The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-12
EwemtU=&eognth Congress.
SECOND. SESSION.
IN SENATE.

WEDNESDAY May III, 1912.
TERMINATION OF THE FLORIDA wAR-ARMED oc-
cUPAroN OF THE TERRITORY.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate the following
communication from the President Of the United
States, viz
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives
The 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 10 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 The further pursuit of these
miserable beings by large military force, seems to
be as inJudicious as II is unavang. The history of
the last years campaign in Florida has satisfactorily
shown that, Notwithstanding the vigorous and
SAINT operations of our troops, which cannot be &
ceeded, the Indian mode of warfare, their dispersed
condition. and the very smallness 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 them
by force impractcable, except by the employment of
the most expensive means. The exhibition of force,
and the constant effort to capture destroy Them of
places them beyond the reach Of overtures to
surrender 1t is believed by the distinguished officer
in command there, that different system should now
be pursued to attain the entire removal of all the In
dams In Florida and he recommends that hostiltes
should cease unless the renewal of them be rendered
necessary by new aggressions; 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 citi
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
communications sound and just and rejoice
that consistently with duty to Florida may indulge
my desire to promote the great interests of humanity
and fondfk tho rolcr nfr md H.
minating the unhappy warfare that has long been
carried on there, and at the same time crafty my
anxiety to reduce the demands upon the Treasury by
curtang the extraordinary expenses which have at
tended the contest. have therefore authorized the
Colonel IN command there, as soon as he shall deem
it exPedent, to declare that hostlties 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 to- be restrained from any necessary
and proper acts Of sef-defence against any attempts
to modest them. He is instructed to open commun-
cations with those yet remaining, and endeavor by
all 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 or line of protection for the inhabitants by the
necessary number of troops.
But to render this stem of protection effectua it
Is essential that settlements of citizens should be
made within the line established, and that they
should be armed, to be ready repel any attack
In order TO afford inducements TO such settlements,
submit 10 the consideration of Congress the proprety
of allowing reasonable quantity of land to the head
OF each family that shall permanently occupy it, and
ofextendng the existing provisions that subject SO
as to permit the issue of raons for the subsistence of
the settlers for one year. And few of them will
probably be provided with arms il would be expedien
TO authorize the loan of muskets and the delivery Of
proper quantity OF cartridges Of powder and balls
BY such means, 1t is to be hoped that hardy popua
ton will occupy the rich soil Of the frontiers of
Florida, who will be as capable willing to defend
themselves and their houses, and thus relieve the
Government from farther anxiety or expense for their
protection.
JOHN TYLER.
WAsHINaToN, 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 hostilitIes
the part OF the Government, any longer existed in
that Territory He 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
with the Indians and he would thank the Chairman
Of Military Affairs to state how much had been ex-
pended in that way.
Mr.. PRIEST TON said that it matter of gene
raj notoriey that, within the last year. military ope
rations somewhat of novel and creditabIe charac-
ter, had been carried in Florida and notwth-
standing there was in that Territory diminished
force, and the public mind was much depressed a de-
gree OF energy and vgor had been manifested the
part of the troops which had before been appa-
rent at any other period of that long proracted war
The question submitted by the Senator from Arkan-
induced him to call the attention of the Senate to
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
fellow citizens and inscription of his name on 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 not been effected by the
agency of this means, but by the gallantry and mill
tary skill of the commander and the industry of those
under his commando and he ventured to say that the
annals of country, or those of any other
exhibited such indefatgabty as was e1ered 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 it
that system which had sulted SO favorabIy He
would not say that the 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.. SEW Ter remarked that be desired to know
the amount of money expended for the purpose of buy
ing peace with the Indians He did not rise with the
idienton of commenting 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 a
close.
Mr.. PRESTON. Ten Indians
MI SEVlE 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. If the commanding officer was to receive
any signal awards of honor, the ten Usage Indians
should also be brought into notice