Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-27
NATIONAL INTELbIGENCER.
THE FLORIDA INDIANS.


tration on the subject of the removal or the nom
removal Of the Indians in the State OF Florida.
The Administration has no right to expect exemp-
ton from assaults from such sources, nor is any
such exemption claimed for it Yet when truth
and Justice are sacrificed in order to give color to
these attacks, their importance must not be regard
ed as magnifed in too high degree if we give to
them sufficient attention to expose their falsity
The number of Indians in Florida is variously
estimated at from $50 to 500 The latter number,
we think, is nearest the mark or let us say that
they number 400. Since 1882, when treaty to
that effect was entered into with Them it has been
the earnest desire of the United States Government
to procure their removal to the far-off West En-
treaty, fair promises brbes and coercion have been
successfully resorted to in vain The lives Of our
soldiers have been sacrificed millions Of money
have been expended, and many years have passed,
yet the object is still unattained. They remain in
their swamps and everglades, whittier the white man
may pursue them in vain.
During the Administration of President Tyler
some faint efforts were made to carry out the stpu-
atons Of the treaty Of 1892 but they were attend
ed with very meagre success. During the term of
President Polk, ho,oerer, qe can find no record
either of results or sceldtrected attempts to accom-
plish any thing IN The premises achile IN tie Erecs-
the communications to Congress on The subject
throughout that wAole period notonly as evidence not
borne Of any movements being attempted, but a
total absence IS exhibited of any ascertained and
approved course of action. Yet the treaty of 1889
was then in being, and as imperatively demanding
its fulflment as at present!
In 1912 an arrangement was entered into with them
by Gen Worth, in which, under certain conditions
permission was given to them to remain within GER
tain boundaries in Florida This arrangement was
but temporary" and this fact was distinctly ex-
pressed in its terms yet it was probably the best
that could then be made through the agency of the
military representatives of the United States to
whose charge the Indians had been committed. In
deed, whole series of military operations in that
peninsular have proved the ineffciency of that
branch of the Executive power to accomplish the
object in view.
During Gen. TAYLoR's Administration the con-
duct of these mischievous and misled savages de-
manded in peculiar manner the restraining infu-
ence of the Government, and military expedition
was dispatched thither to protect the exposed inha
bltants OF Florida, and again to urge the removal
OF the Indians but its results, long and costly
experience had foreboded, as pro6tless as pre-
ceding efforts. The millions of expenditure were
being daily augmented, alike without profitable issue
or the acquisition Of fame or glory by our army.
Such was the aspect of the subject when the
affairs of the Seminole Indians were wisely trans
ferred by the present Administration from the War
to the Home Department. The people of Florida
were also earnestly appealing to the General Gov
eminent for adequate protection and the accomplish
ment of its treaty stipulaons which were regarded
by them as pledge from the Government to re-
heve them OF an annoyance alike vexatious in its
character and detrimental to the present interests
and future prosperity of the State
The whole amount of costs to the Government of
its attempts to remove these Indians since 1882,
both direct and Indirect cannot readily be ascer.
tanned but when we say that it has amounted to
tens of millions of dollars we speak within the
limits Of truth. Yet who can tell how much nearer
our last military effort brought US to the consum-
nation OF our purpose than we were at any pre-
vious time since the commencement of our labors?
We have many well-grounded reasons for believing
that, so far from having made any nearer approach
to the accomplishment of this object the Seminoles
appeared even more reluctant than ever to quit their
homes in the everglades and that their expectations
of recompense, if obliged finally to yield to our de-
mands, higher than they ever had been before.
This was the attitude of the subject when the
present Commissioner of Indian Affairs assumed the
control Of these Indians No plan for the accom-
phshment OF our purpose appeared to exist the
vague efforts of the past only exceeded in vague
ness by the undetermined course to be pursued in
the future yet from every section Of Florida and
the adjacent portions of Georgia and Alabama the
entreaties of the people were pouring in upon the
Government, invoking by some means the removal
of the Indians, whose mpregnable position, whose
revengeful feelings, and whose predatory habits rem
dered them hated and dreaded race
The indications Of a sound policy and the prompt
ings Of humanity equally concurred in inducing the
Commissioner to waive the agency of military force
and intimidation, and to endeavor through pentler
means to operate upon this unenlightened and hard
ened people. Accordingly, Gas we are informed in
his annual report of November 27, 1851, accompa-
nying the Presidents Message he " determined %
test the efficiency Of indioiduai enterprise stimulat
ed By the hope Of gam, contingent on success" Of
this plan he says that he is not sanguine of its sue
cess but deems it worthy trial, as, off it fail Me
loss to the Government piU be but a mere trife if
it succeed, the gratifying result will amply yindi-
cate the wisdom of the experiment"
The agent specially selected for this duty (Gen
LUTHER BLAKE, of Alabama) is man Of whose
peculiar and eminent fitness for the duty the most
ample and satisfactory evidences exist; and the
terms upon which he assumed the task fully attest
the confidence he feels in his ability to perform it
These terms are that the expenses Of all the work
preliminary to the removal OF the Seminoles shall
be sustained by the Government, to any amount not
exceeding 000 and that he shall receive no other
recompense except the production Of the certificate