Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/337

ANDREW JACKSON 279 be sound, and in many most important instances, his violent action was highly beneficial to his coun try; but a man of such temperament is liable to make serious mistakes. On his way home, hearing that some Indians had sought refuge in Pensacola, Jackson captured the town, turned out the Spanish governor, and left a garrison of his own there. He had now virtually conquered Florida, but he had moved too fast for the government at Washington. He had gone further, perhaps, than was permissible in trespass ing upon neutral territory; and his summary exe cution of two British subjects aroused furious excitement in England. For a moment we seemed on the verge of war with Great Britain and Spain at once. Whatever authority President Monroe may have intended, through the Rhea letter, to con fer upon Jackson, he certainly felt that the general had gone too far. With one exception, all his cabinet agreed with him that it would be best to disavow Jackson s acts and make reparation for them. But John Quincy Adams, secretary of state, felt equal to the task of dealing with the two foreign powers, and upon his advice the ad ministration decided to assume the responsibility for what Jackson had done. Pensacola and St. Marks were restored to Spain, and an order of Jackson s for the seizing of St. Augustine was countermanded by the president. But Adams rep-