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

NOTWITHSTANDING the uflferencc Of0p1n-
ion which was here entertained, Mr.. J
said, it was fortunate fer Gen. Jackson.
the evening of whose life would be cheer
ed by the recollection of the plaudits OF
grateful people, and CONSCIOUSNESS
ct his own services, that he did moi vio-
late, IN this case, The rights Ut capiiyes,
nor infiict punishment on innocent men,
but on the most guilty Of the guilty.
Wherever severity Is not absolutely me-
cessary, clemency may become duty
But here c!emency had no claiM 10 in.
terpose. There could be no harshness
OF severity in putting to death two incen-
diaries, when The rest OF their confede-
rates and deluded followers were suffer
ed 10 roam AT large. Instead OF beslow-
ing our commiseration, OF the guilty, lio
suffered death for their crimes, said MIR.
J. we should open our bosoms 10 the
bleeding wounds OF our own country, and
thank Heaven they have been staunched
by the vigorous arm oil All energetic CON.
mander.
As 10 the Hecessiiy of putting these
men 10 death, MIR. j. said. he thought
when we said there was not a show of ne
cessity Tor IL, we ought to hear what Gen.
Jackson himself had 10 say OH that sub
-
nected ihecapture OF these two men with
his ability to return home; that il was
this circumstance which he considered
as putting period TO the war, they being
the promoters of ii, &c. Mr.. ]. then
read the following passages from Gen.
JAckson'S letters:
8 These individuals. fArbu,hnot and An,
bris,er) were tried under my orders, by a
special court of select officers legally convic-
led az eAci,ers of this savage and negro war !;
legally condemned and most justly punished
tor their iniquities. The proceedings of the
court martial in the case, with the volume of
testimony, justifying their condemnation, pre-.
sent scenes of wickedness, corruption, and
barbarity, at which the heart sickens."
1 hope the execution of these two unprin.
ciplea villains will prove an awful example TO
the world, and convince the government of
Great Britain, as we'll as her subjects, that
certain, ii slow, retribution awaits those un
christian wTetches, who, by false promises,
deiude and incite an Indian tribe TO all the
horrid deeds Of savage war"
- So long rs the Indians, within the t0rrito.
ry of Spain are exposed 10 the decisions of
false pros Re Is, and poison OF foreign intrigue !;
so long a they can receive ammunition, muni-
lions of war, sc! from pretended traders and
Spanish commandments, II will be impossible to
restrain their outrages.
Mr.. J. asked, whether this reasoning
was false or correct; whether it was
founded on matter of fact, or Oh what
was moi fact 2 If il was True, he should
like 10 hear gentlemen answer 1t. Nine
,enths Of the Indians were lett in their
own country, and, if proper precaution
was not taken, the same scenes as had al
ready been eXIiihiied would be acted over
again. Gen. Jackson at one time iho't
HE war was at an end, and that lie might
go home. But he found he was misiak
en-, and that il was necessary TO scOur
The country west of the Appalachicola
and, after he got into it, he was obliged
TO take Pensacola before he could con-
clude the war.
In regard 10 the origin of this war,
vast, indeed, as had been said, contest
for hunting ground and few cattle ?
Ii was for about len or fifteen millions of
acres of land. Twas not common In
dian war, in which we could have dis
pensed with rigorous proceedings. One
OF Two alternatives We were obliged 10
take: either TO admit that we had madea
treaty with The savages which was a dis
grace 10 the country, and cede back to
the Creek nation of Indians from ten to
fifteen millions ofacres of land which the
people OF Georgia are now preparing 10
occupy and cultivate or TO hold OH 10
1T. and put down The Indian war by force.
This was not common petty larceny
war, III whicha few individuals were muir
dered; but it was solemn declaration of
war on The part Of the Indians, and Mr..
Arbuihnot was the author OF il. Mr. J.
here quoted Arbuthnots letter 10 Geu-
eral Mitchell, Indian Agent, in which he
says:
Sir King Hatchy, the head chief of the
Lower Creek nation, has called me to
request would represent 10 YOU the cruel and
oppressive conduct of the AmpTic people
living on the borders of the Indian nation, &c.
But, far from any stop being put TO their
lnr0ads and encroachments, they are pouring
IN by hundreds at time. Thus the Indians
have been compelled 10 TAXI up arms to defend
their homes from set of lawless invaders, &c.
Ia taking this liberty OF addressing you, sir,
IN behalf OF the unfortunate Indians, believe
me, have 40 wish but 10 see all end put TO
war, which, if persisted in, | fOresee must
eventually be their rum and, as they were
nottle aggresSors it, iu the height of their rage,
they committed any excuses, that yon will
overlook them, as the just ebuliti0ns of an
Indignant spirit against an invading foe"
SIR, when this letter was written, Lieut..
Scott and his detachment had been DIES
iroyed, the women butchercd aud the
cliildren's brains dashed out against the
side of the boat. These were what be
calls The just ebullitions of AN indignant
spirit Who would pronounce innocent
the man who made This declaration on
the part of The enemy Did Arbuihnot
supply the Indians with intelligence Was
he at Fort ST. Marks, identified with the
Spanish commander ? Did not the com
mandaut of ST. Marks make contracts
with the Indians TO go and steal cattle
from the Georgians? Let documents an
swer these questions. Did the twelve
chiefs say, in their letter to the Governor
OF the Bahamas, that they had consulted
The commandment at ST. Marks and did
not the commandant himself, approving
tina letter, sanction the call upon the Bri.
tish for aid TO fight against The govern
meni of the United States Under The