Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-18

but also of peaceable. unarmed citizens,
helpless females, tender infants. II instan-
ces have been known wherein they have
spared the lives of persons falling into their
power, these instances have been too lew in
number, compared with the raassacres
which they have committed, desolating
whole settlements, and numbering whole
garrisons, TO give an opposite character to
their general practice.
The desolation and ruin Of the Wyoming
settlement, in the revolutionary war, and
the recent massacres at fort Mimms andon
the river Raisin, in perfect accordance with
their general history, from the commence
ment of our national existence, furnish
sufficient demonstration of this fact.
Alexander Arbuthnot was taken as re-
sident among the savages, with whom ne
had identified himself, by acting as their
agent, exciting them to the war, aiding. a
betting, and supplying them w,'hthe means
of carrying il on. Robert C.. Ambrister was
taken in their actual service, as leader
and commander of their forces; by which,
as well as by aiding, abetting, comforting,
and supplying them, he was also identified
with the savages. Agreeably to these prin-
ciples of the laws of nations. the committee
are fully of opinion, that gen. Jackson, as
commander of the army, had the right to
exercise upon them the law of retaliation,
without the Intervention of acourtmartial.
However cautiously this rule should be ex-
erCised. and desirable as mercy always is,
whenever il can be exercised with safety
this godlike virtue has its bounds, beyond
which. its exercise would be perversion of
justice; and it is presumed, that the re-
peated murders which had been committed
upon our citizens, the many bloody tro-
plies of their cruelties found at Mickasuky :,
and their persisting in hostility against the
repeated warnings and threats, which had
been held out to them, bore conviction to
the mind gen Jackson, that the exercise
of the law of retaliation had become neces-
sary to the future safety of his fellow citi-
zens.'
But he chose to submit the case to the in
vestigation and decision of court martial,
composed of distinguished officers, by whom
Alexander Arbuthnot was condemned to be
hung, which sentence was confirmed and
executed. By the same tribunal, Robert
c. Ambris,er was, in the first instance, con
demned 10 Re shot but upon reconsidera-
ton, they changed the sentence TO that of
corporal punishment and confinement to
hard labor. The reconsideration was dis
approved by gen. Jackson, and the first
sentence confirmed and executed. On this
last point the committee are of opinion,that
it would have been more correct for gen.
Jackson, after submitting the case to- court
martial, not only TO examine the facts as to
his guilt, but 10 determine the punishment
to be inflicted. TO have acquiesced in their
final and only legal decision as court
But, in this, the committee are satisfied that
gen. Jackson did not transcend the power
warranted by the law of retaliation the
prisoners own confession, and the evidence
produced, going TO establish the facts which
justified its application. Ana though the
principles of national law, involved in this
war, would have authorised more extern
sive sacrifice, even on the persons OF the in
nocent, yet the committee deem it matter
OF great telicitation, that punishment fell
upon the guilty alone and that the object
is effected, with so limited an example of
Justice. Underths view OF the whole SUBJ
ject, the committee can discover much
which merits applause, and little that de-
serves censure, and, from the incalculable
benefits resulting to the nation, from the
faithful and distinguished services of gen.
Jackson and the officers and men who SER
we'd under his command, in terminating f.
nally the Seminole war, are Of opinion that
they are entitled to the thanks of their coun.
try"
The report having been read
Mr.. Cobb, Of Georgia, rose to make
motion, the object of which was to give to
the report of the military committees s well
as 10 the substitute presented by a member
ofthat committee. a direction which should
ensure TO il discussion, as full as was de-
sired, at the present session. For this pur-
pose, he moved to refer them to commit
tee of the whole on the state of the union.
IL, I'D .n.ral,,.,d ,,l..r