New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-01
TIE FLORIDAINDIANs.

TIE FLORIDA INDIANS.
On the 20th Of Jan. the President sent to she
Senate a Message in relation to the Florida
Indians Of which the following is an extract
Rave the honor herewith % transmit a repor. from
the Secretary OF the Interior from which IL sppears that
the efforts Of tst department. - inloce the Indians -
nlsining IN Florida 20 migrate RE country assigned 70
their tTl5c, West Of the MssnEpp have been entirely
unsuccessful.
The President goes on further to say that
the military force now in the State is
Inadequate 20 capture or expe them even 10 protest
the white settlements from their incursions.
He, however, declines 10 make any recon-
mendation. and submits the whole matter TO
Congress for such seton as they may deem
best" Accompanying this message is COM
muncation from the Secretary of the Interior,
from which Y extract the following succinct
statemen. of the relation which these Indians
now hold toward the authorities Of the United
States:
A early a. the 9th Of May 1892 treaty was entered
into with the SemnOles known As the Treaty Of Paynss
Landing by which they relnqushed s their claims 10
lands in Florida and bound themselves 70 remove there
from within three years When that time had expired
they refused 20 comply with theteTs OF the treaty and
resort had 10 military force to expel them from the
country A fierce struggle ensued which lasted for
more than six years snd sfter vast expenditure OF
blood and treasure, the Government found tset bshef
in al rs attempts drive them from their hauuts 10 the
svsups and forests with which the country abounds.
and which inaccessible TO the regular troops.
Finding the efforts of the army frutless, an
arrangement was subsequently made in lSi5,
by Mr.. Polk, which established neutral ter
ritory of twenty miles in width, Gin which all
white settlements were forbidden,) along the
entire border Of district within which the
Indians were allowed to remain. Things stood
in this way till last summer, when deputatlon
of Indians, headed by the Chief Of the tribe,
Captain Billy Bowlegs, visited Washington,
and there concluded treaty with Mr. Lea,
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, by which
they agreed to go home and get their people
TO emigrste at the " earliest possible day"
But the Indians held council in December
aud repudisted that treaty. and threatened to
depose Billy and elevate his sister to the chief
command. Whether this tawny chieftain, like
some ether rulers of more distinguished pre-
tensions and wider renown, has conniyed at
this violation of the treaty, aud encourages
perfdy toward the otherh high contracting party,
or whether he is acting in good faith, we are
left to infer from our knowledge of barbarian
duplcity, when tutored by semicivilized race
living in constant hostility toward, and losing
no opportunity Of inficting summary vengeance
upon, their savage foes.
The plan now recommended by Gen. Blake,
(who was sent down with Billy to superintend
the execution of the treaty. to accomplish the
final expulsion of the remnant of this little
band of ScminoIes, is to send out surveying
parties under military escort, and so corner
and capture, or shoot them in detail. This
plan is sanctioned by the Commissioner, Mr..
Lea. Meantime, Mr.. Senator Mallory, in
letter dated the 9Th of January, calls upon the
Secretary OF the Interior for
prompt 70 compel the removal OF this band
OF cutthroais who have outraged every feeling OF hu
mainly, and whose trcsehery demands the s1eTnes cor
rection."
And the Governor of Florida announces, I'M
der date Of the 10Th ulto., TO Secretary Stuart,
that he has, in consequence Of the unprotected
state of the frontier, ordered a regiment of
mounted volunteers into service for its protec-
ton.
Thus stands the case Of the Seminoles TO-
day. We are apparently entering on chapter
I'd of the history of the attempt of the United
States Government TO expel the Florida In
dians The war, which has sluInbered since
1893, il would appear, is now about TO be re-
newed. If it fairly opens, gentlemen need not
distress themselves about the surplus in the
National Treasury. Florida viii take il at a
gulp