Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-18

during the late VAR, with his Britannia
| Majesty scommisslon in his pocket, wllen
| engaged IN exciting savages To massacre
The peaceful citizens Of orr frontiers, he
would have deserved to have been hang
ed Tor using means contrary TO the laws
OF war. The principle i contend for
| seems 10 have been acted on i'm The case
OF Col. Hamilton, the British commando
er at VincenDes, in the war of the r.von-
iipn. That officer having excited the In
dams To war against The frontier settlers,
was attacked by Col. Clark. and surren.
dered himself and his garrison prisoners
OF war. The historian tells us, thai "wiih
lew oil bis immediate agents aud coun
selors, who had been Instrumental III the
, savage barbariies he had encouraged,
he was, by order of the Executive OF Vm
glnia. put in irons, and continedin gaol."
10 There are certain means, The use OF
Which Is contrary 10 the laws of war; rs
poisoning, assassination, entering The
camp OF an enemy IN disguise, as spies,
or with intent 10 poison, assassiuate 90,
corrupt soldiers guilty of any Of these
offences are liable 10 suffer death; and,
would add 10 The list of unlawful means,
exciting savages 10 war. Our commits
sioners al Client dcclared that "ihe en-
ployment of sa,ages, whose known rule
oi warfare IL The indiscrimina.e torture
and butchery of women, children and
prisoners, Is, itself, a departure from The
principles OF humanity observed b tween
ailcivillzed christian nations even in war."
Then let ibis practice be terminated.
fhai Is 10 be effected by ihe-exemplary
punishment OF every insiisator oil Indian
hos ilities.
cannot perceive any ground for the
comparison made between the cases Of
La Fayeiie, kOsciusho, Pulaski and DE
kaib. With those of Arbu,l,noi and Am
brister. Do those who make This com
parison find any likeness between The u.
States and the Seminole tribe OF savarcs I?
The war of The revolution was carried on
as a civil war; III which the ireaipeu, OF
prisoners Is thetsame as in regular war
between two nations. " And as TO-
reIgners are allowed 10 enter into The
service of either party in such war, they
were consequently entitled 10 treatment
similar 10 that which other prisoners OF
the party received.
Having considered the liability Of Am
brister TO suffer death, for violation OF
Inc laws of war, in exercising unlawful
Institutes, will next consider his llabiii-
~ To be put 10 death by way Of reialia-
non, Us person incorporated with The
enemy.
lay down, with regard &c The savages,
Tins rule OF warfare. Whatever degree
OF force, whatever Destruction. whatever
punishment Tor violating tie usayes of
war ar by way of retaliation, is fom,d ne
cessafS to deter them from robbipg orr
citizens. and massacreing our women
and children that force, destruction
and pun limenf, they should be made 10
iee,-ani,no more. so much we lraua an
undonbied right TO iufiict on The pli,,..--
PIE OF sell preservation. And if wc do
iiot ihHicl so much, We fail in our saured
duty tn preserve the people.
hnd t'iiS opinion fully supported hy
lie authority and example OF The great
eS' man 'hat this or any other country
mas produced General Washington. who
knew "hen To silence pity, 1t its exercise
VAS Injurious TO bis country. did moi
cohslier tie nsages Of war, or The prin.
cip'es oi Humanity, as applicable 10 a war
carried on Tor The punishmcni OF The nm
provoked and alrocious llo.tIlities of "a
vages.O In lis order 10 General Suiji.
van, directing his operations in tl,r Indian
country. find the following clauses
The expedition you are appointed 10
command, Is Ia be directed against I'M.
hostile tribes OF The six nations of Ind;
ans, will their associates and adber.n,s
The immediate objects are tie t0tol
desb~cf'on and Devastation of tAeir settie-
ments, and The capture Of as MANY prison
ers OF eDe'y "ge nid sea as possible
l would recommend Iha, some nos,
III The crn re of the Indian country br oc.
cnpied with all expedition. witt, a suth-
cieh' quantity of provision, whence mar
lies should be detached TO lam masfe aU
the equipments around, with injunciions 10
DO II IN the most eGiectnni n.a,uey, that the
cson'ifry may not merely be ovERRuN.
but DESTROYED"
Aiter yen have rsry tkorouphy COM
picfed Ire destruction IF their settLereenis. if
The Indlans should slew a disposition for
peace, ! would lia'e you 10 encourage il.
on condition that they will give some de-
cisiVe evidence Oi their sincerity. BIZ de.
iIvefIng mp so''se of Tie priaciDdl instirrsoys
q Meir past hoSitlities, into our hands
b"lier, Brandt, Tie most miscfievons of
ne torres ihai have joined them, or any
oiher 'hey may have in their power, that
we are III crested to get into ours"
out yon VIII not, by any means, lis
ven 10 oyeriures OF peace, before tie foiaI
ruin NJ Their settlements is effected
Our future security viii be in their
'no6iiiy toihyure sts--tbe distance TO viii /,
lhey are d'iced. and the terror with which
me sere''ty Of the chdstisemc,a thev receive.
VIII inspire ilIem-peace wiiloui Ills
would be fallacious aud temporary.
When we have e6ccinaiIy chasii,ed
them, we may then listen 10 peace and
endeayour TO draw further advantage from
their fears"
such we're the orders given by General
Washington Tor lnfllciing exemplary pun.
ishnlcnt on the savages. Let us see how
They were executed. Every lake. river.
and creek, IN The country Of the Six ma,
inns NHr i-ncrI IL Ill. -