The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-13
P q S Il S T. X | p II.
as-Washipgson.
lCorrespoadence Of the HERALD
WAsHMsToS, March IL, 1872.
The Senate-Trouble ON the Choctsw Bor
Nn der-The NAVY.

der--The Navy.
Ia the Senate this morning there were several pc
htions and memorials presented, among which Mr
Buchanan said he took pleasure in presenting to the
Senate two memorials praying Congress to pass law
to refund General Jackson the fine of $1,000 and
costs, imposed on him by Judge Hail. 10 ISl 8, in the
court Of Louisiana, In consequ of the response
bilty incurred in the discharge Of his official duty
And Mr.. Sturgeon also presented two memorials, OF
like character, from the city and county Of Philadel
phia Pennsylvania; all which were referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
Mr. BAYARD presented q memorial from the cor
porate authorities Of Alexandria, praying that the
marine hospital contemplated to be erected in the
District, may be erected in that place referred to
the Committee ON the District of Columbia
Mr. WoopnuaY presented a petition from ship
owners and others Of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
adverse TO the repeal of the pilot law of 1897: refer
red to the Committee on Commerce. su
Several private bills were then considered in com
mittee, reported 10 the Senate, and ordered to
third reading.
The Senate then took up the resolutions Of Mr..
Clay, to increase the tariff above the maximum Of
the Compromises act; TO repeal that provision Of the
Distribution act which requires its operation TO be
suspended if daty Of more than twenty per cent
be demanded to support the Government; TO re-
trench and to econemse the expenses of Govern
ment.
Mr. WRIoHr's amendments being under consid-
Grafton, Mr.. SpsMoSs made long speech in sup
port of ,he views of Mr.. Clay.
The Senate went into executive session and short
ly after adjourned over to Monday.
There 10 q prospect, it seems, of difficulties be-
tween Texas and the Choctaw Tribe Of Indians
whose territory borders on the Red River. Uneasi.
has prevailed there some time, we learn, in con-
sequence Of the seizure by the Texans Of various
ferries and other possessions claimed by the Choc
laws; to which the last trouble is likely to give
serious shape, and suddenly. An aged chief, con-
sidered as Of the most distinguished persenages
in the Choctaw knation, and whose name is Nj
tuckutchee. went over the line to Texan house by
invitation, and as he stepped upon the threshold,
was shot dead. This act of unprovoked atrocity,
has excited not only the indignation of the Chloe.
tawe, but of ether tribes adjacent, and if our gov
ernmeRt does not speedily nterpose, great difficult
ties may be apprehended. The Choctaws alone
can bring SIX thousand warriors into the field, and
with the Cumanchees, the Chickasaws, Seminoles,
and other tribes in the neighborhood they can col
lect, at q months notice, force Of some thirty
thousand men. Our government is bound by the
most solemn treaty, stipulatng to protect these peo
pie from depredaons and injuries of every Sort but
the red men have even suffered the grossest injus-
tee At our hands-no reparation 10 ever made or ex
pected for wrongs done to Indians. In the present
instance, they will probably take the matter in hand
and redress their own grievances. A Simultaneous
attack, from Mexico on enc frontier, and the In
dans on the other, would give the Texans more bu-
siness than they could well attend too
1t is understood that the naval nominations now
before the Senate have to encounter oppostion from
some members Of thes naval committee, and from
other quarters where it was not anticipated In the
present threatening aspect Of our foreign relations
the condition OF this arm of national defence is
matter of the prsfoundest interest to every section
of the country. The able and statesmanlike paper
lately submitted to Congress by Seer etary Upshur
would seem to preclude the necessity Of saying any
thing this subiest and his earnest endeavor
to carry out his views by increasing the navy at
once. and his sending large list to the Senate for
confirmation, ought to silence those croakers whose
CRY has been. that promotion the life and soul of
the service, but whose minds new cannot grasp the
liberal notions which emanate from the head of the
Department II is not to the people of this country
that conviction alsne is 10 be carried The nelli-
gence of the many wants. no stimulus to the ad-
vancement Of the navy and the lively sense Of the
danger which cannot but ever threaten a weak M.
ton, is too powerfully impressed upon the minds Of
the people, and We daily tin the powerful voice
of the press, whose echoes are reverberated Fl ON
rock to rock, from shore 10 shore, from Maine to
Florida, and whose cry is, we will have navy and
assume amongst the powers of the EARTH the station
our ferefathers marked out for rs.
We have heard it asserted that the plans Of Secre-
tary Upshur were wild and vissnary-that he had
chosen wrong time to press upon Congress his
vast project Of increase and by premature asita.
ton Of subject popular with the people, he had
risked those interests which it his duty to foster
and preserve To this it may be asked, what better
time to recommend defence to the country, when
the people are Frustrated at home, and threatened
with imminent danger from grasping and powerful
nation, whose capacity for annoyance consists in her
great Navy1 We should have force strong
enough at least to check them, until others can
be brought to the rescue. Secretary Upshurs
opinions on this point have been submitted TO the
people, and through the press have the people ex.
pressed their appreciation, and he stands now on
Prouder eminence than has ever bsen attained by
his most favored predecessors.
He takes LIBERAL and comprehensive view OF eur
country, and the safety Of the body polite. which
compose its members-he looks upon them as So
ciees Of men, united together for the purpose of
promoting their mutual welfare and safety, by the
joint efforts of their strength and understanding, and
the promotion of good and wise govornment-and
he is well aware that in securing the felicity Of q
nation, there is something more due to the country
than an undivided attention to her civil policy. The
military is one Of the great divisions of duties it owes
ITSELF and without due attention to what will in-
sure respect abroad, and protect the country at
home, good government cannot be sustained. One
Of the ends Of political society defend itself with
s combined strength against all external insult and
violence; and no government can be perfect that