Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-09-20


against him; they asked il required statements or
aidarits from then at the same time that they ex-
pressed their Willingness to make oath to their
evidence If the Government required II oil them as
absolutely necessary, they also stated, that they
wished to avoid taking oath, 1t It could be done
with propriety: After proper reflection, inform
ed them, from the knowledge had gained OF their
characters, and from respect TO their sacred cah-
inss should not require an oath from them: But,
If the Government considered an oath necessary,
their evidence could her eafter be returned TO them
from Washington, time enough Tor them TO add tneir
aiii,vits. This conversation, think, took place
al dinner. Shortly after, the Commissioners came
in, and made known their determination to examine
those gcailemcn The Rev. MIR. Conpere informed
the Commissioners of the arrangement which had
made with the Missionaries, and asked II similar
one would answer the Commissioners lhey In
formed him, with great rudeness, that wouiu not
and he them in reply, that as ne couio see
no necessity for giving them duplicate oil MS evil
t,ence at all, (the Indian Agent VINO was uhoer
trial being an officer Of and amenaoe only to. the
General Government ne must decline giving 1t Us
they demanded it. The other clergymen, as well
az recollcc., assented to the correctness oil MIR.
Compere's position, and the Commissioners, alter
having made of some further harsh language
towards those gentlemen retired, declining TO take
their testimony In the shape proitered. lhey,
However, afterwards applied for and received 1t,
without the affidavit, Ii was for declining to inter-
fere in the conversation referred &c, that tie Com
inissioners have charged me with derciction OF
duty: and this forms 4" the head and mont OF the
Offending of those Rev. gentlemen, who have
thus drawn down upon themselves the luli inca
sure of wrath now heaped on them. venture 10
assert (and leave it 10 time TO test the truth oil The
asser,ion,) that there not attached TO any
Charc, or Churches in this country, three clergy
men of more irreproacha5le characters; or who are
more devoted religion and virtue, than the three
gentlemen alluded TO. One of them, the Rev. Mr..
Smith, was revolutionary patriot and soldier; but
who has been for the las, forty years, minister OF
the Gospel: understood, in South Carolina, thai
he had resided from 25 so years of his life in one
place, (Camden,) in that State; where he is now
veneraied for his wears, his rie,y and his virtues
The people of that State, to whom he is generally
well known, are anxious Tor his return among
Them.
1t was made known to the Acting Agent Tor In
dian Aflirs, who informed me OF the fact whilst al
B.olen Arrow, that the Commissioners oil Georgia
had carried with them into the Nation a large
amount of money, say four to six thousand doilIs!
The personal expenses OF the Commissioners (who
all live within sixty miles OF the Indian line, ana
travelled with their horses) could not have
been more than 20 or 80 dollars piece in the Ma
ZION. For what purposes they carried so much
money into The Indian country, they can best ex-
plain. II it was intended that Colonel Williamson
should make, with that money, new efforts at
bribng the white men in the Nation, and Indian
Chiefs, he had bought wit enough, by experience,
one would suppose, TO have informed his colleagues
that although both the white men ard Indians were
poor, they Were proof against bribery. The money
was no, made use OF.
On leaving the Nation, two Of the Commission
ers (Colonels Jourdon and N'illamsen) went a
considerable distance out of their way home TO go
by the place at which the Mcintosh Indians were
Stationed, on the Flint River, and in Georgia. One
OF those gentlemen lColonel Jourdon) mas had the
t~..se.ity ~ acknowledge that he present wild!
one detachment OF these Indians when one of the
Marslials" OF The Georgia Commission Capt.
Bowen) wrote letter, in the name OF the head
man of one of those little detachmens, (Joe Mar
shai,) 10 Chilly Mcintosh, advising directing
him not to meet General Gaines in council with his
detachment, according TO appointment, at the Flint
River. Indeed although from respect 10 their OH
cial situations, the Commissioners were treated
with oil The courtesy which their department woulc
permit the General 10 show them, yet he could moi
bat view Them he did, judging from that depor,-
mcnt and their acts generally, as so many men de
terrnined on mischief, by counteractinS all his paci
fc and Just measures. The opinions which. 1hIeey
haze siace correctness Of the general opi
Mons which prevailed the Nation, as TO their
Zeal wishes and Intentions
There ~ one circumstance of public nature
which shall advert to in this reply as it has not
IT,,
Ono oihciai act or proceeding having grown out OF
~ which will tend 10 show The course of proceed.
lag OF the Commissioners. Ii is the case of Kendall
-eto'S' which the Commissioners have attempted 10
distorl TO such an extent that can scarcely be re-
coh3nised, In their reports, The same transaction
Inc Commissioners had complained TO General
tIaInes that they wished take the testimony of
Lewis, who is tavern, or stand keeper, in the
Nation, and who was, they stated, not willing to
give testimony. General Gaines Immediately issued
an order or request That Lewis should attend 10 be
examined by the Commissioners He forthwith pre-
scented himself. The Commissioners were furnished
win every thing necessary for themselves and
secretary, IN writing down the testimony. But the
acting Commissioner on this occasion Colonel
Jourdon) had scarcely taken his seat at the table:
before he drew from his pocket affidavit already
written, which he presented for Lewis TO sly ear TO-
Lewis asked if he had heard the paDer read
which was presented to him 10 swear TO- or had
any knowledge OF It's contents; to which he repl-
ed he had not, and that he could not subscribe oe
swear TO any paper with the contents of which he
was unacquaiuted The paper was then read TO
him Col Jourdon manifestlng much anger at his
refusing TO swear, without reading it, 1t contain
ed in substance, an 1isinuation that he had i'm
poriant information in his possession affecting the
character OF the Indian Agent, and had heard con-
versaions held by him OF character calculated to
injnre him, ii disclosed: but that he appreheuded
serious injury TO his family or property, if he dis
closed either So soon it was read 10 him, he |
told Colonel Jourdon, with some warmth, in the |
presence OF large number of persons, that he had
never made a statement 20 him, or any one else
which would warrant such insinuations: that ne
was not on friendly terms with the Agent; but that
he bad no knowledge OF any facts or circumstances
calculated to have the slightest effects for or against
him, in the present investigation Colonel Jourdon
insis ed that lie had made such statement, and ex-
pressed belief that he did possess some such inlor-