Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-10-20

NV constituents, ivspejl N w ~ ISg C's3:
Scott he Immediately relieved hum the com /
mand. No man has more admlsation for the
gallantry. or respect for the military achieve
ments of Gen. Scott than have.
From the present attitude of affairs. and un-
fortunate disagrecable occurrences, which have
appeared in that quarter. the public interest,
as well as the lives. security, and property Of
the inhabitants, imperously require the order
| have recommended. There is no harmony
between him and the public authorities of the
territory and it is evident that he is in the
highest state Of exacerbated feeling on account
Of an a.rocious outrage on all decency and p-o-
pricty in burning him in efigy at Tallahassee.
This infamous proceeding. which ought to
have been arrested and punished by the autho-
rites at the seat Of government does not jus.
tfy General Scott for the degrading epthets
and insults which he has offered to a whole
population. In his published orders, he rep
rcscnts the conduct Of the people Of Middle
Florida. as Infinitely humiliating;" and the
people "wild with fear" possessed Of "dis
ease SO general and SO degrading"
This is not the usual language Of Maj Gen.
commanding our frontiers, and should not.
under any circumstances, be resorted to, what.
ever may have been the disappointments and
wounded sensibilities Of a commanding Gene
raj ] ask upon what authority he says there
was just "fve Indians" who have produced
that CONSERVATION. panic and fight Of which
he has drawn picture so dcrogatory to the
population! 1t is we'll known that the Intli
ans never show their whole force; and If five
have penetrated into the country from the Indi
an boundary, to within a few miles of the seat
Of governmental much larger number will soon
: follow.
!, As Gen. Scott did not succeed with five thou
sand men in destroying five Indians, he might
have spared the inhabitants he has left defence
less souch degrading denunciations. As that
however is an affair between him and the Gov.
= nor. as to the number Of the enemy and the de
. fence Of Middle Florida shall proceed TO what
= !, is the object of this communication.
My purpose is. most respectfully to request
, an inquiry into the manner of conducting the
late campaign in Florida, and into the conduct
Of the Major General in command. for havm &
: gone into summer quarters the last Of April
|
inhabitants a, the mercy of the Indians.
Major General Scott had power to call upon
X the GoAernors Of South Carolina, Georgia. and
q Alabama for any number Of men that he might
u consider necessary to put an end to the war
'r Congress, by law. had provided ample means
B. and whilst he was in command, the Governor
p of Florida had no power to call for troops
N Gen. Scott, after one successful campaign, dis
ID banded tho whole militia force; but the term .
t. service Of portion Of it had expired. and h'
in has neither called by dfaught or for volunteers
ID for any further mil,tasy force. He has. on tn
it contrary. refused the acceptance Of some tha
as was offered. and has disarmed the militia Q
ne East Florida. ....,..
n When called upon now to furnish ndequat
force for the protection of that frontier he con
d plains Of his limited means: when it is appa
ID rent, from the above statement. that his mean
ne are only limited by his discretion, and that ],
TO has power, at any moment. to order any nun
IS Der from Georgia or South Carolina. He az
10 mits that 5000 men are necessary 10 subdr
lie these Indians, and hr has but 900 under b
III his command. Now, I ask Why it IS that ]
re- has not those 5000 men in the field that
IS, deems necessary.
p He and he alone is responsible. for all Il
'cr live. and property Of the inhabitants that IN,
d- be destroyed forthe want n that profession as
TO- security, which every eitisea " the republ
e. has right to look ~ 49, kis gsssrnuaes
eft Added to this, the ieeIiags X ths people !
Dc. outiaged BY representations caiculaied TO q
ter grade and expose them 10 ridicule througho
MS the United States.
These people, you are aware. are sparse
settled over an extensive territory. in detach
neighborhoods, without any dense populati
one to fall back upon, and without any fortifi
un. places in which to place their wives and ch
nee dren for safety. If. upon the first sound
at an alarm, some small neghborhoods should
5 in in pursuit of even five Indians, they might
are they did with Gen. SCOTS grand army, dod
int out of the way and fall back upon the won
al and children in the rear. 1t is unneccsss
sat however. to dctain you with these details:
as complaint make is that Major General Sc
has left that country without adequate prot
be. tion and has not a sufficient force either
for offensive or defensive operations. He has p
t to duced a state Of feeling that forbids all harm
and nv or concert with the local authorities or p
pre- pie Of the country: and the public interests
hem pcrously require his immediate withdrawal
not have the honor to be, with high conside
end tions of respect. sir, your most obedcnt S
true want. JOS. n. WHITE
par To ANDREW JACKSON.
our President Of the United States.
enc. Endorsement ON the back OF the above lett
hers Col Jos. NJ. White. Of Florida, requests
rain withdrawal of General Scott from the comma
min Of Florida.
I SO A copy Of this letter to be sent to Gene
be Scott, with an order withdraw from the &C
i'm mand IN Florida.
ould True copy: R. JOKES, Adjutant General
July l6, is4o.