The Western Register and Terre-Haute advertiser, Volume 4, Number 15, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 30 June 1827 — Page 2

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i? ROISTER OFFICE.

TERRE^HAUTE:

SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1847.

It is very true that tlie presidential question has made considerable noise, and that much unnecessary excitement

has

heen produced :—That some misrepresentations have been made, and that some writers on both side9 ot this question have descended* go far as to in-dd'e with little private concerns, which never ought to have bees brought b»»rin the public eye, will not he denied. iiut, while admit these points, I would ask if it i* the duty of the people to abandon the investigation of this momentous topic altogether Or, for Lhem to suffer their prejudices to controut their judgment, and cause them lo cease readTog and compariog the statements laid before them Or* sit proper that they should dispassionately fcaa tho9,» productions, carefully weigh Vie testimony by which they are supported, and be diligent in the pursuit of truth award to merit its just due, *nd to de-merit a proper proportion of "forgetfulness it id not for th&inferesis cf men, that -we should contend but lor the true interests of our country. Ahd,$s every •American is a freeman, and as every tfreenan has, or ought*to J? his part in •originating as well as supporting the :?ftws of his ceufitry, it ifl necessary hr •hould be a politician •, and, well acquainted with the character, and political principles of those who are candi «d,ite9

for

public favour and .more es

pecially of those who aspire to the highest stations. Then, it is the duty of •each freeman to qualify, himself to discharge those high and iroport&rOv acts, which, as an American citizeu, are respired of him always recollecting that hi the polls, the most in oortant interests of his country may ^jeopardized by an improper dispos 'ton of a si j.le vote. It *3 also well to renifirb' thit while wo s»iff.-r p« e'M!:ce to the d-oxnir.ir»a,,tjf .-asoii,,# carl fr\*

irir-'V i-Q? 'Sunidt- v/Kn Hp-

v" *bc Tr

ess and c' IS, for

v.cre rever secured

t*:'1 d?tvi"sd n^' j.'.!rno^es oi blander r.Tv* de'.-arti'« but fur the glomus purp puies of in proving our intellectual facultiei—al a free infrcha-Jge of senti-in-?r.t—ot the discu?V!on ot ui 4»ur unpi.i iant conrei ns an j, the free and independent investigation the official conduct cf our public irnctionarie" 1 imay be sold priApiHcly, thenare'fev. b'.e^su.gs conferred on man, bat what &iv ilused—and few are more a-b-vJ than tlie liberty of the Press. But, because some men are t'o lost to t*4= principles of justice and rigfit, as to injure iflslead of benefit their country. from private views or personal ambition —it does not argue that all the advontages flawing-IV,m» fircat privilege ibotld be entirely thrown away, or, e-ven neirkcted but tliat every citiien should, in tht3as we'.i as in other afl\irs,be vigilant in the detection and exposition of error, through the same tdiutn which that error ttewi. In orrfer to do Uiis, it is necessary for e^rcry ran to read the arguments on all *ideb ^-and, after mature wid -unitlasged deliberation. form his opinions conscientieaiity, efid govern ac'.ions as tho' In- had to render-an acc^at te bib ccunfry and hii Ood. 1 hjive been led to -the i-s remarks^

H»ing long witnessed the manner

in which some men trifle u::h those /igbtnwhich vrere pufcbaseti 1-^r them ly tho bestbl .-jd of their *irt^kius and jafriutic ance^otrt.

It is truethit the prejudice3 of the Ihofnan heart arc strong and hard to ov:tcoT»4 but, it: mutters where others are concerned, it i- sacred di.ry to iccep our rainds o^!ii to the convict ions «if ref.^on and trJtn, and when con--iti' f'il of error—-.it a noble—it is c»egaaniuious to retract.

Wuh tlteeobrer'ation«, I shall now

^.a,f .p-t |»roceod to r/'oeem rr premise of last,

'v' and p*v.-some attention to the

Ci.'cuinv" o»* the, JaChSito corres-[

»V Jbeir4- crii»t»'y object" ISM tne :tior: of HUTH, an tlv. -RBSczr. *f ANiiMKW Jackrn the imputations wnich ignoTancfanrt -.oiitical ^i-j-Jice have combiat"! to

UP'•»

l^i"'

'Mux ostensible primary object" is certainly praiseworthy the disseminiriiou of tr a/i, is a most righteous-ua-4i*!rtakin!i, and, to rescue the character of a friend, (//tieii in da/.^ci froia false imputation*, is loeritou iu® indeed -.'.ut, as (lie .gentlemen wliO eo«^ose *^»ii Couiruittee are rae:cly buawin be-

Ings, it possible that they may feel the influence ot Oavsss| and therelore Unity be well to «Munine if they are not impeUed to thia great exertion, by som«* «tlicr teeiiog than entire disinieretleo patrtotiaw. Indeed the comIHUU dict.lUs of charity demand, that mh» Ihtir Hid

fully understand the sentiments aMi declarations set forth and the partia •nanncr inwhich

they

ill

promulgate grea-

and important matters should retlec•ipon the frailties ot human nature, an: extend to the

Jackson

the-indulgenc®

Committee,

justice will permit:

s»f this they stand in inuch, ye9j very nuch need. But, at the same tune it no more than proper that we should remember, these gentlemen are citizens

Tennessee that it would be desirable to the people of any state to see one their immediate fellow citizens *'ect* to the most enviable and exalted stition on earth— that the man who once obtains that elevated situation, wields the power of being highly bene, licial to his friends—that gratitude is one of most noble traits of the /human character and, that a man. can be placed under no greater earthly obligation, than that incurred by the interposition of friends in the defence ol his reputation. In times of trial, men most need friends, and those who stand firm in such times, ought to be the first remembered in hours of prosperity.—^ The gentlemeiv-ol this Committee know these things and

is possible

that such considerations:-may havethe strongest influence upon their minds and actions. The fact of their being intimately acquainted, and consequent* Iyfatnihcif with the ti\isacr.ou9sh9oting matches ol the general may account for the indifference they evince on the sub ject of k:-s having in person killed some and maimed others ot their rfellovv citizens—or for their

not

being shocked

at the cruelty of his having huif adoxen of their countrymen barbarously slain, at onetkr.e,«fo/as»e« ting what-itis evident from the strongest testimony, these unfortunate men believed to be their aacred-rights Inde-ed .the gentlemen mightwttil a much l-etter grace^otne out and exclaim* ., '4

On? murder malces (t

.Millions a Hero"

and ciaim veneration for their friend oir that principle, than to attempt to gain credence by sa\ ing they do know that benevolence and humanity are most prominent traits in his character.n— For then' is not a candid man upon earth, who will read this circular attentively, that will not at once admit 'his sacriiice of the lives of 6ii of our fellow citizens, was an unnecessary and vindictive measure. That the i^entlemen who compose this commitfee. .however, are intimate with these --.actions, is self evident, trom the dexteiity and ingenuity they display {til keeping in the dirk, certain parts of in* documents, which are of th« most n^)ortinc •, to the full discussion of this subject. iiut, 'Tis wisely done

What would oQ'end the eye in a good pkture, The painter casts discreetly into shade."

Notwithstanding this patriotic Committee say if tliey could for a mo.oent believe him guilty of the cruel offence embraced in the" charge of" having caused the execution of si* "militiamen, for-crimes committed after their erm of scrvice had .expired," they wou!d ever after hold him unworthy of their friendship aed support they would be the last persons to maintain ois claims for any ofbee, or to defend him from the attacks of his enemies j" still, the manner in which they treat this charge, is fuch .as to give those who examiRe their ••Circulat" in a spirit of impartiality, reason to doubt the sincerity of their declarations and convict the committee of omitting to give Certain facts" absolutely indispensable to the dissemination" of tbe whole Truth

They say these facts are on record in the vVar Department, arid in the office of the late Adjutant General of the Southern Division," and then proceed to ussert what these

u/nc(s"

Why Uid they not give the Records" themseves instead of relying upon their own-eissertions, or even the certificate ot Col. Pipkin, or any other political paruian

They aL-w ussert that these men were dratted and mustered into the service of the Uni ed States for six cnoHths." \V!iy u( t'rey not give a copy of the order issued for this drafi, or Home better pro jf'Man mere,assertion that such was the lact It was on this -ori(!r tiiat the difficulty originated

It was, a* appears Irom the testimon) on the trial, and published by thrmaelves, from a be lief that this draft was only made for nx.nn. instead oi bix months, that these unlortunate i«ea set out to go to theii iatniUeb a»d homes.

,Vf,n

7,|e"committee

vriii

here give the testimony again

me whole of it, as furnished by the committee themselves. Head it criti rally, and rfreo jud^i seriouslj between the dead and the -living.

Lieutenant Noah Bennett,

witness

in behalf ef the prosecution, beinj. sworn, states, that Ive saw the prisoner on the r9th ef September, 1514, witf a prfper containing a good tr any names, and tbe prisoner informed him heonlj set down such men's r.aroes at

direct

ed hiin to-do so—that those who were present said it was a list of men'names to draw provisions go hom on the 20th of September—that tht prisoner wat one of the mutinous party. who marched ojft on

the morning

the 20th—tUt he bcloftgei to the same compiny, «nd believes tje:pr.»»ne ,e»er rtported -*nj of _the inut.nou arty, a# required hy $

ai1'

Articles of W.r—that the ptunne va9 under his immediate command o-. the 19th of September, and that lie be haved himself, as usual, welkynhl thevening, when lie saw him with the paper as described heretofore.

John H. Hogan, a witness in behal! of

the

prosecution, being sworn, state

that he saw the prisoner with a paper setting-down such men's names as intended drawing provisions for the purpose of- going home,and on the morning of the 20th of September, he saw the prisoner,inarch off with tbc-mitin-ous party.

John Husbandsva private in C&ptair Ki I Patrick's company, a witness in be half of the defendant, being sworn, states, that he saw the prisoner, some time previous to tho SOth of Septein herewith a paper, setting down such men's names as intended goiug home _^that the prisoner dkl not appear to be using any persuasion, and stated that it was ri^ht that some should re main at the Fort—that he would soon have a larger company- than Captain Kilpatrick's, and believes that the prisoner did march off with the mutinous party on the morning of the 20th.

John. Johnson, a private of Captain McKay's company, a witness -in behalf of the (prosecution, being sworn, states, that while at Fort Jackson, in the month -of August, he heard the prisoner say that there was no law to compel the men to stay in service loQger than three jronths—that he was a man of spirit, and would* not stay longer—that a considerable number ol the men would go then, and one that would refuse he could see layonettcd about six inches—that they would go up to the Big or Great man, and shiver their muskets over his head, but not strike so hard as to ktll him

The Court adjourned until to-mor-row 9 o'clock The Court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, the President and Members and proceeded to the further examination of the witnesses.

Edward Stephens, a Sergeant in Captain Kilpatrick's company, a witness in behalf of the defendant, being sworn, states, that he saw the prison er with a paper, setting down such men's names as weie going home, and said that he would take down none but such us directed him to do so, and the prisoner marched otl with the mutinous partvtm the 20th ot September

James Alexander, Seargeant Major, a witness in behalf ot the defendant, being sworn, states, that, on the 19th id September, he saw the-prisoner when the provisions were issued—he believes he received his proportionable part, and on the morning of the 20th, marched off with the mutinous party—that the prisoner told him he had supposed the list wbieh he had of theroen's names was improper, as it was to be handed to the Colonel—that the prisoner gave up his gun to Capt. Kilpatrick, and thinks he demanded and received a receipt which he had given for the gun, or the Captain wrote one fur that purpose. .*'*** A 1

EnsignDavid Kelly, a witness in behalf of the defendant, being sworn, states, that the prisoner belonged to the same company, and was frequently near him during August and the begin ningof September—that lie generally behaved hiuuaeif well, and was obedient to orders.^ vrt3-'T

are

prisoner guilty as oharged,

».

Ife &**" r.

James Smith, a prtfate of Lieutenant Mitchell's detachment, a witness in behalf of the defendant, beingsworn, states, that the prisoner advised him not to go home with the mutinous party, and believes went himaeli on the 20th of September.

James Nelson,! private in Ciptain Mebane's company, a witness in behalf of the defendant, being sworn, states, (hat he heard General VVasbington, of

Tennessee, say to the members of the Court Martial, that he did not know whether the men were ordered out for atouroT three or six months—that he had wrote to the Governor, but had re-

ceived no Answer to his letter on that rived, when

subject. A ,^ take a little recreation by way of exThe prisoner states, in his defencc, P'a'njno an^ *ny course, in that he was totally unacquainted with discharge ol my euitonal duties* the nature of mWitia service—that he

t»ad frequently heard his officers aay nitation of i*e it so^but as they knew no law compelling militia to I have no disposition to avail ray&elf of remain longer than three months, and any advantages my situation gives me from the opinion of other inen -ol res- over a correspondent, I shall postpone pectability and information, conceived *»y reply until next week, so that ilie his term of aervice had expired—re-, sage remarks of1' IIiO may have time turned his gun tu his Captain under to i)e .fairly impressed upon the public that impression, took up the receipt he nriud. then "he shall hear fr®o me— iad given for it, and departed runi Fort then I will answer him in a spirit of pepJackson conscious «f having discharged feet cheecfulnesa and good, uaiuse,., hisdaty.

The'Coiirt, after mature consider- For the Jlegister*. ition on the evidence adduced, find the 'Mft OS

After'readiBg the f.re^ing^timo with

V'"P''

OTmmiUetfadniiti ihat these men were executed, a chaigc of mutiny r, pursuance of the sentence of court nartial, which court was ordered Greneral Jackson. It ®v? Jence that these men had done then

.lutv

for the foil period the/ supposed I,e Laws of their couutry required

hem

to serve-that even the ollicers stated they knew of

bound them'to serve for a

d—and

law wind,

,PJ,.r|j

that it was not until the fu.i

time had elapsed, when they supposed fhey had complete'tl their tem or service, that they returned their arms, claimed those rights which the laws ol Nature and their

country

entitled them

departed satisfied with having

discharged their duty but deterinin ed not to submit to usurpation. 13ut it is not even in evidence that the order

for this

draft of militia was for a

,ixmonths tour much less that these men had been made acquainted with that fact!! Then, surely if they knew of no su-ch law and their officers, whose duty it was to make it known to them, if such a law did exist, had neglected that duty—hoyv could these men be guilty, according to any rule under Heaven, ot violating that law? Itisraorally impossible that guilt can exist, where there is .no intention, of committing a crime

It is fair to suppose that the nephew of General Jackson—Andrew Jackson Donaldson, who certifies to the records of the Court Martial, would as a matter of course, select froui among the records of the six trials, that one, and the particular parts of it, which would bent suit the views of the committee But, even this advan4age does not enable thom to sustain their position nprove that these unfortunate meH left the army in viola ion of the laws of their country. How then can they jus•ifj the act of sacrificing the lives of these unfortunate victims, at a period too, when the example could have no beneficial influence?

Mark the mana^^ment by which this committee atteiHpt to blind the judgment of their feliow citizens 'Instead ofpublishing General Jackson's approv

with the exception of the appointment

with the 'i am neither a

?xceptw)n of yelling and fifing his gun, man, or one who wears ^slipper" nei aud baying he would retake these who ther an opposer to the proposed IE«M had been taken by Capt. Mlackmore ure of draining Lost Creekr or .me. who ind sentence liim to receive death by turns news-paper scribbler to gratify shooting." feelings of animosity against an iiWivid-

The aboviExtracts,^o'faraithey fe- ual, wfcose standing in society cannot ate to the organization of the

Court,

Martial, and the trial of John Harris, mine concerning him or bis acts. But, ire correctly cepied'from the original sir, lam a subscriber1to your payer, proceedings of the Court, which were and, as such, would respectfully ask out in my hands by Col. Robert But- you, as a publicjournalist, whether, ac«er, late Adjutant General of the South- cording toy our'own ideas, it is within .'rn Division, when he moved from this the compass of the duties appertainii.^g State to Florida, about two years ago* to your editorial department, to giv^

ordered on" testify to the

things he sets forth in his ceitificater Was it because they thenceuld leel no special interest in the now appwaching Presidential election

Then as the committee have«eot proven that these men were ordered out for a six months tour of dirty—as it uppears from positive testimony that they weie under the impression tlmt their term of service had expired--*nd that they merely exercised what they conceived, con^ der the to be their constitutional rights in uasuming their liberty—and, as it is evident that General Jackson did order their arrestt-(rial and execution it follows that the committee Imvewot inly rendered themselves truly ridiculous in the sight of all cautUd men, by this bare-face I attempt at imposition, but thai they have utterly failed in their declared object of rescuing'1 the General's character trom this chifrge, and have fixed it more finuly upou luua.

The annual period seems to have ar»

am as usual, compelled to

"be seen t)y the friendly coiacnu-

O N

wPuffi«dT^shirt

sonal cast of that inserted in

ZrZ lckson from'" the act «iti in that event we are to .Dfer that i„

relation you hold with editor of the Register, you

ah of the sentence of the Court Martial and his order, by which that sentence your pap«r was carried into EXECUTION—they Judging of your acts by the rCiatm roundly assert that

had nothing fo do with the proceedings"4

crit*ri°n

of the President ot the Court, and the Judge Advocate and that "he was not within three hundred miles of the Court during the whole time of its session." And for the purpose of exciting the public feelings against the memory of these poor victims,who now rise -up in judgment agarust those pitiless belied their blood, this committee have introduced the certificate of Col. Pipkin. Why did not this Col. Pipkin, on the trial of these men, prove Meets of a general to a perMnul natw it at it 'niiiii nsli IIS lo u3i the charges he now sets forth agauibt them He says he was the person directed to *'-order on the witnesses then why did not some of the witnesses iie

gsntte-

be effected by any private opinion of

AN&RUW J. DOJXELSON. publicity to communications of tbeper-

that in the

the public, sj

are to

governed by the same laws of action -which, as though by instinct, enab!^ that animal to designate the class in th^ creation to which he properly belong Should this be the case, we have a rj^hi next to expect, under the metamorpho, «ia of '-Huffalo." or some oth#r n,.„ quailruped of the cloven-foot species, to hold you, through the medium of y0yr paper, hooking and goring your neighbor upon every slight provocation, if he will not suffer himself to be /i

c:^4#Kr

*, ?a

by you This enquiry is not prompted by

spirit bearing aughtfaf evil against y0a either editorially or personally, but by a regard for the welfare of this coming, nity, and a desire that your paper may continue to increase in recpectability and in that ratio, and thaf alone to see the sphere of its circulation extended It is true however that the land marki which do, or are to describe the of your action in the capacity of an ed. itor, should for the beneht of your subscribers if not ymireslf be made publicly known, and if once established that they be reset under circumstance! not as easily obliterated or effaced by the same lapse ol t.me as heretofore Not having your prospectus before me nor the means of conveniently oblainl ing it, and presuming that many are similarly situated with an equal degrtc of interest with mjself, the desired^, formation will, I doubt not, be briefly and readily granted.

In the absence of the wriltcn law you may have prescribed to yourself, I have substituted a supposed rule of action, and by which I am bound to esame your conduct to be regukited, which is this, that in the matter sent forth to the world by means of your paper, whether original, selected or rommunicated your great object is the diffusion of information upon subjects calculated to improve tbe moral, social and1 political condition of m::n, and thereby to extend the benign influence of harmony and peace through society, ant! that whatever in its tendency is destructive of this beneficial result, it is yo ir imperative duty as an editor and citizen to exclude from the columns of

General Jackton bear to this gieat objcct, tlifre is

once established, adaptrd

^e comprehension of all by wliica

.. in your editorial career it may rightfully be determined wtien you are the sub* ject.of fraijsa. abtis«t.r paJrgMge .at not.

Testing your e-ditonal efforts then by this rule, are we to presume that yon imagine yourself lo be labourii.i

for the well bt'ing of society by givi 5 insertions in your paper to couiinwni^itions, which descend from public to private matters, from the notice o* jeets of a general to a personul nature? And is it Ibatyou would ask us to have the charity to believe that you are deavoring to promote the peace and welfare of pur inhabitants by nukirj your paper the theatre of a war.are between '•Buffalo" and his antagonist For whoever he may be, on tliegrouuii of equal justice, he has but to present himself at the list, to gian admittance' should he come "horns an.d ali." Tbthe character of that production is peonnl, however it may be blcuded observations about draining LostCree andChurclrsrun.it is only necessar,' to refer to the greater part of if, 3 in which that pie« lias been viewed by our citizt"*, the unenviable cridit that is &lV to the disvoilion of the writer- is* that the citizeus of Fort Harrison rie cannot be brought to a due cou.^ eration of their interest when before their «yes in nnitl and ter and be indut ed to adopt n'e^ ures to advauce them without firs ing excitfed to action by instilii&£ aiej iu" of personal hostility in their agaiubt thtfsc who cannot view ihe^., fit which will result Mifficient to j» the measures proposed It not it were that such measures shww deferred to a period mo'e ervtsftWcnw sleep tl^e sleep of iigcs. individual among us to views in rf£Wi to any iu

4to

j»|

without being urfaiyve^i nit&» of your p-»t«r ly having the and" insmtiatious ol tike envious bearing personalty «p®fl Is it tbat a resort to kind contained in that profli)£ to be justified cm the gro^ud ror of opinion, caunot be suce^ 1 combatttd by where or wlier existed the *ec .| aaking- Lo^t Creek tbe aews^peress^ portjr opposed W the iLranui'fe 0 un No sir, there tos w** there be found tire our 1 have spokea agauist warmly. There is not protest ot a

aeat tor the

that the writer can sense of shame and me^un reflecting upon the pitiful ject he had to gratity

r^y

fore the public, it he Fosiet _racte^ the -honorable feeli 'gs •the 1 intelligent business town and country, ploajustify the editor mitsP Ifour subscribers pay -«i ^ES4O be furnished VAIH

:—r