Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-22
Correspondence Of the .Neac York Tribune.
Anecdoie of Gen. Taylor.
WAsHINaroN. July 9

tA f WAsHINGToN, July 2.
While Gen. (rhen Col. Taylor was serv-
ing in Florida he captured many negroes IN
his conflicts with the Indians. Many of
these negroes were claimed by persons in
Georgia and Alabama, from whose service
or from the service of whose fathers it was
contended they had escaped. Agents on
behalf of the claimants were dispatched to
Col. Taylor, seeking to recover thenl:-
Proof of identity of the persons claimed as
slaves was proffered, and the right of prop
erty insisted upon. Col. Taylor refused TO
allow the claim, or even to examine it. He
had come to Florida to serve in the army
against the Indians, not to act as negro
catcher. His commission, he said, gave him
nojudicial powers, and he could not assume
to determine matters beyond his province.
The disappointed and enraged applicants,
after having tried in vain other means to
operate upon Col. Taylor favorably, carried
their complaints to the Secretary of War.
He entertained their view of the case. In
consequence, an order issued from the De-
partment was addressed to Maj. Gen. Jes-
sup, then commanding in Florida, directing
the surrender of the captured negroes to the
agent of the claimants. A similar order
was issued to Col. Taylor. The following
is his reply, as copied from the record in
the War Department:
"H'DaUARTERs, ARMY OF THE SOUTH,
Tampa, (Florida,) June 2, 'SS.
General: have the honor to acknowl-
edge your communication of the 10th of
May, 1888, accompanied by one of the 9th,
from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
addressedto Capt. Cooper, acting Secretary
of War, on the subject of turning over GER
tain negroes captured by the Creek warriors
in Florida to Mr.. Collins, their Agent, in
compliance with an engagement of Gener-
al Jessup.
know nothing of the negroes in question,
nor of the subject, farther than what is con-
tanned in the communication above referred
to; but must state distinctly, for the infor-
nation OF all concerned, that while shall
hold myself ever ready to do the utmost in
my power to get the Indians and their ne
groes out of Florida, as well as to remove
them to their new homes west of the Mis-
sssppi, | cannot for a moment consent to
NEEDLE in this transaction or to be concern
ed, for the benefit Of Mr.. Collins, the Creek
Indians, or any one else; or TO interfere in
any way between the Indians and their ne
groes, which may have a tendency to de-
prIve the former of their property, and re-
duce the latter from comparative state of
freedom TO that Of siauery; at the same time
shall take every means TO obtain and re-
store to his lawful owner, any slave among
the Indians who has absconded or been cap
tured by them.
Very respectfully, have the honor to be,
General, your obedent servant,
z. TAYLOR.
Brevet Brig. U. S. A., Commanding.
GENERAL X. Jones, Adjt. Gen. U. s.
Army, Washington, ID. c.
Here Gen. Taylor showed himself as firm
in resisting what he considered an illegal
and disgraceful order as of the opportunities
or threats of the slave-hunters. His COM
mission was in the power of the President
TO revoke at any time; his honor was above
the reach of the President; it was dearer TO
him than all commissions