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 320 FRANCES PACKARD YOUNG forts for purely patriotic motives. The Democratic Press, as Niles classed it, praised Jackson for this act, 73 while the "Rich- mond Enquirer," a paper which favored Crawford, called it, "an act of war and perfidy, showing a grasping nature on the part of the United States." 74 The "Franklin Gazette," a Calhoun paper, said, 75 "Jackson is a man of great courage and noble character, but does not see the value of strict discipline and subordination. He has placed the country in a most delicate situation." 76 Jackson sent a report to Calhoun dated June 2, 1818, giving an account of the taking of Pensacola, and his reasons for doing so. 77 On his march toward that fort, he had been warned by the Spanish governor to advance no JACKSON'S farther, but being confident of the hostile ACCOUNT OF feelings of the Commander toward the His CAPTURE OF United States, he proceeded on and took PENSACOLA the fort with little resistance. Jackson did not change the Spanish government of Pensacola, but established revenue laws on the coast to stop smuggling and admit the American merchants to equal rights with those of Spain. This event practically closed the war, as there were very few Indians left who had not recognized the superiority of Jackson's army. He asserted further, that it was impossible to establish an imaginary boundary line when Spain was not doing anything to subdue the Indians in her territory, and that "The immutable principles of self-defense, justified, there- fore, the occupancy of the Floridas and will warrant the Amer- ican government in holding them until such time when Spain can maintain her authority in it." Calhoun emphatically disapproved of the capture of St. Marks and Pensacola. He wrote to Charles Tait of South Carolina, on July 20, 1818 : 73 Ibid. 369. 74 Adams, J. Q., Memoirs, VI, 50. This reference states that the "Richmond Enquirer" was a Crawford paper. Niles' Register, XIV, 371. 75 Adams, J. Q., Memoirs, VI, 244-5, gives evidence that the "Franklin Gazette" supported Calhoun. 76 Niles' Register, XIV, 398-9. 77 State Papers, isth Cong., 2nd Sess., I, Sec. 14, page 87.