Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02

negccred. Unfy peell nIaoe size e
and those then made were duly atiehoea 10. ~ ua
$50 mounted men, which declined, tor the reasons
we stated yesterday-to witt that militia force cou'u
not be called out unless hositics were actually COM
nenced CT an immediate prospect and that ms iofce
was asked for not to repress hostes, but 10 ao m re-
MOVING the Indians Butin lieu Of il four additional
companies of regular troops, giving greali ac'u''
force were placed under the orders of Cen Clinch.
The other application though in fact it was report OF
what had been done, announced th"t zen E"ncn '.t
called for 100 mounted men, and asked the nPProvao
the Preident. This approval not uily lneolalty
given but Gen Clnc authorized TO call upon LIE
Governor OF Florida for any force that might DC
He:was subsequently authorized, without any aPPnca-
ton from the military authorities of Florida, TO CAL III
the same manner upon the Governors of South Carolina
Georgia and Alabama. 1t is likewise stated that the
above mentioned force withheld on the score OF
economy. This, too, is utterly untounded as was she"h
yesterday. ~
1t will be recollected that the object Of assembling
troops in Florida to compel the Indians to remove,
if they should forcby resist the efforts made for thai
purpose This removal not TO take place until a'
nuary or February and anticipated that the In
dams would use any force until the time of their embark
alton arrived and before that there could be doubt
that the fourteen companies placed at the disposal OF Ge
neral Cinch would be assembled. We again repeat OUT
conviction that that force would have been sufficient for
the removal of the dsafected parties, mastering only
about three hundred WARRIORS and it is obvious that Gr-
neral Clnch himself did not expect difficulty until sub
scuuent to its occurrence; because the company OF Maj
sal on The 9Th of the preceding February 1i receive
orders from him to join him until e l4th Of December.
We observe .aai e Charleston resolutions state that
the Secretary Of Wax reported that IA companies had
been placed under the command uf General Clinch, and
they remark that it afterwards appeared that the force
under his aeuqL command did not amount TO That
bel and this they attribute the disastrous result Ii
b. actual command the committee that that
Der Of companies not concentrated together and
der the personal direction of General Clinch, they
no doubt right Butsuch assertion it is obvious
not made intended TO be made by the War Depart
men The Annual Report of the Secretary Of War 10
the President, contains the history Of the operations OF
the Department during the preceding year. In giving
an account among other branches of the service of the
movements of the army: il is stated, that "ioueen COM
pancs have been placed under the command of General
Clinch SC. Ten of these companies had been placed
under Cen Clincis authority 1ary as February 9Th,
IS35.
Two additional ones the 18th Oct, and the other
two on tue 2lst OF Oct. OF the movements had
been authorized siA weeks previous 10 this report II
intended convey the slightest censure upon
General Clinch, but merely to state in historical sum
mary the measures that had Lcen authorized by the De-
partnrnt We have doubt that General Clinch took
the requisite for concentrating his force as soon
as circumstances appeared to require H.
There however, much better MODE Of nVcslIgut-
ing this subject than by newspaper discussions. Amy
member of Congress has it in his power to move the APP
poinncnt of Il select committee: or reference OF the
subject to other appropriate COMMITTEE, by whom
the whole matter be examined.
We are satisfied that the Administration would be We
~ glad to see this course adopted and if not
der great dcuson it will be found that they deserve
ccnsufc al ALL it is because they have authorized the
poyn,ent Of more means an asked for seemed
to be necessary under the circumstances which were
known here