Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-28


they have joined, and that We would have
right To put The savages TO death, upon
u principle of retaliation Let this posi-
lion Tor a moment be admitted, and vet
II will be evident That the principle I'M
der which we should proceed would be a
very different one--to Wit, that Of retail
dfien. For, even savages cannot regular
iy be put to death, until they refuse " to
observe rules or give quarter" In order
that the principle established by General
Jackson may be applied, il must undergo
material amendment. Instead of the
words IN which it is couched, il should
read thus" 1t is AN established princi-
pie OF The Jaw Of nations, that any indi-
vidual OF nation, joining sards-es AID bar
6a'1dns, Uho observe no rules aud eive no
quarter, and making war against the cii-
zens OF another nation, they being al
peace, becomes himseit'a sarage and JdiJs-
ran, and may be t,eutett as such." Under
such principle, there would have been
more Jnsf.cs, humanity being out of the
question: IN putting Ambrisler and Ar
OufhnOt to death.
Mr.: Z. then proceeded TO enquire, who
ther The commanding general Of the a.
merlcan army possessed the poipe,' TO ex-
erclse the right of retaliation ? If, in lis
exercise, there is any responsibility, he
contended 1t was placed upon the a.ation
!hey were accountable 10 all other ma
tons for the manner i'll which they con
Quoted their wars. To uie nation, there
lore, 1t belonged, TO establish the rules Of
wdr, by which il would be governed, and
The authority by which they were 10 be
established, was that in whose hands was
thn rtsr l,f a al
establishment, the character of the nation
for justice, for humanity. &c. was deep
~ involved. Who, he asked, were the lie
climate guardians OF this nation, but
ConSresS-the wa declaring power 2. i.
MIR. G. thought he was not singular in
this opinion. He believed that The late
President of the United States, the viriu-
Gus James Madison, was of The same o..
plnlon. For when, during The late war,
II was thought necessary To- apply the re-
ta!Ialory principle. did he believe. himself
Clothed with power TO do it, alibo' COM
tnander IN chief! NO-hc believed il was
III Congress alone. To Congress he APP
Piled for the power, and, by special ACT,
they conferred il OH him. Mr.. C.. tho't
this case should be considered as con
elusive authority.
But, he woHld enquire how long this
refalIatiDg principle, even npon sardges,
had been IN operation i'm tins country {?
Solar as his memory served him, the Sc
mlnoie war afforded the first instance In
which 1t had been exercised, from the
time of the establishment of the proyin-
cial governments, up TO this day. In the
Indian wars in the south and in the
northwest, In the years 1903 4 5, lie re-
collected to have heard of no instance of
II. During the late war with England,
white men were captured after the massa
ere al the river RaisiH, while fighting by
tue side OF the savage, and were not put
to death. Nay, Gen. Jackson himself
had IN his hands the very leaders of the
mercilrss band who bulchered the hun
dreds OF his cOunirymen whose bones are
how Wondering under The ruins OF Fort
Minis, and did not put them 10 death !.
Where then was his avenging arm Why
did he not then brandish the sword of
retalatlng justice No he had not then
clothed himself with such mighty pow
ers. But now, when the United States
have no other enemies to contend with
than The small tribes of The Seminole In
dams, aided by few negroes and Upper
Creeks, il has become, all at once, ne
cessary. after they have been defeated
and dispersed, and their towns destroy
ed, to exercise retaliation In one day
has tho fair character of this nation been
blasted That character for justice and
mercy ia which we thought ourselves pre-.
eminent. and of which we had so proud
ly boasted TO the otler nations of the
earth, Is now Frustrated as low as theirs
, They can now say 10 us, boast no more
--you are not less cruel than other ma
tons. But, sir, said Mr.. G.. | have done
With this disagreeabIe subject. I turn
with disgust from this Dauseous scene.
MIR. Cobb then submitted The resolu.
lions he had before read in lis place. re-
latlye to the capture of the Spanish posts
IN East Florida, as an amendment 10 the
report OF The military committee. Upor
these resolutions lie presumed The doc
Tor discussion, as wide as could be, VA,
opened. The first resolution pointed io
an act Of legislation. growing out of th,
adoption of the resolution submitted b,
the military committee. The second dis
| approved The capture of the Spanish posts
| as unconstitutional, and contrary TO or
ders; and the third pointed 10 Il egislailv,
act arising oul of such dsapproval.
A subject involving breach Of the
constitution, said Mr. e.. must al all times
be an interesting one, TO the nation aHC
TO Congress. Such lie considered iIit
one now presented TO the committee o
the whole. thought 20 be discussed will
calm dclibcraiion, but with iirmness. II,
hoped he had not yet travelled out of Til.
rule. II, contrary to his intentions, he hat
done so, and thereby done injury TO tht
feelings of any, he regretted il aud woul,
repair the injury by any means in Iii.
power. Towards General Jackson, Mr.
Cobb said, hope have not used Ian
guage unnecessarily severe, or uDsuiteC
10 The dignity Of tits house. Such wa,
not my intention. It l have BETRAYED I
| ,o,f ~ ,aut;n, mr. caI,,,oss 4 Lo,.o a.,