The daily union., 1852-09-12

scented the amendment BEFORE state that the money ha,
already been appropriated.
Mr.. MALLORY. Yes, sir.
Mr. BRIGHT. And that all that was required wa,
authority from the general government to entlle Flonda
Nr WELLER. WELLER To receive il.
Mr. BRIGHT. No; understand that the money has
been appropriated TO the State OF Florida but that legs
lason is now necessary 10 order to give Florida The
right TO pay it out understood the senator from For
da 70 take that ground should be glad 10 hear him ex-
MIR, MALLORY. The explanation is very simple
10 reimburse Florida for The expenses OF supprcssng
Indian hostites in 1919. Congress passed act grant
ing $4,000 la adjusting the claims OF Florida for the
money paid, the accounting officers were compelled Ia
yay her troops less money than the same description OF
troops m the army entitled TO by law Ii was sug
gesled by the accounting officers that this unjust
ana resolution TO remedy it prepared under their
direction, and submitted TO the Committee on Military
Affairs member OF that committee returned the res.
ouion TO me- saying that il covered too much ground
and suggested 10 me 10 prepare one placing Florida the
sams ground as other Sates--vz paying her mounted
yofshieers eight dollars month. instead OF seven dol
lars month That is the whole ground OF the amend.
men Il simply places Florida. in that respect, on an
equality with other States
Mr.. BRIGHT | am not yet satisfied Il is said that
there will be an end of time but doubt whether there
will be end OF the claims that Florida will pre-
sent for money to pay for this class OF demands which
they alege they have against the treasury OF the United
States. There has been money appropriated out oil
The public treasury 10 pay claims in Florida arising from
Indian hostes and in various other modes and forms,
than in any other little State in the United States.
Mr.. WELLER, Tin his seat) There has been grea,
deal OF lighting there.
Mr.. BRIGHT confess do not understand this
claim, and for that reason am unwilling TO vote for il,
am willing TO undertake to pay claims in Florida upon
the same principle that we have paid claims in Virginia,
by ac OF Congress passed for the reef OF Virginia
but they may be very ifeen and rest upon very
different foundations say do not profess to understand
this case. 1t may be just but If it were so, why did
the Committee on Military Affairs decide against il,
II il be just claim why has it not been paid long
since' Various applications have been made TO Con-
gress from time to time by Florida to pay this class OF
claims; and confess frankly that suspect all these
claims, and inclined TO believe that they have not
merit In them.
MI MALLORY. Mr. President if the honorable
senator from Indiana had given single reason why
this amendment should not be adopted, would submit al
once He says he suspects this claim Why, sir, un.
desland that the amendment has been prepared by the
Military Committee. 1t has certainly been prepared by
member OF that committee, and only could pre-
pare it. lie drew II up and submitted il to me- and had
so much confidence in his judgment that | did not take
the trouble TO read it entirely through This is not the
same amendment which prepared with the consent Of
of the officers OF the treasury and offered this morn
II is said that Florida has received great deal Of
money from the treasury. deny it, sir But when she
gets thousaDdth part from the scrapngs OF the treasury
which the great West (Which the senator from Indiana
n part represenis gets then may come here and plead
guilty of getting 100 much. When Florida gets paid
housandlh part of her just claims for which she now
conendng, then she may be open 10 the imputalion OF
getting something from the United States This govern
ment eHgaged years ago the savage tribes OF n
dians IRON Florida whohad kept the State In CONSERVATION
and nproar for over ten years. and we repeatedly called
out troops, whom The government OF the United States
was pledged in honor and faith TO pay and when we
ask 10 be paid for them are answered that we have
received too much money for this description OF claims
Is that the way treat claim presented here by SOW
ereign Slate Why. you have voted appropriation after
appropriation OF this sort TO oher Saics and why should
you deny il TO Florida
When the gentleman Gays he suspects the amendment,
lei him point out where any suspicion upon lies. These
accounts now before the accounting officers of the
treasury and il has been suggested TO by these officers
10 prepare some such proposition as this that justice re-
quIred it, and the moment II passed they would pay
the money And this amendment does not cover so much
ground as Their recommendation.
Mr. M0Rl0 Mr.. President regret very much
that this little amendment has elected any discussion II
is very simple question BY The act OF 1851 there were
900 appropriated for the reimbursement OF Florida for
moneys advanced and paid by that State and for obga
incurred in the suppression oil Indian hostIes in
lst9 These obligations were incurred by Florida in
calling out her troops for the purpose OF suppressng these
hoslites The difficulty has arisen as TO the difference
between the pay OF cavalry and mounted III Florida
had paid her cavalry IA mounted men, there would have
been difficulty; but the comptroller in the settlement
OF the accounts thought that he bound by the act Of
1885, which provided that the troops called out for the
suppression OF Indian hosties in the Florida war
should be paid as infantry Florida called out mounted
men, and She under her State laws. paid them as cav
alypaid them al the rate OF egh, dollars per month, in
stead Of dollars per month"; the pay Of infantry II
is therefore simply intended by this amendment TO REIN
burse Florida for the additional dollar per month which
she has paid TO those The amount is very incon
Siderable and II is not asking OF the Senate to add at this
time one dollar 10 the appropriation bill, but II is simply
TO apply dollar per month out OF the $4,000 appro
pria,ed in 1851, opay these troops as mounted men,
regret exceedingly that the honorable senator from
Indiana should have thought proper this occasion 10
make what consider fling a, Florida.
Mr.. BRIGHT. did not intend TO do 30.
Mr.. MORTON. II is true that the Indian in
Florida cost this government immense amount OF
Florida Forty millions have been expended in that
warnot for the benefit OF the people Of Florida but for
the benefit OF the army OF the United States and the
hangers-on OF that army. have citizens
Of the Stale oil Florida who benefited 81 900 by the
Florida war Many OF the citizens OF that State lost
si00o0,O00 which has been laid TO the charge OF the
people OF Florida did inure their benefit, but the
benefit OF the army and its hangers-on.
Mr.. RUSK. There is another ground upon which this
appropriation, rather this diversion OF an existing ap-
propiaon ought, il to me, to be granted. By
the law under which the accounts were settled al the
auditors officer, there distinction drawn between
these and other troops and that distinction amounts 10
the pitfu sum Of one dollar month Now, the prop
osition is 10 put Florida upon equality with every
other State in the Union The money has been appro-
prated, and IN the treasury and II seems To me to
be eminenuy just allow the money to be paid to Flor
ia in the that other States have been paid
IL has been sd that the Florida has cost the Uni
ted States great deal That true, but II has cost
Florida II has broken mp her settlements. Her
people have lost nearly all their property Nay. more
many of them--men women, and childmn--who were
entitled to protection by the strong OF this govern
ment, lost their lives II seems TO me that II Is perfectly
reasonable and emneny Just 10 pu, these troops the
same footing with similar troops who served IN other
States.
a. 4. ~.