Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-20
coNcnEss on MoNnAx
Correspondence n ihs Baifimsre Pssrisf.
WAsnINaroS. Monday. Feb. As. 1911
UNITED STATES SENATE

| WARRINGTON, Monday. Feb. rs, 1871.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
Mr. MERRlCk presented the memorial of an.
| Mayor and Board OF Alderman ard Board off.on,
mon Council OF the City OF Baltimore, praying for
an appropriation 10 commence tho cor stru on Of
| iort'hcasions on Sellers pom; Aats II memorial
| being read, MIR Meuick took occasion. in no,;.s
!" reference o The COMMITS &c on Mill AIRY Az. ire
10 invite the atient on OF the homo abe me,nb of
that Committee To this deeply interest NC ,uiisc,
tie said II was subject OF great regret. ard on.
well calculated to awaken the lively attention of,hs
ounuy. that while great progress was making in
tue rest OF the world in the art both IT Oft nsive .,I
offensive warfare, aud While from these improy.
ments, esq ccially those in marine watfare We 80.
becoming more and more exposed to have the vor,,
Ss us eonsequencesof any sudden rupture.
between THIS and any European or other f,rc;s,,
country, visited upon great commercial eiiiss
anu our seacoast generally. Our defences were f.Il
hs 'to uecay, and most especially was the populou.
anu Important city from which this memorial came.
no" IN on utterly detenceless state. lie knew n
was 100 late IN the session to enter upon tho e,n.r
al subject, nor was the state Of our finances ira,
now, such as would authorize the vigorous o,ea.
snres, which the relative state of our country ana
the rest OF the world require.
tie hoped, however, that the dav was not distant
~hen the energy and power Of the country would
be seriously and properly directed TO the impor,an,
suolee', snu ne stood prepared to proceed in the
WORK at the earliest possible day. as far as any pru
Dent man would deem necessary or wise. 'rb,
memonaIists, he presumed, view OF the difficulties
~ inc way OF gong boldly forward with the whole
system OF defence at this time, had only asked for n
smai appropriation TO commence the fortifcation ON
So'lers PontS because, as il was work of Tim. No,
eapao'e from the nature OF things, however annie
.ne peeunary means, progressing in its construc.
uon beyond certain rate OF speed, they wished hy
the application of this ANAL appropriation now. To
save Time, and place the cite in condition vbi-h
would render I. capable of more speedy comnls-
ton when the finances Of the country and o,be,
circumstances sho uld be such to Justify or re-
fttO And la -.
memorial would receive the serious and fayorabI,
eonsideIation OF the Committee and the Senate.
MIR. PRESTON took occasion to make som. w.
Important anu impressive remirks on the neces-
'V W Pu'ting the country IN better state of de-
fence man row exists; and especially of fortfvn.
our marine borders. lie adverted 10 the ,.tr.rnes
oehcieney of proper deenccs at all the great poin,s
on 'e htahtlc coast, which are mos, exposed to tho
attacks OF foreign enemy. He spoke also of the
great improvements in the art Of war and in lie
whole science OF armamenls whether Tor defence or
aggression. which have been recently made in Eng
iaus ana france The application Of steam power
III nsaung batteries, and the Improvements in gun
nerY IN the construction, and the throw ing of shells
&c &c have long engaged the statesmen the mill.
Jay ana naval officers and the legislatures of those
Countries ana there were constantly issuing from
'he press pamphlets and documents ON all these
suo]ecis- IL was proposed in England 10 construct
thirty steamships of wet; md IN France there wa.
Der. So NUN"
Mr.. PRESTON expressed his r,cre, tina, n.
resources of this nation now so great as TO
allow those who felt the necessity of the case and
were anxious TO keep up with the spirit Of improve
Inen' that ma ked the age, TO propose general
sys'cm' ne hoped, however, that the time was not
lar distant when efficient plan Of defences would
he adopted.
In the meantime, Mr.. PRESTON said he wou,J
give 10 his friend from Maryland and his proposal,
his decided support.
The memorial was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS.
Mr' Wh'GhI, from the Committee Finance,
reported the bill from the House. making nppropria.
uons for the pavmen, Of revolutionary tensions.
ana also appropriatlng one hundred thousand do.
lars Tor the paclhcaton Of the Florida Indians
WI OF ek called for explanation Of the last
reasons which induced the War DEPARTMENT 20 re-
commend 1t, and the confidence whi.h was (e 4 that
the same would be sutiicien; to bring about a COM
pictc pacihcltion Of Floidi and lead the Indi.ns Ia
repair quietly beyond the Mississippi.
MIR. SEWER was opposed utterly and decidedly
10 TINS mode OF proceeding, and he spoke with his
usual vehemenee in favour of fighting the Indians,
nN nus Ieducns them to su6Jecuon, rather than by
buying them OF, as was proposed.
MIR. LINN advocated this measure in yery AMI
mated speech. ~
MIR. PRESTON said il was likely that the pro-
ceeolngs IN FLORIDA could be brought TO close by
means OF this appropriation In a regular contest
win civilized nation, he would he ready To clVil
about s'ngltihar; but with this Wild sava G. unin-
formed horde, against whom none OF the proceed-
ings could be dignihed by the title OF War he was
ready TO depart from the ordinary principles of Ma
uonal warfare, and give this money for their paci-
hcition. The Government has, after many years
OF disasters, endeavoured TO bring them in-induce
mem TO QUIT the cOuniry-Hnd thus terminate the
disastrous state of fairs which has so long existed
there
Mr.. PRESTON advocated very strenuously tho
appropriation on these grounds This was the time
10 furnish the money and enable toe oic ets in COM
mand to make the necessary arrangements.
Mr.. FIERCE advocated the measure, and enter-
cd at some length into euloeium of the di tiG-
guished gallantry of the offers who ad been engage
cd IN the florida campaigns.
MIR. SEWER again spoke with great zeal and
earnes,ne!s against tho buying off the Incians i'm
The manner proposed He thought il dishonorabIe
10 the country-an acknowledgment to the Indians
mat their horde was too powerful for our Major
ueneral-and sueing for peace. Ii II was sanction
cd by Congress, we would have TO settle other In
dian difficulties, and buy of other Indians next
year IN the same manner. He would record his
name against II, II he stood a'onc.
Mr.. BUCHANAN opposed the appropriation on
the ground that 1t would be mpolitic to suggest TO
the Indians that this Government was not able 10
reduce them by force.
MIR. FULTON Of Arkansas, took the same views:
and added, that by putirg arms into their hands,
he Government would expose the States OF Mis-
sour and Arkansas TO too much danger.
Aiter some remarks from Mr.. KING, and MIR.
LINN, MIR. SEWER moved TO strike out the np-
proprhton Of 100000 for the Florida Indians,
which was rejected, ayes G, nays &c. The bill was
then passed.