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

,he goth instant, this day received from
YOUR aid-de-camp, Col. Jones, from
whom have also received copy OF
the documents which accompanied
your Excellency's Message OF the 2Sd
MAY to the Legislature.
tYour Excellency appears to enter
tain an impression that had express
Cd a belief, in my letter of the 18th
instant, that a disposition exists on the
mart of the authorities of Georgia, to
withhold from the Agent the means Of
mstifying himself to his government;
and that you had also shewn wish
,ba, should, by complying with your
repeated and urgent requests, both YER
bally and in writing, to suspend the A
prnt-enter into proceedings against
him before his trial, which might sa-
vor of oppression. At the same time
that | take advantage of the first pos
sible moment to disclaim, in the fullest
manner, entertaining for moment, a
belief as to any such disposition or IN
tentioa, yet your Excellency will ex-
cuse me for remarking, that although
could not, fo- an instant, entertain
belief that such intentions actuated
the authorities of Georgia, that their
acts must inevitably have that unjust
and oppressive operation on the Agent.
1t is impossible that authorities so ex-
allied could wish to act'oppressively or
uniustly towards an humble individual
under trial: but it is equally impossl-
BILE for an unprecedented person to with
hold the belief that their proceedings,
Tin the absence of any bat the fairest
Intentions have had those effects on
the interests and feelings of the indi-
,idual referred to.
You remark shat by the power and
influence Of his office, the hostile Chiefs
had been convoked, and a declaration
OF the innocence of the Agent either ex-
torted or otherwise obtained, and this
too Just before the period had arrived
at which Gen. Gaines aud myself were
TO convene the same Indians, fol the
purpose of obtaining from them fairly
and honestly the truth, a fact ,psA kno,on
10 the Agent, but which fact did not pre-
vent him from thus forestalling and an
ticipatiug" us! am satisfied it is on
" necessary, to induce you TO do him
Justice in your good opinion, in relation
to that particular transaction, to re-
mind your Excellency that those doc
umcnts were procured by the Agent
from the Indians, before it was pos
sible for the Agent to know that Gen.
Gaines, or an Agent ofthe Government
were ordered here! arrived at MI
kdgsoiRe on the 3lst of May, and Gen.
Gaines on the 18th or 18th of June;
aud the documents referred 10, as pro-
cured by the Agent from the Indians,
are dated on the l4th of May! Indeed
they were procured from The Indians,
six days before Gen. Gaines orders
were issued at Washington, and the
same number Of days before | was ap-
pointed special Agent for the Govern
ment. They were shewn to me the
day reached Milledgeville.
In your remark that it was part Of my
duty to have notified the Agent, so soon
as the charges were received, of the ex-
istence of those charges, your Excel
lency inadvertently overlooks the fact,
that, in my letter of the Slst May, it
was made known to you that it was ex-
pressly contemplated by my Govern
ment the specifications and evidence
should accompany the charges, as an
act of Justice to the accused, to enable
him "to defend himself before his Co
"vernment with as little delay as posi-
"ble." 1t was so contemplated by the
General Government, because Of the
intention of having fair, and, conse-
quently, a "speedy trial" The utter
impossibily of replying to charges of
crimes not dated or located, referred
to in general terms only, and the con-
seQuent injustice to the accused, is GER
tainly also inadvertently overlooked by
your Excellency.
Your Excellency is pleased to remark,
IN substance, that when, "after the find
ing Of a true bill, the Agent shall be ar
saigned at the Bar Of Justice" there is
abundant slime for Confronting him
with the witnesses against him." You
remark also, with regard to his not hav-
ing compulsory process for obtaining
Witnesses in his favor" as required by
the sacred instrument which guards
the rights Of all, that whenever "you
shall hear Of such gross injustice be-
ing done him BY any competent and
authorised tribunal before which he
may be cited, you will bring to pu-
"nishment all or any public agent con-
"cerned in SO offending" The multi
picity and Importance of your high
duties, has caused your Excellency to
forget, that before even the "6nding of
the bM," and, consequently, before the
trial, the punishment has been loudly
demanded of the court-tha dismissal