Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-25
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENTS CT.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, Mar II, 1 81

ton have, both during your administration and
also thar of your predecessor, by whom these
indignities were, for the first time, tole rated
been so frequently and so impudenty assaulted
for their conduct whilst discharging their du-
ties as, Representatives in the Congress Of the
United States, by Indians visiting this city, at
the invitation or under the sanction OF the Ea-
ecutive, that some notice would at length SEEM
necessary to be taken.
The repeated insults which have been offer
ed, have, hitherto, been unnoticed, under the
hope that the Department Of War would itself
see the proprietv of intimating to the authors
its disapprobation. AS no such disapprobation
has been evinced, it is now deemed proper to
address you, as the head Of that Department,
on this subject, and to present to you the sug.
gestion, that, whilst these persons are main
tanned here, nav, are revelling at the expense
of the People Of the United States, they should
and expressions TO the Representatives Of that Peo
pile. The present communication is addressed
to you in consequence of the appearance in the
National Journal of this morning, of piece
officially signed "John Ridge, Secretary Creek
Delegation" OF the character of this piece,
my feelings will not permit me 10 say single
word. | am sur. it will receive your marked
and strong disapproba,ion. would merely
observe, that the iasolence Of this fellow is par
ticulary remarkable, when it is borne in mind
that he is of the Cherokee and not Of the Creek
nation, and consequently, could have nothing
TO do with matters exclusively belonging 10 the
latter. You will, no doubt, recollect, that, at
the commencement of this session, during
visit which three Of my colleagues and myself
paid to you at your Office, we stated his dispo-
sition TO intermeddle in the transactions be.
tween the General Government and the Greek
nation, the manifestation of which disposition,
as we were informed, had already occasioned
his being reduced from his rank as Chief in
his own nation, and that we, at the same time,
suggested it as advisable that he should not be
recognized as part Of the Greek delegation
No doubt is entertained 5ut that you are now
fully satisfied that his appendage to the Greek
delegation has been far from facilitating the
arrangements between the Government and the
Greek nation recently effected, and may also
add, very far from being beneficial to The pub.
lie Treasury.
Whether any particular notte of this fellow
ought at this time, TO be taken by your Depart
ment, leave to your own decision, without Of
fering any suggestion whatever on the subject.
will merely add, that the National Journal, in
which the offensive article is first published,
is re sardcd by the public, would not be guilty
Of the rudeness, nor, as do not know it to be
the fac', could assert it as the fact, as the lead.
administration paper-that the indignities re-
ccved by the members of the Georgia delega-
ton have been offered under the eye of the Gov
ernmenf; that the persons Offering these indig-
mites derive consequence from being recog.
nized blythe Government as official persons; that
these indignilies have all been offered under
their official signatures; that these persons are
maintained here, and suffered to riot in luxury,
at the expense of the public Treasury; and that,
therefore, it is competent forthe Department Of
War, and, being so, it is its duty, to check them
whenever their conductmay be indecorous.
This subject may, perhaps, never before have
been presented in this serious light 10 you.
am, however, from my knowledge of your char
acter, perfectly assured that you will, suggested
as it now is to your consideration, deem it, in
future, necessary to interpose, so far as your
Department can interpose, to prevent the feel
ings, and character, and conduct Of gentlemen,
called to the Seat Of Government in the dis
charge OF duties important to their constituents,
from being in any manner assailed by persons
6roughthe here at the instigotion or under the sanction
ofMe Executive.
am, sir, with the most cordial personal es-
TEEN, and with the highest respect, your very
obedient servant,
EDWD. F. TATTNALL.
To the Hon. JAMES BARBOUR, Sec Of War;
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, May 18Th, 1926.
SIR: AS you suggest in your note Of yester-
day, had supposed that the conversation /
had held with you few days past, on the sub
ject Of your letter of the 18th, rendered it un-
necessary to reply to you in writing-as you
wish, however, written answer, cheerfully
give it.
To so much of your IetterAs refers to indig-
mites offered the Representatives of Georgia,
by Indian Delegations under former Admins
tration, it was not, | presume, expected, l
should make any reply. TO the one you par
ticularly refer to-a recent publication in the
National Journal, you have done me only JUS
,ice IN supposing that entirely disapproyed Of
it had anticipated your suggestion, by caus-
ing the Creek Delegation to be expressly told,
on their arrival here, that the Department would
see, with displeasure, any department on their
part, that would give offence justly to any one.
No importance can attach with propriety to the
paper in which it appeared, as the Executive
feels 10 responsibility for its publications.
The editor availing himself of his privileges,
publishes what he pleases on his own response
bility. Had | been consulted previously, I
.bould baye oivep nv ady;c. on.:a.t ,b,, &c