Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-06-30
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WASuiNGToN Nav y

Sr--By orders recently issued from the War
Department, ii i, dnected, that should Mai. Gen.
Scott leave the Head Quarters Of the army in
Florida, and retire irpm that command, it will de-
volsc on Brig. Gen. Chncl This order leaves to
the discretion of Gen. Scout the period of hi, de-
parure 1t is with the greatest pain that | feel
myself constrained. by II sense OF my duty to INV
constituents respectfully TO ask that Gen Scott be
relieved from lhal command. No man has more
admiration for The galantry, respect for the for
have" ''''''N "'"N''"'"'' o '''"' scott than |
From she present attItuuv or~n.:.. .,l 80 ,
nate and diSgracrinl occurrences which have hap
penrd IL that quarter the public interests, as well
as tie lives, sceulIty and property of the lniabi
tanis lmp'riously require the order have recon-
mendrd. There is. no harmony between him aod
the public authorities of the Territory-and it is
evident that he Is IN the iehcst of rxaspcrat-
ed feeling, on account OF an atrocious outrage ON
all dcccncy and propreiy, in burning Him in cfliey
at tallahassee. Tins Infamous proceeding which
ought to have been arrested and punished hv the
authorities at the Seat Of Government, does not
Justify Gen. Scott Tor the degrading ephets and
insults he has offered TO "A whole population. In
ms published orders, he represents the conduct of
the people OF Middle Florida as " infinitely lunil-
'ailng and the people "wd with fear" possess
sed ola " disease 50 general and so degrading"
ms Is not the usual language of Major Gcncr-
ais, commanding ON orr frontiers and should n,t
under any circumstances, be rcsortcd to- whatever
may have leen the dlsappoin,mcnls and wounded
Sehsibilitts OF Il commanding general | ask
upon what authority he SAYS there were lust five
Indians" who had produced that conservatism
panic, and flight, of whchhr has drawn picture SO
derocatory tothc whole population? Itlswcllknown
iH'i the Indians never slew their whole force and
u i've HAY" penetrated into the country from the
Indian boundary, 10 within few miles ofthc Seat
81 'oNcfnh"hf, much larger number will soon
follow. As General Scott did not succeed with
IRE thousand men in DESTROYING Er, Indians. he
might have spared the inhabitants he has left de-
ienctl' $, such degrading dcnuncatonS As that
however, Is an affair between him and the Cover
nor, as to the number of tie enemy, and the de-
fence OF Middle Florida, shall proceed to what is
the object OF this communications
My purpose is most respectfully To rcoucSt an
inquiry INTO the manner of conducting the late
campaign IN Florida, and into the conduct of In,
Mayor General Commanding, ior having zone into
summer quarters the last of April leaving the
country without defence, and the inhabitants a, the
mercy Of the Indians.
Maj Gen. Scott had power to call upon the
. Governors OF South Carolina, Georgia, and Ala
bama, Tor any number of men that he nigh, consd-
er necessary 10 put end to the war. Congress,
/ W '"" ""u p'"Niued ample means, and whilst he
was III command, the Gov. Of Florida had no
power to call for troops. Cen. Scott, after an un-
successful campaign, diSbanded the whole mi
hta torcc but the term of service of a portion of
It only had expired, and has neither called, by
drait or volunteers, for any other further mi
ha Iof'e' tie has ON the contrary refused the ac-
cepiance OF some that offered, and has dis
. armed the militia OF East Florida
When called upon to furnish adequate defence
Tor the protection of that frontier he complains of
ms limited means, when it is apparent, from the a.
bove statement, that his means are only limited BIZ
his own discretion, and that he has power a, any
moment TO order any number from Georgia or
South Carolina. He admits that 5000 men arc
ssary To subdue these Indians and that he has
abou, 1000 under his command. Now, ask
why Is II that he has not these 5000 men in the
field that he deems necessary! He, and he alone
is responsible for all the lives and property of
the Inhabitants that may be Destroyed for the want
of that protection and security which every citi-
zen has right TO look for from his government
Added TO this the feelings of the people ou,ra-
ged, by representations calculated to degrade and
expose them TO ridicule throughout the United
States.
These people, you.are aware, arc sparscly set.
'ed over an extensive Territory, in detached
nelghborhoods, without any dense population TO
.d'i pack upon, and without anv fortified places
III which to place their wives and children for safe
~. HuPon the first sound Of alarm, some small,
ne'chborhood should 90 N pursuit of eve, ar,