The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

the case II he had been suffered go into dangerous In
dian country negotiate treaties without such military pro-
lection necessary insure his security and the alb
sence Of which would, in all probability, have frustrated
the very object for which he went
Mr. HUNTER little while ago the senator asked a
question in relation to Mr. coiers's expedition. Does he
wish IL answered nowi
Mr.. PEARCE. Certainly.
MIR HUNTER. have not by me the papers containing
Of the expenses Of The transportation Of the
petition Of Mr. cocr but think the expense about
$1,000
MIR. PEARcE That was the whole expense OF the
outfit and escort as furnished BY the ouarermasers de-
partment
Mr. HUNTER. would ask the senator IL he Is certain
that includes the expenses Of the troops composing the
eers-for certainly understood differently from General
Jesup.
ence, bat does cover their transportation.
Mr. HUNTER. understood that that amount did not
include the expence Of the troops Of the escort got my
Information through the Commissioner Of the Customs
addressed General Jesups Office ia order get the nfor
nation, and he sent TO letter in which he states that
no rendered by Mr.. Collier, SUITE for
the properly which they took with them and far The
records Of The Office snow aecount was ever rendered
regard q tho public properly which they toos
Mr.. PEARCE was furnished with statement that
the expence for the outfits and Of civil agents in that
expedition amounted 10 the mentioned by the gentle
man from Vngnia-S34 600 This does not include the
pay of the troops but includes all hs pur bases that
made for the transportation Of the troops and of their
supplies. We not 10 suppose that the S34 900
private fund.- put into the pocket OF this civil agent and
pended for his individual benefit II fund which
escort. II there any small pecuation the part of
Mr.. Collier, know nothing OF it, and have %
believe such to have been the fact take n for granted thar
the officers of the army who commanded the
responsible for the army property put into their
for the purposes Of the escort Ii Mr. Collier had any small
Of the public property under his charge and appro
priaed il to his It great disgrace to him but
does not authorize charge against the administration Of
General Taylor Of waaton expenditure Of $4,000, if
that had gons into the collectors pocket and had been
used solely for his purposes Still less the present
administration be held liable for abuse occurring in
their time, neither sanctioned by them known TO
them.
But about certain advantages hat arise from
sending troops through the Indian territory Ii the policy
OF very best military commanders, in those distant
divisions TO keep our troops moving among the Indians
That il the only way pacy them-to them into
quieo secure protection emgrans, going across
their wild and desoae pans TO prevent the Indians
ing boundaries lnto Mexico whose territories
bound by treaty stipulation protect from their ncursons
You cannot keep permanent force everywhere in the
Indian country Thatwould be IMPOSSIBLE if you had the
wealth Of Cresus, and willing thus expend it,
because the country is vast and sterile and affords
of subsistence But it is, obviously proper
Of keeping these Indians quiet send deachens of troops
their country, at different times often may be- and
such expense will not be ntoerable the treasury
IL is precisely that policy which Mr. Polk pursued, when
he the rifle regiment Oregon He did send them
by but across the plains, at the expense of
s226000. have the vouchers by me for the
do charge that Improperly Mr. Folks admin
istraonnot at all. But the will recollect that
preceding session of Congress- the chairman of the Com
mItee of Ways and Means in the House of Representatives
Mr.. BAYLy spoke OF this as most improvldent thing
while he said the arrangements made by the presen, Secre
tary OF War to bring that regiment back extremely
jadicious and ''of the economical kind" presume
thought that the rife regiment wanted in that
country where the Indians pacific than elsewhere
and where troops of this description useful
But the policy which induced MIR. Polk send that
ride regiment overland Oregon and establish military
along that route and the gentleman appoint
ed the gosernorshp Of that Territory justified General
Taylor in sending such with Mr.. Collier San
Francisco
Mr.. HUNTER have now the letter of the Secretary
Of War the Commissioner Of Customs which referred
Il is in these words
"WAa DEPARTMENT,
Washington, April IL, 1859.