76 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. [May. 



establishing representative assem- 

 blies, was published on the 2Sth 

 of May. The preamble is re- 

 markable for its extreme libera- 

 lity, granting to the people liberty 

 of conscience, with a scrupulous 

 distinction between what belongs 

 to the state, and what to the 

 church ; liberty of opinion, with 

 restrictions by law against abuse ; 

 an equal rigiit to all native sub- 

 jects to every rank in the public 

 service, and to all the distinctions 

 due to merit ; equality of laws, 

 and of citizens before the law; 

 impartiality and promptitude in 

 the administration of justice ; 

 equality in the distribution and 

 payment of imposts ; and, as a 

 security to the whole, " States- 

 General formed from all classes 

 of domiciled citizens.'' 



The American Papers con- 

 tained the following account of 

 the capture of Pensacola. 



♦' Head-Quarters, Division of 

 the South, Pensacola, May 28. 



'< Major-general Andrew Jack- 

 son has found it necessary to take 

 possession of Pensacola. He 

 has not been prompted to this 

 measure from a wish to extend 

 the territorial limits of the United 

 States, or from any unfriendly 

 feeling on the part of the American 

 Republic to the Spanish Govern- 

 ment. The Seminole Indians 

 inhabiting the territories of Spain 

 have, for more than two years 

 past, visited our frontier settlers 

 with all the horrors of savage 

 massacre: helpless women have 

 been butchered, and the cradles 

 stained with the blood of inno- 

 cence. These atrocities, it was 

 expected, would have early 

 attracted the attention of the 

 Spanish Government, and, faith- 



ful to existing treaties, speedy 

 remedies adopted for their sup- 

 pression. 



" The obligation to restrain 

 them was acknowledged ; but 

 weakness was alleged, with a 

 concession, that so far from 

 being able to control, the Spanish 

 authorities were often compelled, 

 from policy or necessity, to issue 

 munitions of war to these savages, 

 thus enabling, if not exciting 

 them, to raise the tomahawk 

 against us. The immutable laws 

 of self defence, therefore, com- 

 pelled the American Government 

 to take possession of such parts 

 of the Floridas in which the 

 Spanish authority could not be 

 maintained. Pensacola was found 

 in that situation, and will be held 

 until Spain can furnish military 

 strength sufficient to enforce 

 existing treaties. Spanish sub- 

 jects will be respected ; Spanish 

 laws will govern in all cases 

 affecting "property and person ; a 

 free toleration to all religions 

 guaranteed, and trade alike free 

 to all nations. 



" Col. King will assume tlie 

 command of Pensacola as a Mili- 

 tary and Civil Governor. 



" The Spanish laws, so far as 

 they affect personal rights and 

 property, will be enforced. 

 Colonel King will take possession 

 of the archives of the province, 

 and appoint some confidential 

 individual to preserve them. It 

 is all important that the records 

 of titles and property should be 

 carefully secured. He will cause 

 an inquiry to be made into all the 

 landed property belonging to the 

 King of Spain, and have posses- 

 sion taken of it. The claims of 

 property within the range of gun- 

 shot 



