The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-12
gwemtp-Sebemth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,, May IL, 1912.

communication from the President oil The United
States, viz:
To The Senate and House Of Representatives
The season for active hostilities in Florida having
nearly terminated my attention has necessarily been
directed to the course of measures to be pursued
hereafter in relation TO the few Indians yet remaining
in that Territory. Their number is believed not to
exceed two hundred and forty, of whom there are
supposed to be about eighty warriors males capa-
Bile of bearing arms The further pursuit of these
miserable beings by large military force seems to
be as inudcious as it is unavailing The history OF
the last years campaign in Florida has satisfactorily
shown that, Notwithstanding the vigorous and inces-
SAINT operations Of our troops, which cannot be X
ceeded, the Indian mode of warfare, their dispersed
condition, and the very smaness of their number,
which increases the difficulty of finding them in the
abundant and almost inaccessible hiding places Of the
Territory render any further attempts to secure them
by force mpracticable, except by the employment OF
the most expensive means The exhibition oil force,
and the constant effort TO capture destroy them, OF
places them beyond the reach Of oyerures to
surrender 1t is believed by the distinguished ohcer
in command there, that different system should now
be pursued TO attain the entire removal Of all the In
dians in Florida and he recommends that hostiites
should cease unless the renewal Of them be rendered
necessary by new aggressons that communications
should be opened by means Of the Indians with him,
TO induce them TO peaceful and voluntary surrender
and that the military operations should hereafter be
directed to the protection of the inhabitants
These views are corroborated by the Governor Of
the Territory, by many of its most intelligent cti-
zens and by numerous officers of the army who have
served and are still serving in that region.
Mature reflection has satisfied me that these re-
Communications sound and Just; and rejoice
that consistently with duty to Florida, may indulge
my desire to promote the great interests OF humanity
and extend the reign of peace and good will, by ter
minatng the unhappy warfare that has 50 long been
carried on there, and at the same time crafty my
anxiety to reduce the demands upon the Treasury by
clrtailing the extraordinary expenses which have at
tended the contest. have therefore authorized the
Colonel in command there, as soon as he shall deem
il expedent, to declare that hostiites against the
Indians have ceased and that they will not be renew
ed unless provoked and rendered indispensable by
new outrages on their part but that neither citizens
nor troops a,e tot restrained from any necessary
and proper acts Of selfdefence against any attempts
to modest them He is instructed TO open comniuni-
cations with those yet remaining, and endeavor by
oil peaceable means to persuade them to consult their
true interests by joining their brethren at the West
And directions have been given for establishing
don line of protection for the inhabitants by the
necessary number of troops.
But to render this system of protection eflectua it
10 essential that settlements Of citizens should be
made within the line so established and that they
should be armed 50 as to he ready TO repe any attack
In order 10 afford inducements to such settlements,
submit TO the consideration Of Congress The propriey
Of allowing reasonable quantity of land to the head
of each family that shall permanently occupy it, and
ofextending the existing provisions that subject
to permit the issue Of ratons for the subsistence of
the settlers for year. And as few of them will
probably be provided with arms il would be expedien
authorize the loan Of muskets and the delivery of
proper quantity Of cartridges, or Of powder and balls
BY such means It is to be hoped that hardy popula
ton will soon occupy the rich soil of the frontiers Of
Florida, who will be as capable as willing to defend
themselves and their houses, and thus relieve the
Government from farther anxiety expense for their
protection.
JOHN TYLER.
WAsnINoroN. May 10, 1912.
Mr.. PRESTON said that this was about the forti-
eth time that they had been told that the Florida war
had ended, but unfortunately it turned out, in each
instance, that there were no good grounds for the
assertion but he must be permitted to say that he
believed that nothing in the nature of hosttes on
the part OF the Government, any longer existed in
that Territory. He was Of the opinion that the period
had now arrived when armed occupation, similar
to that proposed by the Senator from Missouri (Mr.
Benton) several years ago, could be adopted with
great economy to the Government and safety to the
inhabitants of Florida and he would be most happy
if Congress would direct their deliberations to that
object With view Of looking into the matter, he
moved that the communication be referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs, and be printed
Mr.. SEWER had no objection to that course
Two or three years ago, hundred thousand dollars
was appropriated for the purpose of buying peace
with the Indians and he would thank the Chairman
of Military Affairs to state how much had been ex-
pended in that way.
Mr.. PRESTON said that it was a matter of gene
raj notoriey that within the last year. military ope.
ratons somewhat Of novel and creditabe charac-
ter, had been carried on in Florida and, notwith-
standing there was in that Territory diminished
force, and the public mind much depressed de-
gree of energy and vigor had been manifested on the
part Of the troops which had before been appa-
rent at any other period of that long protracted war
The question submitted by the Senator from Arkan
IN tha atta If fha
the manner in which the war had been conducted in
Florida under the commanding officer, who deserved
the highest praise which could be bestowed by his
feilow-citlzens and an inscription Of his name the
records of the country With regard TO the fund al
luded to- he inclined to think that for either gene
raj or specific purposes but small portion of it had
been applied. The result had been effected by the
agency Of this means, but by the gaantry and mill
tary skill Of the commander and the industry of those
under his command; and he ventured to say that the
annals of our own country, those Of any other,
exhibited such ndefatigabily as was exerted in
that Territory within the last three months The In
dams were holly pursued and pressed their crops de-
stroyed in fact, repose was but little known and il
was that system which had resulted so favoraby. He
would not say that the war ended, but, in his
judgment, the state Of hosttes had terminated so far
that they might make provision for carrying on the
warfare by means of an armed agricultural population
Mr.. SEWER remarked that he desired to know
the amount of money expended for the purpose of buy
ing peace with the Indians He did not rise with the
idisntion Of commenting on the Florida war, or on
the conduct Of the commanding officer but, in his
opinion, ten Usage Indians had contributed more than
any other person or persons to bring this war to
close.
Mr.. PRESTON Ten Indians
MI. SEWER Yes, precisely. They brought in
nearly the whole Of the Seminoles. He trusted that
the sedentary militia, which had been recommended
would now be employed, bounty lands given to armed
settlers and the plan of the Senator from Missouri
adopted. II the commanding officer was to receive
any signal awards Of honor, the ten Usage Indians
should also be brought into notice.
Mr.. PRESTON. We will do them the honor OF
sending them to Arkansas.
The communication was then referred TO the Com.
mittee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed
THE TARIFF, CAPT. sHREvE's sNAG- BOAT, ETC