The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-04
SPEECH OF Mr.. PROFIT,
OF INDIANA,
ON THE CUMBERLAND ROAD QUESTION
CONCLUDED.
HOUSE OF RsparsEsrArlvrs. Feb. Is, Is4o.


soldiers, or to detraci from the merit Of anv
man. But, sir, | know OF no concealed VIC
tories. At present recollect Of but one VIC
tory gained, and that was on the WitLlacoo-
chez, where the gallant Clinch carved a high
rank upon the scroll of honor, but, Instead Of
receiving encouragement or even cold Justice.
was, as am informed. so shamefully treated
by the administration that he Immediately re-
signed his command. And as TO the SCARED
and warworn soldiers who have greeted the
compassionate vision Of my colleague, all that
] can say is, that ! have not met such rare
curiosities. have, Mr.. Speaker, seen some
young gentlemen promenading our lobbics or
dancing attendance in our ladies' gallery,
dressed, sir, In the most exquisite taste, "with
profusions Of beautifully arranged ringlets
hanging on their shoulders. perfumed like q
miliinsr," with white kid gloves and massive
rings on the outside, and gold chains and rich
ly chased quizzing glasses hanging around
their necks. | inquired, sir, who the crsa-
lures were, whom, to my establishment was
informed that IL Das the remnant Of The Florida
army returned here on furlough. (Great
laughter.) But. Mr.. Speaker, my astonish-
ment was somewhat diminished when, upon
inquiry, ! find that one company Of volunteers
engaged In this war charged the Government
with Cologne water, and Windsor SOAP and
choice wines, &c. and it may be that, upon
examination, we may find sundry cosmetics,
almond paste, DC. to preserve the complexion
from injury
And now, Mr.. Speaker, will. for the bene-
tit OF my colleague, who was so anxious 10
hear himself talk about the glories of the
Florida war, give the House some further in
formation of its progress. For two or three
years this Administration has been fighting
the Indians, as have shown you, with Co.
logn water and Windsor soap and now, sir.
our rulers have determined to change their
weapons, and to fight them with dogs. Yes,
they have actually turned their attention to
dog dealing. And understand that the Pre-
sldent Is beset daily with applications for the
ofhce OF dog master general, an appointment,
sir, ranking somewhat below the English
title OF master Of the stag hounds. / notify
gentlemen now, sir, that none need apply for
the honorable Office of trainers and whippers-
in and kennel-cleaners and dog feeders; all
these important officers having been imported
with the dogs from Cuba MIR. Speaker, |
will not now, for have not time, notice the
OsuoiOuo utiu cuOSCIIuSCb anu ucIlIdiS dIlu
partial confessions Of which the Administers
ton have convicted itself on this subject.
The time may come when exposure may be
necessary. But, sir, will say that have
no doubt, from all the circumstances and Sc
cresy attendant upon the purchase of these
blood-hounds, that the intention was to use
them as they were used by Cortez and Pizar-
70 and that what the Administration wanted |
in conduct it intended to make up in cruelty. |
But, sir, am not in the pathetic mood to-day.
The humanity and good sense and correct
feeling of the American People have spoken
to the Administration in terms not to be mis-
understood, and it has, for the present, aban-
doned its bloody and revolving designs. The
country, sir, is not yet in possession OF Off
cial information from the War Department Of
the manner in which these blood hounds are
to be used; but, sir, an honorable gentleman
from Virginia, Mr.. Wise, who, regret to
say, is confined by severe indispositon, has
communicated with the Department, and
the letter Of the Secretary of War to that
gentleman says that he has given General
Taylor orders, from which the following is an
extract.
~ think il proper to direct, in the event !of those
dOgs being employed by any OnCet or oIT1ceTs unuer
your command that their be confined altogether
tracking the Indians and. order to this, and
prevent the possibility Of their inurng any person
whatsoever, that they be muzzled when in the field,
and held with leash while following the track of the
enemy"
Now here, sir, is a new era in Indian fight
ing. The dogs have arrived. sir, and accord
ing to the letter OF Mr.. Magenis, the trip from
Cuba to Florida did not agree with them. In
his letter to the Secretary they are described
as being very much reduced and feeble, for
want of proper food" Well, sir, we will sup
pose the dog-feeder to have done his duty,
and that the dogs have been properly nourish-
ed and medcined and well fed. Now, sir,
for the field operations" Thirty-three
bloodhounds, all in fnc spirits, with five
Spanish trainers to make them smell at the
right place the dogs all muzzled, as "per
ORDER" and thirty-three men all mounted,
each leading dog in leash, are in the field (;
the veteran dogs before, and the more inexpe-
rienced puppies behind; the officers Of the
dog regiment give the order to march, and
away they go, coors flying. l have not IN
derstood, sir, whether band Of music is to
accompany them for their encouragement, or
whether the march agreed upon is our glorI-
Gus old national air Of Yankee Doodle, or the
Rogue's march, or some new tune composed
expressly to be6t the musical ear of this
Spanish dog regiment. But, sir, am delay
ing the operations Of our army by this discus
sion. We will suppose the dogs upon trail
of hostile Indians as the scent becomes
strong, their blood-thirsty propensites IN
crease. They are at all times hard to man
age, and we must excuse our dog-leaders II
they are not pro6cients in the art. They are
in the brush, amid thickets Of the hammock
the dogs run on one side Of tree or brush
and the dog-leader the other; the leash IS en-