Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-04-14
VOL. XIII. NO. so.

the slave trade is carried on under the
color of this war. But as the list is Of
great length, beg leave to give an ex-
tract only. It is i'll the following form:
Name. Age. Sex Remarks.
Ben, s years Male Son of Elsy.
Molly, 3years, Female. Daughter of Elsy.
Judy, lyear, Female, Daughter Of EIsy.
This short extract contains the names
OF three child 'en apparently of one fami-
y. and all less than six years of age.
These children were purchased by our
officers as "public property" Sir, what
do our people of the free States or of the
civilized world, think ofthis kind of" Cor.
ermment chatt!es ?" I have no doubt that
many northern lady W ill inquire for The
mother of those children. This question
| can not answer find in the list the
name of Eisy, aged twenty years, SAID to
be the daughter OF Fanny. should Judge
that she was not the mother of the child
FEN bat such may be the case. am
led to believe tha! both father and mother
escaped the faags of the bIoodhounds aud
the slave catchers.
But the question reeurs, where are those
slaves have, for more than month.
had resolution wing in my drawer, CALI
ing on the Secretary of War for inforna-
ton respecting them; but 10 this hour I
have had no opportunity Of offering it in
the regular course of business, and felt
no hopes of success by offering it in anv
other time. 1t may not have been observ-
ed by many members, that in the las: sess.
ion of the late Congress a petition was
presented to this House from a Mr.. Wat
son, In which he states that in May, 1887.
he purchased these same negroes, captur-
ed by the Greek warriors, of their agent.
and paid for them Sl4,60O, and be gives
pretty good evidence TO sustain his state
ment This occurred in May, 1888, while
the order Of Gen. Jessup receiving them
as public property was in September pre-
vIous; and the confirmation of that order
was on the 7th October, prior to the time
OF WatSon's apparent purchase. Gcner-
al Jesspp's letter to Col. Warren, saving
that these warriors had received between
Sl4, 900 and Sis, 600, bears date on the
l7lh OF October, prior to Watson's suppos-
ed purchase. 1t will be borne in mind
that these are official documents, transmit
ted at the time of their dates. There is
also curious coincidence in regard to
price. General Jessup said in October
1897, that these warriors had then receiv-
ed between IA and / S thousand doIIars.''
And Watson says, and gives good evidence
to prove that he paid to these same warri-
ors $l4,6OO in May following. Now, if
these Indians got twice paid for those
slaves, they were more fortunate in slave
trading than they ever were In any other
transaction with the white people. An
other singular circumstance I will men
ton. On the lst of May, the Commits
sloner of Indian Affairs suggested to the
Secretary of War, that for the United
States to assume the relation of slavehoId-
erS, might create extensive excitement,
particularly as the public mind, here and
elsewhere, was so sensitive on the subject
of slavery; while Watson's bill of sale
bears date oUl y eight days Afterwards
On the 9th of May, the Commissioner of
Indian affairs requests of the Secretary of
War an order tor the officer at Fort Pike
to deliver these negroes to N. F. Collins,
agent for the Creek warriors while, from
other COMMUNICATIONS, one would think
the United States never had owned the ne
groes, although they were taken into pos
; session of our troops on The 9Th Seplem-
Der, 1887, and kept at the public ex peLse
until, and long after, the supposed pur.
y chase by Watson
a Sir, this Transaction is shrouded in
J, mystery. l have read to the committee {
il portion of its history; but the whoIe
e think is not communicated by the docu.
n ments before US. | have an opinion, anc
J. | expires it as an opinion, founded on Off
y cial papers, it is true. but il is nevertheless
5 the conclusions of my own mind in reeart
S to the matter. then suppose that aftel
e the purchase by Gen. Jessup, on the 9th
d of September, aud the sanction oy til,
S Secretary of War on the 7th October 1897
' and after keeping these negroes at the ex
II pense o: the pubic for eight months, ant
e Transporting them to Fort Pike,the honor
:, able Secretary began TO entertain doubt
), whether the public would justify the Trans
!. acrion. He probably felt that mY frien
v here from Vermont tMr. Slade) or tn
' gentleman from New York (Mr. CAFES
E might not remain entirely silent, .mhen'
J. ito use the words ofthe report ofthe Com
e missioner of Indian afairsl "the Pub'i
k mind, here and elsewhere, is so sensitic
d on the subject Of starery;" especially a
- it was ascertained that there must be al
f, appropriation of money by Congress 70
{ the funds that wouli seem 10 have beel
If paid long previously. Difficulties appea
is TO have beset him on every side; and
e think his feelings were we'll expressed il
d a letter to General Arbuckle. dated July
II 2ls.. 1893. In which. sneakimg Of til