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J'l'&Oi IKBUUBiBitlfc IDttlMrif'
FLORIDA CASPAIRH.
From the Washington Globe.
Fort Drant, Florida, March 11, 19-30.
Sir—The following statement of facts in re
lation to the recent nnvemeats of troops from
Louisiana, u 1 ler the immediate command ot
major general Gaines, you may rely upon, and
if you think proper, may use for the informa
tion of the public.
General Gaine^left his permanent head quar
ters, at Memphis, (Tennessee) on a lour of in-
ed us since we left Tampa Bay, and out few of 1 hundred yards, and repeated what had beeg de-
us expected it at the Withlacoochee. We were j clared the night before. The general then
therefore many of us fully exposed while sound-i directed a staff officer to go out to them, and
ing and examining the river,Jand our. exposure ! hear what they had to sav. It was soon report-
was a matter of jocular remark, when for the j ed to the general that the Indians did not wish
first time, opposite our left (lank, a spirited fire i to fight any more, but they wanted him to retire
was heard, accompanied by the enlivening war \ from the Withlacoochee. The stall officer was
yell of the savage. The fight was continued j then ordered to return to them, and, in the plain-
about half an hour, the enemy being on the left ! cst language, to tell them the exact truth, as to
bank of the river, when the general ordered ihc ■ the force ordered into the country to subdue
troops to encamp near the river. We lost one ! them; that an additional force was expected
spection, p.ud arrived at New Orleans about the killed and eight wounded. Ou the 29:h we i every day; that the time was near when every
fifteenth oF January, where he heard, for the; moved down the river, about two miles, where : Indian found with a rifle in his hand would be
first time of serious disturbances m Florida, j the banks were less covered with thicket, and , shot down. This was communicated with such
«nd particularly of the melancholy massacre of j the advance guard was here fired upon, and ; explanations as were deemed necessary to give
major Dude and his commaud, which occurred ! lieutenant Izard of the United States’dragoons, it force; and they then said they would go and
on the twenty-eight of December, lie immo- j mortally wounded, lie full, but partially re-i hold a council, and would assemble again in the
diateiy communicated with the governor of | covering himself, commanded his men, with the afternoon to give an answer. In the afternoon
Louisiana, and requested him to call upon, and j utmost composure to “keep their positions and they came as before, including, as in the morn-
hold in readiness a body of volunteers for'ser-lie close,” a command scarcely less remarkable j ing, the celebrated Powell, and scarce less
vice in subduing the Seminole Indians, and pro-i than that of the lamented Lawrence, “Don’t celebrated Jumper, with several^ others, and
ceded to Pensacola to solicit the co-operation give up the ship.” Lieutcnaut Izard, after five
of the naval force on that station. At Pensa- j days of suffering, died on the 5th of March,
cola ho found lus wishes had been anticipated; : and was buried on the banks of the Withiacoo-
commodore Dallas and Bolton, and captain , ohec—himself a loss too great for the savage
Webb, having already directed their attention i foe ever to compensate.
towards Tampa Bay, and other inlets of Flori- j The fight was continued on the 23th, with
da, wl ither they had ordered marines and mu-1 little or no intermission from about 9 o’cl<>ek
nitions of war. ! until 1 o’clock, P. M. when we encamped again.
The general, on his way to Pensacola, feel- j During this period the Indians kept up a con
without taking care to secure his communica- j Resolved. That our delegates to the approach
tions; but it is the high attribute of genius to'ing assembly arc hereby enjoined to use all
be able to dispense with those rules which are j Christian means to prevent the discussion ol do-
necessary for the government of ordinary mestic slavery in the assembly, to protest in our
mortals. The commander, however, who dis
regards them, assumes a responsibility which
nothing short of complete success can justify:
reasonable grounds for supposing that supplies ! of tilts character shall be passed.
name against all acts that involve or approve
abolition—and to withdraw from the assembly
and return home, if in spite of their efforts, acts
ing called upon to take the most prompt and
with the interpreter Abram. The general’s
stafl’olfieer bad with him two or three others
from our camp at the talk. The Indians re
peated much of what they had said in the morn
ing; that they had lost many men by death and
wounds, and were tired of the war and wanted
peace; but as their governor, as they callpd
him, Micanopv, was not with them, they wanted
time to consult him. They therefore asked a
decisive measures to sustain the military posts
within Ins command, and secure the peace ol
the frontier, issued his orders to lieutenant col-
tinuous yell, except during an interval, when cessation of the war. The staff officer, having
they retreated fur a short time. Vfe lost this been previously instructed by the general, told
day, beside lieutenant Izard, one killed, and j them that if they would cease from all acts of
captain Sanders, commanding the friendly In- hostility, retire south of the Withlacoochee, and
onel Twiggs to receive into service eight com- j dians, and captain Armstrong of the United ( promise to attend a council when called upon
States’schooner Motto, both volunteers, wound-i by the United States’ commissioners, ilmv
ed, the latter slightly. In the evening of this ! should not for the present be molested. They
day an express was sent to Fort Dratio to report answered, that for themselves they would, and
to the officer commanding in that quarter, that ' did promise all that was required. At that
the enemy had been found in force, and tore- moment a noise was heard front that portion of
commend an immediate movement, crossing the the Indians at a distance, and they were seen
Withlacoochee some distance above, and thence running towards the river. It was easy to
to fall down upon the enemy’s rear, which it conjecture the cause. Immediately afterwards
was hoped would terminate the war. ' general Clinch, with five hundred men and
panics of the volunteers requested of the gov
ernor of Louisiana, and together with the re
gular force at Baton Rogue, New Orleans, and
other stations in the immediate vicinity oi -Mew
Orleans, to hold himself in readiness for a move
ment to Tampa Bay. The whole lurce amount
ed to about eleven hundred men, including about
seven hundred volunteers. This order was
dated at Mobile the eighteenth of January.
The general visited Pensacola as slated, and
then proceeded to New Orleaus, where ho ar
rived about the 2Gth. Me organized and equip,
ped his force, and moved on the 4th of Februa
ry in three steamboats. Me reached Tampa
On the 29th in the morning, the enemy was supplies, came gallantly on: and his advance
silent, but the experience of the general looked guard of mounted men, seeing Indians and not
upon it as ominous, and he ordered one third of knowing the purpose of their being where they
the command to remain at the breastworks, the were, formed a’line promptly to the left, and
remainder of the force being employed m pre- fired, but the ficctness of the Indians saved them
Bay on the 9th, and on the 13:lt took the field j paringtimber and canoes for crossing the river. —they were beyond the reach of gun shot, and
were soon out of sight and over the river.
Then followed oneof the most delightful greet
ings imaginable. Genera! Clinch’s force moved
onward, and was soon within hail of friends;
and were we not all friends indeed? The new
iu the enemy’s country. It was first designed j At about 9 o’clock our working parties were
to search for and defeat a body of Indians re- j fired upon, and simultaneously a vigorous fire
ported to have been recently in the neighbor
hood of Fort Broke—said to have been in bat
tle only a day or two before the arrival of the
general, with the friendly Indians. Accord
ingly, the general marched in an easterly di
rection upon the Alafia river, but at the cud of
two days, having found two or three fields ol
turnips and other vegetables, as also fodder
stacks not destroyed by the enemy, it was readi
ly concluded he could not have been iu that x i-
cinity in any considerable force, and the gener
al directed ids march towards Fort King. He
had taken ten dav’s rations only, but had rea-
poured into the camp from three sides, that
nearest the river being the only one not assailed.
The firing continued a little over two hours
during which we lost one man killed, and three comers were soou divested of their surplus bread,
officers and thirty non commissioned and pii- Ae. until their haver sacks were emptied, and
rates wounded. The force of the enemy was our command feasted. General Clinch brought
estimated at twelve hundred or fifteen hundred, two days’ supply of pork and bread, with sugar,
General Gaines was wounded bv a small rifle j besides about forty head of cattle, many of which
hail, which passed through bis lower lip, ma
hail, which passed through bis lower lip, mak
ing a very slight wound, but knocking out one
lower tooth and slightly fracturing two upper
teeth. This was a most startling incident to
all as soon as known, but affected everv bodv
id not live out that night
On the Stli a negro man was sent over the
l iver, who had a wife among the hostiles, with
orders to account for his appearance among
them in any way lie might choose; to see and
talk with them; to ascertain their location and
son to suppose that a large supply of stores was i more than the gallant hero himself, who with
at Fort King, the quartermaster having shown | the most heart-chcering good humor observed, wishes. On the 9th he did not return, and
him an official letter from the quartermaster i that it was extremely unkind for the enemy to much doubt prevailed as to the position and dis-
general, advising him than one hundred and j take a tooth from him which ho valued so high- position of the enemy. On this day, the 9th,
twenty thousand rations had been ordered toily. Lieutenant Duncan of the art tilery, was J General Gaines thought proper to deliver the
that po:,t. The letter was dated the 21st of j slightly wounded, and lieutenant E. Smith, of j command over to General Clinch. We all
January. ! the Louisiana volunteers, was wounded no less ; regretted, and yet were pleased with, the change;
The march was continued to Fort King, pass- j than three times. The enemy at length retired regretted to lose the presence of a tried, experi-
in some baste, for, contrary to their custom, eneed and gallant General whose deportment
they left one of their dead, after dragging the commanded respect, whose judgment ensured
body some distance; they took his rifle, but we confidence, and whose mild and amiable manners
found him well supplied with powder and about won the affectionate regard of every one; but
sixty bullets. ! if a change was deemed a public duty, to whom
The enemy, contrary to expectation, having ■ could the command ho assigned, with so much
crossed the river, it was evidently unnecessary satisfaction to his troops, as to General Clinch,
for the troops from Fort Drane to go higher up, who came nobly to their aid, with all the
and accordingly general Gaines sent another despatch and all the assistance in his power, and
depress that evening, suggesting the expediency whose, manners were an index oi' his generous
of a movement directly to Camp Izard, (the and heart ennobling qualities,
name he had given his own camp,) requesting. General Clinch, for reasons assigned in orders,
as lie had done by the previous express, a supply directed a movement to this place, to commence
of six thousand rations of pork, flour, and sugar, on the 10th inst. at 10 o’clock. In the midst
On the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th days of March, tho of a heavy rain the march commenced, and the
enemy fired at intervals, both day aud night, troops moved about seven miles and encamped,
upon our camp, which v secured by breast- hi the evening, the negro man who had been
in, and, to our
ing on the 20th of February, the battle ground
of the gallant band, cut off'under major Dade,
on the 29th December, where wo interred the
bodies of one hundred and six heroes. No
language can do justice to the scone. The re
mains of oar mutilated brothers iu arras were
found where they had fallen, at their pasts; the
very position of the advance guard being clear-
ly indicated. Our troops marched to solemn
music around the little breastwork which had
becQ hastily thrown up, and where the Inst of
tho party wore destroyed; each individual ly
ing at the breastworks, where beyond a doubt
lie fell in the execution of his duty. Wo con-
tinued our march a short distance that day, and
on tho 22d, as if to celebrate the birth of him
who was “first in war, first in peace, and first iu
tho hearts of his countrymen,” we arrived at
Fort King, and gave an agreeable surprise to
one company of artillery, the garrison of that
post, which from its isolated and exposed situa
tion, had been reported in the presses of the
country, as having been assaulted and destroy
ed by the Indians. The garrison had, indeed,
been exposed, but was well prepared to give the
cnomy a warm reception. The guard, on Ihc
approach of general Gaines, was paraded, and
the customary honor paid in duo form; but
Where were the hearts of all at that moment?—
'Tho writer of this confesses, “he turned aside
to wipe away a tear.”
The general, cur.trary to his reasonable ex
pectations, found no sufficient supply of stores
of any kind. Tho next morning, the 23d, all
the horses were sent to Fort Drauo, twenty-two
miles northwest, with a suitable convoy lor n
supply of provisions. The 21th brought us all
that could be procured, and it was ascertained
to be but seven days’ rations, which with two
works, ot pine logs, within which most of thej sent among the foe, came in, and, to our great
Command enjoyed themselves in conversation, satisfaction, confirmed, in the most precise man
ned speculated upon probabilities as to whether ner the truth and sincerity of all the Indians
supplies would reach us, while our sharp-shoot- had professed. He went among them, and
ers were amusing themselves in picking off’the found they had moved some fifteen or twenty
Indians from behind tho trees. miles up the river, and had dispersed over a
As our provisions diminished, we began to 1 space of some two milts or more, in several
inquire into the virtues of roots and the compara- encampments. They gave the negro assurance
five excellence of horse meat. At a meeting of a pacific disposition on their part, stating that
oi officers, all the corn was thrown into the they had ordered their young men to abstain
public crib, and an issue of a pint made to those from war, and that they had seen our men fishing
men whose bread had been exhaused. At i iu the river, and had abstained from firing upon
length, bread, corn aud meat disappeared, and them. They stated that thirty had been killed
somo of the men were two days without food.— . in the several battles on tho Withlacoochee
What was then tlie feeling iu camp? Let it be within the 27th of Fcbuary and 5th of March,
recorded to the honor of every man, and let no It must he observed that no terms have been
one, from false modesty, hesitate to yield his , offered the Indians: and although there can ho
feelings to the gratification of noble pride, when : no doubt of their having been broken in spirit,
lie recollects that not a murmur was heard, and it is yet to be seen whether they will suffer the
[ not a whisper of retreat circulated from any ‘ dictation of terms which it is understood are to
quarter. Far from it. Some horses were kill- be imposed on them. It is certainly known
I ed, and a very delicate piece was brought to through the negro man that they do not wish to
days’supply found at Fort King, made up all the general at his tent, who found it remarkably go west, and they may refuse to comply with a
that could be looked for in that quarter. The j tender and well flavored. Wo felt very well ■ requirement to do so.
general hadil.cn to decide upon his next move- j able to maintain ourselves at least three weeks, General Games arrived at this place to dnv
ment. To remain at Fort King without sup- j if necessary; and by that time, at least, the in good health.
plies, was out of tho question; to proceed furth-j force from above must certainly come down; I have the honor to be, witli the highest rc-
cr north, might embarrastheoperationsof nnotb- ; and the Indians would assuredly be taken.— j spect, your obedient servant,
cr officer then ascertained to be employed at j These wore enr reflections on the night of the j E. A. HITCHCOCK,
Picolata in preparing force and supplies to pcnc- j 5th, when about 10 o’clock, wc heard some or.o i Captain, United States' Army.
trate the enemy’s country. After much ma-! calling from tlie woods and wishing to speak lion. Francis S. Lyon, M. C. Washington City.
general decided to move j with us. Tho officer of iho guard answered the : ... . . , . ,
The following response, from the pen of the
lure deliberation, tho
south again by the battle ground of general j man, and demanded his designs; he distinctly , ... - ,
Clinch. If the enemy should not be found, the j stated that the Indians were t.red of fighting, j garter-Master General is likew.se extracted
general would, at all events, reach supplies at j and wanted to make peace. The general order- 101,1110 asmng on o c.
Tampa Bay. His movements would occupy, ed the officer of tho guard to answer that if he
and perhaps concentrate the enemy, and tend i wanted to say any thing, to conic in the morn-
greatly to give security to the frontier and ena- ing with a white (lag, and ho should not be fired
upon. He replied, “very well;” repeating his
blc families to return to their deserted planta
tions, and in safety recommence their peaceful
avocations which was considered of very great
importance, the season having arrived for the
commencement of planting operations. Lastly,
but not the least of the considerations, we might
find and beat the enemy.
The general moved from Fort King on flic
Messrs. Blair and Rives:
Gkxtlejien—I have read the letter of cap
tain Hitchcock, late Acting Inspector General
in Florida, published in your paper of Saturday,
desire to come iu and have a friendly talk, and ; and regret to observe that, in the warmth of his
zeal for his chief, ho attempts to throw the re
sponsibility of the movement on Fort King, with
inadequate supplies, upon tho officers of the
Quartermaster’s department- Now, most men
have as much as they can do to bear the burden
of their own errors; I find it so at least, and I
confess my shoulders are not quite broad enough
to shake hands. This was soon circulated
throughout the camp, but from the well known
treachery of the Indians, we were ordered to be
particularly ou our guard, and continued so all
night.
During the day on the 5th, wc lost one man
2»3th of February, and ou the 27th, at 2 o’clock, killed, and two wounded, the oniy casualties
we were on the right bank of tho Withlacoo-1 which had occurred since the 30th. On the j to bear the additional weight which the gallant
inspector seems kindly disposed to transfer to
them. But let him speak for himself. He
says: “The General directed his march towards
Fort King. He had taken ten days’ rations
only r , but had reason to suppose that a large
supply' ofstores was at Fort King, the Quarter,
master having shewn him an official letter from
the Quartermaster General, advising him that
chco, at the place where general Clinch crossed | morning of tho 6th, at about 10 o’clock, about
the river the 31st of December preceding.—» j three hundred of the Indians filed out from the
The troops had advanced from Tampa Bay, ! river and look up a position in our rear, about
and to this time the same order of march had ! five huudred yards distant. They were armed,
been preserved in three columns, a tight, con- and we were fully in the belief that this was a
tre and loft, respectively, about one hundred ' mere feint, supposing the residue of their force
yards distance from each other, with a strong in a neighboring hammock; and we were con-
advance and rear guard, the baggage being in fident of a desperate assault from some quarter,
the rear of the centre column. In this order it j We were at a stand, waiting their movements ' one hundred and twenty thousand rations had
followed and struck the river atthrec points; the some minutes. At length one or two advanced been ordered to that post;” and in a subsequent
advanced guard as the centre being at the itsu- j a short distance, and after considerable hesita- j paragraph ho says: “The General, contrary to
al crossing place. The baggage and tho rear | lion on their pa rt3, the result of their fears, lest j his reasonable expectations, found no sufficient
had been ordered to lmrtt, us the general only j we should entrap them, they approached near j supply of stores of any kind.” It is a maxim in
designed examining the crossing plyce. Uj^lo j enough to be heard, and after being joined by j war, as old as the science itself, that a general
fin-! time no attack or amtoymieo bad been offer-1 three or four others, lyrme within ab«..ut two : should never separate himself from his supplies
would be found at Fort King may palliate, but
cannot justify a movement contrary to rule,
which resulted in failure, as this did.
But let us examine the grounds for the sup
position of the general. Captain Shannon,the
senior quartermaster in Florida, had been ad
vised in a letter of the 19th of January, from
the quartermaster general’s office, that a large
supply of provisions had been ordered from
New York to Fort King. The following is an
extract from that letter of all that relates to the
subject: “Large supplies of provisions have
been ordered from New York to Fort King."—
By comparing this extract with captain Hitch
cock’s letter, it will be seen that he has omitted
the material fact, that the supplies were ordered
from New York. Now, he must pardon me,
if not satisfied with the precise quantum of truth
which he has chosen to tell, I claim for the de
partment the benefit of the whole truth.
General Gaines, we are told, moved from
Tampa Bay on the 13th February, just twenty-
four days subsequent to the date of the letter to
captain Shannon; a time not sufficient to have
placed the supplies in depot at Fort King, even
in the most favorable season of the year, and
with the land communication entirely free from
the interruptions of the enemy. Besides, general
Gaines must have known that al! the settle
ments in Florida, from near St. Augustine to
Fort K ing, had been broken up, or were kept
in constant alarm by the enemy, and that the
whole line of the Ocklawha, as well as the
roads from Palatka and Picolata, were liable to
be seized and held by him; it must also have
been known that general Scott was in tho field,
and the least reflection must have led anv one
to perceive that he would hardly allow his sup
plies to go without protection in advance of his
force. The date of the letter, the place whence
tho supplies were necessarily drawn, the state
of the roads in Florida, the condition of that
country, and the position of general Scott,
should all have been considered. Viewing
these circumstances together, what grounds
were there to justify the supposition that supplies
would be found at Fort King? What reasona
ble expectation of tho general could have been
disappointed, unless indeed he supposed general
Clinch had obtained supplies before general
Scott arrived in the country? Bu< if he. at the
head of a thousand men, was obliged to en
trench himself on the Withlacoochee, and was
neither able to open 'he communication with his
own depot at Tampa Bay, nor to keep open that
with Fort King, how could lie expect general
Clinch, with less than half that force, even if
the supplies had arrived at Picolata, to keep
open the communication, and furnish protection
for them on the route, when every brigade of
wagons or pack horses required a military
escort?
The fact is, there was no just ground for the
supposition, if it was ever entertained, that
supplies would be found at Fort King more than
sufficient for its garrison. Tampa Bav was the
proper depot for general Gaines’ division.—
When he left that post for Fort King, the supplies
were abundant; if he chose to leave them there,
and allow the enemy to cut him off from them, lie
no doubt had reasons sufficient in his own opin
ion to justify the measure; but the responsibili
ty, as well as the honor, is all his own. I must
be excused from sharing either.
THOMAS S. JESUP.
From the Southern Banner.
Mr. Editor—You will much oblige a sub
scriber by inserting in your valuable paper, the
following preamble and resolutions unanimously
adopted by Hopewell Presbytery, at its late ses
sion in Greenesborough, instructing its delegates
to the general assembly, Rev. S. S. Davis aud
Eugeni us A. Nisbit, Esq.
Anticipating the discussion of various vitally
important matters at the approaching session of
the general assembly, the Presbytery ol Hope-
well takes this opportunity to instruct its dele
gates to that body, concerning the course which
wc desire them to pursue on certain matters.
The last general assembly appointed a com
mittee to report on the general subject of do
mestic slavery in these United States. And
from the movements of certain ecclesiastical
bodies in our church—from the course pursued
by some of our political bodies, and from the
known views of some members of the committee
referred to, we apprehend that abolition will be
introduced through the report, or by the agen
cy of other members. On the subject of do
mestic slavery, this Presbytery believes the fol
lowing facts have been most incontrovertibly
established, viz:
I. Slavery has existed in the church of God
from the time of Abraham to this day. Mem
bers of the church of God have held slaves
bought with their money and born in their
houses; and this relation is not only recognized,
but its duties are defined cleariyin both the Old
and New Testaments.
II. Emancipation is not mentioned among the
duties of the master to his slave; while obedi
ence “even to the freward” master is enjoined
upon the slave.
III. No instance can be produced of an
otherwise orderly christain being reproved, much
less excommunicated from the church, for the
single act of holding domestic slaves, from the
days of Abraham down to the dale of the mod
ern abolitionists.
JV. Slavery existed in the United States be
fore our ecclesiastical body was organized.—
It is not condemned in our confessiolTof faith,
and has always existed in our church without
reproof or condemnation.
V. Slavery is a political institution, with
which the church has nothing to do except to
inculcate the duties ot master and slave, and
to use lawful spiritual means to have all, both
bond and free, to become one in Christ by faith.
Regarding these positions as undoubtedly
true, our views of duty constrain us to adopt
the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the political institution of do
mestic slavery as it exists in tho south is not a
lawful or constitutional subject of discussion,
much less of action by the general assembly.
Resolved, That so soon as the genera! assem-
bly passes any ecclesiastical laws or recom-
mends any action which shall interfere with this
institution, this Presbytery will regard such
laws and acts as tyrannical and odious—and
from that moment will regard itself independent
of the genera! assembly of tho Presbyterian
church.
Presidential-Nomination.—Oik: hundred and
twenty seven Democratic Members, of the
Legislature of Maine, in Convention, on the
23 d of March, have concurred in the nomination
of Van Buren and Johnson. Amongthe resolu
tions which they have adopted is the following:
“Resolved, That we hail with joy the return
of Virginia from momentary political aberra
tions, and respect even the honest error of one
of her Senators, who while resisting instruction
did not despise reproof but surrendered his
committed trust to hislegitiinate constituents who
hastened its bestowal on one upon whom the
mantle of lefferson rests—adding as it does anoth
er proof that in <he hands of the people alone are
our liberties secure.
The Free Negro Vote.—Under the old Consti
tution of New York, the free negro had precisely
the same right to vote as the white man. In every
non slave-holding State, except Connecticut,
he had the very same right- In the slave-hold
ing States of North Carolina and Tennessee,
the very same right—and yet because Van
Buren voted to change the Constitution so as
to deprive the free negro of his vote, unless he
owned and paid taxes on a freehold of $250,
which the white man is not reqired to have—
(Mr. Van Buren) must be proscribed—Van
Buren is to he damned, because in New York
a free negro is required to possess 250 dollars
freehold, which the white man is not—and vet
Judge White is to go harmless, because in his
Slate a free negro has the very same right of
suffrage as a white man. What sort of justice
is this?—Richmond Enquirer.
A scene has taken place at Mt. Vermont,
Ohio. An Abolition Lecturer had b<-en holding
forth. 1 he people were determined to stop
him. After due notice to the Abolitionists, the
crowd rushed in to the New School Presbyterian
Meeting House. The basement story was filled
to overflowing. The Lecturer still persisting
to speak on, the cry was was changed to ‘put
him down, put him out,’ and a general rush was
made towards the speaker. All was confusion
for a few minutes, when the Abo’s capitulated,
ffieir orator withdrew free from the slightest
physical violence, and the audience dispersed
in peace ”—Philadelphia Inquirer.
Letitia Bonaparte, the mother of Napo
leon, died at Rome on the 2d February, aged
eighty-six
It has been understood that a considerable
force of Creeks and Uc hers, to the number of
four or five hundred, has been, or would be,
raised by Majors Watson and Flournov, being
commanded by General Thomas Woodward, of
Alabama, fora Florida campaign—mid that the
Indians were anxious to embark in this service.
We learn from a gentleman from that vicinity,
that a council bad been called for the purpose of
receiving such as might volunteer, when onlv
fifty offered themselves. We did not under
stand whether the services of so small n number
would be accepted—but it is probable they
would not be.
The Creek Indians on the Chattahoochee, be
low Columbus are said to be almost without
provisions, and in a sullen, discontented mood
They arc very much dissatisfied at not to be
permitted to bunt in Georgia, (where gam" is
much plentier than in Alabama,) and declare
their intention to do so. at any risk, as soon as
the leaves put out.* The pre-ent would be a
most favorable time to induce them to emigrate,
by furnishing such, immediately with provisions,
who would enrol for that purpose.—Macon
Messenger, 14th instant.
A
I'HDilltU, UNION'.
MILLEDGEV ILI.E, APRIL 21, I83c,
31 ART IN VAN BIREX
FOR PRESIDE A T.
R* JOaSNSON,
FOR VICE.PRESIDENT.
party of tho wild Indians have again
committed outrages upon our western frontier.—
Some few days since. Mr. Hibbins and his
brother-in-law were killed on the head waters
of the Navidad. We understand that he was
travelling home, with his family (wife and two
children) who had been on a visit to the United
States. Mrs. Hibbins, with her children, was
taken prisoner; and her voungest proving trou
blesome to the Indians, they put an end to its
existence, by dashing its head against a tree.—
After travelling some distance up the Colorado
river, Mrs. Hibbins effected her escape, and
travelled into the upper settlements. The com- I
panv of rangers stationed in that part of the
country, pursued the Indians, overtook them,
killed their chief and wounded some, rescued the
captive child, took several horses and mules, !
an dispersd the gang. Two of the rangers were
slightlv wounded.
We learn, however,that thescor other Indians
have since been into the settlements, and stolen
horses. Mr. Hibbins had for some years past
ived on the Guadnloupe; and during the seige
of Bexar, had furnished the army with many
beef cattle.—Texas Register.
Arkansas—Another Revolution.—We learn
from an article in the last Arkansas Gazette,
that a portion of the citizens of Miller counly,
in that territory, residing south of Red River,
have seceded from the government of the United
States, and are taking measures for the adoption
of the municipal laws of Texas. They have
elected five members to the Texas convention
—among them. Judge Ellis. It is supposed,
that if the line agreed upon by the treaty ofl810
should be ultimately established, that thecounty
will be found to be within the limits of Texas.—
St. Louis Republican.
Distressing Case.—A most distressing case of
fire and death occurred recently at Jackson,
(Ohio,) in the family of Mr. John Moore. Mr.
M. discovered his kitchen to be on fire, when
one bucket of water would have extiguished
it. Seizing a bucket he ran to the well and
lowered it, but it s/ijrped fiom the pole! One
of the daughters let down tho only remaining
bucket, and it too, was lost1 Thus deprived
of all chance of putting out the fire, they were
forced to leave the house to the devouring
flames. During their attempts to procure water
the night being windy, and the building dry and
combustible, the fire had made alarming prog,
ress. Mr. Moore, considering it fruitless to
endeavor to master the flame, turned his atten
tion to the safety of his family. Four of his
children slept in the loft. Thither the father ran
and succeeded in getting three of the children
from the bed—one remained in it asleep. Two
of the throe taken from the bed, loosed their
hold3 of their father before he reached the
lower floor, and with the one in the bed,
perished in the fames.
ABOLITION IN THE DISTRICT nr
COLUMBIA.—It was perceived, at
period, that in order to secure the deliberation^
of congress from interruption, and to guard the
independence of the administration, it was nc
cessary to provide for the fedora! government*
a small territory, of winch it should have tip
exclusive control. If congress assembled with,
in the limits of any state, in times of high ox!
citement, the people of the state, in lumultuous
assemblages, might attempt to control i; s dc.
cisions, or to interrupt its discussions; and on
these occasions, the state authorities might fail
to suppress, perhaps they would encourage such
disorders. Mobs might attempt to overawe tho
administration, and to direct its measures; and
the head of:he federal government, placed under
the officers of the state for protection, would
not be able to. secure his independence: or
might be driven to that most dangerous c.\.
pedienf, the employment of a standing army for
Ins defence. To prevent the occurrence of these
evils, the states ol Maryland and Virginia,
united to make a concession to the federal go.
eminent, of a territoiy ten miles square, de
nominated, the District ot Columbia
The authority of congress over this district
is derived from, and regulated by the fideru!
constitution. In tho enumeration ofthe powers
of congress, in the eighth section of the first
article of that instrument, it is declared, iu the
41st clause, that congress shall have power “to
exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases what,
ever, over such disoict, (not exceeding ten miles
square,) as may by cession of particular states,
and the acceptance of congress, become the
seat of government of the United States.”—
By the term, “exclusive legislation,” the nu-
thority of any other government to make laws
for this district, is excluded. By iho words, “in
ail cases,” the authority of congr< ss to make
laws for the district, is declared to be universal,
extending to every subj“ct of legislation. In
the states holding slaves, they are both as pro
perty, and as persons, a subject of legislation;
they are equally in both views, a subject of
legislation in the District of Columbia. Bv this
grant ofthe power of universal legislation in that
district, embracing this subject, without limita
tion or direction, the constitution has confided to
the wisdom and the virtue of congress, authority
to make such layvs in relation to slaves, as they
shall determine io be proper for the seat ofthe
federal government.
But it is said, that this power is limited by a
clause in the fifth article of the amendments to
the constitution, in the following words; “nor
shall private property be taken for public uso
without just compensation.” This clause docs not
ordain, that private property shall not be taken
for public use; on the contrary, it supposes go.
vernment to be possessed of this power. It pro.
vides, that when«thc power is exercised, and
private property is taken for public use, the
owner shall receive a fair equivalent. Its only
operation is, to secure a just compensation to
the citizen, whose property has been taken from
him for the public benefit.
If it be said, that the abolishing of slavery is
different from the taking of private property for
public use, the only effect of the distinction
will be, to deprive the owner of slaves of the
right to compensation under tins clause, which
is limited to the case of him whose private pro
perty has been taken for public use. But the
distinction is unfounded.
In those presses which affirm, that congress
has no constitutional power to interfere with
slavery in tho District of Columbia, we have
seen no argument in support of their opinion.—
They seem to believe, that the people arc cor
rupt, and will he governed only bv selfish im
pulses; that, incapable of honest investigation,
they will adopt any doctrine that flatters their
passions, and appears to coincide with thei:’
interests.
Aud why should we attach so much impor
tance to an unfounded constitutional objection!
What enlightened citizen is there who believes,
that the government is bound by no restraints
but those which the constitution provides? Go
vernments may be guilty of perfidy, corruption,
oppression, and tyranny, in the abu5C of powers
granted, no less than in the usurpation of such
as are not granted; and the abolition of slavery
in the District of Columbia, by an act of tho
federal government, would be a flagrant and
atrocious instance of such malfeasance. We
require of the government, not only that it shall
confine itself within its constitutional limits; wc
also demand that, acting within these l.mi f s, it
shall, bv a wise and virtuous choice of its
measures sustain the rights and guard the in
terests of all the parts, and advance the pros-
peritv of the whole. Of what importance is it,
that the government camiouslv keeps within its
constitutional sphere, if it shall league with tho
“infernal crew” of fanatics, to sweep the South
with the besom of desolation?
We suggest to the imagination of our readers,^
the following cases, as a test ofthe efficacy ot
the different modes which have been adopted for
resisting the schemes ofthe abolitionists.
The fanatics call a public meeting in a
northern town. The people assemble with un
biassed minds; and a plausible hypocrite, after
uttering many undisputed generalities about
the natural equality of all men, the value of
freedom, and the degi odation of slavery, pro
poses to them to petition congress for the aboli
tion of slavery in the District of Columbia. •
After him arises a southern gentleman, who
happened to be present, and protests against this
interference, affirming that congress has not
the constitutional right to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia. Adopting the sentiment
of the Georgia Journal, he declares, that IHlb
IS THE GREAT ISSUE; and he labors to
sustain his opinion by such arguments as learn
ing and talent can discover. The abolitionist
exults at seeing his adversary commit himsek*