176] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. 



to deliver the posts — Pensacola, 

 unconditionally, to any person 

 authorized to receive ; and St. 

 Marks, which is in the heart of 

 the Indian country, on the arrival 

 of a competent force to defend it 

 against those savages and their 

 associates. 



In entering Florida to suppress 

 this combination, no idea was 

 entertained of hostility to Spain, 

 and however justifiable the com- 

 manding General was, in con- 

 sequence of the misconduct of 

 the Spanish officers, in entering 

 St. Marks and Pensacola, to ter- 

 minate it, by proving to the 

 savages and their associates that 

 they should not be protected 

 even there ; yet, the amicable 

 relations existing between the 

 United States and Spain could 

 not be altered by that act alone. 

 By ordering the restitution of the 

 posts, those relations were pre- 

 served. To a change of them 

 the power of the Executive is 

 deemed incompetent. It is vested 

 in Congress only. By this mea- 

 sure, so promptly taken, due res- 

 pect was shown to the Govern- 

 ment of Spain. The misconduct 

 of her officers has not been im- 

 puted to her. She was enabled 

 to review with candour her rela- 

 tions with the United States, and 

 her own situation, ^particularly in 

 respect to the territory in ques- 

 tion, with the dangers insepai-able 

 from it ; and, regarding the losses 

 we have sustained, for which in- 

 demnity has been so long with- 

 held, and the injuries we have 

 suffered through that territory, 

 and her means of redress, she 

 was likewise enabled to take, with 

 honour, the course best calculated 

 to do justice to the United 



States, 'and to promote her own 

 welfare. 



Copies of the instructions to 

 the commanding General; of his 

 correspondence with the Secre- 

 tary of War, explaining his 

 motives, and justifying his con- 

 duct, with a copy of the pro- 

 ceedings of the courts-martial, in 

 the trial of Arbuthnot and Am- 

 brister; and of the correspondence 

 between the Secretary of State 

 and the Minister Plenipotentiary 

 of Spain near this Government ; 

 and of the Minister Plenipoten- 

 tiary of the United States at 

 Madrid, with the Government of 

 Spain, will be laid before Con- 

 gress. 



The civil war, which has so 

 long prevailed between Spain and 

 the provinces in South America, 

 still continues without any pros- 

 pect of its speedy termination. 

 The information respecting the 

 condition of those countries, 

 which has been collected by the 

 commissioners recently returned 

 from thence, will be laid before 

 Congress, in copies of their re- 

 ports, with such other informa- 

 tion as has been received from 

 other agents of the United States. 



It appears from these commu- 

 nications, that the Government of 

 Buenos- Ayres declared itself in- 

 dependent in July, 1816, having 

 previously exercised the power 

 of an independent government, 

 though in the name of the King 

 of Spain, from the year 1810: 

 that the Banda Oriental, Entre 

 Reos, and Paraguay, with the 

 city of Santa Fee, all of which 

 are also independent, are uncon- 

 nected with the present Govern- 

 ment of Buenos- Ajres : that 

 Chih has declared itself indepen- 

 dent, 



