Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-04


after referring TO the massacre as 4" base and cow
ardly and TO an enclosed copy of Gen. Glass
cocks letter detailing it, he observes, " That a
governor OF State should make against an
INDIAN tribe at perfect peace with and under the
protection of the United States, is assuming res
possibility that trust YOU will be able to
TO the United States, TO which you will have TO
swer;" and he adds, you, as Cover nor of State
within my military division, have right 10 give
a military order when / am in the field This
last is the phrase which Mr.. johnson has " torn
from its context and repeated with an .gravat-
ing abbreviatlon, and in alarming italics. "W'hen
1 am IL, the field you hare no right to issue a
military order" Now, although negation may
at hrst appear too general yet the conte xt plainly
limits it TO the field of command on which Jack
son was then employed. 1t obviously was not his
intention 10 say that the Governor had no right to
regulate the militia concerns of his State, or to
order out quotas in the service of tn. u. States
but that he had no right, az Governor of Georgia,
to interfere with his duties, by operations extrane
to the sovereignty of the State and hostile to
the Indians at peace with and under the protec-
ton of the United States. In this he was perfect
iy right, and evinced disposition to preserve,
Their than TO disturb the harmony 50 desirable be-
tween the states and the general government
The power of making war is vested exclusively
by the constitution in the federal government,
and the equivalent duty imposed on il of guaran
teeinS the integrity and Independence of the seve-
raj states. This duty, the federal government was
then in the act Of dscharging in favor of the state
OF Georgia, and yet, according to Mr. johnson, the
Governor OF Georgia was to interrupt its military
operations, and to murder its friends and allies,
/ without the voice OF remonstrance or admoniton.
Let us suppose for moment, that after General
Brown had concluded a friendly agreement with
the Butialoe Indians, and with their supplies of
provisions and men had invaded Canada Governor
Tompkins had OH his track, burnt the friend
ly village and destroyed dispersed its inhabitants
| Would it have been objectionable offence in
General Brown 10 demonstrate against that out
rage: and to inform Governor Tompkins that he
had transcribed his authority? Would it have
have displayed dangerous spirit of domination -
or an honorable feeling of Justice and humanity
And would II have exposed General Brown TO the
suspicion and eXecration of his fellow citizens or
entitled him TO their appreciation and support? Mr.
Johnsons acquaintance with history will remind
him that the taking of Saguntum while in alliance
with the Romans, the immediate cause of the
second Punic war, and that the destruction of that
! city excited disnitied resentment in the Roman
people, which defeat after defeat, and slaughter
alter slaughter, could not subdue, and gave mo-
raj interest well political force to the venge-
! full expression of the elder Cato, " delenda est
Carthage" Not to mention other examples of
feeling rePugnant 10 the sentiments with which
MIR. johnson contemplates the sensihility of Gen
jackson for the fate of the Chehaws the pride
which on a late occasion England took in stretch
ing forth her power as 9gis over her " ancient
ally may be cited--when Mr.. Canning as the
organ of his country, declared to the nations in
ttone of generous de hance that soen the march OF
foreign conquest touched the frontiers Of PoTtu-
/ gal, IL must stay ats naughty step. Yet, while
while we admire the spirit of the Roman people
and of the English statesman, we are persuaded 10
believe, by Mr.. johnson and his star chamber
judges, that when our patriot protested against
an outrage on humanity, violation OF sith, and a
usurpation of authority, acquiescence in which
would have stained with disgrace common
sense, our common nature and our common couu-
try, he displayed f" fiery misrule of temper and
a g dangerous spirit of domination
/ 1t may, perhaps, be within the extensive circle
/ OF his sophistry to contend that the Governor oil
| Georgia, as the head of sovereign state, had
/ right to make war on the Indians, the right oJ
war being an incident inseparable from sovereign
/ ty. Waving the constitutional pact between the
states and the federal government, and the law.
OF Congress, placing the Indian tribes under the
control and keeping of the United States, which
I would at once defeat this course of argument i
will be enough to observe, that even if the Gov
ernor had the right of waging this war, he wa.
bound to prosecute it according to the law of ma
tons and the usages of war. These would have
rendered it his duty to ascertain first, whether the
injury he complained Of was really committed by
the Chehaws--and if il were, secondly, whef
the authorities of that tribe would make or refuse
proper reparaton. This is the practice Of all CT
viliZed states-is that of the United States-anC
was eXemplified in the late disturbance with the
Winnebagoes So that, concedng the right O
war to the Governor, his violation Of the laws ant
usages Of war to the injury of the Chehaws Just
ly exposed him 20 the circumstances of Genera
Jackson, who as an officer OF the u. States, the
guest Of the venerable Howard and the command
er of the Chehaw warriors was in strict alliance
with that tribe, and bound to protect 1.-THE fact
is, that the Governor Of Georgia was for time 81
infatuated as TO consider his official dignity invad
ed, and his power encroached upon by this re
monstrance of the General, and under that i'm
preston, wrote letter to him, reminding him O
Georga's " bleeding frontier" and taunting hin
with affecting " military despotism" The fac
is too, that this, his letter, made its gasconadn
Il appearance in a Georgia Journal beiDre il wa
received by the General, and fell into disreputa
bic oblivion soon after.--And the probability
II that Mr. Johnson, who though proligal in char
ges is Penurious in proofs, has been gmided TO TIM
buried SANDER by sense for defamation as kee
and crcditable as that which leads certain wine
ed gIiOStics 10 the carcases of the dCsd. 81
it has as little truth as fragrance. For froi
the time the Georgia Brigade encamped on IT.
OakmIlgee, and under the conduct Of Cen Jack
son. marched by the way of Fort Early, to Fo
Scott, up TO the close Of tine war, the Southef
frontier Of that State could neither have blcd nc
been exposed. thousand men either efatione
company himj having been autbofiZed 10 10 so b
tlIe Governor, the order complied With Cap
+ Boutwell, tol him that lie could not accompau
him himself; dsapproved the plan and iuforme
nj Wright that there could be no doubt Of IN
friendship of the Indians in that quarter and state
that OpOnce had on that day brought in a publ
horse that had been lost This availcd nothing moe
patriotism burned in their breasts.--They crosse
the river that night, and pushed for the tow
When arriving near there, an Indian was disco
vered grazing some cattle; he was. made prisone
Z am informed, by sergeant Jones that the India
proposed 70 60 with the interpreter and bring on
Of the Chcieis for the Captain to talk with Ii wi
| not attended tO--an advance was ordered tho r..