The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-20

another case similar to tket of the Black War
rior, to seize the Island bs way of reclamation,
and negotiate afterwards
"Mr. Davis and others did not like the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Douglas, and the discussion at
| this stage of the proceedings became intensely
interesting, the best ability Of the participants
therein being put forth. Mr.. Slidell, of course,
advocated his own bill. Messrs Davis, Gwin,
Bigler, and Clay, favored the idea of increasing
to sufficient extent the foreign intercourse
fund, leaving the matter to the discretion ofthe
President as in previous cases. Mr.. IyersOn
thought that Spain could be wearied with the
question of Cuba by repeal of such parts Of
our laws as restrain the action of our citizens
towards foreign Powers, or something to that
effect
"The determination of the caucus was with
a few exceptions, to favor the recommendation
of the President, although the precise mode in
which 1t should be consummated was not so
clearly indicated, but the probability is, the
Senate will pass Mr.. Sldeirs BILL
A TREAsoNABLE CONspIRACY.-The Wash
ington Union makes the following grave charge
1t would seem to give countenance to the state
ment which We lately published from the Lon
don correspondent of the Boston AdDe,tiser.
Can it be true? Certainly the official organ of
an Administration which owes its existence to
the South, would not lightly make such charge
! They have no foundation in actual occur
| rences, but are intended for the mere purpose
of agitation. They are the coinage of magma
| ton, the base coinage of vicious and malicious
imagination. But they are only part of many
| cotempOraneOus circumstances, which reveal To
| the country an important fact. THEY IcdTH II Of
| oyH md Le he
Southern States against tie authority Of the
LaloS Constitution, md Government, tie cORtin-
Udnce OfHe Union and tie integrity Of all erist
ing Institutions not only IN the Southern .Siates
Jut az ereTy quarter that can be reached from,
tie Southern States. We see evidences of this
movement in the efforts to revive the African
slave trade, against the wish and conviction of
nine-tenths of the Southern people
VIOLATION OF THE FLAG OF TRUCE.
We publish below interesting extracts from
Mr.. Giddings's new work, the ExIes of Florida,
at the request of a subscriber. 1t gives the
facts authenticated by the public records in re
lation to the alleged violation of the flags of
truce during the Florida war. The work is
written with great care, after many years of re
search, and in the spirit of candOr and fairness.
1t contains important historical statements, in
volving the honor and character of the Govern
ment of that day, which its friends should look
to. If the statements Of Mr.. Giddings can be
shown to be inaccurate, or partial, or incom-
plete, it will behoove the friends of Mr.. Van Blu
rens administration to set the matter right 1t
will be borne in mind that the action of Gen
Jesup was reported to the War Department,
and duly approved, and thereby became the
action of the Government showing that he
acted within the scope Of his instructions.
We should be gratifed, in the name Of the
national honor, to see the picture presented by
Mr.. Giddings relieved by any extenuating facts
which may not have come under his Observa-
ton. But, unless such explanations are fur
nished, the public judgment will settle down in
the conviction that the case admits of no palli-
| ton
"The Cherokee Delegation had reached the
! Indian country. The address of John Ross
was directed to Wild Cat and Osceola, as two
of the principal Seminole chiefs. They were
| together, and received the talk Of Ross, the
! Cherokee chief, assuring them of the integrity
and honor Of the United States. After due
/ consideration, II was uclermlnCu ln;lJ W Ild Nat
| should comply with the ilial obligations due 10
his aged father bearing with him the peace
token of OsceOla, consisting of "A neatIywrought
bead pipe, together with beautiful white
| plume, to be presented to General Hernandez
as the assurance of OsceOas pacific desires
| Co-Hadio, another chief, bore a similar mes
| sage and emblems.
! "These were received by General Herman
dez, who communicated immediate information
thereof to General Jesup. They were propo-
sitions for negotiating peace forwarded at the
! special request and advice of the Cherokee
| Delegation, who were active in their efforts to
stop the efiusion Of blood, and restore harmony
between our nation and the Seminoles. By di.
rection of General Jesup, Hernandez returned
various presents to Osceola by Co-Hadio, say
ing that General Jesup and himself woutl be
glad to hold a conference with them. The
same assurances and presents were given To
Wild Cat, who also became the messenger be-
tween General Jesup and General Hernandez
on the one hand, and his brethren on the other
With the hope of efecting an arrangement
beneficial to his friends and to mankind. Mild
Cat left San Augustine with the promise to re
turn in ten DAYS.
"Pmctual to the day, he returned with the
very satisfactory assurance that Osceola aud one
hundred Indians, and as many Exiles were on
pose of entering upon negotiations With the
intention of Fastening their arrival, and mani
Testing an earnest desire for peace, General
Hernandez proceeded, with Wild Cat and other
friendly Seminoles, to meet the advancing
chiefs, some twenty miles southwest Of San
Augustine, at place called Pelican Creek
Here he learned that Osceola would Join them
at evening. General Hernandez left a quantity
of provisions with them, and desiring them 10
select their encampment for the next day (Oct
22) somewhere near Fort Peyton, at which place
he would meet them with proper escort, left
them, and returned to San Augustine They
accordingly encamped the next day near Fort
Peyton, situated seven miles southwest from
San Augustine. They approached their en-
campment with great formality-OsceOla and
other chiefs bearing white flags, expecting to
meet a suitable escort under General Herman
dez, with the MISUNDERSTOOD intentions of en-
tering upon diplomatic negotiations with that
grave dignity for which the Indian is so much
distinguished. These flags were kept flying in
their encampment through the night and the
next morning.
"At ten o'clock, (Oct. 23,) General Herman
dez, accompanied by his staff and by most of
General Jesup's staff in full dress, met them
as had been promised, with the apparent pur-
pose Of escorting them to headquarters at San
Augustine. After the ordinary Salutaions had
been exchanged, instead of preparing TO march.
General Hernandez from a written paper sign
ed by General Jesup, read the following dues
tons, addressed to Osceola Are YOU prepared
at once to deiirer mp the negroes taken from me
citizens Why have You not surrendered them
already as promised by Col Had 10 at Fort King?
Have the chiefs of the nation held council on
this subiect?'
"a