Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-22

the accusation OF MI Crawford. MY course, L trust,
requires apology, and il 1t did, havs too much
seii-respect to make IL to any in case touch
ing the di,eharge Of my official conduct stand on
very different ground. embrace the opportunity which
your letter offers, not for the purpose OF making ex
eu-es, but as suitable occasion 10 place conduct
in relation TO interesting public Transaction in IL.
proper light; aud am a,hed that MIR. Craw'orJ,
though tar from in ending me kitdue.s, has offered
mo such opportunity.
In unLer aking TO place my con iuct in its prope.
hgh', deem IL proper To premi,e that i, IL very FAR
nom my inteLuon TO defend mine by impesching
yours. Where We have differed, have no doubt we
lave differed honeiy and in ciaiiniog to act on honor
able and paro ic motives myself, cheeriuiy accord
the zane to you.
know not that correctly under stood your mesn-
ing, but after careful psrusal, l would infer from
your tier that you had learned Tor The first time by
MIR. Csawtords 10 ter, that you aud placed differ
ent constructions the order under which you acted
In ihs Seminole war; and that you had been led be-
heve, previously, by my letters to yourself and CO.
vernur Bbb, that IconcUrred with you thinking that
your orders intended to authorize your attack
the Spanish posts IN Florida. Under these impressions
you would seem to inpute to me some degree OF du-
piicy, or at least ccucea ment, ch required my
part explanation. hope that my conce pon Of your
meaning is erroneous, but it DO not, add your mean
ing be such a, suppose. must be permitted to ex-
press my surprise al the missppre DsioD, which,
feol co n 'eui it will be in my power correct by the
most decisive proof, drawn from the public docunents,@
aui the correspondence between Mr.. Monroe aud
yourself. growing ost OF the decision of the cabinet
the Seminole affair. which passed through my hands
at the tme and which now have his permis .ion to
use, ms explanatory Of my opiccn, well as his, and
abe other members oi his adusVlistration To, save
you the trouble OF turning TO the file of your cores
poadenc-, have enclosed extracts ison the letter..
which clearly prove that the decision OF the cabinet
the point tina, Your orders did not authorize the occu-
patton Of 81. Maks and Pensacola was early and iul.
iy made known to you AMI that 1, in partcala-, coa
curr ed in the decision.
Mr.. Monroe's letter o. the 10 July; 1915 the first
oil the series. and written immeda ely after ths decs-
ion OF The cabinet aud from which haye given CO.
Pous ektrac, enter. fully into tbs views taken by the
nj ~ yhnla ttnrf ~ Al.
l9h CT August, 1873, o. ec to the conslruc ion
which the Administration had placed your orders
aud you assign your reasons at large why you
ceiyed that hs orders under which you acted author.
ized Your atoms in Florida. MIR Monroe replied
on the 2Oth octoher 1918, and after expressing his
regret h you had placed construction on your or
d-rs different ison what was intended he invited you
TO open correspondence with me, that your coneep-
ION oithe meaning OF your orders, and that Of the al
ministrdtion, might be placed, with the reasons on
both sides on the files Of the War department Your
Letter OF the 18th OF November in answer agrees 10
the correspondence az proposed, but declines comnen-
cling It, to which Mr. Monroe replied by letter Of
the 2is' cember, stating his reasons Tor suggesting
the CORE 'pondence, and why he thought oug to
commenee with YOU To these, have added an extract
from your letter OF the 7ih December approving Mr.
Monroes message at the opening Of Congress, which,
though not continuing part of the CORES, cadence
from which have extracted copously, is intimate
~ connected with the subject under considers alton.
But 1t was not by private correspondence, ony that
the view which the Executive took of your orders was
made known. In his message to the House OF Repre-
N,
information OF The result of your operation in Florida
was received, Mr.. Monroe states that " orders had
been given 10 the general in command not TO enter
Florida, unless IL be in pursuit OF the enemy and in
that to respect the Spanish authority wherever
u may he maintained; and will he instructed TO
Withdraw his forces from the province, aud as soon as
ne mas reduced that tribe he Semnos 81 TO order and
secuei our ieow-ci'zens in that quarter by sati,fas
tory arrangements against its unprovoked and savage
hos'il'es IN future In his annual message at the |
opening OF Congress in November OF the same wear
the President, speaking Of your entering orida saws
"on authorizing Major General Jackson TO enter Fior
dd Ia pursuit of the Seminoles, taken not TO
encroach on the rights OF Spain" Again: "In enter
ing FLORIDA To suppress his Omhnati9n no idea wac
entertained OF hostility TO SPAIN and however iu,ti
ao'e he commanding General was in cons yquence Of
me misconduct oil the Spanish I'll GERS, in entering s.
Marks aud Pensacoa 10 terminate IL, by providing IN
the savages, aud their assocates that hey could no,
be protected, there yet the AMIGA Bile relations be-
tween The United States and Spain could not be altered
by that act alone. BY ordering Tn restitution of those
posts, those re aiiens preserved To change n,
.he,a The power OF The executive is deemed incompe.
ent' IL Is vested in Congress alone. The view Ia.
ken OF This subsc, met your entire APPRECIATION as
pears from the extract of your letter. of Dscember
1918, above referred to.
" After such full and decisive proof "a II se,m,o
me, oil the view ef the Executive, had right az
supposed 20 conclude that you long since knew ,ba, the
and myself in particular, OF the
opinion that the order under which you acted did no,
authorizes you 10 occupy the Spanish pc sts but now
'nier from your letter, to which this an answer that
such conclusion erroneous aud that yo, were NJ
the impression I'LL you received Mr. Crawfod's latter
maj concuErod in the opposite cansru cton which Won
gave 10 your orders, that they intended TO au bor
We you 10 occupy The posts. You rely for this inn
Pt'sioh as understand you, certain general express
tnns IN my letter to Governor Bib Of Alabama of the
i5in OF May, ISIS, in which S,ate that General
ackson IL vested with full powers to conduct the war
III TIE manner he shall judge BEST and also in nv
letter OF the 9th February 1878, in answer to yours OF
the 10Th January OF the year. which acouaint
ed you wi the entire appreciation of the Presiden,
oil all the measures you had adopted to terminate the
rupture with the : minOie Indaus"
WIN not reason the point, that letter 10 Gov Bib
weh was not communicated to you. which bears date
long alter you had occupied g.. Marks and sub ,eouep
70 me time you mad determined to occupy PensacoIa
t'ee your letter OF June 81, 1918 to me pubIi he'd
WIN the Seminole documen',) could give you authori.
w to occupy those posts. know thai, 10 quoting The
letters you ud not intend such absurdity TO authorize
snch an differences and therefore concIuds tb,
u was your Intention by the extract TO show that A,
ne nme oil writing the letter, ii was my opinion lhal
me ORDERS uhder which, you did act were intended IN
ec'horz' the occupation Of the Spaush posts. No
Ihng could have been more remote from INV ntsn.
Ton ~ writing the letter. Ii would have b On in nm
position 20 Ibe view which have always ,aksn Of vor
d ders aud in direct contradiction 10 the Ptesiden,i
ne''ag7 OF The 25h March 1918. Communicated hut
Iew weeks fore TO the House of Representatives
already referred to- and which gives directly oopo.
'lte constfscion 10 your orders. In fact, the Ies,
o. is lace, proves ihat IL the intention nj he
government to occupy tbs Spanish pos =. gy refer.
ilng 10 ~ you viii see that enclosed 10 the Govetnor
copy o. my orders to neral Gaines of the 18Th De-
cembar' 1917, authorizing him 10 cross the S,anisb
IN any 70 attack the iudiins within the limits of Flo.
rda, unsss they should take shelter under Soanisb
post, Ia which event, ne was directed 10 ren,, ia
htrty 70 the Department, which order G. yernor Rihb
W dire cted 10 consider az his an n ,ri,,, 10. ...