The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-04

was ho' uht NaunllnB patriotism that so oilen eA-
hlblls Itself here, but II deep and enthusiastic
devotion to the liberties oftheir country All he de
sired was that the same spirit might actuae those
VINO were now called upon 10 do justice TO The lltue
remnant Of these noble fellows that have petiuoned
Congress for the last thirty years for relief. But
to return TO the marathon Previous and after the
massacre and burning of American prisoners, sur
rendered TO British officers, by the Indians in the
II BRUSH service the abandonment Of the remains of
Americans killed in the battle murdered after the
surrender; the pillage and shooting of American cit
Izens and the burning Of their houses after surren-
derng TO the British, under the guarantee Of protec-
uon-the citizens of Detroit had communications
with Col. Proctor, and this Judge Woodward, one of
their number, made known their grievances and
those OF the other inhabitants Of the Territory. Mr.
McC here directed the attention OF the committee TO
the following brief extract from one OF Judge Wood
wards letters to Col Proctor, bearing date Febru-
airy 2, 1873
They uhe Inhabitants Of Michigan have entertained
constant apprehension that when the American forces ap
preached the territory and when engagement hiss ia
ken place the fury the savage mind ut the sight OF blood
and in rejecting on the dead they lose and perhaps
me reasIoTy treatment oiPriIone OF OF the dead which
their cruel mode of warfare Is always likely to produce
might drive them to ignohe revenge the prisoners
they md IN the country and the inhabitants n H. who
American citizens They therefore pressed this subject
your previous 70 the battle Of the 22d OF January
cred y0urOwa honor PLEDGE for their enec,uAi prOtec
the result of that battle facts are before their
faces which they cannot shut their eyes upon Some Of
them are Psrh1P1 unkGown to yourself viii enumeHts
some, which believe there viii be dfhculty estab
fishing beyond the reach Of contradiction
"FUIt some Of the prisoners AFTER the csptulaton Of
the nd OF January 1913, have been tomShawksd by the
Second Some Of the prisoner amer that coptuIaOn
have been shot by the Gaysges
"ToTd. Some OF the prisoners after that captulaton
have been burnt by the ssyAges
Fourth the Inhabitants Of the Territory of Mch
gan citizens Of the United States Of America after the ca
pitulation. have been shot by the ssvages
i "Fyih The houses Of some othe inhabitants ofthe Terri
| American bsen
burnt by the saVages
| "SGh some OF the inhabitants American citi1ens aner
the eaPituaton' have been Piaged by the ssvage'"
| Judge Woodward was thereupon requested by
Colonel Proctor to appoint day for the purpose Of
adducing before him such proof as he might have to
substantlae the assertions contained IN his letter
which he did, and produced the most irrefragabe
testimony Of every charge he had made. This is 10
be found at length in the 9Th volume Of Niles's Regis
ter, p. 1913. He would not detain the committee by
reading II. He would however, before Diminishing
this part OF the subject read extract from anoth
er letter Of Judge Woodward, dated February 10,
| 1878, communicating these proofs to Colonel Proc
tor with a view Of showing what was the real
cause Of the commission Of the enormtes before no.
tced. He says:
In communicating your message, Major Muir added
| be willing ~ take the oath to the king
81" will be obvious TO you SIR that IN state OF open and
declared subject citizen OF party trans
fer his allegiance to the other party without mourning
penalties OF treason; and while nothing can excuse his
guilt so neither are those innocent who lay temptation be-
The principles adopted by the United States on the sub
ject Of expatraon liberal but perfectly nappca
| bic to public enemy IN time OF war
Some OF the French inhabitants Of the Territory of
Michigan, citizens Of the United States oil America have
been much urged on this subject and apprehensve Of
being further troubled
How easy it would have been for these citizens to
have saved their lives and preserved their property
but they preferred sacrificing both to the disgrace
and ignominy that would otherwise have attached
to their names. or this noble band but few sur
vve, and they have lived long enough to lament the
ingrauude Of those for whom they were willing to
| risk everything valuable to them. Heknew that
Col. Proctor had denied that there any capltu-
lston the 22d of January, and asserted that the
prisoners surrendered at discretion. This was not
his belief; but at all events the law Of nations i'm
posed obligations almost as strong.
These caamities leh the people Of Michigan
who had previously bean in a most happy and
The oa,h February. IA s. IA. M~disos 3oon,od !,
his imperative duty to make communication to
the Senate and House Of Representatives in which
he stated that cit had appeared that at the recovery
Of the Michigan Territory, from the temporary pos
session of the enemy the inhabitants thereof were
left in destitute and distressed condition, TO
require from the public stores certain supplies
tia 10 their subsistence, which had been prolonged
under the same necessity" and recommended that
| suitable provision should be made for them.
For the purpose Of exhibiting TO the committee
what disposition made OF these claims at the
treaty OF Ghen where the difficulties between the
two governments settled, he would direct the
attention Of members to a communication made by
the Hon. Mr.. ADAMS, then Secretary of State, on
the 18th December 1871; to whom tv resolution
Of the House of Representatives, the petition Of
sundry citizens Of Detroit on this subject was re-
ferred.
Mr.. ADAMS says:
The petitioners alege that they have suffered great
losses of property by the violation the part OF the Brit
ish forces and especially by the Indian then act
ing suxilaes under them of the capulaon by which
the 10th of August sl2 the Territory of Michigan
surrendered to the British General Brock article Of
which captuaton stipulated that private and prop
erty of every description should be respected.
That by this violation OF the capiuston the petitioners
acquired just claim upon the British government for in
oil the United States would have prevailed that OF
Great Britain to make by paying the petitioners for all the
thereof
peace and subsequently commercial treaty, with Great
Britain without mention being made Of the Territory OF
Michigan or of these claims OF the petitioners they have
thereby lost their claim OF redress and indemnity the
British government but that the obligation OF making
has thereby devoved upon the United States to whose JUS
ce and lbersy they appeal accordingly for remuneration
Extracts from the documents upon the records of the
Department OF State herewith annexed to show
the liberal principles upon which the government OF the
United DESTROYS of proceeding in terminating
the war time anxious care which
they urged provision OF indemnity for the citizens OF the
United States who had suffered loss damages such
those complained of by the petitioners This provision
insisted until it vas distinctly known that the only
alternative to Its abandonment was the inevitable contlnu
ance of the
"How far the United States themselves answerabe to
their individual citizens for the losses and damages
stoned by the enemy, and unhapply incident to the cond
ton OF Ia for the wisdom OF Congress alone deter
| niue"
In the instructions to the American penipotentia-
ries, Mr. Monroe Secretary of State) said Should
treaty be formed, !; /, just in itself and would
have happy effect the relations Of the two coun-
tries II indemnity should be stipulated each side
for the destruction of all unfor6ed towns and other
private property, contrary to the laws and usages of
war"
i In the 18th article of the projet of treaty Of
peace submitted by the American pIenipoentiarles to
| the British commissioners, and returned by the lat
I ter as inadmisslbe, clause
That indemnity should be made by each of the contract
ing parties the citizens subjects of the other party
all and damages sustained subsequent to the
mencemen of the war, by of the destruction Of
unorthed towns and the page and destruction Of private
property"
The instructions and the 18th article before al
Inded to- it will be observed, clearly admit that the