Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-11


that the military occupation of Florida
by Gen. Jackson, was Unsuitable on the
broad basis of national law, and of sacred
duty to his country. When gentlemen
undertook 10 say that Gen. jackson had
he, the right of retaliation, lei them re
collect the case OF proposed retaliation,
during the revolutionary War, for the iia,-
/ barous murder Of Capt. Huddie. And
on whom of the prisoners in our power
did the lot tall Not on "A miserable in
terloper, blu, on Capt. AsgiIl, on a,niablc
and accomplished officer. What, then,
said the Congress of the United Stales
that venerable and enlig htened body that
carried us through the revolutionary con.
fl,ci What did they say? Why, sir, not
only that the commander IN chief, but
thai every officer on separate command,
possessed The right OF retaliation, and
That they would support him in the exer-
else OF il. IL was true that Asgill was re-
leased, for reasons Of policy but the
night oil retaliation WAS fully sustained.
Four moe tbs, Mr.. J. said, after the first
blood was split ia the revolution, at The
battle Of Lexington, and two months al
ter the memorable battle oil Bunker Hill,
which shed such lusire upon our arms,
| and nearly year before The declaration
| oiindcpendepce, this question Ut the right
liberalization was'solemnly discussed and
| settled in the correspondence between
| Gen. Washington and Grr. Gage in
which the former had broadly asserted
| the right liberalization, and declared that
| he should be governed by il. I'm order
| To take from our commanding general this
| right al the presest day, genilelsen had
again blended and COMPOUNDED principles
| OF The laws of nations. which in them
cnt,, IL.
| individuals in all army violating the laws
| OF nations, and the known rules of war, il
| is clear principle that they NAV bcpun
ished with death; AMI il was principle
| equally clear, that III couiending with
savage foe, you are al liberty 10 reiaiiate
| on them their own usageS. But gentle
men had blended these powers and rights
| with The right OF reprisal; ard had con
| founded the power Of punishment for nil
| itary offences by court martial, whit
| power OF puiiing TO instant death cap
| tive-a right inherent in the military pow
er with which we have clothed the com
mander, ana the exercise OF ~hicll is
| question between himself and his God.
rejoice, said Mr.. j. that the honora-
bile gentlemen who last addressed YOU,
has expressed his opinion that the inien-
| lions OF General Jackson, in what he has
| done, were good. rejoice in it, sir,
from my respect for that gentleman,
whose opinion has with me more weight
than that of any other individual buI
this is case in which the obstinacy of
my nature will not permit me 10 surren-
der my opinion 10 any individual whatev-
er.
III had been denied, that any example
| could be produced OF military execution,
at the fiat OF the commanding general, i'm
our country. Mr.. j. said he would give
an instance, in which two individuals were
put to death by Gen. Washington. Be
Ing gwen up by the revOited Stale line of
Pennsyivania, as eMissaries, sent by Gen.
Carlton, these men were instantly execut-
ed. For this fact, Mr.. j. referred gentle.
men 20 the Annual Register, which now
lay before him.
II had been stated that the crimes for
which these men we're executed, were of
fences not recognized by The laws of the
United States. MIR. J. denied the fact.
and in doing so, meant offence 10 no one.
These miscreants, who had imbrued their
hands in the blood of our countrymen-
The insiigaiors OF the murders, the fruits
OF WHICH were three hundred scalps i'm
enc place, and tliiy Ia another, although.
according TO the documents read by Ike
Speaker, IT would appear that lie Indians
we're three murders in arrear ofus-ti,ese
individuals had been condemned and ex-
ecuted IN conformity TO the letter, if not
TO the spirit, of the laws of the United
States. According TO our rules and ar
ficies of war, whoever should relieve the
enemy with money, viciuals or ammuni
ton, or should knowingly Ilarbor or pro
fect them, or hold correspondence with
The enemy, were subjected TO death. So
Tar Inc rule asto our army, which, by sub
sequeht articles, was made so broad az
TO apply TO the whole human family
But II there was, IN this point, any defect
OF power, here came III the law Of nations
TO supply the deficiency; for that which
subjects TO death one OF our own citizens.
shall much more subject TO death the TO-
reign incendiary. Examples, in illusira-
ton OF this doctrine, were pleniilulIy
scattered os tie page of history. What
was The fact, said he, as to The trial Oflhe
distinguished officer who was adiulant
general of the British forces, during the
revolution lie was convicted on his oOn
confession, and by court composed Of
SIX major generals and eight brigadier 90.
nerals. Gen. Jackson, MIR. ]. said. " as
only following ~ the steps OF those who
had gone before. He was not here. he
.S''"1 "NSut W "i"ti.a'b tbdi zen. JACK
son was fsulIless--iihe had not faults, he
would not be human--but lie stood here
TO maintain his devotion TO his country
and that, IL the course he had pursued
IN the trial and execution OF Arbuthnot
and Ambrister, I've had only trodden in
the footsteps of the immortal Washing
ton
As TO tlle execution of the two Indian
warriors, by The exercise of a summarV
jurisdiction over them, and the disfipc-