The invasion of Florida by General Jackson was condemned by many public men, and was approved by others with equal ability. Even the then Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, in his correspondence with Don Onis, the Spanish Minister, defended the invasion with great ability. But in the discussions of this subject, we find no allusion to the massacre at "Blount's Fort;"[47] that appears to have been regarded as a subject of too delicate a nature for public scrutiny. In the alcoves of our National Library, we find many volumes of documents touching this war, embracing some thousands of pages, in which there is the strongest censure expressed against the Seminoles for provoking the war, and condemnation for the barbarous manner in which they conducted it; but we search them in vain to find any condemnation, by American statesmen, of the object for which the war was commenced, or the unprovoked and worse than savage massacre which marked its beginning. CHAPTER V. FURTHER EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO RESTORE EXILES TO SERVITUDE. Effects of the War--Situation of the Exiles--Servility of Northern Statesmen--Determination of Southern Slaveholders--The purchase of Florida demanded--Causes which led to it--Territory obtained--Authorities of Georgia demand a new Treaty with Creeks--Mr. Calhoun Secretary of War--His efforts in favor of the Claimants--Georgia appoints Commissioners--They attempt to dictate those appointed by the United States--Correspondence--Mr. Calhoun dissatisfied with those whom he had appointed--They resign--New Commissioners appointed--Their relation to the subject--Difficulties--Indian Talks--Treaty effected--Agreement--Assignment of Fugitive Slaves to United States in trust for the Creek Indians--Claims adjudicated--Slaveholders claim the funds belonging to the Creek Indians.