Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-02-09
Speech Of Gen. James Wilson,

Government during Me Florida War,
| and lost
Mr. Wilson took the floor, aud address,
ed the Committee OF the Whole at some
length in opposition 10 the bill.
lie said that the claim before the Com
mitiee, by which the compensation was
sought from the Government Of the United
States, was one Of peculiar character
1t raised, in his judgment. very important
question, which il was Of high moment to
the Government and the people Of this
country should be duly considered, mutual
ly weighed. and settled so as to give salts
faction to every part Of the Union.
Ii was a claim for a slave. The cir
cumstances under which il was made were
set forth in the reports Of the committee
and he believed, that SO far as the facts Of
the case were concerned, there was very
little discrepancy between ihe.report which
had been made by the majority Of the COM
miitee and that which had been by the mi
nority. ltwns claim growing out Of the
Florida war. An officer Of the U. S. Gov
eminent had applied to Pacheco for some
person to act as guide and interpreter 10 the
Inflated command OF Major Dsde. A col
ored man, by the name OF Lewis, claimed
as a slave by Pacheco, was furnished to act
in that capacity. When that command
was captured, and most OF those compos-
ing il were mastered, Lewis in some way
or other-either by desertion or being cap
tured by the Indians escaped. Suisse
quently, upon the surrender Of the Indians
TO Gen. Jessep. Lewis came in with them,
and was claimed by the principal chief, OF
Jumper, who surrendered, as his man, by
virtue Of the right he had 10 him by hav-
ing captured him in battle.
1t appeared that subsequently 10 this, the
representative Of Pacheco, or Pacheco him
self, made application to the officer in com
mand Of The United States army in Flori-
da for the surrender Of Lewis-claiming
him as his property. He was not given up,
but the officer declared that he must be
sent TO the West with the emigrating In
, dams. This was done and now this claim
was brought on the part OF the heirs OF
Pacheco for compensation.
1t was little strange to look into the
history of this matter. During the war Of
the revolution, almost all the States of the
Union tolerated slavery. Slaves were found,
: more or less, in all parts Of the county
There were, to be sure, but few in the
! North as compared with the number in the
. South but still there were some in almost
{ all the Colonies when they went into the
\ struggle and that relation continued dur
ing the war Of the revolution, almost all
T the States Of the Union tolerating slavery.
Slaves we're found, more or less, in all parts
q Of the country. There were, to be sure,
but few in the North as compared with the
a number in the South but still there were
/ some in almost all the Colonies when they
e went into the struggle; and that relation
e continued during the existence OF the
,, struggle.
II Although the presumption was strong
}, that during the war persons OF this descfip
o ton were engaged in the service Of the
J. United States, and suffered and we're de-
k stroyed in it, yet il did not appear that
d single application was made after the adop-
n ton Of the Constitution Of the United States
p for any remuneration for loss Of slaves. IL
fact, il did not appear that claims Of THU
5, kind began TO be made until the fourteenth
l. Congress.
J: What had been the early history Of the
ID Government on this subjectl The frs
Is case TO which he had turned his attention
Is would be found 10 the fourth volume o
;e MS. reports, page l60. at the first session
n Of the fourteenth Congress. Ii was the
case of Lieutenant Montgomery, who tool
es his slave with him. 1t. NJ. being an Office
d. in the service. The slave was killed.
n. Claim for compensation was made Tit
u, committee, composed Of men from all sec
III lions of the country, said in their report
at that ali was not conceived tina; the unite'
We States ought TO be liable for the value Of tn
~ slave If he should be killed, OF by any othe
re acciden, lost to the owner"
y. Here Mr. w. cited seysral cases wher
III compensation for lost slaves had been aske
70 of Congress and disallo~ ed.
u, There was another case in the seven
. teenih Congress, to which he would nc
!" particularly refer.
,e In all these cases, claims for compenss
~ ton for losses Of this description had inyi
&C. rably been rejected. But he would G
~ further. During the eighteenth Congres:
- case came up in which il appeared. thI
I' either voluntarily or by impressment, say
W. had been pu, TO work on the deiences {
New Orleans. II was the case Of D'A,
Ell irieye. The committee reported againi
NY Tue Clain Out the ltlcHus Vi the pcthhohe
iu- on the floor of the House moved an amen'
ice ment providing compensation for injurl'
of the slave had received, which rendered bill
IRE less valuable after The service than he ha
iill been before. A long debate followed, an
he the result Of the whole matter was adyer'
he to the claim.
ra- The cases which he had cited all BOZ
led upon the claim, necessarily brought up f
RS the consideration Of Congress the quesliC
fol Of property in colored men.
ich He was opposed to the passage Of Il
fit. bill, because he believed that the who
to policy of the Government. as illustrated
the its history, had been adverse 10 the reco
for milton. under the Constitution Of the Unit,
TO States, Of the right Of persons TO proper
d q in slaves. He spoke of the subject wi
reference 10 the Constitution Of the Unit
States. He did not intend to deny III
en- slaves might be property according TO I
Of local laws OF the States in which laws mig
can be passed 10 make them properly. |
,ih held hn.uavar tIat .h.ga Io... ,uaKa oo.;,