The Litchfield County post., 1828-07-31


an ill-iudged lenity towards The culprit, had
not dared openly TO censure him. And,
10 shOrt, he was before the'public as a success
tul military officer nerely-fOr none had vel
even dreamed of making him president Of the
United States-and hence it was that the re-
port made to the Senate, and similar one tn
House of Representatives, was not well recei-
we'd either by the people or their representa-.
tives. There were but few who did not be-
lieve he had erred-grOssly erTed-but they
felt unwilling to censure him, more especially
as it had not been done at suitable time, and
IN proper manner by the Executive. These
are facts, that l think every man, who was in
Congress at that time will be free to acknOwl-
edge.
The case now before us, is widely different
from that presented to us in 1918. The
General does not, at this timp,ask exemption
from punishment, nor a complimentary vote
ofthanks, nor gold hilted sword,Or sense
less medal-no such thing-his modesty and
moderation are not bounded by such cheap g.
insubstantial pageants. He asks as a reward
for the exemplary purity of his private life
for the mildness, moderation and fOrbearance
Of his temper-for his high regard for the civ
il authorities and institutions of our country
and for his learning, experience. wisdom &
talents. as a republican statesman-to be cleo
ted President oftbe United States. And the
question for us to decide is. whether it would
be the interest of the people to crafty his de-
sires.
Let us, fellow citizens, reason together on
this subiect-it is solemn, serious, and mo-
mentOus one, deserving Ofour deepest consid-
Grafton. ask your attention calmly and wi
thout the feelings of pre- udce or passion. For
the truth Ofevery fact that shall be mentioned
by me, in this discussion, shall hold myself
morally and legally responsible. 1t is lam
entable fact, and one deeply to be deplored by
all sincere friends of republican government,
that the American press,b its too great licen-
tiOusness, has become in great measure dis
credited: it is for this reason that appear
before you in my own name-and not in any
vain desire to appear before my fellow citi-
zens as political cOntrov ersonais a. and |
have to request that those who controvert the
facts presented, or the reasons adduced, will
follow the example.
In the proposed discussion, I shall, in the
first place, contine myself to the publick con-
duct of General Jackson in the Seminole war
The treaty with Great Britain, that closed the
war with that nation, was signed in December
1914. In the summer of 1917, disturbances
took place between the Georgia settlers, and
the Indians who occupied aud lived on lands
adjacent, to which the Indian title had not
been extinguished. Who We're most to blame
in the outset, the Indians or the whites, it is
not easy to determine from the evidence. 1t
is certain however, that some lawless whites
had committed depredations ON the Indians,
and that they had retaliated in their usual sa-
wage manner. without discriminating between
the innocent and the guilty. These disturb
ances at length became serlOus-a cons.dera-
BILE force was collected, aud the Indians when
completely beaten by our people, and fed into
the Spanish territories for shelter, perhaps for
protection.
These circumstances were promptly repre-
sented to the Resident of the United States.
He, after mature consideration, upon subject
of some delcacy in relation to neutral rights,
ordered the line to be crossed, if necessary
but especially directed, that "if the Indians
took refuge under Spanish fort, not to dis
turb them, but to report the facts IT, the de-
partment of War;" thus designing to respect
the neutral character of Spanish America. and
bringing this disturbance, (fOr it was really of
too triilng an import to deserve the appella-
ton Of a wary to close, the President order
SU uCus O0NAoVh ~ Soh uPOA bNC SVSCIUUES vi
the adjoining states for a militia force suffic-
lent to beat the enemy. This order the GEN
eral disobeyed, and without authority raised
an army ofvolunteer cavalry or mounted men
instead of infantry. The laws authorizing the
president to accept the services of volunteers
in place of drafted militia, had all expired at
the conclusion of war with Great Britain.
The constitution of the United States, that
the President has sworn to preserve, protect,
and defend, to the best of his ability, directs
that the President and Senate, acting cOnjoint-
~, shall appoint all military officers in the re-
guIar army, and that all militia officers shall
beappointed exclusively by the state author
tiles. The solemn injunctions of the consti-
tuition governed the president; and hence il
was that he ordered General Jackson to call
on the governors of the adjoining states to
furnish the force required. General jackson
had likewise sworn to support the constitution
and the laws that enforced obedience to the
orders of the president as commander in chief
of the armies of the United States. But all
these solemn obligations were contemptuous-
lysdisregarded by the General---volunteers
re substituted for militia, and horsemen
toe Infantry; and the officers were appointed
not by the president and state authorities, but
by General jackson himsclf%or by those to
whom he delegated this high authority. In
AL