The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-11-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

i'N. fte4SdhfS presented petition OF a
similar tenor FROM Tompkins and Murray,
OF Richmond, in Virginia which was re fer
red Ill the same manner.
mr. Poinderfc, observed that bill had
last session passed this House fer erecting
Mississippi territory into state, but had
been rejected in the Senate from particular
obJecuon, which 1t now understood
would be soon removed by the consent of
The Safe OF Georgia to the measure. He
therefore proposed that bill for that pur
pose should he again originated in this
House and therefore moved the following
resolution
ReSoivcd, That Il committee be appoint
ed to enquire into the eXpedicnCy Of autho.
rising the people cf the Mississippi terrific
~ 30 form Il constitution and state govern
,nent, and of admitting them into the Uni
on On an equal footing with the original
states and that tie committee have leave
TO report thereon by bill or otherwise.
The resolution was agreed to, and
Me.srs. Poindexter, B. Hall. Grundy,
1ai'aterro & Goodwin appointed a COM
mittee acco DINGHY.
MOUNTED TROOPS.
Mr.. johnson observed that he had draft
ed a resolution for the consideration of the
House. the object of which was to au.ho-
rise an expedition of mounted volunteers a
gainst the several Indian tribes hustile to
the U. States. He said the people of the
United States had the power and the will
to break up and to eXtrpate those hostile
savages, to desolate their country, or com
pei them to surrender at discretion, as the
Miamies had done lately when they bcheld
the strong arm Of the government uplfted
and ready to fall upon them heavily. And
lt,was the imperious duty of Congress so to
organize tn power, and so to direct this
will as TO make it effect uaI and most des-
tructive to the enemy in the line of its ope-
ration. Mr. J. said "A winter campaign of
mounted men well selected, well organized
and well conducted for sixty days, would
close an Indian war, which was restraine
on their part by no ties of religion, by no
rules OF morality, by no suggestions of mer-
cy. by no principles of humanity. Sir, said
he, you well know that we Cannot so guard
any part of our extended line of frontier as
to prevent entirely the incursions of the
savages. so long they have place of
safety or hiding place upon our borders
by reason OF which few desperate sava-
ses, we'll armed with their rifles, toma-
HAWKS and scalping knives, & paid for the
sc Ups of our citizens, may travel in the
night, watch their place of ASA ssinat ton un
discovered, & fall upon cur infant settle
ments his exposed & massacre them with
out distiic ION of age or sex, & not leave an
infant to lisp the sad tale of sorrow to the
passing stranger. Suchhas b EN- the fact in
many places on our frontier since the battle
OF Iippicanoe & such was the melancholy
fact near the Ohio river, in Indiana, when
upwards ct twenty persons were horribly
murdered in cold blood, without the OPP
portunity OF resistance the most of these
unfortunate victims we're women and chill
oven, whose heads were roasted by the fire,
q minis cruel mode tortured to death, & un-
der circumstances which would blacken &
dye with deeper disgrace the most infa-
nous and abandoned set of beings on earth.
Since the defeat of Bradduck, Mr.. j. obser-
we'd, the conflict with the Indians had al
wa.s been al unequal one, and the United
States had never carried ON such a cam
palgn against them as would bring them to
their reason. He observed that n winter
Campaign ot mounted men would place us
ON an equality in our contest with the indi.
ans and he pledged himself for the effica
cy OF Snch an expedition, if sanctioned and
authorised by Congress. and left to the exc
cutive OF kent'y so far as the forces were
taken from that state. On such a cam
paign they must meet us in battle, or sur
render ut discretion they could not avoid
our search nor cvade oar pursuit--the sea-
son would furnish cert.n means of dscov-
cry their strong holds would be broken
up their squaws and children would fall
into our hands, and remain sure pledges
against savage ferocity and bar6arity. Ne
thing do they so much fear as to have their
squaws taken prisoners. Their winter
quarters would be discovered G. their stock
of winter provisions would be destroyed &
once during the revolution the friend to his
country would enjoy the satisfaction Of see
ing our savage enemies humbled in the
dust and solely AT our mercy, notwithstaud-
ing all the arts of British intrigue to the
contrary. On the contrary, we want ne
additional evidence, no train Of reasoning
nor particular detail of facts to convince
us that any other kind Of force, and at any
other period, will only give us a partial re-
medy. Upon any other principle I'VE give
the savage foe every advantage. When
threatened and pursued by force sufFici-
ent to chastise them, no warriors can be
found--they scatter through the woods
like the wild beasts of the forest. Send q
small party. and they are Immediately sur
rounded and cut off by superior numbers.
in fact. sir, they will not meet at their own
doors & fresides equal numbers in honNra
bic combat--they must aways have some
great AID decided advantage. In the sew
cral attacks made upCn fort Wayne, from
fort Harrison and Bclivue. at which place
our officers and soldiers acted with firm
ness ard gallan;ry deserving the highest
praises Of their country the Indians re
treated at the approach Of assistance, and
coaid not be found. We Witnessed the
same scene when our army penetrated
sheir couatry from fort WAYNE, who burnt
their towns and Destroyed their crops. In