The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-12-14

sary BY the aggressIons of the hostile ppr-
tjons of the Seminole and Creek tribes Of In
dams. and by other circumstances, have re-
qulred the active employment "f nearly our
whole regular force, including the ninrine
corps, aud of large bodies OF mllltia and vol
unteers. With all these events, so Tar as
they were known at the seat OF government
before the termination OF your last session,
YOU are already acquainted: and it is. there
fore, only ncediil IN this place to lay before
YOU. brief summary of what has since oc-
cured. The war with the ScIninucs, dur.
ing the summer. was, on our pat, chiefly
confined To the protection ri o,.r frontier set
Elements, from the incursions Of the enemy;
and ~ necessary and important means for
the accomplishment 81 that end, 10 ihp main
tenancc oftbe posts previously establshed.-
IN thu roGrse Of this duty, several actions
took place, IN which the bravery and disci-
pTe Of both officers aud men were conspic-
lo'Isly displayed, and which have deemed
IT proper to notice, III respect To the iorincr,
by granting uf brev,.t rank for gallant servi-
ces in the field. But a. the force 0f The In
diuns was not So far Weekend by these par
tial Successes. ns TO lead them 10 submit, aud
as their savage nroads were frequently re-
peated, early measures were taken for the
placing at ,ne Disposal ofGOyernOr Call, who,
as co.n o.nuander-in.chiefo of the terrI'orlii nillt-
10, had been tompnrnrlly invested with the
command, an ample force, for the purpos" 0'
resnmug the offensive operations, IN the
most efficient manner, so soon as III" season
should permit. Major general Jessup was
also directed. on the conclusion oi his dutIts
in the Creek country, to repair to Florida,and
assume lhe command.
The result Of the first movements made by
the forces under the direction of Governor
Call, in October last, as detailed IN the ac-
companying papers, excited much surprise
aud disappointment. A foil explanation has
been required of the, causes wi,Ich led To the
failure uf that movement, but has not YET oeei
received In the mean time, as II was ieartu
that the health of Governor Call, who was
understood to have suffered much from sick
ness, would mt be adequate to the crisis,
and a. Major General J,ssup was known TO
have reached Florida that officer was direct
ed to assume The command, aud 10 prosecute
all neediul operations with the utmost
promptItude and vigor. From the force at
his disposal, aud the dispositions he has made
and is instructed To make. and from the very
efficient measures which II Is since ascer-
tanned have been taken by Governor Call,
there Is reason to hope tiat they VIII soon DC
enabled To reduce the enemy to sulJecuon
the report ofthe Secretary,inerc Is urgent oe-
cessliy for further appropriations 10 suppress
their hostIlltes.
Happily for the interests of humanity, the
hosIilitics with the Creeks were brought To
close soon after your adjournment, without
that eifuslon of blood which at one time was
opp7ehc nded a. inevitable. The uncondu-
ional submission Of the hostile party was inl-
! lowed by their speedy rcmnvai TO the coun-
! try assigned them west OF the M,sslssippi.-
! The inquiry M to the alleged frauds III the
purchase of the reservations OF these Indians
aud the canse of their hosl,lltes, requested
by the resolution, OF the House of Kepresen
tativcs of the lst of July last, TO be made by
the President, II now going on, thr''igh ,b,
agency of commissioners APPOINTED or ina
purpose. Their rcrorl may be expected dur
ing your present session.
TIE difficulties apprehended IN the Cher
okee country have been prevented, and the
peace and safety of that region and ,tS vicIn
( ity cilcctually secured, by The uniely meas
ures taken by the War Department, aud stll
continued.
The discretionary authority given to Gen
eral Gaines To cross the SabluH. aud To occu
py position as far west as Nacogdoches, u
case he should deem such step nrcesSar,
to the protection of the frontier, aud to th,
iuliment ot the stpulatlons contained IN gu
treaty with Mexico, and the movement sub
sequrntly made by that officer have been al
lnded to in a former part ot this message
At the date of the latest nt"lligence iron
Nacogdnches, our troops were yet al ina
station; but the officer who has succeeded
General Gaines has recently been advised
that from the facts known nj the seat o
Government, there would seem to br 10 al
cquate cause for any longer maintaining iha
position; and he was accordingly instructed
in case the traops were not already win
drawn under the discretionary powers D.
fore possessed by him tn CIV" the requisite
orders for thht purpose on the RECEIPT oi IN
Instructions, unless he shall then have ~ III
possession snch information us he shalt snis
~ him ;hat the maintenance OF the post I
essential To the protection of our frontiers
aud To the due execution of our treaty stlpu
latnns, az previously explained to- him.
Whilst the necessities existing during III
present year, tor the service of mi'la volun
tecrs, have furnished new proofs oi the pat
riotlsm of our fellow citizens, they have ais
strongly illustrated the Importance of an IN
crease in the rank and file of the regula
army The views Of this subject submltte
bv The Secretary of War, in hls report NEE
my entlre concurrcncc; aud are earnest.
recommended To The deliberate attention o
Congress. In this connection 1t Is also prop'
to remind you, that the defects IN our prescn
militia system are every day rendered mof'
apparent. The duty of making further pro
visions by law for organizing, armng an'
dicipllning this arm ot defence has been So
repeatedly presented to Congress by mysel
aud my predecessors, that deem it suihclen
ON this occasion to refer to the last ANNA
message, and to former Executive commun
cations in which the subject has been discus
sed.
IL appears from the reports of the officers
charged with mastering into service the vol
untecrs called for under the at of Congress
of the last session, that more presented them
selves at the place OF rendezvous III Tcnncs
see than were sufficient to meet the requlsi
,ion which had been made by the Secretary
of War upon the Governor of that State
This was occasioned by the omission of ih'