Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-22
Gen. Jackson and ,as Seminole Var.


We ask the attention of every candid
and every rejecting man, who feels an
interest in the welfare of his county,
to the following extract from a Report
made ia the Senate of the United States,
| by committee, on the 18th December,
iS19--on the conduct OF Gen, jackson,
in relation to the Seminole War Gen.
Lacsck, of Pennsylvania, one of the
most steadfast republicans in the Uni
ted States, was chairman Of that com.
mittee.
Let every voter ask himself the ques-
| ton, whether the man who has thus set
the constitution, laws and personal Ii,
berty at defiance, is worthy TO be the
chief magistrate of free and virtuous
nation.--.No.. Ado
"It is with regret that the committee
are compelled 10 declare. that they
conceive Gen. jackson TO have disse-
garded the positive orders of the De-
partmeilt Of War. the constitution, and
laws. That he has taken upon himself,
not only the exercise of those powers
delegated to congress as the sole leg;s-
lative authority OF the nation, and to
the President and Senate as it relates to
the appointments; but of the power
which had been expressly reserved to
the states in the appointment of the OF.
fcers Of the militia. A power the more
valuable to the state, because, as they
had surrenderedto the General Govern
ment the revenues and ply steal force
ofthe nation, they could only look to
the officers of the militia for security
against the possible abuse OF the dele
gated powers. The committee find the
melancholy fact before them, that mill
lary officers, even at this early stage o (
tho republic, have, without the shadow
of authority, raised an army OF at least
$500 men, and mustered them into the
service of the United States. $50 Off.
GERS have been appointed, and their
ranks established from an Indian briga
der general, down to the lowest subal.
tern of company. To whom were
these officers accountable for their con-
duct? Not to the Presdento of the Uni
ted States, for il will be found that it
was not considered necessary even to
furnish him With list of their names;
and not until the pay rolls were made
out and payment demanded, were the
persons known 10 the Department OF
War. And 10 this place it is proper to
observe, that Gen jackson seemed to
consider those officers OF his own erea-
ton, competent to discharge all the
functions OF officers appointed by the
authority of the general or state govern.
ments, for we find Eve of them detailed
afterwards TO sit on general court mar
tial, on trial of life and death. Might
not. on the same principles, Gen. Jack
son have tried, condemned and execu
ted, any officers of the Georgia militia,
by the sentance of court martial crea-
ted by bin, and holding their assumed
authority by the tenor oil his will'
Your Committee will discharge this
branch of the subject by observing that
consistently with the character and gen
Jus of our government, noofficer, how
ever high or exalted bis station, can be
justified of an infraction of the constitu-
ton II is an offence against the sover-
eighty of the patien; this sovereignty
being vested in the great body OF the
people. The constitution is the written
expression of their will, and above the
control of all the public fuDctionaries
combined. And when the instrument
has been violated, the people alone have
power to grant the indemnity OF its IN
fraction, and all that can be said in ia
yor Of the officer who transcends his
constitutional powers, must be taken,
not in justification of the act, but in