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CALHOUN AS SECRETARY OF WAR 321 "The taking of Pensacola was unauthorized and done on his (Jackson's) own responsibility. The place CALHOUN will be given back to Spain, for above all CONDEMNS things the peace of the country should JACKSON FOR be preserved. We have nothing to gain THE CAPTURE OF in a war with Spain, and would be liable THESE FORTS to lose our commerce in such a war. We want time. Let us grow." 78 On the same day that this last letter was written John Q. Adams stated that Calhoun considered the capture of these two towns a violation of the Constitution and an act of war against Spain. The Secretary of War even accused Jackson of having deliberately disobeyed his orders and acted on his own arbitrary will. 78 Yet Calhoun wrote to Jackson on De- cember 23, 1818, "Its (Florida) acquisition, in a commercial, military and point of view would be of great importance to us." 80 He may have been working for the same thing that Jackson was righting for, but condemned Jackson's methods ; or, taking his letter to Governor Bibb into account, he did not realize, before the seizure of St. Marks and Pensacola, what the consequences of such an act would be. President Monroe ordered the two forts to be surrendered to the Spanish government until affairs THE FORTS in Florida could be decided definitely. 81 RETURNED TO The remaining question of what to do SPAIN AND with Jackson was practically determined JACKSON by public opinion. Calhoun wrote to PROTECTED BY Mr. Tait, that the popularity of the Gen- PUBLIC OPINION eral made it impolitic to punish him. 83 President Monroe confirms this state- ment in a letter which he wrote to Madison, acknowledging 78 Gulf State Historical Society, I, 92. Letters of Calhoun to Mr. Tait. 79 Adams, J. Q., Memoirs, IV, 113. 80 Letters of Calhoun, House Documents, V. 115, Am. Hist. Ass. V. II, 87; 1899-1900. 81 State Papers, isth Cong., 2nd Sess., Sec. 14, page 87, August 14, 1818. 82 Gulf State Historical Magazine, I, 94. Letters of Calhoun to Mr. Tait. 1