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•Vue, eeminolk avaii
^ cfind in the'Documents on this subject, re-
**®ntlv transmitted by the President to Congress.'
an official annunciation of those circumstances
"hicli have preceded and attended, (lie recent
movements of our troops in the South. These
official papers vary so little in substance from the
unofficial accounts, that we du> not think it ma
terial to publish them, with the exception'of the
following documents, which reduce to form and
■certainty the rumors we have heard concerning
the instructions to our military authorities ros-
pectng the prosecution of the war.—JVat. Ini.
Department of War, 16th December, 1817.
Sir—On the receipt of this letter, -should the
Seminole Indians still refuse to make reparation
for their outrages nnd depredations on the citi-
icnsf of the United States, it is the wish of the
President that you consider yourself at liberty to
march across the Florida line, and to atttack
them within its limits, should it be found ncces
sary, unless they should shelter themselves un
der n Spanish post. In the last event, you will
immediately notify this depaitment.
I have the honor to be, &.c.
J. C. CALHOUN.
Gen. Ed. P. Gaines, Fort Scott, Georgia,
Cxtract of a Utter from the Secretary of War to Major
General Andrew J irk ;on, at Nashville, Tennessee, da-
Xcd December 26,1817.
You will repair with as little delay as practica
ble, to Fort Scott, and assume the immediate
command of the forces in that quarter of the
southern division.
The increasing display of hostile intentions by
the Seminole Indians, may render it necessary
to concentrate all the contiguous disposable force
of your division upon that quarter. The regular
force now there, is about 800 strong, and 1000
militia of the state of Georgia is called into ser
vice. General Gaines estimates the strength of
the Indians at 2700. Should you be of opinion
that our numbers arc too small to beat the enemy,
you will call on the, executives of the adjacent
6tates for such an additional militia force as you
may deem requisite.
To the. Senate and House of Representatives of the V. S
I now lay before Congress all the information
%n the possession of the Executive, respecting
the war with the Seminoles and the measures,
which it has been thought proper to adopt, for
the safety of our fellow-citizens, on the Iroutiet
exposed to their ravages. The enclosctl docu
ments shew that the hostilities of this tribe were
Unprovoked, the offspring of a spirit, long cher
isheti and often manifested towards the United
v Statas, and that, in the present instance, it was
ftxtcndiug itself to other tribes, ami daily assum
ing a more serious aspect. As soon as the na
ture and object of this combination were per
ceived the Major General commanding the
Southern division of the troops of the United
States was ordered to the theatre of action, char
ged with the management of the war, and vested
with the power necessary to give it effect.
The season of the year being uulavorable to ac
tive operations and the recesses of the country
affording shelter to tliese savages, incase of re
treat, may prevent a prompt termination of the
war ; but it uaay be fairly presumed, that it will
not be long before this tri e and its associates re
ceive the punishment which .they have provoked
and justly merited.
As almost the whole of this tribe inhabits the
country within the limits of Florida, Spain was
bound, by the treaty of 1795, to restrain them
from committing hostilities against the United
States. We have seen with regret, that her gov
eminent has altogether failed to fulfil this obliga-
tion, nor are we aware that it made any effort to
that effect. When we consider her utter inabil
ity to chei.k, even in the slightest degree, the
movements of this tribe, by her very stnall and
incompctant force, in Florida, we are not dis
posed to ascribe the failure to any other cause.
The inability, however, of Spain to maintain her
authority over the territory and Indians within
her limits, and in consequence to fulfil the trea
ty, ought not to expose the United Slates to o-
v tiler and greater injuries. Where the authority
ol Spain?e%ses to exist, there the United States
have a right to pursue their enemy, on a princi
ple of sell defence. In this instance, the right is
more complete and obvious.because we shall per
form only what Spain was bound to have perform
ed herseelf. To the high obligations and privi
leges of this great and sacred right of self dc-
“fence, "ill the movement of our troops be strict
iy confined. Orders have been given to the
General in comm»nd not to enter Florida, un
less it be in pursuit of the enemy, and in that
case to respect the Spanish authority whenever
it is maintained : and he will be instructed to
withdraw lii.s forces from the province, as soon
as lie shall have reduced that tribe to order and
secure our fellow-citizens, in that quarter, by
satisfactory, arrangements, against its unprovok
ed and savage hostilities in future.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, March 25, 1013.
TURTIIER OF AMELIA ISLAND
To the House i.f Represent ires of the United State...
I transmit to the House of Representatives,
In compliance with their resolution, of March
the 20th, such information not heretofore com
municated as is in the possession of the Exec
utive, relating to the ■ ccupation of Amelia Isl
and. If’any doubt had before existed of the im
proper clmduct of the persons who authorized,
t.r.d of those who were engaged in the invasion,
ami previous occupancy of (luft island ; of the
unfriendly spirit towards the United States, with
which it,was commenced ami prosecuted, and
of its injurious effect o:i their highest interests,
particularly by its tendency tocumprotnit them
with foreign powers in all the unwavaiitable acts
of the adventurers, it is presumed that these
documents would remove it. It appears by tin
letter of M. Puzos, ag?nt of commodore Aurv.
that the project of seizing the Floridas was form
ed and executed at a time when it was under
stood that Spain- had rtfsolved’to cede them ti
the United States, and to prevent s'jch cession
from ukttig effect. ’ Ti.i whole firccrejing, i»
•very stage and in^Sll its circumstances was un
lawful The commission to General McGregor
was granted, at Philadelphia, in direct violation
of a positive law, and all the measures pursued
under It, bY him, in collecting his force, and di
recting its movements, were -equally unlavVful.
With the-conduct of these persons, 1 have
always been' unwilling to connect any of the co
lonial governments ; because! never could be
lieve that they had given the sanction cither to
the project-in its origin, or to the measures which
were pursued in the execution - of it. These
documents confirm the' opinion which 1 have
invariably entertained and expressed in their
lavor. J A M ES MON ROE.
Washington,March 26,1S18, . .
CONGKESS.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday, March 24, 1
CASE OK K. W. MEADE. '
,J *\e committee of the Senate on Foreign- rela
tions, to whom was referred the petition of'bun-
dry citizens of Philadelphiivaskiug the interpo
sition of Congress in behalf of Richard \V.
Meade, an American citizen, unjustly and wan
tonly confined in adungconin Spain, by the au
thority of that government, have-given to trie
subject the deliberation its importance deserved,
and beg leave to submit the following report:
It-appcars from the documents, R. W. Meade is
an American citizen, who went to Spain in the
year 1803, oil lawful business ; that, in the year
1806, ■ uch was the confidence of the govern
ment in his integrity, that he was appointed na
vy agent for the United States at tin; port of Ca
diz ; a station which lie held until the time of
his confinement. Such was the correctness of
his deportment, as to have been appointed by the
tribunal of commerce at Cadiz, with the consent
of all the parties concerned, assignee of a bank
rupt, the amount of whose estate involved a high
responsibility. He performed the duties thus
deyovlved upon him, honestly ; and, laving col
lected for distribution fifty thousand'dollars,, he
several times petitioned the tribunal to permit
him to remit this sum to the creditors of the bank
rupt resident in England ; the onlvproper course
left h im to pursue, inasmuch as he had,, when
appointed agent of the bankrupt, given Ins bond
to that tribunal conditioned to take charge of the
effects ot the bankrupt, and to be responsible
solely to the tribunal for the proceeds, being pro
hibited under the penalty of the bonds from dis
posing of the funds without the sanction of the
tribunal. A controversy having arisen between
the creditors and bankrupt about the distribution,
Meade odei-cd the money to either, if they would
gi ve a bond with sureties, to the satisfaction of the
tribunal ot commerce, by which bis own might
he cancelled. This they were unable to do.—
The tribunal, of its own accord, and unexpect
edly, decided that Meade should on the follow
ing morning, place the money in the king’s trea
sury, until the parties litigant should give the se
curity ^ required ; jt being declared, that all
Meade's property should be sequestered in the
case of non-payment at the time limited,. The
money was forthwith-paid by Meade i/ito tit
treasury, in treasury notes equal to specie, and
hence acknowledged by the treasurer, that the
deposite had been made in due form, nnder bis
inspect'on, in effective specie, and that whenever
the tribunal should order its payment, Ids majes
ty would pay it in the same coin.
Notwithstanding this judgement, and the dis
charge thereof, by the payment aforesaid, Mr.
ery same sum he had heretofore
paid in conformity to its own judgement. The
court awarded judgement against Meade
coud time for this money. The latter appealed
to the superior tribunal, called Abradas. During
its pendency, it is charged by Meade, that the
cause was removed, by the interposition of the
British minister, to the council of war, and by-
the same interposition, his arrest and confine
ment were procured, from which he could be re
lie veil only by a repayment of the money. II
has languished in confinement from the 2d of
.May, 1816, down to the last accounts from Spain.
The representative of this nation at that court
has repeatedly appealed to his catholic majesty
for the relief of Meade ; and the appeal ha:
bc-en in vain : The court of Spain having refused
either to restore the money deposited in its own
treasury, by order of its own competent judicial
authority, or to release the person of Meade
from the lung confinement to which lie ha? been
doomed : and, finally, the President of the Uni
ted States, whose peculiar province is to take
cognizance of subjects of this kind, has caused a
representation on the subject to be made, .to the
minister ot Spain to (lie United States, demand
ing his immediate liberation. Nothing-, but.a
confidence that this representation will produce
tnc desired result, would have restrained your
committee from recommending the adoption of
measures of severe retribution,
\ our committee are of opinion, that it is due
to the dignity ol the United States to. adopt, as a
fundamental rule of its policy, thft principle,
that one ol its citizens, to whatever region of the
earth his lawful business may carry him, and who
demeans himself as becomes his character ; is
entitled to the protection of his government, and
whatever intentional injury tnay be done him
should be retaliated by. the employment, if ne
cessary, of the whole force of the nation.
Wednesday, March 25.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill.to reduce the staff of the army j and, on the
question of agreeing tothe amendment reported
br the military committee (to substitute a com-
missariut instead of the present mode of subsis
ting the army by contract,..it was determined in
the affirmative—yeas 25, nays 5. Ordered to
bo engrossed for a third reading.
Thursday, March 26.
The following resolution, submitted by Mr.
Troup yesterday, was taken up and agreed to:
Resolve I, That the committee, on the militia
be instructed to inquire into the expediency of
setting apart and appropriating the diviuernl.-,
which shall arise from.the shares held by the go
vernment, in die Dank ot the United States, to
the manufacture of arms and equipments tor.
arming and equipping the whole body (if the
militia of the United States.”
The Senate resumed the consideration ot the
bill to increase the salaries of the Heads ot Dc-
purtinentfl anil of tht Attorney General. ^ ar *"
ous propositions were received and disposed ol
respecting the increase proper to be made, the
impropriety of discrimination in fixing the com
pensation of these officer &c.
The bill was finally amended so as to fix the
salaries of the Secretaries of State and ot the
Treasury at 6500 dollars each, the Secretaries ol
War and of the Navy at 6000 dollars each ; and
that of the Attorney General at 3500 dollars;
and that of the Post Master General at 400D
dollars, to commence on the first of January last.
Friday, March 27.
Vote of Thanhs.—Toe Senate resumed the
consideration of the following joint resolu
tion : “ Resolved by the Senate and House of Re
presentatives of the United State? ol America
in Congress assembled, that the thanks ol Con
gress be, and they are hereby presented to Maj.
General William Henry Harrison, and .Isaac
Shelby, late governor of Kentucky, and through
them to the officers and men under their com
mand, for their gallantry and good conT’.ct in
defeating the combined British and Indian forces
under Major General Proctor, on the Thames, in
Upper Canada, on the fifth day of October, one
thousand eight hundred and thirteen, capturing
the British army with their baggage, camp equi
page, and artillery ; arid that the President of
the United States f»c requested to cause two
gold medals to be struck emblematical of this
triumph, and presented to General Harrison
and Isaac Shelby, late governor of Kentucky.”—-
Ordered tu be engrossed for a third reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, March 25.
Independence of the South.—The House hav
ing resolved itself into a committee of the whole,
Mr. Desha in the chair, on the annual general ap
propriation bill; and Mr. Clay’s proposition to
amend the bill by inserting a clause for^appro-
priating 18000 dollars lor tlie outfit anil years
salary of a Minister to Buenos Ayres, yet pend
ing. Mi, Clay concluded, in a speech of three
hours in length, the observations he yesterday
commenced in support of his proposition.
Mr. Forsyth then took the floor in opposition
to the motion, and in reply to Mr. Clay. When
Mr. Forsyth concluded his speech, which occu
pied two hours in the delivery. The committee
rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to
sit again, on the intimation of Mr, Lowndes,
that nc proposed to deliver his views of the sub
ject.
On motion of Mr. Terrill, the committee on
commerce and manufactures were instructed to
enquire into the expediency of granting the
consent of Congress to an act passed by the le
gislature of the State of Georgia, allowing foes
to the health officer and harbor-master for the
port of Durian.
Monday, March 30.
Toe debate which has occupied the House of
Representatives for the greater part of last week,
was brought to a close on Saturday, and result
ed in a vote of one hundred and fifteen to forty-five
against the proposition of Mr. Clay to make an
appropriation for sending a Minister to the Uni
ted Provinces of La Plata.
The discussion was as able and quite as inter-
Dermot, the agent for the British creditors, psi:,,,,.,.., . ,
brought su.t against Meade in the same court, to covered,Ju lrl ??,""«■
— - i- m
The decision, which has taken place, is, that
it is not thought proper now to make an appro
priation for an outfit arid a years salary for a
minister to Buenos Ayres. The reasons of that
decision, in all their modifications, we will not
rob our readers of the satisfaction of learning
from the debate which will be placed before them.
We will only say, generally, that the resolution
was advocated as a measure which would enlarge
the power of the Executive, and relieve the mind
ot the President from all doubt of the disposi
tion of Congress to sustain him in recognizing
.the independence of Lx Plata, whenever he
should deem it expedient to do so, which he
would shortly do was inferred from his having
sent Commissioners to that country, whose fa
vorable report might be daily expected. The
proposition was opposed, as p re mat are and un
necessary, unless intended to be obligatory; and,
ii intended to be obligatory, as incompatible
with the spirit of the constitution, which has
reposed with the executive the duty of conduc-
tingour intercourse with foreign powers
This is a brief statement of the argument on
the "reposition, which however occupied but a
small portion of the debate ; in the course of
which the conduct of the government of the U.
States in relation to that contest, and our rela
tions with all the nations of Europe, with Spain
particularly, as bearing to the question, were
reviewed. It v.as affirmed on the one hand, that
the proposed measure, without benefiting either
the Republic of La Plata or this nation, might
involve the peace of the United States, which is
its essential policy. On the other hand, it was
denied that the recognition formed a ground of
offence to any natiou ; but, it was at the same
time contended, that if the measure would af
ford countenance to the Patriots, nnd benefit our
commercial interests in any degree, it ought not
to be avoided from the apprehension of exciting
the hostility of any foreign nation. On this
branch of the discussion', the Law of Nations
was investigated, ami the examples of History
were adduced in illustration of the arguments
on both sides of the question.
Mr. Lowndes from the committee of ways and
means, reported the bill from the senate, to in
crease the salaries of certain Ameers of the gov
ernment, with some amendments (makim- the
bill tak« effect from the first of April next, instead
ol January last, and striking out the appropria
tion contained in the bill leaving it to be provid
ed for iq the general appropriation billj which
fitfoor with the M, were committed ta . ■
mittec of the whole house. * C1 *3-l
Mr. Tucker of V:,. from the committee touW
was referred that part of the president’s nZ£l
relating to roads, and canals, and semi.J*
learning, reported the following resefofiJI
which were, on motion of Mr. Bassett i’ll
to lie on the table and be printed : “**•*!
“ Resolved, that the secretary of war ha
quested to lay before this house at the ensuin'
session ol congress, and report a plan f ur P
application of such means as are within the '
erof congress, to the purpose of opsnin*
constructing such roads and canals as ma°v |
serve and require the aid of the government' I
with a view to military operations in time of J*
tin transportation of munitions of war, andtoth'
more complete defence of the United States — i
Am! also, a Statement of the works of the »»tiT
abovementioiied. which have been commence?
the progress which lias been made, and the means
and prospect of their completion, to^qther wltk I
such information, as in the opinion of the Hecre
tary shall be material in relation to Ihalobieru If
this resolution.” J U ^|
“ Resolved, that tlio secretary of the treasury
bo requested to prepare and report to this house, I
at (heir next session, apian for the application
of such means as are within the power of con-
gross to the purpose of opening and improving I
roads and making canals, together with astute. !
ment of the undertakings of that nature, whicli.
as objects of public improvement, may requite
and deserve the aid of the government: and also |
a statement of-works of the nature aboveaei?
tioned'which have been commenced, the proness
which has been made in them, the means 0 and
prospect of their being completed, the public im.
proyements carried on iiy (lie states u r by com.
panics or incorporations,-which have been asso.
dated for such purposes, to which it may la
deemed expedient to subscribe or afi’ord a'ssi--
tance. The terms and conditions of such assoeij.
Rons, and the state of their funds, and such in,
formation, as, in the opinion of tiie secretary
shall be material in relation to the objects of t'iil I
resolution.
Extract of a letter from Washington City to the editor d
the Raleigh Minerva, dated March 28.
As to the other branch of the subject, I mean
the recognition of the Spanish American 1’ati-yC
ots’ Independence, I have only to say, that tliq
people of the United States, if they have cvet
had cause for grumbling at the compensation to
the members of Congress, have especial and jag
cause to complain of the expenditure of all-thy
money that will go to compensate their Repre
sentatives for their last week’s labours—I mean
for the time wasted upon- the consideration of 4
very useless, idle proposition. Mr. Clay, tlia
speaker, fm-reasons best known to 'himself-!
presume they must to him appear satisfactory—
has urged the immediate recognition of the rndet
penitence of‘Venezuela, <jj*e And made the at
tempt in as far fetched a way as can be imagined
—namely by introducing into the annual appro
priation bill, providing for the support of Govern*,
•nent for the current year, a grant of eighteen
thousand dollars for the out-fit and for a years
salary of a minister tube sent,.to tjrat couilVix,
whenever the President shall think it advisable
to send one. This singular proposition lie at
tempted to support by a speccli of more eloquence
than argument,in which lie endeavored to setoff
to advantage a multitude of beneficial consequen-
cc.fto be derived by this country from the estab
lishment ot independent governments in South
America.—As, tor example, great political bene-,
fits, he said, would arise from our having Alliesat
hand in cases of wars between European power!,
to help tu to maintain cur neutrality.—Great
commercial benefits it. the trade we should dries
with our new friends for that bewitching commo
dity, tho precious metals—not to mention the
comfortable circumstance of having such faithful
Iriends and Allies as borderers on ouv southern
arv) western frontier, to guard our .".iississi|i|*
and keep its purity from being polluted by Euro
pean powers.—All this would have been vert
plausible, had there not been suggested, by thus#
who opposed the measure, some unlucky doubt*
am! some stubborn facts respecting the foundation
of .¥r. Clay's sanguine hopes. It was questioned
in the first place whether the South American
gentry would so certainly as he thought, be at-,
tachetl to us so strongly as to insure us their ah
liance or partiality; a.od this was the rather e
qnivocal, because the government of Venezuell,
had already made some marked discriminations
in favor of British vessels against our’s. The
precious metals too, it was said could not be hop
ed for, but upon the terms of giving an equiva
lent in exchange for them. M hcrc wc couH
find that equivalent was a question of ratlror (!’.•-
ficult solution, and was rendered the mere per
plexing wjicn it was demonstrated by gen. Smith
of Baltimore, that we could only get at the met-
a!s by good bills on London, to the amount of
their value, and that stich traffic would be rather
too losing a game for merchants to follow. 11 hat
was more fatal still to the splentlid picture Drawn
by Mr. Clay was this, that Mr. Smith shewed
that South America would be our rivals in every
article of the produce of our soil and industry—
xvimld be able to mee't us on at least equal terms at
market in our staple .commodities of. wheat,rara
and flour, which he proved by. stating the fad
that our whaling vessels brought round all the
way from Chili cargoes of wheat* which they pur
chased there cheap ermuglvto enable them to bring
it to a profitable market. There were several
other little secrets not worth the notice of high
rhetorical politician, into-which Mr. Smith let
the house ;. such as that if Spain should goto
war .with ns, England would be sure to preserve
the most perfect neutrality, by which means her
mearchant vessels would become carriers (0"
the world, leave us without an atom of the car
rying trade for many years to come, perhaps for
ever, and consequently draw oil' from us all our
seamen.
These would have been formidable considera
tions for those whose views were narrowed tothe
owl-fashioned fire-side circle of hpme expediency
—'but to the expunged eyqs of pUiTan.fhrnpi*!*