"and the idea that such men will remain idle, with arms in their hands..."

   "But, sir, I deny that it will be an extravagant plan; my only fear is, that the inducements held out to settlers will prove insufficient; if in the end, however, they should turn out to be ample, with me it will never be a source of regret; for, in my estimation, there is no man half so Well entitled to a full and fair portion of the public domain, as he who has periled his life in its conquest or defence. If one-half of the number contemplated by this bill, can be induced to settle within the limits and on the conditions proposed, I shall have no apprehension of its complete success; and, if they do not, why nothing will be lost. It has been urged against the bill, that the settlers, when there, are required to do nothing, and are to be fed for one year in the bargain. Unless the feeding of our army has been greatly improved since I was in the habit of drawing rations, I fear it will prove a very slight temptation, to lure men from the haunts of civilization, and induce them to become residents of the wilderness, where they have nothing to expect but hardship and danger. None will go but men of courage and enterprise, and the idea that such men will remain idle, with arms in their hands, and the foe within their reach, is a reflection upon the character of the country refuted by every leaf and line of its history. It must also be borne in mind, that the settler is to derive no kind of advantage from his settlement until the war is ended; and if he is to be acted on by interest alone, that alone will prompt him to lend all his energies to bring it to a close. But, sir, had they no interest at stake, place such a body of men in such a situation, with arms in their hands, and let one cry of murder reach their ears, and I defy you to keep them from the contest. You had as well tell me that the passengers in a sinking ship would not lend their aid to keep it above the waves, because they were not part of the regular crew."

[SPEECH OF W.O. BUTLER, OF KENTUCKY, IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, IN REPLY TO MR. BIDDLE AND MR. HUNT UPON THE APPROPRIATION FOR SUPPRESSING HOSTILITIES IN FLORIDA, DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 11 1840. WASHINGTON: PRINTED BY BLAIR AND RIVES. 1840. Pg. 27]