The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-16

Did the General humble himself at the feet o
the constitution and pray an enquiry into hi.
conduct and motives /! Did the Executive oil
the [. States order any trial, any inquiry, OF
utter any censure, any disapprObation Did
Congress pass an act of indemnity, which,
acknowledging the purity Of his motives and
the necessity of his nedstirps, but affirming
their illc5aIlty, obviatcd in some measure the
dangerous consequences of the example. at
! the same time that it protected the Office.
from being punished or questioned N6 !!
History that records his so DAYS fyrrannv,
records ALSO that his whole conduct stands
unquestioncd TO this day, as if it were {. reg
uIar exc else of undouh!ed authority.
Still many wise and good men may be in
ciined to find an excuse for all, in the crcum-
stances attending and following the transac-
tons at New Orleans. But what will they
say, lin the time of profound peace, without
the least pretext for necessity, and contrary
to aHfeasons ofexpedency, he has shewn the
same disposition to set himself above nil sfhe
constituted authorities
| The union was laid off into large military
districts during the late war: a measure of
convenience in the time Of war, but Il should
| think) utterly unsuitable to state of peace.
The same organization, however, either thro'
listlessness, or for some reasons inscrutable
| to me. has ever since been continued. In A.
| prll 1917, Gen. Jackson. commander of the
division of the South, published an order pro-
( hibting the officers of his division, from pay
| ing obedience to any order of the war de-
partment, unless coming through him as the
proper organ of COMMUNICATIONS I shall
not stop to examine the business of preten-
sion, superlative absurd and ridiculous on its
face. protest discern no adequate motive
to account for it. Was it perveseness or
pride or military etiquette or did the
General design this order, to preserve by way
of continual claim, his independence of, or
rather his ascendant over his lawful superiors?
II such were the design, it has. for aught we
know, completely succeeded. have heard,
that this contest for supremacy has been add.
justed to the satisfaction ofthe Executive. I
know that no atonement has been made for
the insult to the nation. The dignity of the
Government is part of its authority with
which it is clothed as with all the rest, not
for the personal advantage or honour of min
listers, but for the public good.
ask your attention now to the events fthe
present year. Gen Jackson being again or
dered to assume the command OF our south
ern army in person, and to chastise and curb
the SeminoIes,the state Of Georgia was doom
ed to behold his presence in the field. The
constitution of the United States, expressly
reserves to the state governments. The appoint
ment of the Offices oftheir respective militia
and the constitution of Georgia, (like the con
stitution & laws ofevery other state the
Union) appoints the Governor, er-o Gcio, com
mander in chief of its forces. regular and mi-
tia. 1t is an authority, indeed essential to the
existence of the state sovereignties and to
the integrity Ofouf system. To the astonish-
ment ofthe nation, Gen. Jackson declares
that his command virtually suspends the con-
stitution of Georgia, inrespect to the military
authority Of its executive at least and in
what other respects, we shall know when oc-
casions shall occur, us in Louisiana, to deyel-
Ope the full extent of his pretensons. Gov
Rabun had issued an order to military off
Ger, never doubling, dare say, his own CON
stitutional and lawful power. The order was
most yilcIy abused. Gen. jackson. not con-
tent with assuming the power of redressng
the abuse (for that was an usurpation,) ques-
tons and denies the authority Of the order it.
SELF In his letter of May 7, 1915, he tells
Gov. Rabun in plain terms" You, sir, as
Governor ola state within my military divis-
ion, have no right to give a military order
while am in the field" Behold the mon
strous consequences of this broad aud bold
pretension, il it should obtain Should an
nsurrection occur in any of the states belong
ing to the diUision ofthe South, while General
Jackson is in the field, the Governor of the
state, and ofcourse every inferior officer of
the militia, must patiently endure the horrors
of civil war, till his high behcsts can be
known! Sirs.l cannot repress the sentiment
Of astonishment feel, that the legislature or
the Representatives of Georgia in Congress
have not demanded his immediate arrest and
trial.
But in truth we have the best reasons for
believing that in Gen. Jackson's opinion, when
ever he is at the head of an army,all the pow
| crs of every branch of our governments, state
and federal, are suspended or transferred to
him. His instructions for the conduct of the
war against the Seminoles may be gathered
from the Presidents late message to Con-
gress he was authorised to pursue the saw
age enemy into the .Spanish territory, if he
! should take refuge there, taking care not to
escroach on the rights of Spain. According
to the iiws ofnatiOns, it is absolutely lnlaw-
fuI to attack an enemy in neutral country,
! or commit in it any other hostility but ii a
| neutral afford retreat for beiIigerant, and
and flow him time to recover, and watch a
favorable opportunity of renewing his attack
on the territories OF the other. that other
| may march into the neutral grounds IN quest
Of the enemy. The orders which were Civ
| en- to Gen. jackson (as ! understand theni)