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made to tin* Secretary at War—lie was Warned of the- consequence* which would result unless a ditfeieut policy should be pursued. But Col. Hogan continued to assure him tiiat there was no danger or prospect; of xry; and this delu-ion he kept up until the moment that the war actually commenced. j But Col. Ilognn will ensi»t that frauds have been piactiscd upon the Indians, and that those frauds have been the cause of war. It is unfortunate for Col. 'Hogan, that no one circumstance in the whole af fair tends to favor for a moment this po sition. The great m >ss of imputed frauds it supposed to he in M’Henry’s district. If *o, and if indeed such frauds have been the inducing cause of the war bow does it happen that so few of those Indians thus defrauded have beenfinculpnted in the war. How does it happen that the war originated and broke out with the Indians in the low er part ot the nation, who are generally known to have been the first to sell their reserves and no one of whom was ever known to utter one word of complaint un til he did so before Col. Hogan ? These difficulties 1 shall leave for Col. Ho&an and his associates to solve ; not by his assertions, (for they are worth but little) hut by fact* and circumstances pertinent to the issue. The war evidently broke out in Gen. San ford’s district. Now I doubt whether Col Hogan, with all his energy, vigilance and anxiety, has been able to procure proof that one single fraudulent tontract has been made in the whole district of any In dian by any person ; and if such evidence ha* been adduced, it is most probably un true in fact, and more than counter-bal anced by proof now on file in the war of fice at Washington. Whatever report Col. Hogan may have made to the war depart ment in regard to the cases in this district isonly known to himself. He has investiga ted only one side ofeach case; lie promised to receive evidence from the purchasers, and to furnish them with a list of impeached ca ses with the grounds of complaint, before lie made out his report. This promise he ha* not redeemed ; although for one, I ap plied to him by letter and also by agent at his office in Tuskegee. But it is believed that the contract* in thi* district are placed beyond the reach of Col. Hogan ; for in connection with much other evidence, it is in proof now on file by Benj. Marshall, that he was the interpe ter for Gen. Sanford upon the certification of contracts—that he very generally knew the Indians of that district personally—that he new of no frauds and did not believe that any had been committed. Pady Carr also proves that when Marshall was absert he acted as interpeter—that he knew the Indians personally—that no fraud was practised. The great mass of evidence as to the fairness of the business in ibis district, will not be uprooted or shaken by any one sided examination and recent report though made by Col. Hogan. C<d. Hogan has involved himself in a singular difficulty. He locates the frauds in one district, and tin war originates in another. The frauds be says caused the war, and yet the Indians defrauded re main at peace and those not defrau ded are warlike. This is a difficulty of Col. Ho gun’s own creation and 1 must lav? him to get out of it as best he may. Col. Hogan has obtained the copy of a letter, supposed to have been written by myself, to E. Cooley 8c Co. which he lias published with much delight and evident exultation. He affects to think it needs rm comment, but must at once seal my con demnation. The publication of this lejfer gives rise to several curious enquiries ; and it is possible that in this instance Col. Ho gan may have intrigued too deeply, and afforded evidence of what has been suspec ted, but not known, to be true. How came this letter in the possession of Col. Hogan ? From whom did he obtain it ? What art did he use in its attainment ! If genuine it was evidently a private and coutidental comiuiiiiieatiori from one copartner to anoth er in regard to their business, and could not have found its w ly into the hands of Col. Hogan but by means the most unworthy and corrupt. The doer ami receive, ici this matter, stand upon the same uneviable level. The design to injure is so deep and deadly that no means are io be left unuse 1 to insure it. I have no copy of the various fi tter* written by myself to E. Cooley 8c Co. in regard to our business, and I am not able therefore to say whether the one pub lished be tritely copied or not; but it has evidently pas-ed through hands vile enough to make any verbal alteration in the Iran- j (crihiug, tb it would be«l answer the object i in view. However as I wish no unnecessa ry entailing so far as regards the present controversy, 1 w ill regard the letter at truly copied and so discuss it. The firm of E. Cooley !c Co. consists of E. Cooley, L.S. Shorter, J. H. Shorter, B- I’. Tarver, .J. S. Moore and J. S. Scott. Upon the dissolution of the concern, the stock of goods on hand was sold out to John S. Scott, and the lette't and papers siip,»o ted to be of no vihie were left on their files, and thus fell into hi* hands. Since that time Scott has affected to take offence, for *ome cause not fully known to me, alleging j at different time* and to different persons, ■ different cause*, all of which, however, are I untrue in fact—and under cover of such I excuses, has associated him-elf with another! man who is also my enemy ; and the two i have formed rather a suspicious acqitain- j tance with Col. Hogan, and the trio have i held a counsel over the letter in question and ventured upon iu publication. Os those men, I only ask one favor; it is to publish all the letter* 'which 1 ever wrote to E. Cooley 8c Co. or any member of it in re gard to any branch of their business—and also every letter which I ever wrote to Judgf 1 arrant, the agent for that district upon the same subject. Ifthey would only do this, I should not deem it necessary to say one word in my defence; for it would then appear that so far from advising or encouraging fraud, I bad done all in my power, at any stage of the business to pre vent it or even it* appearance. Those let ter* nre all suppressed ; they never will be permitted to «ee the light of day ; and one letter alone, which unexplained might do me an injury, has been selected and published without any allusion whatever * to those proceedings and succee.d ig it.— Such trciitmeni is about as fair as I have any right to expo, t trom such adversaries. 1 have said, and 1 now repeat, that Scott and hi* associate, have formed rather a sus picious acquaintance with Col. Hogan. I | will state facts only, leaving others to draw ' their own inferences; my object is not to ■ make charges. Soon after Col. llojan was ' appointed investigating agent, he spent a short time at Fort Mitchell: and whilst there Scoit spent one night at the same place, and had, as he said, mm h conversation with Col. Hogan ; and was by him put f. ily in pos session of all Col. Hogan’s views and inten tions. He seemed the next day quite puffed up and consequential as well as mysterious. In a short time therealu r, Col. Hogan went to Mobile, &. during bis absence, his (Scotts) brother and bis aforesaid associate stationed themselves upon the llalehicbubbe Creek • and as the eitimis stated were holding daily counsel* with the Indians, advancing them goods mid money; and as was supposed, and no doubt truly, were instructing the Indians to complain, and preparing to re-purchase the same lands. When they had had suf ficient time to mature their plans, and do their work, Col. Hogan returned and open ed hi« investigation amongst those very In dians. As might have been expected, ni.znv came forward, complained and denied hav jing sold. It is remarkable, that most of | those complaints were against lands which I had been re purchased by farmers, improved I and made valuable: and that the compltiin | ing IndiansTived immediately in the neigh borhood, some of them upon the same lands —and that no one of them Ind ever before been known to utter one word of complaint or dissatisfaction. On the contrary, some of them had been known repeatedly to say, that they had sold their lands, jt is also remarkable, that in a few days after the in vestigation, Scott himself came all the way from Tallapoosa to the same town, and re mained their a day nr two w ithout any know n business, and did not show himself in Co lumbus either in going or returning, al -1 though each time he passed within a mile ol t-.wn. It is equally remarkable, that a number of these same contracts had been previously purchased by Scott himself and been re-sold, and he had received his full shne of the profits; and xvhat is more re markable than all is, that with these very In dians the war first commenced. Not long after the close of this investiga tion, Col. Hogan went again to Mobile a bout that time Scott left Tallapoosa, and gave out that he was going to Texas ; in stead of doing so however, he went to Mo bile, where he again saw Col. Hogan, as proven by Col. Hogan’s letter herewith pub lished. Why he should have said he was going to Texas, when he was going to Mo bil.—why he should have gone to Mobile, and especially at the time Col. Hogan was at home, lam unable to explain. So m an> circumstances, supported by the fact that Col. Hogan should be able to obtain a pri vate letter from Scott for publication which, if ofauy use, was to destroy contracts in w hich Scott himself had an interest, to iny mind, shows a community of interest and purposes between them of no ordinary char acter. Its foundation may have been laid in the reversing and re-pur< liases of con tracts—or it may have been in their eflbrts io defeat emigration ; or it may have been in some other matter not known to any but themselves. Perhaps a single ray ol* light may be shed upon this whole proceeding, from the fact, that after Co). Hogan had been bis grand route in Sanford's district—and after i lie had reported upon the case in MrHen i rv’s district, he did, at Tuskegee, propose ; that if certain speculators would make out a written estimate and proposition for the i sale of their whole interest in the Creek j nation, he thought his(( 01. Hogan’s)friend !in Mobile would purchase. Now, mark ! this was after Col. Hogan had positive knowledge ofall frauds, if any. If there were frauds, he ought, not to have permit ted’Zi.v fritnds to purchase and if there neieno frauds, be is inexcusable for con tinuing the charges. Col. 11. may take ; which horn of the dilemma he pleases. But suppose the sale had been made. Who that knows Col. Hogan can believe that his time would not instantly have been changed? —Who knows what inducement, (apart from feelings of friendship) he would have had for such change. I propose now briefly, but fairly, to exa mine the copy of the letter imputed to mv, and which Col. Hogan has so kindly pub lished, after its very honorable obtainment. The letter bears date Ist March, 1836. Now mark the dates. Since that time mi contract has been made by E. Corley 8c Co. for an Indian reserve in any part of the na tion. The firm was long before dissolved, and McHenry was not then in office. Such a letter written iu March IS3G is out of the question ; it never was, it never could have been done.—lt may, however, be a mis print, and 1835 instead of 1836, maybe the true reading, and we will so consider it. The letter says—“ I have just r< tinned from Dr. McHenry’s;—when there Var go sol.l and certified his land to Dr. Bil lings 8c Co. for 86000, and then gave back S3OOO of the money, and took a bond for the occupancy <;f the land west of the river. 1 left at "the agency, Hayden and his son, Gen. Woodwar 1, Stone, Mcßirde and Collins, the w hole Columbus land com puny, and a host of others, with, 1 fiendt believe, four hundred Indians sill around the hill. Certification* commenced late yesterday morning, and about sixty were taken through. The agent will Ij at home certifying the whole of next week ; and in that time most, if not all the laud, will be swept that is worth a notice. I have the a genl’s promise, to meet us at any place of our appointment on the Monday afterwards, and to obtain this, I have had to interest a nother man in our company ; so far as re gards McHenry’s district I am to give him one eighth part. It is unnecessary to men tion names ; the thing was necessary, and was therefore done.” Upon so much of the fitter only one explanation is necessary. This occurred w hen Dr. McHenry was oti- Ij bound to attend to the office one week in four, and received a per diem pay accord ingly. He had the power, but was under no obligation to act atjmy other time.— He wa* therefore in the habit, for the accom modation of purchasers and Indians, of go ing at other times to different parts of his district to certify contracts, but for doing to he demanded and received pay. Our Indians resided at a considerable distance from the agency ; and as it was both diffi cult and expensive to curry them so far, it was very desirable to take tliem to some more convenient place, and thereto be met by the ngent. 1 would not make theappli cation to the agent myself, because upon previous occasions I thought he had not j treated me well, and therefore interested a ■ nolher person with me, who was supposed to have ihore influence w ilh the agent, and through him made the arrangement. 1 might possibly have done the same had I applied in person. With the sixty contracts “ taken through,” the lotir hundred Indi ans hid out round the bill, and the many persons left at the agency, 1 bad no kind of interest or concern w ith. 1 went to the a gency only to arrange a time and place for doing our own business, and to report the i result to the company. The letter pro ceeds, “ Now ifwe are to do any thing,” (mark, up to the Ist of March we had done nothing.) “ ton must instantly upon read ing this letter, lay all other business aside, and gather up as many Indians who can be depended upon as possible, and Corby or Craven anti one of the Greisons must come on with them toward the agency in Chain tiers. T)ie others with the other Greisons must remain behind, and collect and come on with another company.—When you get within five or ten miles of the agency, stop where you can get water and provisions, and send a messenger to us at the agency, to let us know w hereyoii are, and we will meet you on Monday morning with the a gent and proceed to business. Your mes senger must reach us on Sunday night. Camo your Indiansont ofsiuht of the road. I You need give yourselves no trouble about the value of the land—l will arrange all that.”—Col. Hogan un doubt flattered him self that, with a credulous community, he could induce the belief, that this portion of the letter unexplained, would be proof of fraud of the deepest die. But let us exa mine the matter closely—and see how it was understood between the partv writing, and the party to whom it was written. In the j foregoing part of this paragraph, there is i either a misprint, or a mistake in the origin al draft ; for instead of reading “ gather up as many Indians who can be depended on as possible ;” it should read “ gather up as many of our Indians who can be de pended on as possible, it was never inten ded by the writer, or the persons to whom the letter was addressed; that any other In dians b t those from w hom we had bargain ed tor their lands, or who had promised to sell to us, should be brought. The two Greison’s were directed also to be brought, because they were intelligent half-breeds, well acquainted with the Indians, and very able to identify eat It one. Amongst those with whom we had bargained for their j lands, and those who had agreed to sell to us, were some who could not be depended | upon—who would go with us at our ex i pense, and sell to some other purchaser. Such I desired not to be brought. I dirre j ted the whole company io be encamped five or ten miles from the agency, out of ol the road. This wasdonesitnply to keep them out of the veacb ofopposition or inter ference of other purchasers and other inter preters—for mmy of them were it: the ha bit of overbidding, and doing every other act before a man’s face to break o(T con tracts. I directed no trouble to be en countered on account of the value of the land, and promised to attend to that myself. No contract could be certified only at the appraised value of the land. Tint t appraise ment I had already secured, and therefore there was no necessity for farther trouble on that account. With this explanation. Col. Hogan is welcome to all the good this part of the letter can do him, and I will cheer fully bear all the harm it can be made to do me.—But lam sorry to inform Col. Ilo gan, because I know he will be both sur prised and chagrined to learn the fact, that tins was a mere recommendatory course, and never was acted upon nor carried out. Ihe Indians did not come on as advised ami expected—they were not camped in the woods out of sight of the road—the a gent was not again called on to meet, and •lid not meet the parties—and all the busi ness they ever transacted in that district was done in the agent’s office, in the face <>t day, and subject t<> the criticism and op position of all who had any to make. It may, however, afford Col. Hogan some consolation for me to inform him, that E. Corley Co. lost nearly the whole ol the purchases which they had made in McHen ry s district—the liidianshaving given them the slip and sold to others, by which laud advances and all were lost. They did, however, succeed i . having a few contracts certified of little or no value ; and if Col. Hogan era? thinks one of them fraudulent, so far as I am concerned, he may give it hack to the Indian if to be found, or if not “to his friends in Mobile.” Mvinterest ibi dispute in McHenry’s district is not worth the labor of this defence. But to the let ter. “ Stealing,” it say s, “is the order of the day, and out of the host of the Indians at the agency , I don’t think there were ten true holders of land.” This part of the letter I exceedingly regret —not because it affects me individually, forthereis not one word or syllable in the whole letter intima ting that myself or any of tny associates, had in any way been concerned in any sue It practices. On thecomrary, the whofecon text of the letter is in reprehension of it, and guarding my co-partuers against it.— But my regret is, that the remark is too general ; it may apply tonne and all who were concerned io the purchase of Indian lands, and may subject me to difficulty with men for whom 1 have all possible respect. I had heard so much about fraud and land stealing—and there was so nmeh confu sion and excitement at (be agency—such repeated quarrels and rows, that like ma ny others, I fora time believed a state <>f tilings existed, the equal to which had never been known. Had I been called upon at the time, or at any moment since to testify, I could not have identified a single ease as fraudulent—nor can I now. The remarks in mv letter, therefore, were unwarranta ble. Let its again return to, and peruse the letter ; “When I left, there were not more than eighty reservations left in all Tttcka hatchee—they will go to-morrow ; then will follow Thoo-loceo, then Ki-ar-li-ja, then Oak lar-sar-say, then Eu-fmt-la ; and in two weeks the whole host of Philistines will i THE STAN HI II II OF UNION. be in y our quarter, and rely upon it, they will carry all before them. Now Scott may wrap himself-up in his Indian blanket, and say all this is impossible ; but I say it is not only possible but certain.” Now I ask the camlid reader, whether this por ion of’ the letter is approbatory or condemnatory of he practices alluded to, w bother what is said is not only as matter of opinion ; and whe ther its obvious tendency was not to rouse up Scott from his lethargy —to apprize him of approaching danger, and urge him for ward to the completion of our business when times were eaM? But lei us again to the letter; “When I see such men, with so few advantages, getting so nmeh valuable land at §lO per tract —and see how much money we have paid out, the power we have had, and the quantity and quality of land we have received, particularly when 1 think of the reason why these things are so, 1 can almost tear my hair from my bead. There is yet time to do something; but I almost despair of its being do te.” Here again I indulged in speaking about the let ms upon w hich others had obtained, not of my own knowledge but upon rumor. I know and complained that the lands which we had ob tained were inferior inqualitt, and that we had paid extravagantly high tor them; and yet by some strange process this is tortur ed into evidence of fraud against its. It is the most irresistable evidence of the very reverse— the price paid was not only ample, but in some instance extravagant ; this was inexcusable, because Scott professed to have great power and influence over the Indians, and ought to have been able to make better bargains. There was, however, a reason for all these things hinted at, w hich was to me a source ofih itation. In many’ instances we had purchased lands from Indians and made heavy advances.— Instead of carry ing them to the agent, hav ing them certified and collecting our debts, they were postponed unjustifiably until they would fall into the hands of some other pur chaser, by which our debts would be lost. Whilst these things were doing, other In dians who owed us nothing, would be car ried before the agent and certified, receive the whole of their money, and very often some one in the employment of the firm would trade them out of their money before they had tin opportunity to spend any of it in our store for ordinary supplies. This was annoying and unfair, and afforded just cause of complaint. The letter next says : “If Scott’s Indian wife was at the devil, 1 should have some hope. We shall go into the strife and do what we can; if you will join us, well —if not, well; we have plenty of money ; vou need not come unless you will drill y our In dians, and prepare them to receive ten dol lars in the store for every contract certi fied.” It was believed that Scott’s wife took tip too much of his time: that in at tending to hi r be neglected his business. We had determined to go into the strife— not upon what was understood to be the new plan. Inn to purchese all we could from th r/g-A/ Indians. We were willing for the others to j >in us if they choose, and would come and help : to do so, we had pre pared plenty of money ; the ten dollars in the store was not to be the full price paid for the land, but each Indian should receive “ten dollars in the store.” We wished to get clear of our goods, and the object was to induce each Indian, as a part of the trade, to “receive ten dollars in the store,” the balance of course he was to receive in money, plenty of which bad been prepared. The Indians were to be drilled—that is, told and made to know, remember and repeat the contract to the agent—and not to per mit other interpreters or purchaser- to make them violate their agreements. To show clearly that there no intention to sitbsfi tide or personate Indians, and that my ob ject was to deal only w ith the true and pro per ones, will most clearly appear by the very next sentence in the letter: “Be 1 sure to bring two old women, (it should be the two old women,) and if you possibly can, besure to bring Tal-lar-har, an old woman ol Thob-10-ces-town, who is the mother, or mother-in-law of John Reed an interpreter who was killed last year.” Now upon re ference to the roll of locations for Titob loc-co-town, it will be s-en that Tal-lar liar was located upon a pret'y good piece ot land, and in the event of being able to get it, so pirticular was I to have the right per son, that I gave as full a description of bet as I possibly could. Had my object been to personate her, another old [ndi tn woman would have done as well. Surely Colonel Hogan did not mark well this part of my letter, el.-e he would have seen that of itself it is a full refutation of his whole attack up on me. We now come to the last sentence in the letter : “The whole show will be up in a few weeks from this time, and all the Indians who do not sell will lose their lands.” Here is a plain declaration of opinion—that the Indians ought to be urged to sell their lands; that we ought to lose no time in purchasing; and the reason assigned was, that all that did not sell would lose their lands. “Thi.- system has not been working more than three weeks, and upwaras of I,ooocontracts have been certified. The stream is getting wider, deeper and stronger every day. If things are radically cl tinged, as to money in Tallapoosa, 1 will furnish funds in papet money to certify the balance ; if not the Indians may be disbanded, and we will quit the drive, for I will stand the pa-t ptdl no longer; and if Dr. Scott adopts the rule ol settlement, at the certified prices, it imnt bi a good rule, and shall apply to till cases.” In regard to the operations ol other pe - sons, lite number of certifications, lite man ner of their obtainment, I again spoke not from my own knowledge but trom rumor, and it was all urged as a reason for more diligence in the prosecution of our legiti mate business. A change, and a radical change ui our business at Tallapoosa was ■necessary.; what that change was has been stated, and is to be found plainly and forci bly stated in other letters whence Colonel Hogan obtained the present. Ifsuclt change was made, I w-as ready to furnish funds to complete our business; if not, I would bear the imposition no longer. In some instances laud had been certified at more than the appraisetl value. 1 be lieved it io have been done in consequence of a connection with some other trade w ith the Indian about the money ; and I insisted that I sho' Id be charged only with the ap- praised. and not the certified prices. Thus have I game through the whole of the letter, jand have endeavored to pre.-ent it in pre cisely the sense in whit It it was understood ;by the parties. It proves most clearly, that all of my purchases up to the Ist of March, j 1835, were believed to be fair, ami the I .amis were then paid for. It urges my co ' partners to more activity and diligence in j their business, and throughout contemplates dealing with no Indian but the rightful ow ner ofthe land. The letter alleges that whilst we wereh ing idle and doing nothing, the whole world was in motion—that whilst we were getting but little land, m.d that of an inferior qual ity, and tit high prices, others were believed to be getting much land of tin- bea quality, mid fora mere song. That even the lands for which we had bargained, and which were promised to us would be lost, unless at once secured. Since the Ist of March, 1835, to the best of tny recollection, there has been no con tract certified to in Sanford’s district, in which 1 have any concern whatever; conse quently by the letter in questi m, all my contracts in that district are good. The contracts in McHenry’s district, to w hich 1 am a party, and made since that time, art like angel’s visits, “lew and far between •” nor is there one of them hut what ought in t my opinion to be sustained before any tri bunal. | As to the letter of Mr. Tarver, 1 have on ; ly to say, that I have no concern with it, ' and net •rw as consulted about it. What may have been his objector intention is un known to me ; but if it was improper, he certainly thought better of it afterwards, for I do not believe that since that time he has made or certified a single contract in the whole Creek territory. That the present attack upon me has been the result of a conspiracy between Co lonel Honan, Scott, ard one or more secret partners I have no doubt; their motives I seek not to know; but I wish them all now distinctly to understand, that they are incit ed to make any and all exposures and dis closures in their power affecting the fairness of my conduct throughout the whole of the Indian business. I have done no act, ut tered no word, that I should be uttwilimg for them to herald forth to tiie world. I know the world is lull of such men as I Col. Hogan, who are miser«nle unless thex can live in a storm. With such men I wish to have as little to do as possible. There are others (and he is also of the number,) who are always ready to cry out against mo nopolies and speculations, and yet they are generally the very first to embark in them. The good or evilopinion ofsttch men is alike indifierent to me. I never expect them to do me good, and 1 shall take care they do me no harm. No man has any right officiously to intermeddle with, or inquire into my bmi r.ess transactions with other persons, be them red or white ; but for tlie satisfaction ofall who really wish to know' the truth, and to make up an honest opinion whether I have dealt justly or unjustly by the In dians, I beg to r fer them to the annexed documents. In addition to this I will fur ther add, that long ago, rather than have Col. Hogan to act a.-judge upon my rights, I proposed in writing to the Secre.ary at War, that all contracts unapproved, in whit h I was interested in McHenry or Tar rant’s- district, should be appmvt d and de livered over to Judge Tarrant as e.-crows and by him to be delivered to me upon my again paxing into hi- hands the certified price of me land—that thereupon Judge Tarrant should be constituted the final ar biter betxveen the Indians and m\self; and in all ca-es where he believed the wrong In dian had been certified, the money should be paid over to the proper Indian ; but when he believed the right Indian had -al ready been certified, the money should be returned to me. The proposition xvasjust and equitable ; but the Secretary did not think that he had the power to accept it.— What more cottld Col. Hogan or any other man ask of me? He mm h mistakes me if lie believes that I want the land of any In dian without purchasing it from the right owtt'-r and pa ving every dollar that I agreed to pay. I neither kno- nor care xvh- liter Col. Hogan believes me sincere or not. — I hose who know me best, and w hose good opinion 1 hope ever to retain, will not doubt me. I feel that I have extended this defence to a great extent; but as it is the ; last time I expect to pay my respects to Col. Hogan, I deemed it proper to occupy the whole ground. I must be excused for “ passing by nn ! noticed,” Col. Hogan’s friend, the editor of j the Montgomery Advertiser. With him/ land the partisan warfare in Alabama, I nei-; ther desire or seek any connection. ! Editors publishing Col. Hogan’s exposi- ‘ tion, will please copy this defence, if’not as' an act of justice, they will do it as an act of business, tint! forward to me their bills for payment. ELI S. SHORTER. Columbus, Wth June, 1836. I was one of the firm of E. Corlex and C. mpany, and generally remained at the place d< ing iht ir bii.-iness upon the Tallapoosa river. I do know that Eli S. Shorter, xx ho xx as also a ineniber of the firm, and xx ho furnished ueai ly .'di the niouex lot purchasing Indian reserxes, repeaiedlx am rirongiy urged and advised John. S. Scott, myself mid all others interested x'ith the bu siness, by all m< sms to axoid purchasing li out wrong Indians, and to keep clear ex ei ol doubtful or di-pmed cases. 1 also know that when he learnt that some of the pnr < liases had been disput d, he remon -traied warmly and earue.-tly with Scot; lor permitting stub claims to be pm chased. I also knoxx' that ■once, and om < only, Shorter was present at the agent’- office, (Judge Tarrant) when three Indian xvere presented to have their lands ccrtifie< to the firm, one of them seemed to faulte iu the examination. Shorter asked pi rmi -ion ol the agent to examine the Indians . w hich being granted, a fexv questions tver asked w hen Shorter remarked that liedoub: cd whether it xvas the right Indian, and d< • lined having him certified. But for h. own oljection, I believe then, and do ve that lite agent would have passed the cot tract. 1 also know that Slimier did writ one or two letters to the agent urging Im to all possible vigilencc in the examinatio ofthe Indians presented for certification t the firm, alledging that he had done all ii. his power to prevent mistakes, and hoped that none would happen. I also know that the full certified price of all such contracts certified to E. Corlex &Z. Co., xvas paid, mid each copartner xvas charged with bis full proportion. I also know that die letters and papers supposed to be of no use belonging to E. Corley 8c Co., upon its dissolution fell in to the hands ol'Scott wl o purchased om the stock of Goods, debts &.c. Tiiat some time thereafter, Scott became much offended with Shorter for some cause not distinctly known to me, and repeatedly threatened to injure or ruin him, or to have satisfaction. W ithin the last month, I had a conversation with Scott upon the subject, in xvhich lie admitted that in all the business done at Columbus with the Indians in which Shor ter was interested, he had acted honestly and fairly, and that if’any man had ever dealt fairly and liberally by the Indians, Shorter so. With regard to the contracts of E. Corley 8c Co,, with the above excep tion, Snorter never was present at the mak ing or certification of any contract. In the conversation with Scott refered to Scott farther said, that there was but one ivrong ••oiltract made by Shorter &c Scott at Co lumbus—that the Indian was brought up by Davi I Ilardr-idge—that Shorter believ ed it to be correct at the tint ■. but xvlu n he afterwards found it was wrong he xvent and gave it up. ELIJAH CORLEY. Georgia. , ) Personally appeared Muscoge county. ) before me Elijah Cor ley, who after being duly sworn, saith tiiat the tacts contained in the above statement are true. Sworn to and subcribed before me this 16th June. 1836. SAM’L. E. BUCKLER, j. p. I James S. Moore, do state that I was book keeper and principal clerk for Shor ter, Tarver 8c Co. iu Columbus during the time ofthe pun hases ami certification of Indian contracts by said concern.— During the same time in the same house, the purchases of Shorter and Scott were made. Scott professed to be personally acquainted with all the Indians from whom be purchased, and to have bargained for mm-h ofthe lands after the execution of the treaty, and before the commeuemeiit of cer tifications. Scott produced the Indians made the contracts, ami Shorter furnished the money and generally attended to the certifications. Shorter repeatedly urged Scott to the utmost dilligence in purchasing from the right Indians, and to let alone doubtful or disputed eases. I have often heard Scott say that Shorter xvas the most fair and liberal manto the Indians that lie had always done them justice. I never knew or heard of any money by frauds or force being taken back by Shor ter and Scott or Shorter, Tarver 8c Co., from any Indian from xxh*m tluy had pur chased land, but in several instances the In dians deposited their money or a portion of it in their hands lor safe keeping to be drawn or traded out as they might think pioper. I know myself that Siu rti r was so liberal to the Indians that he was :• i rent 'favorite xvitli many of them and that even those xvfio bad been s ttl< <i with an 1 paid off in full, were in the habit of coming to him for small sums ol money or articles in the store, and 1 do not know that one ever applied to him in vain. Shorter was always remix' to listen to any error in their business, and eorrected if it existed—upon one occasion I remember that an Indian, I think by the name of Si lar-chi was understood to c< mplain that hi? land had been sold by the xxrong Indian Shorter sent for him explained to him, the case and offered to pay him two hundred dollars rather than have any dispute about it as the contract had been approved and ; re-sold ; to this the Indian agreed and the i amount was paid him .*i money. This xvas ■ bes >re any investig ition had b.-en orde ed |or spoken of. Os the purchases made by J. J. Fannin up tn a given time, Shorter 8c Gordon had two-thirds. I knoxv that for those lands Shorter 8c Gordon paid to Fan nin the full certified prices, for 1 was pre sent at the settlement—farther, Shorter had no interest in business of Fannin. JAS.S. MOORE. Georgia, ) Personally appeared Muscogee county, j before me James S. Moore, who after being duly sworn saith, that the facts contained in the above state ment are true, to the best of his recollection and belief. Sworn to and subscribed be fore me this 16th June, 1836. SAM’L. E.BUBKLER, j. r. I. William C. Bissel, do state that I xvas for sometime principal clerk for E Corlex 81 Co , in Alabama during the time of their purchase of Indian reservations—that Eli S. Shorter freqnettilx in person -and by let ter, urged John S. Scotland all others con nected with the business, to be cautious in the purchase ofland—by all means t» deal with the true and proper owners—to avoid doubtful and disputed cases, and to let alone the business, contracts and Indians of other purchasers. Shorter appealed to me pri vately to watch over as well as I could, and see that his instructions xx-ere obeyed. His whole and uniform course from the first to the time of my leaving there, seemed directed mainly to the pun hase of lands fr<e from difficulty. He never fora moment encourag ed or countenanced the personating of Indi uis, but uniformly spoke of such practices in the mo.-t severe terms. I have no doubt (bat the full certified price of every tract of land pm chased by E. Corley & Co., xvas bonafide paid. I have io interest in said purchases, and never iad any. I left the employment ofE. Cor ex 8t Co. some months after the Ist ol March 1835. W. C. BISSEIL. Columbus, Georgia, ) Personallx- np- Mvscogee county. j peared before ne, Wm. C. Bissell, who, after being duly worn, saith, that the facts contained in the <>rcgoing statement arc true. This I9lh June, 1836. Test— JOHN FONTAINE. Mayor. 1 Jatnes E. Glenn, jr., do state that I vas very often at the store of Shorter, Tar er 8c Co., in Columbus, whilst they and •hotter 8c Scott xvere purchasing Indian re •rves— iu the business of Shorter & Scott, ■coii usuallx purchased the land and Shor r fiiruislictl the money mid attended to the rlifications. I lit <>w that Shorter was almost daily tir ing Scott to caution in the purchase of .ands, to be sure and have the proper Indi- ans—to let the Indians and contracts of oth er persons alone, and to have nothing to do with doubtful or disputed cases. Scott as sured him that he personally knexv the In dians from xvhom he purchased—that he purchased and would purchase from none tint the proper owners of the land. I have over and often heard Scott say before Shorter's face and behind his back, that he was the most fair and liberal man to trade with Indians that he had ever seen —that he had paid them promptly, &in all things treated them justly. He further said the Indians w ho sold their land at that house could never have any cause of complaint— whatever might he said of their treatment at other houses. So far as my means of knowing extended—and they were very ample—Scott in my opinion, paid Shorter only a just tribute. I have no interest whatever in said purchases and never had. J. E. GLENN, Jr. Columbus, Ga., ) Personal! appeared be- Muscogee county. f fore me, Janies E. Glenn, Jr., who after being duly sworn saith, that the fact contained in the foregoing state ment are true. Test—JOHN FONTAINE, Mayor. Mobile, February 26, 1836. Sir—Your letter of the 18th inst. came to hand as > xvas leaving Tuskegee, and I had no time to answer it. The information you re quired can be obtained in Columbus, from any of your friends, viz : Messrs. Hudson, Blake, McDougald, Dr. Mills, and a dozen others who accompanied me through the District. Thev have kept cop’e tof all cases reversed. I have no time to make out lists for any one, but if you will call at my office in Tuskegee, you will be shewn a list by Major Abbott. As to the ca ses of Fannin, I understood Mr. John D. How ell to be his representative, and believe he at tended to all such cases, and as for Dr. Scott, h& is here, and presume will soon return to the na tion, he tells me he has not been to Texas. I am your ob’t serv’t., JOHN B. HOGAN. Capt. C. Removal. Texas. From the New-Orleans Bee. By the arrival of the schooner Col. Fannin from Velasco, xvhich place she left on the 29th June, we learn that the Mexicans have advanced as far as the Nueces, betxvecn 5 and 7000 men commanded by gene-als Urea and Bravo ; 200 of which had marched from San Patr'cio.— The Texian army were in (he neighborhood of \ ictoria. M. B. Lamar has been appointed commander in chief. General Green and Felix Houston are on the march to join the main army at that pla-:e. We further learn that pari of Mexican arrav xvho had been in Texas with Santa Ana, and who have been obliged by General Urea to re turn to Texas, have refusi d to cross the Nue ces, stating that they will not enter Texas a gain. General Santa Anna has been taken to Col umbia and put in irons, with a strong guard over him—his suite is with him. Matamoras, Tamaulipas, June 9th 1836. My dear friend : —I am sorry to inform you of our situation. We are detained here for nothing but to keep your ignorant of the ene my’s intention ; they xvill soon be doxvn on X'ou in great numbers. Four thousand will leave here in four or eight days for La Bahia, it is supposed via Nueces or San Patricio, and as many more by water, in 15 or 20 days from V era Cruz, to land at Copano, or Brasos, it is not yet ascertained at xvhich place, they xvill make a war of e termination and show no quar ters. My dear friends, you see xvhat treating with a prisioner is, but you must make the bosl of it; you can fall back to the Colorado, and call all the men to the field, for if you do not Texas is gone. They have heard that the President is at Velasco with a very small guard and they say they xvill have him" in less than two weeks. I think you ought to send all the prisioners through to San Augustine, for safe keeping. You will have from 7to lo’oOO troops to contend with, many of them cavalry, well mounted to murder women and children. Now soldiers, you must not spare any pains for the sake of saving us ; we are willing to be lost to save Texas. We are not in prison, yet but to-morrow we shall have quarters in the Cala boose. We have good friends xvhich produce •it present forbids me to mention for fear of de duction. Urea is commander in chief of the Mexican army, and says lie will not stop short of th.) Sabine river. You must now work head xvork as well as fighting. Blow np Goliad and Bexar; you have a sufficient force in the field at once again —be united—let the people of the United States know what kind of a wai they make of it, and they will certainly come to our assistance. 1 do not consider our lives in danger, if in close quartsrs, To give you as much infotmation as possible, my letter is in this small hand. 1 bid you adieu in 1 aste. Our cause forever, Your friend, A- TEAL. T concur with all that has been stated above and foregoing. Your ob’t serv ? t. H. M. RAMES. Matamoras June 9. The messenger who carries this, is strongly recommended by all the friends of this place— the news he carries is of the greatest impor tance to 1 exas. In God's name be governed by it ! 1 expected to have carried the news to 1 exas myself, but to Lave been made pri sioner xvas not xvhat I expected : I was to have est this evening, through the assistance of the friends to our cause, at 12 o’clock this day I xvas called up by Gen. and obliged to give security that I would appear at any time I was called upon, or that I would not leave the. city, or else be imprisoned in the Quartel.— Capt. Teal and Carnes are prisoners also. I hope if their bad faith at the Mission Goliad and elesewhere, will not fully open your eys to the profideousness of these unprincipled xisretches in the detention of our Commissioners in this place, as well as im self and four of my men, all with passports from General Feliscola, you will hereafter act on principles of relation re gardless of consequences to us. if you had shot the officers already taken, 1 have no doubt tho second attack xvould n t h; ve been made. The information is so full in the other docu ments and letters that it is unnecessary for me to go into detail ; the advice in them pay all at T tention to and for heavens sake pay strict atten tion and profit thereby. To Galveston, amjt Matagorda, and your prisioners look well. Our situation is bad, but death can ease our trou bfes. 1 am your enemy’s prisioner, Maj. W.P. MILLER, Legion Cavalry. I certify the foregoing to be true copies ofthe communications sent by General T. S Rusk, to this Department. A. SOMERVILLE, Sec. War. War Department, ». Velasco, June 20,1836., ) A splendid sword was presented to Mak Donald Frazier, in. .New York,on Saturday. Gov. Marcy officiated on the occasion. '