Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-14

that he being substitute, was not oouhu ioi
longer term. Tie way home however, was
through wilderness, which, besides ITS length
and difficulty afforded no means OIL substance.
II was desirable therefore 10 obtain companions
Of such as were legally discharged, and TO pro |
cure sufficient quantity Of provisions. to sup |
nor, them during the journey. Accordingly on
the 9th of Septe,nber, Harris drew up paper.
70 which he set down the names OF number OF
militia men, whose term, like his was up; and
,pbo directed him 10 do so, but with the consider
alton of good citizen, he used no persuasion,
and advised some 10 remain al the fort In the
most orderly and regular manner he then re,
turned his gun 10 his captain, TOOK up me rece.pf
he Ind giuen for IL, and departed peacrabiy ior
his home, accompanied by his son lie was
followed by party Of soldiers, forcl6iy taken
from his wife and children, and with his son
carried back tc Florida and thrownlnto prison,
where he remained until the 5th OF December,
when Court Martial was assembled Dv the
orders Of General Jackson, fer the trial OF mar
ris and the other unfortuna men VINO hau re-
turned home under similar circumstances.
The court was illegally constituted, lhasnlue"
as it consisted of only three memoirs. where
as the act of congress requires at le'a b'oe' ou'
in comnarison with The enormity OF its proceed
mos the circumstance OF 1t, lniormaiity Sinks
into insienihcance John Harris was charged
with lst. ,b2utinv aud 2d. "onr ias' a mu'Hy; ana
the specification of these charges, alleged ire
mutinv to have taken place between the l9th
and goth of Sept NV, Rev. Sir, Beg your
particular attention to those dates, IN order that
YOU nsay bear them in mind, and that you may
compare them with the evidence given on the
trial. And lest any one should suppose that the
report of this trial was garbled or partial state
ments got up to iniure your friend General
Jackson, it is right reverend sir, hat you should
be reminded of the important far, that every
suitable ,iih uhich ICE haze been fauorsd Of me
pr9ence giren on ne TRAILS Of The sir mihh' men
is er:rea from circular letter published By The par
tieat,r friends and advocates The General
From their own showing, then, it appears
that he ONLY EVIDENCE gwen in support OF
| this specification was, that John Harris did on
the 10Th of September set down on piece OF
paper, the names of such as were DESTROYS OF
! returning home, in order that they might all
obtain their provisions at the same time; and
on the succeeding day, his three months tour
being over, he left the camp in company with a
nurlber of others to re urnlo Tennessee. HIS
WAS THE ONLY MUTlNY PROVED TO HAVE TAKEN
PLhcF AT THE TINE sPEcIFl ED IL THE CHARGES
In his defence it was clearly established tina,
he dissuadcd others from going, that the list oil
names was made out TO be handed to his colo
mel. that he had been advised by his officers
tn Il he was not bound 10 serve longe" than
three months. and that he had previously con
dee ted himself like good and console hous
man. and like an obediet and Qrderir, soldier
! AL THIS AvAnEp NOT, however He was con
demned to die, and on the cad Of January, IS 5
GpN jackson order JOIN Harris to be sho
: t-.r YES reverend si four days only Civ
en- To the fat er OF ,pDe children to arrange hi,
earthly affairs; fou days ONLY were allowed t'
the minister Of the Gospel Tor prenarins MN
selc 70 nee, h S R,deemer. At the end OF tht
conr aavs. he with FIVE her militia men whose
term ce service hld'expired, were shot to deatf
by company OF soldiers, uIder the orders o
General Jackson Their blood crimsoned the
log upo,, which they were seat d, but IKE a
beI's. reverend sir, its voice cries alo"d from
The gre, nd, and will DC heard and n eaeu on
: aav when YOU and |, and Cen Jackson ane
moor Harris, viii all stand together before al
mnar,ia. and omniscien' Judge.
Snch are he IA rs respecting the trial ant
execution Of John Harris; and now, reverent
. sir, come to speak Of your charges against INT
unf rtun.te man. | cannot believe that are
;
uewSpapers, vou could have been ignorant 0
, the fats / ask you in the name ol thai reli
zion of viii II yol aye a minister, in the nam
Of that carl y without which, st Paul say
iaith : nothiAg woth, how can you re oncii
it Win the pre- epss Of that religion and the I'm
pulse of that charity, 10 scar the memory o
10 Fl arris with the repro.ch that he 'proNe'
himself u,fit 10 lie i'll civil society.
? Upon hal foundation, reverend sir, have !o
n built vour allegation ,ha, John tiarris commit
$ ted "such crimes as the Divine Lawgiver @
Israel punished with DEATH" Your Voca'i"
:. oupht 10 have made YOU familiar with the pre-
4 ctp,s and injpnc,ors ot the Jewish Code, WIN
al the same ti,ne ii w'sssp cislly incupben nv
p ON Won no, TO es-eu The public reverence Tor IN
q Hol, Scriptures, " citing them as authority IL
!. the commission of outrage and oppression
d ask YOU, then, reverend sir, in what.par, OF Ia
e dec aloguc, nay. in what part OF Scripture, VI
:. or New. vou finG It SIT down. that man "h
has perflrmed The. services required OF him
- the law OF the land NAV not Return home al u
/ e .irn