Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-06-08
the GOVERNORS REPLY.
Esecutire Department. q: :,

the receipt OF yours OF the 9th instant
enclosing a copy OF a letter from old Mr.
Bernard, and one from the Little Prince,
speaker of the Lower Greeks, both on the
subject Of the late unfortunate attack
made by a detachment OF militia under
captsin Wright, on the Chehaw village.
which had previously been supposed tobe
friendly.
have examined these communica-
lions with the candor their importance
required. 1t is unquestionahly your do
ty as agent, to attend TO the complaints
Of the red people and cause justice to be
done to them as fal as your powers will
extend. 1t will also readily be acknow-
lodged by all, thai my duty As governor
of The state, requires that | should defend
the cause of the whites, as far as that
cause can be supported by the g:eat prin
ciples of justice. As you have furnished
me with the Indian account OF this tram
saction, and assured me Of the friendship
towards the whites. that existed among
them prior to the attack feel it incum.
bent on me to explain to you, and thr"'
yos to the nation over which YOU preside,
the motives by which the officer were &C.
tuated, who conducted the enterprise;
and the grounds upon which they will a..
tempt to justify the proceeding, or exile
nuate tie guilt that may, in the view OF
some mer, be attached to them. You
will readily acknowledge the decided
aud inveteratr hostility Of those Indians
which belong to the villages under the
immediate direction and cOntiOl Of the
chiefs Hoponnee and Phelemmee; and
that the orders which emanatad trom this
department for their chast was
both nrcessJr, AND proper. You are also
we'll apprised, that the orders given con-
fined them specially to that object; 80
far then as respects myself, feel per-
fectly justified il the measures adopted,
and which deemed essentially neces
sary to prevent repetition of the horrid
murders aud depredatiOns committed by
those Indians on eur unprotected from
tier. will now undertake to offer, in
behalf of the detachment, The best apo-
Iogy for thei. conduct that 1 NAV be able
TO furnish, and which am authorised to
state, can be supported by ample proof.
when the detachment was on its way tc,
and had reached the heighborhood o!
Fort Ear'y, they we're credibly informed
by several persons Of veracity, that the
celebrated old chief Hoponnee, whose
town had all joined the hostile party, had
removed and was at that time living in
the village upon which the attack was
made and was considered as their prin.
cipal leader, and that a great portion Of
them was alledged to be under his imme
date direction, although part Of them
might be with M'Ihtosh.
They therefore considered themselves
authorized to attack it as being one Of
Hoponnee's towns. The result need
not mention, as you have seen the state
ments made BY captains Wright and Ru-
binson, which am authorized by very
respectable testimony to assure you, was
substantially true, except as to the mum
Der reported to have been killed, which
was fortunately incorrect. Now sir, If
have been misiniormed, and given q
wrong construction to this affair, should
like very much to have more correct in.
formation (; but if it should be founded in
fact, what more can you or tie Indians
require, than for me to assure you, that
| regret the circumstance, and consider
it as one Of the mistortunes attendant on
war, where the innocent frequently suffer
il common with the guilty. This untor-
tunate affair has been shamefuIly Eiisre-
presented, by many of our citizens, whose
delicate feelings seem to have forgo,te"
the many ~anton ootrases that have
been committed on cur frontier by the
Indians, ard would even cover the whole
state with disgrace, merely because this
small detachment have in this instance,
mistaken their orders, and carried their
resentment to an improper extent.
The experience Of all ages have shown,
that it is much easier for Us to complain
of the conduct Of others land especially
those in responsible stations) than to cor.
rect our own. have ascertained that
the property left by Tie Indians who were
run of from or near DR.. Birds store, On
the Ocmulgee, some time past, is now in
the possession OF Mr.. Richard Smith, in
the lower end Of Twiggs county, and will
be delivered at any time when proper
application shall be made.
You will please assure the red people
under your care, that feel a disposition
to maintain peace and friendship with
them on libe.al terms.
have the honor to be, respectfully,
your obedient servant.
WIN. RABUN.
FROM THE ALABAMA.