The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-02-19
BLOOD HOUNDS IN FLORIDA

BLOOD HOUNDS IN FLORIDA.
In the SENATE on Tuesd,y OF last week the
subject Of the employment Of ood hounds in
the Florida War WAS introduced by the prssen-
tstion Of some memorials demonstrating against
IL. Mr. Buchanan presented the memorials,
and moved their reference to the Committee
on Military Affairs. knowing that they could
and wonld. in report of dozen lines. exon
crate the Government from this heavy charge.
he could himself have assured the memorial.
lists that these blood hounds had been impoued
without the knowledge ofthe War Department;
bur ne preferred II TO como in a more official
shape-as the report OF committee.
Mr. Benton said that the Government cor
iemplafed no such thing as that PRAYED against
by these memorialists; and they were, there
fore. misdirecied when they sent them here
II some individuals Of the Territory Of Florida
have imported such aoimals as those mentioned
in the memorials. it has been done without The
knowledge of the Government. The Govern.
menf, SO far from dning what was insinuated in
these memorials, had no knowledge what
ever Of 1t. So far from ordering these blood
hounds they did not even know that i, wa.
done. until ,hey heard Of it. as the rest Of us
have done. through the newspapers Having
made these remarks. lie was content that the
Senate should take whatever course they tho't
/ the proper one.
/ Mr.. Preston said he had heard with surprise
and satisfaction the declarations Of the honora-
BILE Senators. on this subject, whose authority
is undoubted. possessed as they are Of such au-
thentc sources Of information. He. in com
mon with many others, was impressed with the
belief that these animals were imported. il not
by the direction. at least with the sanction, OF
the Government. and he was glad 10 hear this
explicit dsavowal. He would wish, however,
that declarations equally explicit were mad. as
TO the intentions Of the Department in relation
to these animals, now that they were ia the
country; whether the Government intended TO
smploy them or not
Mr.. Benton read the memorial OF the Soce-
~ Of Frisuds, in which they prayed that Con-
sress would put AN end to the war in Florida.
by extending to the Seninoles the hand of
friendship. Mr.. b. said he knew that there
Quaken. He was raised among them. and
know them well. Bat how wretchedly werc
they niisiniorm.d Of the charcter of those In
ians, when they supposed that by holding out
the hand Of friendship we could terminate this
war! Mr.. b. then referred 10 the treachery OF
the Indians during the last year, when an at
tempt was made to end the war micably.--
I'D m -
trading house, which being done. they had sur
prised the post IN the hour Of darkness and
rnassacred every individual they could lay hauds
on.
! Mr.. Lumpkin said the longer he lived the
more he was opposed to wars and fighting. and
he would joice Ut the approach Of the day
when no resort would be necessary TO such
sanguinary measures. But, from the course
which had been pursued 10 the Senate and else
where. he felt bound to say that his views were
different from those oi many other. on the sub
Jsct under discussion. As a member Of Con-
gress or If he was connected with the Execu-
tive, he would not recommend a recourse to
the measure which has been so much denounc-
ed but if he was an inhabitant Of that terrific
ry, whose fields we're devastated, and whose
women aud children were butchered by the fe-
r"cious and willy savage, he would think il no
more crime. il he had trusty dog, to trace
/ the lurkin. Indian TO his lair than he would to
shoot him down when he found him. He con-
essed that he could see no objection to use
these animals. which would not equally lie a.
gainst the use Of what are considered legitimate
means Of warfare. Holding these opinions. he
felt bound in candor TO express them. Ii the
means Of terminating protracted and desuue-
tive war. it was not the first time that blood
hounds had been employed on this continentin
/ the contests with Indians. He would pledgo
himself il necessary. to produce statute books
Of some Of our States, in which premium was
offered for raising bloodhounds for the express
psrpose Of hunting down lndiaus.
! Mr.. Buchanan said he had purposely re-
trained from entering into discussion OF this
subject, out would ouIy say that the people ct
the country had righ, to be informed con
cerniug il. and the committee to which he pro.
posed to refer These memorials. was the best
source to which be could apply for that inf0r-
nation.
/ The memorials we're then referred TO the
Committee on Military Affairs.
EpucArIoS.-The iosiruction Of the com