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

with view TO ascertain WNcTc lhe NM
Of Georgia would leave the Chattahoo-
chic; on his being spoken to by some
persons to us unknown, he Immediate
" returned the money given him Tor
the trip and said he could not accom-
pany us, as he had been much abused
for consentipg to 60. The Case OF M
Martin, gentleman who had been Sc
lected by the friendly chiefs 10 write
their talk; for this little manifestation
of friendship he was much insulted and
abused and threatened with decapita.
ton. During the development OF
these untoward occurrences, an express
was received from his Excellency
the Governor, notifying us OF his wish
that the Indians should be made &C
odainted with the intentions OF our 60
vernment in relation to the contem-
plated survey, and the innocency OF the
measure. In obedience thereto short
talk was prepared. We attended the
council for the purpose OF communi-
eating it. Gen. Gaines peremptorlly
forbid the communication and added
that he was instructed to say the SUR
vey would be prevented.
The circumstances and incidents
lust detailed, trifling and unimportant
as some of them may appear to distant
observers, had most powerful lniiu'
ence in directing every thing in given
channel.
We have detailed some of the causes
which operate the non-fulfilment OF
the principal object of our Instructions,
and which came more Immediately UNI
der our observation. The following
consideration suggests itself on this
branch of the subject; that the decla-
ration of General Gaines 10 the Indians
to hold no talks with white men, ope-
rated wholly to our exclusion, and that
all conversation about matters, then
the subject Of investigation and nego-
citation was wholly interdicted to us
the most free and unrestrained CONVEX
sation and communication was kept
up and permitted with the Indians by
all other persons present even with the
notorious sub agent, Walker.
We feel it a duty we owe to the state
and to humanity, to offer a few brief re-
marks in relation to the sanguinary law
which has been offered as a full justin
cation and extenuation Of the cruel and
unjustihable murders lately committees
in the Indian Nation, and to enforce
which, the meek, charitable and un-
bounded philanthrophy of the follow
ers of the Saviour of the world have
been called into requisition. If muir
ders, rapine, plumber and devastation,
are the doctrines best to inculcate In
the system adopted by these missiona-
ries, instead of peace and good will to
men, and charity and love as extensive
as creation itself, then all christendom
have to learn what few missionaries
have discovered by short residence in
peculiarly appropriate situation for
the exercise of the finer feelings Of our
nature. The inconsistent and Contra
dictory statements Of those whose inte-
rest it is to establish the law, confirm
the opinion that no such law existed
until the Tuckabatchee and Pole Cat
proceedings. Some contend it was
passed at Fort Hawkins: there are o.
Tiers who refer to time for its passage
Immediately after the treaty at Fort
Jackson-some others contend for Bro
ken Arrow-whie others contend that
it was promulgated last year at or near
the missionary establishment at ball
play, and solemnly proclaimed from "a
cart on the Lords Day" The latter
is the declaration of the Rev. Isaac
Smith. The interpreter, Hambly, from
his long residencehn the Nation, must
have known the time and place Of its
enactment, if such law was in exist
ence. In his testimony he swears (and
from his character we should suspect
him of a Willingness to swear any thing)
such a law was passed several years a
go, and re-enacted in all the towns =
He conceals the truth, and evades de-
lection, by not adverting TO the time or
place Of its passage. This is the cele-
brated law not to be found in the ma
tional code, and which has never been
seen by any person; so says the Rev
Isaac Smith in his examination which
has been conjured up by white men,
and put into the mouths of Indians
to suit their own purposes, and the pre-
text for the murder of M'Intosh and
his friends Ifsuch law has ever ex-
listed, made and enacted in full coun-
Gil, as contended for, with such severe
penalties annexed, is it reasonable to
suppose that so much uncertainty would
exist as to the time and place of its en-
actment? Is it not irrational 10 sup
pose that if such law was passed, with
so much solemnity as is apparently urg.
ed, the nation would not have inflicted
its penalties upon those who coded "a
way the lands in "'ls or is" and upon
those who subsequently, coded away the