The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-02
SUBSTANCE OF THE
REMARKS OF MIR. WARREN,

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SUBSTANCE OF THE
REMARKS OF MIR. WARREN,
OF GEORGIA,
IN the House Of Representatives, 11M Feb,
lS4l, ON a proposition 10 appropriate $780,
600 to close the Florida Wdr
Mr.. WARREN rose and addressed the committee
nearly as follows
Mr.. SPEAKER--I had not expected to address
the House on any of the questions involved in the
bill, until my colleague (Nlr Cooper had spoken;
whose remarks have left me discretion | say Mr.
81 eake that the question involved in the amendment
OF seltbut from the matters that have been brought
out IN the discussion, the various questions
not seem to me to call for any remarks No felt
more anxious that the bill should be reported and the
amendment adopted, than did; for / really believe
that the great interests of the country well the
cause OF humanity, requires that the amendment
should be adopted and the bill speedily pass But the
of this have been the subject of discussion
on the amendment proposed to appropriate 100000
TO close the war and as the amendment is reported,
and asked for by the Secretary Of War, having con-
troll ofthis department Of Government, it becomes a
question, whether ought not once, act the
amendment and make the appropriations that the war
may be terminated.
do not deem ii necessary to 60 into all that may
have BEEN could be said in relation to the
OF this war. II is not necessary that should tell you,
sir that the subjects of slavery and negro stealing
were urged as the cause OF THIS war.
The Speaker here said that remarks on these sub
jccts, were mol in order)
Mr. W ARREN contn ued. understand that am
not permitted to 20 into answer to remarks made
by my colleague and which may be necessary for me
to answer reserve for myself the right hereafter,
and will proceed now to speak of the amendment and
the questions involved in it.
deem ii altogether triling with the Importance OF
the occasion to talk about the Of the Florida
1t is too late in the day, discuss the OF
ho attarh au bsap oil in fnrH va nr
six years, when appropriation of s$iOO, 600
which your Secretary tells you, will be less than the
expenses of one month"; in carrying it on is asked to
complete the war, and save the country from farther
destruction and bloodshed
The cause of humanity requires this appropriation
do not conceive that after war with these Indians
TO appropriate money to render them willing to emf
CRATE, nder Of the honor and dignity Of the
States ofthis ConedeIacy, of the honor and dgni
ty any portion of the people But the other hand
it acting most magnanimousy towards feeble enc
my, when we have shown that we are able to conquer
them. If this had been up this lime prosecuted
as it has been for years, until recently, there might
have see. PLAY visibility for this pe;ence bui
our officers have shown themselves able to enter into
swamps, and quagmires, in pursuit of their savage
foe.
Yes sir, your officers and soldiers have penetrated
those vast morasses and taken the women and children
and Treated them with the utmost tenderness and hui
manity and, sir your army has killed the warriors
taken Others and hung them upon the trees Of the for
est-and others in their search of blood find their
comrades hanging and they rendered willing 10
come in and accept such terms, your Government
has rendered them for emigration. And, in this they
have done otherwise, than they would have done
long since, if these everglades had been passed by
conqueriDg army.
Why is that there is any opposition to this amend
mentl Because Administration members here are
unwilling that the war should be closed; and that too,
against the recommendation of their officers pro-
perly charged with this matter. They wish the com
"A tntc fnelns tha "A hat
be said that We by buying out the Indians, have
rendered the "honor and dignity ofthe nation That
the infamy is to be attached to the coming Admins
traon of appropriating money for the removal OF
these Indians Has not the present Administration
recommended the adoption OF this measure 2 and, if
namy attached to the measure will they not share
of it Have they not shown communications from
their officers approving this courses Yes sir and
they have the best of all possible Because IT
has brought disgrace this Administration, and be-
those who have been protcd by 1t will be hurled
from Office and others will come in.
They are no longer to receive the spoils of war
carried on at the expense of bleeding people and
empty Treasury; and now, availing themselves of
this opportunity, they ask such measures will put
a speedy end to the war and are urging the necessity
and propriety of pushing TO close this war
One hundred thousand dollars will not support and
continue it over one month. And yet, sir, it is all
that necessary TO put final end to it, and give peace
to a suffering people.
cannot believe it is necessary TO occupy more of
the time Of the House in these remarks
He tells us that these Indians TO be removed West
will by the gallantry of Western men, be driven
to the Rocky mountains, if they should not live in
peace.
But one or two additional remarks will make in
swe to the former arguments that have been brought
forward by the gentleman from Indiana.
Let me tell the gentleman that the warriors would
gladly have escaped from the attacks of the white men
Of the South and gone and taken refuge in the Rocky
mountains, ifrocky mountains could have been found;
that they would have travelled hundreds Of miles-if
there had been land which they could have travel
lel-to avoid the attacks made them by your ar
my even conducted it has been. Yes, sir, your
sedentary militia would have removed them; but,
sir, there was no land on which they could retire;
they could not retreat they have been surrounded by
water, and hid in their marshes and everglades which
the whites have never till recently penetrated; where
they have remained in the Businesses the only
they have of securing themselves from destruction,
capture, and emigration.
True, sir, if they should engage in war at the West
and 20 into contest, with the nrepidity Of your
Western people, they will give way and emigrate TO
the Rocky mountains. Yes sir they easily driven
backwards, when they have back lands to 90 to.
But would not have these gentlemen understand
that the Western people apprehend any danger from
their adjacency TO the Indians No, sir they know
too well their own power to repel savage hostility and
the power and willingness OF this Government to pro-
tect them. And If the Government went into the
war; after breach of the treaty by the Indians
themselves, and the most abomnabIc murders ever
committed by sayagcs IN any country. The war
commenced there, and any appropriation OF mo-
ney TO the payment Of chiefs and warriors TO recon
Gle them to emigratc, matter which Is with the
policy and magnanmity of this Government. can
conceive the honor dignity and character of this Co
vernment be maintained, and this war thus
brought in an honorab manner to a termination.
In closing these remarks, inasmuch as they are of .