DAUPHIN ISLAND REPARATIONS

Equally difficult questions arose in regard to the slaves

taken away from Dauphin Island in Mobile Bay.74 This

island, controlled by the British during the war, was later

surrendered to the United States. Concerning this Jack-

son held that it was not legally at the time of the ratifica-

tions of the treaty a part of the United States, that is, it

was not a part of Louisiana but belonged to West Florida,

which was not ceded to the United States until 1819.75 In

regard to this Cheves offered to refer these claims to arbi-

tration, but in this view Jackson refused to acquiesce. The

situation did not become any better even when Rufus King

was sent as our minister to England to succeed Henry Clay

who became John Quincy Adams's Secretary of State.

Lieut. McKeever’s command was the last to capitulate, and he himself and most of his officers were severe] wounded. His conduct on this occasion attracted the attention of Gen. Jackson, who became his lifelong friend, and at whose particular request he co-operated in the capture of Pensacola four years later. In his general orders dated May 29. 1818, Jackson wrote:"Capt. McKeever, of the navy, merits (as he has on several other occasions) the warmest thanks of the general, for his zealous cooperation and activity in landing two of his guns and gallantly offering to lay his vessel be fore the water battery, in the event of storming the upper works."

 There were to be no half-way measures now. Writing to Captain McKeever, commissioned to co-operate with him by sea, Jackson designated St. Mark's as the first point of attack, instructed Mc Keever to meet him there, and signifi cantly added : " You will . . . capture and make prisoners all, or every person, or description of persons, white, red, or black, with all their goods, chattels, and effects, together with all crafts, vessels, or means of transportation by water. . . . Any of the subjects of His Catholic Majesty sailing to St. Mark's may be permitted freely to enter the said river. But none to pass out, unless after an examination it may be made to appear that they have not been attached, to or in any wise aided and abetted our common enemy." The meaning of this language was plain enough. To blockade Spanish ports, to seize Spanish property, and to make prisoners of Spanish subjects — such was Jackson's programme. In cidentally, he proposed capturing, if possible, certain Englishmen at whose door he laid the chief responsibility for the present Indian rising, and who, he had reason to believe, were then at St. Mark's, together with two Indian chief tains who had proved especially malevo lent. To St. Mark's, then, he hastened, as did McKeever, the latter scrupling not to sail into the bay under the English flag, and by this disgraceful ruse lure aboard the chieftains for whose lives Jackson thirsted. Jackson's own course was openness itself. Frankly informing the Spanish commandant that so long as the struggle with the Indians lasted it was necessary to occupy St. Mark's with American troops, he marched his men into the town, hauled down the Spanish flag, and raised in its stead the Stars and Stripes. No damage was done to per son or property, and only one prisoner taken — a Scotchman, Alexander Arbuth- not, an aged Indian trader who was suspected of having intrigued against American interests. Next day, without so much as the "semblance of a trial, McKeever's native captives were hanged, a fate which they doubtless richly de served ; and