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'Meig*. post master, general $ Capt. Gray; Mr.
•Cyrus Hulbaril; Capt. Larrtibee ; Col. Jus. Wat
son; Mr. John H. Hiatt; Capt. 8. D. Richard-
son; Mr. Pomeroy; Lieut. Conway; who all
being'prcviously sworn, delivered in their testi
mony.
The testimony was uniform as far ns the know
ledge of the witnesses extended, in giving the
accused a high character for probity, correct de
portment, and patriotic conduct. It was too dif
fuse for publication entire; that of col. tt. M.
Johnson is selected as a specimen of the general
tenor of the evidence.
Col. Johnson having been called on by the pri
soner to give to the house any information in his
possession touching his character and conduct,
testified to this effect: that his knowledge of the
character of col. J. Anderson was not derived so
much from personal intercourse as from the infor
mation of others ; but, so far as his personal infor
mation extended, was corroborated by it. When
col. J. was on the north-western frontier, coL
Anderson was a fugitive from Detroit, on the ri
ver Raisin, as col. J. had understood ; and being
well acquainted with the frontier of that quarter
of the United States, attached himself to the
mounted regiment. How long lie acted in that
capacity, Mr. J. did not recollect. As far, said
Mr. J- as his conduct came within my own know
ledge, I considered him a very gallant and a ve
ry brave man. In relation to the information he
bad from other quarters, there was a general con
sent of opinion that, during the war, col. Ander
son ljad been considered not only a gallant and
patriotic man, but a man of integrity, who had
marie uncommon sacrifices, of nearly all his pro
perty, from his devbtion to the cause of the coun
try. Mr. J. said, he did also understand, from
several sources, that col. Anderson, at the risk
othis own life, did, at the river Raisin, rescue in
dividuals from the hands of the savages. Col. J.
hail further understood, he said, that col, Ander
son had refused the command of a regiment offer
ed to him by the British commander, when the
enemy had possession of that country ; and col.
Elliott, on being pressed to repeat the oiler, an
swered, that he knew the character of col. An
derson fully, and that he would as soon submit to
have his head chopped oft' as to accept of it. Of
John Anderson, said, Mr- J. in relation to his
conduct to me at the last session anil at this, I
can say, without prejudice to the merits of others,
I have never known an individual, whosfe losses
were so great, and who knew I was disposed to
advocate his claims, to take up so little of my
time, and to he as modest in urging his claims.
All these circumstances together had given to
Mr. J. a high idea of the integrity, of the gallan
try, and of the patriotism of col. Aoderson.
Other facts than those abovementioned were
established by ample testimony, descriptive of
the sufferings and steadfastness of John Ander
son in tlie cause of the country during the wai,
&.c. The examination of the witnesses had nut
closed, when the house adjourned.
Friday, Junuary 16.
John Anderson was again remanded to the bar
of the house, and proceeded in the furthei
binination of his witnesses.
General P. B. Porter, Win. O’Neal, and W.P.
’Rathbdne, were then examined as witnesses in
behalf of the accused, whose testimony was to
the same effect as that given yesterday.
Mr. Williams of N. 0. was then called upon by
the accused, who put to him this question :
Q. Did 1 ever directly or indirectly, by any
verbal communication, offer you any reward or
inducement, to influence your good opinion in
•favor of my claims, or of any other claims ?
Ans. You never made me any verbal oiler of
the kind
Col. Anderson. That is all I wished the house
to know from your testimony.
Mr. Williams. I presume, if you had made
me any such offer, the house would have known
it, without your asking it.
The speaker then said he had been instructed
to propound to the prisoner the following inter
rogatory, to which Col. Anderson made the re
ply subjoined.
Question.—In writing the letter to Lewis
Williams, a member of this house from N. C.
in which you offer to him the sum of five hun
dred dollars, for services to be performed bv him
in relation to claims for losses sustained during
the war, had you or had you not any intention to
induce him to support your claims against his
n convictions ot their justice, or to interfere
with the discharge of his legislative duties, or to
otter any contempt to the dignity of the House of
Representatives.
Answer. No, sir: I call God to witness to that,
which is the most sacred apperl I can make. I
repeatedly assured him, that the offer was made
without any wish to influence his opinions in any
degree.
The accused was then questioned whether he
had other witnesses to examine : he replied in
the negative. Thg speaker then called upon him
for the defence which he had intimated it was his
intention to offer.
The prisoner, then addressing the chair, with
much earnestness, in a brief manner, Stated the
same palliations of the offence with which he
stood charged, as are explained more at large in
the following address, which he concluded by
delivering to the clerk, by whom it was read :
“ Arraigned at the bar of the highest tribunal
of the nation, for an alleged infringement of its
privileges* an attack upon its dignity, and the
honorable feelings of one of its members, to ex
press the sincere regret 1 experience, and to a-
pulogize for the error 1 have committed, ought
not to suffice. To that body and to myself, I owe
•an explanation of the motives which governed
inv conduct. That I have beeu found in the ranks
of our country’s defenders, is known to many ;
and that 1 have sustained a character unblemish
ed bv any act which should crimson my withered
cheeks, has been amply proven to you, by men,
whose good opinions are the greatest boon of merit.
The commencement of the late war found me
environed by all the comforts of life; blessed
with a sufficiency of property to enable me to
wipe from the face of distress the falling tear,
and to flatter myself that want was not to salute
me before the return of peace. The fallacy n^
my hopes has been too clearly demonstrated', b;
the ravages of the w'nr on the borders of Raisin,
(my residence.) and the destruction of all th,
property which my industry had pmassed. Afte
having seen the streets of Frenchtuwn overgrown
with grass; sighed utiavpilirigly over the ashes ol
my own and neighbors’ houses, and witnessed
their necessities ; reduced to sustain life by means
of wild animals, (muskrats) whosevery smell i-
repulsive to the stomach ; I gladly hailed the
beneficence of my government in the enactment
of the law, usually called the property act, and.
in the month ofJanuary, 1817, I took leave of my
frieuds*and fellow-sufferers, and repaired to this
city to-manage their claims; on my arrival, I
found that the act under which they expected re
lief. had been suspended, ami 1 was forced to re
turn with this unwelcome information ; tears of
disappointment suffused the countenances of eve
ry one—my heart sympathised with theirs, and I
then determined to prosecute their, claims to a
result. With this view I had been in this city
more than a month ; over-anxious to accomplish
my object, exalted with the s iccess which had
attended some of the claims and convinced that
the committee of claims was overwhelmed with
business, my inexperience in reference to legis
lative proceedings induced me to suppose that,
to insure dispatch, 1 might without -impropriety
approach the chairman of that committee with a
proposal to compensate him for extra trouble.”
That I have erred., grossly erred, I am convinced,
and my only consolation is, that error is no crime,
when it is of the head, not of the heart. Had I
acted with le.-s precipitation, and consulted the
views of others, I should not at this time find
myself in the disagreeable dilemma that 1 am. 1
should have acted more consistent with myself.
Whatever semblance my request of secrecy ma>
assume, I can with truth aver tint its basis in tny
mind was a desire that those for whom I act
should have to acknowledge their increased gra
titude fur the promptitude with which their claims
should have been acted upon.
It cannot be denied, that, after being assured
that my own claims would be allowed, I hail less
cause to think of obtaining by corruption the pay
ment of claims which 1 almost knew the justice
of Congress could not refuse in the sequel—dis
patch, then, was all 1 wished for, all I could gain ;
and 1 think that the world and this honor,ihle bo
dy, will admit that tiie benefit of trie relief would
he in proportion to the ti ne which should elapse
in affording it; at least, that in this view ;t would
be appreciated by those who I ,«.i yet fresh in
their recollection that a husband, a wife, a father,
a child, a brother, or sister, was tomanawked,
shot or burnt ali> e by the savage enemy, tlieii
hearts inhumanly turn fr in their bodies, and
whilst yet smnhkuig with the vital heat, were tri
umphantly exhibited to their weeping eyes. Let
it be recollected that they have witnessed, whilst
wandering without shelter, ami almost unclothed,
the heart rending scene, dead bodies exposed to
th voracious appetites of the swine, and these
animals eagerly contending for a I g or an arm.
Lest this picture may be supposed to be exaggerat
ed, l annex the correspondence which took place
between the lion. A. B. Woodward and General
Proctor, in the year 1813, and shortly after the
event occurred. Let it be known that most, if
not all, the article® they could collect limn the
ruins of their houses, were generously, most ge
nerously, appropriated to trie purchase oi prison
ers of war, for the purpose of screening them
from the bloody tomahawk ; that these purchases
were made under such circumstances as not to
entitle them to .reimbursement under the
••Act relating to the ransom of American captives
of the late war and let it also be known tliat
such are the sufferers, such the merits of the
claimants I represent wind 1 feel confident that
the clouds of indignation which, for a moment,
threatened to burst over my frosty head, will be
dispelled by the benign influence of philanthropy
-win inftueu-ce which has ever, and 1 trust ever
will, character se my conduct.
That I should be anxi us to afford a prompt so
lace to the sufferings ol my fellow-citizens, will
not be wondered at. when it is known that they
extended every kindness and protection to my ia-
mily, (from whom I was separated during most of
the war) and at a time w hen the Indians were
accustomed to dance before the door of my house,
calling on my wife to come out and select her hus
band’s scalp.
Relying upon the maxim, that “ to err is human,
to forgive divine,” I throw myself upon the indul
gence of this honorable body, and tlie magnani
mity of the honorable gentleman whose feelings
I have had the misfortune to wound. II my ser
vices form no claim to indulgence, perhaps my
sufferings and those of my family may.—1
stand here prepared to meet all the consequen
ces of an error committed without any sinister
intention.
In conclusion, I must be permitted to remark
that, during a confinement, from which 1 have
forborne to adopt any legal measures to extricate
myself, the only feelings of pain wjtich have had
access to my breast, were those produced by the
know ledge that an opinion was prevalent that,pre
suming on the misfortunes of my fellow-sufferers,
1 had bought up their claims at a very reduced
price. If this honorable body would permit, I
would, under the solemnity of an oath, call upon
God to bear testimony that this opinion is without
basis. JOHN ANDERSON-”
January, 1818.
The prisoner, being asked if lie had any thing
further to say, and answering in the negative,
was taken from tlie bar : and the house proceeded
to deliberate on the course now proper to be
pursued.
Mr. Forsyth offered for consideration a motion
in substance like that which was ultimately adopt
ed, but which proposed Wednesday next as the
day on which John Anderson should be brought
to the bar.
A variety of propositions, suggestions and re
marks, were made on this occasion, which it
would be difficult, if it were important accurate
ly to report.
One motion on which the yeas and nays were
taken, is worthy of particular notice. It was
tralitv, which the United States had proclaimed,
and have observed, in favor of the colonies of
Spain, who, by the strength of their own popula
tion and resources, had declared their independ!
ence and were affording strong proof of their*,
bility to maintain it, or to make the discrimina".
tion wnich circumstances required. H a j
first course been pursued, we should not onlv
have sanctioned all the unlawful claims and pi- ac .
tices of this pretended government, in regard to
the United States, but have countenance!a sys.
tem of privateering in the gulf of Mexico, & e | J
where, the ill effects of which might, d,- probably
would, have been deeply and very extensively
felt. The path of duty was plain from the coin-
mencement; but it was painful to enter up„a
it while the obligation could be resisted. The
law of 1811, lately published, and which it ij
therefore, proper now to mention, was considered
applicable to the case, from the moment that tlie
proclamation of the chief of the enterprise was
seen, and its obligation was daily increased by
other considerations, of high importance, already
mentioned,which were deemed sufficiently strong
iu themselves to dictate the course which has been
pursued.
Early intimations having been received of the
dangerous purposes of these adventurers, timely
precautions were taken, by the establishment of
a force near the St. Mary’s, to prevent their ef,
feet, or it is probable that it would have been mora
sensibly felt.
To such establishment, made so near our seU
tlements, in tlie expectation of deriving aid fro®
them, H is particularly gratifying to find, that
very little encouragement was given. The e*.
ample so conspicuously displayed, by our fellow-
citizens, that their sympathies cannot be pervert,
ed to improper purpose*, but that a love of coun
try, the influence of moral principles, and a res
pect for the laws, are predominant with them, is
a sure pledge, that all the veiy flattering anticii
pations, which have been formed of the success ef
our institutions, will be realized. This exampl*
proves that if our relations with foreign power*
are to be changed, it musi be done by the constitu
ted authorities, who, alone, acting on a high re
sponsibiiity, are competent to tlie purpose, and
until such change is thus made, that oar f#j
low-citizens will respect the existing relations,
by a faithful adherence to the laws which sccura
them.
Believing that this ebterprize, tho’ undertaken
by persons, some of whom may have held corn*
missions from some of the colonies, was unau
thorised by, and unknown to the colonial govern
ments, full confidence is entertained that it will
be disclaimed by them, and that effectual inea»
ures will be taken, to prevent the abuse of their
authority in all cases to the injury of the U. States,
For these injuries, especially those proceeding
from Amelia Island, Spain would be responsible,
if it was not manifest, that although committed
in the latter instance through her territory, she
was utterly unable to prevent them. Her terri,
tory however ought not to be made instrumental
through her inability to defend it, to purposes s*
injurious to the United State*. To a country,
over which she fails to maintain her authority,
and which she permits to be converted to the an
noyance of her neighbors, herjurisdiction for th*
time necessarily ceases to exist. The territory
of Spain will nevertheless be respected, so far u
it maybe done, consistently with the essential in
terest and safety of the United States. In expel
ling these adventures from these posts,it wasnot
p.t on the stocks, anti ol what class, and the j intended to make any conquest from Spain, or to
made bf Mr. Poindexter, to stride out that pas-
age wTiich charged John Anderson of being
,uilty of a contempt against the privileges ot the
muse, the words “the privileges of,” thus deny
ing the house to have any privileges not confer
red on them by the constitution. This motion
Was negatived, 108 to 54. ,
The will of the house was ultimately consum
mated, by the passage of a resolution ni the fol
lowing words i “ Resolved, that John Anclersun
has been guilty of a contempt and a violation iff
the privileges of the House, and that he he brought
to the bar of the house this day, anil be there re
primanded by the speaker for the outrage he has
committed, and then discharged from the custody
of the sergeant at arms.”
Whereupon John Anderson was brought to the
Bar of the House, and addressed by the speaker
as follows:
“ John Anilerson : You have been brought be
fore this house upon a charge of having commit
ted a breach of its privileges in attempting to bribe
one of its members filling a high and responsible
situation. The House has patiently heard your
defence, and, in proportion to the pleasure which
it has derived from the concurrent testimonies in
support of your character and good conduct here
tofore, is its deep regret that you have deliberate
ly attempted to commit a crane so incompatible
with the high stand-ingyou have heretofore main
tained. You had the less apology for the attempt
voa made, because you had yourself experienced
the justice of this house but a few ilnys before,
by tlie passage of two bills in your favor, found
ed on petitions presented to the house. Your
attempt to corrupt the fountain of llfcislation, to
undermine the integrity of a branch of tire na
tional legislature, is a crime of so deep a dye
that even you must acknowledge and be sensible
of it. And if, John Anderson, you could have
been successful in such an attempt; if it were
possible that representatives of the people could
have been found, so lost to their duty as to ac
cept yeur offer, ycu must veursclf see the dread
ful consequence of such a deplorable state of
tilings. In your turn you might fall a victim : for
vuur rights, your liberty, and your property
mig t)in tlie end equally suffer with those of oth
ers. The lioase has seen with pleasure, that, at
a very early period after making your base offer,
you disclaimed, with symptoms of apparent re
pentance and contrition, any intention to cor
rupt the integrity of a member; and, in direct
ing me to pronounce your discharge, the House
indulges the hope tliat, on your return home,
you will be more fully convinced of tlie magni
tude of your offence, and by the future tenor of
your life endeavor to obliterate, as far as it may
be possible, the stain your conduct on this occa
sion has impressed on tlie high and honorable cha
racter you appear to have previously sustained.
You are discharged from the custody of the ser
geant at arms.”
Whereupon John Anderson was discharged
from custody, and the House adjourned to Mon
day.
SENATE.
Wednesday, January T.
Mr. Tait ottered tlie followiug resolution for
consideration.—Resolved, that the President of
tlie United States be requested to cause to be
laid before the Senate tlie proceedings which
may Imve been had under the act entitled “ An
act for the gradual increase of the Navy of tlie
United States,” specifying the number of ships
quantity and kind of materials procured for ship
building ; and also the sums of money which
may have been paid out of the fund created by
said act, and for what objects ; and likewise the
contracts which may have beeu entered into in
execution of the act aforesaid, on which monies
may not yet have been advanced.”
Mr. Campbell submitted the following motion
for consideration :—>• Resolved, that the com
mittee on military affairs he instructed to enquire
into the expediency of requiring by law the Hum
iliations of Agents to Indian tribes to be submit
ted to the Senate for their consent and approba
tion, in lise manuer as nominations of other offi
cers now are.”
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
1 have the satisfaction to inform Congress that
the establishment at Amelia Island has been sup
pressed, and without the effusion of blood. The
papers which explain this transaction, I now
lay before Congress.
By the suppression of this establishment and of
that at Galveston, which will soon follow, if it
has not already ceased to exist, there is good
cause to believe that the consummation of a pro
ject fraught with much injury to the U. S. has
been prevented. When we consider the persons
engaged in it, being adventurers from different
countries, with very few if any, of the native
inhabitants of the Spanish colonies—thb territory
oh which the establishments were made—one,
on a portion of that claimed by the United States,
western of the Mississippi, the'other, on a part
of East Florida, a province in negotiation be
tween the United States and Spain—tlie claim
of their leader, as announced by his proclamation
in taking possession of Amelia Island, compri
sing the whole of both the Floridas without ex
cepting: that part of West Florida which is incor
porated into the State of Louisiana—their con
duct while in the possession of the Island, mak
ing it instrumental to every specie* of contraband,
and in regard to slaves of the most odious and
dangerous character—it may fairly be concluded
that if the enterprize had succeeded on the scale
on w hich it was formed, much annoyance and in
jury would have resulted from it to the U. S.
Other circumstances were thought to be no less
deserving of attention. The institution of a gov
ernment by foreign adventurers in the Island,
distinct from the colonial governments of Bue
nos Ayres, Venezuela, or Mexico, pretending to
sovereignty and exercising its highest offices,
particularly in granting commissions to priva
teers, were acts which could not fail to draw af
ter them the most serious consequences. It
was tlie duty of the executive, either to extend to
this establishment all the advantages of that lieu-
injure in any degree the cause of the colonies.—
Care will be taken that no part of the territory
contemplated by the law of 1811, shall be occu*
pied by a foreign government of any kind or that
injuries of the nature of those complained of shall
be repeated ; but this it is expected will he provi
ded for, with every other interest, in spirit of am
ity, in the negotiation now depending with th#
government of Spain. JAS. MONROE.
FOREIGN.
FROM SPANISH MAINE.
By the arrival this iporning of the schooner
Major Croghan, Captain Wootten,in 27 days
from Curracoe, the Editors of the N. Y. Com.
Advertiser of Jan. 20 have received a file of tha
Curracoa Gazette to the 20th of December, from
which we copy the latest advices from the Span
ish Maine. We have also been furnished with*
manuscript copy of a Proclamation of Gen. Boli
var, (who had been elected Governor of Angos
tura,) which we have translated for our paper
this evening.
Proclamation.—Simon Bolivar, Supreme
Chief of the Republic of Venezuela, to the Sol
diers of the Liberating Army* “ Soldiers !—
Yesterday was a day of the deepest sorrow for
my heart. The crimes of conspiracy and trea
son against our country, and the desertion from
her banners, brought General Piar to be execu
ted. A lawful and just court pronounced the
sentence upon this unfortunate citizen ; who,
inebriated with the favors of fortune, and in or
der to satisfy his boundless ambition, attempted
to bury his country in her own ruins. General
Piar had indeed done important services to th«
republic; but he was amply rewarded by her,
although his whole course of conduct had been
always remarked as factious.
There was nothing left to be wished for by *
General who had attained the highestrankin
the army. The second honorable post in this
Republic being vacant, owing to the separation
ol Geittral Marino, was even to be conferred
on him, bpfore his rebellion. But this General,
who agpiring only to the supreme command,
formed the most attrocious plan, that a wicked
soul may conceive. Piar’s designs not only em
braced a civil war, but anarchy and the most in
human butchery and sacrifice of hi* brothers and
Companions in arms.
Soldiers—You know it very well. Our motto
is, “ Liberty, Equality and Independence.’’
Has not human kind recovered its right? through
our arms? Have thfey not broken tlie chain*of
s fa very ? Has not the odious difference of clas
ses and colours been forever abolished ? Ha#'
not the national property hcca divided betweeu