Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-18
no. 90


to anwer at all.
AS proof of the sufficiency Of the
time, we would refer your Excellency
to the report of Messrs. Jones and Tor
rance, marked A.
The Report of Messrs. Jourdan and
Williamson marked b. will shew their
proceedings and the difficulties they
encountered during the absence Of
Messrs. Jones and Torrance.
You will have seen by former part
Of this report, that two Of the members
of the mission (Messrs. Jones and Tor
rance) departed from Fort Mitchell on
the evening ofthe 9th forLewis's, Line
Greek and Montgomery, for the pur-
pose of procuring the testimony OF cer-
tain witnesses at those places. They
having accomplished that object so
far as,they were enabled to do, returned
and Joined the Commissioners atCrab-
trees on Sunday the Sd inst. Having
been informed on that morning that
Mr.. Kendall Lewis, to whom we had
propounded certain interrogatories, on
the day before in wiring, and who had
at his request been allowed a short
time to draft his answers, had refused
to answer them at all, and had also LETT
the neighborhood for his residence, we
determined to inform Gen. Gaines OF
the same, and request of him an order,
whereby Mr.. Lewis might again be
brought to Fort Mitchell to testify
This was done on the 4th inst. (see No.
2I.) In that communication you will
observe, that we cautiously avoided
the use Of any language, the least cal.
culated to interrupt the very friendly
feeling manifested towards the Govern
ment Of Georgia and her Commission
ers by Gen. Gaines, shortly after their
arrival at Fort Mitchell. We sought
only to correct what we considered
mistake made by the General, through
his aid, doubtless unintentional-to
request the order for Lewis, and a copy
or copies Of the Talks to, and from the
Indians. How far that communica-
ton authorised the reply we received,
forbiddingfurther correspondencewith
the United States mission, then in the
Creek Nation, touching the objects Of
the disturbances therein, your Excel
lency will readily determine. Wheth-
er the Special .agent was included ~
that Mission, we know not, but sup.
pose that he was; and that our cores
pondence may have been closed under
a feeling produced by your Excellen-
cy's note to one Of its members (Maj.
Andrews) bearing date the 2sth ult. NJ
On the evening Of the Sd, we were
notified that the Counsel for Col. Crow
ell, would proceed on the next morn
ing at about the hour of nine O'Clock,
TO take the examination of William
Hambly, the Interpreter. In pursu-
ance Of the notice, we attended at the
time and place designated-When we
arrived we were informed that they
were not ready, but would be in short
time. After we had been there about
an hour, we were informed that they
were ready to close the examination Of
MIR. Hambly. To our surprise, we
found that the whole Of the testimony
Of the Interpreter had been committed
to paper by Col. Crowelps Counsel, be-
fore we were called in. 1t was read to
him by the Counsellor of the Agent,
who stated to the witness before he
began, that he would read over his tes-
timony again, slowly and distinctly
He did so: and then said, Mn Hamb-
", 81 have read over the testimony
slowly and distinctly,-indeed not once,
but two or three times,-and you can
say if any thing is wrong. The Wit
ness said all was right, and then sworeto
the statements he had heard read as true;
such a course we considered very unlike
what is termed an examination. Having
heard the testimony Of Mr.. Hambly, we
determined at once not to cross-interro-
gate him;his evidence being mainlycon-
fined to points affecting the means
whereby the late Indian Treaty was OBJ
tanned, and attempting by a selection
of statements, that we believed to be
wholly false and unworthy of credit,
to defame the fair character OF the Y.
S. Commissioners and every person
connected with them in their duties as
such. Such testimony, if from res
pectable characters for truth, might be
considered important if the govern
ment of the United States were prose
cutting an enquiry by the Special Agent,
whether or not fraud had been COM
mitted upon that government by her
Commissioners. Such an opinion we
could not for moment entertain
A perusal Of the testimony Of Mr.. =
Hambly would convince you in mo-
ment of the correctness Of the opinion
we hold in relation to his veracity. He
has furnished abundant matter Tor the
remark.
You will see from Col Crowelfs let
ter of the 2sth ult. No. 10, to two OF
II