WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1853
398
authorities of Florida from giving to the subject that considera- tion [to] which I think it is entitled. I am satisfied ·that the Indians would go to the West, and would unite with their brethren, provided suitable agents were sent for that purpose, by whom the wishes of the Government might be communicated to them, and if all irritation between ;the citizens of Florida and the Indians was allayed. Since I came into the Senate of the United States, hardly a session has passed that claims from Florida have not come up to an enormous amount to defray the expenses of calling out the· militia by that State to aid in the suppression of Indian hosfilities. We have had claims for pay and for losses to an immense amount. Really I do not know that any State has ever received the same amount of appropriations for defensive purposes which Florida has received. Mr. President, if you authorize the President of the United States to do that which is proposed by this amendment, he will have but little discretion left to him. Sir, a case can always be made out of sufficient strength and sufficiently imposing in its character to require the President to act in conformity with the requisition of the Governor of that State; tor if he does not, clamors will be raised that he has permitted its citizens to be butchered. Now, sir, I will guarantee, that if these Indians are let alone, and not encroached upon until proper appliances can be made by the present Executive, they will be removed, and possibly without bloodshed, and we shall thereby be saved the expenditure .of several hundred thousand dollars; for if you keep but one regiment of Flordia militia in the field for one year, the expense would probably be $1,200,000 ; and this for the purpose of killing a hundred Indians. The militia can never conquer Indians. The Indians have their hammocks and their places of retreat, which are inaccessible to the militia. As I have said, a regiment of mounted men in Florida would probably cost $1,200,000 for one year's service; it would there- fore be a great saving if you were to appropriate $10,000 or $15,000, and place it in the hands of some agent, who would expend it for the real advantage of the Indians, and in furnishing them the necessary supplies. Starvation often drives the Indians to war and to encroachments. Individuals go and hlll their stock, or commit some outrage upon them, which incenses them, and that is generally the cause of hostilities on their part. I have lived nearly to the age of three score, and I never, during
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