In the beginning, Monroe, and even Madison, had their sights set on, "all of Texas", Florida, and passage to the Pacific. In undertaking this hugely complicated and risky enterprise they were also aware that it could possibly result in war, a war they could not afford to lose. On top of this it was also recognized that these acquisitions had to be firmly in place before Mexico became involved, for several of the reasons I've already outlined in other post regarding Mexico. If war did come Florida was not the big concern as it was right down the coast and it could be easily accessed, supplied, etc. But the Texas region wasn't so easily accessed and supplied, etc. In fact, the bay at Galveston Island would have been vital in such a conflict, which is one of the reasons why Jackson was in favor of just going and taking it, and had it been left up to him he would have.
Wars cost money, and you do not engage in, or support certain activities that could bring that war about unless you can afford to do so. Since the beginning of man a staple strategy has been to gain control of the enemies resources and then to use those same resources against that enemy. This is exactly what was happening at Galveston Island and the Spanish knew it, even launched complaint against these alleged activities at Galveston Island. So let me ask you, of these accumulated Spanish prizes that included gold and silver and jewels, etc., what do you suppose happen to them after the threat of war was over? Forget the Laffite Memoirs as there exist others sources, such as those previously mentioned Spanish allegations, that prizes were being taken from Spain through the activities at Galveston Island so there is no doubt that noticeable property/wealth was acquired. So, once the threat was over, who did it all belong to? Who go to keep it? Where did it all go?
And this brings us right back to that chronological order of the dates of deposit and the signing and ratification of the Adams Onis Treaty, and also the ten-year term which eventually realizes that critically vital Treaty of Limits in 1828. So what I am proposing to you is that the deposits were actually part of the not too secret war chest by way of Galveston Island, the deposits being held until the Mexico situation could likewise be handled with diplomacy instead of conflict, a calculated political risk that actually ended up being quite accurate.
At first word that the Adams Onis Treaty was about to become a reality Monroe sent John Graham, a banker and once interim Secretary of war, “the go to man” as he was often referred, to Galveston Island on a, “Secret Mission.” I'm assuming that given the broad discretion the phrase maintained during the period that one could easily say that during his trip Graham was involved in a type of, Secret Service. Yes?
Shortly after the treaty is signed we have or first deposit. Shortly after the treaty is ratified we have our second deposit. Both of these deposits traveling from west to east. Contrary to popular belief possession alone has nothing to do with determining ownership.
