Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-22
On motion of alr. BERRlEN,

ME-. y ~. t-t
r,l,s ,b,, he mir:t present certain reso!uilons, wh'cn
were understood 10 BE- the resolutions which Ae ottred
some DAYS ago in relation TO the assumption OIL "'a'e
debts.
Several other gentlemen desired to call up particular
Mr. s G. DODGE entrcated The House to adhere to
10 sneci,, order Far tins and the two succeeding days,
heinz business relating to the Territories:
TIC House accordingly resolved ITSELF INTO comm,
TOO = che Whole on the state Of the Union, (Mr. Gil
ma :, The chair) on Territorial business, which, on
,ho no,io, of MI. A. c. DODGE, had bren transfer
rd 70 ,ha, committee from the Committce ofthe Whole
House.
the first bill taken up was entitled San act to pro-
cid. for the armed occupation and settlement oi TUE
unoccupied peninsula of Florida
Ar STOKELY urged the necessity OF thus enact
mon, and mirutely explained The object OF IT'S several
sec,i,ps. Such n measure had been Recommended ov
Tho Governor Of FlorIda, and by lis present inhaoilah's'
as \ means of putting an end 10 the atrocities "iich SO
r-oou,u,ly narrowed up our feelings. 1t was neces
@ ,Lsn IN avoid The disgrace Of being beaten by a
c.w s,vares. The bill proposed 10 make grants OF land
% serI.rs. to secure the settlement OF the border line,
as n rampant against The encroachinents OF tie Indians
Mr., pENDLETON made some observations, which
were not distinctly heard o.,
Mr. II. c. JOHNSON opposed the bill. lie said
Tho hin proposed to give to settlers not Only portions
ne ,bs unoccupied Government lands, but arms and
,mmunj;ion-and for what? Not TO kill Indians, Tor
there we're none to kill; but to turn spor'smen, and
ranye at pleasure over 4 vast domain IN pursuit Of
game. lie cohoehiheu the sys'e" O. { 80 -" :"
public. ~ 80
Mr.. ]. concluded by moving that this bill be LAID
aside. and that the committee proceed to the c%onsideTa-
ton Of the next bill relating to the Territories on the
table.
Mr.. STOKELY rose TO reply.
The CHAIR Informed the gentleman that the mo
ton was not debatable.
Mr.. LEVY, and several others, rising and expressing
a wish TO reply
Mr.. JOHNSON withdrew his motion, and
Mr. STOKELY, who had first obtained the floor, re-
p,ed to Mr.. johnson at length. He had hoped that q
Gentleman who. without any sanction from 4 commit
lee, and without any consultation with his trends, hau
of his own motion, introduced TO the House n PROPOSE
ton of the gravest character, would not nave ae-
nounced, as he had done, 4 measure oil tins KIND, nor
have characterized it in such strong and opprobrious
terms. This measure was not deserving the rep'oaches
The gentleman had cast upon it 1t was not introduced
as fraud. nor would it operate as q mere bounty 10 i
parcel of idle loa!ers, to lie spread over Inc country.
Mr.. J. said that he had not spoken OF loaiers Inc
gentleman had spoken as il a bounty was In be gwen 10
4 parcel OF persons TO BE- spread over Tue county, ""iuS
mo themselves with killing game, and rendering no ser
wee TO the country. He would lell the gentleman that
the bill was introduced for the purpose OF putting an end
TO a disr.aceful and dishcnorabe war, 10 assist IN stiinn-
Ia,inr a new State INTO the Uaion-and 10 enable iie
Government 10 bring into market The millions OF Ter
ihp and unsettled acres III Tux III u 7EhN'N
man from Maryland had argued as II the Government
was 10 furnish arms and munitions OF war, with Fro
visions and supplies, 10 men who were To spread tGem
selves over the richest lands OF this III Dorado. But
the gentleman ought to have noticed that the clause
authorizing the furnishing of rations and arms had been
stricken out, and the provision giving an aoan'ona'
1850 acres 10 the wives OF the settlers inserted IN lis
place. Was there any thing novel in this giving a
bounty OF lands Was il not done for the soldiers OF
the last war with Great Britain /; Was IL not the prin.
c jpie borrowed from the Revolution Look at the IL.
brtal bounties given by Virginia 10 her soldiers who
faugI, in the Revolution. Here you do nothing but
siye 100 acres 10 the settler, and Ito more 10 his wife,
u he has one, not one tenth part OF what Virginia
rave 10 her soldiers in Kentucky, the most fertile State
IN the Union. Besides, even this bounty the settlers
we're no, TO have Ill they proved that they bad served
the country FIVE years, by defending 1t against The In
dams. Mr. s, having recapitula;ed The provisions OF
the hill, argued that The one allowing a bounty 10 the
wives of the settlers would have a NEST saluiary iniiu'
enCc III etfectjrr a permanent settlement; tor The pre-
scncc OF their families would bind the settlers TO the
sud. He also showed that the HARDSHIP s and priVations
to be encountered by the settlers would justly entitle the
women 10 the compensation proposed 10 be gwen them;
and. IN support OF his argument, narrated some instances
Of hrroism displayed by females in the early settlement
OF he Western country, which had a most happy effect
IN stimulating the courage and enterprise oi Their male
relatives.
Nh. POPE regretted very much the violence with
winch his friend from Maryland Mr.. w. G. Johnson)
hud attacked this bill. In fact, the gentleman seemed
to have gone oil half cooked against the provision IN Ia
vor Of The women. MIR. p. thought that q bounty IN
lands vas the best way Of rewarding men Tor defend
ing the Territory, and cited the example OF Virginia
in the Revolution, who gave 10 those settlers who went
into Kentucky, aud rescued il from the Indians, boun-
ties Of the finest lands in the State near Lexington
and Louisville. The State was unable TO send troops
enough to defend the Territory, and found that
giving bounties Of land 10 armed settlers was the
cheapest and most eHectua! mode OF accomplishing
the object in view. MIR. Pope explained, and adyo'
cate! he details, ofthe bill, cuntendlng that, by encou.
ragiag The men TO take their families with them, n more
termanent settlement would he effected. Men who
were no, able 10 buy land, would be wiling TO tightior
II; and, by irving their wives 4 sufficient Ineccemenl,
,iey would he willing 10 go with them. lie TeInem,
bered, some years ago, when going to Arkansas, he tel
in with a number of families who were on their way to
Texas. He stopped and had some conversation with
the m, asking them If they were willing to run the ha'
zard o~ftaking their families to encounter the dangers
and ~hafdships Of that new country. They answered that
they had never been in the country, but they had good
r,gss, and we're willing 10 fight for their rights, and, By
Heaven, they would have them.
Mr.. F., after explaining what would he saved 10 the
Government, IN n pecnnIary point OF view, by passing
this bill, expressed The hope that its friends would moi
Kill IT ty debating it too much.
Mr. LEVY then addressed the House in favor oil the
bill, ond took The ground that its passage would be the
most economical, as well as eiiectual, mode Ut Kidding
the Territory Of the Indians. The advantages 10 be
gained would be the acquisition Of five millions OF acres
here oforc abandoned 10 the Indians, and ten millions
more which were now unsettled, because OF the hazard
of settling them. 1t would also add much 10 the pro
ductive wealth Of The country, BY facilitating The set
Element and cultivation of the rich lands oil Florida
which could produce in abundance all the necessary
supply of sugar and coffee, and other tropical produc
tons, for the consumption Ct the United States.
Mr.. l.. argued in favor of giving the proposed bounty
10 the wives Of the settlers, not only On account OF II:
being due TO them for the ~hardships and privatIons they
would have to encounter, but because this inducemen'
TO families would give permanency 10 the settlements
Mr. SfANLY expressed himself favorable to the
passage Of the bill. He thought it a good measure
and, strong rs was his opposition 10 MIR. Tyler, he
thought him entitled 10 the credit Of having recon
mended it.
MIR. ~HABERSHAM and Mr.. KING of Georgii
also sustained the bill.
Nj. UNDERWOOD opposed the bill.
Mr.. GRANGER regretted that he had to vote ngalns
Il Territory on this occasion. lie felt compelled tt
vote against the bill. He referred to the sums which
| Florida had ccst the Union 81, 00O, 900 TO buy il, anc