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318 FRANCES PACKARD YOUNG Foreign Affairs, reported to the House of Representatives that the Spanish had "permitted the Indian inhabitants of that territory, whom they had promised by treaty to restrain, to en- gage in savage hostilities against us." 68 Mr. Adams, the Secretary of State, asserted that the Spanish were aiding the Indians, by giving them supplies and allowing the fort to be used for their councils of war. 04 After some hesitation, Calhoun, in the name of the Presi- dent, ordered General Gaines to cross the THE U. S. ARMY boundary of Florida and subdue the na- Is ORDERED tives. This message was sent in a letter ACROSS THE from the Secretary of War to General BOUNDARY INTO Gaines, dated December 16, 1817, in FLORIDA which Calhoun wrote, "On the receipt of this letter, should the Seminole Indians still refuse to make reparation for their outrages and depredations on the citizens of the United States, it is the wish of the President, that you consider yourself at liberty to march across the Florida line, and to attack them within its limits, should it be found necessary, unless they should shelter themselves under a Spanish fort. In the last event you will immediately notify this Department." 85 General Jackson was not ordered to join Gaines until the 26th of December, 1817, 66 and it is very likely that he enjoyed the same privilege of crossing the Florida boundary. On December 26th, Calhoun wrote to Jackson, telling him that Gaines had probably by that date carried the war into Florida, and, "With this in view, you may be prepared to concentrate your force, and to adopt the necessary measures to terminate a con- flict, which it has been the desire of the President, from con- siderations of humanity to avoid ; but which is now made nec- essary by their settled hostilities." 67 63 Annals of Congress, i6th Cong., ist Sess., IL 1618-9. 64 Annals of Congress, isth Cong., and Sess., IV, 1826-39. Letter of Mr. Adams to Mr. Erving, Minister to Spain. 65 State Papers, isth Cong., and Sess., I, Sec. 14, page 35. 66 Ibid. Page 33. 67 State Papers, i$th Cong., and Sess., Sec. 14, page 33.