Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-01-03

itpre,alsd. Why ware nos Hpa british psison
ars, taken en- eur norlhern ftOntieS during the
late war, fighting by the side Of savAgss, whom
they and their government had melted to hos.
tihty against US, Eta time toe when Ito the
SisgSace of the British nAms) rewards were
offered for American scslps; why were they
nos, all, instantly tried, convicted and led 70
execution
Where (as i, has been justly ssked) was the
necessity of executing these two men, even
their sentenv was undoubtedly right The
Seminole war was a. an end: and had il still
BEEN raging, Gen. Jackson could have sent
these prisoners IN chsiHs to the United States,
to be deal, with according to the wisdom Of
his government. The blood even of the guilty
should not be shed without reluctance and
without any good end.
As to Ambrister, the court martial did not
sondsmn him 90 die. The first sentence, as
Gen. Jackson 10 plezsed TO consider Il, beng
instantly rescinded by tue court, was in truth
no sentence VI all. -. His appreciation could
not revive lie existence. The last sentence
was the only sentence When the commander
in chief disapprovedii il, the most he could right
fully have done, vas to order the eour, martial
10 reconsider il. BY what authority, Thea was
Ambrister doomed to desthl BY the sovereign
will of Msisr Gen Andrew Jackson. in whose
death.
MIR. Gales, in his officieus and awkward zeal
90 excuse this part OF the Generals conduct
suggests, 'ehat il wss douot dictated by a
ssregard 20 the wishes OF the prisoner who
s'preferTsd death TO the ignomnous punishment,
sfor which that tate was comnuted, by The
"sourt" This is not mere surrklse OF
Mr.. Gales. Ifthe fact were so, Il aggrav ates
the Generals guilt. A brave man. askiag
de ath Ut bis hands, as refuge from disgrace,
should have moved him TO respect, sympathy
and pardon. What shall we think Of this man,
the utnos, stretch Of whose clemenay, aceor
ding 10 his defeaders, IS to inflIct death Tor
mrrcy's sake!
Thus, sirs, has an American officer DESTROYED
the lives of two OF his fellow creature without;
any rEhtful power, without any sdeq ate mo.
tive, and with such indecent preclpitancy rs
hardly to give time for prayer, in the interval
between judgement and death. Humanity
bieeds at the recital; and nstIonal pride sinks III
the American hear,. oppressed With the load
of shame and grief.
-4rd OIL fAaf the Presidsn, ofthe United Stotes
has i0id, and oil he has done, &c TO tell Congress,
fhat COPY Of che proceeding fhie court n'arad,
tn The hiol Of -4r6tahnoi md .fr'6rqSsr, shall be
lad before them and 10 .fui6i the promset
Here, sirs, for the present, let us shut the
scene. Gen. Jackson, from the moment he
was entrusted with command, has svowedly and
made his own will and pleasure,
the sole rule and guide of all his sctions he has
suspended the executive, Legislative and jude |
oiai functions ofthe states " ,th arbitrary Sway,
and assumed TO do SO as of right; he has insult
ed the Executive Ut the u. States, At whose (
pleasure he holds his commission, spurned its
authority, disr.garded and transcribed its or.
iers: be has usurped tho high preroga,ive of
peace and Gar. entrusted BY all nations 10 the
sovereign authority Of the state. and by our con.
'tsuton 70 Cong ss alone: he has abr "gated
he known laws OF ustions. and promuia ~ted
lew code of his own, conceived IN madness o
oily, and written i'll blood: be has, IN fine, VIC.
a'ed all laws human and divine, and violated
hem with impunity.
Unconnsctsd with public men, bearing no
BART IN public affairs, silent spectator of ordi,
lary political occurrences. I can yet never be
TO great questions of right, that di
ectly affect the peace, the honor and The con.
tttutlon Of my country. isee no rssson, on the
present occasion, to forbesr the public commu.
hcston of my opinions; or TO SOFTEN. if could,
oe indignant language Of truth and justice.
Absrty 10 not Of Spontaneous growth in any
oil OF crime: and he IS deaf TO the voice of ex-
'erlence, who deems il that hardy plsat which
vii flourish even after il has taken root, with.
ut continual paios and cultivation.
ALGERNON SIDNEY.