Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-26

| ting my Oelle lToIn tne evidence even
now disclosed, and exparte as it NAV
be, l would have said without hesita-
ton, that with respect to the one
charge believed him guilty of that,
beyond the possibility of refutation;
and that with regard to the other, he
was so far innocent only as he was not
present at the time s place of infiictine
the blows with his own hands. Tax.
ing very opposite views of the SUBJECT,
you seem TO have yielded reluctant
and ungracious assent to the suspen-
sion Of the Agent, and, indeed, to in
dulge little the language Of COM,
plant, lest injury might by possibility
result from it to the accused. Be per-
suaded, sir, that this act of suspension
is in no respect personally gratifying to
me; nor were feelings of any kind, con-
nected with my suggestion of the pro-
prietyeof it, but those which yourself
must have INDUCED for the successful
fulfilment of the objects Of your mis-
sion. Irepeat what was before alledg-
ed in support Of that suggestion, that
it could not be conceived how it would
be possible for you to make any the
least advance to the attainment of truth,
or to the paci6cation of the Indians
without it, as first and indispensable
measure. The friendly Chiefs had al
ready given your government to under
stand that they would never consent to
commit themselves again to the pro.
lection ofthe Agent; and you were al
most present to witness, that by the
power and influence of his office, the
hostile Chiefs had been convoked, and
declaration Of the innocence Of the A.
gent either extorted or otherwise OBJ
tanned, and this too just before the pc.
Rod had arrived at which Gen. Gaines
and yourself were to convene the same
Indians, for the purpose of obtaining
from them, fairly and honestly, the
truth; fact well known to the Agent,
but which fact did not prevent him
from thus forestalling and anticipating
you.
When you permit yourself TO say,
that the Agent " has not been, so far
as the Investigation has been pursued
by the authorities of Georgia, inform
ed Of the nature and cause of the accu-
sation," you will suffer me to answer,
that this has been no omission Of ours,
but of yours: it was part of your duty
to have notified the Agent, SO soon as
the Charges were received, Of the exis-
tence of those charges; and with regard
to specifications, l assure you, that un-
less for some very useful purpose to the
interests ofGeorgia, / would not take
the trouble TO sit down to paper to
make them. The Agent is charged
with instigating the Indians to the
commission of the crime of murder,
and with predetermined resolution to
prevent the Indians from making ces-
sion Of the lands, SO long as certain
person was at the head oft govern
ment Of Georgia; and these, in all rea.
son, are specifications enough. We
are not exhibiting charges against the
Agent as offending the martial law, to
which a long detail Of specifications,
according to custom, must be subjoin-
ed. II your governmentwants further
specification, it must seek it elsewhere;
and this, sir, is obviously the mistaken
bias under which you and yourgovern-
ment labor. You are willing to resolve
every thing into prejudice against the
Agent, for his protectiorl-whereas it
is notorious, that the prejudice your
government has been so far advantage
Gus to him, that it is very difficult to
subdue it by any kind of evidence.
With respect to "the right of con-
Formation with the witnesses against
him." there is abundant time for that
when after the finding of true bill, he
shall be arraigned at the bar ofjustice
and with regard to his "not having
compulsory process for obtaining wit
nesses in his favor, as required by the
sacred instrument which guards the
rights of all" pledge you my word
of honor, that whenever | shall hear OF
such gross injustice being done him by
any competent and authorised tribunal,
before which he may be cited, | will
consider it as an injury done to myself;
and if done by a tribunal within our ju-
risdiction, and of course punishable for
offences committed under our constitu-
ton and laws, so far as depends on me,
the utmost efforts will be made to bring
to punishment, all or any public agents
concerned in SO offending.
The documents are in course of pub
LEGATION, by order of the Legislature
having previously been made public by
that body itself in the most formal
manner, it is not seen that any further
publication of them can operate inju-
riously TO the Agent; for it would seem
to be better, even on his own account,
that after so much had been made
known Of their contents, all should be
III