Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-12-17

li lne Ntsl--d uulS "lllc" ''Vy ""'S PS'
formed efficiently, and with praisewor,b,
aud that portion Of them which has been
stationed in Florida continued active op
er rions there throughout the heats oil
summer.
Tie policy of the United States in 70.
gard to the idans ofwhich saccincs
account is gwen in my Message Of 1898,
md Of the wisdom and expediency of
which am fully satisfied, has been c,n.
,,nued in active operation tbroug houl the
whole period of my administration
Since the Spring; 1887, more than, forty
thousand Indians have been removed to
their new homes Yves, ofihe Mississip.
pi, AID / am happy to adS, tba, all ac.
counts concur IN representing the resul'
ofih,s measure as eminenily beneficial
TO that people.
The emigration oflhe Seninoes alone
has been attended with serious difficulty,
and occasoned blood shed-hostilities
having been commenced by the Indians
in Florida, under tie apprehension that
they would be compelled. by force to
comply VITA their treaty st'pulalions.
The execution Of the treaty Of Payne Is
Landing, signed in 1892, but not ratified
uni,l 1891, was postponed at lhe sol;cita.
lion Of the lUdiaDs, until 1897, whel,
they again renewed their agreement to
remove peaceably to their new homes in
the West. la the face Of this Sc lemn and
removed compact, they broke tier faith
and commenced hostii,ies by the massa.
Gre Of Mujr Dade's command, the mur.
der OF their agent, General Thompson
aud other acts OF cruel ireachcry.-
When this alarming and unexpected in
telligcnce reached The seat of government
every effort. appears 10 have been made
20 reinforce General Clmch, who com
manced the troops then in Florida. -
Gen. Eus,is was despatched with rein.
turcemGn:s from Charlesion-lroops were
called out from Alabama. Tennessee, and
Georgia /; ard Gen. Scott was sent to
take The command, with ample powers
and ample means. Al the first alarm,
Gen, Gaines organized n force ut New.
Orleans, aud without waiting for orders,
landed Su Florida, where he delivered
over the troops he had brought with him
to Gen. Scott.
Governor Call was subsequently ap
ponlcd TO conduct summer campaign,
aud at the close Of it, was replaced by
General Jessup. These events aud
changes took place under the admInis
tration Of my predecessor. Noiwith
standing the exert ons Of tho experienced
officers who had command there fpr
eighteen months, on entering upon the
administration OF the government fond
the territory Of Florida a prey to Indian
a'rocliits. A strenuous eff .rt was immc.
dia'ely made tU bring those hos,ililies lo
Il close and the army under Gen. Jesup
was rcinforcedunIIl it amount' d to ten
;housand men, and furnished with abun
dan supplies. Of every description. 10
,his campaign great number OF the or G.
my wee captured and DESTROYED but
the character Of the contest only was
changed. The Indians, having been de-.
feated in every engagement, dispersed IN
small bands throughout thc country, and
became aii en'erpr;sing. formidable and
ruthless bandii.
General Taylor. who succeeded Cen
erai Jessup, used his best oxcr,ions to
sub luc them, and was secom!cd in his
cif,rs by the officers, under his com
mand buI he, too failed to protect the
territory from their depredai ms. B.,
an act orsignaI and cruel trcachcry, they
broke the trace made with them by Gen
Macornb, who was seat from Washing
ton Tor The pui uiposc OF carrying into effect
the expressed wishes OF Congi ess, and
have continued their devas,a;ions ever
s;nce. General ArIais.ead, who was IN
Florida when Gen Taylor lcf. the army,
by permission assumed the command, AMI
after active summer operations, was met
by propositions for peace ; and, from the
fortunate coincidence of the arrival IN
Florida, at the same period, Of delcga
lioE from the Scminoles who are hnppi.
y settled west Oi',he Mississippi, and are
now anxi,us to persuade their country.
men TO join them there, hopes were for
some time entertained that the Indians
might be induced to leave the territory
without further difficulty.
These hopes have proved tallacious.
and hosiii;ics have again been renewed
throughout the whole ofthe terri,Ory.-
That this contest has endured so long, / :
to be attributed to causes beyond The
government. Experienced generals have
had the command olthe troops officers
aud soldiers have alike dis,ingui shed
themselves by their ACTIVITY patience. and
enduring cou age; tho army had been
constantly furnished with supplies of eve.
rv description aud we must look for the
causes which have so long procraslinuIed
the Issue oiihc cOItcs,, IN The vast extent
oi The theatre h lrosIilitics. the almost
lsui moumable obstacles presented b.
the nature Of the coum,ry, the climate,
and the wiley character Of the sIvLg"s.
The SITES !or marine hospitals on The
rivers aud lakes. which | was authorized
to select and Cause to be purchased, have
all been designa;ed--but the aPprop,a.
ton not proving sufficient, conditional ar
engagements only have been made Tor
their acquisition. II is for Congress to
decide whether those conditional pur.
.chases shall he sanctioned, and the hn