Jan.] 



CHRONICLE. 



9 



by the United States, westward 

 of Mississippi, the other on a part 

 of East Florida, a province in 

 negotiation between the United 

 States and Spain — the claim of 

 their leader, as announced by his 

 proclamation, in taking posses- 

 sion of Amelia Island, comprising 

 the whole of both the Floridas, 

 without excepting that part of 

 West Florida which is incorpo- 

 rated into the state of Louisiana 

 — their conduct, while in the pos- 

 session of the island, making it 

 instrumental to every species of 

 contraband, and in regard to 

 slaves, of the most odious and 

 dangerous character ; it may 

 fairly be concluded, that if the 

 enterprise had succeeded on the 

 scale on which it was formed, 

 much annoyance and injury would 

 have resulted from it to the 

 United States. 



Other circumstances were 

 thought to be no less deserving 

 of attention. The institution of 

 a government by foreign adven- 

 turers in the island, distinct from 

 the colonial Governments of Bue- 

 nos- Ayres, Venezuela, or Mexico, 

 pretending to sovereignty, and 

 exercising its highest offices, par- 

 ticularly in granting commissions 

 to privateers, were acts which 

 could not fail to draw after them 

 the most serious consequences. 

 It was the duty of the executive 

 either to extend to this establish- 

 ment all the advantages of that 

 neutrality which the United States 

 had proclaimed, and have ob- 

 served, in favour of the colonies 

 of Spain, who, by the strength of 

 their own population and re- 

 sources, had declared their inde- 

 pendence, and were aftbrding 

 strong proof of their ability to 



maintain it, or to make the dis- 

 crimination which circumstances 

 required. 



Had the first course been pur- 

 sued, we should not only have 

 sanctioned all the unlawful claims 

 and practices of this pretended 

 Government, in regard to the 

 United States, but have counte- 

 nanced a system of privateering 

 in the Gulf of Mexico, and else- 

 where, the ill effects of which 

 might, and probably would, have 

 been deeply and very extensively 

 felt. The path of duty was plain 

 from the commencement ; but it 

 was painful to enter upon it while 

 the obligation could be resisted. 



The law of 1811, lately pub- 

 lished, and which it is, therefore, 

 proper now to mention, was con- 

 sidered applicable to the case, 

 from the moment that the Pro- 

 clamation of the Chief of the 

 enterprize was seen ; and its obli- 

 gation was daily increased by 

 other considerations of high im- 

 portance, already mentioned,, 

 which were deemed sufficiently 

 stronar in themselves to dictate the 

 course which has been piu"sued. 



Early intimations having been 

 received of the dangerous pur- 

 poses of these adventurers, timely 

 precautions were taken by the 

 establishment of a force near the 

 St. Mary's, to prevent their ef- 

 fect, or it is probable that it 

 would havebeen more sensibly felt. 



To such establishment, made 

 so near to our settlements, in the 

 expectation of deriving aid from 

 them, it was particularly gratify- 

 ing to find that very little encou- 

 ragement was given. The exam- 

 ple so conspicuously displayed by 

 our fellow-citizens, that their 

 sympathies cannot be perverted 

 II to 



