Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-05-14

this description employed to hold the coun-i
try against the iugityes who have escaped
the destruction you caused among them
II x not probable that the Semaoles, who
wisely refused 20 take part i'm the war when
rs Issue was doubtful, will now be disposed
t" renew tie combat on their own account |
and under no new reason for so DOING
these letters must forever put to rest all fur
thcr question as to whether these men were
required to serve for Il longer period than
three months.
Ii was the opinion of the President, as OK
pressed in May, and also in June, both be-
fore and after they had been mustered into
service, not only that period of six months
service was not necessary to be exacted of
militia; but that the public good did not re-
qulre the service otmlllta for any term what
ever. That the militia then in service ought
TO be discharged, and were ordered to be
discharged accordingly. All room for con-
trOvcrsy Or difference of opinion is removed
! by these letters. They constitute the very
express orders required by the committee in
revocation of the lancied ''plenary power
! of Governor Biount. They go farther than an
order revoklng his pretended authority. and
bringing back the militia term of service to
three months: they order the discharge with
out reference to the term of service; and had
General Jackson evinced one-twentieth part
OF tho promptltude in carrying into effect
this as we'll as other orders of the President,
as he has always shown in exacting obecii-
ence to his commands, of whatsoever nature
these unfortunate men would have been dis
charged long before the expiration of three
months from the time of their entering the
service.
1t Is believed that there never has been a
man who, in so short IL career. has made
more pretcnsions of devotion TO the princi-
pies OF subordlnatlon in military affairs, than
Ncn. Jackson; and certainly there is no man
III modern times, who has given so MANY
practical evidences of a total disregard Of
all orders issued by his supcriors, when they
did not suit his convenience or caprice.
This remark will be sustained bv documents
appended to these observations-Th last
OF these documents, it will be observed, is a
proclamation of disregard of the orders Of
the President of the United States; which
upon General lackson's own avowed princ-
pies, was such an act as must be considered
riutiny OF the most aggravated character
-one tor which he ought TO have had awar-
aed TO him the most rigorous penalty of the
law 1t was a proclamation of bold def
ance ct the highest military authority known
III tins country: and which, in any other
l.
ture OF the life of the author.
When all these facts are duly considered. |
L do think that sophistry itself will not dareI
any longer to contend that there was any le-
gal authority for continuing these men IN
service longer, at the farthest, than three
months; which time, it appears from the testi-
'nony, they did serve, and served faithfully;
ana were, therefore. upon every fair. and lei
gal principle, entitled to q discharge on the /
score OF service, to say nothing Of what they
we're entitled to under the orders of the Pres
ldent, which orders General Jackson, in his |
letter ottlic 3lst ofJuly, 1914, to the Seere- |
terry Of War, acknowledges to have receiy-
cd, and promises to obey.
This letter is dated at Fort Jackson, the !
worry place where all the difficulty occurred. i
That part Oft relating to the orders Of the !
President for the discharge of the militia, is !
as follows 81 shall, as soon as practicable.
visit the posts in the lower country, ordering
on the Sd Infantry, and leaving this post and
Decatur possessed by the militia and friend
" Indians, until the public stores can be !
transported to Alabama heights, when [
shall, unless otherwise directed, discharge
the militia, agreeaby to the wishes of the !
President, as expressed in yours Of the 25th |
Of june
Under these circumstances, the attempt
to hold these men to the performance of |
SIN months tour Of service, was illegal and !
cruel. An act dictated by no public ncccs-
rlty.-A transaction which, however the fe- /
verish excitement of the present times may
for while obscure it, will one day be looked |
upon with horror, and be condemned by ev-
cry lover OF those institutions which, if fairly !
administered, will, in this country, protect
the poor but patriotic militiaman, from the !
persecution of the ignorant minions Of an as
pirlng and sanguinary leader.
Believing that | have demonstrated from
facts, that cannot be controverted, that the
first inquiry of the Committee must be an
swered in the negative, | shall now dismiss
That part OF the subject, and proceed to en-
anime the other points of the report,
TO De CoNTINUED
From The ,NdfionC' Journal
The PosrvisrEH GENERAL takes great pleasure in
exhibiting 10 The public, the true history Of transac-