The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-04

that knew no other duty than obedience
TO Andrew Jackson
He made straight sor the nearest Span
fish fort-St. Marks. He sent word 10
the governor tina; he tJackson} had bsen
much panied 10 learn that the wicked In-
dams had foEcibiy entered ST. Marks and
had frightened the weak garrison into
giving them arms and ammunition TO
prevent the recurrence Of SO gross vio-
iatkou Of neutrality wrote Jackson, and
10 exclude our savage enemies from 20
strong a hold az ST. Marks. / deem II
expedient 10 garrison that fortress with
American troops until the close OF the
present war
The governor was dumbfounded. He
hurried forward a long reply in Spanish.
the substance Of which was that he would
write TO his government and see whether
Il wished him to let Jackson pursue the
proposed course. Tina; Is. he said TO
Jackson, "Wait six months or year
Jackson couldn't read Spanish. In his
whole life he never dreamed OF any one
asking him TO wait" So he assumed
that the letter must be q cordial assent to
his very proper proposals. He got the let
ter in the early morning OF April 4. lsis.
Before noon thl Spanish flag had been
hauled down from ST. Marks. the Ameri-
can flag was floating over IL and Ameri-
can troops were in possession. The gov
ernor made dignifed proiest--in Spanish
and departed with his garrison.
Gen Jackson proceeded TO chastise the
Indians and had his usual success. But
again he found the Spanish interfering 10
save the Indians from Jacksonian -pscif-
cation" Here are his own vivid words or
description of his further and fnai cam
paign against Spain:
II received information that $50 In
dams had collected in Pensacola. were fed
by the governor and that party furnish
ed by the governor. had issued forth and
In ore night had slain eighteen OF our citf-
zens and that another party. With the
knowledge OF the governor. went out pub
IeIy murdered a Mr.. Stokes and his fam
lily and in open day returned to Pensa-
cola and sold the booty. among which was
the clothing of Mrs. Stokes
Here was indeed a easus belf. jack
son did not hesitate between the accepted
code and the Jacksonian code He at once
levied war against Spain. Says he:
( with a general detachment Of regulars
and 6e1 Tennesseeans marched for Pensa-
cola.
while on nay march thither I was met
by a protest Of the governor of Pensacola
ordering me out of the F1oridas or he
would oppose force to force and drive me
out OF the territory of Spain"
Jackson regarded this boast Of power al
proof positive OF the treacherous lying of
were too strong for his weak garrison. So
he marched on to Pensacola forthwith
and took formal possession OF II in the
name of the United States.
The governor fied to Fort Carlos de Bar
rancas There he thought himself safe
from this terrible Jackson. For he never
imagined for a moment that even such a
high-handed person as Jackson would dare
try to take by force the fort of a power
that was or was pretending to be at peace
with the United States
But Jackson was hot upon his heels.
II demanded possession of the fort TO
be held by American troops until a guar
antee could be given for the safety of the
frontier. This was refused.
II approached the Barrancas with ore
9-pound piece and five 3-pound howit-
GERS. They opened their batteries upon
me. I returned spiritedly.
THE white flag went up in the evening.
had my ladders ready to go over the
wall. l believe the garrison discovered
this and surrendered, fearing a night at
tack"
heel of Jackson. Her savage allies soon
yielded to Jackson's sharpshooters. The
real war with Spain was over.
But the diplomatic war, which usually
precedes the real war had to follow in
this case, thanks to jackson. And how
IL uid rage IN Floriua. IN washington.
in Madrid! Spain was furious. and many
Americans said that Jackson had really
gene too far
But the upshot was that the United
States government disayowed Jackson's
sets, restored the forts, and thanked
Jackson publicly and profusely for end
ing the alliance Of Spanish perfidy and
Indian savagery.
As for the people, they made Jackson
their idol. as they do every man who
prefers doing to daiianfe
The quotations from Jackson used above
are In a letter which jackson sent to a
friend at Washington for use In his de-
Tense. This brief account of Jackson's
splendid war with Spain can not be ended
more fittingiy than with the closing para
graphs of Jackson's letter:
II could adopt no other way Ito put an
end to the war; but by possessing myself
OF the strongholds THAI were q refuge to
the enemy, and afforded them tho means
OF offense.
"Self-defense justified me in every act
l did. ! will stand justified before God
and all Europe. And I regret that our
government has extended the courtesy 10
Spain of Withdrawing the troops from
Pensacola before Spain gave guarantee
for the fuifillment OF the treaty and the
safety OF the frontier"