Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-22

in war will, civilized nations, but with the
Wild kayages Of the forest. Who do not
respect The laws of civilized warfare
lock into lie history Of my own country,
aud find there (,hank Cod that such a
disiinciian is rol TO be endured AT Ibis day.
We never before heard of it. Had il pre-
varied. ! know not how many Emylishmen
Gen. Wayne might have hanged, in the
war l'e conducted against the Indians ::
but hr could not silence The pieadings of
const fence AID humanity III his own bo-
soa', or encounter The irown Of Washing
ton. Had IL prevailed, why were mol the
British, prisoners, taken ON our northern
frontier during The laie war, tishiing by
the side at savages, whom they aud ,iieir
government had melted Ia hostility "a
gainsi MS, at timeioo when 10 ,bedisgrace
oI The British name)r wards were offered
for American scalps: why were they moi,
all, instantly tried, convicted and led 10
execution
Where las IL las been Justly asked was
the necessity of executing these two men,
even 1t their sentence was undoubtedly
right! The Seminsle war WAS al All emit
and had II still been raging, Gen. Jack
mpn~could have sent these prisoners in
cIiaiHs 10 the United States, To be dealt
with according Ia flie wisdom oi his go
ver,imcnt. The blood even of the guilty
should not be shed without reluctance
anu without any good end.
As 10 Ambristpr, the court martial did
moi condeHn him 10 die. The first sem
tence, as Gen. Jackson Is pleased To cou-
slider it, being Instant, rescindea by the
court, was IN truth no sentence al ALL.
His appreciation could not revive lis rx-
istence. The last sentence was the only
sentence. When the commander in chief
Disappeared il, the most lie could right
fully have done, was 10 order lie court
martial 10 reconsider il. BY what au,ho-
rlty. then, MAS Aml,risier doomed 10
death :! BY the sovereign will of Major
General Andrew Jackson, in whose hands
are The powers OF peace and war, life and
death.
Mr.. Gales, in his oificious and awkward
zeal TO excused ibis pari Of the Generals
coHdnct, suggests, that il was no doubt
dictated by regard 10 the wishes of
e prisoner, who preferred death TO the
lgnominIous punishment, for which that
" fate was cemmutcd by The court.
This Is not Il mere surmise Of Mr.. Gales.
III HE TACT were so, il aggravates the Cen
az his hands, as refuge from disgrace.
should lave moved him To respect. SYM.
paihy and pardon. What shall we think
of This man, sir, the utmost stretch of
whose clemency, according to his defenders
is 10 lnfiict death for mercy's sake?
Thus, sir. has AN American officer de-
siroyed the lives of two OF his fellow
creatures, without any righiIu' power,
without any adequate motive, and with
such indecent Precipitancy as hardly TO
give time tor prayer, in the interval sbe-
tween Judgment and death. Humanity
bleeds AT the recital and national pride
sinks III The American heart, oppressed
with the load OF shame and grief.
And all that Ike President of the United
!Safes has SAID, and all lie has done, is to tell
Congress, that a copg Of the proceedings of
tile court marital. IN the trial Of ArJuthnot
and Ambrister, shall be iaidbrtore them, and
to .tuI6t tie promise
Here, sir, for the present, let us shut The
scene. Gen. Jackson, from lie moment
lie was entrusted with command, has, d.
vowedly and Systematically, snade his
own will and pleasure, the sole rule and
guide Of all his actions: he has suspend
ed The executive, legislative and judicial
functions OF the states, with arbitrary
sway, and assumed to do so us of right :;
he has insulied the Executive of the q.
States, al whose pleasure he holds his
commission, spurDed its authority, dis
regarded and transcribed its orders: he
has nsurped the ngh prerogative of peace
and war, entrusted by all nations 10 ,he
sovereign authority OF the state, and by
our constitution To Congress alone: he
has abrogaied The known llaws of natl
ons, and promulgated new code of his
own, conceived in madness or follv, and
written in blood lie has, in fine. yioIat
ed all laws human and divine, and violat-
ed them with Impuniiy.
Unconnccied with public men, bearing
no part in public affairs, a silent specla.
tor OF ordinary political occurrences,
can yet never be indifferent TO greataucs-
lions of right, that directly affect the
peace, the honor and the constitution of
my country. see no reason, on the pre-
sent occasion, to forbear the public com
munication of my opinions or 10 soften,
If could, the indignant language oi,rnih
and Justice. Liberty is not of sponia-
neous growth in any soil or cline and
he is deaf TO the voice Of experience.
who deems II that hardy plant which will
flourish even alierit has ,akenro without
continual pains and cultivation.
ALGERNON SIDNEY.
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
The House of Delegates have been engaged.
since our last, on petitions and reports of com
miiices.