by
force, if necessary. But as it might still be possible to negotiate
a settlement, they asked such means as might enable them to meet the
negotiation, whatever form it might take. The first part of this system
was communicated publicly, the second, privately; but both were equally
official, equally involved the responsibility of the executive, and were
equally to go on the journals. 5. That the purchase of the Floridas was
in direct opposition to the views of the executive, as expressed in the
President's official communication. It was not in opposition even to the
public part of the communication, which did not recommend war, but only
to be prepared for it. It perfectly harmonized with the private part,
which asked the means of negotiation in such terms as covered the
purchase of Florida as evidently as it was proper to speak it out. He
speaks of secret communications between the executive and members, of
backstairs influence, &tc.. But he never spoke of this while he and
Mr. Nicholson enjoyed it almost solely. But when he differed from the
executive in a leading measure, and the executive, not submitting to
him, expressed their sentiments to others, the very sentiments (to wit,
for the purchase of Florida), which he acknowledges they expressed to
him, then he roars out upon backstairs influence. 6. The committee, he
says, forbore to recommend offensive measures. Is this true? Did not
they recommend the raising ------- regiments? Besides, if it was proper
for the committee to forbear recommending offensive measures, was it
not proper for the executive and legislature to exercise the same
forbearance? 7. He says Monroe's letter had a most important bearing on
our Spanish relations. Monroe's letter related, almost entirely, to our
British relations. Of those with Spain he knew nothing particular since
he left that country. Accordingly, in his letter he simply expressed
an opinion on our affairs with Spain, of which he knew we had better
information than he could possess. His opinion was no more than that
of any other sensible man; and his letter was proper to be communicated
with the English papers, and with them only. That the executive did not
hold it up on account of any bearing on Spanish affairs, is evident from
the fact, that it was communicated when the Senate had not yet entered
on the Spanish affairs, and had not yet received the papers relating to
them from the other House. The moment the Representatives were