Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-08-10

tive, no fault is TO he found for we must bold TO
the doctrine that it is not the mere amount which
constitutes extravaganza, but rather tho facts,
whether the SUN, whatever il he, has been
cessary expense, wisely incurred and economical-
ly man'ged The answer 10 these questions o.
pens broad field, involving the whole Indian pol
icy of the government the Florida warlhe for
ced removal Of the Indians from their homes, and
the concentration Of mnss of disa1ected and re-
Vcngeiul sovagcs, in position where they have
every opportunity to do the most serious inju-
ry. Volumes would be required to dcmonst ate
this matter and we cannot therefore attempt any
thing like work Of this sort. We may say gen
orally, that enough has been revealed on the floor
Of Congress by Horace Everett aud John Bell
aone,'to characterize the management of our In
dian affairs as n system Of abuse, cruelty, inius-
tice and extravaganza. Treaties, which have been
Obtained by fraud, have been violently enforced
nnd other treaties, which have been mutually a..
greed upon, have been either violated by our own
government, or so executed as to induce, if not
justify, resistance on the part of the Indians. If
we regard money thus spent as badly spent we
shall find every thing to condemn the admins
tration. II we look TO the result of this system,
without any reference to the manner in which il
has been brought about still different conclusion
cannot he reached. What is that result? 1t is
the concentration Of AZ immense number of In
dinns, of different tribes, upon the western from
ter--the most powerful and The best Informed of
whom are dsuected towards the whites and by
this concentration, the peace and safety of the
western people is endangered, and permanent and
expensive means of defence are rendered neces
sary. We quote, in confirmation of our position.
from the lust report of the Secretary of War:
The causes which call for the speedy com
pction of the chain of posts upon the western
frontier have been often stated that it appears
unnecessary 10 repeat them here But il is proper
for me to add, CgJ-that these dangers have be
come more imminent from the presence there of
the Seminolos AM Cherokees, ,cho lately emigra-
led inder circumstances not calculated 10 render
them friendly to The tchites. is there
fore of The last importance that the fortresses on that
jrOr,ier should be completed and The force STRENGTH
ENED."
Let US now turn to the Florida war that great
| vortex which has swallowed alike our men, our
, honor, and our money. 1t las now been con-
r tinted for years. war with meagre tribe of a
tween twenty and thirty millions of dollars. We
will not discuss the of this war: but sim
ply inquire was it necessary? Never for be it
remembered that it is entirely an aggressive war
cn our pait =; commenced by The Erecuiire without
the authority of Congress and in tel ritory of
the U. S., and therefore without the existence of
any obligation, such as was claimed by Georgia in
the case of The Cherokees, to extinguish the title
: TO Indian lands Has ii added to our possessions
Not an inch. Has it added to our glory? Alas,
no. Had not one dollar been spent, we should
have been just well off with respect to the In
dian lands now are, aud saved hundreds of
valuable lives which have been vanly sacrificed.
+ We ask the reader here to examine the results of
this war, officially reported by the Secretary of
: War on the Both Of November last and tel! us
l. whether this vast amount of money-nearly c.
=" qualling the cost of our last war with Great Brit
: ain has been ,ceN expended.
n "Throughout The whole OF this disastrous war
o the officers and men engaged in it have endured
Il fatigue and privatons, sickness and suffering, with
out murmur or complaint and have, on all oc-
casions, exhibited the qualities of brave and good
soldiers With uniirlng perseverance they have
T. opened roads through The swanIps in pursuit of
d the enemy, and whenever they could bring him to
uultC' ulSplHyeu inc UTMOST cOOlneSS ana intrepid
e ity in every instance driving him from his fast
v nesses BUT ALL THESE EXERTIONS
E, AND SACRIFICES HAVE PROVED UNA
5, VAiLlNG Heretofore the Indian population of
e our States and territories has 5een expelled by the
e gradual increase and advances of n superior race
J. whereas, in Florida the attempt has been made,
II to drive the aborigincs from The unsettled wilder
ness or, what is slil more difficult, TO catch them
4 Tor the purpose OF transporting them beyond lis
=, limits. If the Indians of Florida had country
IL to retire to they would have been driven out Of
y the Territory long ago; but they are hemmed in
" by the sea, and must defend themselves the Ut
termosr, surrender to he transported beyond it.
: To reduce them to that extremity, spread they
Ill are, over space of at least forty-fve thousand
e, square miles of country Astounding in provisions
j. suited to their habits defended by climate, be-
a ngn to them, but deadly TO the whites, and pre-
- senlng difficulties TO The march of armies Tint
= have often been described and canno be ex8gger-
ated, will require great eXertions, and probably,
e OTHER MEANS THAN THOSE HITLER
: TO TRIED"
d This great sacrifice of lives and money has on
y purchased the lesson that I" all these exert,ons
! and sacrifices have proved unavaling !" that all
m the means which have been persevered in for years
is are useless, and thar probably these must he
o abandoned, after this expenditure of millions, in
= order TO "uy other means than those hitherto us
lr ed !" We cannot iorsee the future and know the
K value Of this lesson but unless it can be turned
" some great advantage altogether beyond human
- ken, strikes that it is dear bought lesson at
De The price of many lives aud 50 much money.
al Items in our next.
H. s-------------.------
- ANOTHER USURPATICN OF POWER!
ID Congress refused TO pass bill adding 1900 men
~ to the Florida service. We learn from the Madi-
ie sonlan tint since The al ournment, the Secretary
nj Of War hascrdercd out 1900 men for this service