Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-04


81. Ii is untrue that the mounted men twas
a force raised and Differed without legal autlo-
rty.n They were raised and organized upon
a pressing emergency TO relieve our bleeding
frontiers; and the measure was approved by the
Governor of Tennessee, and the President
through his Minister of war. The laws of
Tennessee authorized the organization of a
force of that description. All the Facts con-
nected with this subject, were laid before the
Senate of the United States, by General Jack
son, whilst the enquiry was pending alluded TO
in page 80.
90. IL is untrue that the officers under Ge-
neral Jacl<son's command complained of not be.
ing allowed s'to make official statements, )" as as
serted in page s.. They never were prevented
from doing SO; but on the contrary, their state
ments wcre always received with satisfaction,
and that respect due to them and the gallant
troops they commanded.
23. With regard TO the execution Of John
Wood, mentioned in the same page, have
only To remark, that he was the second soldier
tried for muiny and descrtJn. The first was
pardoncd: and Wood condemned bva regularly
organized Court Martial, who did moi recon-
mend him TO mercy. The example was autho-
riZed BY the rules and articles of war, and " as
no doubt considered by the Court, as indispen-
sable to preserve subordinaton, and indeed, the
very existence of the army, by the suppression
of mutny and desertion.
81. The execution of the ''six militia menn
alluded 10 i'm the same page, also requires some
explanation. The corps to which these men
belonged was commanded by Col. Pipkin, at
Fort jackson, in the midst of the Creek nation
Nine of these troops, led by clergyman, mutt
MED, broke open the house containing the sup
plies. rolled out the provisions, and after fur
nisLing themselves, burnt the bake house, aud
made their escape. Sucli the effect of the
IL tot a
were advertised as such. The whole of them
returned voluntarily, except the nine ring lea
derS, who were brought back in confinement
The first returned To their duty and were
marched with General jackson To Pensacola;
and the latter were TIED under the command of
General Winchester, at Mobile, whilst Gene
raj Jackson was engaged in the defence of few
Orleans Three were pardoncd by General
Jackson, in conformity with the recommends
ton of the Court, which was his only guide and
the others executed by the commandant under
whom they were tried, agreeably to the sentence
pronounced against them. This mutiny pre-
sented an example of the most alarming descrip.
ton; as it leopardiZed the army, as we'll as the
faithful soldier who remained at his post I'M the
midst OF a wilderness surrounded by hostile In
diaus, and at a time too, when tire services of
every man was needed to the country
from threatened invasion, and our frontier from
desolation and ruin. 'fhe preacher, who was
the rlngleader, wrote the General letter ac-
knowledging that he deserved his fate, and did
not expect tor be paGdoned 1T is not the fact.
that General Flournoy ''dared to sparen the
lille of one OF tie men sentenced to be executed.
as stated by Mr.. BentOn As he was not at that
time at Mobile. or even in service
%. 1t is hntrue that General jackson ssdoom-
ell" one of the seven regulars executed near
Nashville, "to die with the Others" as stated in
page 81 The Court who tried and sentenced
these men to death, was composed of officers
from the 24th and 39th Regiments, then on the
recruiting service, uder the command of Colo
nels Williams and Anderson Although under
The control of the Secretary of War whilst en-
gagged in that service, the order for the conyen-
ton of the Court Martial emanated from Gene
raj Jackson, upon report of the commanding Of
fcer requesting the same. If any inhunanity
was exercised towards these gulars, the Court
who tried and condemnCc them was responsible;
as IN all cases for capital offences; the command
ing General pardoned the prisoner, when re-
commended to mercy. AT Tins time. there were
many deserters from tue recruiting rendezvous;
-Tcry nerve OF the government was strained TO
meet the crisis, and the Court no doubt CON
ceived examples necessary TO the service by
suppressing mutiny and desertion.
20. IL is untrue that General jackson ever
entertained any partiality in relation TO the
troops under his command at New Orleans, or
ever transferred" ihis disposition ''to the Ken
tuck!ans." Instead of this he has always con-
sIdered them an enterprizing, gallant people,
WORTHY of better fate than they experienced on
several occasions during the late war.
u. 1t is untrue that General Jackson has on
any occasion, ever ''branded the men OF Geor-
gia," or ''the freemen of North Carolina, y
with the most abusive epithcts of old women,
towards, and etie'Hnatc creatures, unfit TO ap-
pear among their fellow men.n Ofall the SLAM
dcrs Contained in Mr.. Benton's pamphlet, this
seems to be the most deliberate and wicked.
General Jackson has always entertained OPT
mons dramatically opposite to- those ascribed TO
MN IN relation to the people of these two states
ana dehes his enemies to produce any evidence
10 the contrary.
20. 1t is untrue that General Jackson stdic-
tated the treaty with the Greek Indians,n as
stated In page %. 1t is atthis time, notorious
fact, that the terms of the treaty were prescrib
ed by the government, and that General Jack
son. In receiving the Submission Of the Creeks,
acted entirely in obedience 70 positive ipstruc
tons. He neither dictated it, nor was vested
with any discretion as TO its provisions. How
ever this subject, with many others contained
IN Mr.. Benton's pamphlet, have been submitted
to the Senate of the United States, and finally
adjusted. No censure could attach TO General
Jackson, and it argues great ignorance or ma
lignity 20 be revWing such controversies at this
late period.
%. 1t is untrue, as intinated in pages 20 and
~, That General Jackson had any interest or
agency in the purchases made by certain midi
ylduals, IN Pensacola and its neghbourhood.
This IS another wanton misrepresentation; as the
evidence to the contrary is to be found in the
dispositions of Col. Butler and Maj. Eaton, an
pended to the report of MIR. Lacock, which might
have been examined by every citizen of our
country.