Thursday, June 27, 2013

"who you are not satisfied is an American"

Letters and orders from Gov. Mitchell, commissioner for the United States, relating to the affairs on Amelia Island.
                                                                                                             St Marys', 12th July, 1812.

   Sir: When you arrive at Amelia, you will furnish Capt. Williams with a boat for the transportation of a detachment of his marines to the camp before St. Augustine; the remainder will remain with you under the command of one of their own sergeants until the boat returns for them, or some other opportunity offers for their conveyance to the same destination. Capt. Ridgeway will go in the boat with Capt. Williams, and the recruits from Savannah, and the few men who were taken from Point Petre, will remain until another opportunity is afforded for their transportation to the camp before St. Augustine. You will maintain strict discipline and subordination, and admit of no outrage or violence amongst the inhabitants of the place; you will not permit any one who you are not satisfied is an American, to have or use fire arms or other offensive weapons, neither will you permit any negroes to remain there, who cannot satisfy you of their general good behaviour, and who have an owner in the place. All those pretending to claim their freedom, who cannot satisfy you of their being so in reality by the laws of the province, without any claim attaching to them by any citizen of the United States, you will secure and send to this place for safe keeping, in case you are deficient in the means of securing them in Amelia.
   You will not permit any property, particularly British property, to be taken from the island; nor will you admit of any provisions to leave the island upon any pretence, unless for the actual use and supply of such persons as may have leave to depart.

         Yours, very respectfully,

                                    D.B. MITCHELL.

      Capt. Massias,
        Commanding United Stales' troops on Amelia.

[REPORTS OF COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS, BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, December 7, 1831. AND IN THE FIFTY-SIXTH YEAR OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES. IN FIVE VOLUMES. VOLUME I. Containing Reports from No. 1 to No. 223. WASHINGTON: PRINTED BY DUFF GREEN. 1831.  Rep. No. 176 - January 12, 1832. Pgs. 5,6] 

   Well, I'm satisfied that I'm an American. How about you?

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