The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-21

en- A copy Of the orders 10 Msjor Gen Jesup on
assigning 10 him The same command and oil other or
ders and correspondence with Gen. Jesnp subsequent
thereto which he may deem not Injurious 10 the public
service 10 COMMUNICABLE.
Mr.. TAIIAFERRO offered the following resolution
viz:
Resoioed. That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
auised - Ear pssctcsbe 10 furnish this House
with statement, 20 show how many bushels OF eoru,
wheat rye barley oats and other bread sufis. have
been, during the last ten years. imported from foreign
countries into The ports Of the United States distinguish
ing the several ports
Tho above resolution submitted in . somewhat
different form, and modified several times BY the mover
at the suggestion OF deren, gentlemen; alter which u
was agreed to-
yLoaipA WAR.
Mr.. WISE offered the following resolution:
Resolved. That select committee be appointed 0y
ballot inquire into the OF the extraordinary de-
lays and failures, and the enormous expenditures
which have attended the prosecution Of the against
the Indians in Florida; that said committee have power
send for persons and papers, and that il have power
sit in the recess, and that il make report TO the
next session Of Congress.
Mr.. CAMBREI.ENG inquired why il was proposed
that the committee should sit during the recessl
Mr. WISE said in reply, that the must be OBJ
vious The committee could not even commence its
abors before then and there little use in raising
the committee. il its sbors TO be confined 10 the
adjournment Of the present session Of Congress IL
was most extraordinary that two Major Generals en-
ployed in this had been successveiy araigned and
tried BY Courts Martial while the only successful CON-
mander. Gen. Chch. when called a. witness In the
trial, should have testified that commanding general
or subordinate officer blsmewohy for the failure Of
the campaigns but that the blame lay at the door Of
the War Department In reply, the world had seen a
lsborcd defence from the late Secretary Of War, Gen
Csss il saw the war still raging and II but yes
L.. - 1..s~f e
terday that IN the midst OF the general ois'esses Of
the country with bankrupt Treasury, bankrupt with
surplus Of means y the chairman Of the Committee OF
WAYS and Means had called for more than million
and half Of dollars to prosecute this ssrred contest
Sitting IN that House representative OF the people,
while be never would hesitate in voting any necessary
appropriation which was asked for, and would stop
inquire how former appropriations bad been expend-
ed. how the asked for to be spilled he felt
il his duty, particularly at such time rs this TO inquire
how the millions already given, and given on the mere
request Of the chairman Of committee, without even
statement Of the Department to back il, without an es
timste and without report had been spent or rather
wasted g
Il was now universally admitted he believed. that in
this branch of the public there had been NAL
administration that great had been committed
Was not worth inquiry, how the public money, SO
lsvishly and hastily appropriated had been expended
and not time that some steps should be taken to
put end to disgraceful to the country =
The universal opinion was, that the course OF the
| major general now in command quite objection
able that Of either Of his predecessors One Of these
had been publicly tried. and though the court marshal
who sat upon his conduct had bonoraby acquitted him.
its verdict had been by the order Of the late Executive
expunged Shall we submit any longer TO such state
Of ,hings He said he had proposed that the commit
tee Of inquiry should be appointed by ballot for this
was no party movement The Administration was as
much interested in the inquiry as the Opposition, and
so was the country at large As the divisions OF party
stood now nearly upon balance. al would have an OPP
ponnity Of fesressly placing such individuals upon the
proposed committee, they thought would best DIS
charge the duty TO be accomplished.
Mr. EVERETT said that it hsd been his intention,
when the bill MAXIM appropriations for the Florida war
should come up u discussion, offer some remarks on
the general SUBJECT of that war; and the 10 which
il had been conducted At present he should regret
extremely that any remarks should be INDUCED IN,
which inurously 10 affect the reputation Of the
late Secretary Of War Mr. Z. had grounds to know
in what that officer hsd acted IN the discharge
of his public duty and he satisfied that whatever
might have been the disasters Of this no part OF the
responsibility rested justly on him This had been his
conviction then it was his conviction now Where
the blame did rest he should say. twas true Cen
era Cnch had made use Of strong expressions in his
testimony before the martial but he Persuad-
ed they from misrepresentation Of the real facts
of the That brave had not been fully aware
! OF the position in which Gen Csss stood
Mr. GLASCOCK said that he duly appreciated the
principles which sctuated the gentleman from Virginia
in bringing forward this resolution, but he differed from
| him to the mode in which the proposed committee
should be appointed He could not believe that the
adoption Of the mode proposed would in the result make
any difference; and he thought that prudence and pro-
prety demanded that the usual course WHICH had uni
formly been pursued in the appointing Of committees
should in this case be observed That the against
the Florida Indians had been most unfortunate one,
the whole country knew; and, there existed great
| diversity Of opinion the Of the unhappy
failures which had occurred it but fair and right
that committee Of investigation should be instituted,
sk.NS no
Of all the difficulties which had existed, and all the dis
which had taken place, together with the true
| causes which led to them.
As to the question Of who in fault, he should
press opinion; but he must be permitted to say in
reply what had fallen from the gentleman from Vlr-
gina, Mr Wse,) in respect to the late Secretary OF
War, that whenever thorough investigation should
take place, the War Department would have
for fear 1t had been Mr. Gs. wish that such resou
ton should be moved because he had the irmest
vicon that the character Of Gen Cass would remain
il had hitherto done, pure and spotless From the
expressions which had been employed BY some officers
engaged in the Florida Campaigns well Ms from the
remarks which had dropped from the gentleman
from Virginia, Mr. G. anxious that an investigation
should be gone into he hoped the resolution would be
adopted Yet he thought would be best suffer the
| committee to be appointed by the Chair. On either
plan there would be majority the committee Of one
the other political party them what more easy,
or more likely harmonze all minds than to allow tho
usual mode to prevail! No difficulty wouId arise the
friends OF all the Generals would doubt be placed on
the committee and that must be rccreant TO his
friend Who in such circumstances would not see full
Justice done to his good name. The minority, in thus
case, all others, would have in their power TO
place all the facts fully before the country As the
proposal that the committee should sit during the
cess, he could necessity for il whatever All
looked forward long session after the recess, when
he had doubt the facts would all be brought In
report that would be fully satisfactory 10 that House
and 10 the people. The country was looking for this
investigation For himself, b. willing that the