Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-03-01
WASHINGTON, NH NV, /

SIR: In answering your letter of the 18th instant
wish to be distinctly understood, that however high my
respect for your personal character aud the exalted
station which you occupy, cannot recognize The right
on your part TO call ia question conduct on the IN
teresng occasion to winch your letter refers acted
that OCCASION in the discharge oil ugh othcia du
ty and under responsibility 20 my conscience and my
country only. In replying then, to your letter, do
not place myself in the attitude OF apologzng Tor the
part may have acted or OF palating my conduct on
the accusation of Mr.. Crawford. My course, trust
requires no apology; and If it did, have too much
self respect 10 make II 20 any one N case touching
the discharge of my official conduct. stand very
different ground. 1 embrace the opportunity which
your letter offers not for the purpose oil making excu
SEES, but as suitable occasion to place my conduct ~
eright and am gratied that Mr.. Crawford, though
far from intending me kindness, has afforded me such
! an opportunity.
In undertaking TO place my conduct in its proper
light deem IT proper TO premise that 1t IS very lar
IRON my intention TO defend mine by impeachng yours
Where we have differed have no doubt that we DIFF
tered bonesty and in claiming to act ON honorable
and patriotic motives myself, | cheerally accord The
same 20 you.
know not that correctly understood your mean
ing; but after careful perusa, would inier from
Your letter that You had learned for the first time, BY
Mr.. Crwlords letter, that you and placed different
constructions the orders under which sou acted M
the Seminole war and that you had been led TO be
leye previously by my letters 10 yourself and govern
or Bib, that concurred with YOU in thinking that
your orders intended to authorize your attack Oh
the Spanish possin Florida. Under these impressions,
OH would seem 10 lnpute 10 me some degree Oh du
pcity at least eoncealmenf, which required on my
part an explanation. | hope that my conception OF
your meaning 10 erroneous, but il II be not and your
meaning be such as suppose, L must be permitted 10
express my surprise al the misapprehension, which,
feel confident il will be in my power to correct by the
most decisive proof. drawn fromthe public documents,
andthe correspondence between Mr.. Monrocand your
self growing out of the decision of the cabinet on the
Seminole affair, which passed throughmy hands al the
time, and which now have his permission TO use,
explanatory Of my opinion, well his and the 9th
ntaruo f adm fns
trouble of turning to the file OF your correspondence,
have enclosed extracts from the letters, which clear
y prove that the decision OF the cabinet on the point
that your orders did not authorize the occupation Of
st. Marks and Pensacola, was early and fully made
known to you, and that in particular, concured in
the decision
Mr. Monroes letter of the 10Th July 1915 the first of
the SERIES and written Immediately after the decision
oil the cabinet and from which have given coploas
extract enters fully into the iewstaken by the execl
tive of the whole subject In your reply of the 18th Of
August 1873, you object 10 the construction which the
administration had placed your orders and you as
sign your at large why conceived that the
orders under which you acted authorized your opera
tons in Florida. Mr.. Monroe replied on the 18th DE-
ober 1913; and after expressing his regret that you
had placed construction your orders dicrenfirDn
what was intended he invited open correspon-
dence with me, that your conception OF the meaning
OF your ORDERS and that OF the administration, mghtbe
placed with the both sides, on the files OF
the war department. Your letter OF the 18th OF Nc.
yember, in answer, agrees to the correspondence as
proposed, but declines commencing II; TO which Mr.
Monroe replied by letter OF the 2ist December sta
ting his reasons for suggesting the correspondence, AMI
why he thought that il ought to commence with you
TO these / have added extract from your letter OF
the 9TH December, approving OF Mr. Monroes mes
sage at the opening of congress, which, though not con-
shutting part Of the correspondence from which
have extracted copously is intimately connected
with the subject under consideration.
But il was notify private correspondence only, thar
the view which the executive took OF your orders was
made known. In his message to the house Of repre-
sentaves OF the 9th March, 1913 long before ntorma
ton of theresu of your operation IN Florida was re-
eeved, Mr. Monroe states, that orders had been g.
the general command not to enter Florida, un
less it be in pursuit Of the enemy and in that case 70
respect the Spanish authority, wherever i may be
maintained; and he will be instructed 10 Withdraw ms
forces from the provinces soon as he has reduced
that tribe (the Semnoles1 order, and secured our
ellow-ctzens in that quarter by satisfactory arrange
ments against its unprosoked and savage hosuues N
uturen In his annual message at the opening Of con-
gress in November OF the same year, the president,
see appendix from A. to r. inclusive, being extract
from private correspondence between Mr. Monroe AIS
Gee. Jackson 10 the Seminole campaign.