The reflector. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1817-1819, January 27, 1818, Image 2

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-de-camp of General Phillips, lielml lo re musket ball tlirougli both cheeks,: which course had knocked out several ofhis teeth, feuthu tongue, hecouhl hold nothing ih his ■ tnouth, the matter which ran frorti liis wound al armist choaked hiin, and he was not "able to take Sv'anj Hnirrishment except a little soup or some thing liquid ; wo had some Rhenish wine, and in tlie hope that the aridity of it would cleanse his wound, I gave fiim a bottle of it. he took a little now and then, and with such effect* that his cure Soon followed ; thus l added another to my stock of friends, and derived a satisfaction which, in the midst of su He rings, served to tranquilixe me and diminish their acuteness. “tine day General 'Phillips accompanied toy husband, at the risk of their lives, on a visit to us, who, after having witnessed our situation, said to him, “ I would 'hot for 10,000 guineas come again to this place, my heart is almost broken.” • “ In thisTitfrrld situation we remained six days, a cessation of hostilities was now spoken ot. mid eventually took "place ; a convention was after wards agreed upon ; but one day a message was sent to my husband, who bad visited me and was reposing in my bed, to attend a .'•unci! of war, where it was proposed to break the convention, but to niv great joy, the majority was for adher ing to it; on the lGtli, however, my husband had to repair to his post, and l to mv cellar; this day fresh beef was served out to the officers, who un til now had only had salt provision, which was very bad for their wounds. The good woman who had brought us water, made us an excellent soup of the meat, but l had lost my appetite, and took nothing but crusts of bread dipped in wine. The wounded officers (my unfortunate compan ions) cntolF the best bit and presented it to me on a plate. I declined eating any thing, but they contended that it was necessary tor me to take nourishment, and declared they would not touch a morsel until I afforded them the pleasure of seeing me partake ; l could no longer withstand then pressing invitations, accompanied as they worn bv assurances of the happiness they had in offering me the first good thing they had in their power, and’ 1 partook of a repast rendered pala table by the kindness and good will of my feilow- suiferers, forgetting for the moment tiie misery of our apartment and the absence of almost every comfort. “ Ou the 17"!h October the convention was com pleted. General Burgoyne and the other gene rals waited on the American general (Gates;) the troops laid down their arms, and gave then selves up prisoners of war ! and now the good Woman who had supplied us with water at tl hazard of her life, received the reward of her services; each of us threw a handful of money into her apron, and she got altogether'about twenty guineas. At such a moment as this, nmv susceptible is the heart of feelings of gratitud “ .Myliu band sent a message tome to come over to Him with my children. 1 seated myself once more in tuy dear calash, and then rode through the American camp. As I passed on, l observed (and this was a great consolation to me) that no one eyed me with looks of resentment, but that they all greeted us, and even showed cotrfpassion in their countenances, at the sight of a woman with small children. I was, l confess, afraid to go over to the enemy, as it was quite a new situation to me. When I drew near the tents, a handsome man approached and met me, took iny children from the cala.h, and hugged and kissed them, which alfected me almost to tears. “ You tremble,” said he,addressing I im- Self to me, “ be not afraid.” “ No,” I answered, “ you seem so kind and tender to my children, it inspires me with courage.” He now led me to the tent of general Gates, where I found gene- rals®nrgoyne and Phillips, who were on a friend ly footing with the former, Burgoyne said to me “ Never mind, vour sorrows have now an end.” I answered him that I should be reprehensible to have any cares, as he had none ; and I was pleas ed to see him on such a friendly footing with General Gates. Ail the generals remained to dine with General Gates. “ The same gentleman who received me so kindly, now came and said to me, •• You will be vcy much embarrassed to eat with all these gen tleinen ; come with your children to my tent, where I will prepare for you a frugal dinner, and give it will) a free will.” I said, “ You are cer tainly a husband arid a father, you have shewn me so much kindness,” I now found that he was general Schuyler. He treated lire with excellent smoaked tongue, beefsteaks, potatoes, and good bread and butter ! Never could I have wished to eat a better dinner : I was content: l saw all a- round me were so likewise ; and what was better than all, my husband was out of danger ! When we had dined, hc.tnid me his residence was at Albany, and that General Burgoyne intended to honor him as his guest, and invited myself and Children to do so likewise. I asked my husband how I should act; lie t Id me to accept the invi tation. As it was two days’ journey there, he advised me to go to a place which was about three hours ride distant. General Schuyler had the po- lit ness to send with me a French officer a very agreeable mail, who command ed the reconnoit ring party of which I have before spoken ; and when he had escorted me to a house where 1 was to remain, lie returned back again. In the house I found a French surgeon,' who had under his Care a Brunswick officer, who was mortally wounded, and died some days afterwards, 'l ire Frenchman boasted much of the care he took ol his patient, and perhaps was skilful enough as a surgeon, but otherwise was a mere simpleton : he was rejoiced w hen lie found out I could speak his language, and began to address many empty and impertinent speeches to me ; said, amongre- ther things; he could not believe that I was a general’s wife, as he was certain a woman of such rank would not follow her husband : he wishen lire to remain with hint} as he said it was bcttei to be with the conquerors than the conquered.— I was shocked at his impudence, but dared no.- bhow tire contempt and disdain 1 felt for him, be cause it would deprive ine of a place of safety 1 Towards evening he begged me to take part o. his chamber : I told him I was determined to re- hiaiu in the room with the wounded oijicCrs ; whereupon Ire attempted to pay me some stupid compliments. At. this moment the door, uredetl, ml my husband wills his aid-de-camp entered, then said, u here, sir} is my husband and at pay, for extra trouble I give ybu ; I will present it to you so soon as I receive some from govern ment. 'rU\g,i& confidential, that only you'and ine may knoWany thing abotit it ; or, in other words, tglve it to you as a uiau and a mason •’ and I hoptf you belong to that society. Sir, should it happen that you will not accept of the small sum, I request you will excuse me; if you do not accept, i wish you to drop me a few lines : if you accept. I w ish no answer. 1 hope you will see iny view on-this subject; that it is for extra trouble. 1 will make out a statement, and present the same to the committee, which will be supported by Gen. Harrison, Colonel Johnson, Mr. Hul- l „ . , the same time eyed him with scorn, whereupon hecetired abashed; nevertheless he was do-polite as*o oiler his cnaijtber to us. “ Some days after this we arrived at i Albany, were vveso often wished ourselves ;but we did not enter it as we expected we should—victrrs! We were received by the good general Schu/ler, his wife and daughters, not as enemies, but kind friends, and they treated U3 with the mist mark ed attention and politeness, as they did,general „ Burgovne, who had caused general Schuyler’s bard, Mr. Meigs, post master-gen.gov. Cass s re- beautifuily finished house to be burnt; in fact I port as commissioner, and others. Relying on they behaved like persons ol exalted minds, whojyoUr honor in keeping this a secret, and vour ex- determined tp bury all recollection of their own j ertions inpassing these claims as soon as possible, injuries in tire contemplation of our midortuues. J I need not infoymyou that we are as poor un- Gcneral Burgoyne was struck w ith .jJ.euerakj fortunate orphan children, having no representa- Schuyler’s generosity, awl said to him, “ You' tirii; in Congress—somust loox on your honorable shew me great kindness, although I have done ; body as our guardians. Pardon this liberty as a you much injury.” “ That was the fate ot war,” stranger. replied the brave man, 1 hoot it.” let us think no more a- CONG’iKRS. I am, with high esteem, your most obedient ami humble servant, JOHN ANDERSON. HOUSE OF RE PRESENT A FIVES. Tuesday, Jan. 6. Com nensatien to Members, &c.—On motion of Mr. II dines of Mass, the several orders of the day, preceding the hill to fix the compensation of the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives, were postponed, and the House I al) j that perhaps it would require some explana- resol ed itself into a committee of the whole, tio „. I read over the letter witn attention ; and MR. WILLIAM’S STATEMENT. After breakfast this morning a servant Came into the dining room, and told me that a gentle man was ill mv room, waiting to see me. I step ped into my room, and Col. John Anderson was there. He handed me a letter, observed at tire time that he had prepared that letter for me, Mr. Smith of Md. in the chair, on the said bill l’he bill, it will be recollected, provides that the! h- dai J having done so, observed to Col. Anderson it was their attendance on Congress, shall be nine d. lars, and the allowance for travelling to and from the seat of Congress, at the rate of nine dol lars for every twenty miles of the distance.] Mr. Ross, of Pennsylvania, by way of trying the sense of (he committee on tire subject, mov ed to strike out the word nine and insert tiie word -ix, as the amount of daily coinpen-uti >n, which was, alter considerable debate negatived. Mr. Linn, of New Jersey, then mo ed to strike out nine, and insert eight; winch motion was negatived < y a small majority. Mr. Bassett, of Virginia, moved to strike nut nine, and insert nothing; which would leave the bill open for any sum; which motion was negatived. Mr. Southard, of New Icfscy, then movtd to reduce the allowance for travelling expenses from nine to six dollars for every twenty miles ; which motion was also negatived. Some, merely verbal, amendments were made to the bill, and the committee rose and reported the Dill. The bill being immediately taken up by tiie House,—Mr. Parris, of Mass, moved t strike out the word nine, as applying both to comp nsation and to mileage, and to insert six in lit i thereof, which was negatived. The question was then taken on striking out nine and inserting six dollars as the allowance for every -20 utiles travel to and from Congress ; which motion was decided Yeas 93, and Nays 70, so this amendment was carried. Sir. Little, of Maryland, moved fo strike out nine and insert in lieu thereof eight dollars as the daily pay, which was agreed to. Mr. Little then moved to reconsider the vote by which the travelling expenses had been re duced to six dollars, with a view to fix it at eight; which would make it stand on the same footing as heretofore, but at a little higher rate. Mr Strother then rose to make the motion he had indicated, to strike, out the word eight and insert six (dollars) as the daily pay : but the mo tion was decided to be out of order, the House having already refused to insert the word six. Some verbal amendments, having no principle, but which produced considerable conversation, were then disposed of. The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read the third time to-morrow. Wednesday, January 7. On motion of Mr. Mercer of Virginia, it was “ Resolved, that a committee be appointed tu require into the expediency of causing to be printed the first journals of the proceedings of the Congress of the United States, down to the treaty of peace in 1783, together with the cor respondence of the government of the United States with the ministers and agents thereof in foreign countries, down to the same period of time. “ Resolved, that the same committee be alio instructed to inquire into the expediency of causing to be printed the journal of the General Convention which framed the constitution of the United States ; and that the committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise.” Contempt of the House.—Mr. Williams, of N. Carolina, arose and addressed the House in the following words Mr. Speaker : I lay before the House a letter addressed and delivered to me by a person called Colonel John Anderson. That man has mistaken me much. Wherever I am known, at this place mid in the country from a very surprising communication. I then sart- ed to Mr. Willson’s room, immediately adjoining my room. When in the act of opening my own door lie begged I would not show the letter. I made no reply, but stepped into Mr. Wils room, and asked him to do me the favor to walk intomy room. This Mr. Wilson did following on mediately behind me. After we had got into my room, in the presence of Col. Anderson l han- led the letter to Mr. Wilson, and observing that it was a very extraordinary communication, re quested him to read it. When Mr. Wilson hail read, or was nearly done reading the letter, 1 told Col. uiderson (hat f repelled with indigna tion and contempt the offer he made me in the let ter. Col, A. said, he tusked, my pardon ; that it was designed only as a small compensation fur the extra trouble he expected to give the commit tee of claims in examining the claims from the Michigan territory, and exposing the conduct of the British during the war; that it was foreign from his intentions to attempt any filing like a bribe ; and requested me to burn the letter, or (o give it to him. I told him that l should do nei ther; that his offence was unpardonable, sucli as 1 could not forgive, and ordered him to leave the room instantly. Col. Anderson then begged pardon, tasked forgiveness with excessive earn estness. I told him that I would listen to none of his apologies ; that his offence was an attack upon the integrity of Congress generally, and up on mine personally; that no one should ever have mv forgiveness who should suppose me capable ot such an influence as he atlempted to practise. Again I told Col. Anderson to leave tny room. He advanced to the door where he stood fur sometime, endeavoring to obtain my pardon a.s he said. I told him it was in vain to ask it; that as a member of congress and of the committee of claims it was my duty to examine l.is claims awl if just, support them ; that his oiler was an attempt at bribery, was an attempt to influence my mind in opposition to my duty, and as sucli could not be forgiven. He then desired me ei. ther to burn the letter or to give it to him, I re plied that I would do neither, and again ordered him to leave my room. Whereupon he did leave the room. Mr. Wilson after talking on the sub ject of the letter for some time, suggested to me the propriety of calling in Mr. Win. 1*. Maclay, but as Air. Wm. P. Maclay was not in, 1 asked the room-mate of Mr. W. P. Maclay, to come in my room. lie complied with my request, and shortly after he arrived in my room, Mr. Wm. P. Maclay also stepped in. These gentlemen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. William Maclay, and Mr. Wm. P. Maclay, were in my room at the time the servant called to Mr. Wilson, and said a gentleman was below waiting to see him. Mr. Wilson walked out of the room, and was gone a few minutes. After he returned, he ob served that Col. Anderson was the person who had sent for him ; that Col. A’s business was to obtain his interposition to put a stop to further proceedings on the subject of his letter to me. The precise conversation between Mr. Wilson and Col. Anderson can be related by the former with minuteness. LEWIS WILLIAMS. January 7th, 1818. The papers having been read through, Mr. AV. Wilson, of Penn, referred to in the above narra tive, handed in a statement of the facts which fell under his observation, entirely corroborating those stated by Mr. AV iiliams, as far as they came under the observation of the former. Mr Forsyth moved that the house do come to ivuim tl) tii uua uiiu m nit lummy ironi *u, v r « ». .. ,« , . . whpnce L came, no attempt of the kind would I« 'J <nv , p resolution— Resol ved, that the I.... , i„ r ir . i if. ] Speaker do issue his warrant, directed tntheSer. have been made. I (feel it a duty to lay the let- i issue bis warrant, directed to the Ser- ter and (he statement thereon, made by myself, IP? 80 * a * Arms attending the house, commanding ' My feelings are too mud, ex-1 J,"" , take , \ n ‘° cU A st,, . d Y’ wherever to be found, it be my duty, to make any re- l>« bml v of John Anderaon, and the same into - J — 1 J Ins custody to keep, subject to the further order and direction of tire house.” Mr, Harrison, of Ohio, rose in consequence of his name having been referred to in Col. Ander son’s letter, lie had met with Col. Anderson, Ire said, iu the courscjof his military service, and had always heard him regarded as a highly re spectable man : and well knowing his services, and tire sufferings of his family, during the late war, he had felt a warm interest in his favor. In the course of this morning Col, Anderson had sent far him and his friend Col. Johnson, out of British in ^ that country may he related in full on the House, and, with all the agitation belongin'' to Hie floor of Congress ; which will give you some terror or to conscious guilt, bad informetT them rouble in making the report, and supporting the of his having done an act, which he feared would •line. I have now to request that you will accept be regarded, as Mr. H. was sure it would by cve- jf the small sum of five hundred dollars, as part! ry member, as calling for the severest aniitwdver- before the House cited, nor would marks on the subject. It is for the House to deter mine what shall be done.” The papers handed by Mr. Williams to the clerk were then read as follows : “ Washington, Jan. 6, 1818. “ r rtie Hon. Lewis Williams.—Honored Sir : ( return you thunks for the attention I.received to my claims to pass so soon. Mr. Lee will nand you some claims from the River Raisin, which will pass through your honorable coinmit- cce ; and L have a wish that the conduct of the sioft. They had informed him, Mr. H. said, tha\ they would not justify his conduct j nnr, were it brought before the house, could they say any thing in extenuation of it. 1 Mr. Johnson, of K. expressed his sincere gret on account of the occurrence which had just taken place, noton account of the individual im plicated, though surely he was to be pitied—but on account of the gentleman from North-Carolina who on this occasion had taken that course dictat- ed by a just sense of his own honor and the di-ri nitv of his official station ; and on account of tlTe suffering inhabitants of Detroit and Michigan ge. ncrally, that they should have misplaced their confidence in one, whom, until this day, Mr. J. said, he had himself held in the highest estima- tion. It must have been infamy of motive, or the grossest ignorance of the nature of the Re. presentative character, that could have produced this unwarrantable conduct. Mr. Terry, of tloiin. enquired whether, ac cording to the forms of proceedings, and to our constitutional provisions, a geneYal Warrant, as proposed, could be issued ? AA'as it bot opposed, in its nature, to the principles of civiUiberty ? The Speaker observed, that in the practice of the house, happily, instances were extremely rare, where such a warrant became necessary; no such case had occurred within his observation. But there could be no doubt, when an offence was committed against the privileges or dignity of the house, it was perfectly in its power to issue a warrant to apprehend the party offending. Mr. Forsyth turned to a case on record, and he was sorry there was such a case on record, where this proceeding had taken place, in the year 1795, in which a bribe in land had been offered to one or more members. Mr. F. then conformed his motion to the terms of that precedent, (as above stated) from which it had before a little varied. Mr. Livermore, of N. II. asked for information merely whether the facts on which the warrant was to be issued, should not first be substantiated by an oath. The statement came, he knew, from a most respectable source ; but was not an oath necessary to justify such a warrant ? The Speaker said, certainly not. The question on Mr. Forsyth’s motion was then taken, decided in the affirmative, and ordered to be entered unanimously. The warrant was forth with issued. Thursday, January 8. On motion ot Mr. Linn, it was “ Resolved, that a committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of establishing by law a standard of weights and measures.” Mr. Walker ol N. C. offered for considera tion the following resolution ; which, being road, was ordered to lie on the table ; “ Resolved, that it is expedient to enquire whether any, and if any, what alteration is necessary in the several laws now in force, to make further provision for the purpose of issuing warrants to the soldiers of the United States in order to obtain their patents for their military bounty lands, promised to them at their enlistment, and that the subject be sub. mitted to the committee on military affairs. Case of Col. John Jittderson.—The speaker having stated to tiie house that the sergeant at arms had returned on the warrant issued to him esterdav, that he had executed the same on the udy ol John Anderson, therein named, and that lie held him now in liis custody subject to the further direction of the house. Mr. Forsyth offered the following resolution * “ Resolved, that a committee of Privileges, to consist ol seven members, be appointed, and that said committee be instructed to report a inode of proceeding, in the case of John Ander son, who was taken into custody yesterday by order ol the house; and the same committee have jeave to sit immediately. i liis motion gave rise to a debate of nearly two hours in length, not so much on the propriety of the particular proceedings proposed, as on the le gality of proceeding at all in the case. This de bate is one too interesting to ba omitted and was too long to be compressed within our present li mits. Mr. Beecher, Mr. Livermore, and Mr. Ball, took the ground that tlib proceeding of the house had been radically wrong, if not. un constitutional : Messrs. Forsyth, Tucker, Hop- kinson, Pitkin, Sergeant and Comstock took the opposite ground. 'lhe resolution was finally agreed to; and Messrs. Forsyth, Hopkinson, Tucker, Sergeant, Johnson ol K. Pitkin, and Taylor, appointed a committee accordingly. The house then proceeded to other business, though the case of col. Anderson was subsequent ly resumed, as will be seen. Mr. Forsyth from the committee appointed to day, made a report, recommending that the house do come to the following resolution : “ Resolv ed, that John Anderson be brought-to the bar of the house and interrogated by the speaker, on written interrogatories, touching the charge of writing and delivering a letter to a member of the house, offering him a bribe, which, with liis answers thereto, shall be entered on the minutes of the house. And that every question propos ed by a member be reduced to writing, and a mo tion made that the same be put by the speaker— and the question and the answer shall be entered on the minutes of the house. That; after such interrogatories are answered, if thelmuse deem it necessary to make further inquiry on the subject; the same be conducted by a comniittee to be ap pointed for that purpose.” Mr. Beecher made a motion to refer the report to a committee of tire whole house.—.Negatived. Mr. Beecher then earnestly protested against the adoption of the report for .reasons which will appear iu the sketch to be given of that debate- I he report was agreed to without a division. Mr. Beecher moved that counsel be allowed t« the accused. Mr. Sergeat suggested that it would be time enough to dp that when the prisoner asked for it. Sir. Beecher spjd it was the right of this indi vidual, placed in so novel a situation, to have his privilege pointed out to him, which otherwise he might not know. Sir. Tucker read a resolution, that the speaker be authorised to inform the accused that he might ask counsel* &c.