The essential policy of General Jesup has been to induce the Indians to come in--to surrender--and to emigrate under the treaty. This has been his main, but not his exclusive, policy; military operations have been combined with it; many skirmishes and actions have been fought since he had command; and it is remarkable that this general, who has been so much assailed on this floor, is the only commander-in-chief in Florida who has been wounded in battle at the head of his command. His person marked with the scars of wounds received in Canada during the late war with Great Britain, has also been struck by a bullet, in the face, in the peninsula of Florida; yet these wounds--the services in the late war with Great Britain--the removal of upwards of 16,000 Creek Indians from Alabama and Georgia to the West, during the summer of 1836--and more than twenty-five years of honorable employment in the public service--all these combined, and an unsullied private character into the bargain, have not been able to protect the feelings of this officer from laceration on this floor. Have not been sufficient to protect his feelings! for, as to his character, that is untouched. The base accusation--the vague denunciation--the offensive epithets employed here, may lacerate feelings, but they do not reach character; and as to the military inquiry, which the senator from South Carolina speaks of, I undertake to say that no such inquiry will ever take place. Congress, or either branch of Congress, can order an inquiry if it pleases; but before it orders an inquiry, _a probable cause has to be shown for it_; and that probable cause never has been, and never will be, shown in General Jesup's case.