[Letter] 1812 Oct. 13, Department of State, [Washington, D.C. to] David B. Mitchell / Ja[me]s Monroe

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Department of State

October 13th. 1812
Sir
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 19th. Ult [Ultimo] from Milledgeville, acknowledging the rect. [receipt] of mine of the
6th of July and communicating the state of our affairs with the Spanish authorities in East Florida, at the time you left Savannah.
The President finds with regret that the Governor of East Florida had declined entering into an engagement with you, to secure from molestation or harm such of the Inhabitants as had been encouraged by Governor Matthews in a mistaken view of his powers, to engage in certain revolutionary measures there, and also that at the time when a fair and just provision in their favor was under discussion, he had made an attack on the troops of the United States under the command of Coln [Colonel] Smith who had been necessarily advanced for the safety and protection of those people. It appears also, that in the same spirit, the Governor of East Florida had excited


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the Indians to commit acts of hostility against the United States, and that there was serious cause to apprehend, that under his influence, the incursions of the Indian Tribes against us would be increased, and their aggressions be proportionally more extensive and injurious.
The conduct of the Governor of East Florida has excited much surprise, more especially when the liberal and friendly conduct of this Government towards Spain is taken into consideration. As soon as it was known that General Matthews had transcended his powers, the President revoked them and committed them to you, with authority to restore the Territory to the Governor of the Province, on the condition that satisfactory assurance should be given you, that the people who had acted at his instance, on the faith of the United States, should not be punished or molested for it. It was hoped and presumed, that this condition would have been proptly [promptly] acceded to, or rather, that a just policy would have anticipated it. It was impossible to foresee that the frank and liberal proposal of the United States to restore the Territory to the Spanish authorities, after disavowing the conduct of their own officer, and displacing him, whereby the authority of Spain would have been confirmed over it, under their sanction would have been met by acts


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of direct and open hostility.
The wrongs heretofore received from Spain with which you are well acquainted independant [independent] of other considerations of sufficient weight in themselves would have justified the United States in taking possession of that Province, as an indemnity to our Citizens. These wrongs have been borne, in the expectation that the motive could not be mistaken, and that the period was not remote, when the Spanish authorities by whomsoever wielded, reciprocating a similar sentiment towards this Country, would make ample reparation for them. To abandon the people who had relied on the faith of the Country, however improperly pledged, to the resentments of the Spanish authorities which evidently awaited them, while the Government of Spain made no recompense to the United States for losses or atonement for insults would have been equally unjust in itself and inconsistent with the sympathies due to their situation. To do it after the outrages more recently received, which you have communicated without a satisfactory arrangement, would be still more reprehensible.
On a full view of your conduct in this important and delicate transaction, I am happy to communicate to you the entire approbation and the thanks of the President. In accepting the trust, you gave a proof


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of patriotism, and the discharge of its duties has been distinguished by the abilities and judgment which the nature of the case required. That more precise instruction were not given you, for the reinforcement of the troops under the command of Coln. [Colonel] Smith, in case the Spanish authorities should refuse to give you the satisfactory assurance desired in favor of the people in East Florida, to whom the public faith had been pledged, proceeded, from a hope and belief that [added text (appears to be different ink and hand): that ] contingency would not happen and a confidence if it did that your judgment looking distinctly to the nature of your trust, and its duties, would supply the omission.
The President is aware that your duties in the office of Chief Majestrate [Magistrate] of Georgia, which will now become more active, will render it difficult, if not impossible for you in future to execute those with which you have been charged in regard to East Florida. Willing to relieve you from that burthen [burden], he proposes to transfer the powers lately committed to you, to Major General Pinckney, with whose situation and functions they have a convenient relation. I have therefore to request that you will have the goodness to communicate with him on the subject and to furnish him such information as may be useful to him.

I have the honor to be very respectfully Sir, Your Most Obt Servt. [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Jas. [James] Monroe
His Exy. [Excellency] David B. Mitchell &c &c [et cetera et cetera]