Respecting the attitude which it may be proper for the United States to
maintain hereafter between the parties, I have no hesitation in stating
it as my opinion that the neutrality heretofore observed should still
be adhered to. From the change in the Government of Spain and the
negotiation now depending, invited by the Cortes and accepted by the
colonies, it may be presumed, that their differences will be settled on
the terms proposed by the colonies. Should the war be continued, the
United States, regarding its occurrences, will always have it in their
power to adopt such measures respecting it as their honor and interest
may require.

Shortly after the general peace a band of adventurers took advantage of
this conflict and of the facility which it afforded to establish a
system of buccaneering in the neighboring seas, to the great annoyance
of the commerce of the United States, and, as was represented, of that
of other powers. Of this spirit and of its injurious bearing on the
United States strong proofs were afforded by the establishment at
Amelia Island, and the purposes to which it was made instrumental by
this band in 1817, and by the occurrences which took place in other
parts of Florida in 1818, the details of which in both instances are
too well known to require to be now recited. I am satisfied had a less
decisive course been adopted that the worst consequences would have
resulted from it. We have seen that these checks, decisive as they
were, were not sufficient to crush that piratical spirit. Many culprits
brought within our limits have been condemned to suffer death, the
punishment due to that atrocious crime. The decisions of upright and
enlightened tribunals fall equally on all whose crimes subject them, by
a fair interpretation of the law, to its censure. It belongs to the
Executive not to suffer the executions under these decisions to
transcend the great purpose for which punishment is necessary. The full