Standard of union. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 183?-18??, July 19, 1836, Image 1
EDITED Bl TII(>HA*i HAYNES. ESQ.
VOL. 111. MO. 27.
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tTNiwM, Democratic Kepublican
Ticket.
FOR PRESIDENT,
MARTIN VAN BUREN.
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT,
RICHARD M. JOHNSON.
ELECTORAL TICKET.
THOMAS F. ANDERSON, of Franklin.
WM. B. BULLOCH, of Chatham.
SAMUEL GROVES, of Madison.
THOMAS HAYNES, of Baldwin.
REUBEN JORDAN, of Jones.
WILSON LUMYKIN, of Walton.
WILLIAM PENTICOST, of Jackson.
THOMAS SPALDING, of Mclntosh.
JAMES C. WATSON, of Muscogee.
WM B. WOFFORD, of Habersham.
THOMAS WOOTEN, of Wilkes.
From the Montgomery Advertiser.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Montgomery, June Ist, 1836.
Mr. Editor— l have read the genteel
production of Thomas S. Woodward, pub
lished in that respectable print the Alaba
ma Journal. From the slight acquain
tance I had formed with Colonel Petit, I
had supposed he was incapable of admit
ting such an article in the paper under his
control, but it seems 1 am mistaken in the
man.
Mr. Woodward says lam a liar and a
costard. Those words are only of conse
quence when used by one gentleman to ano
ther, and I have no doubt but every cul
prit that hasjust been sentenced to be hung,
would willingly say the same to the Judge
who had pronounced sentence against him,
if by sodoing he could escape the gallows.
Even so with Mr. Woodward, he would
wish to draw public attention from the true
cause of the war to a personal controversy
with me ; but I will not permit him, or his
coadjutors in infamy, to hide themselves un
der the blaze of glory they expect to real
ise from such a proceeding.
1 have lived to no purpose if at the age
of fifty my character for veracity or cour
age must be established by noticing such
corrupt and frothy creatures as Tom Wood
ward. My official duties required of me
to examine into the frauds committed on
Indians in the sale of their reservations,
and consequently 1 have had visited on me
the ill-will of every man who has been
concerned in robbing the Indians of their
property.
1 have heretofore stated that the whole of
the disturbances iu the Creek nation is the
work of that portion of the speculators who
wish tostop all investigation into the frauds
committed on the Indians; first in the lo
cations, and then in the sale of their reser
vations. Thomas S. Woodward was the
(first person who gave the alarm at Tuske
jgee—-he had been to Columbus at the races
ibut ay«ry short time previous, where I have
JM> dovht the whole plan of operations was
Concocted “tn high council," and regularly
determined on.
When | speak of the speculators on In
dian reseryes it is foreign from my intention
include the honest purchaser. There
ore iiapy such wljo bay* fairly bought and
honestly paid the Indians for their land,
•nJ have made money two. 1 allude to such
W»en at pertonaled the Indians and obtained
Certified contracts at $5 and $lO per half
faction. It is (hose men, who, in the course
of a few u/onths, have amassed great for
tunes, and who among themselves boast of
their exploit* in the way of stealing land
from the poor Indian, w itb all the levity ima
ginable, and treat such a htdnious offence
•» it were a goad joke.
Tlie first part oftheir scheme was to force
Major Abbot, Mr. Leonard and myself out
o> the country by creating an excitement
among the inhabitants of the Creek COUP*
l'e» ; alarmiqg them and operating on
*V. ir feai**. They also spread far and
wide their threats of vengeance against me,
in order that they might reach Mobile, and
by that means induce me to resign. Their
next step, (i n jpy absence) was to possess
ves a copy of the cases of fraud 1
had reported on, and which they knew was
of IBmoto
in niy office at 1 uskegee. To effectuate
this important object, they said to certain
citizens <>t Macon county, (in answer to
their remonstrance concerning the tardiness
of the emigration) that the whole of the
I pper towns would be sent off provided
they could obtain possession of the list, and
by exciting the honest fears of some, and
tickling the cupidity ot others with the pro
mise to take them as partners in the pur
chase they expected to make from Opoth
LayoholounA his people; the plan succee
ded admirably. Major Abbot, at the in
stance of the settlers and upon their urgent
solicitation, gave up the report, and soon
was it in the hands of a lawyer to copy for
the benefit of the company, and as vet
they have not returned it, as will be seen
by reference to the communicatious of Ab
bot and Leonard. To them the document
was of great use and benefit, because it
placed in their hands all the information
they could ask to aid them in their nefari
ous traffic, and hence arose their great anx
iety to procure it. Whether they have been
able to succeed in their purchase or not, is
more than I can say, but to enlist backers
in their behalf they have agreed to take ev
ery man who possesses influence into their
company for the purpose of effecting the
speculation, and at the same time silencing
all inquiry into their past transactions.
Another object of these Emigrating
Contractors is to get their bargain, which
expires on the Ist of July, renewed and
price increased. To succeed in this, they
authorized Captain Walker to propose to
me to join them as one of the company.
When they found I was not to be had as a
partner, they they then commenced the as
sault on me through the press charging
that 1 had advised a Chief to cut throats,
and as Woodward bad no talent to make
the most of it, they employed a lawyer to
write for him.—As I have already answer
ed that charge, I shall say no more in re
gard to it, but lay before the public two or
three epistles which have been addressed
to me, and by others show the villany that
has been practised on the red men, and the
measures that have been resorted to, to
goad them on to commit hostilities on
many of the peaceable and unoffending
whites.
The contract for emigrating the Indians
was made with General Sanford, which the
War Department had every reason to sup
pose would be faithfully executed, and
that it would be the means of saving a
great deal of money to the Government.
He soon retired from it in perfect disgust,
and at that time it should have ceased.
That it did no:, is truly unfortunate for the
country. Trough influential men ofGeor
giaitwas continued, and Woodward and
Walker were taken into the concern as |
partners ; the very men who the year before
had done every thing to oppose the remo
val of the Indians, not only by loud objec
tions to the Columbus company of contrac
tors, but by a promise to colonize Tuskina
and his friends on the prairies. Lutherßlake '
and others presented Neo Micco with a piece !
of land, in consideration, I presume, of his ’
services among the Cuseta Chiefs. How '
was it possible for such men to emigrate tire 1
Indians t One day they tell them to re
main where they are, and offer them land i
to colonize on, and t'.e next advise them to !
leave. Mr. John D. Howell another of j
the emigrating contractors, told me that the ,
company bad voted Mr. Blake out ;
of the concern for giving Neo Micco the '
half section of land, and every man who
resides in the Creek ation, knows that
Neo Micco and Tuskina have great influ
ence, and can emigrate their part of th«*
nation at once, if tliey themselves would
consent to the removal. Neah Emathla, now
the leader of the hostile tribe, told me at
Hatchachubbie, in February last that he
would emigrate at any time, when Neo Mic
co said the word ; he was the head Chief,
and it was for him to speak and he would
obey it ; yet we find these Chiefs opposed
to leaving. Neo Micco, under the influ
ence of Luther Blake, Paddy Carr k Co.,
and Tuskina, the mere puppet in the hands
of Woodward &. Co. also objecting, and
still under the control of the emigrating
contractors.
It is true, they say, they were never seri
ous in the plan of colonizing Tuskina, but
that the inducements held out by them to
him, was done to obtain his influence among
his people, and get them to sell their land to
their company. —But is it not such tricks as
these, that have been the means of creating
the present difficulties ? and have not these
difficulties arisen principally among the
three Chiefs Neo Micco, Neah Emathla
and Tuskina? The broken sticks for a
general rush on the defenceless inhabitants
were sent from Neo Micco to Tuskina, say
ing, “we are ready.” Tuskina sent in
return, to put it off till rousting ear time.
The Lochaipaoga Indians received two
sticks in Neah Mathla’s camp, and on
their return home they commenced mur
dering indiscriminately, believing the war
had commenced below, as the time had ex
pired. Tuskina’* holding back saved Co
lumbus, and also the attack on Fort Mitch
ell.—This information is derived from two
sources. Hotulgar Largo’sconfession, and
from friendly Chiefs, and all unite that Tus
kina, Neo Micco, Neah Emathla and Oc
truchee Emathla, the Oswitehie chief, are
the conspirators ; yet, notwithstanding all
this, it is worthy of remark, that Wood
ward and his party, continue their talks and
messages through Tuskina with Neo Mic
co, and also that Woodward’s information
should be so particularly correct as to the
time when the hostilities were to com
mence.
When I left Tuskegee on the 25th A
pril, there was no more apparent danger
than therein now in the city of Washington,
but some how or other Mr. Woodward got
the most correct information, and while en
gaged in the amusements of the race field
in Columb, and eame posting home to
give the alarm. Let any man who is un-
Georgia, rn spn moiining, jilv isae.
I prejudiced view the causes of complaint that
exists among the Indians; see the influence
that certain men have with certain Chiefs,
and know that these Chiefs are accused by
the friendly Indians, and the confession of
the hostile Chief Holulgar-Hargo, as be
ing at the bottom of all the disturbances,
the great stake these speculators have in
the investigations, and how important it
must be to them to put a stop to all inquiry,
and if he is not blind or interested he w ill
at once say, that my opinion is correct.
Another very suspicious circumstance is,
as I have been Informed, that on the late
scouting parties of whites, with Jim Boy
and his Indians, and with Woodward and
Walker, that several secret councils were
held by them, and peihaps Tuskina, and
although Major Abbot was one of the whites
of that party, and an agent of the govern
ment, he was neither asked or permitted to
be present, to hear the substance of these pri
vate conferences.
In times like these, every honest man
would prefer having the presence of the -
nited States’Agents, where they hold talks
with the Chiefs, if their presence can be
had. Major Abbot was there, but not invi
ted, and I will venture to predict, that while
snch men continue to exercise the control
they now have among the Indians, and they
remain in the country, we may look for no
thing else but confusion and trouble.
The murder of the stage passengers and
the robbing of the mail, turns out to be the
work of awhile man and some Indians, and
ere long, further and greater developements
w ill be made.
Mr. Wm. J. Beattie, another of the con
tractors, who has figured largely in the pur
chase ofEuiaula towd lands, and who gain
ed some notoriety in Florida, in Colonel
Blount’s case, (the Seminole Chief,) has
threatened me with “ Vicksburgh cases,"
and has identified himself with Woodward
in endeavoring to agitate and scare off the
Government Agents. Mr. Beattie had
better becarefid, Ims position in the contract
is well understood, and “ a word to the
wise is sufficient.” This noted individual
wrote a letter from Fort Mitchell to Mr.
Leonard, while in my employ al Tuskegee,
w hich ispublished, although marked private.
(See No. -5.)
Mr. Woodward says he can prove that I
am a liar, and that 1 said Governor Clay
was an old woman, and many other things
equally as choice and equally as true, and that
I was prevented from running for Governor
on account of an affair of honor. I have
no doubt Mr. Thomas S. Woodward can
prove any thing he pleases, if the oaths of
himself and such filthy creatures as he can
command, would answer his purpose. In
relation to the affair of honor, ofwhii h Mr.
Woodward has spoken, everyman in the
State who knows me, must be satisfied that
the story is false. I have had no affair of
honor on hand, that could prevent me from
being eligible to any office since 1822, and
I was relieved from that inability by an act
of our Legislature passed in January, 1826
and since that time I have served six
years in the Senate of Alabama, and have
only been out of the Legislature one session,
(the last year.)
On the subject of a difference, which for a few
months interrupted the relations of friendship that
for years existed between Gov. Clay and myself,
it was adjusted the first time we met thereafter,
by such mutual explanations as should always
characterize the differences among gentlemen,
and all feelings of irritation that had arisen, were
entirely and satisfactorily done away.
Mr. Thomas S. Woodward is a man I never
could think of conversing with in relation to poli
tics, or any other subject, voluntarily, as he is too
much of an ass, to afford me the least gratification
whatever. He calls himself a nullifier, but the
honest nnd respectable members of that party
disown him. It is well known thatl am now, and
always have been, a Union man, and that among
my personal friends are ma-ny who call themselves
nullifiers, but they know that I am not in the ha
bit of introducing politics as a subject of conversa
tion among those who so materially differ with me
in opinion, and certainly 1 never could have been
guilty of the folly that has been imputed to me,
by Gen. Woodward, of accusing Gov. Clay of
being that, which every one who knows him,
would pronounce false and unfounded.
In introducing the letters of Judge Shorter and
his partner Mr. Tarver, no apology is necessary.
These letters throw great light on the transactions
in the Creek nation, and fix beyond a reasonable
doubt, the time when the stealing began in M’-
Henry’s District, viz. Ist February, 1835. Mr.
Shot ter is said to be a man of talent, and his letter
proves him to be one who has an aptness for many
things. I have among my papers a great many
documents equally as curious as these that are
published, and as I have very little doubt butthat
I shall be attacked from every quarter by the
“land stealers," I shall only publish them in my
own defence. It is not my wish to drag individu
als before the public,or unnecessarily exposethem
toils gaze, and I regret to learn that some men in
Columbus, that apart from their land matters, I
had thought well of, have recently been very vio
lent in their censure of me. lam willing to make
allowance, but at the same time, advise them to
be careful how they “throw stones,” and to re
flect on what sort of houses they live in.
JOHN B. HOGAN,
Superintendant Creek Emigration.
LETTER—No. 1.
Tuskegee, May Sth, 1836.
Dear Sir—Herewith you will find transmitted
a copy of a communication of this date from sun
dry citizens of Macon county in behalf of them
selves and others in relation to a demand by them
on me for a list from your office of the cases of al
leged frauds in the sale of Indian Lands, reported
upon by you in what is denominated M’Henry’s
District. The gentlemen whose signatures are
affixed to the within communication, called upon
me, stating as will be perceived in it, that they
had held a conversation with some of a company
engaged in thespeculatiou upon Indian Lands, the
same being also contractors to remove the Creeks
by emigration, (viz.) Messrs. Woodward & Wal
ker, and it had been represented to them by the
latter, that provided there could be obtained from
them a copy of the above mentioned cases, as
marked for reversal by you, “they believed they
could compromise and settle with the Indians, and
immediately remove them," and that in order to
bring about an event so desirable as their removal
in lite present stale of affairs in the country, dis
turbances having recently before commenced a
mottg some of the Towns of the Lower Creeks,
and also that there might no longer remain to the
members with whom they conversed any suffi
ciently good or assignable cause on that account
. for longer delay in the effecting of such removal
i they had made the demand on me, &c, To which
I replied that you were then absent, that you had
* strictly and uniformly forbidden the furnishing of
• transcripts of such matters, from the records of
Our Conscienct—Our Country •—Our Party.
your office, whensoever there was a probability
of there being employed for speculative purposes;
but as the object contemplated by their application
at least on their part, could manifestly have been
made by them for no such end, but as they had a
vowedlor the present tranquihzing of the excite
ment of the country and the effecting of an imme
diate emigration of the Indians of that part of the
nation or district, I would take upon myself the
responsibility of delivering to them the list of cases
demanded, believing that had you been present
for the promotion and accomplishment of the end
avowed by the citizens, you would not most likely
have withheld it, but have yielded it according to
their wishes. At the time of the delivering of the
copy, I informed the gentlemen that it was the
only correct one on the files of the office, and in
consequence “its restoration was promised as soon
as a transcript could he made of it, for which pur
pose I was informed, it was handed to the before
named contractors, Walker and Woodward, in
whose possession the citizens left itl
Your obedient servant,
„ c o ABBOT ’ Certifying Agent.
Io Colonel John B. Hogan,
Superintendant Creek Removal, Mobile.
LETTER—No. 2.
Montgomery, May 291 h, 1836.
Dear Sir—On or about the Bth iust., a com
mittee of settlers of Macon county, called at your
office in Tuskegee, where they understood Major
Thomas J. Abbott was; the purport of their mis
sion. (as I understood them to say) was, that they
had been remonstrating with Gen. Tbos. S. Wood
ward, as one of the Emigrating Contractors, and
wanted to know the reason why the contractors
were not making any exertions to remove the In
dians? To which Woodward (as I understood
the committee) replied that it was not the con
tractor’s fault, that it was the Investigating Agent’s
fault, and not their’s;—but that if he (Woodward)
eould get a list of the reversed or disputed claims,
he believed he could get them (the Indians) off,
by making a compromise with them for the dispu
ted reservations. The committee appeared exci
ted, called on Maj. Abbott for a copy of the re
versed contracts to give to Mr. Woodward, in or
der, as they said, that Woodward or the contrac
tors have no excuse any longer.
Major Abbott at first hesitated to deliver a copy
of the reversed contracts in consequence of your
absence, but at length on reflection, yielded to their
solicitations, and gave the committee the copy al
ready made out. Had Major Abbott not been pre
sent, and that I considered him having more au
thority over that list than I had, being the certify
ing Agent—l undoubtedly would not have acced
ed to their request, or to any other committee that
might be sent without your knowledge and con
currence, no matter how cogent their reasons
might have been; believing that it would be used
for speculative purposes, as I firmly believe that
was Woodward's object in requesting the list.
I hope, sir. that you will consider the foregoing
a sufficient apology for permitting the list to be
taken out of the office.
1 am, sir, your obedient servant and friend.
JAMES LEONARD.
LETTER-No. 3.
REQUISITIONS OF THE CITIZENS OF MACON
COUNTY.
Tuskegee, May 9lh, 1836.
Major Thomas J. Abbott :
Sr— Ve the aadorsigned citizen* of Ma
con county, induced by the disturbances which
recently have taken place in the lower part of the
Creek Nation, and the unfriendly symptoms e
vinced by the Creeks there, having had a conver
sation with some of the company speculating on
Indian reserves, the same being also contractors
to remove or take off the Creek Indian Tribe by
emigration, and m that conversation having in
formed them that the Indians of this district were,
for the most part, so far as we could learn, desi
rous and even anxious to emigrate immediately to
Arkansas, but were kept from so doing, mid de
tained here by the unsettled state of their affairs,
and more particularly of their lands, numerous
complaints having been made by them of having
in the matter of the sale of them been personated
fraudulently by others, and of having never them- 1
selves alienated or conveyed them, and being made
to understand by said purchasers of Indian lands,
and also contractors, that if they could procure a
copy of thecotnplaints that had been made before
Dr. M'Henry and Col. Hogan in the Land District
of said M’Henry marked for reversal and already
reported on, they believed they could compromise
and settle with the complainants, and then im
mediately remove them. We have, in consequence,
called upon you with a view of procuring such a j
copy, understanding that aschedule of these com- ,
plaints was in your possession, in order, that by
furnishing the gentlemen alluded to, with the '
same, there might no longer he any specious or ■
good assignable cause on tfiis account, for their
delay in the emigration of these Indians, or the
subsequent detention of them.
Your compliance will oblige very respectfully &c.
JAMES HOWARD.
JOSEPH F. CLOUGH,
JOHN PINCKARD,
C. G. RUSH,
WILLIAM PINCKARD,
MOSES PEARSON;
JACOB SEGREST,
W. P. MERRIWETHER,
J. DRAKEFORD.
LETTER—No. 4.
AFFIDAVIT OF JAMES LEONARD.
State of Alabama, Montgomery County.
Personally appeared before me, Robert Parker,
a justice of the peace for said county, James Leon
ard, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith
that he has been engaged in the Creek Nation for
several months past, as an assistant of Colonel
John B. Hogan, who has been charged with the
investigation of the frauds committed on the
Creek Indians, in the sale of their reservations ;
that about the last of April, Colonel John B. Ho
gan left Tuskegee, where he had established an
office for more convenience, and went to Mobile
to attend, as he said, the district court; and that
about the Bth instant, this deponent being in said
office, General Tnomas S. Woodard, who is one
of the emigrating contracters, came into said of
ficeincompany with Major Thomas J. Abbott,
who is the certifying agent for this part of the
Creek Nation. Major Abbott exhibited to Wood
ward a copy of a letter he had written making a
a report of his late visit to Fort Mitchell—some
conversation commened between them, when
Woodward remarked that he, as a friend, advised
said Abbott to immediately quit that section of the
country, that the Indians wanted no agents there :
that they weie able and capable of attending to
their own affairs, and that the Chiefs had said so
to Captain Page Major Abbott replied that he
should not leave his post, that his conscience ac
quitted him of all harm, and he should not go, and
take his advice. Woodard went on to say that
as to Colonel Hogan, he' B Woodard, and Hogan
could not remain in one town or the same place to
gether.
This deponent says that although the language
here used may not be the exact words used by said
Woodard, the substance of his remarks are cor
rectly and justly stated, and that ho thinks the
name ofTaptain Page was the officer mentioned,
that received from the Indians the information that
they wanted no Government agents in the Creek
Nation JAMES LEONARD.
Sworn to, and subscribed before me, at office,
this 30th May, 1836.
ROBERT PARKER, J. P.
LETTER—No 5.
[marked private.]
Fort Mitchell, Ala. May 10th, 1836.
Mr. James Leonard:
Dear Sir—We have war and rumors of war
with us. and all is excitement. T- Scott and
D. Neves are here kept prisoners, and take my
advice, my dr. Len, and leave the Nation. Tho
public is much excited towards Col. Hogan, Ab
bott and yourself. Leonard, leave, or you will
see Vicksburgh cases. In haste.
Your's truly. WM. J. BEATTIE.
LETTER—No. 6.
FROM OPOTHLE YOHOLO.
Tuckabatchie, February 14th, 1836.
•Dear Friend—l have been waiting in anxious
expectation to see you for some time, but have
been disappointed. Owing to the many com
plaints, which are lodged with me daily, from tho
Chiefs of the different Towns of Judge Tarrant's
District, compels me to address you a few lines in
behalf of them, to inform you of the frauds, which
are practiced on them daily in that District. You
being the only friend at this time to whom we can
look for protection, or in whom we can confide,
compels me thus to address you. The Chiefs in
form me, that the white people have persuaded
nearly all their people to sell their lands, and after
having had their lands certified to, and received
their money, have beed made to give it up again,
by the very meu who have bought their lands, ei
ther by force, or tales raised for the purpose.
They have been told by these men, that it was
General Jackson’s wish, that they should not hold
money, and that they had been sent as agents
to receive their money, and hold it until they ar
rive in Arkansas : and consequently a great ma
ny of them have given up their money, thinking
that whatsoever their Great Fathersaid could not
be otherwise than for their benefit, and whenever
these tales would fail, it has been taken by force.
It was their calculation to have emigrated last
fall, and consequently sold all their cattle, corn,
and every thing necessary for a support, and are
now left in a state of starvation. It is their ear
nest request, that you should come up among
them; for it is highly necessary that something
should be done immediately.
You will please answer this as soon as you re
ceive it, and inform me at what time you can go
up, or whether you go or not, in order that I can
inform the Chiefs when to expect you.
Your friend, his
OPOTHLE f YOHOLO.
mark
James L. Alexander.
Col. John B. Hogan, Fort Mitchell, Russell, Ala.
LETTER—No. 7.
Columbus, February 18th, 1836.
To Colonel Hogan:
Su—Having just returned home from Missis
sippi, and being informed that in your recent in
vestigations, you have deemed it necessary to
mark for report to the War Department, several
contracts made by Shorter &• Scott, Shorter, Tar
ver and Shorter, Benjamin P. Tarver, Eli S. Shor
ter & Co., and J. J. Fannin, (with Creek Indians.
Mr. Tarver and myself were both in Mississippi.
Scott in Texas, aud Fannin dead at the time of
your investigation, so that neither of us were or
could be present. I therefore askjlhat you will do
me thejustice to furnish me with a list of all such
contracts, with the grounds of complaint, before
you make your report, that 1 may be prepared and
offer through you to the Department, such evidence
and defence as may be in my power. 1 am in
terested in each one of the cases certified to said
parties.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ELI 8 SHORTER.
LETTER—No. 8.
Letter of Eli S Shorter, to Col. John B. Hogan,
proving himself an honorable man.
Columbus, February 24th, 1836.
Sir—l am just informed that you have been
furnished with a copy of a letter drafted by my
self by request, and intended to be sent by Bird
Fitzpatrick, Esq. and other sellers iu the creek
territory, to the Secretary at War, in relation to
our Indian matters, ana that you particularly ob
ject to one statement in the letter, to wit that you
had certified approved reserved contracts. I have
received such information from Dr. W. A. Rich
ardson, Daniel Neeves and James E. Glennjr.,
and immediately I exhibited to the Secretary at
War, a direct charge against you, for having cer
tified the case of Ho-mar-ho-da, who was located
upon W. 32, 14, 29, and that the re-certifioation
wasiu favorof A. Seals & Co. The morning after
my letter had been sent to the War Department, in
conversing with Mr. J. A. Hudson upon the sub
ject, he stated that I must certainly have been
misinformed, for that you had been applied to and
urged to re-certify, another case of the character,
that you had refused to do so, and had declared
that you never han re-certified such a contract.
I immediately sought an interview with each ofmy
informants and the following was the result, Rich
ardson did not see, nor did he he know, that the
contract had been re-certified—he was present at
the investigation and saw the contract reversed—
that he was so vexed and disgusted that he
left the square and was afterwards informed that
the land had been re-sold and re-certified—and in
the re-certification, that you stated publickly that
you did not know that you were authorized to act,
aud gave notice that by acting you were not to be
considered as of responsibil
ity. Neeves says he did not see aud does not know
of the re-certification—that he was one of the
firm of A. Seals &.Co.—that they informed, him
that the land had been re-purchased and re-certifi
ed, and called upon and received from him his
prporportion of the purchase money.
Glenn says that he did not see and does not
know that the re-certification had been made—
but was informed by several members of the firm
of A. Seals & Co. that the land was re-sold, and
re-certified. Finding upon this close and particular
re-examination, that the proof was deficient, I,
the same day. wrote again to the Secretary of War
stating the facts specially, my belief of a misrepre
sentation by some of the firm of A. Seals & Co.
and that I felt it my duty as an honorable man.
promptly to retract the charge against you. The
letter making the charge was written one day, and
the letter explaining and retracting it written the
first herein mentioned. Thus, sir, I hope you will
perceive that whilst I have been and am determin
ed to maintain my own rights as far as I have the
next day and all about the time of drafting the let
ter power I have been and am as scrupulously re
gardful of the rights of others. As the letter first
mentioned is known to you 1 felt it due, no less to
you than to myself, but that you should be put in
possession of the whole facts precisely as they ex
ist.
Respectfully, yourob’t servant,
ELI S. SHORTER.
LETTER—No. 9.
From the honorable EH S. Shorter, addressed to
John S. Scott—E. Corley, and M. M. if N. H.
Craven—Talapoosa.
Columbus, March!, 1836.
Gentlemen—l have just returned from Dr.
M’Henry’s—when there. Yargasold and certified
his land to Dr. Billingslea for six thousand dol
lars, and then gave back three thousand dollars
of the money, and took a bond for the occupancy
of the land west of the river, I left at the agency
Hayden and his son, general Woodward, Stone
M’Brydeand Collins, the whole Columbus com
pany. and a host of others, with, I firmly belive,
four hundred Indians hid out all around the hill-
Certifications commenced late yesterday morning
and about sixty were taken through. The agent
will he at home certifying the whole of next week
and iu that time most if not all of the land will
be swept that is worth notice. I have the agent’s
promise to meet us at any place of our appoint
menton the Monday after vards, and to obtain
this, 1 have had to interest another man in our
company, so far as it regards M’Henry’s district
—1 am to give him one-eight part. It is unneces
sary to mention names—the thing was necessary
and was therefore done.
Now if we are to do any thing, you must
instantly upon reading this letter, lay all other bu
siness aside andgather up as many Indians who
can de depended oq as possible and Corley or
Craven, and one of the Griersons must came on
with them towards the agency in Chambers.—
The other with the other Grierson must remain
behind, and collect and come on with another
company. When you get within from five to ten
miles of the agency, stop where you can gel wa
ter, and provisions, and send a messenger to us at
the agency to let us know where yon are and we will
meet you Mon Jay morning with.the agent and
pioceed to business. Your messenger must reach
us on Sunday night, Camp your Indians out of
sight of the road. You need give your
self no trouble about the value of the land, 1 will
arrange all that.
Stealing is the order of the day, and out of the
host of Indians at the agency, I don't thiuk there
were ten true holders of land.
When I left there were not more than eighty
reservations left iu all Tuckabactchee, they willjall
go tomorrow, then I will follow Thlob locco—then
Kialiga—then Oak-tansar day—then Eu-fau-la,
and in two weeks the whole host of Philistines
will be in your quarter, rely upon it, they will car
ry all before them.
Now Scott may wrap himself in his Indian blan
ket, and say this is impossible, but 1 say it is not
only possible but certain.
When I see such men with so few advantages
getting so much valuable land at ten dollars per
tract, see how much money we havo paid out, the
power we have had, and see the quantity aud quali
ty of land we have received particularly when I
think of the reason why these things are so, I can
almost tear my hair from my head. There is
yet time to do something but almost despair of its
being done.
If Scott’s Indian wife was at the devil, I should
have some hope. We shall go into the strife and
do what we can—it you will join us well, if not
well, we have plenty of money. You ueed not
come unless you will drill your Indians and prepare
them to receive ten dollars, in the store, for every
contract certified. Be sure to bring twooldwomen
and if you posilily can, be sure and bring Tallar
har—an old woman of Tholb-loco-town, who is
the mother or mother-in law of John Reed, an
interperter who was killed last yetir.
The whole show will he up in four weeks from
this time and all the Indians who do not sell will lose
their lands. This system has not been working
more than three weeks, and upwards of one thou
sand tracts have been certified. The stream is
getting wider, deeper and stronger every day.
if things are to be radically altered as to money
at Tallapoosa, I will furnish funds in paper money
to certify ths balance, if not the Indians may. be
disbanded, and we will quit the drive for I will
stand the past pull, no longer, and if Dr. Scott
adopts the rule of settlement at the certified prices
it must be a good rule and shall apply it*to all ca
ses.
Respectfully, &c.
, ELI S. SHORTER.
LETTER—No, 10.
From Benjamin P. Tarver:
Sir—Mr. Corley gave me time to be there to
close the trade vxite him until I could get out, or
until they commenced certifying. As my business
iu couise is not settled, I am unable to sav when
1 shall be there, and if you have not closed the trade
with Mr. Corley, you will do it for me—if you are
not disposed to go into it, but I prefer your con
nexion in the matter. There is nothing going on at
this time, but stealing of land with about fifty In
dians. Pay them teudollarsoi five when certified
and get all the balance back and get four hundred or
five hundred contracts certified with fifty Indi
ans, is all the game. Judge Shorter has just
returned from Dr. M’Henry’s—he states the dif
ferent speculators have about five hundred Indians
hid out and certifying at night. Yarga is certified
to—without a rush we are gone.
B. P. TARVER.
Jas, S. Moore was married on to-night. The
judge thinks that the largest proportion if not all
the laud that is before Dr. M’Henry, will be certi
fied on this week, now is the the time or ties er. Hur
ia boys—here goes it-—less steal all we can, I
shall go for it, or get no lands—now or neuer.
B.P. TARVER.
To the Public.
I have always felt unwilling to obtrude my
self upon the notice of ti e public through the
medium of a newspaper, but the demand upon
me to do so at this time is of a character that 1
may not disregard. This is a contest neither
of my own provoking or seeking; but as it has
been pushed upon me, 1 have no choice but to
meet it. In doing so I shall not assail the char
acter or feelings of others, further than may be
demanded by a due regard to my own vindica
tion.
Col. John B. Hogan, late “superintendent of
Indian removals,” & late “investigating agent,”
has made his appearance in a Montgomery pa
per, and has presented to the public a perfect
“salmagundi” of matter. So far as I have been
able to dissect and analyze its contents, it con
sists of a violent personal altercation between
himself and Gen. Woodward—a controversy
between himself and the contractors for emi
grating the Creek Indians, and a personal at
tack upon myself. With the controversy be
tween Col. Hogan and Gen. Woodward, or
with that between him and the contractors, 1
have no manner of interest or concern. I pro
pose to reply to and repel only so much of Col.
Hogan’s production as concerns myself person
ally. Why Col. Hogan has, from the very
commencement of his official career, been dis
posed to mark me as a victim, is best known to
himself; for up to that time we were unknown
to each other, and consequently, I never could
have given him cause of offence, or hindered or
obstructed his course toward personal or politi
cal distinction. Yet I am informed that at a
very early stage of the investigation of Indian
contracts, and even before we had commenced,
he did remark to Gen. Woodward in substance,
that “there were several persons about Colum
bus that he would be glad io pass by unnoticed;
but as for Gen. McDougald and Judge Shorter,
he would be damned it he did not intend to use
them." Upon receiving this information, 1
felt as any other man would feel under the
same circumstances—exceedingly unwilling to
have sacA a judge decide upon my rights. His
subsequent course toward me upon all occa
sions down to the present moment, so far as I
could learn, has been marked by the spirit of
his threat at the outset; but relying upon the
justice of the intelligent community among
whom I resided, and by whom I am best known,
I have been ready at all times, and am yet rea
dy to bid Col. Hogan defiance, or to give him
full permission to go on and do me all the harm
of which he is capable, either by means just or
unjust—honorableor dishonorable—tru or false.
I have by no act provoked his wrath, and am
very sure that I shall never implore his mercy.
Col. Hogan pretends to justify his late attack
upon me. by undertaking to show that frauds
have been practised upon the Indians in the sale
of their lands—that in those frauds I largely
participated—that such frauds irritated and in
flamed the passions of the Indians, and ulti
mately drove them to take up aims against the
whites. The object of this effort is too plain to
admit of a moment’s doubt. Col. Hogan is
himself very generally believed to have been
instrumental in prodneing the war'—not design
edly, but that it naturally grew out of his course
of policy during his round of investigations.—
To relieve himself from this imputation, it be
came important for him to find out some other
excuse for the war, and to cast the responsibility
PI BLISHGir my F. 1.. Mt. I INM N.
WHOLE IVO. 130.
upon tome other parties; no matter who suf
fered so that he escaped. Self-preservation
with him silenced all other considerations.
I regard the discussion of the question as to
the cause or origin of the war at this time as p« -
culiarly unfortunate. So far a* Georgia and
Alabama are concerned, it is sufficient for the
present, that war in its most aggravated and
appalling form does exist—that many of our
people, (men, women, and children) have been
butchered—that hundred* have been ruined
thousand* essentially injured, and the whole
community excited and convulsed to its very
centre. At such a time every man of any in
fluence, instead of adding fuel to the fire, should
pour oil upon the troubled waves, so that the
undivided attention, and the unimpaired energy
of every man migfc* be employed in arresting
the evil—subduing the enemy, and restoring
peace to a distracted country. When this shall
have been done, an inquiry may with much
more propriety be instituted into the causes
which led to the war. Upon this inquiry, so
far as I am concerned, I am always ready to
enter. For the reason assigned I would have
prefeered its postponement; but as Col. Hogan
will have it now, I yield a reluctant consent.
The prime cause of the war must be
obvious to any man who is at all conversant
with the history of Indian affairs for the
last ten years in Florida, Georgia, and Ala
bama, and who has particularly noted the
progress of this business. In an early stage
of Gen. Jackson’s admiristration, it was
both wisely and humanely determined, as
soon as possible, to remove the Seminoles,
Creeks, Cherokees west of the Mississippi.
This determination was made known to
the three tribes ; a large number in each
tribe promptly refused to go, declared that
they never would go, and that they would
sooner die upon their native soil. This
language they have . uniformly used since,
and yet use. The time at length arrived
when the Seminoles were called upon and
required to remove, according to the ex
press terms of their treaty ; they were not
ready, and begged for further lime, which
was granted. So soon as the enlarged time
was out, they were again required to re
move. No cause for further delay conld
be assigned, no further could be permitted;
and what was the consequence? they went
to war, at d assigned as a reason, not that
they had bien defrauded, but that they did
notintend to remove. In the first c: mpaign,
the Seminoles were victors, and are y< t
masters of the field. The Creeks had, and
yet have, the same repugnance to remo
ving ; they acted in concert with the Sem
inoles—they perfectly understood the pro
gress of the war in Florida—they were
stimulated to the same deeds of war nnd
daring ; and as they saw the day for tArir
removal was almost at hand, they determin
ed to redeem their pledgejo the Seminoles,
and accordingly sounded the war-whoo]'.
Let the war with the Creeks result as did
the campaign in Florida, and we may rea
sonably expect a war of the same character
with the Cherokees. That the war with
the Creeks was inevitable 1 firmly believe ;
Lut that it may have been hastened in its
commencement by other circumstances, is
porsible and even probable. That Col.
Hogan has, by his acts and policy, contri
buted largely to accelerating the war, I be
lieve few well informed persons can doubt.
The safest course that conld have been pur
sued to prevent a war was to hasten emi
glktion. Every Indian emigrated would
so far have reduced the chances for a war,
and in the event of war, the emigration of
every Indian would so far have reduced its
importance. Col. Hogan was placed in a
station where he was able essentially to pro
mote emigration, or entirely to defeat it.
It was his duty to promote it by all the
means in his power; the government ex
pected him to do so, and the situation of
the whole country required it of him. in
stead, however, of doing so, he chose t<»
use all his art, power and influence, to pre
vent and defeat the emigration until the
whole business should be remodelled, reor
ganized, and put upon a footing to suit hi*
own particular views and interests. T<»
attain this object, he conducted the investi
gations upon a plan so as to induce the In
dians to believe they had been cheated—to
encourage < omplaints, and to delay a final
decision until the time limited between the
government and contractors should expire.
In all this, Col. Hogan trifled with the in
structions under which he acted—disregar
ded the wishes of the government, and act
ed in bad faith to the people of his own
state.
When Col. Hogan was appointed to the
office of investigating agent, it was believed
that a proper discharge of his duties would
not require but a few weeks, and he was
expressly told, that “ an investigation into
all contracts not acted upon by the Presi
dent, was not expected or desired.” His
duty only required of him to attend each
town of Indians after giving them due no
tice—to listen to any complaints which
mig ht be brought before him—to take down
the evidence abduced, and report it to the
department. Instead of this, Col. Hognn
assembled the Indians, sent runners after
absentees, commenced at the head of the
roll, and called up each Indian in his turn,
and entered into an examination, not only
of “ all contracts not acted upon by the
President,” but into all, whether acted up
on or not, from the first to the last day <.f
certification. He even went so far as to
enter into such examination, when the In
dians has sold, been paid, and emigrated to
Arkansas ; and in some instances when the
Indians appeared before him, and admitted
that they had sold, been paid, and went
satisfied, he told them they were liars, and
he would reverse the contract. Such a
course, upon such a people, could not fail
of creating complaints where none had
been before heard of or anticipated. It
served however to create delay, to procras
tinate emigration, to create excitement and
disaffection amongst the Indians—and to
obtain for the time being their confidence,
that he might more effectually mould them
to his own purposes. The effect was soon
seen and felt by the settlers in Alabama,
The storm was anticipatt<d--appeals were