Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-08-06

The treaty between Spain and the
United States signed at Washington
in February of 1919 brought TO an end
a state of war" which, without any
actual proclamation, existed In fact
between the two countries, and gave
Florida to the latter. 1t was in this
treaty that the United States intro
duced that novelty in diplomacy or
paying for regions which 1t had pre-
viously obtained by conquest; pol
icy which was afterwards followed
with regard to the treaties closing the
Mexican war and the last war with
Spain. The possession of Florida by
Spain shut out Alabama and Missis-
sippi from access to the coast of the
Gulf of Mexico, which extended west;
and by holding of Amelia Island at
the mouth of the st. Mary's on the At
lantic was a constant irritation to
Georgia. The Florida coasts, both on
the Atlantic and the Gulf, furnished
rendezvous for pirates and smugglers
and through the years of tumult from
1907 to 1915, while Spain was engaged
in war in Europe and by revolt among
her American colonies, criminals OF all
sorts from everywhere sought refuge
in Florida, where they were Joined by
runaway slaves from the United States.
Although the rebellion of the other
colonies Of Spanish-America did not
spread to Florida, the mother country
10 yix ofToo oil RI
governor Of that colony and at one
time the governor wrote to the Amer
lean secretary of state saying that he
would be obliged to ask the United
States to take charge Of the colony I'M
less he received aid from Spain. The
the revolted South American colonies
greatly irritated Spain and the United
States was irritated by the fact that
the British had used Florida as
base Of operations in the war of 1912.
Beginning of a Border War;
Then there was another cause of
quarrel. In settling up matters with
the European powers after the Ma
poleOnic wars the United States pre-
scented q little bill to Spain Of over
seven million dollars for damage done
TO American shipping-and Spain
showed no disposition to settle up.
During the war of 1912, Andrew Jack
son invaded the territory of a nominal
ly friendly power by selling Pensacola !
and driving a British force from Fort |
Barrancas after which he withdrew. |
Some months after the close of the |
war of 1872 there was another inva-
sion of Florida. The British during
the war had built strong fort on
the Appalachicola and did not evacu-
ate it when the war closed. Instead |
the British commander stirred up the |
Indians. outlaws and negroes against |
the United States, and a border war
began. Having done this he departed, |
leaving a garrison in the fort well sup
piled with arms and ammunition, not
only for their own use but enough for
distribution to their fellows. Spain
was appealed to in vain to take action
and after waiting year an American
man-of-war proceeded to Fort Bar
rancas, destroyed the fort and It's am
munition and dispersed its garrison.
Florida had become an unbearable
nuisance.
Now, by the treaty of 1906 between
Spain and the United States, the for
mer power had solemnly agreed that
the Florida Indians should not be al
lowed to attack the United States,
Spain not having kept that clause Of
the treaty General Jackson in 1917
was ordered to call upon the govern
ors of Tennessee and Georgia for SOL