6547. PENSACOLA, Capture of.—
The
capture of Pensacola, which furnished so much
speculation for European news-writers (who
imagine that our political code, like theirs,
had no chapter of morality), was nothing here.
In the first moment, indeed there was a general
outcry of condemnation of what appeared
to be a wrongful aggression. But this was
quieted at once by information that it had been
taken without orders, and would be instantly
restored. * * * This manifestation of the will
of our citizens to countenance no injustice towards
a foreign nation filled me with comfort
as to our future course.—
To Albert Gallatin.
Ford ed., x, 115.
(M.
Nov. 1818)
