration of
the meeting, Chat they apprehend from the Gene
raj no attack on public liberty" and repose un-
diminished confidence in his love of country an
incongruity, which shows that the end Of their ad-
dress had forgotten the beginning contains posi-
tive Inisstatement of fact. General Jackson did
not suspend the writ of babeas corpus.
am perfectly aware, that the true question |
growing out OF the defence of New Orleans, IS not
whether the writ Of hdbeds corpus was or was not
but whether General jackson did or did
not, on that memorable occasion perform his duty.
am also satisfied, that no friend TO his country
can lay his hand on his heart and say, he did not |
perform IT. But his merit is so rich in relation to
that defence, that am willing TO pursue the Grim
inal inquiry SCI foot by the unfounded and ire
ievant charge Of the meeting, confident of being
able to shew, that their own mode of investigation
must demonstrate the Generals innocence, and !
their own injustice
1t appears to me, that the public writers in Yir-
glnia, who have been shivcrng their lances a.
sainst the % broad circumference" Of Gen Jack
sons fame, and especially the con,riveTs Of this
address, initiate the arts OF necromancers who in
calling up the dead and communicating with the
ieVil, are represented 10 begin, by alarming the
spectators with exhibitions OF SOULS and skeletons
prodigious shadows on the wall, magical circles on
the floor, blue flames, ivid smoke and other such
fearful sights So, the politicians alluded to- al
ways endeavor 20 .crrify and nislcad the judgment
Oh their readers, by Parading number Of techni-
Cal PhTsses-the 1crit Of hGbeds corpus, the H6er-
ty Of the citizens, the liberty Of the press, &C. as
It these constitutional blessings had been destroy
Cd by General Jackson, and had not, in fact been
prcScrTod TO the people Of New Orleans, by his
prudence, patriotism and valoT. This pernicious
sopstry results, in part, tom the absence of facts
ior the Foundation Of cir attack in part from the
brood OF atiornics produced by their ponderous iu
aDd in part from their exclusive
reading Of English history and English law I;
wherein these safeguards oi freedom are frequent
~ seen struggling under the gripc Of oppression,
and family dawning out after a night Of darkness.
But here, where they arc the staff of our political