Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-19

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Governor Shelby himself, as Indispensable aud he
unhesi'alingly entered into the views of General
Jackson. was present when they talked upon
the subject; there was 10 discrepancy in their
pinions no indignant rejection Of propositions on
either side, as heard; they accorded in their
views, and dcputed rue TO wait on the owners OF
the reservations with the propositions given in the
confidential Journal. lfany thing selfish, unfair,
or improper, was intended by either of the
missioners, was wholly unapprized OF il and i,
does seem TO me, that none other than mind deep
Iy unctured with unwarrantable suspicion, coul
have conceived such an idea. 1t is possible, that
because the General spoke OF having the land con-
veyed, in the first instance ito AN Individual Co.
vernon Shelby, before an explanation was made,
might have supposed ii was designed for the ben
eht OF particular individuals; but could not have
imagined, from what passed between him and the
General in my presence, that such an impression
could have remained upon his mind. l have no
doubt, (and Arrays so believed) that both com
missioners were actuated, in the transactions OF
that treaty. from motives Of disnterestcd patriot
l ism. The objects to he accomplished were OF
vast importance to the States of Tennessee and
Kentucky, and they, TO doubt, were willing to a
. vail themselves of all fair and honorable means
which promised TO their efforts with success
But Governor Shelby, according to MIR. Todd,
thought Gen. jackson was induced to propose this
arrangement Concerning the reservations) for the
benefit OF personal friends he, present" Ii the
Governors allusion to me, as one OF the Cen
! erals friends, he labored under great mistake;
I ~,
unless compelled by my responsibility for the paw
| mcnt OF the money, in case the government did
not think proper to take the land did not think
the purchase so great bargain others did;
l knew, so far from the reservation containing an
entire body OF rich land, that large proportion
OF II was poor, and the sum stipulated to be given
was at the rate OF about dollar per acre. ifmy
recollection does not deceive me- / did not ex-
Poetic have any interest whatever in the purchaser
nor do believe single individual on the ground
manner xyh
tne General relied to advance the nancy. in case
the government declined taking the land, were alb
sent The Governor's recollection was certainly
very defective in some respects; for he is repre-.
sented as locating the Colbert reservation around
the Big Spring and including body of ru,,nble
iand Now, admit that il located at that Spring,
| would have included body of rich and vaIu-
able land; but its locality is not within fifteen or
twenty miles of it, and includes, comparatively
speaking, poor lands. The one is on the South,
and the other is on the north side of the Tennes-
see riy er.
II appears also, that Governor Shelby is made
TO ind grea, fault with General Jackson's temper
"He said, his rash, hot-headed temper. if it had
! not been restrained, would have cost the nation
double the sum for which the land was ultimately
purchased. Here, presume, the Governor does
not speak IN reference to the reservation, but the
lands situated in the States ofTennessee and en-
! lucky. Whether General Jackson evidenced
| more temper or rashneSS than Governor Shelby
himse,i IN negotiating that treaty, will appear from
1t IS true, that difficulty did arise in tho
conclusion oil the treaty, and tina the General and
the Governor were both considerably excited for
short time. Ii must be in reference to that I'M
| fortunate disagreement Governor Shelby speaks,
when he objects to Gen. Jackson's tey7peY. This
was an extremely unpleasant occurrence and the
1 General and his friends have always forborne to
speak oil 1t even in their own immediate families
more on Gov. Sheiby's account, however, than his.
They were willing it should be forgotten nor
4 called nm tod Ia
public, if member of Gov. Shelby's family was
not attempting to use it to the prejudice of General
! Jackson.
That you may the better undorsand tho causs of
this personal controversy between the commission
ers will introduce into this letter another extract
IRON the confidential Journal. In answer to tplk
made by Levi Colbert. the speaker of the nation
1.-THE commissioners told him they would be liberal,
as their Father, the President had told them TO be
So twenty thousand dollars for twelve wears was
then proposed by the commissioners which they
sernly refused. remarking, they loved money well
but they loved their land much better. 1t was then
proposed 10 add one year, which was likewise re-
Jected. General jackson then observed, 10 make
all hearts straight, he would agree to make the an
nuity fourteen years, and that he hoped the Chiefs
and The nation would consider that liberal price
from Their Father the president. Levi Colbert then
remarked, they would consider OF it, and then ad-
Journed. On again meeting, Colbert enauired if
one cent would not be given; and being informed
that the commissioners had gone to their limit, he
|
iron-great, rich and strong, and one cent was
nohnG to II; aud this would satisfy the nation
General Jackson replied by asking if one solitary
cent would satisfy the nation. and the speaker re-
Piied II would, observing that the American nation
was strong, and the younger brother rnust there
| lore yield to the elder brother; on which thew
shook hands with the commissioners and parted. In
conversation shortly AFTER with the Interpreter
he said they shook hands fifteen years ANNUITY
when was not the understanding of the commits
| soners and thus the thing rested, until the time
arranged for signing the treaty.
The Chiefs arrived this morning about IL o.
CLOCK, and the Commissioners attempted 10 explain
how they mistook the meaning of the speaker a.
| bout the cent; but they could not nor would not
understand it in any other light than that his mean,
| ing was one additional annuity, on which they
| shook hands, and that they had come prepared TO
sign the treaty as agreed upon. The commission
ers hnding from the stern manner in which tbey
viewed an attempt TO explain away their under
standing OF the annuity, deemed it prudent not TO
| Jeopardize the grand object for the pittance OF
1000, TO be paid fifteen years hence, and sccor
dinghy filled UP the blank in the treaty with Is.
| and the instrument was then duly and solemnIv
executed and attested, after being read and ex
planned in the presence OF the numerous concourse
OF their young men"
AT the end OF this Journal is The following certi-
hcate; Examined and approved"
(Signed)
ISAAC SHELBY,
ANDREW JACKSON, Co",rs.
The controversy between General Jackson and
Governor Shelby grew out Of tbe.msunde rstanding