Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-07-30

vote OF the Senate promptly given Of course, if that
treaty was the Of the with Mexico, as the
Senator SEEMS to suppose this body much the author
and cause Of the the individual on whom he is
now so anxious to fix it.
al have sd it is good treaty. not without due re-
Election. We acquired much BY il. 1t gave us Flori-
dam acquisition not only important in ITSELF but also
in reference to the whole South frontier. There
was at that ime four powerful tribes Of Indians two of
whom. the Greeks and the Choctaws were contiguous
to Florida and the others, the ChckaSaw and Cher
okees. We're adjoining. They the most numerous
and powerful tribes in the United States, and. from their
position, were exposed to be acted on, and excited
aginst 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 other and powerful considerations for
the acquisition. We had short time before extin-
gushed the Indian title to large tracts of country in Ala
bama, Mississippi and Georgia lying upon streams and
rivers which passed through Florida the Guf-lands
IN great measure vaueless without the right Of naviga-
ing them to their mouths The acquisition of Florida
gave this right, and enabled bring into success
n cultivation great extent of fertile lands which have
added much to the increased production Of great
pie, Cotton. Another important point effected by
the acquisition 1t terminated very Troublesome dis
pute with Spain, growing out of the capture of ST.
Marks and Pensacola by General Jackson in the Sem
mole and finally it perfected title to Oregon
by cedlng to Us whaeverrght Spain had to that terrific
ry."
Nor his next charge, in reference the tract Of
land lying west of Arkansas and south Of 36deg 80, less
baseess He asserts that this strip of land he calls it,
was enough 10 form two States, and that | "requlred
this strip of land to be given up the Indians per-
manent abode, aud that it lost to the slave States
his like his other assertions is without foundation
lie makes no attempt to establish it, but leaves it to be
inferred from the mere statement that 81 was at the
time Secretary Of War; and member of MIR. Monroe's
administration" He knew it would do 10 90 into
details, they would refute his charge and hence the
vagneness of the language in which it is coucheG. What
he omitted shall supply. The history of the affair
may be told in few words.
The Choctaw tribe of Indians, at the time inhabited
the State of Mississippi and occupied almost lis entire
territory. General Jackson ard General Hines, of Miss
issipP, were appointed by Mr.. Monroe to treat with
them for the purpose obtaining cesson of portion Of
their lands. They succeeded in obtaining large
wing 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 Ar
kansas, West of the line drawn from the point Of the Ar
kansas, opposite to where the lower line of the Chero-
kee Indians struck 1t, to point Red river, three
miles below the mouth of Little river and westwardly
to the South Of tie Canadian 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 Arkansas
in exchange for that which received in Mississippi
Nor did it make it the permanent abode of the Indians
as he asserts. They hold 1t inst as they held the land
they coded in Mississippi. Nothing lost by tie
saveholding States but great deal gained by the
treaty. large and valuable tract in the very heart OF
the cotton region and lying convenient to market was
acquired by Mississippi, without the loss of single acre
to her sisters of the slaveholdng States. So that the
great sympathy which he proessed for the slave States
in this case, is msapped If he chooses to consider me
responsible for the treaty instead Of Mr. Monroe and the
commissioners who made it. and the Senate that approved
Of it, he its welcome 10 do SO, however contrary to the
truth of the
Another, and only another treaty, was made with that
tribe, while remained in the War Department Twas
the Commissioner on the part of the United States and
OF course, acknowledge my responsibility for its por-
visions. Instead of requiring strip be given to the
Indians for their permanent abode, the Indians receded
the United States, by treaty. part, and most valuable
part, without our ceding an inch to them. The entire
line was moved westward, as far Fort Smith, the
Arkansas, and thence by line due south Red river
nor did 1t make the slightest change in the title TO what
remained to the Indians, provided permanent home
for them, as he would have you believe. So much for
this charge and lis author.
The next is of kindred character. He states it still
mole vaguely so much So that am al loss to know
to which one of the many treaties made with the Indi-
ans about the region in question, he refers. He speaks
of slice forty miles wide and three hundred long, cut
OFT from Arkansas and given to the Indians " hat it
was done by Indian treaty made by proege of Mr. Cal
houn's - and adds tina, was Vice President at the
time but gives no boundary and avoids naming what
treaty it was, with what tribe Of Indians made or the
Of the person he calls my proege" 1t is an in
dlctmen, without specification Of time place, cream
Stances 10 which it is impossible 10 make specific an.
swer But, fortunately, such is not necessary to
repel 1t efectnay, without descending into details
which 1t Is fair to presume, omitted, because they
could not be given without exposing the a5surdy Of the
charge. His admission that the treaty made while
was Vice President furnishes me with ample means
for that purpose.
II is sufficient : fepel it, to state that during the
whole period that | filled the office of Vice President
that Of President filled, either by Mr.. Adams OF
General Jacksn and that was my fortune to be in OPP
position to both, and the object of their strong DISLIKE
must be well known to all. not only had no influence
with either. but the object Of their persecution. My
support of any measure, recommendation OF any nd-
vdual, sufficient to defeat the one, and reject the
other and yet, Col Benton, who is familiar with all
this, assumes, in making his charge, that respon-
sbe for treaty made by either the other of them
1t matters which,
1t was going far to make solely responsible for the
acts Of an administration, of which no member;
but to make responsible not only for them but for
of extravaganza beyond the reach Of any individual but
the author of the charge Even he, in this instance,
to have msgving that he has gone far, and
in order to give some color to wild a charge, adds
that the treaty negotiated by proege of mne He
must have been fortunate man bearing that relation to
me, to have got pntment from either Of the two
administrations. | have examined all the Indian trea-
ties relating TO the region in question: made during these
administrations, in order TO ascertain who this lucky in
dvldua could be- but have been unable discover him.
There is single treaty negotiated. during the peri
cd, that was negotiated by any individual who had any
claim to he called proIege of mine.
But why charge me with being The author of meas