Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-18

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which the government was to receive in'orma'
ton concerning it, other than what was contain
ed in the instrument itself, il was 10 be expect
cd that one so vitality interested as Col Haw'
kins was. would represent the affair as origina-
ting out of the spontaneous love and devotion
which The Indians entertained Tor Gen Jackson
and himself Accordingly, it is concerted tha'
the General shall accept the land, on the condi,
ton that the President shall have the value oil II
applied towards !" clothing their NAKED somen
and children" Vastly humane! most noble
proposition But oh no! the Indians are not 10
be thus diverted from their purpose; they love
the General and Col. HaH sins so very exceed
ingly, that they cannot consen, TO proposition
which would defeat their object, and prevent
them from clearly exhibiting so distinguished
mark Of national gratitude" The General
is compelled (reluc;antly no doubD to accept
the gift; and the grant lis by him lorw arded 10
the government, without one word OF expiana-
ton from him. But SO it happened that con
eress seemed 10 understand the subject in lis
true light, and promptly rejected the proposi-
ton; and thus the Creek Indians were deprived
Of the last opportunity of giving solid evidence
of their great love for Gea Jackson!
know it will be commended that Gen. Jacks
son proposed 10 have the land sold, IN order that
the proceeds nigh be applied towards clothing
the naked women and children Notso. he
General made no such proposition 20 the Presi-
dent, when he forwarded the grant, nor at any
| subsequent time Col. Hawkins makes him OBJ
serve 10 the Indians that he would accept OF
this national mark of regard for him, IT appro'
we'd by the Pre- sident; and he the PreSidenf might,
| fhe poud, appropriate lis Onlue 10 aid IN cloth
| inc their naked women and children. am
one Of those who have no high opinion OF Zen
| Jackson's knowledge OF the powers OF the tiif-
ferent branches ofour government; but really
! am not willing to believe that he was thus Ig-
norant Of the powers of the President He GER
| tany knew that the President was not author-
zed 10 sell land, or to appropriate the proceeds
in any other way than, pointed out by law
| This reply must have been intended only as a
hoorish, TO make The Indians appear little more
| mportunate to have him accept the grant
Bul what was his proposition? Was 1t one TO
dives, himself of the land? 10 have IL sold to
other persons, and have the amount approprla-
ned for the benefit Of the Indians? BY no means.
II Was that the Ualue Of it might be thus appro-
priateG. Ii was pretty speech to please The
| Indians, and make them believe that he was o.
verhowing with kindness towards them; ii IN
deed such speech was ever made at all. Col
| Hawkins. in the same account OF the proceed
| ings, makes himself say, that he esteemed this
| $3.50 acres of land, which they gave him, 1.-THE
more highly by the manner Of bestowing, asit
resulted from the impulse OF their own nlipfs,
aad not fom any intimafion from the Gsafraf
or me-" lyss< a. q
| This was all very clever on the part ofcoi.
| Hawkins. Something of this kind seemed to
ne called for by the occasion, n'order 10 induce
rsaif sras adx 81 Re
~ to have the wished for effect, as eu!ogy on
the great disin,ert sickness of Gen. Jackson, and
Col Hawkins combuco with the superaban-
dam gratitude Of t4e Indians? But il will be,
said by the Supporters OF Gen. Jack son, that an
| intrigue wit! Col. Hawkins 10 procure a large
tract ofiand from tue united STATES, on the plea
| OF grant from the Irdians, could not have been
entered into BY him, because il is altogether un-
like his other ac's and parlakes n 30 degree of
that generous PATRIOTISM for which le is so con-
spicuous Let US examine this matter, and
see II Gen. JAG kson has been in the habit of
dlsrcRar ding his own proG, or Of serving the
c 'untry inr the honor Of tie service, independ-
emit o! pIcunarv compensation.
General jackson served as & Major Gem raj
about years; more than ,wo thirds Of which
-i'~ III i-'L'IS'i W illo CIV uOuSS, tiilC vi
peace with little or nothing to do The com
pensatlon which. as militia, oman, he received,
was upwards Of 5000 dollars per annum, and
during all the time, he lost not single oppor-
unity of adding in every extra charge which
ne could possibly engraft on his account; even
to the pitifa item Of 500 for Physicians
bill, for the four weeks he was at Washington
IN 1915. And although he was paid for his
whole time as Major General, and had up
wards of $4,000 year for double rations, yet
he charged and received upwards of 50 800 for
his expenses in going to and returning from
Indian treaties, including S8 per day while act
ing as commissioner at said treaties Does
this conduct compQrt with the high character
claimed for him by his followers or does it |
not, on the contrary, show the man who at the
same time he is Wanting of his patriotism, is |
ready to make the most of his public employ
ments? What would be said of Mr. Adams or
Mr. Clay, ii, after receiving their legal salaries,
they were to charge and receive So per day for |
every day employed in attending to the diplo-
matte concerns Of the country? and, if after SO |
doing, they were to receive donation Of a large
tract of valuable land from an Indian tribe, and