Elizabeth-Town gazette., 1819-01-26

and confinement to hard lsbour. The
reconsideration was disapproyed by Gen.
jackson, and the first sentence confirmed
and executed. On this last point the
committee are of opinion, that it would
have been more correct for Gen. jackson,
after submitting the case TO court mar
tial, not only TO examine the facts as to
his guilt, but to determine the punishment
to be Inflicted, TO have acquiesced in their
final and only legal decision as court.
But, in this, the committee are satisfied
that General jackson did not transcend
the power warranted by the law OF retail
iation--the prisoners own confession, and
the evidence produced, going to establish
the facts which justified its application.
Aud Though the principles Of national law,
involved in this war, would have anthor-
ised more extensive sacrifice, even on
the persons OF the innocent, yet the com.
mittee deem it matter Of great felicita-
tion, that punishment fell upon the guilty
alone and that the object is effected, with
SO limited an example Of justice. Under
this view of the whole subject, the com.
mittee can discover much which merits
applause, and little .hAt deserves cessare !;
and, from the incalculable benefits result
ing to the nation, from the faithful ard
services Of Gen. Jackson
and the officers and men who served under
his command, in terminating finally the
Seminole war, are Of opinion that they
are entitled to the thanks of their coun-
try"
After few observations had been made,
the report OF the military committee, and
the paper offered by MIR. johnson of Ky.
as substitute, was referred to the CON-
mittee of the whole on the state of the
union.
Monday, Jan. / s.
GOVERNMENT OF FLORIDA.
Mr.. Edwards rose to offer resolution
calling for information in relation TO the
posts, without the limits OF the u. States,
now in possession of the United States.
The object of his motion was in itself so
plain as to need no elucidation. 1t will
be recolected that the law of 1871 au-
thorised the taking possession, on certain
contingencies, of that part of Florida
east of the river Perdido, and to establish
a government therein. One object OF the
resolution was to ascertain how far, if at
all, that Law had been carried into effect,
&c. The resolution was in the following
words.
ReS0lUed, That the President of the
United States be requested TO cause any
not already communicated, TO
be laid before this House, whether Ame-
liza Island, st. Marks, and Pensacola, yet
remain 10 the possession of the United
States, and, if so, by what laws the inhab
itants thereof are governed whether arti
cies imported therein from foreign coun-
tries are subject TO any and what duties,
and by what laws; and whether the said
duties are collected, and how; whether
vessels arriving in the United States from
Pensacola and Amelia Island, and in Pen.
sacola and Amelia Island from the United
States, respectively, are considered and
treated as vessels from foreign countries.
Carried.
THE SEMINOLE WAR.
The order of the day, on the report of
the committee Oh military affairs respect
ing the Seminole War being announced,
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the State of Union, to
whom that report was committed, Mr..
Pitkin in the chair.
There was some conversation previous
iy about postponing the subject for day
or two; but the House, by majority Of
ten or fifteen votes. resolved to take it up.
The report of the military committee
was read through, concluding with the
resolution:
RESOLVED, That the House of Represen-
tatives Of the United States disapprove the
proceeding in the trial and execution of
Alexander Arbnthnot and re .Ambrister.
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, took the floor 10
support Of the report; and, having spoken
some time in support Of the resolution i'm
before the House, he was pro-
ceeding to the other questions arising out
Of the Seminole war, when
1t was decided by the chair, that the
discussion must be confined to the ques-
tion Immediately before the house.
After good deal of conversation on the
question of the order of proceeding in this
case, (which Messrs. Smyth, Cobb, Clay,
Poindexter, Tallmadge and Rhea took
part, and in which general disposition
was manifested that the whole subject
should be discussed, and the difference Of
opinion was only as to the modes of get.
ting at it, TO obviate all difficulty on this
subject
MIR. Cobb moved 10 amend the resolu-
tion before the committee, by inserting,
after the word &C Resolved the follow;ng