This treaty, as Jackson viewed
it, was the crowning vindication of the acts which had been called in
question; and public sentiment agreed with him.
Dilatory tactics on the part of the Madrid Government delayed the
actual transfer of the territory more than two years. After having
twice refused, Jackson at length accepted the governorship of Florida,
and in the early summer of 1821 he set out, by way of New Orleans, for
his new post. Mrs. Jackson went with him, although she had no liking
for either the territory or its people. On the morning of the 17th of
July the formal transfer took place. A procession was formed,
consisting of such American soldiers as were on the spot. A ship's
band briskly played _The Star Spangled Banner_ and the new Governor
rode proudly at the fore as the procession moved along Main Street to
the government house, where ex-Governor Callava with his staff was in
waiting. The Spanish flag was hauled down, the American was run up,
the keys were handed over, and the remaining members of the garrison
were sent off to the vessels which on the morrow were to bear them on
their way to Cuba.
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