The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-04-14
" Old Rough and Ready"
GEN. JACKSON'S VIGOROUS WAY OF
DEALING WITH THE SPANISH.

GEN. JACKSON'S VIGOROUS WAY OF
DEALING WITH THE SPANISH.
First Whipped Them and Resorted to
Diplomacy Afterward-He Wasted
no Time In Bringing the Enemies of
the United States to Terms and
Saved Lives and Property by His
Promptitude-aJa Jackson Needed Now
New York World.)
Just eighty years ago this spring we
had war with Spain. Or. rather,
AndreW jackson had war with
Spain, which he carried on in the
name and with the troops of the
United States. but on his own respon-
sibility.
He had made one brilliant cam
paign against the Greeks of Southern
Georgia. He completely crushed the
Greek nation and thought that they
were ..pacified" in the thorough Jack
sOnian manner.
But a few thousand Creek braves
fled across the border into the Span
ish province of West Florida and
Joined themselves to the bloodthirsty
horde of Seminoles and fugitive
slaves led by the great chief Billy
Bowlegs. This tri-partnership of
deviltry, aided and abetted by the
Spaniards, made life in Southern
Georgia series of alarms too fire.
quently realized in butchery and
rapine.
The Spanish official attitude was
perfectly correct-deprecatory and
regretful. But really, said the Span
iards, these savages are so strong
and so willy that we can do nothing.
Then Andrew Jackson came. He
had choice of two courses-to follow
the recognized international code Of
protest by post to Washington.
thence after a long delay to the Span
ish Minister, thence after intermin-
able delay to Spain by slow sailing
vessel, and SO on through drawnout
years of waiting, to adopt Jackson
ian code of international law exactly
suited to the circumstances. He rea-
soned thus:
First-Billy Bowlegs and his ma
rauders must be punished at once.
Second-This is as much to the in
terest of Spain as Of the United
States.
Third-I, Andrew Jackson, must do
my duty to both countries.
| Fourth-If the Spanish officers as
sist me, well and good; if not; then
they are allies of the savages and
enemies of the United States.
Jackson wrote to the Government
at Washington just what he proposed
to do. Then without waiting for q
reply, he marched over the border
into the sacred territory of Spain al
the head of an army that knew nc
other duty than obedience to Jack
son.
He made straight for the neares,
Spanish fort-St. Marks. He SEN
word to the Governor that he Jack
sony had been much panied to learl
that the wicked Indians had forcibl,
entered St. Marks and had fright
ened the weak garrison into giving
them arms and ammunition. Ell
prevent the recurrence OF SO grea
violation of neutrality" wrot
Jackson, land to exclude our savag
enemies from so strong hold as st
Marks, deem it expedient to garri
r son that fortress with American
troops until the close of the presen
war;
The Governor was dumbfounded
He hurried forth long reply in Span
ish, the substance Of which was tina
he would write to his Govcrnmen
and see whether it wished him to lie
Jackson pursue the proposed course
5 That is he said to Jackson, "Wait 81
S months or year"
jackson couldn't read Spanish. !
t his whole life he had never dreame
| of anv one asking him to wait" S
e he assumed that the letter must be
: cordial assent to his very proper pre-
posals. He got the letter in tn
h early morning of April Z. 1918. b
h fore noon the Spanish flag had bee
: hauled down from St. Marks, til
d American flag was floating over
and American troops were in posse
e sion. The Governor made dignifie
O protest-in Spanish-and departe
: with his garrison.
= Gen. jackson proceeded to cha
tise the Indians and had his usu
h success. But again he found Il
e Spaniards interfering to save the
8 dians from Jacksonian '.pacific
h tions.' Here are his own viv
words of description to his furth
h and final campaign against Spain:
d II received information that 5
K Indians has collected in Pensacol
a. were fed by the Governor, and tn
IN a party furnished by the Govern
IS issued forth and in one night hi
20 slain eighteen of our citizens, a
that another party, with the know
ID edge of the Governor, went out pu
k licly. murdered Mr.. Stokes and
I'd family and in open day returned
o. Pen sacola and sold the booty. amo
n which was the clothing OF Nj
Stokes"
k Here was indeed casus bel
IN Jackson did not hesitate between I
accepted code and the Jacksoni
ed code. He at once levied war agair
IN Spain. Says he:
or With a general detachment
&C. regulars and 600 Tennesseeans
tn marched for Pensacola.
ly While on my march thither ! ="
OF met by protest of the Governor
Pensacola ordering me out OF
m Floridas or he would oppose force
ut force and drive me out OF the ter
he tory of Spain
he Jackson regarded this boast
power as proof positive of the trea'
to erous lying of the Governor in sayi
,s- that the Indians were too strong
at his weak garrison. So he march
nd on to Pensacola forthwith and to