The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-14

tn 1 - in such paper, involving the char
80 or conduct of the individual
81 When the paper, OF whlch a copy shsli DC
raonested relates to indlyidual c0hceI,s, 'iie ie
reques.ai he complied with, only, when essen
!uI =. the defence of the applicant against
Ia which he alleges are unjust, or to ena-
HE him to make proper statement TO the be-
nartment, as to the personal PeouhaIy hileres'S
imanifestly involved; and, IN all such instances,
I conies will be furnished of so much only OF the
napers as may serve for the purposes mentioned.
/ 3D.. Copies of decisions made, or OF opinions
formed. on claims and controversies pending be-
fore the Department, will, as heretofore, be fur
i'iSie SS 10 op,i J. r. POINSETT.
War Department, April I'd 1889
These letters prove, First, that part of the
Report of Parsons Crowell and Parsons, com
municated to Congress, was suppressed, and
that MIR. Forsyth did write letter, which is
on file in the War Department, relative TO the
Creek Indian Lands, and that copies of these
documents are withheld, under regulation
adopted by Mr.. Poinsett, dated April I'd, 1889
They also prove that letter relative to these
speculations is on file in the Treasury Depart
ment, and that a copy of that letter is withheld
by the Department. Now, all who know any
thing of the Departments, will believe that
copies of these letters would not have been
withheld, if the Secretary of the Treasury and
the Secretary of War had not been satisfied
that their publication would prejudice the Adj
m;nistration, or Mr.. Forsyth. Having estab-
lished their existence; having demonstrated our
desire to publish them fairly, and according to
copy, we now proceed to give, in the best man.
ner we can, true narrative; declaring, at the
same time, our readiness, if we should have
been in the least misinformed, TO correct any
unintentional error into which we may fall;-
satisfied, however, that the truth will be so
much stronger than any statement we will
make, that Mr. Forsyth will never venture to
bring the real documents before the public
eye.
Having promised this much, we proceed to
state that, under the treaty with the Creek In
dams, large reserves of land were made, TO be
disposed Of by the Indians, 1gih the APPRO-
BATON Of the President. Every one who
knew any thing of the Indian character, fore
saw that these reservations must lead to great
specuIations. Large tracts of the most yalua-
bic land were reserved, TO be sold by In
dams, who were compelled TO remove from
them. Another feature of the case was, that
they could only be sold to such persons, and in
such manner, as the President of the United
States might approve; opening, at once, wide
field for speculation, and giving to the President
dangerous exercise of patronage over the
rra hat 10 alra
the purchaser must have a friend at Washing
ton, who had possession of the Presidents ear,
and could obtain the confirmation of his con-
tracts. The citizens of Alabama will recol-
lect that company was formed at Columbus.
Georgia, at the head of which was Mr.. For
syth's son-in-law: that a competition imme-
diately sprung up between this company and
the citizens of Alabama, who located them
selves upon the Indian lands: that an effort was
made TO drive off the settlers, and that one per-
son was shot down and killed by the regular
troops, in an attempt TO drive them off 1t will
be remembered that all Alabama was up in
arms, and that Gen Jackson's popularity was
upon the point of being overthrown, in conse-
quence of the murder of this citizen. 1t was
not then known, and viii now scarcely be
believed, that the attempt TO drive off these
citizens, and the murder of one of them, was
intended TO favor these speculations OF private
company, of which The present Secretary Of
State was one, and that the reguia. troops
of the United States had been turned loose up
on unoffending citizens, TO enable the Secreta
49, ~ TT =. If. Il
poor Indians.
We have before a report of the enormitie
practised in relation TO these lands, and the cru
elites inflicted upon the Indians TO extort CONGO.
sions of land, which would make the blood ru
chill with horror. We reserve these extract
for another day. We proceed now to state tn
4 facts as we believe them to be. We were anon
n the first to denounce this treaty-for the frau
: apparent upon its face. Some time after it ha
= been ratified, we were in conversation with
: gentleman of great wealth in the city of Charlie
ton, who told us that he had advanced a lare
sum of money to be invested in the purchase {
these Creek lands by company, at the hea
: of which was Mr.. Forsyths son-in-law; tia
, he had been induced to do so because Mr. Fo
that was one of the company, that he had bee
retained to superintend, at Washington, the ra
5 tifcatlon of the contracts, and that they relic
upon his influence with the President to preteo
their purchases Viewing this a confirmation
T of our objections to the treaty, announced tn
: fact and charged it home upon Mr.. Forsyth.
f was repeated from time to time, until at lengh
Mr.. Forsyth gave through tho Globe qualities
denial.
The murder Of one of the settlers, and tn,
consequent excitement in Alab anna created al
apprehension of political consequences, which
outweighed, for a time at least, the influence o.
spectators, and commission was constituted to
negotiate with the Creek Indians for their reser
atoms They made a report TO the Dena rtmeni