Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-08-16
Copy Of letter from Gen. Games TO Gsv.
Iroup.
HEAD QUARTERS.
TAS EhN DEPAkTM MINT,
LllIinn Nnl.i,lu LII, oShh ISol

Nih' nave 10 acknowledge the honor of ycur
f&ceiiency's letter OF the l7ih of this month, BY
winch 1t appears that you had " only a moment
10 say one word in answer 10 mine OF the 9th
Your one word, comprehending however, two
pre'ty closely written pages, coming as it does
rom the Chief Magistrate OF an enlightened and pa
trlo'ic member ofthe United States demands NV
attention. Not being disposed however, 10 follow
your example totine have permitted 10 lie IT on
my table ior week past in the expectation that
itie reflection would suggest to you the propriety
Oh correcting some expressions apparently hasty,
and calculated 10 call forth swer partalsinr of
the Climate and heated atmosphere in which | find
m seli, against which, has heen my constant pur-
pose carefully 10 guard. But your letter having
made its appearance in a newspaper, Just now
handed to me by friend, can no longer see the
sropTiety of withholding reply.
iou say'' the certificate Of Marshall no matter
how procured. is one o(he most daring efforts that
ever was a. emped b malignant villainy to palm
ialsehood on ignorant credulity''
- No matter h0tC pr0cured' will first state
10 you The manner IN which that frighfu certificate
was" procured, and then proceed 10 show tia,
lis :" daring" character consists only in its tru;s
and its direct tendency to expose in part tue N,
hgnant vil'ainy'' which has been extensively, nra
uced on The credulity OF many of the good ci,izel
ofGecrgia and other states in reference TO lie Ir
dians and the treaty. The facts contained in III 1
certificate IN question voluntarily and 10 peI
Unexpectedly communicated by Mr.. William Ed
wards and Joseph Marshall, whose signatures il
bears. OF the character of William Edwards who
is citizen OF this state, have had no means nj
knowing much personally. He has been represent
ed to me by Col Broadsax OF Pike, and bv Col
Philips Of this county, as a man of truth. moor bnt
honest and upright; description of character. an
pileable to large class of The inhabitants of this
ana other parts oil our western border, in whom I
have usually found much devotion 10 truth 40 -
any other class OF American citizens Joseph AIor-
shall is personally better known TO me Heis
creek hall breed, and is deemed 10 be good Inter
prefer; and however defective, as kUoVy no :; :;
education, and refined moral sentiments. sucb "a
have obtained the sanction of civilized soc;e,v
have no doubt that he is one of the mos, unr;L,
Chiefs that ever belonged 10 the little trea,vrns,
ing party. Neither of these men, Edwards o
Marshall, appeared to me at all qualified for whs A
you denounce their certificate TO be the most dar
ing EFFORT lhat ever was attempted by malignant viii
i"'ly' Aheir statements were simply and appaf
'e""y "nPrcJuuiceu ana unimpassioned. The
were made after the principal business o the Cou,
ell had been brought to close and in the rresenk
OF many OF the respectable citizens of Pike countv
convinced oil the propriety of all my duties yitbh
the Indians being performed in omen dan, and IN ,L
presence oil as many as would attend of all ststcsF
and OF all colors, took care that the cert;ecato
should be taken and explained in presence Of til
: ouhch ana all DINERS who had seen fit to atten,J
had no secret projects to promote nor any " Go
cret gIiefs' to remedy or secret homes to ,ra,;c.
and consequently had no occa sion for seasra,;1
The Chiefs, or Tor secret examinations The cr,io
hcste was written as 1t was dictated, as I beIieye
word for word, by my Aid-de-camp Lien, 7,
George Washington Butler, young officer Of ar
compished military education and talents. with NJ
'enuihS integrity and spotless honor; and who ia .
as incapable OF giving countenance 10 \ ,,icl -
As tba Z
country with whose name he is honored and - 4
,irlotism and virtue he constantly and scrupuous IL
initiates.
Having thus explained to you The rnears s,,,,....i
"a 10 obtain the certificate in question. for ,vbicb
old myself responsible, I have NOV =, ~ !
nat, sthough never entertained donb, h., -, I
we're deceived into belief that Gen. NToI.y oI
ad consulted the few Chiefs of his par,v oa,u,
o'ained the'r assent in Council, TO the inmo5ia,e
10y u lne ceaeu iandj yet have found m Ga
slactory evidence of any such CounciI ~ ~ s"-
the Chiefs OF the coded territory. bavrr e
"a at all upon the subject. And !, 70 we ac- II
ON Mclntosh's letters e" no matter b,, apparent II
Will offer no apology for making ,s Os"eu II
'xcellency's pregnant phrase. or h.. your
Huen, that he himself considered the rS WON
survey as merely conditional BIZ, aa'A
'a' ne''il.i Gem Nicin'osh nor his vasssl Chit
~ ~ esuch permlssion for the roa,,'
no matter how procured" had become n'I ueaty
re land;-its provisions could not ,L.s.f law o. A
hanged or rendered imperative by anv .,eore beA
'nce or any subsequent agreement bss eSpoh-'
xeeiiency and any part or the whole Of na your
dusis OIL one OF me contracting p,rt,es 0 mar
e consent oil me oiher The treaty 49,. "tnout
NY 70 protect the Indians against the -, our
others. To protect them from tho ,, %n'es and
'cessary and proper that we should 'us, It IS
ual line OF dernarcation between the '"'ain the
hi'es. ! am charged with their pro,sr,;a and the
compil'h this Important duty my 6r., OBJ Ioa