Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850Benton, Thomas Hart
History
Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850
Benton, Thomas Hart
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
The senator from South Carolina speaks of the large force which
was committed to General Jesup, and the little that was effected
with that force. Is the senator aware of the extent of the country
over which his operations extended? that it extended from 31 to 25
degrees of north latitude? that it began in the Okefenokee swamp in
Georgia, and stretched to the Everglades in Florida? that it was
near five hundred miles in length in a straight line, and the whole
sprinkled over with swamps, one of which alone was equal in length
to the distance between Washington City and Philadelphia? But it
was not extent of country alone, with its fastnesses, its climate,
and its wily foe, that had to be contended with; a new element
of opposition was encountered by General Jesup, in the poisonous
information which was conveyed to the Indians' minds, which
encouraged them to hold out, and of which he had not even knowledge
for a long time. This was the quantity of false information which
was conveyed to the Indians, to stimulate and encourage their
resistance. General Jesup took command just after the presidential
election of 1836. The Indians were informed of this change of
presidents, and were taught to believe that the white people had
_broke_ General Jackson--that was the phrase--had _broke_ General
Jackson for making war upon them. They were also informed that
General Jesup was carrying on the war without the leave of Congress;
that Congress would give no more money to raise soldiers to fight
them; and that he dared not come home to Congress. Yes, he dared not
come home to Congress! These poor Indians seem to have been informed
of intended movements against the general in Congress, and to have
relied upon them both to stop supplies and to punish the general.
Moreover, they were told, that, if they surrendered to emigrate,
they would receive the worst treatment on the way; that, if a child
cried, it would be thrown overboard; if a chief gave offence, he
would be put in irons. Who the immediate informants of all these
fine stories were, cannot be exactly ascertained. They doubtless
originated with that mass of fanatics, devoured by a morbid
sensibility for negroes and Indians, which are now _Don Quixoting_
over the land, and filling the public ear with so many sympathetic
tales of their own fabrication.
General Jesup has been censured for writing a letter disparaging
to his predecessor in command. If he did so, and I do not deny it,
though I have not seen the letter, nobly has he made the amends.
Publicly and officially has he made amends for a private and
unofficial wrong. In an official report to the war department,
published by that department, he said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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