Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-03-26


being heard before the committee, and of
furnishing all the documents in his pos
session, but that the committee were aux-
ious, as well on his account as OIL account
OF the character of the nation, TO obtain
evidence IN justification OF his conduct.
III now becomes necessary TO take some
notice OF the deposition OF Col. Butler,
annexed to the Structures. This gentle
man was examined before the committee,
and his testimony Was taken down by Mr..
Buriii., a member, and afterwards read
Ia INN, aud he assenied To II as written.
aher wtich, On subsequent ,iay, when
some other witnesses were examined, il
appeared There was material variance,
on particular fact, between their evi
dence and that ofCol. Butler and il Was
mentioned To MIR. Eaton, by The chair
man, ih.i the probability was, that The
colonel had been mistaken as totha, fact
and advised HIM 10 mention the circum-
stance TO him, that If, on ref elton, he
should think lie had fallen imio AN error.
he might be able 10 correct it, This in
formation was given 10 Col. Butter, as
MIR. Eaton afterwards stated, and the CO.
loaei sent word, by Mr.. Eaton, that he
mad, on reflection, discovered his mistake;
ana desired the committee To alter his
deposition but MIR. Eaton was requested
10 inform the c"lonel that he must attend
To 1t himself: that il could not be done in
his absence, and on The suggestion Of ano
Their person.
1t Is true that Mr. Burrill did state 10
the officer examined, that he woul.i wriir
out his deposition in a iairer hand, and he
would be called upon To Sign il. But tits
a fact equally true, aud which should have
been stated in Col. Buffers last deposit
lion, that those officers lcfi The cit, before
time was given for the dispositions TO be
made out, and remained absrn, until near
the close oi the session, and after the re-
port and documents were printed. II was
not Ia have been expected that, after lie
fairness, as well as the kindness, of the
committee towards Col Butler, as il re-
Sarded his testimony, thai he would, on
his oath, afterwards have INDUCED him
sell III any reflections OH that committee:
more especially when il is considered (i!'
The structures be true, and ii is believed
they we're written under his cye) that he
was mistaken III another fact that was
stated by him-ihat of the Goycrnor of
tennessee beng III Nashville when Gen
Jackson called Out and organic q the vo-
lunicers. There is 10 disposition felt 10
inJure the feelings of Col Butler, but hc
should not lave invited discussion on a
subject of such de!icacy 10 I,lmsel
But, to siience for ever all ciamor OF
The subject OF the dispositions and 10 re-
move every doubt from the minis of the
most suspicious, they are referred TO the
original DISPOSITIONS themselves, on file in
The ottlce oi the Secretary Of The Senate,
and IN the very words used bv them, and
written hy MIR. BurriIl, aud examined and
approved by the Witnesses themselves.
And, If the trouble be taken 10 compare
Inc original dispositions with the printed
copies, II will be found thai not single
was made bur those Of d verbal
nature, except in the deposition o. Gen.
Gibson, III two paragraphs, which were
made by himself, and AT his own request,
and with his own hand, IN the presence of
MIR. BurrilI and The chairman. aud after
ms deposition was III tie hands of the
printer.
Havingalready observed that Gen. Glib
son ll5'! made, some alteration, in his first
deposition, IL is necessary, for correci
knowledge and explanation of this sub
Jeci, TO refer 10 this second depo ,itien, as
II appeared in the Inieligencerofth 10Th
March. In tins il is stated, that Mr.. Bur
ri and The chairman had refused TO LET
him add To his statement TWO letters that
he considered necessary TO illustrate the
subject. Ii is true tina, Gen. Gibson was
told, that he might sirik out what he
thought proper from ihc deposition, bu,
he could not add any new facts for that
could only be done by majority of q
committee authorized 10 call for anu
examine Witnesses +; thai the COMMITTEE
OH The subject OF the Seminole war, hav
M made their report, was out of exist
ence, and 10 power remained with those
members who had composed that com
mIttee more tlIan any Oi!iersof the Senate.
Gen. Gibson then stated, that h. haG
given The letters in question to Mr.. Eatou,
OF the committee, some considerable tine
before, and requested him tolay them be
fore Tie committee and have them aftsc
ed 10 his deposition" Gen Gibson was
then III formed that "no such tiers had
b en- put IN possession OF The Commiij
by Mr.. Eaton" This conversation took
place tie Secretary's Office, while the
senate was IN session. On my reiurn 10
the Senate chamber, Mr.. Eaton was ask
ed by me, privately, whether or not such
letters had been received by lin from
General Gibson lie said, ftey hGd, aud
re had moi thought prop 10 lay hem bc
fore the committee" All those facts re!a
live 10 the letters we're afterwards stated
by me, in my place, when the Senale was
IN session land Mr. Eaton was called top
Dn 10 state whether he had not received
such letters and thhrld them from th
aud he stated 10 ihe Senate
that he had, and that he never had sub
milted them to- the committee. Thus IL
will appear, that, so idr from refusing 10
admit tie Introduction Of those papers
into The siatemen. Of Gen. Gibson, the
committee never knew Of their existence
until after the report was made. il is but
fair 10 observe, ihat Gen. Gibson has
been long known 10 M, aud no one IS
more willing 10 Subscribe To his correct
moss As an niiinnr md nriuaLe ,unrIl, "a. :.