Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-09-28

could DO doue with any propriety, words to
tins import. To s,G.rshon by rae, that
we ditlGrcd in opini to whether you
were or We're not rcprcheu.ble for your conduct,
he replied to decide thus question regard must be
had to your motives; these, he beloved, had been
pure and patriotic; that, from mistaken zeal IN the
service OF your country, you had exceeded the
powers Given von or ans the President had right
TO bes.ow At the same time hc observed that
Spain deserved from us the treatment sho had re.
ceivcd. and surrender OF the posts was all she had
right to look for; that, whether you were culpa.
bic DIR moi WAS concern of cur own, and not hnrs.
Tie spoke of the acquisition of the tioridas, then n
subject OF negotiation with the Spanish minister
Don Onis, and - prospect of a favorable result,
that he was appreheE:ivo might DO defeated cii-
Il,npercd bv a vote OF censure, the disapproval
of Your conduct. tod MIR. Calhoun, in reply that
his views or those of similar nature; OH the sub.
! ject had been previously presented To me by tho
President but he had failed to convince that
there were either consistency safety in tho
course adopted 10y the administration. That, if the
seizure OF the Spanish posts by you was lawful
sttutional, and in obedience to orders given, they
should not have been Tcd and, the other
hand iftheir capture Illegal unconstitutional,
81 in violation OF your orders, you were highly repre-
hensiblc, and to pass over such conduct without
censure or unimadversiOn, to sanction it, and
acting upon and fortified by this precedent, every
land or naval officer in service might, in future
involve the nation in at their discretion or
caprice Such, stated, were my views, and, ha-
wing been charged by the Senate with the invcsti-
! CATION, should not shrink from the responsibility
! of faithfully dScharging my duty Mr.. Calhoun
4 then said he would not wish to be understood as
obiectng to the inquiry; it was rather the spirit
with which it was carried on that had given him
surprise. He had understood that Governor
Mitchell, OF Georgia, who had Just arrived in the
city, had been sent for TO give evidence; that his
testimony should be viewed with allowance, he
was the personal enomy of General Gaines, and,
he believed, equally of General Jackson: that
| Mitchell Indian Agent, and charges had
been, or would be, he understood, preferred
against him, that would, if established, seriously
affect his character, and he wished 10 put me on my
guard. i assured hin, Governor Mitchell had not
been sent for by order Of the committee nor, TO
! my knowledge, written TO by any member of it.
| That, after his arrival told by Mr. FORSYTH
that he was i'll possession OF many facts connect
Cd with the Seminole war, and this had mention
ed TO the committee, and, by this order, he was
subpnnaed.
In repeating the above conversations between
MIR. Calhoun and myself, | do not pretend that
have used the precise words made Of by us,
but am, certain that have not been mistaken in
their import or meaning.
This conversation not considered by me as
confidential, was it enoined on me as
such
3. ''Was your object in consulting NJ. Calhoun
to procure information to aid you in forming your
report upon my conduct in the Seminole war, made
TO the Senate On the day of February, 1892
did Mr. Calhoun understand that to be your OBJ
iec,?"
Anacer. j never did consult Mr. Calhoun, or
any other member of Mr.. Monrocs cabinet, with Il
view of obtaining information or aid in forming
the report, unless the circumstances and facts am
| about to mention, may be considered.
Previous to MIR. Forsyth's appointment as
minister to Spain, and when he n member Of
! the committee, he had more than once stated To
me his belefthat you had issued orders to General
Gains, after the close of the Seminole war. direct.
ing the capture of ST Augustine, the capital of
East Florida, and that these orders had been coun-
fernandez by the President. But as the docu.
nlcntS furnished by the War mt contain
cd no evidence ofthe fact, were uniformed on
the subject until long afterwards informed
by MIR. Eaton, of the committee, that orders TO that
effect had been issued by Won, and that the place
would have been taken had not the orders been
countermandeI; this lie gave an evidence of
| your hrmncss and decision, and the absence of
those qualities Ill tho administration. This infor-
nation induced me soon Afterwards to call Mr..
Calhoun at tile war office; Mr.. Roberts my col
league was la company. Upon inquiry, Mr.. Cal
houn told me that such orders had been issued 10y
you and were immediately counternanied. l in
CURED why This correspondence had not been fur
nished
lie said it never had been called for / replied,
That the calls were in general terms, and compre-
hendcd all the information the subject of the
seminole WAY, that 1t was safe and proper for the
! Executive to communicate, words to that effect
| Here MIR. Calhoun i'll the most bland and concili-
atory manner, q remember his words distinctly, }
observed, chad you not better try General Jackson
Tor what he has done, and not for what he had de-
signed TO do" | answered him, was not govern
ed by personal hoStiljties to You, nor was any
member ofthc committees wished to do ourselves,
the country, and you, strict Justice; and for this
purpose is!Icd all the information that corld
he rightful obtained. If toe correspondence was
of private confident al nature, did not ask it,;
If of public nature, had a right To receive it,
Mr. Calhoun said, he would be glad If | would con-
suit The President, and if he had no objection he
would send me the correspondence, i'll would call
for it as chairman Of the committee Immediately
called on The President and when Informed of the
object Of my visit, he snih he had not examined
! tho Seminole documents, since their publication
nor did lIc know that the correspondence in qucs-
SION had been withheld, Tor words to this purpose
but IT IT were he perfectly satisfied it should
be furnished. gave the information to Mr. Cal.
houn and he afterwards sent 10 the comnlitte
a copy Of the correspondence.
4. "Did MIR. Calhoun, see your report or any
part Of it, before it nndc2 did he before il was
made, afterwards, in direct ausion to the report
or otherwise, express You his concurrence in the
views therein expressed! What other views or
opinions, facts, if any, relative TO my conduct
or his, in the affair of the Seminole war, did Mr..
/ Calhoun communicate TO you at that any other
timer"
Answer. Mr.. Calhoun never did see the report,
or any part OF it, before it made nor has he at
! any time before since the report made, ex-
pressed TO me his concurrence in the views taken
therein, other than what havo already stated in
my answer to the second intcrrogatory, and that
passed in the committee room; has Mr.. Calhoun,
/ in any manner upon any oC ;asion, since called
upon him at the War Office as above stated, commu-
nicatod to his sentiments or opinions on the
subject OF The Seminole war, or your conduct in
Florida.
s. Has any thing passed between you and Mr..
Calhoun, since the session Of Congress in 1SIS,T0,
explanatory Of his conduct or mine in relation to
the Scminos war, and the incidents which grew
out of il? if yea, what?"
Answer After the unhappy dispute Il mean
/ for the honor of the country mad taken place be-
/ tween you and Mr. Calhoun. and tile publica