Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-18
REPORT OF THE GEORGIA CoMsnS-
SIONERS.
Tn his ErceUencu C. nj. TRoup:

SIONERS.
To his Ercellency G. NJ. TRoUP:
SiR-On the 2sth of June, we had
the honor to enclose 10 your Excellen-
cy, copies Of a correspondence held at
the Indian Springs with Gen. Gaines.
Your Excellency will perceive, that the
Commissioners of Georgia were in
hibited by him from any participation
in that Council, and in obedience to
their instructions, they entered a pro-
test, and without delay set forward Tor
Fort Mitchell, near Broken Arrow
After our arrival at that place, we again
addressed a note (No. g., to General
Gaines, renewing our request, and ex-
planning to him our motives and in
tentions in wishing to attend the Coun-
Gil. This did not appear satisfactory
to the General, and he adhered to his
previous determination 10 exclude US
from the Council as Commissioners, while
we were left at liberty to attend as
other individuals: { see No. 7.)-We
deemed it unnecessary to enter our
protest against this refusal; and deter
mined not to do SO, from sincere and
anxious desire to give no cause OF com
plant TO the General, and to attend the,
Council as individuals, that we might
avail ourselves Of every means within
our power, of accomplishing the OBJ
ject Of our appointment.
After we had prepared our letter to
Gen. Gaines, mo. 6, and before it had
been handed to him, we were invited
by the General to attend talk about
10 be held between him and the Little
Prince-(a copy of this Talk is mark
ed No s.) From the anxiety of the
Special Agent, Major Andrews, to sa-
tisfy the mind Of the Little Prince as
to the suspension of the Agent Col.
Crowell, we felt anxious forebodings
that we need not expect to find in him
a man, who sought only to extend i'm
partial Justice TO tho accused In the
afternoon of the same day (the 25th
June) we rode to the Asbury Mission,
(the Methodist Missionary establish
ment) to see the Rev'd. Isaac Smith,
whom we proposed to examine as
witness TO apprise him of that fact, and
to ascertain what time would be most
convenient to him. When we arrived,
we found Col. Crowell, Maj. Rockwell
his counsel, and Maj. Andrews, the
Special Agent, already there. Being
introduced to Mr.. Smith, after short
time we informed him of our wish and
intention to swear and examine him as
witness, and wishe d to know what
time would suit him. His answer was,
that any time would be convenient to
him. We then proposed to make The
examination on the Monday morning
thereafter, and enquired of Col. Gro
we'll, Ito whom we had written the let
ter marked No. S. whether that time
would suit him, to which he assented.
At this time we were asked by Major
Andrews, whether we and Col. Crowell
had made any arrangement as 10 the
taxing of testimony; TO which it was
replied, that we had informed each
other, that each should have the oppor-
tunity Of cross-examining the witness
es examined by the other; and that no
other arrangement had been made
While these conversations were pass
ing, a gentleman came into the room,
whom we understood to be the Rev'd.
Lee Compere, the Baptist Missionary,
and author Of the letter to the South
ern Intelligencer.) He was informed
that the Commissioners would exa-
mine him also. MIR. Compere made
some objections to being srorm, and he
was distinctly informed that the law
had provided, that the affirmation would
be equally obligatory with an oath,
when any person had conscientious scru-
pies about taking an oath. He would
not say he had any conscientious scru-
Piles about taking an oath generally,
but that he had conscientious scruples
about taking all unnecessary oath; that
he conceived one unnecessary in this
case-That he would give statement,
and that was all he presumed Mr..
Smith would do. He at last declared
he would not swear or affirm to his
statement, as he presumed his statement
would be sufficient with the President,
without an oath or affirmation: but if
Maj. Andrews said it was necessary to
swear to it, he would do so. Major
Andrews was then informed by one Of
the Commissioners, that he knew the
object Of their taking the testimony,
and if he would say in writing, that
the statement without oath or affirma-
ton would be sufficient, the Commits
sioners would be satisfied. To this he
replied, that he did not know the OBJ
ject for which they were taking testi'
mony; that it was matter between
the Commissioners and Mr.. Compere,
and that he must decline saying any
thinp. He was referred to YOUR letters