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

Their We intended to lay the testimony
before the President, the Legislature,
or Executive of Georgia, or before
Judicial tribunal. He was informed
that he must know, that it could not be
intended for Judicial tribunal. Maj.
Andrews persisting in his refusal to
give an opinion, and believing the con-
troversy worse than useless, we took
our leave.
Immediately on returning to Fort
Mitchell, we wrote to Maj. Andrews
the letter No. 9, which remained unan-
swered till two of the Commissioners,
Jones and Torrance, left that place for
Alabama. 10 persons not present, and
particularly those unacquainted with
all the circumstances, this letter may
appear harsh, and the insinuations UNI
warranted; but we can assure your eX-
cellency, that nothing but the most po-
sitive conviction could have induced
US to take this step. Should circum-
stances have transpired. to satisfy US we
were wrong, we should most cheerfully
have retracted. But we are sorry for
the interest of Georgia and Of truth, we
are compelled to declare, that subse-
quent events have only confirmed us in
the correctness of that opinion.
In the evening of that day, (the 25th)
two Of the Commissioners walking a
long the public road met, and held
casual conversation with Josiah Gray,
"a half-breed Indian, and one Of the
Chiefs who had signed the Treaty. y
The next morning we received infor-
nation that VIM. Hambly, (the Ma
tional Interpreterl had told Gray that
Gen. Gaines was displeased with him
and US for holding conversations to-
gether, and that he must do so no
more. From Gray's statement, No.
"a, you will see what was said to him
by the Indians.
On the morning of the Goth, two of
the Commissioners walked out, and
wi.h the" white man by the name of
Richards, "a man VINO mad lived Ill tho
Nation, and had been interpreter to
the Seminole Indians) who had a
claim against the Creek Nation, and
who attended at Broken Arrow to have
it settled. After he returned from the
walk, he went into the Commissioners
room to show his papers, relative to
his claim to one of them. After dinner
OF that day, standing near one Of the
Commissioners, he was asked by him
what was the name of an Indian who
passed by at the time. Upon replying
that he did not know, he was request
ed TO ask it. He asked an Indian who
stood by, and informed the Commits
sioner that the Indian lived below. He
was then told that the name Of the In
dian, and not his residence, was en-
quircd after. Richards then stated that
he was willing to give the Commits
sioners any information and assistance
in his power, and to oblige them in "a
nv way he was able, but that he had re-
ceived an order not to have any inter-
course with the Commissioners, or to
interpret between them and the Indi-
ans for any purpose. He was then ask
ed, who gave the order? Was it given
by Gen. Gaines? To this he answer
ed, the order was not given by General
Gaines, but that he had received an
order, and begged that no more ques-
tons might be asked him. About this
time Col. Williamson joined us, and
upon consultation, we determined to
ask an interview with General Gaines,
from whom we had Just received his
letter of the 2sth, mo. y to assure
him Of the confidence of the Governor
Of Georgia and of the Commissioners
in his exerlions and determination to
quiet the disturbances in the Nation,
and to reconcile their difterences--to
state 10 him the difficulties attending
us from the interdict which was placed
on our communications with the In
dian countrymen, (white men living in
the NationD and with the Indians them
selves-to detail to him the above Cir
cumstances relative to Gray and Rich
ards-to assure him that we would
have no intercourse whatever with the
Indians until his business was closed,
to prevent any misconstruction OF our
motives and conduct, if he, General
Gaines, would promise on his part, that
he would keep the Indian Chiefs there
after he was done with them, and give
us an opportunity Of examining them,
separately and apart from each other,
before him. He then stated that MAJ.
Andrews would wish TO examine them
in Council, after he was done, and that
he, Major Andrews, suggested the pro-
priety of our drawing up our interroga-
tories and submitting them TO him for
his examination, before they were put
to the witnesses. He was Immediately
told by one of our Mission, that we
would not submit to such requisition
from Major Andrews; that it ne iden-
.:col h;ooeaIf Nth FOL (,rOWell as his