The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-28
TIL. S. JESUP.
QUARTERMAsTER GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington Civ, Feb. l2, 1915

TIL. S. JESUP.
QuARTERMAsTER GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington City, Feb, l2, 1915.
SIR: have received your letter, dated yesterday, in
relation the claim of the heirs OF the late General Wat
son. of Georgia. and have the honor to state in reply,
that in the year 1886, when commanded the army ope
rating against the Creeks in Alabama and Georgia, was
ordered by the President of the United States 10 raise
corps OF Creek warriors, and send them to the aid OF Gen.
Call, then commanding the army operating against the
Seminole Indians in Florida. E.sb
raised regiment and placed II under the command OF
the late Col Lane, and authorized him TO promise the
chiefs and warriors all the Seminole property they should
capture, fair equivalent for it,
The regiment left Alabama in September joined Gen
Call early in October, and served under his immediate
orders during the campaign IN which ne commandsd
Having closed the Creek war was ordered rs to FLORIDA
mand OF the army there. Up to that period no negroes
had been taken from the enemy except about forty by
bred Alabama volunteers eighty regular soldiers, and
single Indian warrior. Finding, when ! assumed the
command the enemy dispersed the whole territory
OF Florida, compelled 10 divide my small force into
six different deachments four of those detachments
were accompanied by Indian Warriors In January and
February 1887 many negroes as well AZ cattle and horses
were captured. The cattle taken by the Indians were
paid for by the commssary; the horses they were allow
ed SELL and the negroes were sent 10 the depots In
order that might be ascerained how many oil them
were the bona fde property OF the Seminoles, how
many were free, and how many oil them belonged
to- and had been captured from, the citizens OF Flor
ida In regard to the negroes, IT was diffeut TO de-
the troops generally the women and children had been
captured by the combined force, and the men almost en-
tirey by the volunteers and regular troops could not
permit families 10 be separated, would have been the
consequence OF pro rata division OF the slaves besides,
hoped to make some OF them useful guides should
hosies be renewed or as messengers 70 oe inaaa
posed TO those who were interested that an equivalent
should be paid to them in money-all assened to the
proposition and left il to me TO determine the amount TO
be allowed As the army had aided in the capture OF the
slaves and the public had been at the expense OF guard
ing feeding, and clothing them for several months con-
sdered eight thousand dollars far equivalent Tor the
claims OF The warriors and directed that II should be paid
10 them Pass Christian, where they were TO be mus
tered out OF service They left me at Tampa Bay perfectly
satisfied but Influenced by white men, as have reason
10 believe they expressed dissatisfaction when they ar
rived at the Pass and refused to receive the sum which
had directed TO be paid. In addition 10 the sum OF
eight thousand dollars, they had been promised twenty
dollars each for thyhve negroes belonging to cihzens
OF Florida which they had captured
In the foregoing statement you have all the iacts IN the
case so far as concerned; and II IS not, perhaps,
10 the understanding oil the matter that
should add anything to what has been already said But
my right to make the arrangement with The Indians on
which the claim OF General Watson Is based has been
| questioned by men of abilities and intelligence, and
whose integrity is undoubed and II seems to be due
myself that my own view OF the case SHOULD pe pre-
sented in order that my conduct and motives may be
correctly understood by my countrymen, and particularly
by that portion OF them composing the national leglsa-
ture The commander OF an army, like an ambassador
or other public minister. under the laws OF nations,
where his authority is not modified by the laws and
constitution OF his own country by the positive in
structons OF his government Congress, though has
legsated in regard TO captures at has not legsaied
in regard to captures land but has lett Them TO be dis
posed of according to the laws OF nations In land
war all movable property captured vests under the law
of nations absolutely in the captors and whether had
made any promise the Indians or not they would have
had fair claim their proportion OF the captured prop
eriy | belle ved was bound, by the only code appica
bic 10 the case to allow them that proportion; but !
claimed no right to put forth any arbitrary definition OF
my own as TO what constituted property Inc prisoners
who were free recognised as persons-those VINO We're
slaves as property. As the commander oil the army,
was the humble representative OF nation composed Of
slayehoding and non saveholding States. Had that
army been operating the northern frontier would not
have recognised negro prisoners property; but opera
ting in n slayehoJing community, | was bound by the
Ter loci and could not avoid considering and ueaung
them az propey-particularly when thrd paiues were
concerned | intended 10 do that which was right "
| erred | had high authority to sustain me. Inc aisuh
gushed statesmen who formed the commission onehs
a majority OF whom citizens OF non-slaveholding
States solenly recognised and stipulated for as proper
ty slaves captured by the British forces 10 the late war
My arrangement with the Indians was approved oy
the Secretary OF War, with, have understood, me
sanction OF the President Under that arrangement tne
holders of the Indian claim Justly entitled 10 eight
thousand seven hundred dollars. or the claim OF Zen
Watson founded upon the purchase of the negroes from
the Indians at Washington under the authority OF the
| Indian department. was not aware until this morning
was apprized OF an order TO surrender the negroes, but
protested against the and probably bad some IN
iluence in preventing u from being carried out ~ the
Indians were In fact dissatisfied With the sum assigned
10 them il sound policy the part OF The govern,
men 10 satisfy them by the payment OF money, but u bad
no right to give them the negroes -, : ,,.o,,n
The Hon II CoBs, House Of Representatives, Wash
ipgion City