3045. FLORIDA, Seizure of.—
I wish
you [Congress] would authorize the President
to take possession of East Florida immediately.
The seizing West Florida will be a signal to
England to take Pensacola and St. Augustine;
and be assured it will be done as soon as the
order can return after they hear of our taking
Baton Rouge, and we shall never get it from
them but by a war, which may be prevented by
anticipation. There never was a case where the
adage was more true, “in for a penny, in for a
pound”; and no more offence will be taken by
France and Spain at our seizure of both than
of one.—
To J. W. Eppes.
Ford ed., ix, 290.
(M.
Jan. 1811)
