Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-05-20

they can do, they Will thereDy lnVolVe
the United States in general war and
lay themselves liable to penalties. both
pecuniary and corporal, in case they
should ever return to their injured
country. He callsd upon the General
to discountenance and prevent the
scheme by all the means in his power.
How, said the Governor, can defensive
protection be extended to the people of
Nero, who are about to commence
actual war, and thereby embark the
United States in it, against one Of the
most powerful monarchies on earth?
And without any pretense for 80 doing,
but that which could be employed by
every highway robber, a desire to pos
sess by strong hand the property of
other people; he imputed these schemes
to Mr.. Genet,in terms of strong reproba-
tion; he requested Gen. Robertson to
obtain copies of the commissions;
Judge McNairy and the attorney of
the district were named as persons who
should Immediately act by way of pre-
vention.
About the 9th of March, 1894, the
Spanish commissioners laid before the
Secretary of State information received
from the government of East Florida,
which purported that about the 2sd of
January, 1894, an expedition was in
contemplation and preparing against
East Florida. That the American Col.
Samuel Hammond was to have the
command Of it. That Captain Hardy
was one of those appointed to enroll
the people residing in the county of
Camden. That the troops 80 to be en-.
listed, were to take an oath-of fidelity
to France. and that they had naval
force ready to act in concert with them
for the same purpose. That there was
in the county of Camden body of
sixteen hundred cavalry in three di-
visions, under the orders of the said
Samuel Hammond, who had been ap.
pointed Brigadier General in the French
service; that the said divisions Of cav
airy were fully equipped and officered
that in the fortified posts of Temple
and Colerian, lying in the neighbor.
hood of the city and adjacent to East
Florida, were two large magazines of
provisions and ammunition of all kinds
that were purchased by Abner Ham
mond, brother of the commander in
chief of that expedition, who was ap'
pointed Colonel of the cavalry, both
being inhabitants of that place; that
there were three French frigates to sail
from the port of Beaufort, having one
thousand or eleven hundred men on
board, in order to attack East Florida
both by sea and land at the same time,
which was to be done within three
F~rChc ~ We x ~ ttfi-n -Actult SctNtfi'i,
by her Legislature, ordered com
mittee to inquire into the facts with o
view to the suppression of the enter
prise; and Gov. Mathews, of Georgia
issued decided proclamation forbid
ding any further proceeding in these
measures; finally the whole scheme was
defeated. When the sovereignty oi
the country was thus openly and plain
lv insulted, the most temperate meas
ures were resorted to, and they had the
desired effect because of the implicit
confidence which all America reposeG
in the wisdom, and virtue, and advice
of the first magistrate. But whenever
similar attempt shall be made, it IL
much to be questioned, whether, should
the United States not be in possession
of the same preventatives, this gov
ernment will not he at liberty to &C
knowledged law of nations to have re
course to means of much greater sc
curity, for certainly it is difficult tt
conceive of greater offense which
could be offered. The Spaniards, by
these exertions of the American Gov
eminent were saved from dangerou
irruption of incensed troops, whit
would neither have spared their live
or properties. If it weres possible TO
a uniform course of friendly conduc
from one nation to another, with pa
tience and forbearance towards the in
discretions of the latter, to conciliat
her affections and acquire her esteem
no wonder that the Spanish natiol
should be at length compelled to rolin
auish the obstinate dislike which /
had to the Americans. After so man,
repeated proofs of the sincerity of al
that the American Government ha,
professed, Spain began to blush for he
own jealousics, and to wish that som
atonement could be made for the in
Justice which her opinions had done
But as natural storms can only be com
posed by gradual detachment of som
of their constituent causes, so it is wit
political ones, and perhaps with tn
feelings of man in general, they ca
not return on a sudden to state Q
perfect complacency, from one of yer
much excited sensibility. 1t was Gel
J tainly so with the Baron de Carondale
he made charge against Gov. Bloun
which did not meet with the credit
countenance that he anticipated. Th
Governor in his letter to the Secretar
of War, of the 10th of March, 179-
i said, lit is not true;" but as it was po
: sible the Baron had received some il
formation to ground i. upon, he woul
be lad to know what it was. Thoug
| treated with 80 many marks of frient
~ M i