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

rectness of every fact stated.
On he 18th November, 1918, the Pre-
sideuts message 10 both Houses Of Con
gress was received. In this message the
President refers TO The Seminole war, and
promises 10 present to Congress The do
cumenis respecting il.
On the 4in December, 1918, this volume
OF Documents was received in manu-
script and sent TO the printer. On This
day tand not OH tho 18th, as stated erro-
neonsly III the striclur 81 the resolution
was offered in the Senate, for raising the
committee OF this subject it was con-
sidered on the 9Th, and postponed from
time 10 time, until the 18th December,
when II was modified and enlarged on
motion OF MIR. Eaton, and unanimously
adopted. ihis delay was oCcasioned by
the Senate.s moi having previously re-
ceived Tie documents irom the printer.
There had, however, been made, in the
Senate, a call on the President, for fu,-
Their information on this subject, and this
resolution offered on the 10Th December.
was agreed 10 on the 18th, aud the call
was complied with on the 2Slh December,
by message, audanOther volume of docu-
men's furnished.
These documents were not received
from The printer until the LIST or 2d of
February, 1919. Buta copy of them had
been received by each member Of the
Senate, through the medium of The House
OF Representatives, to whom they were
FIRST sent, on the 9th or 2Sth of January,
and, or the day they were received, the
committee were called together. AT this
meeting all The members being present,
MIR. King made a motion that The COM
mittee should ask the Senate to discharge
them from the farther consideration of
the subject. The question on The motion
was put, and four members voting in the
negative, II was OF course lost.
And, at this time, the committee order
ed, under the authority of the resolution
OF the Senate, that the Aids of General
Jackson, and such other persons as the
chairman might think necessary, should
be summoned before the committee for
LXa liialion.
This order was complied with, witnes-
ses were summoned, and the examination
proceeded from day to day, as the wit
nesses appeared, subject only To the de-
lay and interruption that arose from the
indispensable necessity lhe members of
ilie mmll're we're under, of attending
10 their other official duties.
Thus The enquiry was prosecuted, un-
man, that he knew of no other evidence
that il was in his power TO obtain. Aud
al this time, as on former occasions, par
ticular enquiry was made ofihe members
Of the committee generally, and of Mr..
Eaton particularly, whether il was known
that further testimony could be obtained,
or whether they wished that other witness
SEES should be summoned, and The an
swers TO these enquiries were III the mega
tive.
TIL testimony being thus considered
as closed, the nature of the report TO be
made 10 The Se0ate was then discussed,
and all the points involved by the con-
dnct OF General ia ksoD, on which there
could be any doubt, were distinctly stat
ed IN writing, and separate questions
taken on each of them. On the first
point, OF raising and organizing the vo-
iul.eers, the unanimous voice oftiie COM
miiiee was, that it was Illegal. The Sc
cond point, the right to pursue the enemy
into Florida, was decided unanimously
III The affirmative. And on several other
points, the committee were divided, three
disappearing the conduct of the COM
manding General, and two justifying or
excusing H.
The decision Of the committee being
thus had, the chairman was ordered 10
prepare a report, in conformity TO the
principles established by the committee.
About this time, however, another cireum-
stance took place, winch necessarily occa-
stoned some delay in obtaining further
evidence.
Mr.. Eaton informed the chairman of
the committee, that he had heard Gen.
Jackson say, al his lodgings, that, after
he had leit the Floridas, he had issued an
order TO Gen. Gaines, 10 take possession
of ST. Augustine. and that this order had
been couniermanded by the Department
of War.
The chairman having asceriained this
10 be the fact, by letter dated February
8, called on the department for this cores
pondence, which was furnished on the
evening OF the 10Th of the same month.
These documents never before having
been called for, were not previously
transmitted nor vas this design of TAX
ing 81. Augustine, CATER The close of The
war; known 10 the committee until Ibis
disclosure; and il was thought necessary
! Hat the documents shonid ACCOMPANY, and
be taken notice Of in the report. II fur.
Their evidence be necessary 10 convince
the most lncredulous " that no improper
Or unnecessary delay was observed i'm
making the report" it will be furnished
10y The following facts : The Senate ofihe
United States IS connected, by the cousii-
tuition, with The Executive, in the exer-
else of the trealy-making power.
On The OH or 10th of Feb. the chairman
OF fhe committee was cOnfidentiaIly IN
formed that the treaty with Spain would
probably be brought to favorable re-
suit, in short time and suggestion
was made, that a report on the subject
Of the occupation of Florida might. by
possibility, affect the negotiation, If
made previous TO the signing of the rrea-
ty.
These facts and suggestions were i'm