Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-07-19

The correspondent OF the y. u iri-
bune furnishes the following letter Of Gen.
TAYLOR and the incidents connected with
it. Being sure he is right. he shrinks
from no respon s;biliiy
While Gen. Chen Col.) Tayior was
serving in Florida. he captured many
negroes in his conflict, with the Indians,
VI ny Of these negroes were claimed ty
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 re-
cover them. Proofof identity of the per-
sons claimed as slaves was proffcrcd. and
the right Of property insisted upon. Col.
Tavlor refused 10 allow the claim. Or even
to examine it. lie had come to Florida
to serve in the army against the Indians.
and not to act as negro-catcher. HIS
commission, he said. gave him no judi
cial powers, and he could not assume 10
determine matters beyond his province.
The disappointed and enraged appli-
cants. after having tried in vain other
means to operate upon Col. Taylor favor
ably, carried their complaints TO the Sc
cretarv Of War He entertained their
views Of the case. In consequences, an
order issued from the Department was
addressed to Maj. Gen. Jes>up, then COM
handing in Florida. directing the surren-
der Of the captured negroes to the agent
of the claimants \ similar order was
issued to Col. Taylor. 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: | have the honor to acknow-
ledge your communication Of the 10Th of
May. 1888. accompanied by one Of the
9th. from the Commissioner OF Indian AZ
fairs, addressed to Capt. Cooper. acting
Secretary of War. OF. the subject Of turn
ing over certain negroes captured by the
Creek warriors in Florida TO Mr.. Collins,
their agent, in compliance with an engage
mcnt Of General Jessup.
| know nothing Of the negroes in ques-
ton. nor of the subject, farther than what
is contained in the communication above
referred to; but | must state distinctly. for
the information of all concerned. that
while shall hold myself ever ready 10 do
the utmost in my power to get the Indians
and their negroes out of Florida, as well
as to remove them to their new homes
west of the Mississippi | cannot for a
moment consent to NEEDLE in this trans
saction, or to be concerned. for the benefit
Of Mr.. Collins. the Creek Indians. or any
one else; or to interfere in any way be-
tween the Indians and their negroes,
which may have tendency to deprive the
former Of their property. and to reduce
The latter from comparative state OF
freedom, to that Of slarery; a, the same
time ! shall take every means to obtain
and restore to his lawful owner any slave
among the Indians who has absconded or
been captured by them.
Very respectfully, have the honor to
be, General, your obedicnt servant.
Il. TAYLOR,
! Brevet Brig. U. S. Army. Commanding.
Gen r JoSEs. Adjt. Gen. L. S. Army,
! Washington. d. c.
Here Gen. Taylor showed himself as
firm in resisting what he considered an
illegal and disgracetul order ofthc Depart
mcnt, as he had been previously 10 the
opportunities or threats Of the slave-hun-
tiers. Ills commission was in the power
of the President to revoke at any time; his
honor was above the reach ofthc President:
it was dearer to him than all commissions.