Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-18


ly between US, and as Judge, had no
right to ask or demand any such thing,
and that we would not accede to it
We further told him that we were well
satisfied, and we had no doubt from
his knowledge of the Indian character,
that he must be satisfied of the inutili-
ty of examining them in Council; that
they would repeat the same story, whe-
Their true or false; indeed, that the Talk
would be delivered by one man, and
that we could only hope to obtain the
truth from them by separate exami-
nation; that we wished it in his pre-
sence, and that we would put our ques-
tons in writing. The General then
assured us he would with pleasure give
us all the facilities in his power; that
he had the power to detain the Chiefs,
Gas long as he pleased) and that he
would do so; that he would let us know
when he was done with them, and we
should then have the opportunity OF
examining them as we wished. We
then took our leave, resting with full
confidence in the assurances Of aid and
assistance which we had received
How we'll our expectations were fulfill
ed, and how Justly our confidence was
reposed, will be seen by your Excellen-
cy in the report Of Colonies Jourdan
and Williamson.
On Monday the 9th, in the morning,
we repaired to the Asbury Mission
house, to submit interrogatories to Mr..
L. Compere. When we arrived, we a.
gain found Col. Crowell, Maj. Rock
well, and Maj. Andrews already there.
The two latter in a private room, the
door of which was carefully closed and
fastened on our entrance into the house.
In short time Mr.. Smith came into
the room where we sat, and handed US
the letter, No. %, signed by himself,
Mr.. Compere, and Mr.. Hill, the last of
whom seems to have enlisted himself
as volunteer, as he had not been ask
ed by us, nor had we intended tn exam
inc him. By this letter, you VIII per-
ceive they had come to positive de-
termination not to swear or affirm to
any statement they might give. With
out entering into any discussion as to
the propriety Of that determination, we
submitted some interrogatories to Mr..
Compere. To these we could not then
receive any answers. We were in.
formed they would be prepared in the
course Of the day, and handed to us in
the course of the evening, as the Coun-
Gil was expected to meet that morning,
The Commissioners declined submit
ing any questions to Mr.. Smith at that
time, and departed, leaving the rest Of
the company together, no doubt to con-
suit and determine on the answers pro-
per to be given to the questions
When we called in the evening, the an
swers were already made out to the
questions before propounded, and an
swers made to additional questions
then submitted.
We are unable to give you proper
idea Of this examination. Suffice it to
say, we became well satisfied that any
attempt on our part to obtain the truth
from men living in the Indian Nation,
whether white or red under the influ-
ence and power of the Agent, into
whose conduct we were then examin-
ing, must be fruitless. For what could
we expect from others, who pretended
to have no regard for the sacred obi
cations of Religion, when we found a
Minister of the Gospel, an ambassador
of Christ, covering himself with the
sanctity of his mantle to protect him
self from the consequences of perjury.
When we found him prevaricating and
equivocating in the statement which
his conscience would not permit him
to verify by an oath or affirmation
Under this conviction, and to prevent
them from preparing the other wit
nesses as they had done those about
Fort Mitchell, it was determined that
two of our Mission should immediate
Nv proceed to Alabama to take testimo-
ny on the road, and at Line Creek and
Montgomery in that state-Messrs.
Jones and Torrance were selected for
that business. They left Fort Mitch
ell, and proceeded as far as Crabtree's
that evening, distance of four miles.
In pursuance of the instructions we
had received from your Excellency, Col.
Crowell was served with notice on
the 2sth, early in the morning, that
we would take the testimony of Kend-
al Lewis and James Moss, at the house
of Kendall Lewis, about Is or 26 miles
distant from Fort Mitchell, at II o.
clock that day. You will perceive from
Col. Crowell's letter of that date, (No.
lo,) that he complains of the time as
too short to afford him the opportuni-
~ of cross-examination. While we
admit the time was short, we deny it
was too limited for him to reach there.
We intended to give only time enough
to enable him or his counsel to get
..