In the autumn of 1817, the Seminole and a portion of the Creek Indians commenced depredations on the frontiers of Georgia and Alabama.  Troops were sent to reduce them, under Gen. Gaines.  His force being too weak to bring them to subjection, Gen. Jackson was ordered to take the field with a more numerous army, with which he overran the Indian country.  Believing it necessary to enter Florida, then a Spanish territory, for the more effectual subjugation of the Indians, he did not hesitate to pursue them thither.  The Spanish authorities protested against the invasion of their domains, and offered some opposition.  Gen. Jackson persisted, and in the result, took possession of St. Marks and Pensacola, and sent the Spanish authorities and troops to Havana.

Among the prisoners taken in this expedition, were a Scotchman and an Englishman, named Arbuthnot and Ambrister.  They were British subjects, but were charged with supplying the Indians with arms and munitions of war; stirring them up against the whites, and acting as spies.  On these charges they were tried by a court martial, of which Gen. Gaines was President—­found guilty—­condemned to death, and executed on the 27th of April, 1818.

These transactions of Gen. Jackson caused great excitement throughout the United States, and subjected him to no little blame.  The subject excited much debate in Congress.  A resolution censuring him for his summary proceedings was introduced, but voted down by a large majority.  In Mr. Monroe’s cabinet, there was a strong feeling against Gen. Jackson.  The President, and all the members, with a single exception, were disposed to hold him responsible for having transcended his orders.  Hon. Wm. H. Crawford, who was in Mr. Monroe’s cabinet at that time, in a letter to Mr. Forsyth, says:—­“Mr. Calhoun’s proposition in the cabinet was, that Gen. Jackson should be punished in some form, or reprimanded in some form.”

Mr. Adams alone vindicated Gen. Jackson.  He insisted that inasmuch as the Government had ordered him to pursue the enemy into Florida, if necessary, they were responsible for the acts of the American general, in the exercise of the discretionary power with which he had been clothed.  Several cabinet meetings were held on the subject, in July, 1818, in which the whole matter was thoroughly discussed.  Mr. Adams succeeded at length in bringing the President into the adoption of his views, which Mr. Monroe substantially embodied in his next annual message to Congress.

The intelligence of the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister, excited the highest indignation in England.  The people viewed it as a violation of the rights of British subjects, and an insult to their nation, and were ready to rush to war.  Lord Castlereagh declared to Mr. Rush, the American Minister, that had the English cabinet but held up a finger, war would have been declared against the United States.  But so able and convincing were the arguments which Mr. Adams directed Mr. Rush to lay before the British Ministers, in defence of the proceedings of Gen. Jackson, that they became convinced there was no just cause of war between the two countries, and exerted their influence against any movement in that direction.