The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-07-25

prove the charge he resorts hs old patent
reasoning; but was all poweriul-so much
so, as to make the President and all the
members of his Cabinet mere cyphers.
lie would have II, that they were but
tools in nv hands, and alone was re-
sponsible for all that was done. WeII--lt
he will have it SO, meet the charge direct
ly. ii is not true, that the Florida treaty
gave away Texas. did not believe, when
the treaty was made. that all that Louisiana
extended, or ever did extend TO the RIO
Grandc, or even to the Neuccs, and that if
was uncertain whether it extended beyond
the Sabine. knew it was claimed TO cx-
tend far beyond. even TO the Rio Grandc;
Just as we claimed the whole of Oregon,
and with just about as little title. have
seen nothing 10 change this opinion: On
the contrary, if my information is correct
there are now documents in the State De-
parlmen', obtained within the last few years.
which conc!usively prove, that Louisiana
never extended an inch beyond the Sabine.
/ In reply to Col. Benton's assaults as to the
treaty, annex an abstract from a speech in an.
swer to him, when he made the same charge, in
l647. 1t was an of hand reply TO 4 premedita
ted attack.
"The Florida Treaty, forming another sub
ipct of attack, figured also on that occasion, in
connection with annexation; and what he said
now is but a repetition of what he said then
He then as now, made me- responsible for that
treaty, although was but one OF six members
of Mr.. Monroe's Cabinet, and the youngest Off,
memhers-rcsponsible without advancing
particle of proof that even gave it my support
or appreciation. He rest the charge on some
disclaimer. as it seems, that the then Secretary
of State (Mr. Adams) has, at some time, made,
that he was not responsible for the treaty.
The Senator may be right as TO that; but how
can that by any possibility, shew that was res.
ponsihlp? But am prepared to take my full
share of responsibility, as member Mr. Mon.
roe's Cabinet, without having any particular
agency in forming the treaty, or Influence in
inducing the cabinet 10 adopt it. | then thought,
and still think it a good treaty; and so thought
the Senate OF thr United States; for if my
; memory does not deceive me, it received every
vote of the Senate. A Sexator: "yes-evcry
vnte."l 1t then received the unanimous vote
of the Senate, promptly given. OF course, if
!
ico as the Senator seems 10 suppose. this body
is as much the author and cause OF the war, as
the individual on whom he is now so anxious 10
fix it.
have said it is good treaty, not without
due reflection. We acquired much by it. II
gave us FIorida-an acquisition not only impor-
Iant in ITSELF but also in reference to the whole
Southwestern frontier. There was, at that
tine, four powerful tribes Of Indians, two of
whom. the Creeks and The Choc,aws, were con-
tiruous to Florida, and the two others-the
Chickasaws and Cherokees, were adjoining.
They were the most numerous and powerful
: tribes in the United States, and from their po.
sion, were exposed TO be acted on and excited
against us from Florida. 1t was important that
This state of things should terminate, which
could only be done by the obtaining possession
of Florida.
But there we're other and powerful considera-
tions for the acquisition. We had short time
before. ex,innuished the Indian title TO large
tracts of country in Alabama, Mississippi, and
Georgia, living upon streams and rivers which
PASSED through Florida to the GuIf-lands in
rrcat measure valuclcss, without the right ot
navigating them to their mouths. The acqnisi
ton of Florida gave us this right, and enabled
ms TO bring into successful cultivation great
extent Of fertile lands, which have added much
to the !, creased production of our great staple,
Cotton. Another important point was effected
by the acquisition. 1t Terminated very trouble.
some dispute with Spain, growing out OF the
cau,ure Of St. Marks aud Pensacola by General
Jackson. in the Seminole war {; and, finally, it
} perfected our title TO Oregon, by ccding 10 US
whatever right Spain had to that territory
Nor is his next charge, in reference to The
tract of land lying west of Arkansas, and south
of sc 80, less basclcss. He asserts that this
s,rip of land, as he calls it, was enough TO form
two States. and that required this strip of
land to br given up to the Indians as perma-
nent abode and that it was lost TO the slave
: States" This, like his other assertions, is
without foundation. lie makes no attempt to
establish il, but leaves it to be inferred from the
mere statement that " | was al the time Score
tary Of War, and member Of MIR. Monroes ad.
mnistra,ion." He knew it would not do TO go
into details, as they wonld retu;c his charge,
and hence the vagurnrsS OF the language IN
which it is conchcd What he omitted, shall
supply. The history of the affair may be told
in few words.
The Choctaw tribe of Indians, at The time,
habircd the State OF Mississippi, and occupied
almost its entire territory. General jackson
and General Hines, of Mississippi, were ap.
pointed by Mr. Monroe to treat with them tor
the purpose of obtaining ccssion of portion
of their lands. They succeeded in Obtaining
large tract, lying in the very centre OF the State
and extending from Pearl River /" !hn MissIs.
sipp in exchange for all the terrl'"ry lying be.
tween the Red River and the Arkansas, oPPo-
site TO where the lower line OF the Cherokee
Indians struck il, To point on Red River, three
miles below the mouth OF Little kIvcr' ana
.rn.l .rurLlr IN lhr snnrcr of the Canadian IOrk