The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-29
FLORIDA.

The following extracts from letter of
Lieutenant Commanding G. w. Totten,
throw much light on the condition Of
Florida, and on the course adopted by the
Government in relation to the hostile In
dams:
'U s. STR. WATER WIroH }
Pensacola, August 10, ls49
''Sln; reached this port this morning at 3O,
sand after having been to Tampa Bay in obedience
g 10 your order of the 9th instant
81 presented, on reaching Fort Brooke, a copy
"oi my instructions TO the commanding officer at
that post, Major W. W. Morris; and expressed at
the same time my earnest desire to aid him in
any way IN my power in carrying out the views
"oi the Government. On Wednesday, the 18th
" instant, received communication from him. a
"copy of which enclose
left Fort Brooke early ON the same day, and
! " that evening got To sea on my return.
. The Indians have not been seen since the affair
: at Indian river, Peasc creek, and Whiddon's, all
"oi which outrages are supposed TO have been com
. mted by the same party of four Indians. II has
not been ascertained whether it is considered by
6 the Indians as an affair Of the nation
Three attempts have been made by Captain
Casey, of the Commissary department, (and who
is, perhaps, better known to the Indians than any
g other officer of the army,) to have talk with
. Billy Bowlegs.' At the first and third rendez-
"yous the Indian failed to make his appearance
Captain Casey, whose health is very delicate, ON
s. his way to the second, seized with severe
" hemorrhage OF the lungs, and constrained TO
g return to Fort Brooke Billy sent word after
g wards, that he had waited for him eight DAYS
There were, In addition to the two regular com
"panies stationed there, two companies of volun-
90 teers at Fort Brooke
"The first and principal object sought by the
commanding officer at Tampa is to obtain an in
=" terview with Billy Bowegs,' and for this he has
"apped to the proper source for steamer of light
SC draft Of water, with which ascend the Caloosa
60 river.
"The white settlers in the neighborhood have
6 moved in to Fort Brooke, and appear to have
been quite uneasy their safety The settlers
"at Manatee river are certifying themselves"
(oopY.)
FoRT BRooKE, E. F., August is, lS49
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of Yesterday, enclosing copy Of
your instructions from Commodore Parker, com
handing the home squadron, proffering the SER
vices of the U. s. steamer Water Witch to cooperate
with the land forces along the coast, connected
with the recent outbreak by the Indians in this
State.
The draft of water of the Water Witch, being, as
have learned from report of Captain Casey, six
| and half to seven feet could not be made avaia-
BILE for the purpose of opening a communication
with the Indians upon the Caoosa river; this being
the only object now in view to get message into
the nation, any further detention of the steamer
would be unnecessary.
] shall avail myself of your return to Pensacola
to send despatch to the Department, requesting
ordinary river steamboat flour to four and half
feet draf) to be sent TO for the purpose before
mentioned.
Be pleased to make my Acknowledgements to the
| commodore for his courteous offer.
am, with much respect, your obedient servant,
(Signed) w. w. MORRIS,
Major U. S. A., commanding post.
LIEUT.. CoM'G GEO. ToTTEN.
Uania Inquirer:
u s. FLAG SHIP PORTSMOUTH,,
Porto Praya Harbor, May 4, lS49.
Sir: take pleasure in acknowledging the re-
celpt Of your communication, dated Philadelphia
February 10, lS49; and you may be assured OF my
friendly disposition towards the good cause of colo
! pization.
In connection with my duties on this station, are
the interest and welfare of the negro settlements
planted by the American Colonization Societies,
IA,
that the long neglected Bassa Cove will hereafter
receive from cruisers the visits they earnestly
desire.
| The prosperity and advancement of our negro
colonies the of Africa conceive to be init
mately connected with the final suppression of the
save-trade. For until the coast Of this benighted
land is under the influence of settlements, emf
grating from and founded in the spirit of philan-
thropy as am sure these are, which their orr
gin to the benevoence of the citizens of the United
States, deem il problcmatical whether the iniqui
tous practice now carried ON can be otherwise sup
pressed so long a market remains in any part of
the world to excite the. cupidity of unprincipled
men.
| In connexion with the above, would add, the
influence the colonies exert over the native tribes
/ by whom they surrounded, and with whom
they necessarily come in contact for the purpose of
trade, is OF importance, tending to mofy
their condition, and raise them from their degraded
state also 10 prevent in measure, If not entire
! ly, the but too well known manner by which slave
dealers supplied ] refer to their frequent wars,
made for the avowed purpose OF procuring prison
ers, whom they sell TO the traffickers in human
! flesh
In conclusion, would thank you for your kind
ness in sending me a file of Colonization Heralds.
And shall be most happy to render to you, when
an opportunity shall occur, my opinion respecting
/ the capability and prosperity OF Bassa Cove
remain, sir, your most obedent servant,
HENRY COOPER,
Commanding United States naval forces ON the
west coast of Africa.
MosTREAL.-The following proclamation was is
sued by the Mayor on the 22d instant.
! Proclamation.
! To THE CITIZENS OF MosrnEAL.-For some nights
past the peace Of this city has been disturbed, and
the safety of its inhabitants endangered by assem-
bagcs of riotous and disorderly persons property,
both public and private, has been destroyed by