Changes

After the [[transfer of Florida]] to the United States in [[1821]], former Spanish Governor [[Jose Callava]] was arrested by Governor [[Andrew Jackson]] for a failure to remit certain official papers to the American government. A group of thirteen Spanish officers, which included de Villiers and his son-in-law [[Arnaldo Guillemard|Guillemard]], wrote a "Declaration of many respectable witnesses of what passed," which enumerated a number of what they perceived to be injustices perpetrated by Jackson on the Spanish population. No action was taken at the time, but when a newspaper published an anonymous advertisement critical of Jackson and his deputy [[Henry Brackenridge]], Jackson ordered the banishment of de Villiers, Guillemard and six other signatories of the previous declaration<ref name="goza">http://smathersdlcl3.uflib.ufl.edu/docsb/news/Goza/336.sgm</ref> on [[September 29]], 1821.<ref name="sundrypapers">[http://www.archive.org/details/messagefrompresi00un "Message from the president of the United States, transmitting sundry papers relating to transactions in East and West Florida, received at the Department of State since his message of 28th January, last : with copies of two letters from the secretary of state upon the same subject"]</ref>

<blockquote>That your memorialists, with other Spanish officers, were, by the proclamation of his Excellency Andrew Jackson, Governor of the Floridas, issued on the 29th of September last, ordered to quit the Floridas within three days thereeafter, for reasons therein assigned. That your memorialists, in obedience to the said proclamation, withdrew from the said provinces, and repaired to the island of Cuba; and that, after being there some time, they found themselves compelled, from the situation of their private affairs, and the illness of a part of their families, to return to this country. That, in so doing, nothing was further from their intention than any disrepect to the constituted authorities of this province, whose determinations they declare themselves ready to observe and obey so long as they remain in the same. But they beg leave respectfully to represent, that, at the same time, they are Spanish officers, they and their families have also been inhabitants of this country for many years; and that they are owners of real and personal property here to a considerable amount. That, by the fifth article of the treaty, the inhabitants of the ceded provinces who may desire to remove to the Spanish dominions, shall be permitted to sell or export their effects at any time whatever, without being subject, in either case, to duties. That your memorialists are desirous to remove with their families to the Spanish dominions, and that, unless permitted to remain here, and superintend in person these necessary arrangements, they will be exposed to serious loss and injury. Your memorialists therefore pray, that, taking the circumstances into consideration, and especially their solemn declaration that they return, not as Spanish officers, but as private individuals, on private business, and with every disposition to obey and respect the existing authorities, they may be permitted to remain for the purpose of settling their affairs, and making the necessary arrangements for the removal of their families.<ref name="sundrypapers"/></blockquote>