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XIIE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
TER M s .
D.iily, per annum, (iL *
Tn-Weekly, par annum,.
if paid in advance, 3
Weekly, per annum, '_ Ht
If paid in advance, • - J 1
new subscriptions must he paid in advance,
must be pitid on u.il L/UHunuiiications
flflc j I,el f ersuf business.
M ESS AGE* I'ROX THE PRESIDENT,
Relative to the Prosecution of the War—Or
ganization of Volunteers, Revenue, df-c., ;
Jn the House of Representatives, on Sa
turday', tlie following message was received
from the President of the United States :
To the Senate and House(f Representatives r>J
the United States:
Congress by the act of the 13?li May hist,
declared, that “by the act of the republic o' '
Mexico, a state of war exists between that
government and the United State.'; and “for
the purpose of enabling tlie government ot the
United States to prosecute said vvarto aspee
<ly and successful termination.’’ authority ;
was vested in the President to employ tlie |
‘•naval and military forces of the United •
{Stales.
It has been my unafierable purpose since i
the commencement of hostilities hy Mexico,
and the declaration of the existence of war !
•by Congress, to prosecute the war in which
The country was unavoidably involved with j
the utmost energy, with a view to its “speedy
and successful termination” by an honorable i
peace.
Accordingly, all the operations of our naval
and military forces have been directed with i
this view. While the sword has been held
in one hand, and our military movements, |
pressed forward into the enemy’s country, |
and its coasts invested by our navy, the fen
der of an honorable peace has been constant
ly presented to Mexico in the other.
Hitherto, the overtures of peace which have
been made by tin's government have not been
accepted by Mexico, With a view to avoid .
a protracted wir which hesitancy and delay !
on our part would be so well calculated to |
produce, 1 informed you, in my annual mes
sage of the Btb December last, that the war
would “continue to be prosecuted with vigor ■
as the best means of securing peace,” and re
commended to your early and favorable con
sideration the measures proposed by the Sec- I
relary of War, in his report accompanying •
that message.
In my message of the 4th January last, \
these and other measures, deemed to be es
sential to the “speedy and successful termi- ■
nation” ot the war, and the attainment of a
just and honorable peace, were recommended
to your early and favorable consideration.
The worst state of things which could ex- j
Ist in a war with such a power as Mexico,
Would be a course of indecision and inactivi- j
tv on our part. Being charged by the cun- j
etitution and the laws with the conduct of '
the war, I have availed myself of all the
means at rny command to prosecute it with
energy and vigor.
The act “to raise for a limited tinrm an ad
ditional military force; and for other pur
poses,” and which authorizes tlie raising of ;
ten additional regiments to the regular army,
to serve during the war, and to be disbanded
at its termination, which was presented tome
On tlie llih inst, and approved on that day,
will constitute an important part ofour mili
tary force. These regiments will be raised
and moved to the scat of war with the least
practicable delay.
It will be perceived that this act makes no
provision for the organization into brigades
and divisions of tlie increased force-which it j
authorizes, nor fur tlie appointment of gener- j
ill officers to command it. It will be proper i
that authority be given by law to make such I
organization, and to appoint, by and with the
advice and consent of tlie Senate, such num
ber of major generals and brigadier generals
as the efficiency of the service may demand.—
Tne number of officers of these grades now
in service are not more than are required for
Ineir respective commands; but further legis
lative action during your present session will,
in my judgment, be required, and to which it
is my duty respectfully to invite your alien- j
turn,
Should the war, contrary to ray earnest de
sire, be protracted to the close ol tlie term of
service of the volunteers now in Mexico, who
engaged for twelve months, an additional vo
lunteer force will probably become necessa
ry to supply their place. Many of the vol- ,
miteers now serving in Mexico, it is not
doubled would cheerfully engage, at the con
clusion of their present term, to serve during
the war. They would constitute a more el- |
ficieiil force than could be speedily obtained
by accepting the services of any new corps |
who might offer their services. They would i
have the advantage of the experience and dis
cipline of a year’s service, and will have be- i
come accusloncd to the climate, and be in j
less danger than new levies of suffering from
the diseases of the country.
I recommend, therefore, that authority be
given to accept the services of such of the
volunteers now in Mexico as the statemf the
public service may require, and who may, at
the termination ol their present term, volun
tarily engage to serve during the war with
Mexico, and that provision lie made for corn- j
missioning the officers. {Should this mea
sure receive the favorable consideration of
Congress, it is recommended that a bounty I
be granted to them upon their voluntarily ex
tending their term ol serv ice. This would
not only be due to these gallant men, but it
would be economy to the governmeutjhecause,
il discharged at the end of the twelve months,
the government would be bound to incur a
heavy expense in bringing them back to their j
homes, and in sending to the seat of war new
corps ol Jresh troops to supply their place.
By the act ot the thirteenth of May last, I
the President was authorized to accept the
services ot the volunteers, “in companies,
batialions, squadrons and regiments,” but no j
provision was made for filling up vacancies j
which might occur by death, or discharges ;
from the service, on account of sickness or j
other casualties. Iu consequence of this
omission, many of tlie corps now in service
have been much reduced in numbers. Nor
" as any provision made for filling vacancies
of regimental or company officers who might I
die or resign. Information has been received '
at the War Department of the resignation of
more than one hundred of these officers.—
I bey were appointed by the State authori
ties, and no information has been received, j
except in a few instances, that their places
have been filled, and the efficiency. of tlie
service has been impaired from this cause.
To remedy these defects, 1 recommend
that authority be given to accept the servi
ce* of individual volunteers, to fill up the
places of such as may die, or become unfit
>-■>." rrr~=r. -~a. ** wcxgcur -r-g-r- ■•.a.tr
for the service and be discharged, and that
provision be also made for filling the places of
regimental and company officers who may
die nr resign. By such provisions, the vo
lunteer corps may bejconstanlly kept full, or
may approximate the maximum number au
thorized and called into service in tlie first
instance.
While it is deemed to be our true policy !
lo prosecute the war in the manner indica
ted, and thus make the enemy feel ho pres
sure an I its evils, 1 shall bo at all times ready,
with the authority conferred on rne by the
constitution, and with all the means which ;
may be placed at ray command by Congress,
to conclude a just and honorable peace.
Os equal importance with an energetic and
; vigorous prosecution ot the war, are the
means required to derfay its expenses,and lo
uphold and maintain the public credit.
Jn my annual message ol' the Bth Decem
ber last, I submitted fur the consideration of
Congress the propriety of imposing, as a war j
measure, revenue duties on some of tlie ar
ticles now embraced in the free list. The
principal articles now exempt from efutv, j
from which any considerable revenue could
be derived, are tea and coffee. A moderate
revenue duty on these articles, il is esiima- i
led, would produce annually an amount ex
ceeding two and a half million of dollars.
Though in a period of peace, when ample
means could be derived from duties on other
articles for tlie support of the government, it
may have been deemed proper not to resort lo i
a duty on these articles; yet, when the country
is engaged in a foreign war, and all ’cur re
sources are demanded to meet the unavoidable |
increased expenditure in maintaining our ur- ,;
mies in the field, no sound reason is perceived
why wo should not avail ourselves of the 1
revenues which may be derived from this ;
source. The objections which have hereto- 1
fore exhted to the imposition of these duties i
were applicable to a slate of peace, w hen they
i were out needed.
W e arc now. however, engaged in a foreign
war. We need money to prosecute it and to
I maintain the public honor and, credit. It cati
' not be doubted that tlie patriotic people of the
I Unified States would cheerfully, and without
! complaint, submit to the payment of this addi-
I tional duty, or any other that may be neces
sary to maintain the honor (if the country*-
provide for tlie unavoidable expenses of ihe j
government, and to uphold the public credit.
| It is recommended that anv duties which may
; be imposed on these articles be limited in i
their duration to the period of the war.
i An additional annual revenue, it isestima- i
j fed, ol’ between half a million and a million of
j dollars, would be derived from the graduation
| and reduction of the price ot such of the pub
i lie lands as have been long offered in the ;
! market at the minimum price established by j
i the existing laws and have remained unsold. |
And, in addition to other reasons commending
i the measure lo favorable consideration, it is
' recommended as a financial measure. The
i duty suggested on tea and coffee, and the
graduation and reduction of the price of the
• public lands, would secure an additional an
nual revenuelo the treasury of not less than
three millions of dollars, and would thereby
j prevent the necessity of incurring a public
: debt annually to that amount, the interest on
which must be paid semi-annually, and ulti
mately the debt itself, by a tax on the people
• it is a sound policy, and one which has
long been approved by the government and
people of the United States, never to resort
to loans unless in cases of great public emer
gency, and then only for the smallest amount
which the public necessities will permit.
The increased revenues which the me-a-ures
: now recommended weld produce, would,
j moreover, enable the government (o negotiate
| a loan, for any additional sum which may be
found to be needed, with more facility, and at
i cheaper rates than can be done without them. .
Under the injunction of the constitution
1 which makes it my duty “from time to time
to give to Congress information cf the state :
j of the Union,and to recommend in their con
! sideration such measures” as shall be judged
“necessary and expedient,” I respectfully and
earnestly invite the action of Congress on
the measures herein presented for their con- j
sideration. The public good, as well as a
sense of my responsibility to our common con
stituents, in my judgment, imperiously de
mand that 1 should present them fur your en
lightened consideration, and invoke favorable j
.action upon them before the close of your
present session. James K. Folk.
Washington, Feb. 13, 1847.
[From the Washington Union, 1 2th inst.]
The .**cnie in ll«e . fc >cna(f.
w e cannot adequately describe the excite
ment which has prevailed for the last three
days in this city. The Senate chamber has 1
been the great centre of attraction, and the j
denouement of the drama has been exhibited
in the vote of this evening, which expels the j
editors of the Union from their privileged j
seats. All the democratic senators have j
voted against the infamous resolution, ex- I
cept those whose names are inserted below. !
They have united with the federal parly in
the {Senate in the miserable, frivolous attempt
to attach a moral degradation upon the char
acter of the editors of this paper. The bond
is sealed, the coalition complete, between
these four men and tlie regularly organized
opposition to the present administration and '
the great democratic party of the Union. In
vain has this administration struggled, and
succeeded in carrying out tlie great and fun
damental principles of the democracy. It
lias done more towards reforming the abases
of the government and putting tlie “ship
upon the republican tack,” than any other
President who has had tlie power to perfect
these reforms, since the days of Thomas
Jefferson. We boldly and fearlessly pro
nounce tlie fact in the face of the world. In
vain have we striven our utmost for nearly
the two last years, and devoted every energy
of mind and body, in co-operating with our
friends of the administration in achieving
these important purposes. And now, be
cause the leader of the little clique, profess
ing to belong to the democratic party, has
become soured and dissatisfied, he and they
have united with the federalists to strike at
us, and through us, to strike at the adminis
tration; and lo effect that object they have
rushed on to strike down the liberty of the
press, consecrated as it is by all the strong
est principles of the democracy; and embalm
ed in the memory of every republican by the
protests of Jefferson and of Madison, against
tlie prosecution of W in. J)uane, and still
more remarkably, against the prosecuting
spirit of the sedition law cf old black-cockade
federalism.
Tell us not that it was this particular |
communication of “Vindicator” which has
invoked their vengeance upon our devoted
head. “Vindicator” might have spoken’in
more courtly phrase; but he spoke with an
honest zeal for the honor cl his country,
jeopard.z?d, as he believed il lo be, by the
opposition in the Senate, (consisting of the
u?ss«. j-zzjx. Jg t - .sc=sgST."~. ~ —pMMHMgMHrp«afe*axs
Federal party and the small balance party of
that body.) indicator 5 ’ might have em
ployed more courtly and polished phrase—
but he virtually spoke llie truth as to the con
sequences of their act. IJ e believed the defeat
ot the ten regiment bill was calculated to
weaken the supplies of the nation in the war
i against Mexico, and therefore he spoke of it
; as a Mexican victory', and for speaking the
trutii as the virtual consequences of the vote,
he denounced that vote, and gave the pretext
to the enemies of the Mexican war to strike
at us—to strike at the administration—and,
: by so doing, to strike down the liberty of the
| press.
I Ihe federal press persecutes the President
without any moderation. It. abuses him in
the most virulent manner. It heaps charge
upon charge, like Peiion upon upon his
| devoted head. 1 here is no punishment for
them. They are Iree from all responsibility.
And yet the senators must punish every free
j press which publishes any communication
Criticizing their course. What gives them a
1 higher claim than the President of the Uni
-1 ted States?
\S e defy them all. and appeal from ambi
tious leaders and their supple followers to the
j people themselves. They will not desert the
cause. What becomes of us is of little
account. \\ e arc but atoms in a powerful
community of twenty millions of people.—
; \\ e invoke no commiseration upon ourselves.
We defy any coalition between tire federal
: party and the mongrel party of the Senate to
: degrade us, or to injure the administration,
j or to stab lire, great constitutional principle
i of a Iree press and free discussion. For one,
we repeat, we nail our flag to the mast, and
under that glorious flag we are prepared to
i stand or to fail.
i The strong and indignant sentiment of the
1 democratic party Unwed in upon ns this cvc
; ning. We h ave not time to dilate upon ti e
subject, but wc content ourselves with laying
i before our readers, as a specimen of the rising
spirit ot the party, the following extract of a
note addressed to us by one of the ablest and
most distinguished republicans of this city :
“1 cannot withhold my word of approba
tion and encouragement, in your controversy
with the Senate. In the first place, you did
no more than your duty, in letting that body
know that it was amenable, through the press,
l to the people for its conduct. You will re
member 1 advised you to this some weeks
ago, and s uggested to you that, at the head
j ot a strong democratic journal of this country,
you wielded a greater power than any mem
i her or clique upon that floor. Perhaps it
was more prudent for you to wait unfii pub-
I lie opinion, in regard to the course ol Con
gress, had more fully developed itself in the
j country, That time has now certainly ar- j
i rivedqaiul I was rejoiced to see thej.-pirif. of the
j people reflected in the columns of the Union.
And the attempt to muzzle you will bo re
garded everywhere as an attempt to stifle the
tree voice of the press. 580 far, you have
nobly vindicated it. Your articles have been j
lofty, dignified, and patriotic—just such as !
the cause and the occasion demanded. And
you will be sustained by the people. You
will not only triumph in this controversy ;
with the Senate; but the inexperienced gen- !
tlcmen who have permitted themselves to be ;
used as the instruments of others, will have :
j to endure the mortification of an ignomini- |
Otis defeat in public opinion.”
We have tune only, at this 1 ite hour in I
the night, to subjoin a few more remarks I
j whick grew out of tin scenes of this memo
rable day. We inform the country, then, that
at a late hour this afternoon, the Senate of
the United States perpetrated a gross outrage ,
upon the liberty of the press by the adoption i
ol the following resolution:
“ Resolved , That the editors of the Union—
j a newspaper published in the city of Wash
j iugton—having, in a publication contained
in a number of that paper dated the 9ih of
February, issued and uttered a public libel
; upon the character of this body, they be ex
cluded from the privilege of admission to the
| floor of the (Senate.”
it is our purpose, without delay, to express !
; at some length our views upon the whole
j character cf this proceeding, upon the pur
poses which it was designed to accomplish,
die pretences alleged to justify it, and the
combination of agencies out of which it
grew. We shall deem it our duty to hold
I the doers of this deed to the whole of their
just responsibility before the people. We
| shall spare no effort to present to the coun
-1 try all the facts, and all the considerations
upon which a sound judgment in this case
depends.
We shall begin the discussion of ths sub
ject in our next publication, when our re
porters will lay a full copy of the proceed-
J ings of this eventful day before our readers.
The professing democrats who united with
the federal party in perpetrating this dis
graceful deed, are the following:
A. P. Butleu, John C. Calhoun, James
D. Westcotx, and David U. Vulee.
The Senate aad Uie Kclinors or the Union.
At the request of several subscribers, who
are anxious to read the article which caused
the expulsion of the Editors of the Washing
ton Union from the floor of the Senate, we
publish it below. It will be seen it is a com
munication whit h appeared in that paper,
[ For the Union, j
Another Flex Scan Victory.
The war now pending between the two
great North American republics is raging
over a widely extended theatre, amd is waged
with a great variety of weapons, and milita
ry stores. A great number of leading cham
pions are figuring in the arena, and the suc
cess is fluctuating.
The war rages along the line of operations
of our army, and on the eastern and western
coasts of Mexico, where our brave soldiers
and sailors carry it on, ani where swords,
small arms, artillery, balls, shells, and rockets
are the weapons and stores. On this part ol
the field of operations we have defeated the
enemy in every conflict where we measured
arms with them.
The floor of Congress is another section
of the field of conflict. There the cause of
Mexico is maintained with zeal and ability;
there the supplies of men and money are at
tempted to be withheld; there the sympathies
of federalism are invoked in their behalf;
there the war is branded with every abusive
epithet, and the President of our country,
who has so successfully vindicated its honor
by his pen, and before whose vigorous arm
the invading enemy has fled into lus strong- ■
hold, is denounced' as a bloody tyrant and
murderer. The halls of Stale legislation
also, so far as Massachusetts and North Car.
olina are concerned, exhibit similar scenes;
there the Mexican cause has triumphed. We
confess the disgraceful fact!
In l (Senate of the United States, on
yesterday* the Mexicans achieved another
victory. The bill for organizing ten regi
ments'ol regular troops having been submit
ted, w ith its amendments, to a committee of
conference of the two houses, that committee
unanimously agreed on a report which was
submitted to them for their approval. The
House of Representatives at once adopted
the report by a very large majority. In the
Senate it was, in its most important feature,
rejected by a majority of six. When the
result was ascertained, a distinguished sen
ator from Georgia exhibited the most marked
tokens ot exultation. It is the same senator
who urges a withdrawal of our army from the
Mexican territory!
If Santa Anna, Ampudia, or any other
Mexican general could snatch from our sol
diers a corresponding \ ictory, we should place
them upon the same elevation where their
compatriots, friends and fellow-soldiers in the
Senate of the United States now stand.
As the friends of the United States have,
on this occasion, sustained a defeat, and the
President been deprived of ten thousand reg
ulars, [should earnestly advise him to throw
himself into the hands of the people, invoke
their love of country, call out the remainder
of the volunteers, and inevitable success will
attend him.
As for the pub'ic will in this country, it
points to a war to the knife if necessary, am
ple indemnity in the enemy’s territory, and
no more namhy pumbtj talk about a desire for
peace! We want reparation for the past,
and security for the failure—and we will
have them. ' VINDICATOR*.
[Freni the Washington Union, 15.7 t inst.]
ton"rtssio»ai
In the Senate, to-day, Mr. Webster sub
mitted the following resolutions:
That the war now existing with
; Mexico ought not to be prosecuted fur, the
acquisition of territory to form new Slates to
be added to this Union.
Resulted, That it ought tube signified to
the government of Mexico, that the govern
ment ot the United Hlates does not desire to
dismember the republic of Mexico, and is
ready to treat with the government of that re
public for peace, for liberal adjustment of
boundaries, and fur just indemnities due by
either government to the citizens of the
Other.
Mr. W . indicated that it was n it his pur
pose to address the (Senate upon the three
million bill now pending, but that he would
do so npon these resolutions afier the bill
was disposed of.
The bill to provide for the construction of
four steam frigates for the navy, was taken
up and passed. The civil and diplomatic ap
propriation bill was reported from the Com
mittee on Finance, with amendment. Mr.
Huntington gave notice that he will call up
the naval appropriation bill to-morrow.
The special order was taken up at 1 o’clock,
and M r. Uagby addressed the (Senate at length
in support of the bill, and upon the various
topics which had been introduced into the
discussions of the past week. When he
had concluded. Mr. Badger ob’ained the
floor, and the Senate went into executive
session, and; after spending seine lime therc
-1 in, adjourned.
in the House, the three million bill* was
I passed, will* tiie Wilmot proviso as the only
; amendment. The vote on the amendment
. was as follows;
\ CAS—?»les>rs Abbott, John Quincy Adams,
j Anderson, Arnold, A-lnnun. Benton, Blan
; chard, Brinkerlioff, Buffington, Willem W.
j Campbell, J. 11. Campbell, Carroll, Cathrart,
tipi -timer, Collin, Cranston, Culver, Cummins,
j tmrragh, Delano, De Mott, Dillingham, Dixon,
I Dunlap, IMsall, Ellsworth, John If, Cuing, Far
i an. Coot, Foster, Fries, Carvin, Biddings, Good
| year,Gordon, Gr.nnell, Grover, Hale, Hamlin,
i Hampton, Harper,Henley, Henry, Huge, Cl has B
; Holm-- 1, Hough, John \V. Ji mston, s>aiiiuei U.
( Huhbard, Hu Con, Hungerford, Washington Hunt
! Janies 15 Hunt, Joseph it lug.-rsoll, Jenkins, Jas.
H. Johnson, h una-dy, Daniel B King, Preston
King, Lawrence. Levin, Lewi--, Maclay, McClel
land, -VlCCrate, Joseph J. McDowell, JleQaughey,
Mc'ivaitie, Marsh, Miller, Moseley, Moulton,
Niven, Non is, IVrrill, Pettit, Pollock, Ramsey,
Rathbun, Ripley. Ritter, Julius Rockwell, Juiui A.
Rockw eil, Root, Rank, Russell, iSawleiD, Scam
| mon, Schenck, Seaman, Severance, Truman
Smith, Starkweather, SC-wart, Strohm, Sykes,
I Albert Smith, Thomas Smith, C. 15. Smith,
B >nj imin Thompson, Janies Thompson, Thurman,
Tiiden, Vance, Vinton, Wentworth, Wheaton,
W hile, W iliiams, Wilmot, Wiuthrop, Wood,
W oodruff, Woodworth, Wright, and Vust —IJ3.
NA\S—Messrs. Stephen Adams, Atkinson,
Barringer, Bayly, Bediuger, Bell, Biggs, James
Black, James A. Black, Bowdon, Bowlin, Boyd,
Brockenbrough, Brodhead, Milton Brown, Wm.
G. Brown, Burl, John G. Chapman, Augustus A.
Chapman, Reuben Chapman, Chase, Chipram,
(harke, Cobh. Cocke, Constable, Cottrell, Crozier,
Cullom, Cunningham, Daniel, Dargan, Garrett
Davis, Dobbsn, Dockery, Douglass, Dromgoole,
Elicit, Erduian, Edwin H. Ewing, Ficklin,Gen
try, Graham, Grider, Haralson, Harm inson, Hil
liard, IsaacE. II lines, Hopkins, George S. Hous
ton, Edmund \V. ilubard. Hunter, Charles
J. Ingersoll, Joseph Johnson, Andrew Johnson,
George \V. Jones, tSeaborn Jones, Kauffman, T.
B. King, Leak, La Sere, Ligon, Long, Lumpkin,
McClean, McClernand, McDaniel, Jas. McDow
ell, McHenry, Mi Kay, John P, Martin, Barclay
Martin, Morris, Morse, Newton, Owen, Parrish,
Payne, Pendleton, Perry, Pilshury, Reid,
Relfe, Rhett, Roberts, (Sawyer, Seddon, Alexan
der D. Sims, Leonard H. Sims, Simpson, Stanton,
Stephens, St. John,Strong, Thibodeaux, Thomas
son, Jacob Thompson, Tibbatts, Toombs, Towns,
Tred .vay,Trumbo, Wick. Woodward and Young
—lO6.
Mr. Brockenhrough attempted the introduc
tion of the following preamble and res
olutions; which were ruled out of order as
not being strictly within the scope of ,“a
question of privilege:”
Whereas it is understood by the House of
Representatives that on Saturday, the thir
teenth instant, in the chamber of the Senate
of the United (States, in open Senate, a sen
ator from the State of Florida used the fol
lowing language, to wit:
‘■l warn the democracy of this country, the
people ol this country, that they do not know
one-twentieth part of tire corruption, the
feculent, reeking corruption, in this respect,
in this government for years past. 1 tell the
people of this country that the government
and institutions of this country have been, and
will be, used as a machine to plunder them
for office beggars, and to perpetuate the
possession of political power. I solemnly
believe, if the people of the United States
knew the manner in which their government
was conducted, if they could be all assembled
at the city ol Washington, they would be ex
cited to kick up a revolution in twenty-four
hours, which would tumble the President,
heads of departments, both houses of Con
gress, democrats and whigs, heels over head
into the Potomac; and 1 believe they would
act right in so doing.”
And whereas silence on the part of this
House may seem an acquiescence in the
. of the remark, and an indisposition or
indill erence to the correction of the evil cm
the part of the representatives of the people;
and whereas, “no member of either House i
can be questioned in any other place for any
speech or debate,” and this House, from the ,
vagueness and want of specification in the
charge, possesses no means of vindication or
investigation, and whereas this House,speak- j
ing only for itself, deems investigation pecu- I
harly necessary, as well from the boundless (
generality, and (he excessive, dangerous,
j and degrading character of the corruption
; charged, as from the high position and lofty
place whence the charge emanates, being
made without formal contradiction, in the
presence of all the States ot the American
Union, and all the great powers of the world,
by their representatives:
Be it liter of tv e resolved by the House of Re
presentatives of the people < J the I ailed States
<f America, That a committee of one mem
ber from each Siateshall be appointed, whose
; duty it Hiaii be to wait upon the Senate of
I the United Slates, at tiie first convenient mo
ment when in open session, and deliver to the
President of the Senate, for the consideration
: of that body, this preamble and these resolu
: lions,and to request the Senate, most respect
i fully, to take such measures as miy seem
best, adapted to procure, as speedily as possi
j ble. the most accurate attainable specifica
tion of persons, times, places, and circuni
l stances intended to be included in the charge,
jin the preamble mentioned,so furas the same
| relates to the House of Representatives, and,
' further, to request most respectfully that the
I Senate will be pleased to communicate the
j result of their proceedings upon that subject
i to this House at the earliest convenient tune,
in such manner as the Senate may deem
I most proper, to the end that such proceedings
may be laid before the American people tor
their information and action, and that ibis
: House may adopt such measures as iu own
| honor and the interests of the people it re
| presents may require.
Ba it further resolved, That the committee
have leave to perform its duties during the
• session of the House,
The committee appointed to report upon
i the disorderly scene in the House, for giving
1 a report of which Mr. Douglass moved to ex
pel our reporter, and which the House re
■ fused to do by a vote of 131 to H, through
■ its chairman, Mr. Douglass, asked, this day,
to be discharged, and were discharged ac
j cordingly.
f Correspondent of the \. (). Dtlta .]
Eucumpmoils of lue Troops, &c. —Mtoxi-
titloi’iflciilioii over l»ie capture of
Jlayh Hfur-guurd—Gen Taylor’s Bear
guard, Ac.
Tampico, Mexico, Jan. 30th, 1817.
Gentlemen. —Yesterday was qu.te a busy
I day in Tampico, and every thing in ihe
military line wore an active appearance.
Besides the numerous wagons that were
moving to and fro about the forage and Com
missary Departments, the hundreds of Mexi
can carts that were hauling the public stores
from the wharves, the division of Gen. Pillow
moved through the town, on,their march to
their new encampment, and taking all things
together, it was with great difficulty that
either a horseman or pedestrian could make
head-way against the moving mass. P was
I on the Plaza, when the head of Pi low’s
i column were passing it, and 1 do not believe
: my anxiety to cross the street caused me to
exaggerate, when I estimated the lime of
; their passing at an hour and a half. The
Tennessee cavalry were in front, numbering
over 700 men, and they seemed to stretch out
; to the length of two miles; then the two regi-
I merits of infantry from the same State, and
in the rear, the Third Regiment of Illinois
Volunteers. The natives were out in large
I numbers, and many were the speculations
! as to whether the mounted men were sure
enough Rangers -from Texas, or merely
Voluntario Cubelleros. The place selected
lor tiie encampment of this division is about
two miles from the town, on the edge of a
i lake, and near to a conspicuous white house,
j which can be seen from all parts ol the town.
I Gen. Quitman has also moved in from the 10
miles, encampment, and is now about half a
mile m the rear of Gen. Twiggs. With these
two divisions encamped so near together, on
tiie same road, it is perfectly lined with
soldiers and officers, going to and coming
i from Tampico, from reveille to retreat. Tins
: is particularly pleasing and valuable to the
I Mexicans who live on the road side, and
j there is not a house or shanty to be found,
that does not exhibit something in the eating
or drinking line for sale. The ardent is pro
hibited and the show bottles contain general
ly beer, cider and wine, but a sober man can
always go into a back place, and obtain
aguardiente * muscal and American whiskey.
We have some latter news from the city of
Mexico, brought by land. The news of the
great fight of Col. May. with the rancheros
in the pass o Santa Rosa, had been received,
and the Chamber of Deputies, had been con
vened in extra session to receive the report
. of the courier. The received account went
i on to state that—2s valiant citizens of the
great Republic of Mexico, seeing 150 or 200
Americans, go through the pass, immediate
ly resolved that they should never return from
| their during adventure, and for this reason
assembled themselves in the narrowest part
of the defile, and when their cnimigos were
I retracing their steps, pounced upon them,
i kilted a number—about 30—took 11. prison
ers and a large train, and effectually scattered
I lire others; and would have iiad the honor of
i sending till the command to the Capitol, had
j they not made such good time out of tiie
passes. A vote of thanks had been tendered
j to the rancheros, and 1 believe the liberty of
the great city, but I have yet to learn wheth
er there was an illumination. 1 have never
j been ol the opinion that this adventure in the
mountains, when rightly made known, would
refl .’ct any great credit on our arui'; but
were I not aware of the lying and bombastic
character of the?e Mexicans, I could not for
a moment believe it to be anything like that
report. Col. May, no doubt, thought it pru
dent to leave there—in fact he said so in his
narrative—but no such insignificant number
j as 25 men caused him to do it.
[I should have mentioned to you before,
the end of tiie court-martial, which was con
: vened to investigate the charges against
I Lieut. Sturges, and bis acquittal, bad 1 not
! been promised a copy of his defence, hut as
j it has failed to come to hand, 1 might as well
now say that he came out in flying colors,
1 and stands one hundred per cent, higher in
| the estimation of the officers of the army,
than he did befoie. He was rather severe
on Col. May. and Lieut. Wood, but consider
ering the aggravating circumstances that
brought him before the court, many excuse
him. He said the Colonel had not too great
a share of moral courage, and that the Lieu-
I tenant could not see what was going on all
| the time, as he had acknowledged in hisevi-
I deuce, that whilst the fighting was going on,
he had taken shelter under un overhanging
; ledge.]
There are rumors here that Gen. Taylor’s
rear-guard had been attacked near Linrses
j and that he had lost a number of wagons and
mules, but 1 will not believe it until 1 hear
something more, although it is a section of
1 country where an attack of that sort is most
likely to be made. Besides the numerous
| hiding places about there for Mexican soldiers
i and the large suttlemenl9,the Mexicans would
i like to trouble old Taylor, for the money
1 transaction in Linares. You may kick a
Mexican, and he will probably forget it, but
touch his pocket, and lie’ll remember you the
longest day he lives.
Bigelow, the beef contractor, who was
shot by the Mexicans a day or two since, lias
been brought into Tampico,and well
without a resort to amputation. I learned
last night, that an Illinois volunteer was
killed on the first days’ march of Quitman’s
division, this side of Chicoy. lie had lagged
behind the rear-guard, and a parly of lancers
rushed upon him, shot and lanced him. He
was found during (he day, and at night his
company returned and buried him.
Gen. Worth with the Bth and 4ii infantry,
has been some time on the road to this place,
and may be looked for bore in a very short
time. W hen lie arrives, all the regular
i force, as Scott desired, will be on the sea
board.
1 learned last night that L*. Ritchie of the
4th Infantry, was assassinated at Villa
Grande, by a Mexican. He was on his way
to Victoria, accompanied by a company of
Kentucky Cavalry, Gen. Taylor encamped
there for the night, and the Lieutenant was
sauntering about (he town when it happened.
The next morning the General had arrested
> O
the alcade, but 1 have not learned w hether
the perpetrator of the outrage had been ta
ken. Chaparral.
FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 19,1847.
Re!id' »« Ireland.
A meeting for this purpose was (o lie held
in Savannah on Wednesday last. The-call
is signed by a number of the most respecta
ble and influential citizens of that city.
I*e:ice with -Uc\ico.
The editor of the Philadelphia U. S. Ga
i zetto has received a letter, in which the wri
ter, now in the city of Mexico, states that the
diflerence between Mexico and the United
Stales will soon be adjusted. He believes
that Mexico needs money more than she
does land, and that she will w illingly part
! with California, in order to obtain some
equivalent in cash, and she will expect, of
course, that the difference between the real
value of California, and the money which we
pay to her. shall be all the compensation
which she can be made liable for, either for
I former spoliations, or cost of present war.
Tea .TEJilioit* ia Sjiccic Coming.
The New York Sun learns from its fur
■
eign correspondents, that over A12,030,000
sterling, or about ten millions of dollars in
i specie, w ill be shipped to this country from
England before the Ist of May. The pre
sent low rale of Exchange makes this move
ment profitable. It is said the Bank of Eng
land is engaged in it, and will part with that
amount of specie to gain the difference of
exchange, which is about three per cent.,
1 equal to a profit of $300,000 on the sum
named.
Itxt'iteaiCKt In IVcw Vork.
The repeal of lue charter of the Plainfield
Bank created intense excitement among the
holders of its notes in New Vork, and on
Thursday morning. 11th lost., a mob of seve
ral thousand surrounded the Agency in that
* city—the New York Sun office—which re
i fused to redeem the notes. The building
i **
j would probably bavejjeen demolished had not
the police interfered. The circulation of the
j
Bank amount to $142,886, while it lias only
: SIO,OOO in specie on hand. The New Jer
| sey legislature has appointed a Receiver, but
i whether the assets will be sufficient to mett
, the liabilities, is doubtful.
HIT The U. 18. schr. Sarah Churchman,
Capt. Baymore, 7 days from Tampico, arriv
ed at New (.Means on the 12th inst. ISlie
left at Tampico, sclir. \\ illiain Thompson,
for New Orleans next day; schr. Louisa,Post,
for Brazos St. J ago, in two days. When
about 15 miles E. by N. from Tampico, spoke
j schr. Harp, from New Vork to Tampico,
Dr. Dorris, .Messrs. McKnight and Palmer,
and six discharged volunteers, came passen
gers on the Sarah Churchman.
The Cotton nml Grain t! u krtn, &o.
The New Orleans Delta of the 13th inst,
says—“ The Cotton market was very active
yesterday, and the sales at the close of the
i day summed up fully 10,000 bales. The
■ downward tendency of prices has been ar
rested, and they have become more settled:
Middling and Good Middling may be quoted
at 10 a per lb. The Flour market is
also steadier. About 8009 barrels were
taken for export, mostly at $6 per bbl,, for
good shipping brands. Corn continues brisk.
The sales yesterday reached 15,000 bushels >
nearly all at $1 asl 02£ per bushel. Pro
i visions are quiet but prices firm: Prime Lard
is held at Bc. per Jb, and even higher. Mess
Pork, in small lots, brings sls, and Prime
sl3 per bbl.
Louisiana.
The democrats of New Orleans have elect
ed their Senator and Representative, by hand
some majorities, and a Representative in the
3d district. In the fifth district there was a
tie between Fontenean, (dem.) and Forstall,
(whig.)
Troamrj
This is a singular world we live in, and
j all the people in it the whigs are perhaps
! tlie hardest to please. The New York Ex
| press (whig) of the 13th inst. says—“ The
sub-treasury, just now, is in practical en
forcement at the custom-house. Treasury
notes are so much above par that none are
paid in, and the consequence is that all lie
duties paid are in specie.”
The correspondent of the Washington
¥ T . ®
Union, correctly remarks—“ The Express is
hard to please. If the contrary were the
case, it would be lamenting over the depre
ciation of government credit, and seeing
therein all sort of ‘ruin,’ particularly a
stumbling-block in the way of the new 7 loan.
Everybody can't be pleased in this world of
our? } any more than in E:op.’’