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Wv \ v
y> ’» r own n ime, by Mr. Hamilton I must
3i*y inai l cannot see iri your statement the
I as{ axcus* for withholding from me the in
formation requested; nnd 1 am constrained to
odd, that I hare looked is vain in the course
which you have pursued for the evidence of
that frankness which vou assured me, in sub
mitting the copy of M r . Crawford's letter to
ran, has ever characterised your conduct to,
ward3 those with whom you tnd h-en in the
habits of friendship As connected vvilb tins
point l$t me call your attention to a fact which
has nut been explained, though in mv opinion
it ought to bo It now appears that when Mr
Forsyth placed tlie copy of Mr Crawford’-*
I -si er »n your band •», he also placed with it a
c.uny of his letter referred to bv Mr. Crawford
VV »v was it (hat a copy raft bis letter ot Mr
F-'-sytb did not accompany Mr. Crawiord*
weenyou placed a copy of the letter in nn
hand?? C ailing upon me in the spirit of frank
ness and friendship, as you informed me you
did, I had a rig lit to infer that very document
Connected with the charge, and m y«*ur posses
sion, calculated to afford light, would ha pi;:
end in my possession; and such in fact, wa-.
lr»y impression. hut which ] nr>w find to b
err inoo-us. It is w t i rn/ret that I feel myself
1> urn! to state that Mr F jrsytb’s letter, with
t -nhsequant c .rrospomlence, ha* given ar>
aspect to the affair very different from what I
received from your first letter
Y u have stated some suggestions o! the
Marshal of (he I) -.tnct, winch were com mu
oicatcd to you, as the rea-on why \oii hav
agitated this old affair at this tone You have
not stated what > hey were, to whim made r
by whom communicated; which ofcour.se ieuv -
me in toe dark as to their nature or character
B n whatever Uiey may he, the course you
ft-. ;>te.|, considering thefriendly relation which
1 nod reason to suppose existed betwe- n
is well calculated to exc.ife tirprisc I-istt o*
cf applying to the Marshal, in order to a -cert am
what he did say, and from whom he derived
h reformation and then submitting hi* stab-
CTK it to me, which course fr-er.d-h
h gb
tnd the
opinion, which you say you entertai ie< -
I ; n' jr icier “t-jr lair u,;ci: and honor.due
GO' In-v, tu ;,u things, manifestly dictated, y . i.
Jtpidie-I ior nformation, .ss to my conduct, to
tan man who you knew felt for me the strong
er enmity. I wish not to be understood tha.
y had more gen- r»| information of It is it
frill towards me. Your information was of the
n. »st vpecihc cnanrcier, and was of such a na
turo as ought to hav-. made you dis‘ru-1 any
state<iidut of his, calculated to aff 'cl my repu
(atom
Knowing the political machinations that
were carrying me and wishing to place
roe on m v gu.ud. a friend of mine placed m m v
hands somo lime since a c«* iy of a letlei
written by Mr Crawford to a Nashville cor
re-pon<it»ui of his in 1827. It constitutes one
Of U>e uiauv means rciortt-d to in order to
exc-to susnicion against me In ii Mr Craw
f l makes .«n abusive attack upon me; hut
r. content with thu. a‘-sa.|mg my char.icier
in the dark, be offers to bring into the mark -
the : Ouence wiiich Georgia m gut have on
thu Pres dentiai election, as a means whereby
to depress my poht'ca! pr .-p. cis. J o , v<>nt
the possibility of mistakes, f will give extract-
from the letter itself, m full confirmation of
what I have stated.
Speak mg of the Presidential election, M .
Crawford says. that iheonly d-fficufty that
t.it- State (Georgia) J»a- upon the uhjv
£ or election) is, <hat, if Jack-on should hi
elected, C.i Uoun will come rito power "
A ga:u :
“if you can ascertain that Calhoun will n- t
b; nuefiled by Jackson’s lection, you will do
Jinn a benefit t»y commumra:mg the mlor i.
lion to mo. M ike what n-m >uu please of«i .
letter and show it to whom you ph ase ”
That the letter was clearly iniemfed tbi
your mipection cannot be doubt- d. The an
fho-iiy l<> his corrcspondeni to show it to whom
he pleared, and to make what use he pleased
with the nature of the information s ughi
W ilier I was to be benefited bv vour elect .on
Tvhich could only he derived from yoursef
leaves no doubt on that point: and i urn accor
dmgly ininrraed that you saw the letter
A proposition of the kind, at that particular
period, when the Presidential election was
rn **t doubtful, and most warmly contested,
needs no comment as to its object To f«i»
nothing of its m -ral and political character,
stronger pmof c>nld not bo offered of the
dec; ns* enmity towards urn on the p :ri of > <
write* which at least ought to have pl.ir. d
ymi oil j >ur guard against all attacks on im*
C om litai quarter, The loiter will not ho de
nied; bn-. if contrary to expectation, it should,
I stand ready, hv highly respectable authority
to maintain its authenticity.
You well knew ihe disinterested, op n, and
fearless course which myself and my friend*
w-.-ra pursuing at this period, and the weight of
enni'ty v*b cb it drew down upon us from your
opponents Lt'.le did I then expect that
these -ecret m ichin »tions were carrying on a
gainst me at N a-Uville, or that such proposi
tinn.-i could h • ventured to he made to you, or.
if ventured, without being instantly disclosed
to tn» Oft .is, however I complain not nor
do I inten t to recriminate; but I must repeat
tlm expression ot mv surprise, that you should
apply to an individual who yon knew, from
such decisive pro »?, to be actuated by the
in inveterate hostility towards me, for infor
mation of my course in Mr. M >nro ’s cabinet
|. affords to my mind conclusive proof that you
bad permitted y*'0r feelings to healenialed by
the artful movements of those who have made
you the victim of their infr.gue, long before
the commencement of this correspondence
Instead of furnishing me with the informa-
.«i which 1 claimed in order to a full under-
H odi-ag of this extr.iordmaiy affiir, and which
y u could not justly withhold, you kindly un
d.srvik - to exc-i- -. the •- dividual to whom you
su- some aliutu->n of mine to be made. 1
k>: v notto whom you fer 1 mule no alhi'
si. o to any one particular iad-,viunal. Rut be
t .•»( a* it mav, you musl excuse me if. on sub
jects: which concerns me 1 should preter my
jo .-r nent to yours, and, of course, if I should
no* be satisfied with ypur opinion, as« substi-
tut ' ihe facts by which 1 might be able lo
fjrbt ». - .>wn.
and sincerity w ith which I have acled through
out this vffiir, I did not suppose that you
would reiterate your former charges ; but hav
ing done so, it only remains for me to repeat,
m the most po c itive manner, the contradiction.
I never for a moment disguised my sentiments
on this or any other political subject. Why
.should I in this instance ? I had violated no
duty—no ruie of honor nor obligation ol
friendship I rial yoor’motives lull justice m
every stage ofihe cabinet deliberation, anil,
after a full investigation, I entirely approved
and heartily supported the final decision. In
(his count- 1 vrascuided. it i" true, not by feel
mgs id friendship, but solely by a si-n>e ol duty.
When our country is concerned, th- :e ought
to bp room neither for friendship or enmity.
Y u conclude your letter by saying that you
nod rstand the matter now, that you (eel no
interest in this altercation, and that you would
leave me and Mr Crawford and all corc<*rn-
ed to settle this affair in their own wav, and
that you now close the correspondence lorev-
er.
It is not for me to object to the manner you
may choose to close the correspondence on
your part. On mv part I have no desire to
prolong it. The spectacle of the first and se
cond officers ot this great Republic engaged
in a correspondence of this nature, has no at
traction for me at any tune, and is very far
from !>ei>ig agreeable at this critical juncture
oi our ffnrs. Mv consolation i*, that it wa
it.>t mv seeking; and as Iain not responsible
f <r its comme icement, I loirl no disposition to
i cur any responsibility for its continuance —
Forced info it, 'o repeal unju.s and base im
putations upon mv character, 1 could not retir
in honor while they continued to be reiterated
Having now fuily vindicated my conduct, I
will conclude the correspondence also with a
mgle remark thai I too well know what i->
or- to my rights and self-respect, in 11»ss un-
l»t« asant affair to permit myself to be diverted
•om au altercation with Mr Crawford, or artv
:*t her individual,.whom you may choose lo con
sider as concerned in iliis aff ir *
JOHN C CALHOUN.
President Jackson
* Mr. Cru-ford iiltenipb-il t-> ooen a c-orc-s^ondcnce
with meun thin subj- <-t. I returned his Ici er, tiecbnmg
all c -rtopundencf ivifh t'i n tKCijit through Gjnerai
1 tcivson. Sec Apaca ux Q
Avn-.N i)X.
Cs-fr-icts fr-*m tlie pr.v.itr C irrespondence be
tween M-
the Semin-
of f nc 23ii
Mr
Mofiroe and Gen I k-->n. <>ii
.!- ft .ir. referred to iu .no Idler
May.
A.
M ,'iroe. I - Gen. Juckson.
WAsnisoToN, July 19 1818.
Deap. Sir: 1 reci..v ii lately your it-ftet ot
June 2d, by Mr (1 oi.-ldy, at my faun in Lou
doun to whie.h l i ; -d ret wed f-i await v -nr re
port, nod the reurn of your conimr.-ioneis
from Bu -nos Avres. 1 > r?-. iv to your letter,
I shaft expre-s mvsolt wiih • h-*-freedom an.i
. undoor which 1 uav- luva- j.-iov with my
communications with y »u I ^il »il withtiobl
nothing i ; legard to vour attack -ft the Span
;sh posit, -Ui.; occ i.- ati-’V ol iht-m, jrarticula Iv
Pensacola, winch you ougtit to know, it neir.e
•o occurrence of twe in »->. dt; cate and inter
csting nature, and which vviiiiout a circum
sjH'Cl an i cautious policy, to king to ah theob
j i which claim ilt ntior., may produce tir-
• i >st serious and unfav r.ild • consequences —
M is hy a knowledge of all ihe cirr.ii.nstaucu -
r*d a comprehensive; view of the whole su »
i-ct that the danger to winch this measure is
xposed mil /’ In* K.void:? ), *k. ail ilo* good which
.<»u have contemplate d by it, as I trust, he iu
y realised.
Iti calling you i-ito active sorvics against the
.Secninoles, and communicating to you the <-r
l* j rs which had been given just before to Gen.
Games, the views and intentions of the G >v-
wnm 4K were fully di-cl <sed in respect to the
>per.*jions in F.orida In transcending the Inn
• prescnlted by ttiose order-., you acted on
vour own respmsibihtv, on facts end circum
•ances which wt-re u known to *he Guv-.-rn-
nont when the orders were given, many of
which, ind.->-d occurred afterwards, and witicf
vou thought imposed on y-m the measure, as
m act ol patrioti-m, ess nti-d lo the honor and
iteresls of your country.
The (J ilted Stases -lands justified in ord‘-r
oig their troops into Florida in pursuit of their
enemy. Th<-y have *ms right by the law of
nations, if the Somivob-s were inhabitants of
mother country, and had entered Florida toe-
ude our pursU't B-trig inhabitants o! Finn
da, wuri * species of sovereignty over that
part ot iiio territory, and a tight to t -e sml,
ur right to give such an order is *iie more
complete and u -rpin-iionable It is not a i act
of hostility to Spain. Ii i- ftie less so, because
her Government is bound by reaty to restrain
by force of arms, if necesssary the 1-idians
ihere from committing hosliiiti-s against the
United States
But an order l»y the Government to attack a
Spanish post would assume another character.
It would authorize war to which, hv the prin
ciples of our constitution, fho executive is
incompetent. Congress alone possess iiiepow
or. I am aware that cases may occur, where
tne commanding general, acting on Ins own res
ponsibility, may eith safety pass this limit and
"i h essential advantage to Ins country. The
officers and troops of the neutral power lor-
gcl t he ohligalions incident to their neutral I
character; ihey stimulated the enemy to make
war; they furnished loom with arms and muni
unions ol war to carry it on; they lake an ac
tive part in other respects in their favor ; they
afford them an asylum of their r -treat. The
general obtaining victory pursues them (o this
po-tj the gates of winch are shut against bun;
be attacks and carries it, and rests on those
acts for his justification The ;ff ir is then
brought Kef.re hi- Government by the power
whose posts has been ton- attacked and car
ried 1: the G-tvernromt whose officer made
the <tiark bah giv -n an order firii.ine officer
would have no meri; in it. lie exercised no
discretion, nor did he act on bis own responsi
bility. The m^rit of tne service, it there be
any iu it, would not be ins Tbi- is the gr .iind
on winch this occurrence rusts, as to Ins pan.
sons deemcil sufficient himself, and on bis own
responsibility. I demand, then, the surrender
of the posts, and his punishment. The evi
dence justifying the conduct of the American
general, and proving the misconduct of those
officers will be embodied, to be laid before
the sovereign, as the ground ou which their
punishment will be expected.
If the Executive refuse to evacuate the
posts, especially Pensacola, it would amount to
a declaration of war, to which it is incompe
tent. It would be accused with usurping the
authority of Congress, and giving a deep and
fatal wound to the constitution. By charging
the offence on the officers of Spain, we take
the ground which yon have presented, and we
look to you to support it You must aid in
procuring the documents necessary for this
purposed Those which you sent by Mr Ilain-
bly were prepared in too much haste autl do
not, I am satisfied, do justice t v o tile cause.
This must he attended to without delay.
Should we hold the posts, it is impossible to
calculate all the consequences likely to result
from it. It is not improbable that war would
immediately follow. Spam would he stinmlat-.
ed to declare it; and, once declared, the ad
ventures of Britain and other countries would
under the Spa nidi flag, privateer on our com
incrce. The immense revenue which we now
receive would be much diminished, as would
he the profils of our valuable productions.—
The war would probably soon become general;
and we do not foresee that we should have a
single power in Europe on our side. Why
risk these consequences T The events which
have occurred in both the Floridas show the
incompetency of Spain to maintain her author
ity; and the progress of the revolutions in
South-America will require all her forces there
There L much reason to presume that this act
ml) furnish a strong inducement to Spam lo
cede (he terriiory. provided we do not wound
too deeply her pride by iioldmg it. If we hold
the posts, her government cannot treat with
honor, which, by withdrawing the troops, we
afford her an oppor. unity to do The manner
in which we propos~- to act will exculpate you
from censure, and promises to obtain aft the
advantages which vou contemplated from the
measure, and possibly very soon. From a «Ff
e-rent cohr-e no advantage would he likely to
result, and there would be great danger ot ex-
tensive ?nd serious injuries.
I s:»a!5 rommun'C'ito lo you, in the coofi
dance m which I write this letter, a copy ol
the answer which will be given to the Spanish
minister, that you may see distinctly the ground
on which we rest, in the expectation that you
will give it a'l the support in your power. Thu
answer will be drawn on a view, and with at
tention lo the general interests of our country,
and its r lations with other powers.
A charge, no doubt, will be made of n
breach of the Constitution ; and, to such a
charge, the,public feeling will be ulii'e. It will
be saitf (bat you have taken all ttie power into
your own hands, not from the Executive alone,
1 u. likewi-e from Congress. Tire distinction
wl.ic • J have made above, between the act of
the Government, refutes that rh.irg Thi-
.to, a- to the General, will be rigid, f ;h-
1'icth on which he rests made it a measure
•f nere-->ity, and they bf* vvell ’proved.—
There is no war, or bre teb of the Constitution,
unless the Government should reiuse to give
up the posts; in which event, should Spain
embargo otjr ves-eL, &. war follow, the charge
ol such br. ach would tie laid against the Gov-
eminent with great force. Tire last im-.uia
(ion to winch I would consent justly to expo^o
myself, is that of iniruigmg a Constiiulton, to
the support of w-iich, on pure principles, my
public hie has been dcv-Ped In this scriti-
men 1 am satisfied, you fully c meur.
Y ur letters to tb^ department were written
iu in Me, under tire pre-sura of fatigue and in
firmity, m a spirit of conscious reel.Iude; and,
m consequence, with less att-.niton to some
Darts of their contents than would otherwise
have br*t’.n bestowed on tin-m The passage
to which I particularly abide, from memory,
fori have not the letter before ine. is that in
which yon speak of iucompefency of an ima
ginary boundary to protect 'is against the ene
my, being the ground on which vou bottom all
you; measures. Tbi - L liable to llio imputa
tion that you took the Spanish pos;-> for that
reason, s a measure of expedience, ami not on
icount of the misconduct of the Spanish offi
cers. The effect of this and ‘-u- fi passages,
be-idea other object ion- to them, would be to
irival -fate the H round on whi'.h _<«-u stand, and
Hirriish w*.-ap ns to adversaries who would be
glad to se«zs them li you think proper to
authorise the Secretary, or mi-eii t<» correct
tiso-e passages, it will be don? noth caTe,
! hough, should you r ave c pies, as I presume
v u have you had b iter do n your-tdf
'I’he p >hc\ of Em opn resp c?ing Soufh A-
nierica is not yet settled. A congress of ti e
di ed powers is to h« held tiris year, (Novem
ber is sp.ftien of) to decide t'oat question.—
E .gland proposes to restore the colonies to
Spain vvit b ir^e 1 rade and colonial governments.
Russia is less f-vorable, a= are all tie oihers.
We have a Ru-aian document written by or
der ol the Emperor as the basis of uisiruc-
' ions to lus Mmi-fors at the several courts
•.peaking of Uie B uish proposition favorably,
v-nt stating iliat it must be considered and de
cided on by the allies a nd the result publish
ed, to produce a moral effect on tire colonies,
on the failure of which, force is spoken of.—-
'I';!'.’ settlement of tire dispute between Spam
and Poiiugal is made a p r elinunary. We par
take in no councils whose objects is not their
complete independence. Intimations have been
given us that Spam is not unwilling, and is even
preparing for war witn the United Stdtes, m
the 'hope ol making m general, and uniting
Europe agriust its and her colonies, on the
principle that she has no hope of saving them
Her pertiuacousrefusal to cede the Fiondas to
u-. heretofore, though evidently her mtere-t to
important occasions for your services which
will he relied on. You must have the object
in view, and be prepared to render them.
B
Gen
Andrew Juckson to Mr Monroe.
Nashville, Angu-t 19 1818
Sir: Your letter of the 19th July, apprising
me of the course to be pursued in relation to
the Fiondas has been received. In a luture
communication it is my intention lo submit
my views of all the questions springing Irons
a reference to others previously given, <o
guide and govern me. The fullest discretion
was left with me in the selection and applica
tion of means to effect tire specifical legitimate
objects of the campaign; and for the exercise
> f a sound discretion on principles of poli
cy am I .liono responsible. But allow me to
repeat, that re^ponsib.hty is not (cared by me,
if the general good requires its assumption —
I never have shrunk irom it, and never will;
but against its imposition on me contrary to
principle, and without the prospect ol any poli-
the subj ict, with the fulness & candour which t c resub, I must contend with all the feehngs
itie importance of the topic, and the part I: ot a soldier and a c.it zcn. Being advised that
have acted in it, demand. At present, 1 will! you are at your country seat in Loudoun, where
confine myself lo the consideration of a part -1 expect this will reach you, I one.loss you a
of your letter, which lias a particular bearing ! copy ol the order to me ol the 26th December*
on myself, and which seems to have originated! 1817, and copies ot (he orders ot Gen. Games
in the misconception of the import of the or-j therein referred to; from a perusal of which
der under which I have commenced the Semi- j you will perceive that the order to me has no
nole campaign In inakiiu this examination, i reference to those prohibitory orders to Geue*
I will make use of all the freedom which is rai Gaines that you have referred lo.
courted by vour letter, and which I deem nc- It will ;AL-rd me pleasure to aid the govern*
cessarv to aff»rd vou a clear view uf the con- tnent in procuring any testimony that may be
struction winch was given to the order, and the necessary to prove the hostility of the officers
motives under which i proceeded to execute jot Spain to the United States. 1 had suppos
es intentions. f ed that the evidence furnished had established
It is stated in the second paragraph of your! that fact—-*-1 hat the officers oi bpain bad identi-
letter, that 1 transcended the limits of my or- j fied themselves with our enemy, and that St.
der. and that l acted onmij own responsibility, j Marks and Pensacola were under ttie complete
To these two ponds 1 mean at present to ! control of the Indians, although the Governor
confine myself But, before entering on a proot j ot Pensacola at lea-t bad force sufficient to
of their applicability to my acts in Florida, al j have controlled*!be Indian*, had he chosen ter
low me thirty to state, that the assumption of ( have used it in ti» *t way. Tor the purpose of
responsibility will never be shrunk from when i procuring the necessary evidence ot the hos-
the public can thereby be promoted I have | tile acts ol the Governor of Pensacola, 1 des-
pas.cd through difficulties and exposures for patched Captain Young, topographical engi-
the h.-nor and ben.fit of iny country; and
whenever still, for this purpore, it shall be
come necessary to assume a further liability,
no scruple will be urged or felt. But w hen it
siia 1 be required of me to Jj jo, and tlie result
be danger and injury to that country, the in
ducement will be lost and rny consent wifi be
wanting.
'Phis principle is held fo be incontrovertible,
that an ordvr, generally , to i»erform a certain
service, or effect a certain object, with nt any
specification of the means lo he . d pted, or
bruits to govern the executive offi-ier, leaves
oi entire discretion with the officer as to the
choice and application of means, but pre-erves
tne responsibility for his acts oc the •amhorpy
from which the order emanated Uil>i.:r such
au order m.U the acls -uf-Ah« *ni'om*r ..r>> »on ( ,i
the superior; and 10 no way can the suhordi
n.itc officer be impeached for his measures, ex
cepl on the score of deficiency in judgment
and skill- It is hIso a grammatical truth that
i tie limits of such an order cannot be transcen
ded Without an entire desertion of the objects
it contemplated, for as long as the main legit i
mate design is kept in view, the policy of tbc
measures adopted to accomplish it is alone to
b<i considered. If these be adopted us the
proper rules ol construction and we apply
hem t> my order of December 26, 1377, ii
will be at once seen, that buth'in description
and operative principle, they embrace that or
der exactly. Tfi» requisitions of the order
are for the commanding general to assume the
immediate command at fort Scott, to concen
irate all the contiguous and disposable force of
the -division on that quarter, to call on the ex-
ecu’ives of adjac-.-nt Stales tor an auxiliary
militia force, and concludes with this compre
hensive command : “With this view you may
be prepared to concentrate your forces, and
adopt the recessary measures to terminate a
Cv-nfl ct, which ,t has ev«r been the desire of
tue President, from motives of bumanit v, toa-
void, but which is now made necessary by their
settled hostility ”
In no part of this document is there a refer
ence to any prevmus order, either to mysel;
or another officer, with a view to pond to me
the measures thought advisable, or the limit-
of my power in choosing and effecting them.
It states that Gen Gaines has been ordered to
Amelia island, and then proceeds to inform rno
that “ subsequent orders have been given to
Gen ral Games, (of winch copie*- will be fur
nished you.) that you would he directed to taki-
the command, and directing him to re as-ume
should he deem the public interest to require
it, the command at fort Scott, until you should
arrive there.” Lastly, it mentions thni • hu
was instructed to penetrate the Seimm h- towns
through the Fiondas,-pr. vided the strength of
hi* command a: Amelia would jastilj his cn-
necr, and as soon as obtained wdl be furnished
you I tru«t, on a view of aft my communica
tions, (copies of which have benn forwarded
by Captain Gadsden ) you will find that they
do not bear the construction jouliave given
them. They were written under bad health,
great fatigue, and in haste. My bad health
con times: I labor under great bodily debility.
Accept assurances of my sincere regard and
esteem; and am respectfully vour most obedt-
out servant, ANDREW JACKSON.
James Monroe President U. Stales.
r<-* i
James Mtni'oe to Gen. Andrew Jackson,
Washington, Oct. 20ih, 1818.
Dear Sir—1 received v*ur letter of the
m.b ±*1'. A iijn-I xvhiir. Ljjus ut fi ifliu, Gtl my
farm in-Albemarle; and tb re appearing to be
no necessity for giving it m immediate answer,
I delayed it until mv ream here.
I WcS sorry lo find that you understood vour
instructions relative to operations in Florida,
differently from what we intended. 1 was sat-
rfefi'ed, however, that you had g od reason f. r
your conduct. & have acted-n il J.i g out at
principle By su >pwsing that you uodersUioif
them as we did, I concluded that you proceed
ed on your own ro. ponsib.li r .y alone, in which,
knowing (he purity of your motives, 1 have
done all that I could !<> justify the mea-ure. 1
well knew, also, the niLconduct of the Spanish
authorities is that quarter, not of recent d »te
only
Finding that you had a diffsrent view of your
power, it remains only to do justice to vou on
that ground. Nothing can be further from niy
intention than to expose y r u to a responsibili
ty, in any se ise, which you did not contemplate.
The best course Co be pursued seems to mo
lo be f=..r you to write a letter to the Depart
ment. to which you w ill state, tli.it, having rea
son to think {tint a difference of opinion exief-
ed between you and the Kxecutrv , relative fo
the extent of your powers, vou thought it dm;
to yourself to state vour view of them, and on
which you acted Tins will be answered, so
as t>. explain ours, in a friendly winner by Mr.
Calhoun, who lots v rv just and libera! senti-
monts on the subp-ct. This will be necessary
in the r*«e of a call for papers by Congress or
may be. Thus we. shall all stand on the ground
of honor, each doing justice to the other, which
is the ground on which we wish to place «ach
other.
I hope that vour health is improved, and
Mr«. Monroe unites ia her best respects to
Mrs J ickson
Wit ft great respect, and sincere regard, I
am, dear sir, yours, JAMES MONROE-
Maj Geo. A Jackson Nashville Term.
D.
gaging in offensive operation^ Tne p-meude Extract from Gen. Jackson's letter (f November'
fo, J818, to Air. Monroe.
Dear Sir—On my return from the Chicka
saw Treatv. 1 t.-nud it necessary to pass by
determining the weight of rdT&rences, in sill
-cquenl orders, to instructions previously giv
en, is well settl-jd. Such references are usual.
ly made with one of lh-.-sa tvro intentions—ej j Milton’s Biuff where I bud established some
ther the order is given to a second officer, to; hands for the culture of col.on hearing it had
off. sc a certain purpose which was intended to; been laid out for a town and the lots sold, to
be effected b< another officer, and the instruc- have as much of nay crop preserved as exisUng
lions of the first are referred to as the guide j circumstances would permit. From thence I
of the second; or the order contains and is j took Huntsville m my r<-u!e, and did not reach
designed for an extension of authority, and otr : the Hermitage until the 12th inst. and on the
Iv refers to anterior communications to give a I3ffi received your letter ofihe 20th ult ; from
fuil view of what has bf-en previously attempt- j an attentive perusal of which, 1 have conclud- d
ed and performed. In the first case it is al j that you have not vet seen my despatches from
ways necessary to connect the d.fferent orde-s Fort Gadsden, ofihe 5,h of May last which :t
I will now look to the future.
The loreign Government demands—was this
1 >rbt •• ’ <>vvn. vour act I->r did \ou authorize it? 1 did not: it was
A'ier 1 out! so fully demonstrated ttw candor j thu act ofihe general, lie performed it for
reu-
do it, gives some coloring to the suggestions.
If w« engage in a war, it is of the greatest im
portance that our people he united, and, with
that view, that Spam commence it; and, abov
all that the government be free from the
charge of committing a breach of the Consti
tution.
I hope that you have recovered your health
You see that the state of the world is unset-
lied, and that any fu-ure movement is likely t
be directed against qs. Thor* may be very
by a specific provision that no doubt may ex
ist as to the extent of the command; and thus
the several requisitions and instructions are a-
maigamaled, and the limits of the agent plain
ly and securely established. In the second, no
such provision is necessary; for an entire dis
cretion in the choice and use of means being
previously vested, (h • reference, if there be
any, is only descriptive of the powers antece
dently given, and the results of measures at
tempted under such specifical limitation. But
admitting, that, in my order of December 2G,
1817, there is such a reference as I contempla
ted in the first case, allow me to examine its
character and amount. It is stated that •' or
ders have been given to Genera! Gaines, (co
pies ot which will bo furnished you,)” but
without affirming that they are to be consider
ed as binding on me, or in any way connected
with the comprehensive command that 1
should terminate the Seminole confl ct On
the contrary, so far arc they from being desig
nated as my guide and limits in entering Fieri
da, that, in stating their substance in the en
suing sentence, no allusion whatever is made
it her to means or limitation.
How, then can it be said with propriety that
I have transcended the limits of my orders, or
acted on my own responsibilityT My order was
ds comprehensive as it could he, aod contain
cd neither (fie cuiuotq original instructions, or
is reported reached the Department of War, by
due course of mail and owing to the negli
gence of the Clerks was thrown aside as a bun
dle of volutionary and pension claims. This t
sincerely-regret, as it would have breugni to
y<»ur vi.-w the light in which I viewed my or
ders. The closing paragraph of tual despatch
is in the follow ing words.
* I trust, therefore, that the measures which
have been adopted in pursuance of your in
structions, under a firm conviction that they
alone are calculated to ensure peace and secu
rity to the Southern frontier of Georgia.”
The moment, therefore, that you assume the
ground that I transcend my power, the letter
referred to above, will at once, unfold to your
mind the view I bad taken of them, and mako
manifest the difference of opinion that exists.
Indeed there are no data at present upon which
such a letter as you wish writteo to the Secre
tary of War can be bottomed. I have no
ground that a difference of opinion exists be
tween the Government and myself, relative to
the powers given me in my orders unless I ad
vert either to your private and confidential
letters, or the public prints, neither of which
can be mad - f ho basis of an official communica
tion to the Secretary of War. Had I ever, or
were I now to receive an official letter from
the Secretary of War, explanatory of the light
in which it wa| intended hy the Government
