Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-22

customs in California There is manfestly nothing very
extraordinary in this. do not know that the troops
which escorted Mr.. Collier out in order to
cruit the army in California do not undertake to
that But the Senator has stated that Mr. Collier went
out with great outfit and if understood him Alright,
that when he got California outfit was turned
over to the public service ought to have been but
was appropriated to his ask the Senator If he
furnish any evidence in support of his charge
it thing which he takes for granted? Is there any
official evidence of the fact?
Mr. GwIS, / 50 understood the chairman of the Com
mittee on Finance who had made inquiry in regard to the
subject.
Mr. PEARcE. Then the Senator made another mistake
that is ALL AS regards the sending of military escorts
these occasions seems to me very manifest that if You
going to send public agent thousands of miles from
the seats OF your civilization through barren and nhos
pitabe wastes where no civilized lives, but where
the hercest and most warke savages in search Of
plunder, you would send military with him,
less you wanted to have his scalp taken II you send
money with him he will lose that and his scalp too unless
ne be protected by military force In point Of fact
from the very foundation Of the Government when civil
employees have been sent into hostile Indian terri
tory into territory where though the Indians were
not hostile they yet occupied such doubtful attitude
that man could say when they would become hostile
military escorts have been employed for their protection
suppose nobody knows that better than the Senator
from Michigan, Mr. CAss take it for granted though
do not know the fact that in the course Of his expe-
rence he has availed himself of military escorts many
times in making Indian treaties recolect that on look
ing at of the treaties which he made, found the
names of number Of officers of the army appended to it
as witnesses. suppose they part Of the escort
which protected him. No would deplore deeply
than should do any negligence of the Government in past
times, by which that honorable gentleman should have
been lost to the country, might have been the case if
he had been suffered to into dangerous Indian
try to negotiate treaties without such military protection
necessary his security and the absence
of which would in all probability have frustrated the very
object for which he went
Mr.. HUNTER. A little while ago the Senator asked
question in relation Golfers expedition Does
wish it answered now?
Mr.. PEARcE. Certainly.
Mr.. HUNTER. have not by me the papers containing
account of the expenses of the transportation of the
expedition of Mr.. Collier but think the expense
about 1874 000
Mr. PEARcE. That the whole expense Of the outfit
and escort the sdepartment
Mr. HUNTER | would ask the Senator If he is certain
that includes the expenses of the troops composing the
escort for certainly understood differently from Gen.
Jesup.
Mr. PEARcE. 1t does not include their pay or subsist-
ence, but does cover their transportation
Mr. HUNTER. | understood that that amount did not
include the expense of the troops of the escort got
information through the commissioner of the customs.
addressed Gen. Jesups Office in order to get the nforma
ton and he letter. in which he states that
account rendered by Mr. Collier SUITE for the
property which they took with them and far as the
records of the office show account was ever rendered
in regard to the public property which they teok.
Mr. PEARcE. was furnished with statement that
the expense for the outfits and Of civil agents in
that expedition amounted to the sum mentioned by the
gentleman from VirgnaS34 900. This does not include
the pay of the troops but it includes all the purchases
that made for the transportation of the troops and Of
their supplies We not to suppose that the $34
private fund.- put into the pocket of this civil agent
and expended for his individual benefit 1t was fund
which expended in the purchase Of every thing
cessary for the escort II there any small pecuaton
on the part of Mr. Collier know nothing Of it and
have to believe such to have been the fact
take it for granted that the officers Of the army who
the
put into their possession for the purposes of the escort
If Mr. Collier had sny smsn Of the public proper
under his ons<gs ana ss ! g ~ OWN use
charge against 6e administration Of usn >xlor of
wanton expenditure Of $4,000, as II that sum go.s
into the collectors pocket and had been used soe ior
his own purposes Still less the present Admnisra
ton be held liable for abuse not occurring in their
time neither sanctioned by them nor even known to
them.
But was about to state certain advantages that arise
from sending troops through the Indian territory 1t Is
the policy of very best military commanders in those
distant divisions to keep troops moving among the
Indians That as the only way to pacify them to over
them into quiet to protection to our emgrants
going their wild and desoae plains to prevent the
Indians crossing boundaries into Mexico, whose ter
rores bound by treaty stipulation TO protectfrom
their ncursions You cannot keep permanent force
every where in the Indian country That would be i'm
possible if you had the wealth of Crsus, and were will
ling thus expend it. because the country is too vast and
sterile, and affords of subsistence But il is
obviously proper Of keeping these Indians quiet
to send detachmens of troops into their country at f
erent times as often as may be- and OF such expense
as will not be ntoerabe the Treasury 1t is precise
that policy which Mr. Polk pursued when he sent the
rifle regiment to Oregon He did not send them by sea-
but across the plains at an expense Of over
have the vouchers by me fof cha amount do not charge
that an inproprety on Mr. Polks aamplsuauoni not
at all But the Senate will recolect that at preceng
session of Congress the chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means in the House Of Representatives, mir
BAyLY,) spoke Of this "most improyident thing,
while he said the arrangements made by the present Sc
creary of War TO bring that regiment back were ex
tremely judcious and Of the most economical kind
presume he thought that the rife regiment was not
wanted in that country where the Indians are more pa
cc than elsewhere and where troops of this description
not SO useful But the policy which induced
Mr. Polk to send that rifle regiment overland to Oregon
and to establish military posts along that route and 70
protect the gentleman appointed the Governorshp Of
that Territory justified Gen. Taylor IN sending such an
escort with MIR. Collier to San Francisco.
Mr.. HUNTER. have the letter of the Secretary OF
War to the Commissioner of Customs to which referred
IL is in these words:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, APRrL LIZ, 1852.
S have received your letter Of the 3st ultimo request
ing informed whether property any part there
Of had been turned to the Quarermaser department
by Collector Collier when he reached his destination and the
amount In reply thereto have the honor 10 inform you
that Ear this Department informed no part Of the pro-
pery has been accounted for II believed that the whole
Of ii lost left the route though on this point tina
Department has official information.
Very respectfuly your obedient servant
C. NJ CONRAD, Secretary Of War
Hon. C. W. ROCKWELL, Commissioner of Customs.
Mr. PEARcs II the property was lost or lsf the
route as the Secretary supposes it not converted
his own use by Mr. Collier Mr. Collier was nominated
10 the Senate as Collector Of the Customs If he had
basely abused his trust and peculaed upon the public