Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-13

ries on this subject, that the MI mber OF the
Seminoles exceed $500 warriors. Would
It have heen prudent to march half this
number of men 10 the frontier, had the ge-
neral even believed the numbers Of the e.
nemy to be exaggerated? The strength
of the Seminoles might easily have been
augmented by auxiliary bands from the
more easterly parts of Florida, and it be-
came general Jackson's duty, under this
consideration, to raise such force as
would ensure success in every emergency.
Can it be wrong to act gainst an enemy,
with larger force than his own. or is it
impolitic and unmilitary 10 use that su-
periority which will ensure success Such
principle may govern those who lead
men to battle to crafty ambition, and
weave barren aurels for their brows. But
such battles General Jackson never has
fought, and never will fight. He has too
dear regard for the character ofhis coun.
try and the lives of her citizens, to endan-
ger either in useless contests and far may
! it ever be from him, to draw either on the
purse or the blood of the republic, TO pur-
chase the wreath of improbable glory.
Ii is said, that the Indians were illegally
subsidized by Gen. Gaines. Gen. Mitch
ellis letter of the 18th Dec. 1917, to the
secretary ofwar, apprises the department
that the friendly Indians should beemploy-
! ed and Gen Gaines in letter ofthe Sd.
Dec. also informs the Secretary ofthe con-
templated employment Of Indians, which
, communication was received at Washing
ton, on the 96th Dec. If, then, the exec
utive were early anprised of Gen. Gaines's
intention.t the secretary, by not disappearing
the measure adopted it; and the commit
tee knowing this fact, in attributing impro-
per and illegal views to Gen. Jackson, on
~ afford an additional display of spIenet-
ic hostility TO the army. md the most wan.
ton and studied disregard of truth
The committee accuse The General of
. disohedience OF orders, inasmuch as he dis
regarded the Injunction to Gen. Gaines,
to abstain from attacking Spanish gar
risons, without special Instructions from
The Gepagtment.
1t is clear principle that no order gi.
ven to one officer can be made part If IN
order subst Guently given to another officer,
for the performance of the same duty, with
out special reference TO the first, and all
express direction to he governed by it
Jackson's orders were general: he was told
to terminate the conflict, and give tranquil
ty TO the frontier; and, in these orders, no
Instructions can be found for his govern
ment by the orders previously given 70 re
neral Gaines. In selecting the means of
accomplishing the objects of the campaign,
the commanding generals powers were
discretionary and for his judgment in using
those powers was he alone responsible.-
The only mode in which he could have dis
o6egea the order, was either to have re-
NAMED inactive at Nashville, or to have
adopted such measures as would have been
more ptrnicious than inactivity. In either
case, his conduct would have been Justly
reprehen.blc.
But admit the order Of Gen. Gaines 10 be
obligatory OH Genere ,ackson-,he case
contemplated hy these orders never occur
red The Indians we're not found under
the guns of SPANS; fort, but were shell
tered within it. Il was their depot, from
whence they drew th, ir public stores, both
of Ammunition and provsi n. Spanish of
cors escorted parties Of In 1ians to rIace
them in security fr"u oar attacks The
war WIS panust in 81 M,rks. The In
iian power al attorney was executed there
and countessigned by F. c. Luengo, the
commandant; ani the councils for the ar
rangement Of every warlike movement
were held in the quarters of that officer.
If these facts had been known at the war
office. it is not to be doubted that an order
would have been issued for the seizure OF
st. Marks. For when they, and the acts of
the general Induced by them were known,
the President approved of the measure. II
had not been conceived that the Spanish
officers had made themselves parties in the
war; and no previous order could have
been expected to meet case which was
not sup osad to exist.
In page s, the committee remark, that
''here also Ca, ST. Marks were taken two