Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-14
TwENr1-sEvRNru CONGRESS.
IN SENATE.
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NtDstsp.Y Nav n


The CHAIR (Mt Smith OF Indana,) laid before
the Senate a message from the President Il the
United States; which was read as follows;
To "A, Ssaais AVID House Of Representatives.:
The season for active hostili,ies in Florida having
nearly terminated, my attention has necessarily
been directed to the course Of measures Co be pur
sued hereafter IN relation 10 the few Indians yet
remaining in that Territory. Thor number Is DC.
lieved not 10 exceed two hundred and forty; OF
whom, there are supposed to be about eisnIy war
riors, or males, capable OF bearing arms. Inc tur
ther pursuit OF these miserable beings, by large
military force seems to DO inludicious as II il
unavailinc. The history OF the last years cam
pAisn IN Florida has satisfactorily shown, notwith.
standing the vigorous and incessan, operations of
our troops, which cannot be exceeded, that the In
dian mode OF warfare, their dispersed condition,
and the very smallness OF their number, which in
creases the difficulty of finding them in the abun-
dant and almost inaccessible hiding places OF the
Territory. render any further attempt 10 reduce
them by force Of arms lmpracticnbe, except by the
employment Of the most expensive means. The
exhibition Of force and the constant effort to cap.
turo or destroy them, OF course place them beyond
the reach Of ovetures TO surrender IL IS believed
by the distinguished officer in command there, that
n different SYSTEM should now be pursued TO attain
the entire removal OF all the Indians in Florida
And he recommends that the hostillties should
cease unless the removal OF them be rendered ne
cessary by new nggressions; that communications
should I've opened by means of the lndians with
him, to iniuce them to peaceful and voluntary
hereafter be directed to the protection of the nha'
bitants.
These views are corrobora:ed by the Governor
Of the Territory, by many OF ts most Intelligent
citizens, and by numerous officers Of the army who
have served, and still serving, in that region.
Mature reflection has satisfied me that these
commentators are sound and JUS; and rejoice
that, consistently with my duty TO Florida, may
indulge my desire to promote the great interests of
humanity, and extend the reign of peace aud good
will, by terminntng the unhappy warfare that hns
been so long carried on there, and, at the same
time, crafty my anxiety to reduce the demands
upon the Treasury, by curtaiing the extraordinary
expenses which have attended the contest. have,
therefore, authorized the colonel in command there,
ms soon as he shall deem it expedieut TO declare
that hoStiltes against the Indians have ceased and
that they will not be renewed unless provoked, and
rendered indis pensable by new outrages their
par; but that neiier citizens nor troops to be
restrained from any necessary and proper acts OF
self defence against any attempts to modest them.
lie is instructed TO open communications with those
yet remaining, and endeavor, by all peaceabie
means, to persuade them TO consult their true inte
rests, by Joining their brethren At the West. And
directions have been given for establishing Gordon,
or line OF protection for the inhabitants, by the
cessary number Of troops.
But, TO render this system OF protection effectua
II is essential that settlements OF our citizens should
be made within the line established, and that
they should be armed TO be ready TO repel any
attack. In order TO offer inducements TO such set
Elements, submit 10 the consideration Of Congress
the propriely of allowing reasonable quantity Of
land TO the head of each family tina; shall perma-
nenty occupy it, and of extending the existing pro-
visions that subject, to permit the issue OF
rnuons for the subsistence of the settlers TOR one
year; and, few Of them will probably be pro-
vided with arms, would be eNpedient author e
the loan of muskes, and the de'ise:y OF proper
quantity OF cartridges, or OF powder and balls. By
such means 1t is 20 be hoped that hafdy DopuIa.
ton will soon occupy nc rich sol. OF The fron,iers
Of Florida, who vii be IS e psoie and sins 10
defend themselves and Their homes ana thus relieve
the Government from ire fa.tsel snKiesy o. IL
penSe for their protection. JOHN IA LER.
Washington, May Ia, i>4s.
MIR PRESTON remarked that. Tor the fo,iis,h
time, the florida hsd been declared be 81 ar
end, but unfortunately proved MOI 10 &c So. he I
presumed, however, that the President was war I
ranied in the belief that II far ended as 10
Justify the course he had recommended. lie mir /
P.) satisfied from communications that the |
number of Indians now IN florida was largely IN
der ono hundred, and that there was nothing in the
nature OF the hosliltes now, that demanded beli-
gerent proceedings on the part OF the Government.
IL struck him. at the first blush, that the system &c
commended by the President, Tor the protection OF
the inhabitants of the territory by the establishment
OF a Gordon Of posts, would rot require more than
twenty-siX companies; and therefore, " Il was
adopted, the Territory and Government would be
relieved from great expense. He believed twenty
SIX compht.es would be amply sufficient for any
purposes oi pTotection-in connexion with such a
system formerly proposed by the Senator
from Missouri, MIR Benton,l for the armed oecupa-
lion and settlement OF the Territory. The time he
believed had now arrived when some system OF
that KIND might be with propriety adopted. Mr.
r., after passing high cuoeium on the persever-
ing and successful efforts of the officer who had
charge OF the operations n Florida in bringing the
war 10 a termination, moved 10 refer the message
the Committee on Military Affairs, and to have
II printed.
Mr. SEWER said he had no objections to the
motion OF the honorable Senator. He believed {
that three years ago clause had been inserted IN
the appropriation bill granting SS00,Oo0 for the I
purpose OF buying peace with the Indians, and he {
desired TO be informed by the honorable Senator {
how much of that money had been expended in the
MIR PRESTON said it was a matter of general L
notorety that, within the last year, the military
operations in Florida have been OF 4 somewhat II
novel-knd, and certainly Of character very creii
table the individual TO whom the conducting OF |
those military operations had been intrusted The II
war had been conducted with more energy and vi s
cor than had characterized 1t at any other period
The circumstance odyertod to by the Senator from q
Arkansas had induced him Mr P.) TO nllude to the n
very material alteration which had taken place in
the aspect OF affairs in Florida, under the able II
agement Of the distinguished ofesr now in command, Il
who, he thought, deserved at the hands Of this q
country, the highest honor-namey the country's q
praise In relation TO the inquiry Of the honorable II
Senator, he (Mr Preston) unable TO say with 4
any degree Of accuracy, what amount had been eI Il
pended. lie was inclined to think that, for the p
SPECIFIC purpose for which that sum was approprat n
3D. a very sma portion had been expended o
Mr. SEWER said he was merely DESTROYS Of oh. f
tanning information to the sum which had been
expended. lie did not rise for the purpose Of COM S
mentlng upon the conduct, skill, ability OF the Il
officer command OF the troops in Florida but p
as had been ndverled TO by the honorable Senator,
he would take the liberty of observing that there
were others who were equal instrumental in bring
ing that war to a close, and, consequently, equally
deserving OF "the counry's praise" in the language
Of the honorable Senator. There were ten Usage n
Indians who had contributed more, by their Offices
NJ eoncIIaon TO produce the favorable termination
Of the war; and he hoped that II, as suggested by
the honorable Senator honors rewards 10 be
conferred upon any Of the parties connected with n
that war these ten Indians should be included. =
Mr. PRESTON twrhout tising) Reward them
10y sending them 10 Arkansas. y
The question taken the motion Of the
Senator from South, Carolina (Mr Preston,) and Il
was agreed %.
TIE INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT BILL.
Mr. BENTON inquired Of the chairman Of the =
judiciary Committee, what had become oil the IN. I
ternatonul copyright bill, which had been referred
10 thut committee months ago.
Mr. BERRlEN SAID some time ago he had been n
called upon 70 ascertain when the bill would be
reported lack. lie then stated that the committee I
had examined the bill, and that he was prepared |
10 report IT, AZ tho instance Of the Senator by
whom the bill was introduced, and 10 whom he had
expressed his readiness 10 report the bill back the
Ol M rpu has bpau del rod l..