Department of State, May 27, 1812.
Sir,—I have had the honor to receive your letter of the second instant, from St. Mary's, where you had arrived in discharge of the trust reposed in you by the President, in relation to East Florida.
My letter by Mr. Isaacs, has, I presume, substantially answered the most important of the queries submitted in your letter, but I will give to each a more distinct answer.
By the law, of which a copy was forwarded to you, it is made the duty of the President to prevent the occupation of East Florida by any foreign power. It follows that you are authorized to consider the entrance, or attempt to enter, especially under existing circumstances, of British troops, of any description, as the case contemplated by the law, and to use the proper means to defeat it.
An instruction will be immediately forwarded to the commander of the naval force of the United States, in the neighborhood of East Florida, to give you any assistance, in case of emergency, which you may think necessary, and require.
It is not expected, if you find it proper to withdraw the troops, that you should interfere to compel the patriots to surrender the country, or any part of it, to the Spanish authorities. The United States are responsible for their own conduct only, not for that of the inhabitants of East Florida. Indeed, in consequence of the comportment of the United States to the inhabitants, you have been already instructed not to withdraw the troops, unless you find that it may be done consistently with their safety, and to report to the Government the result of your conferences with the Spanish authorities, with your opinion of their views, holding in the mean time the ground occupied.
In the present state of our affairs with Great Britain the course above pointed out is the more justifiable and proper. I have the honor to be, &c.,
JAMES MONROE.
Friday, July 3.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Smith, of Maryland, and Mr. Leib, a committee appointed for the purpose, notifying the House that the Senate have rejected the bill, entitled "An act authorizing the President to take possession of a tract of country lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Georgia, and for other purposes."