Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-21


declared TO the Government, that "the WARMTH
the Indians was at an end" more than TWO
months afterwards he planned military expe.
di,ion aeans, the province of East Florida, ana
directed by special order 10 General E"ihes'
OF the army, and to captain Dallas oil Inc navy
10 make war upon and reduce 81 Augustine
The capital Of that province. See IFS oruer u
Gen. Gaines dated nth August, 1879 i"ese
hostile steps were taken without ever consult
ing the Pre- sident Of the United States, OF any
officer Of the Government. Congress aio"e' oy
the constitution has "the power TO declare war
and, when declared, to the President Is given
the power Of carrying it on, by "ihe coHi'ha"u
of the loud and naval forces"
But in this case there was no act oil Congress
no declaration Of war; no order from the rfes
ident or Secretary Of War; and yet Zen. JACK
son usurping the whole power Of the Govern
mrnt, orders war TO be made upon na'ion I'D
amity with US, and with whom solemn treaty
was then existing. This order was Issued ny
Gen Jackson or the 7:h August, 1918. On Inc
lst September following, having been ap?rised
OF the fact The President direcued the order 10
BE- oountermanded. This put sop TO an
expedition that would had il proceeded, inVoiV-
ed the nation in war with Spain, and probably
with all Europe. Gen ia, kson to be sure did
not forbid Gen. Gaines and Capt Dallas 10 ooey
the orders Of the President, counlermahoihS
his own, but he did nearly as bad tor, In SUD
sruuen, letter he insults the Government ana
talks abou, "weak and lmil policy That can
not command rrspect'-and in letter OF the
2Sth November 1918, he urges upon the Pres''
d. nj The nece ,si,y of taking possession vi the
Floridas and gives, among others, this ex'raor-
binary reaGon. "H Doud a0ord oct'rs service 10
some Of our regiments vho haze groom slus-
sHsh from the inactiyity oIyarriSOn dutieS. ,
Fellow CitiZens-lt is a solemn and melan>
choly fact, that war, with all its horrors, has
always been the sport and pastime OF kings and
conQuerors. "And hbner said, let the young
men arise and play before US, and Joaa said let
them arise. So ;hev arose, aud every man
caugh' his fellow, and thrust his sword into
his side, and they fell together; and these
! Two "miktayy chietlainS" looked Upon this scene
Of blood and Carnage with perfect composure!
In The same spilit Gen. Jackson says: u have
hung two capti,es 10 day, Tomorrow march
tor Suwanna"; and again: "our reg iments are
become sluggish with the inactivity OF garrison
duty, let them arise and shed blood before The
neutral posts Of ST. Augustine take The Florldas
and add them 10 The Union" Can the peace,
the happiness, the prosperity and future wei>
fare of the American pepor, be with safety
committed 10 such hands as Gen. Jackson's!
coaiure you, as you value your free Insitu-
lions, 10 ask yourself this question, in the c All
did spirit Of truth. Pause and reflect before
you irrerocably fix the destiny oil our happy
country by an affirmative reply, that dooms the
country 10 follow in The rear Of the celebrated
republics that have preceded Us.
mcni was made acquainted with the FoTesS6SfHng;
facts, they excited Consideration and produced
embarrassment | speak advisedly on this
subject, knowing it to have been SO. The holy
alliance, Gas it is proianrly calIed) was then in
existence, and Spain was an acknowledged
partv Forci5ly taking and retaining PROVING.
es and military posts belonging OF right TO a
friendly and naturalization, was repugnanl 10
every settled principle of national law, and was
peculiarly obnoxious when done by subordi.
nate officer of the army OF the U. STATES, in
violation Of the constitution, and in opposition
to the pacific and neutral policy OF the govern.
ment.
The law Of nations is nothing but the appli.
cation (upon large scale Of those rules Of
justice and propriery that regulate every neigh
borhood circle Wher the disobedent and
mischievcus son Of one f4rme" or mechanic
does an injury 10 the property or person of
another, the person injured, if good man, and
anxious to preserve peace in the neighborhood,
gives Information to his neighbor, asks him in
friendly manner 10 repai" the injury done,
aud reprimand or correct the boy that has done
H. When Capt. Bcrklcy made the attack upon
the .Chesapea axe irgair the whole nation almost
cried out ,car, and confess myself TO have
heen among the number. But Mr.. Jefferson,
the lover of peace took The right Course; he
demanded PREPARATION for the injury, and The
punishment Of the officer; the former was even
tually, though reluctantly, granted; but the
officer was never punished, and the refusal 10
do So remained as a jus, cause of complaint,
and, with other wrongs, produced the last war
with that nation. The precedeh, set by Great
Britain in this case, il will be seen, was follow.
ed by the administration in the case Of General
Jackson and his Florida conquests. The posts
unconslitutionally and illegally wrested from
Spain were given up, and all the Spanish au-
,horilies restored TO their functions-but Gen.
Jackson was neither punished nor reprimand-
ed
In this situation the subject was laid before