Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-16

I nation and during snch service. they are
| considered az parts Of the nation which they
| serve, subject to the same treatment, in all
respect. as IL they were its natural citizens
or subjects.
| IL WINS upon this principle, that the Marquis
de la Fayette, Barons Steuben and De Kalb,
and General kosciuskO, entered the American
service in the revolutionary war, which was
| never considered as just occasion tor war, by
Great Britain, against France, Pfussia, or Po-
land: nor yet as a canse for regarding them
in the character of outlaws and pirates. But,
had these distinguished men fallen into the
hands ofG Britain. the laws OF war would have
entitled them to the same tenderness. and sub
Jected them To the same conditions as native
Americans. The same principle u equally
applicable to those who enter Into the service
of the savages.
The universal principle of savage warfare.
ELECTED by their general practice, is that of
the most cruel and aggravated murder; not
only OF their enemies taken in arms, but also OF
peaceful unarined cifize us, tender females, ten
der infants. II instances have been known
wherein the have spar ed the lives of persons
falling into their power, these instances have
been too few in number, compared with the
rnassacies WHICH they have committed, desolat-
ing whole settlements, and numbering whole
garrisoms, TO give an opposite character 10
their geneial practice.
The desolaiion aud ruin of the Wyoming
settlr1,ent, IN the revoluiinna,y war and the re
e. M ma .sacres atFort MH,niS aud ON the river
| history. from The commemc ensnt of our nation
al existence, furnish sufficient demonstr alton
OF this fact.
alexander Arbuthuot was taken asa resi-
deut among the sayages, will, wham lie had
Identified hiuselt, by acting as their agent,
exciting them TO the war. aldiug, abetiing, and
supplying them with the means OF carrying it
on. Robert T.. Ambrister was taken in their
actual service, as a leader and commander OF
their forces by which, as well as by aiding,
| abetting, comforting, and supplying them he
was also ,dentf,d with the savases. Agrecabiy
TO these principles OF the laws of nations, tile
committee are fully of opinion, that Gene-.
Jacksoii, as commander of The army, had the
right TO exercise upon them the law of retala-
tion, without the Interveutisn of court mar
tiai. However cautiously this rule should be
exercised. and desirable as mercy always is.
whenever n can be exercised with safety, this
| godiike virtue has its bounds beyoud which
| IT'S exercise would be aperverson oijustice
ana II Is presumed, that Tie repeated murders
which had been committed upon our citizens.
| the many bloody trophies of their cruelties
found at Mickssnky, ana their persiSiips in
| hostility against the repeated war,iugs and
threats, which hadbeen held out TO them, bore
conviction to the mind of General jackson,
\ mat the exercise OF the law OF retaliation had
necome necessary TO the future safety of his
fellow citizens.
| Bnr he chose 10 submit the case to the inves
| legation and decision OF "A court martial, com.
posed OF dstngui officers by whom A Alex:
4
sentence was confirmed aud executed. BY
\ the same tribunal Robert &. Anibrisier was,
| IN the hrst instance, condemned TO he shot
nut, upon reconsideration, they changed the
| sentence TO that OF corporal punishment and
confinement to hard labor. The reconsidera-
non was disapproved by Genera Jacks SOP, and
the first sentence confirmed and executed
I'm ms last point the committee are OF OF inion
u'at III would have been more correct for Gen
jackson, after submitting the case 10 a court
martial, not only 10 examine the facts as to HIS
CUNT, Dnf TO determine the punishment TO he
| ihihcted, TO have acquesced in their fiual and
oniy legal decision as d court. But, in this
the committee are satisfied that Gen Jackson
aia not transcend the power warranted nv The
| Ia" OF retaiiatlon- tile prisoners own confess
sion, and the evidence produced going TO
establish the facts which justified its applica-
tIon. And though the principles of national
law, involved in this war. would have authoriz-
cd more extensive sacrifice, even on the
\ persons OF the innocent, vel the committee
ueem IL matter of great ielicita,iou, that
punishment fell upon the guilty alone: and
tiat the object is effected, with so limited an
| example of Justice. Under this view OF the
whole subject, the committee can discover
| m"ch which merits applause, and little that
observes ceDsure, aud, from the iHcalculabie
| hehehts resulting 10 the nation from the fa,tl,
I fui and distinguished services OF Cen Jackson
| and HE officers and men who served under his
command IN terminating finally the Seminole
| wal, are OF opinion thar they are entitled to
| Tie thanks of their country"
lhe.repOrt having been read
WI C0Db, OF Georgia, rose 10 make a
motion, the object of which was TO give
TO the report of the military committee.
az well as TO The Substitute presented bv
member Of that committee, direction
! which should ensure to il a discussion, as
| full as was desired, at The present session.
FOR tins purpose, he moved TO refer them
to committee of the whole on the state
OF the union. These papers, he said, in
yoived principles of great consequence,
On winch iii some measure depended, as
he believed, The characte OF the naiion :
they also necessarily involve important
| questions as TO the laws Of nations, aud
as 10 the constitution Of our own coun-
Try, aud ought 10 have deliberate con
| sideration.
Mr.. F1oyd, Of Virginia, was as DESTROYS
as the gentleman from Georgia, of deli
| berate discussion of the subject of these
| reports; but, IT they were referred TO a
| committee OF The whole OH the state of the
UNION, motion to 90 into which was {
! ways IN order, the House might be taken
| by surprise, or brought into the discus
sion entirely without notice, At the motion
of any gentleman who wished it. He
therefore wished the papers should be re-
ferred, as in ordinary cases, to commit
| tee of the whole.
Mr.. Strother, Of Virginia, agreed, with
the gentlemen who had preceded him,
that the report should be so disposed of
as 10 ensure full examination of its mer-
ills. The subject, he said, was one Of
considerable interest and excitement,
though he was not under the impression
that IT was one Of great magnitude, nor
that IL carried in IFS bosom the fate Of the
nation, as the gentleman from Georgia
seemed TO suppose, which depended on
far other considerations. The best course
10 pursue in regard 10 these papers, Mr..
S. thOnpht wnIllh he TO Law Ihem ON The