Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-28

who had desired that these specific instructions
should be embraced in the resolution, referring the
subject to the Committee OF which he was the
chairman; and because they had before been pre-
scented in this specific form the consideration of
the Senate and had received substantially the as
sent of the Senate.
MIR. Branch said, he was disposed TO accord
every claim that individuals had against the Go
veTnment that was founded in justice. lie never
had resisted, and he never would resist, any claim
sustained by the mnutable principles OF justice -
Did the resolution submitted by the honorable mem
Der from Georgia propose an inquiry into the just
claims OF McIntoth and his party: No; II pre-
cluded this investigations; II made it imperative on
the Committee report IN specific form, regard
! less OF any dey elopment which might take place
! in the Investigation. And would the Senate, IN
this stage OF the proceedings, without looking into
the facts, adopt the resolution IN its present dress
The treaty with the Creeks, MIR. b. said, had been
ratified by the Senate last evening, after Thorough
investigation and had made what be considered
an adequate provision for the Mcintosh party, and
/ their adherents. Would the Senate, then, run
I counter TO what had been done, without under
standing what they were about: Did II compori
with the respect which due TO the Executive
/ department of the Government with that respect
which due 10 themselves to act blindly, when
il was in their power to procure all the iniornia-
/ ton which was requisite on the subject: Mr.. Is.
then renewed the motion to lay the resolution on
I the table.
/ Mr.. Berrien again rose, and said, he was not
prepared for opposition this resolution, alter the
I various intlna,ions which had been made in the
course of the discussion before the Senate. He
had been DESTROYS OF introducing resolution in
stTuctiDg the Committee on Indian Affairs 10 in
quire generally into the expediency OF making
certain provisions and the TO m which he had 81
ven it had been adopted at the express suggest on
| OF the Chairman of the Committee on Indian AT
fairs. In looking back 10 the discussions which
had taken place the subject; rights, such as he
conceived to exist, had been so much affected by
I the form in which they presented TO the Sc
nate, abandoning all considerations OF his peculiar
view of the subject, he proposed 10 adopt the form
! IN which 1t now presented to the Senate; with
! the modification of the gentleman from Alabama,
which had now become part of the resolution, il
! was impossible that there could exist for moment
any objection of its adoption. The claims of Nc
lntosh, and his services, it had been said, had not
! been disclosed to the House Mr.. Is. said he did
! believe, that those who had taken pains to become
conversaEt with the history and public operations
! of this country, would have known the claims and
services OF Mcintosh without the necessity of their
! being detailed by him in this discussion. There
was individual, who was conversant with the
operations in the Creek Nation, in the war be-
tween the United States and Great Britain, who
did not know what his services were. Mr.. Ber-
rien said, il he felt them more strongly than
! Their, 1t was because he came from state whose
frontier defended from Indian ravage by hat
Chief; if he expressed them stronger than another,
it was because he knew that there were many mo-
theirs and children in the State Of Georgia who
ed their existence the protection which his gal
lan.ry afforded tEem. That a call, therefore,
should be made in this House, to give evidence TO
the Government of the Union OF the services rem
dered by that Chieftain, Mr.. b. said, surprised
him, when those services had been recognized, so
Tho oil zf . 10 h,-, a.
compensation oflnilitary rank, limited as regarded
The benefit to that cheftain, but decisive regard
ed the Acknowledgment OF the Government OF the
Union Of the services rendered by him. Mr.. II
said, when he was called point out the claims
o. the friends and followers OF that man. he felt an
equal degree ofsurprise. He gave up mis- life
victim to policy and wishes. Mr. b. said he
should not enter into the question by whom the
death of Mcintosh was insligsed; it might, if gen
tlemen pleased, be placed on the footing that he
fell 10y law Of his nation; Why was that law
hrouPt..tc,7crate him? Because he Welded 10
Our yisbes 5eclaredH by our regular IL
gents; he yielded TO tie wishes Of his Great Fa-
Their The President OF the United States, in ente-
ring into the treaty at the Indian Springs If he
had rendered himself obnoxious, he had done il in
obedience to tie will of the President of the UNI
ted States as he was instructed to believe that
will existed, Though the regularly constituted A
gents OF the United States; and was this time 10
be called on TO so into evidence OF his services ,or
of the claims which he had established, by his
death, for his friends and followers, on the Justice
Of the People Of this country? Mr. b. said this
was not the only point OF view in which he pre-
scented the resolution TO the consideration of the
Senate II was not only act Of justice TO the
friends and followers of Mcintosh founded on his
services but il for the efTecuation of a great
principle Of policy which was necessary to the
welfare Of the four States contiguous to the coun-
try inhabited by this tribe the principle of peace,
which it was the object Of this Government to
advance, and which it was the object Of the treaty
entered into between the Creek iriLe aud this Co
vernment to carry into execution.
Mr. Branch said lie had declared before, that he
was not opposed to the investigation of these
claims but he wished the subject referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs untrammelIed, and
leave it entirely with that committee 10 investigate
it. He wished it to be referred to them without
any Indication on the part of Senate as to their
opinion, because it would be premature for the
Senate 10 express opinion before they were in
formed. The claims Of Mclntosh had been pre-
sented, in tie most imposing attitude, by the gen
tleman from Louisiana Mr.. b. said he wished to
tread highly on the ashes of the dead; but when
those claims were based on the merits OF the de-
ceased, itbecame his duty TO look to the merits of
those claims. ii Mcintosh had fallen in conse-
quence Of yielding the wishes Of the President Of
the United States the claims set up would be Just
but ii it should appear that ne had fallen in yield
ing to his mercenary desire5--if he bad fallen il
yielding to any undue influence, exercised over
him by the nominal agents Of the United States,
but the real agents of the State Of Georgia If he
had fallen by any influence exerted over him by
the authorities OF Georgia, direct Indirect in vio-
laiou Of the will Of the nation, and the wishes Of
the President Of the United States let him look 10