Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-23
CORRESPONDENCE
JOHN C. Calhoun, President and Vice
President Of the United Suites.
Mr. Monroe to General Jackson.

MIR Monroe to General jackson.
. WAsHINGroN DEC. 81, 1918.
LEAR SiR received your letter of November IS
some tune past, and should have answered sooner
but for the great pressure of business ON me, pro-
caedin~ from duties connccttsI with tho measures
of Congress.
The step suggested in mine 10 you of October 20,
VIII, am Inclined to believe, be unnecessary My
sole object Ill 1t was to enable place your view
Oh the authority under which you acted IN Florida on
the strongest ground possible. to do complete
Justice to yourself. | was pursuaded that you had
rot done yourself justice i'll thut respect, your
Responsiveness with tile Department. aud thought that
II would be better that the explanation should
mence with you, than be invited by the Department.
1t appeared TO tina. that would he the most deli
cato course III regard To yourself There Is, it is
true, nothing In the Department TO Indicate q diff
Terence or opinion between you and the Executive,
requesting the import of your instructions, and for
that reason, that 1t would have been difficult to have
expressed that sentiment without implying by it a
censtre your conduct, than which nothing could
be more remote from disposition or intention.
On reviewing your communication by Captain
Gadsdcn, there were three objects prcemlneutly in
view: the first, to preserve the Constitution from
Jury the second, to deprive Span and the allied pow
efs OF any just cause of war; and the third, to i'm
prove the occurrence to the best advantage of the
country, and of the honor of those euuared in TO-.
In every step which, have since taken have pursued
those objects with the utmost zeal, and according to
my best judgment. In what concerns you person.
ally, huVe omitted nothing in nv power to do YOU
JUSTICE, not shall in the sequel.
The decision Ill the three great points above sta
ted, respecting the to be pursued by the ad-
mntstration, was unanimously concur red IN; and
have good reason to believe that it has been main
tanned since in every parti :uar, by ALL with perfect
Integrity. 1t will be gratifying you to know that
letter of instructions have been drawn by the Sc
cre'ary of State Minister at Madrid, in reply
TO letter of Mr Pzzaro, which has been publish
ed, in which all the proceedings in Florida, and IN
regard to it, have been freely reviewed, and placed
in Light which will, think, be satisfactory oil
This letter will be reported to Congress in few
days, ana published OF course.
On one circumstance it seems proper that should
now give you explanation Your letter Of Jaul-
AIRY was received while l was seriously indsposed.
Observing that 1t from you, handed it 10 Mr
Calhoun to read, after reading two lines only
myself. The order to you to take command in that
quarter had before then been issued He remarked,
after peiusin. the letter, that it was confidential
one. relating to Florida, which must answer. I
asked him If he had forwarded you the orders of
Gen. Gaines on that subject. He replied that he
had Your letter to me, with many others from
friends vas put aside in consequence of my indispo-
siton anu the great pressure at the time ond
never recured to until after my from Lou
doun, on The receipt of yours by ar Handy, nn.,
then on the suggestion vf Nj Calhoun.