Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-30
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peateQly dSSurC tHS oosCihoA 'hoe eHS!
one and all, consent to the survey-a
certificate is obtained from this same
Marshall and a white man, to prove
that General M'Intosh refused his as
sent. General Gaines Immediately
comes to the conclusion that his assent
was never given.
The admission of free communica-
ton with the Indians to every other
description OF persons, and the denial
of it to the Georgia Commissioners,
was further wrong done to Georgia.
Indeed, Sir, it would appear from the
Reports Of the Commissioners, that all
or any description of testimony would
be willingly received on the one side,
and particularly that description OF II
which would exculpate the Agent-ex.
cuse the hostile Indians, prevent the
survey of the land or effect the abroga-
ton of the Treaty-and that on the 9TH
err side every thing was 10 be discredit-
ed or received al best with many grains
of allowance, and every act of proceed
ing Of the Commissioners OF the Unit
ed States, or Of the constituted autho-
rites of the State resolved into corrup-
ton and ~depravity
When Gen. Gaines states in one OF
his letters to the Governor, that the
hostile party outnumber the friendly
in the proportion Of something like fiji
ty to one, Il is not easy to understand
him-if it be true, as the General
seems to believe, that he has paci6ed
and reconciled the two parties, there is
no longer any M'Intosh party; but if
the General means there was any such
disproportion between the strength OF
the parties while M'Intosh lived, he is
widely mistaken. If M'Intosh had sur
vived to this moment, the probability
is, his party would have been strongest.
Suffer me TO add a few particulars,
which make the condition of the friend
ly party most pitiablc-independently
of no atonement being offered for the
blood ofM'Intosh, the money, accord
ing to the construction of the treaty, is
taken from the pockets Of the wives,
children, brothers and friends of MIN
tosh, & paid owe to- the hostile Chiefs
who murdered him, contrary to every
principle ofjustice, and stipulation of
treaty, as if you intended it as the re-
ward of gallant and meritorious acts
commanded by yourselves; and this the
friendly Chiefs cannot but feel most
deeply. No body acquainted with the
Indian character can ever believe that
Gen. Gaines will make either a safe or
permanent paciGcation, until the offer
ing of blood for blood has fulfilled the
law and the usage of the country. An
ephemeral peace may be patched up by
force or menace, but ephemeral it will
be, making in the end the catastrophe
the more bloody.
Ihad written you of a certain person.
age of the state of South Carolina hav-
ing intermeddled in this matter, accor-
ding to information communicated to
me, and submitted TO you. There is a
strong chain of corroborative circum-
stances, as you will see, to establish
the facts there alleged, and running
through the entire mass Of evidence
The object undoubtedly was the annul-
ment Of the treaty.
Whatever knavery or folly may sug-
gest, with a view to disannul the trea-
ny, will ofcoCrse be unheeded at Wash
ington; but indeed, sir, l very much
doubt unless you have looked with a
scrutinizing eye to the history of this
matter, whether some Of the self-inte-
rested oppugners of the treaty may not
lead you into error. The idea that the
majority of the entire Greek Nation is
alone competent to make a treaty, is
the most fallacious that could be enter
tained-it is so far from true in the ge-
neral, that, unless by merest accident,
it never happens to be true in any par
t%icular. You have only to turf to the
notes of Col. Hawkins, whose authori-
ty you cannot dispute, to be satisfied
that according 10 the laws and usages
Of the Nation, the most important pub
lie affairs, involving vital interests, are
determined, not by majority, but by
a minority, and frequently a very small
minority Of the Nation. In the whole
course Of his long residence among
them, he never knew even the most po-
pular war conculred in by a majority,
and the authorities, and all custom will
prove to you, that with regard to the
most important of Their national acts,
having relation either to peace or war,
Coweta must take the lead. Ifa treaty
be signed by the Chiefs of Coweta, it
is considered good; if not signed by
them, good for nothing; Georgia was
settled in 80; in '33 or "a the first
treaty with the Creeks was held; then,
l think, in SO, and again in '39; the
Cowetas are always foremost; their
Councils are almost invariably holden
on the Coweta ground, and Gen. Ogle-
thorp paid them his first visi there;