The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-30
The Cases OF ArbutIlnot nsbrIster AVID tho Cu-
ban

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! Mr. EDITOR have been much struck with your
iorcble observations upon the folly OF parallel between
the case of ATbuhnot and Ambriser and that OF Crit
ienden and his followers in the Cuba INVASION and was
81 ad to see the communication OF A. b. with the extract
from Mr. Adams's despatch of the 2Sth November lsls
to our minister in Spain. Well may the writer .hazard
the suggestion that, possibly Mr. Monroe and his cab
net may have formed their judgment of the conduct of
General Jackson in the referred 10 with as much
! knowledge OF public law as is possessed by the
editor of the Republic" And we'll have you declined
Mr. Editor to let the absurd,y of the attempted parallel
urge You into defence Of that ustrious citizen for his
conduct in The Seminole war"conducl" which, as YOU
justly observe "has long since passed from the scu-
MIXING ordeal OF the public opinion of this country and
has contributed probably much the victory of New
Orleans TO sgnaize its author and endear him to the
national recollection"
Rightly declining, then, as you have 10 enter upon
this theme, still less would presume TO touch it, But
tempted, notwithstanding 10 send you passage from
work that appeared some years ago. of an authentic
character, in which the execution OF Arbuhnot and Am
bster IS placed in light srkngy in contrast with
that OF our fellow countrymen in Cuba, that il must
heighen if anything can. the enomity of such parallel
onfmng all your own well-expressed views
Mr.. Rush, in his memoranda of q residence al The
court OF London, where he for many years our min
ster has given full account of that celebrated case of
Arbuhno and Ambris,er. In his official capacity it de-
volved upon him. under instructions from our govern
men-Mr. Adams being Secretary Of Stae-,o represent
the in its true light TO the government of Great
Britain and interesting narrative is given, occupying
portions OF several chapters of the book, OF his official
interviews with Lord Cas,lereagh the English Foreign
Secretary the occasion referred 10. II would swell
this communication 10 undue length TO extract the whole
OF The narrative and would be violate the spirit OF the
disclaimer which leads you to decline at this day any.
thing like vindcauon Of conduc: upon which the udg
OF the country and poserity has it's approving
| Ruf TecOfl ia ypru MAR
and 10 the generation which has grown up since
many OF whom the may be new il is believed that
portions of the narrative will not be unacceptable
After several preliminary interviews with Lord Castle
resgh, Mr. Rush says under date OF the ll,h OF Janu
airy, 1919, (vol. Up A73)
at was not enough tina, the act could be technically
justified by the strict laws OF nalonsa sheer right OF
war / felt that il ought 10 stand on broader grounds
that it ought 10 be indicated 10 humanity less than
justice.
:" said to his lordship that full Justice could not be
rendered 10 the United States If the unhappy
looked at simply by itself II was indispensable 10
consider il in connexion with principles and facts which,
for a succession OF years, had been interviewer with
their history, II not my design, said 10 enter fully
mnutey into this held but should be unable TO rep
resen, in their spirit the views, or fulfil the expec.
tations. OF my government If did not 60 into il par.
tally That It seemed difficult for Europe understand
the precise relations OF policy and feeling subsstng be-
tween the United States the Indians bordering upon
or living within their territory In many respects the
misconceptions were fundamental; these Indians were
tons towards the United States were indeed 30 anoma-
lous there such absence OF all standards Of
parison in Europe that the rights and obligations OF the
United States scarcely perhaps oil nature TO be &C
curaely appreciated bu, by themselves ], seemed part
OF their system more than any o,her-local and ex
| elusive.
their homes for the consideration OF nations that had
gone Lplore us We had 10 take them we found them
The policy and intentions Of nation could nowhere be
better read than in It's acts OF legislation and habtua
conduct Judged by BOTH not only would be found that
the United States pursued just treatment towards the
Indians but ansoy sought AZ o ways ss0 Oeeg Ss
their own consent They formed treaties compacts
with them, guarantying all their rights. Their laws
hibed dealings with them by which they might be az
grieved and in every practicable way sought TO dfuse
among them The lights and comforts of civilization.
But all these just aims had too often tailed, through
causes which the United State. could not prevent and
sincerely deplored When peace with the Indians had
been interrupted, il was never BY the wish OF The
/ United States In the border strife that preceded
omen hostility, aggression almost necessarily came
/ from the Indian He lived in the forest; his at
tack upon the whites wa, under cover oil night or IRON
hi. ambush by day. whole families were thus surprised
and cut off by him, whilst pursuit could hardly ever
reach him until the tardy force OF government was
called out In this had our frontier inhabitants
been slain throughout successive generations But left
/ to himself, the Indian was no, always dangerous
neighbor If, when reused, he took revenge, he was
not destitute OF peaceful vnues and he was, moreover,
essentially the weaker party. When the government
moved its force, which long experience had shown II
was ever slow do he IN the end 10 be routed
and overcome. Hence II nothing else prevented his in
cusops self interest would be check II not for
the i1sredding Of Others, who, with the double guilt Of
real enmly TO the Indian and the United States became
the party truly responsible for the fate that awaited the
former as we'll the buioheres inflicted upon the IN
habi,anl. of the latter.
And here | said came 10 painful but ndlspensa.
bic par, OF my duty. ] was compelled TO declare That
nv government, resting upon sufficient proofs was sat
isied our Indian generally, with the massaeres
on the frontier always their preludes, had originated 10
one and the cause that they hal been produced by
B,i6h aisrs inuding themselves with evil intentions
among the Indians To recapua,e the proofs wond not
be dficult--American history contained them. single
instance mi be adverled 10.
" The events OF the late war, which threw the bag
gage Of General Proctor into the hands OF the Americans
had put the government of the United States in posses
son of documents TO show that il not all the Indian
wars which President Washington had been compelled 10
wage the most formidable Of them ins,iga,ed and
sustained on the side of the Indians by British afrs.
The enormy OF such conduct the iel, in the
United States there alone that its consequences
were experienced II was known how explicit had been
The rsusals oil the OF the United States 10 ad.
nit npdsr any preence whatever, British traders among
M. Indians within their borders from what motives,
might be conlectnred from all that was saying. That
hs Maiesy's government had disowned all connexion
with these agents in their work OF death, was well
known which only exhibited their crimes under deeper
dye seeing that they persevered IN pepeaung mem N
The name Of his Msjesys government, hooking It's JUS
ice abusing lis dignity and misleading the poor indian
bn the more fatally by claiming to be invested WIN US
high auspices and support lere wasihe iogoa'n p the
evil " any long train OF ouirages and suherlngs along
Their frontier could be supposed TO affect the sensoihes