Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-24

country 10 concerned. there ought to be room nsher
Tor tr'esdship nor tnmity.
You conclude your letter by saying that you under
stand the matter nowthat you te interest in this
| slterca'ion--and that you woud leave mo and Mr.
Crawford and all concerned TO sste this affair in
own way, aud that you now close the correspondence
Tor ever.
II IL not fer me to ohjec, 10 the you may
choose 10 close the -poniepce on your part On
my part, have DEERE to pToong IL. The sp.ct--
lie u the 6's, sni ,cood officers u this great repub-
Lee engaged in cOrresp nleGcc OF this Daurc has 10
attraction Ter at any time and IL very lar rom be-
ing at this critical junc,ure OF our affairs
My consolation Is that was MT Of teekns; and
as am not resptn-ib, foe it's commencement, feel
no disPos ion TO incur any pon.ib'y for i,s contnu-
an. reed in il. TO repc unjust and base imru
,ous Ipon my character, could no, retire IL honor
| while they continued 10 be reiterated.
Hivng fully vndicsted my conduct, I will
conclude the .pondepce al ia single remark
Ina, o, well know wha, Is duo my rights ard self
respeot, in this unpleasant affair." ,ermi, myself to
be diverted into an serca ioa with Mr. Crawford
other individual, HON you may choose consider
conc rn' d FL this affair." J. c CALHOUN.
President JACKSON.
.M Crawford attempted to correspondence with
with him, through General Jackson see Appendix q
APPENDIX.
Extract from the private correspondence between MIR
Monroe and General Jackson, on the Seminole al
fair, referred to In the let er OF the 29th May.
(A)
Mr.. Monroe TO General Jackson.
WARRINGTON July 10, 1918
Dear Sir: received, lately, your letter of June 81,
by Mr. Handy, at my farm in LEU 'oun. to which
hal retired to await youf report and the return OF our
commissioners from Buanos Ayres. In reply t. youS
lie ter, sh M express myself wi h the freedom aud
candor whic, have invariably used Ia my commune
cations wi you. shall withhold nothing in regard
to your attack OF ths Spanish posts, and occupancy OF
them particularly Pensscols, which you ought to
know, il be ne e the most delicate anil
Interesting nature, and which, without circumspec,
and csu'i9u- policy, looking to all the objects which
m. m he mos and M
favorsbe consequence. 1t is by knowledge OF ell
the circumstances, and comprehensive view OF the
whole subject that the danger TO which this measure
Is expo ed may be AVOIDED MI all The good which you
h We contemplated 10y H. as trus', bs fully realized
In calling you into active service against the Semi
NOES, and nmunicairg TO you the de-s which had
been given just before II Gen. Gaacs, the views and
intentions OF The Gov rnmen' wsre fully disclosed in
respect to the operations in Florida. In rauscendng
the limit prescribed by those orders, you ac'ed on
your own responsible y, fac,s and rircumstapre
which were unknown to tie G lvernment when the
orders were given many of which indeed, occurred
afterward', and which you thought imposed you the
measure, act OF pa,riosn essential TO The onor
and ntrres, OF your c,untry.
The United States stand justified In ordering their
troops into Florida in pursuit Of their enemy. They
have this right by the Law # nations, il the ,minoles
were inhabitants Of another country and had erei
Florida tn eiude our pursuit Being inh sbitants of
Florida, with species OF soveceEnty that part OF
the territory and right 10 the soil right to give
such an order IL the complete and UNIQUE stion-
able. 1t is no, &C, of hostility to Spain IL is the
less because her Government is bound by treaty
restrain by torcs OF armS, II necessary, the Indsns
there from committing hoslilies again the u Siates
But an cri-r by the Government 10 attack a Span.
ish po., would assume another character. 1t would
authorize to which, by the principles Of our con-
tuition, the Executive is incompetent. Congress alone
possess the power. am aware that may oc cur
where the commanding general, acting his own
sponsibi may with safety pass this limit, and with
essential advantage to his county. The off .ers and
troops OF the ural power forget the obligations Incl
1cnt to their neutral character they stimulate the
enemy 70 make war; they furnished them with arms
and mu iions OF war to carry on ,h'v take active
part in other respset' in their f.vo- they afford them
an asylum on h'ir ret-eat. The general obtaining
victory pursues them to this post, the gates OF which
shu against him. he attacks and carries it, aud rests
tho's acts for his Justification. The affair is then
brought before his Government by the rover whose
post has been thus tackled aud carried II the govern
ut whose officer mahe the ack had given an order
fr il, the officer would have merit in II. He ex-
ercsed no dtcrs'ion did he act his resp,n-
sibily. The merit OF the service, il there be any
~, wou not be his Thia is he ground which this
occurrence rests, as u his part; will now Look 10 the
future.
aci' or did you authorize t.? did MT: il was the act
of the general. He performed for reasons dee med
suffi 'ent himself and on his own responsibility de.
man1 then, the surrender OF the posts ard his punish
msnt. The evidence jus'ifyine the conduct of the A.
m'rcan general, and proving the misconduct of those
officers, will be embodied, to be laid before the cove
reign "a the ground which Their punishment will be
expected
II the Executive refused to the posts, espe
cally Pensacola, II would amount TO declaration OF
war, to which ii incOmpetrn, would he accused
with usurpDg the authority of Congress, and giving
deep and ia al wound TO the constitution. BY charging
the oHenre the officers of Spain, we take thu
ground which YOU have presented, and lock TO you
to supper, it, You must aid in procuring the dGcu.
mems necessary for this purpo'e. Those which you
sent ny Nj. II .mby were prepared in much haste
and do not am sati lied, do justice to the cause This
must be attended TO without delay.
Should we hold the posts, il is impossible 10 calculate
all the consequences likely 10 result from IT, not
improbable that would imme da,.ly 'ollow. Spain
would be stimulated to declare IL; and, once declared
the aiventirers Of Britain and other countries would
under tbs Spanish h,g, privateer our commerce.
Ths Immense reYerus which now receive would
he mnch dimnished, world be the prof s of our
valuable productions. The war would prob bly Soon
h"rome general; an do oreses that we should
have single power In Europe on our side. WHY risk
h's' cons quence,! The events which have occurred
In both the Foridas show the incompetency Of Spain
to maintain her authority; and the progress of the revo
Ia ions in South America will require all her forces
there There much rea'on TO presume that this sc
u furnish strong iDduceme TO Spain ceds The ter
rory, provided do not wound deeply her pride
by holding IT, II we hold the posts, her government
cannot treat with honor, which, by withdra wing the
troops we afford her opportunity to do. Tn. man.
ner in which we propose 10 act, will exculpate you
from cen'ure, and promises TO obtain ALL the advanta
ges which you contemplated frcm the mshsure, and
possibly very From dihsren' course no adyap.