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Show 414 NOTJ>S. "The only difficulty I have hitherto experienced in meeting the requisition, has been in this city, and exclusively from some Europe an Frenchmen, who, after giving their adhesion to Louis XVIII., have, through the medium of the French consul, claimed exemption from the drafts, as French subjects. The question of exemption, however, is now under discussion, before a special court of inquiry, and I am not without hopes, that these ungrateful men, may yet be brought {o a discharge of their duties." On the necessity of securing the country against the machinations of foreigners, he, on the 4th of November, informed the respondent- .JI' "You have been informed bf the contents of aA intercepted letter, written by colonel Coliel, a Spanish officer, to captain Morales, of Pensacola.-This letter was submitted for the opinion of the attomey general of the state, as to the measures to be pursued against the writer. The attorney general was of opinion, that the courts could take no cognizance of the same; but. that the governor might order the writer to leave the state, and in case of refusal, to send him ofr by force. I accordingly, sir, or~ dered colonel Coliel to take his departure, in forty-eight hours, for Pensacola, and gave him the necessary passports. I hope this measure may meet your approbation. It is a just retaliation for the conduct lately observed by the governor of Pensacola, and may induce the Spaniards residing among us, to be less communicative, upon those subjects which relate to our military movements." 'Vith the impressions this corresponUence was calculated to vroduce, the respondent arrived in this city, where, in different conversations, the same ideas were enforced, and he was advised, not only by the governor of the state, but very many influential persons, to proclaim martial law, as the only meamr of producing union, O\'ercc-ming disaffection, detecting treason, and calling 1i01·th the energies of the country. This measure was ,discussed and recommended to the respondent, as he well recollects, in the presence of the judge of this honourable court, who not only made no objection, but seemed, by his gestures and silence, to approve of its being adopted. These opinions, respectable in themselves, derived greater weight from that which the governor expressed, of the legislature, then in session. He represented their fidelity NOTES. 415 ns very doubtful ; ascribed design to their prolonged session; and appeared extremely desirous that they should adjourn. The respondent had also been informed, that in the house of representatives, the idea, that a very considerable part of the state belonged to the Spanish government, and ought not to be represented, had been openly advocated, and favourably heard. The co·operation of the Spaniards with the English, was, at that time, a prevalent idea.-This information, therefore, appeared highly important. He determined to examine, with the utmost care, all -the facts that had been communicated to him; ant.l not to act up· on the advice he had received, until the clearest demonstration. should have determined its propriety. He was then almost an entire stranger, in the place he was sent to defend, and unac· quainted with the language of a majority of its inhabitants. While these circumstances were unfavourable to his obtaining informa. tion, on the one hand, they precluded, on the other, a suspicion that his measures were dictated by personal friendship, private animosity, or party views. Uninfluenced by such motives, he be: gan his observations. He sought for information, and, to obtaiu it, communicated with men of every description. He believed that even then he discovered those high qualities, which have since distinguished those brave defenders of their country:that the variety o( language, the dilference of habit, and even the national prejudices, which seemed to divide the inhabitants, might be made, if properly directed, the source of the most ho· nourable emulation. Delicate attentions were necessary to foster this disposition; and the highest energy, to restrain the effects, that such an assemblage was calculated to produce; he determined to avail himself of both, and with this view, called to his aid, the impulse of national feeling, the higher motives of patriotic sentiment, and the noble enthusiasm of valour. They operated in· a manner which history will record ; all who could be influenced by those feelings, rallied, without delay, round the standard of their country. Their efforts, however, '~oultl have been unavailing, if the disalfected had been permitted to counteract them by their treason, the timid to paralyze them by their example, and both to stand aloof in the hour of danger, and en~ joy tlte fn1it of victory, witQout participating in the Uangcr of defeat. |