When Pensacola fell into the hands of the Spa niards, and possession of it, as well as of East Flo rides, was confirmed by the treaty of peace in 1788, the greater part of the inhabitants left the country, and settled either in the United States or the British Islands ; and few Spanish settlers having fixed their residence in it, the town and province have, ever since the change, been in a desolate state. The ex pences of maintaining the governments of the two Floridas by Spain has so much exceeded the reve nues, that they have required remittances from Mexico annually, to the amount of near 800,000 dollars.
Mobile, with the district around it, was seized by the American Government in the year 1810, and though the right to it depended on the unsettled question of boundary, it may be noticed here, with more propriety than under the article Louisiana, to which country the Americans asserted that it be longs. It was, when held by the British, a place of considerable importance, and most rapidly increasing. It is well situated for commerce, as the Alabama ri ver and district must have all their productions pass by it to reach the ocean. Though vessels of large size cannot reach the town, yet they can anchor securely within the river seven miles below it ; and it has the advantage of being connected by boat navigation with Tennesse by the rivers Alabama and Tombec bee, which are navigable 300 miles above the town. These advantages were lost to the place; whilst un der the Spanish Government; it had rapidly decay ed, and was rather a harbour for outlaws and con trabandists than a mercantile or agricultural colony. In 1810, when the events in Spain made it doubtful what government was to rule the peninsula, the in habitants of Mobile showed a disposition to set up a government of their own. Folch, the Spanish commander, was unable to restrain the inhabitants, and he relinquished his power to the United States. Since that period Mobile has continued to increase, and as it is now assumed to be, and practically is a part of the States, it may, at no very distant period, become a place of considerable importance.
The Indian tribes bordering on Florida, are the two nations of the Upper and Lower Creeks, the Aconies and the Seminoles. When, in 1781, the Spaniards conquered West and menaced East Flo rids, all these tribes were resolutely engaged in the English cause. They have, like the rest of the Aborigines, considerably diminished in numbers, as the more civilized population has approached nearer their villages. It is said, however, that these tribes when united can muster near two thousand warriors; but in this enumeration are included many fugitive negro-slaves from the States that have joined them. The inhabitants of the United States, in all the southern parts, from the feelings which their system of negro-slavery has created towards all that are not of the European complexion, too frequently treat the Indians with unfeeling cruelty. The State go vernments to the southward are all composed of in dividuals who are masters of slaves; even the Con gress has a majority of its members masters of slaves; and the President, ever since the establish ment of their constitution, has been chosen from the slave owners with but one exception. Coloured
people, by such men, are scarcely considered as hu man beings. No sympathy is felt for their suffer ings, and no redress is afforded to their complaints. They are treated with oppression, and they retaliate by barbarity. Peace can never be of long duration between such parties, and the justice of their cause can never be impartially ascertained. The op ponents of the Indians, who alone have communica tion with them, exclusively possess the faculties of reading and writing; they alone have the power of printing their statements; and consequently of dress ing them in such colours as best suit their own views.
As in the views of the United States the posses sion of the Floridas was important, they have never ceased to desire it since their acquisition of inde pendence. No pretext either for exchanging or seizing these provinces presented itself till the Go vernment France became masters of Louisiana. Bonaparte having induced the imbecile cabinet of Spain to cede to him the province of Louisiana, and knowing the eagerness felt in America for the ex tension of a territory already too extensive, bargain ed with the United States for the province, before the treaty with Spain was completed. The Govern ment of America paid the price for the stolen track, and thus became accomplices with him who had committed the fraud. A French Commissioner, M. Laussat, received the surrender from the Spanish Government, and instantly delivered over the pro. vince to the officers of the United States. No dis pute then arose about the boundary. The Missis sippi and the Iberville had been considered by the English, the Spaniards, and the French, as the line which divided Louisiana from Florida. Under this conviction, France received it from Spain, and with the same conviction it was delivered to America. When the United States had thus gained Louisiana, the desire for Florida became more intense; and on the most flimsy pretences, claims were set up to the track of country included between the lberville and the Perdido, which the Americans asserted was a part of Louisiana. Appeals were made to the Go vernment of France as to their understanding of the limits which they had received and transferred. The answer of France was, that they had only received the country up to the Mississippi, and that the dis trict between that river and the Pardido had not been included in the cession made to them by Spain, but continued, as it had previously been, a part of Florida, which Spain was to retain. Though much discussion between the two Governments was car. vied on, from the time when Louisiana was transo• ferred, no steps had been taken by America to en force her claims; but when the Peninsula was over run by the armies of France, and no government recognised by America existed there, the territory in dispute was occupied by the Americans, as we have before stated, with the concurrence of FoIch, the Spanish commander at Mobile.