Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-07-15

country, would not Immediately fall
on the frontier citizens for revenge, for
all experience proved that the evils of
war have taught Indians as well as
other people the value of peace, and
they have conducted themselves to-
wards their neighbors accordingly.
The Government of the United States
by no means concurred in these senti.
ments. The new Secretary of War,
Mr., Pickering, enqured when the line
could he run and made it known to the
Governor, that all ideas of offensive
operations were now to be laid aside,
Ana to make this purpose the more
striking and impressive, money was
sent to Col. King in the spring of this
year, to pay the militia, excepting that
part of Gen, Sewers brigade in service
in the year 1903, who did pursue the
Creeks and Cherokees, meaning those
who killed Cavet's family; and except
those who were at Nickaiack and Run.
ming Water in 1904. The government
believed that the whites on the from
tiers were the aggressors, and that the
Indians stood more in need of protec.
tion against them, than they against
the Indians. These steps were taken
to check the inordinate propensities'of
the people for embOdying and devas.
tating the Indian towns and settle
ments. In ordinary cases the correct
i've might have been a salutary one,
but in the present conjunoture its pro-
priety may with great plausibility be
doubted. For one Of the consequences
now to be apprehended was, that the
people might listen to the dictates of
nature, rather than The prudential les.
sons of authority, advising the giving
up their heads to the scalping knife,
and to die with resignation in hopes OF
better times. The truth is, that the
worried patience of the people began
to spurn the inanimate recommends
tions of the government, and to ques-
ton its title to the character of wisdom.
Symptoms of this opinion displayed
themselves in presentment of the
grand jury for the district of Hamil-
ton, at Knoxville, the place of the
Governors residence in April term of
this year. They presented as griev.
ance, that the executive officers of
government have withheld the pay of
the militia, which in 1893 followed the
trail of the Indians who had killed
Cavet and his family, under the pre-
tence that such pursuit, although au.
thorized by the person exercising the
Office of Governor was an offenSye
operation. And also, they presented
as a grievance amongst other things,
that this territory has not received the
same protection as those States which
are represented in Congress. The Gov.
ernor, it was suspected, was in no wise
to perceive the unfolding of
these sentiments. For his perpetual
thesis was, when speaking of the Creeks,
''Delenda eat Carthage" And for
more than year it had been inserted |
in every Gazette which issued weekly |
from the printing office in Knoxville,
which was understood to be under his |
and direction. He constant
~ urged the same topics to the Secre.
tary of War. He wished the people of |
the southwestern territory to be erected
nto a State, that having a representa-.
lion in Congress, they might acquire
,he same degree of consideration and
,he same protection that the neighbor-
ng States had. He stimulated the
people to do themselves justice on this
subject, for otherwise he thought they
would never receive their due share of
The new Secretary of War
began his communications with less
uavity than the Governor had been
to, and adverted to some
passages in a letter, implying, as he
aid, a disapprobatlon of the steps pur-
ued by the government. To which
he Governor answered that he could
give him better exposition. The ex-
'eption seemed to be more querulous
han useful, and to develop captious
,redisposition, which promised but
title accordance with the Governors
'iews, or those of the southwestern
people. Besides informing them that
I'll thoughts of offensive operations
must be laid aside, he declared to them
llso that no assistance should be given
% the Cbickasaws. After enumerating
many improprieties in the conduct of
he Governor and Gen. Robertson, he
lsed the following expression OF his
opinion: Upon the whole sir, can
lot refrain from saying, that the com
,lexion of some of the transactions in
he southwestern territories appesrs
to the public interests.
t is plain that the United States are
determined if possible to avoid direct
,r indirect war with the Creeks Con-
yress alone are competent to decide
lpon an offensive war. and Congress
lad not thought proper to authorize
t. The acts of individuals,a and especi-
llly of public officers, apparently tend
ng to such an event, ought not to be
'ilently overlooked. But permission
vas given in order to protect the Cum
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