It is well to pause for a moment and reflect upon some of the deeper motives that entered into the impending contest.  A distinguished congressman,[1] speaking in the House of Representatives a few years later, touched eloquently upon some of the events of these troublous years.  Let us remember that this was the time of the formation of anti-slavery societies, of pronounced activity on the part of the abolitionists, and recall also that Nat Turner’s insurrection was still fresh in the public mind.  Giddings stated clearly the issue as it appeared to the people of the North when he said, “I hold that if the slaves of Georgia or any other state leave their masters, the Federal Government has no constitutional authority to employ our army or navy for their recapture, or to apply the national treasure to repurchase them.”  There could be no question of the fact that the war was very largely one over fugitive slaves.  Under date October 28, 1834, General Thompson wrote to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs:  “There are many very likely Negroes in this nation [the Seminole].  Some of the whites in the adjacent settlements manifest a restless desire to obtain them, and I have no doubt that Indian raised Negroes are now in the possession of the whites.”  In a letter dated January 20, 1834, Governor Duval had already said to the same official:  “The slaves belonging to the Indians have a controlling influence over the minds of their masters, and are entirely opposed to any change of residence.”  Six days later he wrote:  “The slaves belonging to the Indians must be made to fear for themselves before they will cease to influence the minds of their masters....  The first step towards the emigration of these Indians must be the breaking up of the runaway slaves and the outlaw Indians.”  And the New Orleans Courier of July 27, 1839, revealed all the fears of the period when it said, “Every day’s delay in subduing the Seminoles increases the danger of a rising among the serviles.”

[Footnote 1:  Joshua R. Giddings, of Ohio.  His exhaustive speech on the Florida War was made February 9, 1841.]

All the while injustice and injury to the Indians continued.  Econchattimico, well known as one of those chiefs to whom special reservations had been given by the treaty of Fort Moultrie, was the owner of twenty slaves valued at $15,000.  Observing Negro stealers hovering around his estate, he armed himself and his men.  The kidnapers then furthered their designs by circulating the report that the Indians were arming themselves for union with the main body of Seminoles for the general purpose of massacring the white people.  Face to face with this charge Econchattimico gave up his arms and threw himself on the protection of the government; and his Negroes were at once taken and sold into bondage.