ro the. injured party the general government
too had (hewn an equal difpolui.oll to do jultice
to the Indian tribes ; wit net's the affair of the
Cherokees : for as soon as Congress had heard
their of an encroachment made on
them by some of the people from the frontier of
the Carolina, immediate orders were ifluedl for
obliging the intruders to evacuate the Indian
territory.
But notwithflanding the disposition that pre
vails as well in the legiflatuies of thole States
whose frontiers are molt exposed, as in the ge
neral government, to cultivate peace and amity
with the neighboring Indians, that desirable ob
je<ft is become utterly flnattainablein the present
Jiofture of affairs : — The frontier Indians have
killed a number'of whites ; the whites, in their
turn have made retaliation : both parties are in
the highefl degree exasperated against each o
ther, and likely to continue so, in spite of eve
ry endeavor that can be made to effect a recon
ciliation : with minds thus irritated, it is vain
to hope for peace, as loyg as they continue in
each other's neighborhood ; it is therefore ne
ceflary to form a strong barrier, to keep them
asunder, unless indeed the advocates tor a cefla
tion of Jioftilities would oblige the frontier set
tlers to abandon tlieir lands :—but by what
new-invented rule of right, should the inhabit
ants of Kentucky, and the other frontier set
tlers be laid under a greater obligation, than a
ny other citizens of the United States, to relin
quish a property legally acquired by fair pur
cbafe ?—were it even proposed to pacify the sa
vages, by purthafing the lands anew, such a mea
fore would answer 110 other purpose, than tliar
of procuring a temporary peace, which would
soon again be interrupted by a war, that would
reproduce the necessity of again having recourse
to the fame'expedient : we should have to pur
chase the lands again and again without end ;
by thus squandering the public money year af
ter year, we should only swell the national debt
to an amount, that we cannot pollibly forefee :
—better at once to make a vigorous effort, to adl
in a manner becoming the national dignity, and
to maintain our ground by war, since we can
not obtain a durable or an honorable peace.
Attempts have at various times been made to
treaties of peace with the Indian tribes,
with wham we are now at war:—and although
these efforts hav» conltantly proved ineffectual,
they yet {hew that neither the United States, nor
the state of Virginia, were backward on their
part to adopt conciliatory and to do
away that animosity whjch had commenced on
the part of the savages at an early period of the
late war with Britain, and had continued to break
out at intervals ever since. In theyears 1783, 84,
87, 88, and 90, offers of pcace were made to
them : on the last mentioned occasion, when a
treaty was proposed at the Miami village, the In
dians at firft refufed to treat: they next required
thirty days to deliberate—and in the interim,
the inhabitants of Kentucky were exprefly pro
hibited by the President of the United States, to
carry on any offenfive operations agaiutt them ;
yet notwithflanding tnis forbearance 011 the part
of the whites, 110 less than 120 persons were kil
led or captured by the savages, and several pri
soners roasted alive, during that ftiort period, at
the expiration of which, the Indians refufed to
give any answer at all.
On another occasion, riie Indians, not content
with rejecting our pffers of peace, proceeded even
so far as to infulc us, by telling us, we have lands
within the British ports, and alking us, why we
did not go and take pofTeflion of them ?—Will it
be said, that we are unable to do it ?— Is this lan
guage to be used within the United States ? No !
we an able, abundantly able to do it, whenever
we please : and if we would but retrench our
expenses in some instances, which might well ad
mit of a reduction, our ability would still en
creafe : our finances are not quite so inefficient
as some gentlemen seem to imagine, nor foeafily
deranged—we are still able to prove that the
boasted efficiency of the general government is
fomeihing more than an empty name—we can
yet raise both men and money fufficient todefend
the nation from either injury or insult.
It is now too late to enquire, whether -the war
was originally undertaken on the principles of
justice, or not: —we are adtually involved in it,
and cannot recede, without exposing numbers of
ipnocent persons to be butchered by the enemy ;
for, though we fhcaild determine to discontinue
the war, can it be said that the savages will alf}>
agree to a celfation of holHlities ?— it is well
known that they are averse to peace ; and even
the wirmeft advocate of pacific nieafures must
therefore allow that the war is a war of neceffiry,
and must be supported : we cannot, without im
peachment both to our jullice and our humanity,
abandon our fellow citizens on the frontier to
the rage of their lavage enemies : and although
the excise may be foniewhat unpopular, although
money may still be wanted, what is the excise?
what is money when pat in competition with the
lives of our friends and brethren ?
A fuffieient force inuft be raiTed for their de
fence : and the only question now to be corii
dered is, what that force shall be : experience
has proved, that the force employed in the lafl
campaign, was inadequate : it is true the elta
blifhtiient wns not complete : but who will ven
ture to aflert, that, if if had been complete, it
would have been fuffieient for the intended pur
pose ? Are gentlemen, who aflert this, so well
acquainted with the circuniftances of the enemy,
as to be able to give an accurate liatement of the
amount of their forces on the frontier.' There
are higher opinions in favor of an augmentation
of the army, than can be adduced againlt it
opinions, given by men of judgment and experi
ence, who have themselves been on thefpot, and
are well acquainted with the situation of affairs
in that quarter: —these gentlemen, who tnuft be
allowed to be competent judges, are decidedly of
opinion, that the prefenc ellablifhtnenc, though
completed to the last man, will not furnifh an
adequate force to carry on the war with effetft ;
and that it will be a hopelels attempt to open
allot her campaign, with le/s than about fivethou
fand regular troops, the number contemplated
in the bill.
Nor ought that number to be deemed extrava
gant, under an idea, that we have only a con
temptible handful of banditti to contend with :
their numbers were, lait year, si om authentic
documents, Itated at about 1200 warriors, from
23 different tribes • —such was the opposition then
contemplated , —but it is impossible to ascertain
what acceliions of strength they have since re
ceived, or even what force they had engaged in
the late unfortunate action ; as the very men,
who were in the engagement, do not pretend to
Torm any jtifl oraccurate estimate of thenumber
of their allailants : but there is good reason to
suppose, that they had previously entered into
an aflbciation with various tribes, that have not
as yet cotne within our knowledge : thebwwsand
arrows, used againfl our troops, 011 that occasion,
afford a convincing proof, that they had foes to
encounter from diilant nations,as yet unacquaint
ed with the use of fire arms—nor does the ac
count of the bows and arrows depend, for its au
thenticity, on newspaper evidence alone ; gen
tlemen of unqueltionable veracity, who were per
sonally engaged in the action, have declared,that
they had theinfelves noticed the arrows flying.
When we consider the warlike disposition of
the Indians in general, and the alacrity, with
which the victors are ever sure to be joined by
numerous allies, we have every reason to expert
a much more formidable opposition in rhe next
campaign :—it is well known, that the favuges
place all their glory in deeds of war ; and that,
among them, a young man cannot make his ap
pearance in company, till he has signalized his
valor by some martial archievement :—when, to
this powerful incentive, a new ftimulos is added
by the trophies obtained in the late action, it is
presumable that numbers will crowd to thei\-
ftandaid ; and it strongly behoves us to prepare
in time for,a much more vigorous effort, than
any we have as yet made against them.
The objections drawn from the encreafed ex
pense, mult entirely Vanish from before the eyes
of any man, who looks forward to the confe
quences of one more unfuccefsful campaign : —
such a diltafter would eventually involve the na>
tion in much greater expense, than that which
is now made the ground of oppolition : — better
therefore at once to make a vigorous and effec
tual exertion to bring the matter to a final ilfue,
than to continue gradually draining the treasu
ry, by dragging on the war, and renewing hosti
lities from year to year-.
If we with to bring the war to a speedy and a
happy conclulion, and to lecuve a permanent
peace to the inhabitants 011 the frontier, we
niuft employ such troops, and adopt such mea
sures, as appear belt calculated to enfuie success :
—if we delay our determination, unt.il the force
of the enemy be ascertained, we can make no
provision at all : forthe nature and circumrtanc
es of the cafe preclude us from the very poliibi
lity of obtaining a knowledge of their rtrength
and numbers :—but are we, mean while, to re
main inactive and irrefoluie, and make no efforts
to repel their intended attacks ? No! Whatever
their numbers may be, prudence calls aloud for
provision of lome kind : and if experience is to
have any weight with us, the example of the
rench and of the British points out the true
mode of securing our frontier, and rendering it
invulnerable to an Indian foe : let us occupy
ports in the vicinity of the enemv ; let them be
properly garrisoned, and well, "provided ; and
the business i 5 done.
These will afford an opportunity of trading
with the fi iendly tribes, and will prevent all in
tercourse between the whites and the Indians,
except under proper regulations : fliould hofti'
lines be meditated by any tribes who are not in
aniitv with us, early intelligence of theii move
ments, can be obtained : their marauding par
ties may be either beaten off on their approach
or lnteicepted on their return
330
may be taken of separately attacking the hostile
tribes : thjeir old men, their squaws, their chil
dren , will be exposed a great part of the year
whillt the others are out hunting in fhorr if
sfear, hope, interest, can be supposed to have any
iufluence on the Indians, this mode of defence
niufl be allowed to be preferable to any other
as giving the fnllelt scope to the operation of all
those motives.
A different mode has been long pursued in Vir
ginia, and adopted by the inhabitants of Ken
tuckey ; but its success has not been such, as to
offer any inducement to the general government
to follow the fame plan :—Rangers have there
been employed for a number of years, to scour
the frontiers ; and those rangers, too, were ex
pert woodsmen, perfectly inured to-the Indian
mode of warfare : yet notwithstanding their ut
ruolt vigilance, the savages (till found means to
commit all the murders and depredations already
enumerated : — 'tis true, however, that a frontii«r
militia man, trained up in the woods, may be, in
many refpetfls, preferable to a l egular soldier,
who has not the fariKe knowledge of the country,
and of the mode of fighting :—but with equal
experience (and proper men, poflefled of that
experience, tnay beenlilted on the establishment)
regular troops will be found infinitely superior
to any militia upon earth.
Every man who has ever seen militia in the
field, cannot bat know, that a very triflingdifa!-
ter. or a flight cause of discontent, is fufficientto
make ihem disband, and forget all subordinati
on. so far as even to negleift the means of felt
defence ; — whereas regular troops,under proper
discipline, and acting with greater fteadiuefs and
concert, are much more to be depended on, es
pecially when the objec't of attack is diilant, and
great fatigue is to be undergone. The militia,
in whatever mode they ma)' be called out, will
hardly furnifh' men of the proper description :—
if large pay be offered, the temptation wiil e
qually prevail upon those who are unfit for the
service as it will upr>n good effective men :—be
fides, foine of the states have no militia laws;
and even in those states which have such laws,
they are gone into disuse : no dependance cau
therefore be placed 011 tnilitia, under any laws
now exifling :—there is, indeed, a general mili
tia law now before the house : but if it ever
pafl'es, it certainly cannot be pafled indue season
to answer the purpose of providing for the •.in
mediate defence of the frontier—regular troops
mull be raised, or nothing effectual can be done:
—and if to avoid the expense we refufe the only
aid that may prove of any real service, we render
ourselves responsible for the consequences of this
parsimonious policy, which may be attended with
the'ruin and deftrutftion of our fellow citizens
in the wellern country.
The Cornplanter's speech was again mention
ed, and called for : but, as it had been confiden
tially communicated by the Prelidenr, au objec
tion was made to having it read, without clear
ing the galleries ; —whereupon,
An honorable member arose, and mentioned
his having read it in one of the public newf'pa
pers in the ltate of New-Jersey.
To this it was answered, that if any gentleman
had the newfpaperto produce, the speech might
be publicly read from that : — otherwise, altlio
it might be very proper that the speech iifelf
should be read, yet, as it had been confiden
tially received from :he executive, there would
be a manifest trefpals on propriety and decorum,
in having it read with open galleries : —it was
therefore wished, that the galleries might be
cleared.
The parliamentary etiquette requiring that
this should be done by the house, and not by a
committee, the committee rose for the purpose ;
and,
Flie Speaker having resumed the chair, the
lotion for clearing the galleries, was renewea.
An objection was here started, by an honora
jle gentleman it. favor ofthe augmentation,who
(aid, that, as some gentlemen had spoken oil the
popular fide of the qu&rtion, whilit the galleries
had been open, it was unfairto preclude tholeot
opposite fentinients from an opportunity ot an
swering their arguments in the fame public man
ner, and proving to the people the justice, aim
necefiity of the war.
The motion, however, was perflated in, and
the galleries were cleared.
[The speakers in this day's debate, were Me(Fr?»
Wayne, Goodhue, Boudinot, Livermore, Steele,
Parker, Bourne (Rhode-Island) White and Moare
Mr. White and Mr. Moore opposed the
motion ; they were in favor of the augmentati
on proposed in the bill—The other gentlemen
were in favor of striking out the claufe.j
WEDNESDAY, Februarys
The Spenker laid before the House a 'etter
from the Secretary of War, enclosing copies
tlie official communications which have ,a ( sel '
place between him and the governor oi the ! ate
of Virginia, refpeifting the temporary defence
of the frontier of that commonwealth.