The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-12-31

! Since the spring of 1887, more than fol
.|ty thousand Indians have been remove,
to their new homes west Of the Missis
sippi; and | am happy to add, tina, al
accounts concur IN representing the re
suit of the measure as eminently benefi
cial to that people.
| The emigration Of the Seminoles alon
has been attended with serious difficult,
and occasioned bloodshed- hav
ing been commenced by the Indians ii
Florida, under the apprehension that they
would be compelled by force, to comply
with their treaty stipulations. The exc
cution of the treaty of Payne's landing
signed in 1892, but not ratified until ls34
was postponed at the solicitation of thu
Indians until 1886, when they again re
neWed their agreement to remove peacea
| bly, to their new homes in the west. Ii
the face of this solemn and renewed com
pact they broke their faith, and commenc
ed hostilities by the massacre of major
Dade s command. the murder of their a.
gent, general Thompson, and other crue
acts of treachery. When this alarming
and unexpected intelligence reached the
seat of government, every effort appears
10 have been made to reinforce general
Clinch, who commanded the troops then
in Florida. Gen. Eustis was despatched
with reinforcements from Charleston
troops were called out from Alabama,
Tennessee, and Georgia; and Gen. Scott
was sent to take the command, with am
pie power and ample means. At the
first alarm, Gen. Gaines organized a
force at New Orleans, and without wait
ing for orders landed in Florida, where he
delivered over the troops he had brought
with him to Gen. Scott.
Gov. Call was subsequently, appointed
to conduct summer campaign, and at the
close of it was replaced by Gen. Jessup.
These events and changes took place un-
der the administration of my predecessor.
Notwithstanding the exertions of the ex-
perienced officers who had command
there for eighteen months, on entering
upon the government, found the territory
of Florida prey to Indian atrocities. A
strenuous effort was Immediately made to
bring these hostilities to close; and the
army under Gen. Jessup was reinforced
until it amounted to ten thousand men, and
furnished with abundant supplies of every
description. In this campaign, great
number of the enemy were captured and
destroyed; but the character Of the contest
only was changed. The Indians, having
been defeated in every engagement, dis
persed in small bands throughout the
country, and became an enterprising and
ruthless banditti. Gen. Taylor, who
succeeded Gen. Jessup, used his best ex-
ertions to subdue them, and was seconded
in his efforts by the officers under his
command; but he too failed to protect the
territory from their depredations. By an
act of signal and cruel treachery, they
broke the truce made with them by Gen.
Macomb, who was sent from Washing
ton for the purpose Of carrying into effect
the expressed wishes of congress, and
have continued their devastation ever
since. Gen. Armistead, who was in
Florida when Gen. Taylor left the army,
by permission, assumed the command and,
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 delegation
from the Seminoles, who are happily set
tied west of the Mississippi, aud are now
anxious to persuade their countrymen to
Join them there, hopes were for some time
entertained that the Indians might be in
duced TO leave the territory without furth-
err difficulties. These hopes have proved
fallacious, and hostlities have been re-
newed throughout the territory. That
this contest has endured so long, is to be
attributed to causes beyond the control Of
the government. Experienced generals
have had the command Of the troops; off
GERS and soldiers have alike distinguished
themselves for their activity, patience anc
enduring courage, the army has been con
stantly furnished with supplies of every
descriptions; and we must look for th'
causes which have so long procrastinatet
l LIlC lSSIC VI ltiC- SJutCots III tilC Nttot CA
tent of the theatre of hostililies, the almos
Iinsurmountable obstacles presented by
the nature Of the country, the climate
and the willy character of the savages.
The sites for marine hospitals on tn
rivers and lakes. which | was authorized
to select and cause to be purchased, hav,
all been designated; but the appropria
ton not proving sufficient, conditional ar
rangements only have been made 70
their acquisition. 1t is for Congress t
decide whether those conditional purchas
es shall be sanctioned, and the human
intentions of the law carried into full eff
Fl feet.
s. Nauy department.
!. The navy, as will appear from the &C
companying report of the secretary, ha
. been usefully and honorably employed il
the protection of our commerce and citi
zens in the Mediterranean, the Pacific
| on the coast of Brazil, and in the Gulf 0
Mexico. A small squadron, consistin!
of the frigate Constellation and the sloo
, of war Boston, under Com. Kearney, i
now on its way to China and the lndia