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those with which he furnishes his shelves from testifying also to the existence of the plot to and behold, the amended speech appears in the occasion and gave the whoop ns they started—
the book-stores. If, instead of procuring them ; rise and' murder the white people; to rob the National Intelligencer!”—Georgia Courier, lltli ’twas a fine sight.
10 be bound, he suffers them to be destroyed, the ! town of Jackson; to select the handsomest fe- instant. j Heaven bo with us and grant that we may
loss is as real as the loss of any other property, inales for wives, and to proceed to a w ilderness , .
IIOSTI LI T IES. Georgians
escue. The Siminolcs, an Indi-
From the Southern Banner.
Nacoochee, Ga. January 2, 1SC6.
Dear Snts—Having been on to Texas and
delieving that nny recent information relative
to that countrv, mav be interesting to your read
ers, I send vou the substance of my observa-! t '"o"'. v i u ^' ,m , lu " ,m , ' M 1 r’F—• \ ~ ™ j an tribe not strong in numbers, but distinguished
lions, which", if vou think proper, you are at ! "Her, when what he has read shall have been . v.tcd to attend one ot the meetm s but «as pre- aU(]acj has dared to nmi , lhc F | oridi .
liberty to insert "in your paper. It may bo of j foigoUeu, and lie shall wish to recall if. A con-! vented m consoquenceof a amen s, comtn = , ^ wkh sav .,* e ferocity . Our brethren call on
some benefit to numbers who arc anxious to sidernjlo portion of t.ieir coments are liistoric.i > 11 ^ a ° ‘ j , i I us for assistance. Indians who have shed the
make investments in lands there, cither for aud there is as much reason for preserving it i o F < ' ^i/ d n • blood ol while men, should not be permitted to
speculation or settlement. Hundreds have nl- I'rcscrvmg any other Jnstor^ __ They ; ^[^un6 rnuch^ ad^, find security in their furests . A sufficient force
ready, inadvertently, made purchases without
properly.investigating the subject, relying upon
the statements of those who, cither wanted a
correct knowledge of what was requisite to se
cure a genuine title to real estate in that coun
try, or were devoid of honesty—and when ap-
plication is made to the proper authorities to be
put in possession of their lauds, no titles arc to
1)0 found cm record—they discover, when too
late, that the whole transaction is fraudulent,
and nothing remains but to repurchase of the
government, or return to their native country,
w ithout nny chance of redress. Thus, hundreds
of families are served yearly by those unprinci
pled scoundrels, who are engaged largely in
s'diing lamh throughout the United States,
most of which are base forgeries.
In July last, whilst in Nashville, Tennessee,
colonel John Lyon and myself were prevailed
noon to purchase two eleven league grants on
lied River, purporting to have been granted to
Mexican citizens under the act of the Mexican
government of 1C24, entitled the Colonization
.Act, and sold by them to one Janies Smith ol
Lincoln county, Tennessee, of whom we bought
ivvo thirds, conditionally, and took a power ol j attract
attorney from him to sell the remaining third
fur iiis benefit—all the documents wore regular
ly attested and well executed—accompanied by
with all the testimo-
and care-
tion,or handed down to them in the uncertain
stories of tradition.—Greenville Mountaineer.
1 lie laws on the subject, Are. Subsequently we
sold one league to Mr. Hailey and 1). Cochran
< f Tennessee, and ten leagues (44,280 acres)
to Mark A. Cooper of Ealonton, Georgia, upon
the condition that the lands were as called for
in the deeds, and a foreigner could hold proper
ly there without residing on it. In October,
Mr. Cooper, John L. Moffat (recently of the
city of New York) and myself, proceeded di
rectly to Nacogdoches in Texas, where the
land offices are kept for the north and eastern
division of the province, and upon investigating
the subject, found the w hole lo bo a base forge
ry. We got certificates from all the public
officers to that effect, and returned lo Nashville,
Tennessee, and instituted suit against Mr.
Smith, where the documents can be seen in
possession of attorneys, R. J. Meigs and Rucks.
We found that a large portion of the titles
sold here were of the same stamp. The original
grant, order of survey, certificates, Ac. arc all
tiled m the General Land Office, under the care
and superintendence of the political chief who
causes copies to be issued to the owners. No
books are kept as here, but nny one can be
satisfied of the validity of their title, by apply
ing to the political chief or the commissioners
of the Land Offices.
The country at this time i> in a state of war,
and much excitement prevails, not only on that
account, but relative to the course the Texian
convention pursued. They created a Provisional
Government—elected a governor and other
officers, and appointed a council of sixteen men
n distribute justice until next March, when
delegates will meet clothed with authority to
form a constitution, and declare their independ
ence, if thought expedient. The convention
decreed that all land transactions should be
closed, until a government was organized—
that the archives of the province should he taken
off and copies taken and deposited iu three
different places, to prevent the possibility of the
enemy’s destroying them, Ac. Ac.
This produced much division and disaffection.
However, the matter has subsided measurably,
and most of the population are united in repelling
the enemy. What the result will he is impossi
ble to divine. The population of Mexico is
near eight millions, half of whom are Indians;
that of Texas, about sixty thousand. If tho
Mexicans wore united, they could subdue Texas,
in one campaign, but so much disaffection pre
vails at home, that Santa Anna deems it most
prudent to keep the principal part of his forces
at home. Upon the extent of this disaffection,
and the supplies they receive from this country,
in men and money, and munitions of war, de
pends the success of Texas. Santa Anna, the
president of Mexico, lias assumed to divest the
Slates of their rights of sovereignty as guaran
tied to them by the constitution of 1924, and
imposed a central military government, leaving
tiie States each a council to propose their wants
—difiering but little from that of Old Spain,
a fie r which il is inuu-ded. Santa Anna was the
most efficient agent in putting down Bustamcntc.
in 1923, who was at the head of the very par
ly which ho has now joined. They possess all
the wealth and talent, composed of the clergy
and Spanish nobilily. AH the States have been
forced lo yield to the terms of the despot, ex
cept Texas, (a province appended to the State
of Coahuila,) which now stands alone in the
defensive. It is a sublime spectacle to sec a
small State, without funds, munitions of war, or
nny permanent arrangements for carrying on
defensive operations, rise above oppression, and
in the face of the world declare themselves free
nnd independent. They have taken n positive
stand, und arc determined to stand or tall in de
fence of their liberties, which I sincerely hope
they will obtain. The army when I left, No-
vent her 23th, was seven hundred strong, and in
creasing every day. i lie Mexican army was
eight hundred strong, commanded by general
Goss, entrenched in St. Antonio, and the Tex-
ians besieging them—a battle was daily looked
lor. In point of moral courage and physical
power, the Texians stand ns one to fi\ e. Gen
eral Samuel Houston commands the regulars,
and Stephen F. Austin the militia. Texas is a
desirable country of land, though unhealthy
throughout the cotton and sugar districts.—
There is no country more fivorablc for the
growth of cotton, and the raising of stock.—
Cattle require no food to be given them, nor salt
—both is furnished in abundance by nature.—
No country surpasses Texas in many respects.
The mildness of its climate, its commercial fa
cilities, and the superior productiveness of its
soil—the quantity and quality of tl.ie iron ores,
and salines, Ac., yet on the other hand, immense
tracts of country are unhealthy.
Respectfully vours,
M. STEPHENSON,
JOHN L. MOFFAT.
Keep your Xewspapers.—A volume of news
papers is n book unbound. Why then should
it be wantonly destroyed? The man who re
ceives a weekly journal during twenty years,
receives;wentv volumes, at least as valuable as
England, because many years have elapsed [ of negro Bone and ofothers, all taken before the
since it was written. What is news this week j public separately, and out <>f the hearing of one
does cease to be news the next, but it be- j another, as has been before stated
comes history, and then the files of our periodi
cal publications furnish many of the documents j ny, the jury retired, and after a Ion
fiom which the condensed histories of our coun- j ful and serious deliberation, came to the follow-
try have been and now are to be compiled.— j ing conclusion.
Lot everv number of every periodical work be . That James Williams and negro boy Sam,
destroyed, and we take away from future gen- are guilty of engaging in a plot to raise an m-
erations nearly all knowledge of our doings, but surreciiou in this parish, and to murder its white
what shall be contained in the records of the na- i inhabitants: whereupon judgement of death
was pronounced upon the said James Williams
! and negro boy Sam. Several negroes were
! also found guilty of being privy lo the plot, in a
MUREL MEN. i greater or less degree, and were sentenced to be
From the Louisiana Journal. whipped. Robert Nesmith and the rest of the
The recent providential discovery of an in- moused were acquitted. On the following day,
surreclionary plot in the parish of East Feiici- ; Satin day, December 26th, picctsely at 12
ana, and the subsequent proceedings thereon of, 0 clock, A. M. the sentence of the juij was cat-
thc inhabitants of that parish, will necessarily r >°d into efiuct, by the shctill appointed by that
j body, when James Williams and negro boy
j Sam were both HUNG by the neck till they
: were dead.
The punishment of whipping, was also in-
j dieted upon the negroes condemned, agreeably
: to ibis sentence.
Such is the plain, unvarnished statement of
| facts. It is published for the information of
; the world, and not as an apology for us. We
| ask none—we want none.
| “Self preservation is the first law of nature.’
Jackson, 27th December, 1833.
universal attention. With a view,
therefore, of sending abroad correct informa
tion on the subject, the following statement of
facts has been authoritatively drawn up, and
submitted lor publica’ion.
Mr. I’liilip Richardson, a respectable planter
of the parish, and who resides about four
miles from the town of Jackson, is the owner,
among a number of other slaves, of a negro
girl, who has always evinced a strong attach
ment to Mr. R. and his family. On Thursday j
last, the 24th instant, this girl voluntarily made j
such communications to her master, as induced ;
him to believe, that some of his slaves, in eon-j
junction with others, and some white men, had |
in contemplation a plot to rise upon the whites,
murder them, and sack the country. Mr.
Richardson immediately examined his negroes,
! From the Washington Correspondent o f the New
York Journal of Commerce.
“In the house, today, a debate of four hours
; continuance took place upon the presentation of
! a memorial from certain inhabitants of the town
and hereby perfectly convinced himself of the \ °f ^ rentham, Mass- praying
truth of the girl’s communications. He lost no ! slavei T 111 lhe ()f Colun,b,a - idr ; Jack ‘
time in selling out for Jackson, where lie made | f n ’ who P^ented the memorial, moved its re
known the circumstances which had transpired, 1 Terence to a select committee. Mu Hammond
and solicited assistance to a.-re,t the conspira- of . Sout J h Carolina, moved that the petition be
tors. A posse of gentlemen accordingly as-! re}octod. Another motion was made to lay the
sembled, and proceeding to the plantations of , petition on the table Here arose a quest ton of
Mr. Richardson and others, succeeded in sc-1 ° rdcr > during Uie discussion of which, some of
curing all the negroes implicated, amounting to j the f™n)bers t°°k occasion to enter m-
eighteen, and two white men, also concerned.— ! t0 tlie merits of the abolition question, and to
The names of these white men, were James i sa >" man >’ tl,,n S s wh,ch were calculated to irn-
Williams and Robert Nesmith.
The prisoners were all brought to Jackson,!
where they were confined in the church, kept) , T7 . n . ,
separate, and not allowed to speak together, J "ho broke up the Utica Convention, interposed
and strictly guarded through the night. ! and sald tbw I*V non wa * fo , r th , e . abol ' ll P n , of
On the next morning, Friday the 25th, a s,avcr y > n tbe District ot Columbia, and look-
general meeting of the citizens of the parish j cd » t!iat a! ™ c > boin S sdea ‘ as J? « Ia ^7 ,n
'took place in the College Chapel, which was ! tbc ? talGS : . IIe was opposed to all the objects
attcuded bv almost everv inhabitant. The i f the petition, and in regard to this, there was,
meeting, after appointing a"chairman and sccre- i he said ’ b:U ono sent,ment the house. But
tary, took into consideration the mode in which he could not a S ree re Jf 1 thc P et,u ? n ’ fur L the r
this serious matter should be investigated, and j r - asnn that he was ,ound to res P ect th , e ri ^ ht of
the manner in which the prisoners should be P„ cllt, ° n as 81 sacred and constitutional right—
fairlv tried. After due deliberation, it was Hie house after this became involved tuques-
unanimously resolved, that a jury of thirteen of operand, for a long time, much confusion
citizens should be chosen, who" should proceed ; leaded. The southerni nullifiers and White
to thc examination of the evidence, find a ver-! mc . n toa '' ^*’ er y opportunity to blaze away a-
diet of guilty or not guilty, on the accused, S ai t ,,9t northern peop!e, their pretended friends,
pass a judgment accordingly, and see that judg- and sccrct cnom.es. and to threaten the house
ment carried intooffect. Accordingly, thirteen I " m ?f terrific consequences should they
of the most experienced and respectable oiti . j not forthwith reject the petition and close the
zens were elected bv the meeting, who afier ’ doors of house against all such petitions in
choosing their foreman and a secretary, pro- j L was in vain t lat tic nort ion men
occded Forthwith to hold n public investigation j protested, declared, and asseverated that they
n r wtiolomatter : were entirely and strongly opposed in principle
m hit i "i ‘l TTo and policy, to the designs and doctrines of thc
Mr. Philip Richardson was examined, lie > a,,u t . . ° . . - .
testified that his attention was first called to the
subject by his daughter, on the 22d of Decem
ber, Tuesday, who repeated to him some re- j
marks made confidentially to her by the negro
girl before alluded to. Alarmed by thc intelli- j
gcuce, he questioned thc girl, who after some
hesitation told him, that the negroes intended to
rise at Christmas, to kill
the abolition of
j tate the representatives fiom the non-slavehold-
j ing States. Mr. Beardsley, who, you know,
was thc chairman of thc committee of citizens
action.
The following letters from officers at thc sta- j
lion near Tampa Bay, are taken from the Mo
bile Chronicle.
Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay,
December 31, 1835.
Dear Buchanan—I write to give you infor
mation of a most awful disaster. On the 23d
instant, Captain Gardiner’s company [CJ 2d ar
, yet have thc unexpected pleasure of meeting
some of our most unfortunate comrades.
Yours as ever,
BENJ. ALVORD.
R. C. Been a van.
Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, >
December 29,1835. $
My Dear Col.—I have the most distressing
news to give you. On the 23d instant the com
panics of Captains Gardner and Fraser left
this port for Fort King under the command of
Major Dade ot the 4th infantry. They carrri-
ed a twelve pounder and a large supply of am
munition; and when they were about sixty miles
from this post, they were attacked by the Mi.
casakios, and almost the whole command cut to
pieces. A wounded soldier escaped by brib
ing an Indian, and arrived here at four o’clock
today. Major Dade, Captain Frasier, Lieuten
ants Bassinger and Mudge were killed. Lieut.
Keyes had both arms shattered to pieces. Lieut.
Henderson had his arm broken, Dr. Gatlin ts
supposed dead, as lie was not seen after the first
tillory a d Captain Frazier’s company [B] 3d
artillery, in all 100 men, set out for Fort King onset, and Captain Gardner was not shot or
under the command of Major Dade of our regi
ment. We have learnt th*tt the detachment lias
been cut to pieces by an immense body of In
dians who attacked them at 8 o’clock on the
morning of the 28th, when they were sixty-five
miles from this post, thirtv-fivc miles from Fort
wounded when thc man left the ground, owing,
doubtless, to Lis having dressed himself previ
ously as a soldier. The woods were lined with
mounted warriors: they commenced the attack
at 8 o’clock yesterday morning, fought one
hour, then retired to replenish their ammunition,
King, at a spot north of the Forks of the Ouich- j renewed the attack; and during t lie interval Cap-
lechancy. We learn this from a wounded sol
dier of the detachment who made his way to
this post day before yesterday. It is with the
deepest regret and feelings q lito inexpressibb
tain Gardner cut down trees and made a breast
work, placed fresh men at the twelve pounder,
but the Indians picked them off, just ns fast tis the
posts were supplied with fresh men. When
that 1 announce to you the probable death of j the soldier left the ground, he says that there
many of thc officers who accompan ed the com- were not more than ten men, and some of them
mand. There were besides Major Dade, Cap- j wounded. Major Mountfort and myself were
tains Gardner and Frazier, Lieutenants Bassin-1 to have left tomorrow morning for Fort King,
ger, Mudge, R. E. Henderson, and Keys and j and we should doubtless have shared the same
Assistant Surgeon Gatlin. We cannot obtain ! fate, but the commanding officer, Captain Bel
mont is at this time exercising that power t„
suppress such actsot tlie citizens of the Uni* rt
States, done within its jurisdiction, in rel n ,; on ^
thc belligerent authorities of Mexico and Toxl
as are inconsistent with the relations of ^
and amity we sustain towards those states -!
Such a power, therefore, belonged to the snvo
reignty of each of the states, before the fi,rm n *
tion ot the Unton, and ns far ns regards ffif>'
relations to each other, it was not delegated ti
the general government. It still ’remains un .
unpaired, and the obligations to exercise it have"
acquired additional force from the nature and
objects of thc Federal Compact. I cannr*
doubt that the legislature possesses the power to
pass such penal jaws as will have the effect of
preventing the citizens of this state and resi.
dents within it, from availing themselves, with
impunity, of the protection of its sovereignty
and laws, while they are actually employed in
exciting insurrection and sedition in a"sister
state, or engaged in treasonable enterprises
intended to be executed therein.” *’
CONGRESS.
abolitionists. In vain the southern Jackson
men, particularly Mr. Mason of Virginia, and
Mr. Glascock of Georgia, endeavored to pour
oil upon the troubled waters. The more they
Yielded, the more exacting their opponents be
came. Nothing was spared in thc language of
vituperation and denunciation, by some of our
!,im S and other whiio I ««#'>*>• •>«*"». *“ch 10
■ , t-i ci „<• .1 i and agitate the house. They were evidently
men, anil that Ins hoy San. >vas “ f j disapI S io , c d end maddened at finding, oiler all,
ringleaders. 1 hat some wine men we .aso; „. cre no . alM ionh,s."
ongnged in the plot, nnu that she had got her m-1
formation by overhearing the negroes talk ~ ~ ~ 7 , r
about it. Mr. Richardson then examined some j Thc “sapient idea which the Macon Mes.
of his nc^ro men, but they denied all knowledge j senger attributes to thc Augusta Courier, has
of the matter. * 1 worried thc excellent editor of that paper and
He subsequently got them all together, with i his party not a little. The charge of league
the exception of .Sam, and telling them that ; for oxcitemcnt^ and political effect was so well-
Sam had confessed, advised them to come out j founded, that it could not be partied, and the
and tell the truth about the matter, for that they , only way of answering it was lo abuse its au-
were all criminated. They then aeknowledg- i thor. That the nuliijiers and abolitionists have
ed that it was understood among them, that \ thc same game in hand still, notwithstanding
thev were to rise on Christmas, to kill him and 1 the temporary check their madness received
other white people, and that the boy Sam was | Irom the public indignation everywhere, wc
one of the leaders in thc plot. ' j might easily show from a variety of quarters;
James Williams, a white man, was next ex- i but we will content ourselves with the extract of
aminod, separately and out of thc hearing of' a letter on this point, which the writer will cx-
thc other prisoners. He testified that about j cuse us for thus using contrary to his wishes,
three or four weeks ago he had entered into a ; Speaking of the little done in congress before
plot with the negro boy Sam and several other • the holidays, our correspondent observes,
negroes, whom ho named, together with some j “There is one subject, it is true, of moment,
white men, whom lie also named; whose object • which has come before the house, the vote on
was to collect as large a fi>rce as possible, pro- j which must, wc think, go far to appease public
cecd to Jackson, murder the white inhabitants,
feeling in our nart of the country. I mean thc
question of thc abolition of slavery in the Dis.
trict of Columbia. You cannot have failed to
observe, as I presume, that the nullifiers of the
soutii and the abolitionists of thc north made
common cause against the peace of thc Union:
but their efforts wore unavailing. The appeal
and rob the stores. They were then to push on
to St. Francisvilln, coiled forces on thc road,
and take that town. If successful there, they
were to proceed quickly' on to some wilderness
country near Texas, and were to furnish the
negroes with free papers at that place. They
were to spare such of the white females as were j was to the good, sober sense of the house—and
likely, and take them along as wives. Williams ; it was succesful. All the declamatory coarse,
fulher staled that they had held several meet- • menacing denunciation of * * *, and of * * *,
ings with the negroes on this subject, at which I and of * * *—and all the indiscreet and
he had attended, and where their plans were inflammatory language of Slade, ol Vermont,
talked over, lie also designated thc spot where ; aided by thc intemperate talk of John Quincy
some of the meetings were held, and stated the ! Adams, were not sufficient to agitate the house,
time agreed Open for rising, to be the present Upou the result, I cordially congratulate you
Christmas holidays. ~ j and my other friends of thc Union in the south.
The negro hoy Sam, belonging lo Mr. Rich- Thc previous question was called, in order, of
ardson, was then brought in and examined in course, to stop debate; because it was evident
the same manner. This hoy fully corroborated that every speech that was made upon the sub
file statements of Williams, as to the existence ■ ject, only tended, more and more, to produce
of a plot among them, to rise and murder tlie j exacerbation. It was a mortifying fact for the
white people, stating the time fixed upon to be j nullifiers in the iiou.se, that the agitation was
this Christmas, and that white men were engaged i there decidedly put down—for one of them
in the plot. lie also said that Lo and Williams ! plainly asserted that his “object was to agitate.' 1 '
had consulted together on the subject, and that! All four of the above-mentioned nullifiers are
be had attended the meetings at which Wil- frothv declaimers, without merit of a high on
hams was present.
Negro boy Nelson, belonging to Mr. Robert
Munson, was next examined. 1 le fully corrobo
rated thc statements of Williams and Fain—
der. They come to the house, spout out their
froth, which very few members heed, go home,
write out n speech, resembling in its general
features lhc oral one of the proceeding day;
very definite information from the soldier and it
is quite impossible to say how many were killed
and how many wounded. The command
fought most bravely but were perfectly over
powered by the number of the Indians. In an
unwonted mannerthey attacked in open daylight,
and fired down upon them from behind the trees,
cutting off first the advanced guard. It would
appear to be a total rout and the man thinks
but few if any, escaped. We have waited most
anxiously, but in vain, for further stragglers a-
mong our unfortunate comrades. A fond and
faithful dog belonging to Captain Gardner re
turned this morning furnishing but an ill-starred
omen. The distance from any succor is so
great that the wounded who should wander a-
wav would stand but a poor chance. Major
Dade who was mounted was shot down first of
all. Tiie soldier is able to mention the despe
rate bravery of several of the officers in a wound
ed condition; but we cannot but hope that some
of these eight may yet live to tell the story.
Major Dade took command of this detach
ment under circumstances which reflect upon
him the highest honor. Captain F. S. Belton
of 2dartillerycommandshere. GencralCiinch
had ordered the commanding officer at this post
to detach there two companies on their arrival.
They arrived several weeks sine -, but being
very weak and the other companies ordered not
having arrived, the accounts received, at this
time, of the hostile intentions of the Indians
were such as to induce Captain B. to postpone
the march. On thc arrival of our company
from Key West, the two companies were
strengthened from the whole command so as to
make them one hundred strong. Mrs. Gard
ner was exceedingly ill and it was supposed that
if her husband left she would not live. Never
theless Captain Gardner (who was to command
the detachment) prepared to go and at revielle
on the morning ot'23d he mounted his horse in
frontof the detachment which was about to start.
Maj or Dade made a proposition to the command
ing officer to take Captain G’s place on account
of the situation of Mrs. G. T!>q proposition
was accepted and the command commenced its
march. Before they Lad proceeded many
miles Captain G. ascertained that the U. F.
ton, has decided to strengthen his position by
keeping us. We are very strong behind a
picket, but our ammunition is, virtually speak
ing, nothing; and some of the hostile warriors
are known to have fifty kegs of rifle powder.—
That we shall be attacked is considered almost
certain.
Three transports have arrived at this bay to
transport them to New Orleans, but they might
now with better propriety he used in bringing
an additional number of troops. I am glad that
there is a very remote prospect of the soldier
having exaggerated, but I much fear that the
report is too true, for after questioning him in
every possible way, he arrived at the same re-
suit. The attack was evidently a preconcerted
one, for the Indians were mostly naked and
painted. The inhabitants of the whole sur
rounding country are winthin the pickets, and
a large body of friendly Indians are located on
the opposite shore of the river, with all their
boats ready to move off if an attack is made.—
Poor Mrs. Basinger is with Mr. Haskill, and is
nearly beside herself: the death of her husband
lias not yet been communicated to her. I will
leave this open till morning, with a hope that
some runner may come in, bringing more cheer
ful news.
I am, very sincerely, your friend,
J. B. GRAYS! »N, Lieut. U. S. A.
Col. D. E. Twiggs, New Orleans, La.
January 1, 1836
News is worse and worse. Two men mon-
have come in, wounded, who place it beyond a
doubt that captain Gardner, Dr. G itlin, lieu
tenants- Keyes and Henderson have also b(?en
killed, and the whole command cut to pieces.—
Yesterday morning the friedly Indians declared
war against the hostile ones, and in our favor,
and swear revenge for Omatlas death. W
trust the Motto transport will be in today from
Key West, when we shall have two more field
pieces and a supply ol ammunition. Poor Bas
singer, after being shot through the breast, tried
to escape, when he was overtaken and toma
hawked by the runaway negroes, who exulted in
such an opportunity of revenge againstthe whites.
We have strengthened our work verv much
in the last two days, as we have made a lunette,
Schooner Motto was about to sail for Key West, j which gives us a flank fire. A short time before
for the purpose of bringing two twelve poun
ders from that post, ammunition, Arc. His chil
dren with their grandfather were already there
and he concluded to send Mrs. G. to Key West
in the Motto, and thus gratify his earnest de
sire to go with his company; (and on joining his
company the relation in which he now stood to
Major Dade of course induced him not to do.
mur to Iiis continuing in command and proceed
ing to Ft. King)—they took a long six pounder
from thc belief that it would produce a panic
among the savages. But they seem to have
assembled in such numbers as to render the stout
defence of the unfortunate troops quite unavail
ing. One hundred of the Indians are said to
have been mounted. This accounts for the
suddenness and system of the attack. Whilst
l am writing 1 have just learnt of the arrival of
another soldier very badly wounded who has
made his way from this bloody field. He con
firms every portion of the above account. His
name is Clark, a private of [B] camp 2d and
the same man that escaped from the boat when
Lieutenant Chandler was drowned in Mobile
Bay.
A very strong little defence of pickets admi
rably flanked by two Block Houses was com
pleted here some days since. There are five
companies here, Major Zantzinger’s(H) Captain
Betten’s (B) Major Montffirt’s (G) and Captain
Lord’s (commanded by Lt. Grayson) (A) of 2d
artillery and Major Dade’s company now com
manded by myself and of the 4th infantry. If
the Indians in their triumph should attack us we
arc well prepared.
The officers here are Captain Bettcn, Lieu
tenants Grayson, M-Kenrie, Casey, (A. A 2
M.) Legate, Morgan. Dr. Huskel and Reynolds,
Major Muntlbrd, Lt. J. II. Allen, and Alvord.
We must have more troops for this Florida
business and we want mounted men. General
Clinch now at Fort King was to have marched
down with his command in the middle of Janua
ry. There are six or seven vessels off in the
Bay ready lo transport Indians.
I was very sanguine that the command would
get through, but how ogregiously deceived.
As the Indians did not follow up this man Clark,
we infer that they must have gone on to Fort
King—there are seven companies there.
The Mickazukies and unfriendly Seminoles
must have mainly constituted the body of the
attacking tribes. It is feared the Creeks have
joined them.
A hotly of seventy friendly Indians, Seminoles
Fraser left, thc work put up was called Fraser’s
redoubt. We hope that no further delay will
take place, but that troops will pour in from all
quarters, or those now here will be sent away;
for the force in Florida is, I assure vou, totally
inadequate to perform what is required of it.—
Major Mountfort was under order to leave the
day I arrived here; but Major Dade had got so
far ahead, that Major M. could not have over
taken. I was to follow Major M., and the con
sequence would have been that Mount fort’s
company and my own would have shared the sad
fate of those poor fellows who went before us.
—Mobile Chronicle, 13th instant.
Extract from a late message of governor
MARCY of New York, to the legislature of
that State.
“Relying on the influence of a sound and en
lightened public opinion to restrain and control
the misconduct of the citizens of a free govern
ment, especially when directed, as it has been
in this case, with unexampled energy and unani-
mity to the particular evils under consideration,
and perceiving that its operations have been thus
far salutary, I entertain the best hopes that this
remedy, of itself, will entirely remove these
evils, or render them comparatively harmless.
But if these reasonable expectations should, un
happily, be disappointed; if, in the face of nu
merous and striking exhibitions of public repro.
bation, elicited from our constituents by a just
fear of the fatal issues in which the uncurbed
efforts of the abolitionists may ultimately end,
and a considerable portion of these misguided
men should persist in pushing them forward to
disastrous consequences, then a question, new
to our confederacy, will necessarily arise, and
must be met. It must then be determined how
far the several states can provide, with the pro
percxerci.se of their constitutional powers, and
how far in fulfilment of the obligations resulting
from their federal relations, they ought to pro
vide, by their own laws, for the trial and pun
ishment by their own judicatories, of residents
within their limits, guilty of acts therein, which
are calculated and intended to excite insurrec-
tion and rebellion in a sister state. Without the
power to pass such laws, the States would not
possess all the necessary means for preserving
their external relations of peace among them
selves, and would be without the ability to ful
fil in all instances, the sacred obligations which
they owe to each other as members of the Fed.
eral Union. Such a power is the acknowledg-
undcr orders from Uhale Amartla, their Chief, j ed attribute of sovereignty, and the exercise of
set off this morning to scour the country. They I it is often necessary to prevent the embroiling
are eager for the contest—were painted for tiie j of neighboring nations. The general uovern-
house of representatives.
January 6, 1836.
The Chair proceeded, under the rule to call
for resolutions bv States, commencing with the
State of Maine. °
Mr. Jarvis of Maine submitted the following
resolution: D
Resolved, That, in the opinion of this house
the subject of the abolition of slavery in the Dis!
tiict of Columbia, ought not to be entertained
by congress. And be it further resolved, that
in case any petition praying the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia be hereaf
ter presented it is the deliberate opinion of
the house, that the same ought to be laid upon
the table, without being referred or printed.
Mr. Jarvis said, the resolution which he had
just submitted, was precisely similar to the one
which the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Owens)
had endeavored to bring before the house with,
out success, and he now offered it at his request;
but he was not doing so out of mere courtesy
to lliat gentleman, but from a desire that this
subject might be settled in such a manner as
might be satisfactory to the southern people.
Mr. Adams requested that this resolution
might be postponed until the States were called
through for resolutions.
Mr. Jarvis resumed. He said if he thought
there was ar.v probability of keeping off a discus
sion of the subject, he would not object to having
it postponed, but as it was, he thought we might
as well take it up now as at any other time. He
did not mean to enter into a discussion of the
subject, but merely to state, in a few words,
that from nil he had seen for the last month, he
entertained no doubt that no* only a large ma
jority of the house, but also a large majority of
the representatives of the non-slaveholding
States, were decidedly averse to any action on
the subject of the abolition of slavery in the Dis.
trict of Columbia, bv congress. His constitu
ents deprecated the agitation of the question.—
They consider that it belongs exclusively totho
southern States, and that any interference by
us, would be unwise and unwarrantable. IIo
thought he was fully justified in making this as
sertion by what took place in Maine during tho
last summer. In ihc meetings which wero
then held, party spirit was lost sight of; and men
who Lad never acted together before, were found
uniting like a band of brothers, to avert a ca
tastrophe which impended over us. Then, with,
out distinction of party, the most prominent in
station, in private worth, in wealth and intelli
gence, attended these meetings; and resolutions
were adopted at them, which spoke but one lan
guage, and that was, a reprobation of the aboli
tionists. By permission of the house, he would
read a resolution, which was unanimously n-
dopted at the meeting which was held at Au
gusta the seat of government of the State of
Maine.
“Resolved, That nny interference by the
non slaveholding States on the subject of slave
ry, is incompatible with the preservation of tiio
Union; we view with regret and alarm all at-
tempts to excite such interference, or to disturb
the peace of the country by the fruitless ngita-
tion of that exciting subject; and we hold it to
be the duty of every patriot to ‘frown upon the
first dawning of every attempt to alienate any
portion of our country from the rest, or to en-
feeble the sacred ties which now bind together
its various parts.’ ”
Mr. J. said that comment on this resolution
was useless. It was not his intention to enter
further into this discussion; nor would he have
said thus much, had it not been for misrepresen
tations (no doubt unintentional) which had been
made upon this floor, with regard to the feelings
of the people of the eastern States, which, at the
time, there was no opportunity to repel.
When Mr. Jarvis concluded his remarks,
Mr. J. Q. Adams moved to lay thc resolutions
on the table.
Mr. Glascock asked for thc yeas and nays,
which were ordered.
Mr. Miller asked for the reading of the rest?,
lutions. which being done, the question was ta
ken on laying the resolution on the table, by
yeas and nays—66 yeas, 123 nays.
Mr. Cambreleng called for the orders of the
day; but withdrew his motion at the request of
Mr. Wise, who pledged himself to renew it.
Mr. Wise then moved the following amend
ment.
Amended by striking out after “.Resolved,”
and insert That there is no power of legislation
granted by the constitution, to the congress ot
the United States to abolish slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and that any attempt by con-
gross to legislate upon the subject of slavery,
will be not only unauthorized, but dangerous to
the Union of the states.
M r. Wise said, before he renewed the motion
of the gentleman from New York, he would
take that opportunity to say that he hoped his
amendment to the resolution of the gentleman
from Maine would bring the direct question be
fore the house. The war was now commenced
between evasive and direct propositions upon
this subject, for he regarded the propositions of
the gentleman from Maine, as entirely evasive.
He regarded them as unsatisfactory to the south,
and nothing could satisfy them but a bold, di
rect, and manly vote upon this question. Let
it be settled. That was all they asked. He
wished now to see who would vote for the one
proposition, and who for the other. He wished
to see now who would move the previous ques
tion to cut off this amendment. He wished the
whole south to mark it, if the previous question
to tills amendment should be put upon them.-"
Let them toe it, and let the south be undeceived,
or let the south be guaranteed in her rights-
Mr. W. moi'cd to print tho original resolutren