Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-28
Tvvcney-dGmFesa Consress--tsd sess.
-.~ IN SENATE-.Monduy, January l6


explanation; will therefore read, and then pass 1t 10
your table:
Rcsoircd, That the Secretary Of War be- and he here
by IS requested to iTirn the Senate what office GcnJh-
min f. Curry holds in The Cherokee nntion under what
luw he appointed and at what trur what salary he
receives, and whether he las at aDy time, recrvco any
allowance in addition to his salary, and huw much Stat
Ing particularly the whole amount he has recrlveu each
year
This Mr.. Curry went into the nation some time after
the election Of the Present Chief Magistrate and be-
rved, until about twelve. month AFRO. lie had been en-
ployed inferior agent to suprrinlcnd the enrolment
of ChcrDkces for emigration, To have their improve
mcnts valued, SC.
During the last winter he here, and when re-
turned home las, Spring, understood he was making
song figure polcian; that oul OF his own head, or
by ne lnstignon OF person marc 1etffcd than NM
self he had willie here written some letters Tor pubca
item To Il small newspaper in my State, which lad
engaged the business Ot traduclng me. In the course
OF the summer, had, IN some ot our Congressman
Districts animated between candidates for CON-
grrss This gentleman, ! understood, took nn active
part lie sometimes travelled out of the nation, and
even Of his Congressional District. jealous III
prcragatng his opinions and as am informed and be-
evc either wrote himself furnished the materials for
orc pieces, tor the same vrhcle OF SANDER TO
which he had written while III Washington.
In the District including the Cherokee Agency, lie
jealous IN opposing thu election &" tie former mem
Der, and with view TO enable him to act efficiently, was
in the habit Of reading and showing c"ntidrntiay, let
fault with TIC former member By namr, and using gcnr-
raj xp.rsSioIs which Mr. Curry SAID intended for
me- have likewise been Informed: that still farther TO
succeed in his plans Of dcf:atI" hi con!lusniy used
letter said TO be written to him y my h"n"raol" COL
league in which my used not much to my
advantage and take this occaslnn Ill tic Senate,
in presence Of BROTHER Senator's III presence Of this
audience and in the face Of the wuri, 10 ask my col
ramuc say, whether at any tr, he wrote any letter
Ia Mr.. Curry, in which my is used.
Mr.. Grundr said this was 10 linn: Il me-" and uneH-
pcclcd proceeding. He did not know that he had
written to MIR. Curryin his life but OF ono thing
hr c-rtIn he never wrote him speaking d;rcspect
fully OF his colleague.
Mr. White pfccccdcri-l am then satisfied with the
answer given for the present. and TINS arltcr must have
been used by Mr. Curry, the more cliccluay t" de-
cevc and nslcad those To whoa he made sush state
;nruS.
All this conduct dsreg ardcd, and did not think
i, worthy be made matter Of conversation. Our cleo
tons teri:!!natcd the former m:nbcr reelected
and when the Legislature met, was again honorcd with
seat here, by unanimous vote.
Some tame ago, friend brought inc Georgia news.
paper and pointed letter Hndcr Tie signature u .Hr
CHrrn, dated st Dcccbcr S;S aud addressed 10 The
editor vi newspaper called the Federal Union. In that
papcr it mad been published and from it copied III var
Gus other paprIs and finally into in my Stale
called Tie Nashville MON. gotten UP by funds furnished
here expressly for the purpose Of distributing, III my
State, and elsewhere, all tie dirty filth ad SANDER
which could be collected, with view TO deiEact from
my humble standing.
The time at which this letter published well
the place where, and the matter al H. struck with
much force. The Legislatures of Georgia. of Alabama,
Of Tennessee Of North Carolina, Virginia. AID several
other Staes were then in Session. if mistake not, and
il do hope gentlemen will me, and that of
Mississippi 10 meet Four OF these States had
deep stake in the Indian question: because the Indians
reside in portions OF them.
saw that the gross and base false hoods were
tanned in il, as to myself This did much
gard; but further, that with view to reach l.e,
siairmcnt was made respecting MIR. MCDONNELL one of
NV constituents humble and noilrlsyc cllizan which
would in all probability, cost him his life. felt hurt
by this as had been the medium through which the
Secretary nf War had induced him 10 undertake this de-
lcate confidential, and hazardous agency.
The falsclioods g!arIng and the misc!icvous
tcndry oil the letter so Obvious, inal at first hoped, as
so as it met the eye OF lie Administration, the matter
would be set right without any application from any
quarter After waiting tae Without any step hay
ig been taken, and having good reason 10 h:cye that
the letter hud been seen by at least one mebcr oil the
Administration, addressed letter TO tho Secretary Of
Wax under date of The ID inst, copy Vi which will
now read:
WAsnlaGToS, Jan. 9, 1S3G.
DEAR SIZE: must take the liberty Of inviting your
attention to letter under the signature Of Benjamin
F. Curry. published in newspaper called the Federal
Union, and Lrarng date, Cherokee Agency, Dec. lst,
lS:E'
In il you will sec in speaking Of Samuel AIc(,onneIl
Mr. Curry this language he has for some years
Sl,
ncssec been receiving pay from the United States Go
vcrnn.en secret aud confidential agent; while oil
his visible efforts have been to defeat the Of
the osens!blc Agents in bringing about treaty
feel assured your own sense al Justice will ut once
pronounce that this statement, far AS concerned,
is entirely unouudrd
Tic maine Of MIR Mcdonnell no, brought 10 your
notice by me. asked procured the Department
to appont him. Any agency had III the matter was
at the instance Of The Department. and TO carry into cf-
feet lis wishes rs fully disclosed c letter from the
acting Secretary Of War to me; and my answer with its
enclosure to him, to which beg leave TO refer you
In that as every thing else, willing do all
in my power aid carrying into effect the wishes Of
the Department in relation 10 the indians, and must
think am treated with great ~ Justice, II your agents,
attached to your Department are thus To nsreprcscnt
and caumnate me. From all the information possess
must think, in the charges against Mcconnell there Is
a rrcal disregard of truth. had believed, and yet
do that he acted with great fidelity, aud that from his
services much benefit resulted
But, sir, if Mr.. Mcconnell was secret Agent, APP
pointed BY your Department. does he merit that his life
should be endangered by this statement OF your Agent
If he was not 4 secret Agent, is it right that he
should be endangered b. the statement OF such false
hood
In another mart Of Mr. Currys letter he states, short
IL before the council, Lewis Ross came to Knoxville,
and after his return rumors were put afloat connected
with my name.
The inference Mr. Curry wishes should be drawn
from this statement, dou5t was that Lewis Ross came
10 Knoxville to consult assure you. II MIR. Ross
was at Knoxville from the time lett Washington in
March, til my this fall never heard Of ii, until
read Mr. CurTys letter and have had communication
whatever with him.
Tie whole tenor Of this letter, far as AIN concerned
is tissue of misrepresentation intended to place my
conduct in a false view before the world.
| am we'll aware that those who know MIR. Curry
would not excuse for taking any notice Of his SLAM
ders generally; but from the peculiar nature Of his charge
and The circumstance of his connection with your DE.
pnrtmcnt his statement may be thong l entitled to some
CREDIT should i, pass without rebuke.
He is your officer you the witness who knows the
gross in Justice Yc me- and to you confidently appca
for such steps will do that which just to the country
10 Mr.. Curry and TO myself:
beg to b.. informed what course you will pursue in