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MMIVII
*pnv»u op WPiif.iKxrAmM.
JiiiMury, I O'.
fn c m*"!''* »f lh**»*hi»l«> *« H»- «»st*
• n( lira Union, 1U* r -*olutl«n rvpoMnl toy
Dm summit is* on wiliiiry *IT<if** 4tnl th*’
|>rn||innl lll>l(l>i brD'fi un
itir
Mr. «f Vajimt, said i» ***•
WHS sensation 4 very dtff'vonf from IW<
-WtD*to *r* plrsnoralitv, tl>»t ho rnleird un
th* inverilitilton nf autgru. •hi<*>
Die atiniim and ihiiibwilini «'
ril'tMmiKlt T«* W t .ra|irl|rd, said he.
ti* iiDM*i»ti«M Un* i»nduet of the bijS ontl
»#■••**• "Mho sownim-nli
«l.f« warn'd sml «dm«m«hnl by every fm i
winch w»U my *>r, Dial t »b*H to* com-
,„ji*.t to dH»|»|>i»** «h-»t cnn.lutl, coo
vrrb l« mu • ple»**'*>d» iimy. k» •'
,ki||*ri**t» MltSe'i'inslher. jni^.ntativi- nl >
n ir*m«i.f"i* prnpf* «*f the U H. It «"0i-i
In- iii,. priilo «n I pit***** "f mt heart. I
(x> i oabicd siway* t<»|. ovothi' officer*of my
aiivMimirnt n«M, *nd In pri*r Die rn-
mi, • iif my ti'wnny and the enormia* «•
(iVly neon*. Helur* I pruevvd, »»fi 1
Mvit nntif a rmuih mart* bv by Ihvlmo
(rntfi non from Ma*sitcHo*rti
(Mi, lliiimi* > I m cony tb*t * <•" ft"
,iKi- tin til ■ (triillemvll In Hi* wot —
(Mr. Iliilmn* co«i.i) fir rnnirkci! Dial«
tn»'l. |,m* p*n**«*tio" *»»'• •*'*" common*
,,t ||,,. president of the Unfed Stole,
t i|.i inK |ti*riw ly un<trr»lonil thr ffr»tli*
miu l*y wh'im'has Ilil* nmlirinu* pr
(OUOI ti'rrn mmsi'lired? filer* Mi
■ Hulun a finv *»"l eVpMn'd. lie .till lb
remark wo* iulrinl„.| reply tit on o'.
limn made «n yesterday by honors.
tiV «ttlrmmi fi«m OrKpi (Mr. Cobb)
*»bo «, i'in«il *o inmiutolr tbot ttmr in
ttmcoiMi. given In crnrrol Jacktnn lit
fe rn * i tupi ) Mr. ChalmwDii 1 Imltf it
C> he * TOml*«*iit«il principle, Dim «*eiy
u tfi rr in,* vio'.’rnmr I, from lb* hiff'i
<« (,< lit,' !ii*r»t, |« re«)mii*ilil» to tb* pm
pit fur the luonnn m »hirli hr ho* ill*
«h»i<e*l thr iltttiM nf hi* «Bco. It i* ••*
tin. (irmelplr thotthr nmreinmenlilrprnd
f,i» it* pripltnlty—for it* r*p»,'ilT In »•
t*i, (o the p,",.'ple .if thr Cnileil ^l»tr.
a, n r. pr tlprrily, lt'trrly, *i,d hoppinr*.
11 there »ny tmllrinlli nhn he*r* me tin
ivn*ii*ii'.linn thr tiuthuf thi. politli ol mix
Irn^ I. thrro »ny nlficrr, hii»«u»r ill.tin
»Hiii*t **il by Motion, ui the •(•Imitur nl hi'
Mii'iln' irrrtcr*, whn i* itinoiMiiiff to *nb
mil I nr tmr.tigiiinn »f ht* public art*, f
* romlnl.itrliUrrote on l ilrmruU* in* *
'molin’! by the rrpre* •nt*li*r» of the prn
pt-i fl tlirrr be on* »mb officer, I p.o
nunn, v Hu,i o Mranjer, an alien in tlit.ol
f«, lion* ol the peuplr, mil lltol ll i» Inn
to *e| ml of him. Toe moment tint any
ml lhi*ffn», rnment denira that hr f.
mpmttiblr for thr loiliiful ami currrcl
im lurnr i f hi* public ilutir*, from lh.il
nnlmer.t hr liefnmra lUliffrrnU*. Sir, I am
aniumt fin* i)ur*tnm on ob*lr«i I prinn
pie* l ha«« no rrfrrrnrr to tnilttiiluil*
J mv* nn Irclin** t iotrotily. I prr«umr
Dnt a hii|;h<ni'>nlrd Inmorolilr man. ■•> fa<
frmti r*oilit»4 attinre.tiffalinn ol hi* public
cmi'lucti tn* inmnenl hr di»rii*ered the
'•ln'il'*! iihadr nf »u«pirion hootring o»er
t'ir pair • foilhlul oml lejil iliorlioruo o'
In* pu'illc dulir*wo*1d court in*r»tir*tmnt
thoVb*' w mid pir*rnl bim*r|f ol the bar
of thr piddle i and ileniiod an invratigatinn
ol hi* conduct.
Sir, I mill procrcd to an*w*r ill* ar/pt
amrftii tif th* (rnib'inon Imm Maaaacltu
,jjl* (Mr. Holme*)—the argumentr »ub
rnittrd on tbia d.iy, initthnw offrn-il on
*..«ti'idoy. Hie gentleman took great pain*
;, n ye,t-rJ*y m conduct ut to the line
which ri-parata* Florida from the United
-r prove that an American gen*
«. tl. when Millinr.aeil by the president nl
the flnitni State*, hod trie right to march
*u Vii-ricno army throagb thn Untied
Snli’*, l#ia lie**** and, utter minogii
tirn'ocguini'eit wifi great »kill and ailrnit
n.„, in' t If L toein n*er the line, wheru h
|,.|| u* Sir, I *holl net «a*te the time
the tn in ill i. at. ti* conte»ting priucipl
amml which i n boJ* cntert.i'n* a iloubf
bui niueeei* at once tu Penaocola. and
ei.ni'Mt diu.fluea which in**' been bid-lly
advinced, but winch have been *u«toineil
mcKiier h* precedent, rea.on or law.
Hod geuer.ll fhekion the r^ht t.1 to cap
ttne Veuwciiir and the Huo'ica.f Sir, J
*,,!i to treat truecjueoticm with Die m«*t
p..,lect condor »nd fairnena. To »a*e the
tr.iublc id fcei|ucot reference* to book*, f
have tron«cribrJ from Vattcfa’ law of na
tiun* Dm *triiuc'»t principle* in lavnr
the roU' «e pie. *"ted by the comroande;
end'. I tv»oc nnqheilion that there are
t*inie* of V I'.tel’* law of nation* tn the
Iniiu*. ll .»iC gei.tl unen doubt* tan c»r
retiuo** of the quotation*, I hope he w*
are the ten with the original. It
1 u | down ny Vatiel. page 4U), that *«.
tr-.ne .tcce.iilr nn* even author*** the
temporary *eit »re ot a pi ice (in a neutral
countev) "oml the putting a garrison tuerc-
in t >r 'defen ling iti' ll og nn.t an enemy,
or prone nil' $ bi n in hi* dcngn* of iritnig
ghtiT|Mw-wg..w» 4n*i .av'btt t^tt id I»«»t A!bW
(«• lefon I tt. lift, ibuoa the ilaugfri*
of WM. ***»» bo found tb• full®unof »t*t«.
en i "The term* «r- more ttian a con-
irreil enemy, woahl l.aee oicnted. but.
mler tfid pocullor c-ream*ta nee* ol D.e
f„ t< tux object oblatnod. Iheire »a, no
motife lor w mnding Die fe. ftnga of tbo.«
ynte military pride or hnnoir»im prompt-
eil to t!.< mwtancc made. Thu ‘article*,
iUi Ir.t one condition, a»«mnl! to a <“«•■
■•(.rim cewioit (•> the United Stale* of that
portion of to r I’l-eKM. Hitherto aoder Die
/iifriiinfnl•(••kJhm
thv MsmiriMr br«*n <cittfre«»
ml, littrullvaiiiileiven and reifaeed, and
.in longer lo* be viewed a* a formidable
eficoiv. vat. aa Dtere are many amall war-
udiug pirtie*, «uppo.'d to b* concealed
ji the *wamp* of reiAdo, Choctawkatehjr,
4ml Uhapouiy, oho ought make occatiunal
•nd «udilen inmad* oo ourlr«r.tier tettler*,
■n*,*acreing women and children, » bavo
* <m»d it ail*i»*ble to rail into «*i vice for
.t iiiinth*, it not »o*ner ili*chaiged, two
innpuine* of vofinteer rangef, undn
aptaitia McOirt and Boyle*, pitb in»truc
l»u to *cnot the cnui t-y between the
Mobile and Appalaclucoi* river*, elter
•oiiiatingeiery nrwtile parly who dare re-
.••I, and will out surrender, and remove
null ilieir laonliex, above lli* 31*1 degree
lalilud".** to (be fell* r of thu e3ih ul
May, Id 18, from general Jack*"" to don
Jo»e Meant, cominandiog ne Barranca*.
HI be I'land Dm follnwlwg ioipi.ftanl
itrinrol III fatl*: *-lba*« imly to rep.-a,
it the liairauca* mu*t be occupied uy
■ Ar.ariitan garri»on,and, again, t« tcu-
rr V.iu the term* nfered, if amicably *ur-
emir,red. Ke»i»t.ince would be a wantoi
tcrifice o| Wood, liw which y m and and
•ur garruun will have lo atone You
annul.expect tn d'icod joumall *u re*»-
•al'y. oml Ibi Ar«t * iot lr.on your I I nu-t
draw down apon'yo i th* vengeancean i*
■tail'd noldierjr.'l am well advued ol you,
irenitl.h, ami cannot uut rrmark on Die m
onanlrU' y of pretuming yourulf capabl
f ri-ai.ting an army which l.aa cooquerrii
or Jii'll,to tribe*, too »trona, agreeable •<
vour nw nacauuwlcdgemeot, tubrcontroll
I by you "
Mr t hairman, after this *Utrm< nt nl
tael* by tbr commando f general, permit
rie,»ii enquire whether any member uf tin
JKinittrc can believe that tin* etirrm
Cirwlly eSKlril, which would axillori*
general, in a nruiml country, tempera
ill* tn * tS* a place, and put a gariiam,
i.’rvio for defending himtetf againvt tin
weniy, or preventing 'dm, in bis de»ign* •
.'•ging thi* place. What, »li! Alter tli
onuii tribe* hail been conq mred. will,
vhooi wa* the general waging wai? Nm
ilb Spam. Not o ilh Uir Indian tribe*.
<«u*e the** trihe* h r had tubdueil nod
• nquere.J. M here, then, wa* the nerr*
illy, the urgent and exticme ncce**ity
• lilih would liaec juatilrd an absolute «o
vurrlgn, yn wbo*r fi ll ilcprnileil war an<
piMir, in li.u* forcibly pn»»r*»io{ him**!
•f ihevi" place* and po»u, in a ncuira
utnlnf
it ot ol ti -1 ii i di.it-iv turren.
l« necc«*ity vxul? VV*» the
diatvly turrcniicred?
eaivt-
Did thi
ing vtute ol ad nr* -ueb a* would have au-
therm d a ciiui.nin lar, po**e*ird of a
-Dentry power to !m*o captcired Pcn-acola
ai.iI the Harrancu*? In order to i'certain
fa t* nec«*»ary to a correct decision uf
t .i* important quctttoa, l beg permi-sion
to ruler the hunoriule committee to the
circepunileBC! of general Jackson with
-hr g-nernor ol Tm.icola, and the »ecrey
ahiy.ifwar. . n Die letter of general Jack
‘on, uf (be ill awe* 1818, to the aecretar
M‘c aw told by the honorable gentleman
Imm Matnachuaett*, (Mr Holm..) th
M|lain bad not maintained her n”uti.i|re-
.t>'Oi*t Dial *hc had vi.'dwteil her trraiy —
And priy, air, who ronvtituted grorml
J.ickmn in* judge I"decide whether Spam
had *n violated her treaty and her m-u:i ,1
relation* witu the United 8>.le«,a* to lur
ii*h tn thi* guvriBini'iit ju.tifiable iau*r
d war again' Ii*rr Not the president id
(he United 8'atc*{ because he ha* tiu p w
er, uu auto,illy, lo decide the qui'«tiun
■nnikcif. The people of the United State*
bail too many melancholy rviJeacesol tie
,iUuv * ol tint power, whrn confided to
.ingle rarrative magistrate, ever to tru
their tranquility, repoar and happiness, r
individual discretion and prudence. U
their constitution, they can fully and cau
tiuusly confided thi* great, tin* iinporlanil
power, ot declaring war, la their repre
sentative*—to IM congreau of thr Uoited
Stile*. Has general Jackson him.clfjus
tified the occupation ot Pensacola ami the
Barranca* under that extreme necessity
which, according to the lawn of natmui
li»pen»ev with the right* nl property, an
jastifiea the temporary seizure of a putt in
a neutral country? No, air; toe gene'al
had f.tr different view* when he entere '
P.-iiiacola and captured the Barranca*.—
The term* of capitulation prove it; his let’
ter, already referred to, of the 2d of June
to the »ecrrt*-f uf war, prove* it. Permit
me again to refer to that letter, iu order to
ascertain the view* and the objects nf Die
general. He certainly understood his own
motives, bis principles of policy, at least.
,4 well a* ’.hoie who have attempted tn
defend his conduct. In the truer uf June
the 2d, the general remarks, “ the Serai
nolo w ar may now be considered at a close
tranquil"* again restored to the southern
fcoutier *•< the United States, and as long
as a curdnu id military post* »» maintained
slmig the liutf of Mexico, America has no*
thing to apprehend from either foreign or
Indian hostilities. Captain Gadaden is in
structed to prepare a report on the neces
sary do fences of the country, as far as the
military rrconnoissances will peunit, ac
companied wuh plans of Die existing
works; what additions or improvements
are nee* siry, and whagnew works should,
in hi* opinion, be erected, to give peema-
nertt s-curitv to thi* important territorial
add".on to our republic.” I appeal to the
taielor of gentlemen to say, with what
i-w Pensacola and Barrancas were for-
ci .‘.v occupied- Was it to prevent the
enrniy, (the Seminole Indians, the Red
Sucks and the n.-gro brigands) in his tie-
aigu of *«iic.ing these places; or of enabling
(be general to defend himself against the
enemy? The Indian tnb< » were conquer
ed. fne general bimsell exultioglyspeaks
of his conquest —if the important territori
al addition to our republic; and puints out
to the secretary uf war the iuture policy ut
Die goverutuecl of the United Slates; treats
as visionary the idea ot tort" j mg an ima-
ginary Hue ou the 31st degree uf latitude,
in a wilderness: and proposes to maintain
a cordon of military posts along the (iulf
of Mexico. Was this war, sir? Was it
war against Spain? It was—it must be
considered as war. it was the application
•f military force for the purpose of ms«ng
conquests of i.*.n..-» rmhury po.U of he
th* Spanish goverainewfo Y orida. !1*»
the government of the Uuited State* the
constitutional tuthmiiy to *•*** .
the view to conquest? I must be p na t-
ted to doubt. I presume it nut **
pretended, that either general Jick*on or
!h« president of the United states has he
constitutional right to wagy war* ' ur 1
purpose of making territurial additions t»
•>ur republic. The president of the Uo"
nl State* ha* furnished the most conrlu-
ave evidence of the opinion which he eu
terrains on Die subject of his powers to
place the United Sutc* « abefhgerentai.
(itatie forri^n oatainf. e m
*11 the order* Imm tr.e wjr depat tm-m,
llie inost cau'ious circuni»pecli‘ ,,, l Die mo*t
apparent relucUoce to suthvrise the luorrh
ot the American force* mt« Klond*; t ie
inu,t |oisitivc injunction* to re»pict th l
Spanish authontiev. Jhi* u« ol toe noli
ur* forces ot Die United S'cite*, tor tb>-
purpose of conquest—of m ixing itupor*
luul territorial adiliUonato our repuolic
must be viewed us ar. act of »ur again*'
Spun, and, in Uut view, ntu.n be console.
••I as an u,».p.itioa of *e power* of th
congress ol Uic (Joltef Sla" *5 as a vmlu-
lion of the cuostiiutiou ol the Unitm
states.
We are informidby the honorable gr■ -
tleman frum Maa*ichusetts. (Mr. Il' liiies)
Dial the trial aud Itecution of Afbuthn't
and Ambnster istne gieai subject ul dis
pute. 1 differ Pum the linnoiable gentle
men)—I console* tbe executT**n ol tlirsi
miscreants, a» tiny hive necu called, as but
the fragment of .lie great aubj. ct in dis
pute. it ia tlie ssurlation of power, the
violation of coiisttutiun ol th" Unitcn
Slates, the wagingofwar against a nation
with which we were it peat e, Diet 1 con
sider as presculiog tks ques'mn moat in
let eating lo thepenpliof tbr United Stales.
vVhat, sir, wa* the caitiou* and delicat'
course pursued by tie exi-cutue insg's-
trate of the United Situ, it i turinei pe
riod ol our history, m a suited which
■night involve the exircise ol rights pm
i«:riy belonging to tie contn-** of tb*
Jiiilro States? In tbe year 1793, the go
vernmrnl of the Unites States was engag
d in an Indian War. The British g"» l 1 "•
men! had retaioeJ. rn(tia-y to the treaty
*•11783, the post* of 3 tro" and Micln-
nac. The govirn-ir i| Canada erected .'
nilitsry post foriv-fiui mile* within oui
.cknowleilged lioiits.it tne Mi..mi "I th
Uses. Fnim these several posts the I"
iiuns were regularly Wipplii'd with provi
ions, and the mu ■■ itiuiws ol war Toe ques
tion wocthrr our cniimander, general
Way lie, should posits* and hold—hot the
two former post., winch were solemnly re*
gnintila* D<e property of the United
-fates, but Die latter, on the Miami uf t il'
skes, wtm.li had been tortuously “reeled
ii.I in violation ol tee principles of ju>
ice .rnl of law. wa* by the cabinet ttnan
in. J»ly decidvd in Die negative, unless D"
l iking of thi* post became indisp- nsubl<
io Die "p'rauons of the army, tieuerc
Washington and Mr. JefPrsou were mem
n il nl tne catonet. J bare in my eye an
honoi able Iriend from Ohio, from whom I
■blamed this statement. He will correct
ur " 1 am iua curate. This, perhaps, may
•e cmiiilered a* acme ot ex'reme tl-licacy
l’erhap. I should myself have decid'd dif
trrei.llv. it,hobevor. shews with wha
rare and circumrper.iion the patriot* and
statesmen <d former timev avoided the ex
.■rose of doubtful rights Hnw determin
ml they wire tint to usuip powers which
•y the cnnslitutii'n. had been vested in tin
-•origres* nf tlit) United Stales. We are
admonished by tie delicacy of our situ*
linn in making Mis investigation, in refer
rnee to nur existing negociations amt d"
lerenevs with thiSpanifch government.—
Spain, pour, imUtcil.*, miserable, and dr
graded, as she has been represented—she
nas uothing to do with investigations hr
ihe;nvrrnineut"f the U.S. and our officers
It i» not in accordance with her policy, nnr
in acquiescence tv her views er demands,
that this enquiry is made, Spain has given
to us the most abundant and just.fi,blr
causes of isar For one, whenever the
question of war with Spam shall be consti
tutionally subm tted to roe, l shall be pre
pared to act iffi. lently on Die subject.—
But, sir, what has been the situation of
the government of the United State*.? At
tue very moment that a negotiation was
going on at this place, under the sanction
of the presidi-nt.ofthe United States with
Mr. Don Ome, general Jackson, at the
head of an American army, wa> forcibly
possessing himself of the country, captur
ing St. Marks and Pensacola, entering,
at the head of In* victorious and con
quering army, the Barrancas; making the
-'important territorial addition to our
repuotic.” 1 ask if this conduct on the
part of Die commanding general, in vio
lation of his orders, was not calculated
to prsduce some embarrasssments to the
president of the United State-? If it was
not calculated to produce some slight ef
fect in the pending m g.iciation? And,
how, sir, is this violation—thi* pr istration
of the Spanish authorities in Florida, jus
iified? By tntft extreme necessity Ian
down by Vattel—by the writers oa nation
al .=->v. No, sir, it is justified by tbe same
principles: the same reasoning resorted to
by the British government to justify the
rapture of the Danish Bret. The British
government proclaimed to the world, that
it was not from hostility to Denmark, but
merely to prevent tne ilect from failing in
to the hands of Bonaparte, «f th: euemy
of Great Britain, that site bad takcu pos
session ot this 3eet. It was with the view
to secure Atnenca by establishing and mnn-
taiiiingaconlotof military posts, along the
Gulf of Mexico from foreign ur Indian ho=
ulities to makean “important territorial ad
dition to our republic,” that general?ackson
made the congests iu Fiurida. Vbe cap-
tune of St. Mail is as uiijuatiable as the
conquest airealy referred to. Tbe com-
maudant of tbit post made every submis
sion, teuderedeyery thiog which it was in
Ins power to (fter, short of cummitlting
treason again*' hit government, fo gen
eral Jackson hc-gave a solemn plefige That
he would avail himself of the e»rlie.-t op
portunity to obtain permission from the
npetent authority lo surrender the post
... the mean time, he proposed to the gen-
erel to station a corps of his troops, in the
vicinity ol the pos*. to co-operate, if uece--
s.irv, in its defence against the Indians and
“roe*. This pi ‘.ositi.in wav spurned.
.".Marks furnished * convenient liapot.—
knottier principle uf the law ul nation
a- been relied on to furnish Die apology
f juvtifiistmn for thc-e conquests. Vat
•I, pa. -413, npi-liking i>r neutral nation-,
ays it down that t.ey are “not to afford
retreat to troops, that they may again at
tack the" euemies.” inis doctrine cer
tainly does not apply to a flying, scattci
trreii, broken, beaten enemy—fly ing fro..
atli and destruction, but, to au enemy
etreatmg with the view to rccomuii nc
.he attack. Let geutlemen beware th..
they do not push this doctrine too lar —
How many unfortunate Frenchmen hav
-i n compelled to fly from the certain des
action which awaiud them in Lurop.
anil to seek an asylum uu nur peacelu.
lores, under our mild, five, ami happy
nn of g virniuvuf? Would the alln -
ive llie right to pursue them here, and.
II refusal to surrender ahem, to make war
upon us? I should uuiuoly conceive not.
I piocetd to examine into the propriety o
ur course pursued on the trial aud , ie-
utiuu of Arbulliuot and Ambrislcr. It i»
id down by Vattel, p. 418, “An enemy
not lo be kill, d ufter ceasing to resisl;’’ in
me same page, “a particulai case except-
t. Yet, as a piuice or hi* genvral has
rht of sacrificing the life of Uisrnemie.-
.’his safety, and that of his men, if he i-
en -aged wiln an iub'iinaii enemy, who lie
q.irully commit* enormities, ht aypiars In
liav: a right of refusing life lo some ut in.
Isolicts he may take, and of treatm.
them as his were tiealedjbatBcipio’ageo-
rusity is- rather to be imitated.” Du.
irbulhnol and Ambnster come with n '.hi
articular exception. 1 tnrg attention to
ic- caielul and particular manner m which
ns ili-tinguished writer lays down tlm
nporlanl principle. The p. nice, tor lur
wu salety, appears to have theng.it t
take Die life, of his prisoner. Tne general
'or hi- own salety aud that uf his men.
ppears to have Die right lo take tbe I"
I ms pusoner. This humane autli i
m ills disposed to guard this daugeruo-
uuciple a» effectually as pussoie. .1
reselll» two distinct propositions. Tin
eneiat, wheu in the ti. lo, at a distune,
rom lus goveiuiuent, wueu ins ial. ty, oim
at ol Ills oeu, require it, upp a is, (in tm
vvui ub i»l M»»: uutuoi'?) tii IluVc Ctc it 1“
ake the fife ol ms prisoner. Tojus'ily
_ neial iu ' X rusing this mgu anu
miporiaui powci ul Uenyuig o uu uu'oi
uate capliv • lib, the sal. ty ol the g u-
rat ami ms men mail reai.y rtqo.ic- l'.>
sacilflcc*. i can s-arcely ocilcve toat it
vvili be preleude", liiat lile sau-iy ol th
ge. eral 01 his men i.qiuied Die execution
I these pruoners. Did tiieu tbe salety oi
in priovt, "is 1 i», in tins count.y, the peo-
,le, require llie execution uf tb.se mc-n?—
v\ a- ll urcessary lo uflin ih. m up ,m llie
nusr ut public tuleiy— lo indd them up as
I rriuio > xuinpie iu lulur iiistigatuis aim
oelluis of lud.au wars? ll so, then Ial
noulu bav. been rcicued to tue peupti,
aat i-, lo 'Jicir tcprcaeutativtB—lo tne
ungress of the L ulled States. Tue com-
oaudl.ig general had no right, nn aulliori-
cy to decide tne question, whether the
-alety of llie people required the sacriflci
ol these captives. Wearetuld, and vtiy
.eriou-ly told, that this execution uf priso-
lerstuay beju-tilied uu tne principles of
retaliation. What, retaliate me cruellies
ud allocking barbarities ot savage.-! Not
irecisely that sort ui retaliation. You
xccuie individuals—not under tiieauihor-
iy of the law ut uutiuns, during the con
"nuance ol wat, having given notice to the
enemy of Die particular acts of inhumani
ty which you mean to retaliate—not foi
the purpo-e of punishing, through these in
dividuals, Die u&tiuu with Which they are
i tentified and fighting, but lo punish them,
a- individual*, tor their crimes—the crimes
of aiding, and abetting, and instigating Ju
lian tribes to wai upon us; not aa au ex
ample, to operate on nations, out on indi
viduals. And we are seriously and grav
ely informed, by honorable gentlemen, than
aii American general has authority to ex
ecute individuals, lur individual offences,
as a warning to other individuals, without
the form of trial, and even contrary to the
.sentence of the court, detailed by the gen
eral himself for the purpu-e of trying the
offenders. It is a doctrine unsupported
by precedent and law, and is shock" g to
the principles of humanity. It may be said
as it was remarked the oilier day, by ■,
gentleman frum Virginia, (Mr. NeUoti,
that tins is a sympathy for miscreanU—a
sympathy resulting from morbid sensibili
ty—a sympathy fur British subjects. It
is not so, Mr.Chairman; l have uo sym
pathy for British subjects. Wnen I look
at you ruin, (pointing to the Capitol;) w hen
1 recollect the massacre it th- river Rai
sin, Frenchtown, and many other places iu
the United States, during the'late wat, 1
recognize in the lute JJniish forces an ene
my uot less cruel and savage than tne
Seminole Indians—the outlawed Red
sticks; acts uf wanton and shucking cruel
ty occur to rue, at which my sum sicken*
and which J ohuu’d have rejoiced to see re
laliated cm the moat distinguished officer
111 the British army. What-has been tlie
opiuion, asdelioerately expressed *>y this
government, on the subject of retaliation?
Did the highest officer in this government
during the late war,Die commander in chief
ofyuur army, the president of the United
States, consider himself voted with au
thority to retaliate the acts of cruelty per
petrated by the enemy, or those threaten
ed? 'The answer will be furnished bv re
ferring to the act ol congress, passed’dur-
ing that war, fur the express purpose of
auDionzing the president to letaliute—
VVhat has-been, Since tnepti uw! ui our in
dependence, the uniform a.-iti ut,varying
policy pursued by Dus goveri.ii.eut, to
wards Iks Jndun tribe*?. 11m it bven
a policy tempered "by mercy, bright
ened by genero-itr. and ameliorated by
Christianity? Have we been constantly
engaged in the humane work of civilizing
then.', uf sendiug emissaries amoog thein
to preach the-go-pel— to distribute the co-
p;e* of the btbie, collected by different
-ocietirs? Is this policy to be suddenly
< hanged, under the vuspices of general
Jackson? Shall w#, at the close of. war
uf exlviinitiation.)gii through the ceremony *
uf appointing committees to meet members
irom the society of friends, to devise the
nexus of civilizing this unfortunate, mis-
guidi'd.and deluded race of beings? Such
committees have been appointed during
ilie present session. I have seen mem-
jers of the society uf friends giving their
Hilling attendance. Hat Arbuthnot and
Voibnster were chrstian savages: they
were worse than the Indians; they were
-lie eX'iters ami in-tigorsof the war; they
leserved death. In n moral point Of
new, I admit that thr instigator to aefs
it wickedness, and of dark, malig ant»
and crimnal character, is worse lliau tbit
actor. Tlie question ifcurs.had the gen
ial, on his own aaihomy. without trial,
ml against the sentence of the court, tbe
right to lake the hie ef his pri-onei—-*
prisoner completely in his power, ,frnta
whose hand the weapon- ol death, the tom
ahawk and the sqalpmg knife, had been
-trickcii? Were tliese men, according to
any known principle of the law of nations,
object to any other or different treat-
oei" than the subjects nr citizens of the
muon with which they had imlentified
loeinselves, and by wlio-e sides they were
lighting? Most certainly not. Tne gen-
.leman from MaraachusetU, (Mr. liolineS,)
■as made a strong appeal to our leelingt.
■ Jo lias painted, in glowing colors, the
nurdera and cruelties whicn liave been
perpet'ated on our innocent and unof-
t luting citizens, on our s.iiulicru frontier.
No man cau listen to tne descriptions of
me murders perpetrated on infantine
weakness—on innocent and unprotected
Iciuales, without feein g his b'ood cur-
tle, and return witli chitling horror to his
.cart May not the liimoiaOle gentleman
u ■ mistaken in the effects produced by his
picture?
Affection bound it to his lies".
Ambition lore the links apart.
Why Inis i'fl rt to excite our compas
sion-,? Why thi-appeal to our feelings?
W mid any hunorabl., h.g i-mnnled man
—w'lof.-lt him- If justified—who had the
nv on one hand, amt j i-'ice on the other,
-toop to sulic" your pity? No, sir, pity
is too uearly allied to another passion to
b gi-iteful to tlie gallant ami the high
minded. When gentlemen point ine to
the oleeding scalps of my countrymen—
tneir mangled ami still bleeding wounds
—aud tal- to me about the law of retalia
tion, and represent it as mercy to resort
"i ", I tell thrill, they are mistaken; mat
they appeal to stronger feeling-; that " is
revenge—which they have mistaken for
wiiat they utm humane and merciful re
taliation. Permit ine to invite tlie atten
tion uf the committee t that highly finish
ed specimen ot diplomacy, which has call*
ed forth so many eulogiums, and so justly,
too, from toe editors of newspapers—se-
cietaiy Adams’s letter to nur minister
it Madrid; which lias been published long
mice the commencement of the present
session of congress; if my inemorv does
uot deceive me, about tlie 23th of Novem
ber. D ie» that letter amount to a com
plete justification of t’ie whole course pur
ged by general Jackson, in the prosecu
tion of th'C wai against the Seminole Indi-.
alts? 1 will uot attempt tn draw the .con
clusion: because this honorable committee
> infinitely more capable of arriving at a
orrect conclusion tliau I am. But, sir,
mere is one part of that letter which ex
citer iny most serious attention. It is the
threat, contained in that letter, that, un
less tlie Spanish government maintains
more completely her neutral relations, and
observes witn belter faith her treaty, that
those posts iu Florida, will be retaken and
held; that they will uot again be surren
dered. The letter is published’ for tbe.
benefit of the people of the U.S. The decle-
ration or threat is uot, that this govern
ment will declare war against Spain, and
seize upon these posts by way of indemui-
i v—but that they w ill be retaken and held*
The honorable secretary has nut consulted
congress un the subject. The act is to be
performed upon his own responsibility, or
up.m the resposibility of tbe executive
branch ol the government. I pass on to
the corre-pondence between general Jack-
son aud llie governor of Georgia. This
correspondence p>csents to my mind
a most melancholy picture. On the 7th
ot May, 1818, general Jackson addressed
a letter to governor Rabun, in which will
be iouu-l the singular and bold declaration,
that “you, sir, as governor ofa state, have
i.origbtko give a military order whilst I
a:n in the field.” Have the state auDldfr-
iues, thus early, dwindled into insignifi
cance.' 1 recollect, vvlieij we first went
luto committee of the whole house, on the
sjoject now before us, some difficulty a-
rose as tu the proper mode of bringing in
to full and Irec discussion a!l the ques
tions connected with the Seminole war.
Au honorable member front Virginia, (Mr.
Ajtx. Suiytn) ofierid a resolution ol thanks
lo gener.il Jackson, by way of substitute
loc the resolution reported by the military
committee. 1 wou.il ask. whether it be
for tbe treatment ol the governor of Geor
gia, that this Honorable member proposes
to ubUiintrou this house a vote of thanks?
Have we arrived at ttiat singular period
of our history, when the division of the
United States into military districts,com-
pnaeil ul two or more states, and the plac
ing ot these uivisious under tbe command
of major generals of Die army ol the
United States, ipso lactu, repeals the con-
-Dilations of t ie several states and their
law.-j Thsttl^ moment the major general
take- tlie ti id, even iu a war against In
dians ami n gn, brigands, the lips qf the
several govciixors, aud the people ot toe
states composing the divisiou^ are to be
sealeu, uuu ail their poweis^cTen of self