1822 - Edocs

XXXVIII
I
MILITARY COMMAND IN FLORIDA.
Message from the President of the U.iited States to the
Houze of Hefiresentatvves.
I communicate herewith to the House a report from
the Secretary of War, c» teaming the information requested
by^fheir resolution of .the fifth ultimo.
Ji"tnay be proper, further tb a*)^ that^the secretaries of
botiVthe territories bye occa,si-onliHy required unci received
the aidWthe mtfiiary force of the United States stationedfcfrithin
therti, re^oec^iyely, U> carry into effect the
acts^of their authority. *£"*** .-
jff'* \
The governmenC.df Ealt and W$ti Florida, was, under
the Spanish dominion, altafost- exclusively military ; the
governors, of both were military offerers, ancfc- united in
the ir persons t-h'e c^ie^frauthority,
T her principle upon \(Bich the
both civil and military.
act of Congress^ of the
last session, [#o'vioS"d "for the temporary government of
theiiewly ceded provinces, wa^cj.ro&d into^execu' on,
has*Deen.communic9Jfe(i to Congress in my message at
the opening of the session. It was to*iea\le- the authorities
ol^the country as theyweue found existing u.t the tune
of the cessio'n, to be exercised, until the meeting of (Jong
re ss^ vv hen it w a s kn&wn that .tl& introduction of a m stemTm^'e^con^eiiial
to our oWri institutions, would be
one of the earrrest and most important subjecfe of their
denotations. Fuom this, among other obviotre^considerat&ns,
mir^ry officers-were appointed to take possession
of both provinces. But, as the military command
of General Jackson was to cease on the first of June, General
Gaines, the office* next in command, then here, who
was firstvdesignated to take possession of East .Florida,
| receiTT
ruf!t >
t!ye*a verbal direction to give such elfect to
an,y requ-i&ition from tne Governor for military aid, to
enforce.his authority-^ as the circumstances* might .require.
It was not foreseen thtt the command in both the
provinces would," before further legislation, by Congress
on that subject, devolve upon^tJSte secretaries of the territories
; but, had it b«en foreseen, the sAme direction
would have been given as applicable to them.
No authority has been given to either of the secretaries
to issue commands to that portion of the/irmy which is in
Florida ; an I whenever the aid of the military has been
required by them, it has been by written requisitions to
the officers commanding th* troops, who have yielded
compliance thereto, doubtless under the directions, received
from General Gaines, as understood by him to be authorized.
Shortly before the meeting of Congress, a letter was received
at the War Department from Colonel Brooke, the
officer commanding at Pensacola, requesting instructions
how far he was to consider these requisitions as authori-