The Western Register and Terre-Haute advertiser, Volume 5, Number 22, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 23 August 1828 — Page 2

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From the Pennsylvania Intelligencer

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

I O W

WIlw lid j»*.« I have recently addressed to the mem hereof lie legislature through the medium# the Harn&urgh Intelligencer, win bate observed fhat I have been relurtantly dragged before the public, ia defence ot myself and fern flj both having been assailed with unprovoked violence, and that too lrom a quarter, and in a manner

jjuiuiwu

a brave man

:lli§§

-j

for

1 f.

'Uy-

"'V# .«.

ft-

tt-A

,j-1

Mates! And tf question for us to de-

I sh- ll hold mv«:lfmorally fsfid legal

L. I A- *a

In the pioposed- discussion, I shall

the firVl j)!»ce, coi.fine myself to tl »i»ih'ic conduct ot Gen Jackson jn the Seminole war- 'Ihe Treaty with Great Britain that closed the late war with that nation, was signed in I, ember 1814 In the summer ef

J7 disturbances took place he een thf Georgia settlers and the Indians who occupied and lived or« the lands ailjacent. to which the IndiiLt»e had aot beea extinguished.

CITIZENS: Those of you had retaliated in their usual barbarous who have perused the remarks which manner, without discriminating be ii_ ii/ innn^ont and the euilty• 1 hesi

ca'*

culated not only to give the slanders the mo«t extensive circulation, but the most imposing influence and you will have seeu that the only offence I had committed was the opposition, or rather, the supposed opposition I had p-iven»

should give to the elec

tion of Gen Jackson as President of the United Stales, than any active or conspicuous part I hsd taken in the .canvass

These conjectures were founded more than any thing else* upon a knowledge of the fret, that I bad been tvhen a member of the senate ot the United States in the year 1818, ap

United States ine year IOIO can upon pointed by that body chairman of a joining states for a militia suiT.nmm -.tt0.-tn investigate and report ficieht to beat the enemy \h,s'°.r*

a 1 J.. A*f

committee to investigate and report upon the Gonduct of Gen Jackson, uenneutunaiu.^^v-, in tiie prosecution of the Seminole out authority, raised an army or war. The report of the committee unteer cavalry or mounted men. pointed out and exposed the conduct tead of infantry -1

pointed out and expesea me iunuuti sieaa oi miamiy of the General—when that conduct izing the President to accept the serhad been in open defiance of the-con- vices of volunteers in place ot dra fctitntion and laws of the country and militia, had all expired at the close ol when unnecessary and wanton cruel-

i» .1 .«kkhm iUof nnnrlnrl 4Ka PrAsitli

•he executive in the exercise ot an ill-judged lenity towards the culprit, had not openly ventured to censure him Iu short he was before the na tion as a successful military officer, merely—for none had ever dreamed of making him president of the United ^tates: and hence it was, that the report made to the Senate, and a similar one to (fee House of Repre sentatives. was not well received, ei ther by the people or by the repre sprtatfv^ There were few but thought he had erred, grossly erredbut they felt unwilling to censure him- more especially as it had not *vf-' been done at a suitable time, and in a jg- proper manner, by the Executive

These are facts that I think every mail who was then in ^Congress, will acknowledge

The case now before us is widely different from that presented to us in 1318 The General does not at this time ask any exemption from punishment, nor a complimentary vote of thaiiks nor a gold hilted sword or a gtr ?e]es8'medal— no such thiDg-~-his jj) -ri/»sfy anil moderation arc not boun-

Who wire most to blame rn the outset. the Indians or the whites, it i* not easy to determine from the evi dence.—It is certain, that some lawless whiteroen had committed depre dations on the Indians, and that the

the innocent and the guilty. hese disturbances at length became more serious: a sufficient force was-collect-ed, and the Indians when beaten by our people, fled into the Spanish ter ritor.es for shelter perbaps-ior protection.

These circumstances were promptly represented to-the President ot ihe TJnited states He after mature consideration, upon a subject ot some delicacy in relation to neutral rights, ordered the line to be crossed, if necessary but especially directed that "if the Indians took refuge under a Spanish fort not

luvurioiivn UOvC HjUW nil vug,

and forbearance of his temper, for Spanish territory of Florida, in par his high rrgird for the civil aiithori-

tip". and institutions of our country— diaiw, and runaway negroes whose

his learning,-experience. Wisdom force, if embodied, would not have an'j talents, as a republican statesman amounted to more than 1 000—anu to be made President tf the Uhited

lr«v.

rk rt 11

Jy responsible. It is a lamentable fact, undone deeply to be deplored by the sincere friends of republican covernrner.t, .hat the American press, hvi's too great lirentiou: ness. has become it great d*Kree discredited: it is for this reason that I appear before you in own name and not from ?ny vain ••desire to appear before my fellow citizens as a political con troversialist and I have to request that those who controvert the farts roeer ted, or the reasons adduced vill follow the example

disturb them, iu

report the facts to the department ot war thus designing to respect the neutrM character of Spein, and pro tect all under its flag. ith a view to bring this disturbance, (for it was really eff (oo trifling import to deserve the name of war,) to a close, the President ordered Gen Jackson call upon the Governors ot the m,-ilitifl force

ficiehUo beat the enemy ^b'8 der the General disobeyed, and, with 1 itaI

the

13 Hliii xiiuut'iaiivu uui wuun ante ui iuc w-a by "such cheap and unsubstantial and the Var Department. ™sr( ai»ts. He asks as a reward for ith this force, added to w.v. .v

iaws aut

war with iireat bntam

ty had been practised by him upon The Constitution ot the Mates. Individuals says that the President had solemnly The military fame of Gen. Jackson

SWO

at this time (1818,) appeared to be i- fend, to-the best of his ability, identified with the glory and renown rects that the President and the sen of our common country. He was ate of the United Mates, acting con wnsidered by the people at large as jointly, shall appoint all officers in

—end fortune, at a favor- the regular army, and that all militia able moment, hadmade him a sue officers shall be appointed exclusive cessful general. His former crimes by the state authorities. Ine so 'l'* and errors had been passed over wi'h lemn injunctions ol the constitute impunity the broad and almost ini- governed the President and hence penetrable mantle of oblivion and for jt

rn to ''preserve, protect and de-

getfulnes«, had been spread-over the to call upon the Governors of the ad deformed and hideous picture of his joining states to iurnish the force re private irfe-— and on this occasion, quired *Gen Jackson had likewise -f

s, that he ordered -Gen Jackson

uorn to support the corrstitution, and the laws that enforced obedience to the orders of the -President, as commander in-chief ot the armies ol the United States. *Butall those so lemn obligations were contemptuously disregarded by the General^ vol unteers were substituted for militia, and horsemen tor infantry and the officers were appointed, not by the President and Senate, not by the state authorities, but by Gen Jackson himself or by those to whom he delegated this brgh authority In the same illegal mannej, were two companies raised and styled (in mock imitation of regal pomp,) ''The Life Guards." To these were added an auxiliary -force of Indians, amount jng to about 1800— and to command this detachment Indian officers were preferred, and with a brigadier general at their head about double the number of subordinate officers of va rious grades were appointed by Gen. Jackson himself, without the slightest consultation with the President or Secretary of War, and in open defiance of the orders of the President

exemplar ij iwrify o/" his private ulars, Gen. Jackson and his army, a (he mildness, moderation tjove 4,000 strong, marched into the

the res:

it of the defeated and fugitive In-

cide is, whether it would be the du- tion of Capt Call, one of (be Gen ty and interest of the people to grati- Aral's aids—of ^course, he met with iy his wishes. nb resistance. He marched upon St 4%: fjfet us fellow-citfzens reason to- Marks, a feeble Spanish fart, and^*£4 gether on this subject—it is a solemn, took it with little or no opposition, tf.-rious and momentous one, deserv- notwithstancing it was expressly forifcer of our deepest consideration. I bidden by the President to molest nek 3 our at'teution calmly and without the Indians, '-if'they took refuge un the feelmgs of prejudice or passion, der a Spanish fort. He f«««d no or the tiuth of every fact that shall Indians there: but he found, under tje mentioned by -me in this discussion

tone half ofthatnumber ever o.ppc

se(

hkn, as appears by the deposi

Indians there: DUI IIC IUUUU. the Spanish Governor, and the neutral flsg of Spain, an old man from England, an Indian trader, called •Arhuthbet— him be took captive, and after a mock trial, by men holding no commission as required by law— him he hanged, as he says in his general order, for the crime of PIKAOY—a crime, which his extensive knowledge as a civilian induced hi'm to believe was properly cognizable before a military court, composed of officers appointed by himself, and holding no commission or authority from the cited States For the same crime ofriBAorhe shot another English man by the name of Jimbrister, also an Indian trader This young man the court martial endeavored to save, and sentenced him to a milder, but stjil severe and unconstitutioral .punishment, confinement for a year, tfee use of the ball and chajn and the free application of the whipping post

But the General appeared too well ware of the truth of the old adage, lat "dead men tell no tales"—this sentence of

the

court

martial did

not

satisfy" him—be delighted "to dwell with composure upon scenes of bloo and carnage"—be atmul ed the sen tenceofthe court martial with a sin

r|€ |ash

of bis pen, and remorseless-

fy ordered the young man to be SHOI, an order that %as remorselessly anl

Abwt this^Umehe took captive, by stratagem, two Tndian chiefs-these he ordered toT)e hanged without trial

-ceremony .-There was no inquiry into their conduct-the drum did not even beat its -discordant notes for the assemblage of this mock military tribunal in their case A Jack Ketch, of his own appointment, mfide quick work of these victims of military despdtism,

and

Captain M'J^er hawg hoirtml nrrtish colors on board of his bolt aucis the prophet aitd ttocmocheco w're decoyed on hoard Ihiy bten hung to-day—to morrow I march, to Svwanna- (signed) AKDHEW ACR SON" '-Brevity, with a vengeance and stained with blood!

He took P^ofcacula, and the fort of Rarancas—sent the fepanmh eflicers and'men to Cuba*—and having thus annulled the^Spanish authorities, and gatiisoi'ed the fortifications with his

own troop9, he commenced the career of a conqueror, that would not have disgraced any of the victorious military chieftains of modern tinier. He established a government of his wn creation, appointing his own rreatures of his own'will to^the most important situation!, -flaving thus conquered a neutral province, and as '.e 4'at"8, in hi9 public despatches, ''added it to the Vni0n,y* and apprising the government of its operations, and stating explicitly, "that the war with the Indians was at an end," he etired to his seat called "The Hermitage" near Na?hville.

But notwithstanding that the General had declared to the government, that ''THE WAR WITH THE INDIANS WAS AT AN END," ttiore than two months afterwards he planned a military expedition against the province ol East Florida, & dirccted by a special order to Gen. Gaines of the army, and to Capt Dallas of fhe navy, to make war upon, and reduce St. Augustine, the capital of that province. (Set his order to'Gaines, dated 7th Au^ 1818.)—These hostile steps were taken without ever consulting the President or any other officer of the Government. Congress alone, h) ihe constitution has "the p®wer to deciarc war," and when declared, to the President is given tlu power of carrying it on, bj "(he command ol the land and naval forces.

But in this case, there was no act of Congress—no declaration of war —no orders Irom the President or Secietary at *War—and yet General Jackson usurping ihe whole powers of the Government, orders war to be made upon a nation in amity with us, and with whom a solemn treaty was then existing This'order was it-sued b\ Gen. Jackson on the 7th Aug 1818 On the first of September following, loving been apprisrd «ft the fact, the President directed the ider to be countermanded.—-This put a stop to the expedition, that would, had it proceeded, involved the nation in war with Spain, and probably with ail Euiope. General Jac kson, to be sure did net forbid Gen. Gaines and Capt Dallas to obey the orders of the President, countermanding hisown hut he did nearly as bad—lor in a subsequent letter, he insults the government, and talks about "weak and timid policy that cannot command repeci VM'd in a letter ot the 28th of November he urges upon the Piesidentthe necessity of taking possession of the Floridas and gives among others this extraordinary reason— would afford JiCTl set vice to some of our regiments who have grown SLUGGISH from the inactivity of garrison duties." bellow Citizens—It is a solemn and melancholy fact that WAR, with alt its horrors, has always been the sport and pastime ol Kings and conquerers. "And Abner said let the young men ^rist and play before us, and Joab raid let them arise. So they arosej and every man caught his teliow, and thrust his sword into I.is -ide, and they fell together and these two Military Chieftains'1 locked upon th'.s scene of blood and carnage with composure! In th» same spirit. Gen Jackson says— have hung two captives to-day, to moi row I march for buwanna." An' again—"our regiments have becom sluggish with inactivity, let ther arise and ehed /blood before the ueu-

the

candid

D7*°

the cord soon

ended the miseries ot the proud and fearless chieftains, who justly claimed the ownership of the soil that witnessed their degradation iind execution as a portion of their birth-nghi The coid-blooded indiflerence with which he announces to the govc**n" ment, (whose orders he had treated with contempt, and whose lavs iie had wantonly outraged,) this unprecedented and unwarranted acti ol crueltv, is shocking to humanity. In his'lefter to the Secretar) of War, of the 9th April. 181*, he says£-

this country to follow in the the celebra preceded us

called.)

f1Wbile

fmlnosts of St. Ao'R«stioe, fake the [Kat what heard ard belitvprl jk. 3^ add ,U t» Ihe Urn-

Can the peace, the happines, .Jenied, urtilthe penC£ "he prosperity and future welfare o- With «theis, I heard ot, and bel, the American People, be with safetj ed such thrrats had been .a(]e^ committed to fuch hands as Gen I did not think he hail any

Jackson's? I conjure you, as you intention of carrymg his threap? value vour free republican inst.tu- lecu ion, ontil a day or two

J™ aftk vourselves this question the adjournment of Congress tions, to aftk.yourse

pacific and neutral policy of the government The law of nations is nothing but the application (upon a large scale,) of those rulea of justice and propriety that regulate every neighborhood circle. \Vhen the disobedient and mischievous SOD of a ftrmer or mechanic does an injury to the property or person of another, the person injured, .(if a good man and anxiou.to preserve peace in a neighborhood,) gives information to his neighbor, asks him in a friendly manner to repair the injury done, and reprimand and correct the bov that has done it. VVlieB Captain 3a?k!ey made the attack upon the Chesapeake frigate, the whole nation almost cried out WAR,and I confess myself to have been among the number —But Mr. Jefferson, the lover of peace, took the right course he demanded reparation for the injury, and the punishment of the officer the former was eventually, though reluctantly granted but the officer was never punished and the refusal to do so, remained as a just cause of complaint, and, with other wrongs produced the late, war with that nation. The piecedent set, by Great Britain in this case, it will be seen was followed by the administration in the case of Gen. Jackson and his Florida conquests The posts unconstitutionally & illegally wrest«d from Spain, were given up and a!i the Spanish authorities restored •o their functions. But Gen. Jacks.on was neither punished nor repri-s manded fn this situation the subject *as aid before Congress by the President, in December, f8V8. The subj(yt was 'first taken up for discussion in the house ol Representatives. None censured, but all agreed if 1 mistake not, that the President was tight in surrendering the captured posts to Spain—thus acknowledging the illegality of taking them, to be a national outrage But as the President had not called Gen. Jackson to account, they would not censure him, and such was the decision of a unall majority of the IJouse. The manner in which the subject was brought up in the Senate, and the report ot the Cotnmittee of that body has been referred to, and the conduct of "Gen. Jackson on that occasion, remains to be told.

Pftl1se beard 0

spirit of truth Pause neara oi Decatu, having, reflect beiU

fiTthe'deslinVofou^ happy cottDtr, Chamber to attack Mr Hppa. by an affirmative reply, that dooms havmg a persnw,!

the examination of Gen'l

time the members of his stafi were

sieiui inan*»

the rear ol transaction, I cannot speak of

'the celebrated 'rep»W'C» have ei-nled us several respectable persons in, When the executive branch of the mgton, at tl.e time and I fenow »«emm«Dt made acquainted perfect cer.amtj that the with tUfw-eeoing facta, they e.cited «eae was thus related

ToistonatioLand produced erobar- have hsppened: tnat Gen Jatl

I speak

advUedljoo this weot to the C.p.tol

subject, knowiog it to have been so. that as he passed fr»mttec,„The holy alliance (as it is profanely !»-r ol'he Se„„^

was then in existence, and met by Com. Decatur,, Spain was an acknowledged party, know,og of or be.og then Forcibly taking and regaining prov ot Gen. Jackson intention inces and military posts belonging of on Mr. fcppes, the Commodore S toa friendly and neutral na- en reaties and strong expo.tulaii% «a. renuenant to every settled '"duced the General to return t, prhicipl^xif national law and was, carriage.-! hi. was told publicklj, SiJrlv obnoxious when done by cening from the Commodore a suhordTnaie officer of the army of ally, and from this author^ iU. tlie United States, in violation of the Ja,n®}i credence aa far as it

nstituiion, and in opposition to the

hea:d

so eitraordmary

Jackson's conduct was in progress, he, with a pretty numerous suite, arrived at the city o» Washington He coon manifested his displeasure at the freedom with which some memme ireeciom wnn KTUIV .. ... Those1 bers ol the legislature had thought ^cd in the proper to animadvert upon lna con- adjournment' v. U.~-He, however, staid some weeks in the city, and during this

not only in his

ed every where the kind attentions »tiemen of the and grateful thanks ot his country- jty or did he n,«-n Thiakhnuld have humbled aud

men. This should have humbled aud 'ty in xnev j,

t-.u*. »..« great mans but it had a tiift'erent effect upon Gen. Jackson. *f»'in tl

tiift'erent effect upon Gen. Jackson.

W hen at the convivial board in Bal- P'1)®* iiat Joseph H®Fkl1 imore, on his return, he first saw the

report of fhe committee of the Senall, pointing out aid mildly censor-

his errors, his .age was ungov. ^tur's) had recej

nable and the invectives and im- #e with all »t# ecations on the ccmmittce awfully Src«^1 fiery and profane.

ihe members of Congress, became a :0pic of pretty general conversation I am very coii" oot a tr.an belonging to the govern ment, holding any thing like a con-

uow

8en

fCoov. Decatur hav ,, '1

Bii

J.^e,.1CTed

*and «h]l bei

,t—nor will I deny that I felt mt apprehensions for my own persons! safety. I could see no good reason why -Gen. Jackson should have selected Mr. "Rppes as his victim, win, was at that time sorely afflicted with disease, rather tlian the chairman he committee. Impressed with thi belief, I mentioned this circumstance •o Mr Crawford, (then Secretai, the Treasury, a name I never men ion but with feelings of the strong est respect.) Mr. Crawfoid told ID& that he had heard and believed iothe truth of Gen. Jackson's contemplated attack upon Mr Eppes, and ad. vised me to be on my guard. 'Hit ?ame advice I received from several gentlemen, and took it so far as to apply to Walter Jones. E«q. U, S Attorney for the DistrictolColtmbia, who kindly furnished me with (lie means of defence. And as this wa» the first time in my life when among civilized men, that I i'.ad to resort to such means for personal safety, I hincerely hope it may be the last, is which a representative of the people, for the honest discharge of his duty, v-ill be subject to alike necessity.

lam aware that Gen.Jackson,in a lo'ter to Mr. Grundy, his. by as equivoque disifigenuous and UQC&DP d'd. attempted denial of the oat*

ra»e

designed to have been cmtifr ied on Mr. Eppes. But this denial relates merely to the precise tpom the manner in which he was H'ter* ruifted aDd prevented by Commodore Decatur. His pre"0"

!hr"f,0

cutting of the ears, and mutilating the members of Congress he never has denied, although the charge^ made by me in the Nat.onal W* sencer, in my own naroo, rf were bolh in the "j'J and when tbe tactt wwe fre»b 11» memory of all, and when on the spot by whom these facticou.o, and if denied, would. h»"')ecn| e3:Norh,50 nJacksone,e^[, even in hia letter to Mr OmijM going in hia design ot PuJt,n« between the carecution, and that

chjm|)er

spsaapw

rape snd the ,l.

)gte(|

this, should ti1"* coming 'r.mCoui.

lfn0,edi-

l,ff. ken

plm

ately alter it ahould J*!" -andforthiaatoryM^i ation tradicted by

^in'fact! «nd icted by that 8^niberi„fWthe cityalf

thestory #J| agrelj

called before and examined by the ®at®rlJ!* Dccatur. j. committee of th. Senate. He the,,

look a tour to the east and receiv- y' -.

,n the

eoftened the character of a truly It aood and great man: but it had a ,n,h®'*

and that it c8®Jh1

nectab'1 to th"5 of lb" nion,c

nrah

He »^lcu

doubt

a nl0tf

reC

ently

vf**»

creased violence ,0 beHcve,

and Gen Jackson's threats of ven«ranee, and of cutting off the ears ol new

slat®f

...Li^hpd in the

cl\l„ es}

CIt

t'elP^[,, ie

P*rt»cu|«

other.

storv, long

the Preside. t..r J?** I Vt nrfillS^

uous station, rrom me „rp*idencj» a, and lew

members ot Coi.greis, the

lattef

&ipitl)9 (,hedofDe

and

(t fj

He, however, lost no time until he Wow arrived in the city of Washington, ,f0iate the ss^ }rienil and menaces were •ttel"Pt1t® .as he

aI1

jf Gen. Jackf?e desigjf

|!,

fln

a it1

Wfmld Wl»h rfby CO'11 npwer stated uy I''1*,

til

au,i

geilfiai :n Hook"1301' /.lent, that there »as .fore eith

„rs

slander upon ll"

G.ene|gini''b

Genej

ti'

t'clf're

Gen.Jack.on -ere .^ tt«