Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-07-20
ANECDOTE OF GEN, TAYLOR.
Correspondence of the Tribune.l

WASHINGTON, July =.
While Gen (then Col.) TAYLOR was serving
in Florida he captured many negroes in his con-
flicts with the Indians Many of these ne
groes were claimed by persons in Georgia and
Alabama, from whose service or from the ser
vice of whose fathers it was commended they
had escaped. Agents on behalf of the claim
ants were despatched to Col Taylor seeking
to recover them. Proof of identity of the per-
sons claimed as slaves was preferred and the
right of property insisted upon. Col. Taylor
refused TO allow the claim, or even to exam
inc 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
no judicial power, and he could not assume
10 determine matters beyond his province.
The disappointed and enraged applicants,
after having tried in vain other means to oper-
ate upon Col. Taylor favorably, carri,d their
compliments to the Secretary of War. He en-
tertained their view of the case In conse-
quence, an order issued from the Department
was addressed to Maj. Gen. JEssUP, then com
manding in Florida. directing the surrender OF
the captured negroes to the agent of the claim
ants. A similar order was issued to COL Tay-
lor The following is his reply, as copied from
the record in the War Department.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE SoUTH,
Tampa, (Florida.) June 2, 1888
General-l have the honor to acknowledge
your communica ton of the 10th of MAY, 1888,
accompanied by one of the 9Th from the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs, addressed to Capt
COOPER. acting Secretary of War, on the sub
leCt of turning over certain negroes captured
by the Creek warriors in Florida to Mr. COL
Inns, their Agent, in compliance with an en-
gagement of Gen. JEssUP.
know nothing of the negroes in question,
| nor Of the subject, farther than what is con-
| tanned i'll the communication above referred to;
| but | must state distinctly, for the information
Of all concerned, that while shall hold my
self ever ready to do the utmost in my power
/ to get the Indians and their negroes out of Flor
ida. as well to remove them to their new
| homes west of the Mississippi, cannot for q
moment consent TO NEEDLE in this transaction
or to be concerned, for the benefit of Mr. Col
Inns the Creek Indians, or any one else; or tc
interfere in any way between the Indians ant
their negroes, which may have tendency tc
1 deprive the former of their property, and re
duce the latter from a comparative state Of free
dom to that ofsIapery; at the same time shall
] take every means to obtain and restore to hi
lawful owner, any slave among the indians
! who has absconded or been captured by them
Very respectfully. have to be,
Gen., your obedient servant,
z. TAYLOR,
Breve Brig U. S. Army, Commanding.
Gen. R. JONES Adjt. Gen. U. S. Army, Wash
ington, d. G.
Here Gen. Taylor showed himself as firm il
resisting what he considered an illegal and dis
: graceful order of the Department, as he hac
! u5en previously TO the opportunities or threat
of the slave hunters. His commission was il
the power Of the Presidentto revoke at an,
time; his honor was above the reach Of tn,
President; it was deareE to him than all com
missions.
f The more Thoroughly the career of Gen. Tay
Tor is scrutinized, the brighter he shines. Eve
ny trait of this character shows him the posses
sor Of those noble, humane and glorious fea
lures of manliness that reminds us that il
: him.