Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-08-30
DOMESTIC.
OFFICIAL PAPERs
Governor I'roup to the President.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT., GEO.
4

Gen. Gaines, and Major Andrews, as agents of the
United States, 10 enquire into the OF the late
Intlian disturbancesto adjust the differences SUBJ
ssting between the Indians, and enquire into tho
conduct of the Agent for Indian Affairs, recon-
mendcd them officers, distinguished for ability,
prudence and discretion. They received and
treated accordingly. With the conduct of the one,
you have been already made acquain,ed--with that
of The other it remains for TO place jon a. pos
session.
In the several conferences held with Gen. Gaines
mis- first arrival received repeated assurances
from HIM of friendly dsposi,ions-of upright I'M en-
ons-of freedom from all kind OF bias or prejudice
which could misiead his Judgment, or influence his
decisions any OF the topics which. in the execu
ton of his trust might present themselves for discus
sion. Relying implicitly on the sincerity OF these
declarations begin with regarding Gen. Gaines as
honorable and tlisn,erested arbiter between he
United States, Georgia, and the Indians, and so
continued regard him until a short time before
his Insulting letter Of the 10Th ult. received at
this Department. Ii was impossible for this Co
vernment TO repe that insult with indignation.
The chief magistrate in his official message the
Legislature had stated explicitly that Mcintosh and
his chiefs had given their consent to the survey, ami
in supper, of tins statement the letters OF Mcintosh
exhibited with his name subscribed III his own
hand, of which Gen. Gaines had full information.
Nevertheless the certificate OF an Indian chief who
| had deserted from the Mcintosh party, and of
1
pretend to know any thing, is procured to discre-
dit the statement Of the Governor, and 10 exhibit
him before the public as the dupe of he vilest and
shaliowest im2osture; and In his soicitude 10 &C
compsh this he forgets that it is the consent given
by Mcintosh and mis- chiefs to the survey which on
the Information of the agent, you have taken for
granted to be the sole of all the disturbances
in the Nation, and upon which you have.recently
issued the offensive orders TO this government
connected with that survey, and in your lss, one
! even Denounced military vengeance agans' those
who shall attempt to carry 1t into execution. When
Gen Gaines is rebuked in the mildest language
which The unprovoked insult would admit of, he
presents himself again before the public in letter
induiging in most Incorporate abuse OF all the con-
sutel authorities OF a sovereign state, and oil ;Ae
great body of its people, and which he be
published almost week before it was received at
| TINS Department.
With rega. Il to the frs, letter of General Gaines
to which have called your attention., he does
seem to have been content with addressing letter
so excepionable 10 the head OF this Gov ernmeli--
He assumes the authority order its publication,
on the allegation of some pretended and underlined
| malicious talseboods in circulation, and which ne
makes the foundation Of appeal % The public
appeal more censurable than that for which tie
| gallant and uleritorious Porter, is now answering
| before a Court Martial assembled by order,
inasmuch the latter onl7 defends himself agans,
inculpatory charges made by his own government
whilst the former who bound b equal respect
to this Government does not pretend that any
charges of any kind had been preferred by against
him. II is in this letter too that Gen. Gaines has
fallen into the shocking extravaganza of asserting
what nobody can believe, that the Mcintosh Larty
which made the treaty constituted Int fitch part
| of the Nation; and it in the same letter made
known officially 10 this government that he had
| happily concluded qualification of the Indians
| when at that moment he was as remote from the
pacification he ever had been, of which fact !
have within the passing hour received the
most incontes,ab evidence
With regard TO the second letter, ofthe 2Sth ult.
which now that writing, has, for the first time
been put into my hands and almost week after its
publication, l have TO remark, that the history of
diplomacy will not furnish parallel, 20 marked
| with indiscreion, intemperance, deliberate disre-
spect, and the outrage OF all decency. Gen Gaines
| forgets as well what he owes to his own govern
ment as to this His duty TO you required him to
shew respect to this government In all his inter-
course with it. If in that intercourse he had found
| himself wronged aggrieved by the authorities
here it was not allowed him 10 take the redress into
his own hands; upon representation to you, you
were competent to decide the nature and The extent
| OF the injury he had received, and of the redress
most suitable to it. He would not confide the ex-
ercise of this privilege you, doubt questioning
your fitness discretion for such matters but chose
10 rely his own dexterity and prowess. He
writes among other things of the " malignant viii
lainy" which has been extensively practced on the
| credulity OF many Of the good citizens OF Georgia
and other States in reference TO the Indians and the
treaty. a charge so vague cannot be easily under
stood ,much less distinctly answered. Pre-supposing
to be directed against the authorities OF this State,
and 10 be in all respects true, who made General
Gaines the Judge to pass this condemnaiory SEN
tence the conduct of those authorizes? IL had been
understood that you had reserved to yourself this
| power, and that Gen. Gaines was here only az your
| agent to collect the evidences upon which that
| power was to be exercised
| lie proceeds TO make another reference 10 the
certificate of the Indian Chief and the white man
reterates the expression of unlimited confidence in
the veracity OF Marshall. eulogizes him among
the most worthy Of g the little treaty making par
i iy," and comes again 10 the conclusion that the
Chief Magistrate of Georgia and others not TO be
credited against the certificate of such respectable
personages- Within this hour have received the
testimony OF the Chiefs'of the friendly party vo-
UNFAIRLY given " that the statement of Joe Mar
shall Cen Gaines is false," and enclose you the
certificate ofny express, OF fairest character
and undoubed veracity, TO satisfy you that Marshall
has added fssehood to ireachery. In this part of
his tsiter he takes occasion TO manifest his
toward the friends Of McIntosh, he calls them
-" the little treaty making party" then again
&c the passaI Chiefs Of .McIntoSh," and questions
their right TO give permission TO make the survey.
Whata dispassonate and impartial umpire is this
General Gaines; one would have supposed that con-
sulting the msgnsnnity Of soldier, if he departed
from the line of neutrality at all he would be found
at the head of the weaker the innocent and injured
party. But the General consulting the better part
OF valor and counting the odds against him as
fifty 10 one, throws himself into the ranks Of the