Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-24
DOMESTIC.
FLORIDA.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
ryrrrT,yr DEPARTMENT,
Tallahassee, Feb. 2s, 1S40. )


occupy the swanps and otter Businesses OF western
Florida from! the Apalachicoia and even beyond II,
to the Suwannee; while, IN East Florida the recent
murders of the mai!-carrers, within few mics
IL ST. Augustine, prove how unava'i!ag mas oee"
every effort 10 restrain the enemy in that qalrtrr-
Indeed it would seem, that the crue.tIes CT these
MD Bcasis-for they deserve to lie regarded
and their thirst for blood, place them beyond the pale
Ct humanty-are becoming more anu more auaa'
diminishing they venture to assal baafG EaGHsI,a aR
appear in orr public roads in the open day. they press
beyond military posts TO perpetrate their murderous
purposes, and start up ike evil spirits when least ex-
Peced to appear TO destroy the brave, virtuous and
innocent. The number of Seminole Indians in tie
country can only he con ecured, bat it is believed to
be greater than is generally supposed. There are
probably many Greeks and Chcrokees, and even some
Of the Semnoles, dcported TO the West 1t is said, have
rcturncd hut, re the number great small, every
thick and deep forest liable 10 b. occupied by Them
they elude pursuitn drive them thoroughly from
part of the country 10 another is impraccable and it
is ascertaacd that during the past year. they have
planted and made crops, within a fcw miles of military
stations. Our situation is verging upon desperation
men sleep with arms under their pIilows-a sense Of
insecurity accompanies the traveller in his journey on
the hghwaycvcry neIghborhood has its tale o.. bnod,
and those who i'll authority lock round with pain
and DISTRESS because they powcrless 10 afford
adequate remedy for the evils hrong;"g around them,
| in every dire cton
This is no exaggerated picture of our present condi-
ten. Romance Tags far behind the sad realities we
daily witness and il becomes duty consider srha;
shGii he done for the reiicf AZ Mt conntry'
10 such shall be adopted By the Federal
Government for e the paciication of Florida om
li.tc Shall lend hearty and sup
port. But being upon the spot-w,th the disastrous
circumstances To the virwany plan Of operations
recommended by the authorities OF Florida, will doubt
less meet an attentive consideration n Washington.
am persuaded, tEas if it in the power of the
Government to fill the country with m overwhelming
torcc-am 10 hHnt and pursue the Indians IN every d.
rcclnn: vr<rd tired and hlrrassed, they would
yield TO such terms might be imposed upon them
bat IS il is not probable that under existing circnn- /
stances, large army Will be thrown into the Terri
tory-sone other course, more practicable" IN lis cha
ractcr. must he devised. am inclined 70 think then
that three Brgades. acting with energy, aud under
that discipline which BELTS the peculiar service 10
which they would be caled-mght be competent TO
the attainment of the object al have anxions!y
1T heart.
other % Regulars, all enlisted during The War, with the
pay ofCdvary Dragons, and bounty OF land; 800
to each private and 20 the officers in proportion;
10 bc bestowed upon the final establishment Of peace.
The regiments composing the brgadrs, should each,
CONSIST Of len or twelve companies, Of fifty men each
formed accordn. 10 the organization OF the Regular
Army of he United States.
The volunteers coud not be better commanded, than
by the Brgadcrs of the Territory who have received
their commissions from the President and who have
both distinguished themselves during the present DIS.
astrous conflict. lfthere other events, in which
they have been prominent, the gallant, and successful
enterprise Of The Block House on the W'hlacoochee
-. -. capture % Philip and the Euchae CnIei,
will secure 10 these Flrrrdans br snr page IN the His
tory of this devoted land These officers would of
course be under the command Of the General com.
mandng the l. States Brigade Che :hrd, perhaps
one fourth, oi the whole number oil men, should be Of
Cavalry and Ire rest Infantry; for the latter are bet
er calculated o7 Indian fighting The Indians act on
'o and on foot they should be followed. Their ap T
'ae! calculated Tor fiji ht and should that be other
able u encounter fatigue Ia
nd hunger, an! these who oppose them should be ii
rained 10 endure the same difficulties and prvatons S
" IN these tronPs-aiwayS in acon-ever in search II
y The Toe, pressing him soTply wherever he may be |,
onha, and following hun through the swamps and b
a!nIlocks OF the country, the u!d b. of ling
onnuance:-the more especially, should the Regulars
no volunteers cultivate good understanding with 81
ach other, and open their hearts TO the emotions of ~
enerocs rivalry, farven paLriusn and vu,fuus de- So
'rnnnatlon To win tina! glory, which must belong 10 T
lose who shall rescue Flor da from her grevous aud :,
liter woes ~
II IS with misses of men, with ndiv :duals-le. nj
J" superiority Of mental and physical power be what ar
mar-no!ling can be accomplished without spirit g,
1T b" calico enthusiasm, # you w-wh CHI brings MI
'ery energy min play, and vigorously bends 70 the ~
'comp.:shmcnt o: the desired purpose y,
surprising the plan proposed should be adopted The hi
nparics at present in The Territorial SERVICE would he
merged mi" the army "tvolIa;ceTs and the Terrific. en-
IT an expenditure called for b. the necessity of the be
So, and for the reimbursement Of which the Terrific
must look to the General Government he
The militia law should be enforced the people well oni
ned, and every company divided into detachment ,vh
IN ready to proceed, at moments warning against TON
Indians, should they appear in its vicinity For these
wees whenever called for, and performed the mill be-
should be entitled to pay, upon due proof of the iuc
,s.i ""' VI tie sel'ice performed tie
With our people armed acting in concert and nj. 10,
.rr,It tl,a, a
:, A'ntS Hp'e"u rom ',lie Armed Occupation peri
now before Congress, would be experienced and PHI
martial tone and efficacy demanded bv the crisis or
t'u O''o.'s - '"c cha ac'ef OF our ci,'zens the
W HaS yct occurred Tor testing the useful ch
$ OF the Dogs brought from Cuba. 1t is stall be- m,sf
"csei' dt ley may DC used WIN effect; and reno
should they not Be used frobLers and assassns the
~ US may we not defend property and our lives ~ Ia
n with the bloodhounds Shall We look upon our 10 :
Of men, women and children, and then mccIlv saw
C poor Indians have done this we must he nerc; y,
ina humane 10 tileii-we VIII mol set our dogs up ton,
Lhcn-oii no, that would be mere horrible than rcn:
Out'hr nose who are safe from Indian for j.
ms IN distant cities and peaceful lands mas in !nion
e in gentle sr'ins Of humanity and brothery love max,
ere they dwc!es N 'hc !c- cabin of Florida they make
10 attuhe me" ioic3 10 narsher measures. Let rast
men, IN "f"Sp hcafls there 70 such gu Of the Hous
I'll, III az N'o"'ss, Consider atcntireiy Gene n:s!a
10y rAhuted upon Inc Apalach;cola Mr. Uar claim,
- was burned, and his family murdered on seen.
:, u the 18th January last Mr. H. was We
- a,u an ye witness gives the following account conu
. d.,r~" unhappy man, with an armed party an inc
j ~; ~! ".e occurrence: Demo
~ airying at the spot, found every house re- and
: -: 'dhu al tue Kitchen door the bones of Feder1
a 49, Araiiy ousht up; after examining all s.reng
re - te tracS OF lnocclsIns making ingress .ibo
sress me same On The trail not far off sect y
OF clothing, potatoes and papers drop abando
aooGi Il persons armed, now arrived from lola cause
.,if; TARTAN, who IN wsetched state OF From
70 exam ne the burnt bones, which before
IeVed TO be those of his wife and son. whose knife New
ma amongst them. One of the company in iect;ng
ing behind the garden about 100 yards off called lea, =
,1 Ion mere Harlan, here isyour wife. JOY i'm.
ely sprans TO my bosom, and ran to se,. tbo ur,
'me TO lie, where there was a general rush VIZ
/, behind some nine Inns PROSTATE on the ty app
hot tbrnpr, h.- , - WIN ner throat cut, so far al
., in he Road rh;" one ~ her back, and ceive hc
patch Of the ball was sticking to her iead TIM, vo,
ungcss 'on say years old. Law near b.- IA ,ho Ill.,