The North-Carolina standard., 1849-08-01

ssThe Florida treaty, forming another subject oil
attack, figured also that occasion, In conhecao"
with annexation, and what he said now Is but fePs
tition of what he said them He then, as now' made
me responsible for that treaty, although was Pui
one of six members of Mr.. Monroe's Cabinet ana
the Youngest of Its members--responsloie, WlMou'
advancing particle OF proof that even gase
snnnort or approbation He rests the charge on some
disclaimer as it seems, that the then Secretary ol
State (Mr. Adams,) has, at some time maoe' tnat ne
was not responsible for the treaty. The Senator may De
Yioht as to Ihat; but how that byahy Possfely'
sbov1 that I was responsible. But am prepared 70
take my full share of responsibility, as meInoer Vi
Mr. Monroe's Cabinet, without having any Pafucuidr
agency in forming the treaty, or lnnuence !n i Iii
ino the Cabinet to adopt it. then thought ana sun
think it good treaty, and thought the oehaee oi
the United States; for, if my memory does not 1e-
ceve me, it received every vote OF the SENATE.
Senator g yes-every voe II then recel'eo nc nc
pnanimous vote of the Senate promptly given. vi
course if that treaty the cause OF the war WIN
Mexico as the Senator seems to suppose, Inis ooay
is as much the author and cause OF the wall as .0
individual on whom he is now so anxious 70 IA U
have said it was a good treaty, not wlthout que
reflection We acquired much by 1t. 1t gave us r To-
rida-an acquisition not only important In llselI' put
also in reference the whole southwestern Ironter'
There was, at that time, four powerful trioes OF N-
dams. two of whom, the Creeks and the Choctaws
were contiguous to Florida, and the two others-the
Chickasaws and Cherokees were adjoining. lney
were the most numerous and power1uI trloes III III"
United States, and from their position, were exposed
10 acted
1t was important that this state of things should !e
inmate, which could only be done by the possession
of Florida. :,
But there were other and powerful considerations
for the ACQUISITION. We had short time before eA-
tinguished the Indian title to large tracts OF country
in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia, lying upon
streams and rivers which passed through flo[iu" "
the Gulf-laHds in great measure ValueleSS "inouI
the RIGHT of navigating them to their mouths. me
acquisition of Florida gave this right. and enabled
ns to bring into successful cultivation great extent
of fertile lands which have added much to increase
the production of great staple, Cotton. Anothel
important point was effected by the acquisition. II
terminated a verv troublesome dispute with Spain,
growing out of the capture of ST. Marks and Fensa-
cola by Gen. Jackson, in the Seminole war; ana'
finally it perfected title to Oregon-b by cedhg 10
us whatever right Spain had to that territory.
Nor is his next charge, in reference TO the tract OF
land living west of Arkansas and south of sc 5O,
less baseess He asserts that this strip OF land as
he calls it, was enough to form two Staes and that
required this strip of land to be given up to the
Indians as permanent abode; and that 1t was lost to
the slave States" This, like his other assertions,
ia without foundation. He makes attempt to es-
ablish it. but leaves it to be inferred from the mere
statement that g was at the time Secretary OF War,
and member of Mr.. Monroe's Cabinet" He knew
il would not do to 90 into details, they would re-
fute his charge, and hence the vagueness OF the Ian
puage in which it is couched. What he omitted l
shall supply. The history OF the dnalT may oe Iolu
in few words.
The Choctaw tribe of Indians, at the time, inhab-
tied the State of Mississippi and occupied almost its
entire territory. Gen. Jackson and Gen. Hines, OF
Mississippi, were appointed by Mr.. Monroe to treat
with them, for the purpose of obtaining cessIon OF
portion of their lands. They succeeded in obtaining
large tract, lying in the very centre OF the State
and extending from Pearl river to the Mississippi,
in exchange for all the territory lying between the
Red river, and the Arkansas, west of a line drawn
from the point of the Arkansas, opposite to where the
lower line of the Cherokee Indians struck it to
point on Red river, three miles below the mouth of
TSf.la tn he
madam fork of the Arkansas, and line drawn due
south to Red river. But the treaty, in making the
exchange, made provision to change the character
of the Indian title to the land given In Arkansas IN
exchange for that which received in Mississippi
Nor did it make it the permanent abode OF the lnd
ans, as he asserts. They hold it just they held
the land they ceded in Mississippi. Nothing was
lost by the slavehoding States, but great deal was
gained by the treaty, large and valuable tract in
the very heart of the region, and lying con-
venient market acquired by Mississippi, with
out the loss of acre to her sisters OF the slave
holding States. So that the great sympathy which
he processes for the slave States in this is mis-
applied. If he chooses to consider responsible
for the treaty, instead of Mr. Monroe, and the COM
mssioners who made it, and the Senate that approv-
ed of it, he is welcome to do so, however contrary
to the truth in this
Another, and only another treaty made with
that tribe, while remained in the War Department.
l was the Commissioner on the part of the United
States. and of course acknowledge my responsible
be given to the Indians for their permanent abode,
the Indians receded to the United States by treaty
part, and most valuable part without ceding an
inch to them The entire line was moved westward,
far Fort Smith, the Arkansas and thence by
line due south to Red river. Nor did itInake the
slightest change in the title to what remained to the
Indians, provide permanent home for them, as
he would have you believe. So much for this charge
and its author.
The next is of kindred character. He states it
still more vaguely; much so, that am at loss
to know, to which of the many treaties made
with the Indians, about the region in question, he
refers. He speaks of a slice forty miles wide and
three hundred long, s. cut off from Arkansas and
given to the Indians - ' that it done by the In
dian treaty--treaty made by protege of Mr.. Cal
houn's;' and adds that was Vice President the
tme but gives no boundary and avoids naming what
treaty it was, with what tribe of Indians made, or
the name of the person he calls my protege." 1t
Is an Indictment with specification of time place, or
circumstances, to which it is impossible to make
specific answer But, fortunately, such an one is
not necessary to repel it efectuay without descend
ing into details, which it is fair to presume, were
omitted, because they could be given without ex-
posing the absurdity of the charge. His admission
that the treaty made while Vice President,
furnishes me with ample means for that purpose.
1t Is sufficient to repe it, to state, that during the
whole period that filled the Office of Vice President
that of President was filed, either by Mr.. Adams or
Gen. Jackson and that it my fortune to be in OPP
position both and the object of their strong dislike
as must be well known to all. i only had no in
huence with either but the object of their per-
secution. My support ofany measure, or recommen-
daton of any individual, sufficient defeat the
one, and reject the other; and yet, Col. Benton,
who is familiar with all this, assumes, in making his
charge, that am responsible for treaty made by
either one or the other of them it matters not which,