war.

partment of war, the constitution, and laws. That gives me pleasure to find we coincide in those opi he has taken upon himself, not only the exercise nions, calculated to produce it. Responsibility now of those powers delegated to congress as the sole rests where it should, on the officer issuing the order; legislative authority of the nation, and to the presi- and the principle acknowledged is calculated to indent and senate as it relates to the appointments; sure that subordination so necessary to the harmonibut of the power which had been expressly reserv-ous movement of every part of the military maed to the states in the appointment of the officers chine." of the militia. A power the more valuable to the It is to be regretted, that an officer who seemed states, because, as they had surrendered to the ge- to be so perfectly acquainted with what belonged neral government the revenues and physical force to the duty of others, should have been so totally of the nation, they could only look to the officers of regardless of, or unconscious of his own; and while the militia as a security against the possible abuse the committee are willing to admit, that the volunof the delegated power. The committee find the teer forces called into service by general Jackson, melancholy fact before them, that military officers, were more efficient and less expense than the milieven at this early stage of this republic, have, with- tia, had he confined himself to the usual proportion out the shawdow of authority, raised an army of at of officers, this they conceive, should not be urged least 2,500 men, and mustered them into the service as an argument in favor of employing them, or plead of the United States. Two hundred and thirty offi-in justification of the unlawful act, for if these reacers have been appointed, and their rank establish-sons be considered conclusive, and should be acquied, from an Indian brigadier general, down to the esced in, they will be applied with encreased force, lowest subaltern of a company. To whom were (fortified by this precedent) in all future wars; an those officers accountable for their conduct? Not to army of regulars will be considered (as they really the president of the United States, for it will be are) more efficient and less expensive, than either found that it was not considered necessary even to the volunteers, if authorized by law, or the militia, furnish him with a list of their names; and not until and the officer at the head of such army, (acting ou the payrolls were made out and payment demand- the principles before stated, and encouraged by the ed, were the persons known to the department of acquiesence of the nation) may dispense with the And in this place it is proper to observe, that militia altogether, and increase the regular army to general Jackson seemed to consider those officers any extent that folly and ambition may suggest; and of his own creation, competent to discharge all the all this, under the plea of necessity. The commit, functions of officers appointed by the authority of tee can scarcely imagine a possible case that may the general or state governments for we find five, occur in a future war, where the necessity will be of them detailed afterwards to set on a general less strong, than in the present. This war was waged court martial, on a trial of life and death, Might not, when the United States were at peace with all the on the same principles, general Jackson have tried, world, except this miserable undisciplined banditti condemned, and executed, any officer of the Geor- of "deluded Indians" and fugitive slaves; their whole gia militia, by the sentence of a court martial com- strength when combined, not exceeding 1,000 men, posed of officers created by him, and holding their opposed to whom (previous to general Jackson's assumed authority by the tenor of his will? taking the command) and under general Gaines, Your committee will dismiss this branch of the were a force of 1800 regulars and militia, besides subject by observing that consistently with the the 1500 friendly Indians, illegally subsidized by the character and genius of our government, no officer, last mentioned general; what then in this state of the however high or exalted his station, can be justified case of becomes the plea of necessity? And if it be adfor an infraction of the constitution. It is an offence mitted in this case to justify or palliate an act of niagainst the sovereignty of the nation; this sovereign-litary usurpation, the committee would anxiously inty being vested in the great body of the people. quire where it is to be disallowed or denied? And The constitution is the written expression of their here the committee, have pledged themselves faithwill, and above the control of all the public func-fully to disclose facts and impartially to draw conclutionaries combined. And when that instrument has sions, beg leave to remark, that the conduct of the been violated, the people alone have power to commanding general, in raising this volunteer corps, grant the indemnity for its infraction, and all that was approbated by the war department, as will apcan be said in favor of the officer who transcends his pear by the letter of the secretary, dated the 29th constitutional powers must be taken, not in justifi- day of Jan. 1818, and it is but justice to the departcation of the act, but in mitigation of the enormity ment, to state, that it was not until the officers that of the offence committed. With this view of the had assisted in thus officering and organizing this subject, which they conceive to be a correct one, corps, were examined by the committee, that they the committee have in vain sought for an excuse were apprised of the illegality of the measure; for for the commanding general. He has stated in his there is nothing to be found in general Jackson's letter to the secretary of war, assuming the power letters on this subject, to the secretary of war, of the to judge for the national legislature, that a volunteer 12th, 13th and 20th of February, 1818, from which force of mounted gun men, would be the least ex-it can be fairly inferred, that he had appointed a sinpensive and the most efficient. His duty was to execute the orders of his superior officers, not to disobey them; to observe and enforce the laws, not violate them; obedience and subordination are the first and highest duties of a soldier, and no one knew better the truth of, and the necessity for, observing this maxim, that the officer in question. For the truth of this observation we have his own declaration. In his letter to the secretary of war, of 20th January, 1818, he says "your letter, enclosing your general order of the 29th ultimo, has been received; like yourself, I have no other feelings to gratify, than those connected with the public good, and it

gle officer; indeed it would seem from a fair interpretation of those letters, that the officers, at least, were of the regular militia of the states, and that the only departure from his orders by the general, was, his having called on the subordinate officers of the militia, instead of the governor of the state of Tennessee, and his preference of mounted men to infantry; and it will also appear from the letters aforesaid, that had the department of war, disapproved of this conduct and determined to countermand the order of general Jackson in raising s force, no order to that effect, could have reached him, before he had arrived at the seat of war, and of course the army

might have been disbanded in sight of the enemy, | It appears, however, by the conduct of the com and the objects of the campaign thereby jeopar-manding general, that he had, at this time, looked to dized and perhaps defeated. different movements, for, at the time he was writing The committee will next take notice of the opera- this letter, as will be seen by the testimony of capt. tions of the army in the Floridas, whither they were Call and surgeon Bronaugh, he had despatched lieut. authorized to pursue the enemy; and connected Sands to Mobile, to forward on a train of artillery to with this authority, it was enjoined on gen. Gaines, a given point, to be ready to be made use of in re. to whom the first order to this effect was given, that ducing Pensacola and the fort of Barrancas, should in case the enemy took refuge under a Spanish gar-that measure be thereafter thought proper; having rison, not to attack them there, but to report the fact made these arrangements, the army marched to fort to the secretary of war; and the observance of this Gadsden, on the Appalachicola river. There, as order the committee conceive was equally obliga-stated by general Jackson, and confirmed by the teszory on general Jackson, who succeeded to the com- timony of colonel Butler, information was received mand; at least it must bave clearly evinced the will by a private letter, written from a merchant at Penof the secretary of war on that point, and how far sacola to Mr. Doyle, and shown to general Jackson, this injunction was observed, will be found by what that a number of Indians had recently visited Pensafollowed. It appears that general Jackson advanced cola, and were committing depredations on the Spainto Florida, with a force of 1800 men, composed of nish inhabitants, of that place and were receiving regulars, volunteers and the Georgia militia, and aid and comfort from the garrison. On the receipt afterwards, on the 1st day of April, was joined by of this intelligence, the resolution seems to have general M'Intosh and his brigade of 1500 Indians, been taken, to garrison that place with American who had been previously organized by gen. Gaines; troops; and after a march of about twenty days, havopposed to whom it appears from the report of cap-ing met his artillery, general Jackson, with about tain Young, topographical engineer and other evi-1200 men, the rest having been discharged, appeardence, the whole forces of the fugitive Seminole In-ed before Pensacola, the capital of the province, dians and runaway negroes, had they all been embo- The place was taken with scarce the show of resis died could not have exceeded 900 or 1000 men, and at no time did half that number present themselves to oppose his march, of course little or no resistance was made.

tance. The governor had escaped, and taken refuge in the fort of the Barrancas; to which place, distant about six miles, the army marched, and the fortress I was invested on the 25th of May; and a demand being The Mickasuky towns were first taken and des- made for its surrender, and refused, the attack on the troyed; the army marched upon St. Marks, a feeble fortress was made by land and water, and after the Spanish garrison, which was surrendered “without bombardment and cannonading had been kept up for firing a gun," and then occupied as an American a part of two days, and some lives lost, the fortress was post: the Spanish commandant having first by hum-surrendered, the garrison made prisoners of war, and ble entreaties, and then by a timid protest, endea- the officers of the government, civil and military, vored to avert the measure, Here Alexander Ar- transported to the Havanna, agreeably to the termns buthnot was found, taken prisoner, and put in con- of the capitulation; which terms, general Jackson, in finement, for the purpose, as it was stated by gen. his letter of 2d June, 1818, declares, "were more faJackson, "of collecting evidence to establish his vorable than a conquered enemy would have meritguilt;" and here also were taken two Indian chiefs, ed." The civil and military 'government of Spain one of whom pretended to possess the spirit of pro- thus annulled, general Jackson thought it necessary phecy; they were hung without trial, and with little to abolish the revenue laws of Spain, and establish those of the United States as more favorable to the

ceremony.

This being done, and St. Marks garrisoned by Ame-commerce of the United States; and for this purpose, rican troops, the army pursued their march eastward captain Gadsden was appointed collector, and by to Suwaney river, on which they found a large In- him, under the authority of gen. Jackson, that dedian village, which was consumed, and the Indians department of the new government was organized. and negroes were dispersed; after which the army The Spanish authorities being thus put down by the returned to St. Marks, bringing with them Robert sword, both civil and military, a new government was C. Ambrister, who had been taken prisoner on their established for this newly acquired territory, the pow march to Suwaney. During the halt of the army ers of which, both civil and military were vested in for a few days at St. Marks, a general court martial | military officers. And gen. Jackson having declared was called, Arbuthnot was arraigned, found guilty, sentenced to suffer death, and hung.

Ambrister was tried in like manner, found guilty, and sentenced to whipping and confinement. Gen. Jackson annulled the sentence and ordered him to be shot; and this order was executed.

in numerous communications to the department of war, that the Seminole war was closed, and the object of the campaign at an end, he returned to his residence at Nashville, state of Tennessee. And here it would have given the committee sincere pleasure to have stated, that the history of the campaign had closed; It appears by the testimony, that the army had ar- but facts which it becomes now their duty to report, rived at St. Marks, on their return from Suwaney, require that history to be continued. On the 7th of on the 25th of April, and on the 26th, gen. Jackson August, 1818, more than two months after his conwrites to the secretary of war, in the following man-sumation of the conquest of West and part of East ner: "I shall leave this in two or three days for fort Florida, he issued an order to general Gaines, directGadsden, and after making all necessary arrange-ing him to take possession of St. Augustine, a strong ments for the security of the positions occupied, fortress and the capital of East Florida. A copy of and detaching a force to scour the country west of this order is subjoined to this report, and his reasons the Appalachicola, I shall proceed direct to Nash-for this measure are stated at large in the order, and ville; my presence in this country can be no longer reiterated and enforced by his letter to the secretary necessary. The Indian forces have been divided of war, dated the 10th of the same month, which and scattered; cut off from all communications with reasons, fully and beyond the possibility of doubt, those unprincipled agents of foreign nations, who discover the motives of the commanding general have deluded them to their ruin, they have not the in all his movements against Spain. power, if the will remains of annoying our frontier."

The tendency of these measures by the command

ing general, seems to have been to involve the nation in a war-without her consent, and for reasons of his own, unconnected with his military functions.

Your committee would be unwilling to attribute improper motives, where those of a different character could be possibly inferred, more especially, when it is to affect a character, whose military fame is the pride and boast of the nation; but even such a character becomes more emiently dangerous, when he exalts himself above the majesty of the laws; declares the public will, and becomes the arbiter between the United States, and foreign na-had wisely lodged in congress. The treaty with tions. That these high and transcendent powers have been usurped and exercised in the present case, is, it appears to the committee, incontrovertibly evident from the facts adduced.

by congress; but of this, general Jackson was not the judge. His duty was pointed out; it was to subdue and punish the Seminole Indians, with whom we were at war; for this purpose he was ordered to pursue them into the territorial limits of Spain, and over a part of which territory, those Indians had, at least, a qualified right of possession and property. Under these orders no act of aggression on the Spa

any such acts be justified. Spain, before she could become or be made a party to this war, must have merged her neutral character in that of the enemy, and clearly indentified herself with the Seminole Indians, and by acts of open and undisguised hostility to general Jackson, have opposed him by physical, not moral force.

United States, with arms, ammunition and supplies necessary to carry on the war. Here the committee would observe, that they are neither the advocates, nor the apologists of Spain: there can be no doubt, but she had by the violation of her engagements. given the U. States sufficient cause of war; but they defend the constitution, by saying that general Jackson had no power to declare nor make the war; that neither he, nor even the president of the United States, had any discretion or power to judge, what was, or was not, cause of war; this, the constitution Spain still existed; it was made by the constitution, the supreme law of the land, and had Spain violated, on her part, every article of that treaty, still the executive of the United States, who is bound to see the The constitution declares, Article 1, sec. 8, "con- laws "faithfully executed," must, in good faith togress shall have power to declare war, grant letters wards Spain, have observed on our part that treaty, of marque and reprisal, and to make rules concerning and the obligation of preserving the peace of the captures on land and water:" surely it was never nation would have remained until the treaty should designed by this provision, that a military officer, have been revoked or annulled by congress. Furshould first make war and leave it to congress af-nishing the Indians with arms, ammunition, and supterwards to declare it; this would involve an absur-plies, were so many violations of treaty stipulations, dity, that it is unnecessary to expose. It is sufficient and might have been considered good cause of war to say, that the executive authority of the United States, and much less a subordinate officer, has no power to change the pacific relations of the nation. The president of the United States is bound constitutionally, to preserve the peace of the country, until congress declares it in a state of war; he can only, while thus in a state of peace, use the military forces of the nation, in three specified cases; that is "to execute the laws of the union; to suppress in-nish authorities could have been designed, nor can surrection, and repel invasion"-(see constitution, article 1. sec. 8; also, the act for calling forth the militia, passed 28th February, 1795.) It will not be pretended, that Spain had invaded the United States, or that congress had declared war against that nation, and of course the relations of peace did exist between the two countries, at the time gen. Jackson took possession of the Spanish possessions in the Floridas; these facts being admitted, urged in justification of this outrage upon our conBut the weakness of the Spanish authorities is and they cannot be denied, the only question to de-stitution; and is the weakness of an independent cide is, whether the military conduct of gen. Jackson power, to disparage their neutral rights or furwas not war against Spain? and on this subject there nish pretences for a powerful neighbor, to weaken can be no room to doubt. The capital of a Spanish them further by hostile aggressions? And is it thus province is taken by the sword, a fortress is invested we are to be furnished by an American officer, with and bombarded, lives are lost, and the place surren- a justification of the dismemberment of Poland, the dered on capitulation; the terms of which are declar- capture of the Danish fleet by Great Britain, and the ed "more favorable than a conquered enemy me- subjugation of Europe by Bonaparte; and shall the rited;" military officers and men, as well as those in United States be called upon to imitate the examthe civil departments of government, are transport-ple, or silently acquiesce and thereby subscribe to ed to the West Indies, and a new government estab- doctrines, and approve measures, that are in direct lished for the conquered country. If all these acts opposition to the repeated and invariable declaraof hostility, combined, do not constitute war, the tions of the government, given to this nation aud committee confess themselves utterly at a loss for the world, through the official medium of presidenits definition; or, if the fact be denied, the conse- tial messages, and the correspondence of all her quence of such denial will be a proof that no war public ministers, and sanctioned by all her public was made by the Seminole Indians on the United laws, on the subject of neutral rights? Will it not States, and of course, that the invasion of Florida, be said, that we have changed our national policy? was an unauthorized act of aggression on the part of Shall we not be addressed in the following language the United States. But the committee will pursue by the nations of Europe? this subject a little farther, and examine the reasons offered by the officer commanding, for taking possession of, and occupying the Spanish fortresses, more especially Pensacola and the Barrancas. Those reasons are to be found in his numerous reports to the war department, and his letter to the Spanish officers who commanded in the different fortresses, and are these: That Spain had not observed her treaty stipulations with the United States, as it related to the Florida Indians, and whose peaceable conduct she was bound to guarantee to the U. States. That she had funished those Indians at war with the

"The time was, when the United States were also weak, she had no navy, she had no army. In those days she was a strong advocate for neutral rights, anxious that free ships should make free goods; that the neutral flag of the republic should protect all sailing under it, ever protesting against and com plaining of the violation of her neutral rights, by the belligerents of Europe. But these times have passed away, the nation has tried her strength in battle and found herself quite equal to the struggle; she has had time to strengthen her army and increase her navy; her former weakness forgotten, her

former precepts abandoned, and feeling power and forgetting right, she walks over a prostrate constitution, to conquer and subdue a miserable and feeble, though neutral colony, whose very weakness (pleaded in excuse for the aggression) should have rather constituted an appeal to a generous people for protection."

In this unfavorable light the committe have too much reason to fear, will the civilized world view this transaction, and if sanctioned by the nation, they regret to say there will be too much reason given

thus to consider it.

But there are still other reasons disclosed and facts developed, that discover the motives of the commanding officer, more fully then those above stated. More than two months after this campaign had ended, and the Seminole war was terminated, another expedition is planned, and the land and naval forces of the United States, ordered to execute it, which is to reduce the fortress of St. Augustine, the capital of east Florida. The reasons offered for this measure are stated in his orders to general Gaines, dated Nashville, 7th August, 1818, and are as follows:

new act of hostility had been committed. Yet in this state of peace, is a military officer directed to ascertain certain facts, and on such facts being substantiated to make war on a neutral colony of a nation in peace and amity with the United States, thus disregarding not only the legislative and executive authorities of the United States, but setting at naught the usages of all civilized nations, by making war without a previous and public declaration.Were this nation subject to the will of a military despot and were there no constitutional barriers to the inordinate exercise of military ambition, more than this could scarcely have been expected. It is with pain the committee are constrained to make the observations, but where the vital principles of these constitution have been violated, as they con ceive, it would be criminal in them under the instructions they have received from the senate, and the duty they owe the nation, to be silent. Silence on their part would have been considered an acquiescence in those measures, and they fear this precedent and example may be pleaded and followed on future occasions.

If these things be admitted in the south, will they "I have noted with attention, major Twiggs' let- not be considered as authorized in the north? Are ter, marked No. 5. I contemplated that the agents of there not fortresses there to be won, and provinces Spain, or the officers at fort St. Augustine, would ex- to be conquered and are there not Indians in that cite the Indians to hostility and furnish them with quarter likewise, and may not the officer in comthe means of war. It will be necessary to obtain mand find means to prove that those indians have evidence substantiating this fact, and that the hos-been, or hereafter may be furnished by the British tile Indians have been fed and furnished from the garrison of St. Augustine. This being obtained, should you deem your force sufficient. You will proceed to take and garrison fort St. Augustine with American troops, and hold the garrison prisoners until you hear from the president of the United States, or transport them to Cuba, as in your judgement, under existing circumstances you may think

best.

with arms and munitions of war, and if so, may he not follow the example set in the south? And add something to his stock of military fame by reducing the British fortresses of Canada, and unfurling the star spangled banner of this nation on the walls of Quebec.

We hope better things of the distinguished offi. cer, at the head of our armies, and we had hoped better things of the hero of New Orleans, but we have been disappointed, and if the conduct of the officers in the south, be sanctioned and approved by the nation, we are free to declare that the reduction of Quebec, (where Montgomery fell, unable to conquer) would present a much stronger claim to public approbation.

"Let it be remembered, that the proceedings carried on by me, or this order, is not on the ground that we are at war with Spain, it is on the ground of self preservation, bottomed on the broad basis of the law of nature and of nations, and justified by giving peace and security to our frontiers, hence the necessity of procuring evidence of the fact of the It is necessary here to remark, that a copy of the agents or officers of Spain, having excited the In-order issued by general Jackson, to general Gaines, dians to continue the war against us, and that they for the reduction of St. Augustine, was transmitted have furnished them with the means of carrying on to the secretary of war, and a countermanding or the war; this evidence being obtained, you will (if der promptly despatched to general Gaines, which your force is sufficient) permit nothing to prevent reached him, before the military expedition set on you from reducing fort St. Augustine, except a posi-foot by general Jackson, had commenced; and thus tive order from the department of war.

"Orders have some time since been given to the officer of the ordinance, commanding at Charleston, to have in readiness a complete battering train, the number and calibre of the guns pointed out, I have no doubt you will find them in readiness.

was suddenly arrested a military scheme (as uncon stitutional as it was impolitic) and which might as stated by the secretary of war, in his letter of the 8th day of September, 1818, have involved this nation in a war with all Europe.

In thus promptly prohibiting the unauthorised "I enclose you the report of captain Henley, of seizure, at the will of a commanding general of the the naval force on that station; you will open a cor- possessions of a neighboring nation with whom the respondence with commandant A. J. Dallas, to in- United States are at peace, the committee recog sure his co-operation, provided it should be requir-nize that sacred regard to the rights of other nations which ought never to be departed from by the exIn this projected expedition, it was not thought ecutive of a free country, and that vigilent attention necessary or expedient to consult the executive to the conduct of officers of the army, which is nebranch of the government; the order sent to gene-cessary to secure a due subordination of the milita ral Gaines was peremptory, on the discovery being ry to the civil power.

ed."

made that the Indians had been supplied with am- They consider that on this occasion, the execumunition and provisions, and excited to war; the tive of the United States has (by promptly restor blow was to be struck, and nothing but an express or-ing St. Marks and Pensacola, wrested from Spain, in derfrom the secretary of war was to prevent it. Long violation of instructions) pursued the course, that before this period the commanding general had, by the constitution demanded, that all former precehis letters to the secretary of war, declared the Se-dents justified, and to which the public sentiment minole war at an end, and after which not a single gave a decided approbation.

by his own' authority set aside the sentence of the court and substituted for that sentence, his own arbitrary will. In trials involving the life of an individual, a strict adherence to form, is in ordinary cases considered the best security against oppression and

In reviewing the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister, your committee cannot but consider it as an unnecessary act of severity, on the part of the commanding general, and a departure from that mild and humane system towards prisoners, which in al. our conflicts with savage or civilized nations, has injustice. heretofore been considered, not only honorable to A departure from these forms is calculated to inthe national character, but conformable to the dic-flict a wound on the national character and tarnish tates of sound policy. These prisoners were sub-the laurels so justly acquired by the commanding jects of Great Britain, with whom the United States general by his former victories.

Such are the facts

are at peace. Having left their country, and united as they appear to the committee, and such are the their fate with savages, with whom the United States views taken by them of the important subjects rewere at war, they forfeited their claim to the pro-ferred to their consideration, and together with tection of their own government, and subjected their report, they submit various depositions and themselves to the same treatment, which might, ac-documents, to which, and to the correspondence cording to the practice and principles of the Ameri- and documents relating to the Seminole war, com can government, be extended towards those, with municated to the senate by the president of the whom they were associated. No process of reason-United States, at the last and present session, they ing can degrade them below the savages with whom refer. they were connected. As prisoners of war, they

The documents accompanying the preceding

were entitled to claim from the American govern-report shall appear in our next.

ment, that protection, which the most savage of our

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEB. 6. The following message was received from the president of the United States, by Mr. J. J. Monroe, his secretary.

To the house of representatives.

I transmit to congress a copy of a letter from governor Bibb to major general Jackson, connected with the late military operations in Florida. This letter had been mislaid, or it would have been communicated with the other documents at the commencement of the session. JAMES MONROE. Washington, February 6, 1819.

foes, have uniformly experienced, when disarmed The following letter is a powerful document in faand in our power. Humanity shudders at the ideavor of the proceedings of gen. Jackson, and as it has of a cold blooded execution of prisoners disarmed, not been before published in the REGISTER, we pre-、 and in the power of the conqueror. And although, fer giving it a place at this time. savages, who respect no laws, may, according to the strict principles of the law of nations, have their own system of cruelty inflicted on them, by way of retaliation, it is believed, that such a system would degrade and debase the civilized nation, who could resort to it, and is not only repugnant to the mild principles of the christian religion, but a violation of those great principles of moral rectitude which distinguish the American character. Retaliation in the United States has always been confined to specified acts of cruelty. It is not believed that any attempt has ever been made to retaliate for charges so general as those exhibited against ArFort Crawford, 9th May, 1818. buthnot and Ambrister, viz: "Inciting the Indians to Dear sir: Proceeding to Georgia for the purpose war." During the revolutionary war, only two ca-of bringing my family to this territory, and desirous ses occurred of persons seized for purposes of retaHation, neither of whom was executed. The case of Asgill seized on account of the murder of Huddy; | and governor Hamilton of Vincennes, for specific acts of cruelty also. Hamilton was confined for a short time with rigor, and afterwards released. During the late war, marked with some cases of cold blooded massacre on the part of our enemy, particularly the one at the river Raisin, no such measure as retaliation was resorted to.

to provide for the safety of the inhabitants on the frontiers during my absence, I have sought an interview with the officer in command at this place. At camp Montgomery I learned that you would probably reach this place in a few days, and indulged the hope of seeing you. An interview with you would have been to me a source of much pleasure, and I regret that my arrangements will not permit me to await your arrival.

The Indians commenced their murderous incurThe principle assumed by the commanding ge- sions on the frontier settlements in January last, neral, that Arbuthnot and Ambrister, by uniting in when two men were killed in this neighborhood. war against the United States, while we were at No events occurred afterwards to excite apprehenpeace with Great Britain, "became outlaws and pi-sion until the 14th of March, when a house on the rates, and liable to suffer death," is not recognised federal road, near the Poplar Spring, was attacked, in any code of national law. Nothing can be found and eight persons killed. This intelligence reachin the history of civilized nations, which recognizesd me at Claiborne, from whence a detachment of such a principle except a decree of the executive m unted riflemen was immediately ordered to the directory of France, during their short career of place for one month's service. A few days afterfolly and madness, which declars that, neutrals found wards, five men, while travelling the road, were on board enemies ships, should be considered and fired at, and three killed, from whom fifteen huntreated as pirates.* dred or two thousand dollars were taken. The peo

The committee forbear to make any other re-ple, for the most part, were flying for safety in marks on the violation of the usual and accustomed every direction, and all communication, by mail or forms in the punishment and conviction of Arbuth-otherwise, with Georgin, wholly suspended. The not and Ambrister, except that even despots claim- Indians were known to be stiil in that quarter. In ing to exercise absolute power cannot with proprie- this state of things, three posts were established ty violate their own rules. by my order, a, which there are, in the whole, about Having detailed a court martial, for the purpose an hundred men, who have instructions to scour the of trying the prisoners, the commanding general woods from day to day. A fortnight since they found a camp, but, on their approach, the enemy

* See Mr. King's letter to the secretary of state, Vol.fied to a contiguous swamp, from whence they fired 10, p. -, state papers.

and killed one man. The commanding officer in