Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/204

172 Great Britain was watching the chance to seize the prey.

A new danger now threatened. Great Britain might at any moment procure a cession from her ally, Spain, and occupy Florida without warning.

In the summer of 1810, American immigrants in West Florida rebelled against the Spanish authority and seized Baton Rouge. They then held a convention, organized a government, and declared West Florida a &quot;free and independent State. The President refused to recognize their acts, but they had demonstrated that Spain was incapable of exercising control over the province. It was necessary for the United States to act with vigor. Accordingly, October 27, 1810, President Madison issued his proclamation, taking possession of West Florida in the name of the United States. His reasons were stated in the proclamation. It was claimed as a part of the Louisiana cession. Although the United States had not heretofore taken hostile possession, yet the time had arrived when the authority of Spain had been thrown off by revolt. The President, therefore, occupied it to save it from anarchy, to guard against the mischief which might result to the United States, and to prevent its seizure by any foreign power. The territory was to be held under authority of former acts of Congress, in a manner friendly to Spain and subject to amicable adjustment hereafter. The territory so occupied extended from the Mississippi river to the Perdido, and was attached for the present to Orleans Territory. Governor Claiborne took possession December 7th, as far as Pearl river, permitting the country between the rivers Pearl and Perdido to remain in the possession of the Spanish governor. Congress met December 3, 1810, and the President’s message, December 5th, thus refers to his occupation of Florida:

&quot;The Spanish authority was subverted, and a situation produced exposing the country to ulterior events which might essentially affect the rights and welfare of the