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the constitutionalist.~j
JAMES GARDNER. JR.
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The Cotton Tiadc.
The Liverpool Times of the 15th ult- 1
» . .
contains a long anil elaborate article up
on the Cotton Trade and its future pros, j
pects, written, as we are informed by Mr. j
A. 11. Wylie, formerly a resident of this j
Mty. The views set forth are deserving j
of consideration at the present moment,
u lien so mnch interest is centred in the ;
Trade; and \vc make no apology for |
transferring the article entire to our co
looms. The writer is explicit, perspicu- I
ons, and fully conversant with the sub 1
ject he discusses.—-V. O. Bulletin.
Arams the manv embarrassments a- ■
gainst which the trade and commerce of
r* t
this country have now to contend, there is j
none of greater, nor indeed, of equal irn- j
portanccto Lancashire, than tfie now as. j
certained short supply of Cotton. The
very importance ofthis subject indisposes I
many to inquire into it, fearing that the I
result might lie different from that which
they desired; but our duty, as journalists,
is to offer to our readers truths, which are :
often disagreeable; and we believe that,
in doing so, we are acting a prudent and ;
friendly part. The recent controversies 1
on the Corn Trade sufficiently prove this, i
Whatever may have been the op in Up G s
the press generally, as to the supplies of
Grain in this country, all parties are now
convinced that, at least, we had no sur
plus. Our opinion on this point, it is well
known, was strongly expressed; we early
sounded the tocsin of alarm; we encou
raged the industry and enterprise of our
merchants; and the result has been, that
the whole globe has been put under con
tribution to meet our demands. From
every quarter we are receiving supplies.
We can hold out no prospect, even now, j
that these supplies are adequate to our ;
wants; we counsel no relaxation in the
eagerness to increase them, though we do |
trust that what has been done, and is now
doing, will prevent those famine prices |
which must have followed any infenno
tion to our mercantile en'erptise. The
great importance of a sufficiency of food
has, in some measure, put on one side
what is scarcely of secondary conse
quence, a sufficiency of Colton. We !
have frequently, in our remarks upon j
trade and commerce, called attention lo j
the subject, and we now do so at length,
as i? is the duty of a journal in the great- '
cst Colton mart to do; and in any state- I
ment we make, we lay ourselves open (o, ,
and invite criticism from the manv lit re :
whose long experience and attention to |
the subject, constitute them as aulhori- i
ties.
The question of supply is one we may
now venture upon with tolerable accura
cy: to many it seems a question onlv to be
resolved when the whole crop has arriv
ed at the shipping ports, and indeed then
only is the certainty established; but a
close examination of detail, and some com
mon mercantile foresight, strips the ques
tion, at an early period of the season, of
much difficulty. Fortunately, there are
many adverse interests engaged in the ;
cotton trade; and while the factor imagines i
his interest to consist in underestimating i
the crop, the merchant and agent for the
spinner falls into the other extreme, so be- i
tween the two the truth is often to he dis- |
covered. This year has one peculiarity,
that all parties tell the same tale; all es
timate the supply of cotton for the season j
134 G-7 as a short one; as the season has
advanced the report has been confirmed,
and the following table’of the probable
receipts at the United States’ ports, as
compared with the two preceding years,
is likely to be quite near enough for all
purposes of illustration:
1847 1846 1845
y. Orl’ns & Texas', 720.000 1,004,000 952,000 S
Mobil**, 310,000 422,000 517,000
Florida, 130,000 141,000 189,000 1
Georgia, 250,000 195,000 290,000 |
South Carolina, 330,000 252.000 420,000 !
Other places, 30,000 29,000 38,000
Total, 1,770,000 2,103,000 2,418,000 ;
It will be observed that the great falling j
off in the supply of the present year is in
the ports of the Gulf, which generally
contribute three-fourths of the entire crop :
of the United States, and the deficiency is ;
represented as being caused partly by di- !
minished production, and unfavorable
weather at the planting season, but still
more by the ravages of the caterpillar;
this last cause, however, found little credit
here. We were unaccustomed in this !
country to see such extensive damage
from insects; and, though these ravages
were confirmed by all parties, it was at
least thought that the accounts were
greatly exaggerated, and even the mys- j
terious visitation which has destroyed our
own potato crop excited no inquiry into
the accuracy of statements which, if true, j
were of equal importance to the industry
of the country. We fear that, so far from
being exaggerated, the damage actually
r* oo • j. j
done has been greater than originally es- |
timated, and we believe that the above i
gives the most favorable view of the U. j
States Cotton crop.
If we turn lo those sources from which ;
we draw our other supplies, the prospect j
is scarcely more promising. |
Paring the past five years, tire imports j
w^r : -~yrrr jrv: oy ■ -tw** mumt #*i<ijii mv. \
| into Europe of Colton, oilier than Amen* j
can, have been as follows:
Egyptian. E. India. Brazil. W. India.
1312 JOH.Ch-U 264.1)00 ]U3,UOO 70,u09 |
1843 173,000 186 (»09 115.000 49,050
I*4 4 99.000 212,000 123.000 47,000
1845 147,000 166,000 115,000 33,000
1846 100,000 98,000 86,000 31,000
627.000 956,000 542,000 231,000 j
Average 125,400 191,200 108,400 46,000 j
It might be supposed that our present j
' high prices would at least give the ave
rage of the above supplies 4 < i,OOO bale*-;
i but this is not very probable; the defi
ciency in tlie.se several crops is most sen
sible in late years, when -it is not to be
den ed that low prices have discon raged
cultivation; this is especially the case in
the Brazils and Ea-t Indies. Naturally
j all that can tie collected together this
year will be sent forward, and this amount
I we estimate as under, making allowance
' for an admitted short crop in Egypt, and
some diminution ofculture in oilier places:
Egyptian, JOO,OOO bales.
East India, 150,000
Brazil, 90,000
W est India, &c. 35,000
Total, 375,Ua0 bales.
To this amount we must add the estimate crop of
j the United Slates, 1,770,000
! And the stock in Europe on Ist Jan. last, 622.000
-
j Making a total for the year 1d47 of
j 2,707.000 as tho supply ; a quantity
1 scarcely exceeding the consumption of the
| past year, which in Messrs. Cullman and
SloSiherfolti’s tables is thus stated :
Great Britain, 1,573,000
France, 405,000
Continent, 315,000
United States, 422,000
Total, 2,715, 0ut)
i The natural result of even the anllci-
I pation ofso close an approximation in the
supply ami demand appears in the pre
-1 sent reduced consumption. The former
rate could only have been continued by a
; serious enhancement of price; and in our
| estimate of the probable consumption for
| the present year,the price of the raw ma
| terial must be regarded as the great dis
■ lurbing cause. High prices of food will
also affect the consumption, and the pre
sent severe pressure for money also en
ters into the calculation. At the present
moment Cotton is fully 50 per cent.above
the prices which ruled at tin's lime last
year, while in the manufactured article
there lias not been a corresponding ad
vance; and the difference makes the posi- ■
tion of the manufacturer by so mnch the
worse. The draper and tho real con
sumer —the wearer of the manufactured
article are, however, no worse off, the
difference is, that the profit which last
year went into the pocket of the manufac
turer, this year is divided between the
planter, importer and ihe real consumer.
Therefore it is that the home trade has
been less effected than some have repre
sented. Accumulated slocks have caused
a dull slate of trade, which is, perhaps,
all that can be said; moreover, the high
prices of food, which has effected the mass
| generally, lias givm| increased labor and
j means to others, hi this way, and in
I profits, Liverpool has realized at least
jC 1,000,000 sterling during the past six
■ months. The farmer, though compelled
to pay a high price for subsidiary arti
; cles, has still received large sums for his
I staple products; and it has been remark
ed, that in no year was the creditor of the
farmer so well paid as in the present.—
1 India and China, so far from being glut
ted with goods, are rapidly exhausting
their supplies. The United Slates will
compete largely with the demand for
these quarters. Russia will take more
than a usual supply of Yarn, etc. and for
Germany alone, of ail our important mar
kets, is there likely to he any great fall
| ingoffin the demand. The great point,
however, is tho unsatisfactory position of
the spinners; and making all allowance
| for this, we cannot estimate the consump
) tion ofGreat Britain for the six monthsof
; the present year at more than 20,000
bales per week (the present average
consumption taken out of this market is
i 17,720 hales:)
! Say from Ist January to 30th June 320,000
' For the latter half of the year we may
hope that diminished production, har
vest prospects, and an easier money
market, may extend the consumption
to 25,000 bales per week, or from Ist
July to 3lst December 650,000
Giving a consumption for Great Britain
in 1847 of 1,170,000
In regard to the consumption in France
and on the Continent, the valuable tables
above referred togivethe following astlie
actual consumption during the past five
years:
1842—-France 441,000 Continent 315,000 |
1843 “ 406,000 “ 337,000
1841 “ 338,000 '* 298,000 'v
1845 “ 418,000 “ 357.000
1846 “ 405,000 “ 345,000
2,058,000 4,652,000
Average, 411,600 330,400
Neither on the Continent nor in France
can we expect this average to bo main
tained in the present year. In France it
will be considerably reduced, and in some
parts of the continent; though some of
these countries, by the want of food, have
increased and not diminished their wealth.
It may pet Taps be a safe figure to place
the consumption of France at
350,000 bales.
And the Continent of Europe at 275,000 **
625,U00 **
The United States alone are likely
lo extend their consumption,
which has year by year gone on
gradually increasing. In 1837
it was only 220,000 bales; last
year, it reached 423,000, and the
wealth which has flowed into
America during the past and pre
sent year, and of which we have
been drained, will largely add
to this last figure. By no com
petent party is the consumption
for 1847 estimated at under 500,000 “
1,123,000 bales.
Making, with the probable con
sumption in Great Britain of 1,170,000 **
: A total consumption for, 1847 of 2,295,000 bales.
I Against an estimated supply of 2,767,000
I Andjeaving £l stock on 31st Dec. of
; 472,000 bales, \vhicli with the most liber
| al supply before the end of the year,
| from ilie crop of \Vould leave
i itie trade much in the position in which
I they were at the opening cf the year—at
| the mercy of a new crop, and depending
j upon its extent even for a sufficiency for
“short lime.”
In the above figures we have not taken
I into calculation of the stock of Cotton in
j in spinners’ hand at the close of 1943,
| which was allowed to below an average
quantity, and which has long since dis
appeared. If tin's amount had been in
eluded, it would have only added to the
consumption, for this reason stated a low
estimate; hut on the other hand we have
not included in the out goings that amount
D B
of Cofon which is exported from this
| country to Russia, Sweden, &c. and
i which these countries require from oui
j markets, and which may almost beinclu
i ded in our consumption, so certain is the
j demand; indeed, it is so regarded, and
the continental consumption,when alluded
to, is considered only to include Holland,
Belgium, Germany, the markets depend
ing upon Genoa and Trieste, and Spain.
However, with any probable modification
of the above tables, it must be evident,
that the state and prospects of the Cotton
Trade of this country are deserving of
most serious attention. It cannot be de
nied that an unwise extenlion of mil Is
and machinery lias taken place in thh
country; that too much attention has
been given to tfie manufactured articles,
and too little to the production of the raw
! articles; that the profits of the Cotton
Trade during the past few years have
been all on one side, and that every
where the planter indifferently remune
rated, has allowed the culture of Cotton
to recede, and has turned his attention to
other products. Our supply from India
too plainly establishes this point. In
1841 the price of Surat Cotton in this
market ranged from 4£d. to Gd. per lb.
and the import into Great Britain amount
ed to 273,600 bales.
It the year 1844, which confessedly |
i was an excellent year for the spinner,
I prices of Surat Cotton were allowed to
| drop to to 4d. and I lie imports fell
j off to 155,100; and last year they reach
-94,500 bales. In the United Stales tfic
same result is established. Formerly
North Carolina and Virginia formed our
principal depots for American Co:ton;un
der the influence of receding prices these
States had to yield to the greater fertility
i of new land, and Georgia became the
largest Cotton growing State in the Union.
In its turn, however, Georgia has declin
ed before the productions of Mississippi;
and the right bank of the river of that
name, may in its turn, supply that pro
duction which the cultivation of Corn and
Sugar may supercede, if proved to be the
more remuneru ing crops. There is,
however, a limit to this. So far as we
know, Cotton can only he grown to any
extent in that portion of the United States
i know as to the South-western States. In
; other countries, the cultivation has not
I succeeded to the desired extent —a weak
j and useless fibre being often the result of
1 much enterprise and capital. Even in
| Mexico, where beyond the Rio del Norte,
I Cotton is said to be indigenous, it cannot
j be cultivated to advantage. Without a
j doubt, price will be a sufficient induce
| ment for a sufficient supply. The plan
ter must have an interest in the extension
j of the cultivation, and the question arises
i what will he a remunerating price? This
i may be difficult to answer. It is not,
| however, so difficult to say what is not so,
I as the decline in the production sufficient
ly attests; and upm this ground we differ
from many of our contemporaries, who
regard the present speculation in Cotton
with something akin to horror. We con
ceive it fortunate that there are ever per
sons on the alert, closely watching the
different markets, and ready to invest
their idle capital in what seems to promise
sufficient profit. Such speculations pre
vent. those dearths or famine which, in
i earlier ages, when capital and enterprise
j were more limited, so frequently hap
-1 pened. It is conceded, that to a similar
! speculation we owe our present supply of
! of foreign corn; and had a like energy
j been unchecked at the close of the past
I year, our stock of Gotten would probably
| be at this day 200,000 bales more than it
i actually is. Now, however, when the
I result seems inevitable, which then was
: only foreshadowed, the spinner is more
j than ever dependant upon imports, and
subject to many consequences from which
a larger stock would have saved him,
c?
and from which we see no escape fora
long period of lime, to the great detriment
of the industry of Lancashire.
Return of Volunteers.
The following volunteers arrived here
yesterday, on their return from Mexico;
Per brig Billow, from Vera Cruz—l3o
men of the 3d Illinois volunteers, under
command of Lieut. Col Wiley; Per pilot
boat Selim, from Vera Cruz—Company
G, of the Ist regiment Tennessee Caval
ry, under command of Capt. Sneed.—
The company of Tennessee Cavalry
chartered the Selim on their own recount.
— N. O. Delta, 23 d hist.
The following gentlemen came up
yesterday from Vera Cruz, on board the
ship Charlotte Reed, Capt. Gray: Com
mander J. Tattnall, U. S. N.; Com
■ mander V. M. Randolph, U. S. N.; Col.
Bohlem, bearer of despatches from Gen.
S6ott to Washington. — lb.
Ffty discharged teamsters arrived here
yesterday, from Vera Cruz, on the U. S.
transport schr. Louisiana.— lb.
The ship Pharsalia, arrived last night
from Vera Cruz, having on board Col.
J. E. Thomas, Major R. Waterhouse,
Captain* Caswell, Haynes, Cooper, and
■ mmm tjbt mmm ■ i■— ntw ■Jwrjww
Newman, Lieutdnants, Bell, Gassett,
Anderson, Richardson.Charnblise,Brown
low, Kirk, Leftwich McCabre, McKnight,
Donnelly, Johnson, Allen, and Woodson,
acting Commissary of the regiment, Snr.
geon Alsop, Assistant Donohoe. Dr.
Walker,and 300 men of the Ist regiment
of Tennessee volunteers. The brig R.
Russell arrived last night, also from
Vera Cruz, with three companies of the
2d regiment Tennessee volunteers, attach
ed to the Tennessee regiment—all under
the command of Capt. Williams.— lb.
Pni«l Otl*
Seven companies of the gallant 3d
Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, under
the command of Col. Forman, were mus
tered out of service on Friday last, and i
paid off yesterday. The remaining three ;
companies are expected to he mustered
out of the service to-day, and will he paid
off to morrow’. — lb.
fUrn.
We are gratified to hear that letters
“ ...»
have been received in this citv, from the
Aid of Gen. Shields, dated Jalapa, the
Ilthinst., represent him as so rapidly
improving as to induce the belief that in
the course of a few weeks he will be able j
to visit the United States.— lh. j
AUGUSTA CKO,. I
SATURDAY MORNING. MAY 29, 1847.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
The Democrats of Richmond county are
requested to meet at the City Hall on Tues
day Afternoon next at five o’clock, for the
purpose of appointing delegates t.o the
Gubernatorial Convention, to be held at
MilledgevilJe on the fouith Monday in
June.
AT Both Northern mails due last evening
came to hand, but the papers are baren of
news.
O” The Savannah papers of the 27th inst.,
announce the death of George Anderson,
Esq , one of the oldest and most respectable
citizens of that city.
“Therr are alwnu two aidrv to n question.”
I, this Country to blamr, or is .tlexico
to blnmrf
We will not decline answering very ex
plicitly the question propounded to us by the
Chronicle ts- Sentinel in the following para
graph:
“There are always two sides to a question.
Mexico chargee us with invading her. The
march of our army to l-he Rio Grande was an
invasion, she says, of her provinces. Sup
pose this should turn out to be the case when
the causes of the war come to be fully and
fairly investigated. Would the Constitution
ulist insist then that the United Slates should
pay the war expenses of Mexico*”
To this we reply. No Sir ■> We should
not Insist upon any thing of the kind. It is
true that there are two sides to a question.
But in this case we take the side of our coun
ty. The Chronicle has seen proper to take
the side of the enemy. We will leave him
to the enjoyment of all the honors and plea
sures to be derived from Lis position. As
for ourself we believe our country to be right,
and to have been right throughout in this
controversy. Even could it be proved that
the march of our army to the Rio Grande
was an invasion of the provinces of Mexico,
we insist that that invasion was fight-—was
justifiable. Mexico refused repeatedly—and
did so insolently and scornfully to negotiate
amicably the disputed question of boundary.
She declared that the annexation of Texas
was just cause of war, and that she intended
to invade and conquer that State. She in
sisted on war—she insisted on the arbitra*
ment of the sword. The United Slates would
have been right therefore in marching her
army as she did even in the case supposed.
And we consider that General Taylor’s sug
gestion to march to the Rio Grande would
have been justified, even if after “the causes
of the war were fully and fairly investigated”
it proved to be an invasion of Mexican pro
vinces.
It shall never be said of us that we are
guilty of the absurdity of insisting that our
country should pay the war expenses of Mex
ico. The Chronicle is entitled to the signal
distinction of occupying that position. It
has already been engaged most strenuously
in this investigation. It has already demon
strated, at least to its own satisfaction, that
tiie United States is in the wrong. There
is therefore no occasion for further delay
in taking its next legitimate position—name
ly, to insist that the United Stales shall
pay the war expenses of Mexico. We find
the Chronicle Sentinel of January 9th,
1847, lays down the following proposition,
and quotes Mattel, to sustain it. This too,
in a discussion in which it thought to show
our country did not have a just right to make
war—did not have reasons sufficiently cogent
to authorize it, but had unrighteously, with
out reason or authority or provocation com
menced and waged it.
“If there be not a just right to make war,
if the highest and most cogent reasons do not
exist to authorize it, the nation waging it
without them, would itself become bound to
make reparation for wrongs and injuries done.
See Mattel’s Law’ of Nations Chap, xi,
page 378.” —Chronicle <f- Sentinel, 9ih Jan.
Now as the Chronicle is an organ of the
whigs, it becomes an important, or at least
a curious question to know how it proposes
to raise the money to pay these war expenses
to Mexico. Will it be by an increased ta
riff of duties—by a cession of public domain,
or by direct taxation. We should be pleased
to bear the approaching whig convention of
Georgia express its views on this compound
question of national ethics and National Law,
and the practical question of raising the ways
and means for making reparation for wrongs
and injuries done.
\it i i ■ ■ . _
The t r#j>« In Georgia.
The Macon Journal and Messenger of the 26th
inst. says —We have during ihe week heard from
almost every part of the State. One gentleman,
who has made an extensive tour in the upper
counties, informs Us that the wheat crop will not
yield much more than half as much as that of last
year. The Cotton is short but the stand generally
good, and it is his opinion that it the months ot
June and July are seasonable, the crop will be a
very good one. Every thing depends upon warm
suns and occasional showers. He is decided oj ol
the opinion that the quantity ot land planted in
cotton, is less than is generally supposed—very
many having planted largely of corn in conse
quence of the unpromising appearance of the
Wheat fields. The same remarks are especially
j true ofthe Western and South- Western counties.
Season anil Crops,
The Cheraw Gazette states that many planters
in that vicinity have had to plough up and plant
their crops a second time* Those who succeeded
in getting a stand the first planting, had a had
prospect for a crop, owing to the cold, which had
retarded the growth of the plant. The oat and
corn crops, on the other hand, promise, thus lar,
a fair yield.
Aaolher Colton Factory in Aorth Caro
lina,
: The Fayetteville North Carolinian of the
22d instant, says that another Colton Fact<>-
| ry has been commenced by a company in tiiat
; town, and is now being erected on Blount’s
Creek, not far from Ben bow's Factory. The
experiment is to be made of employing while
labor only.
The Crops in Alabama.
The Wetumpka (Ala.) Standard of 25th
inst. says—“We have seldom ever heard as
much complaint in one Spring as we have
this of bad prospects of crops generally. In
consequence of the lateness of the Spring,
and the cool weather which has been so con
stant, Cotton has suffered much throughout
the whole Cotton growing country. The lice
have made its appearance on mmy farms and
have done much injury. We hope this may
be partially remedied, as we have warm ami
pleasant weather al this time of writing.—
But the weather has been fluctuating and
quite changeable during the entire Spring ”
The Crevasse-
Thogreatcrcvas.se, about seven miles down
the Lafourche, on the right side, is entirely
stooped. It required immense tabor, ad it was
necessary to make a levee 300 feet in circuit, and
to carry the dirt from a considerable distance. If
it|had not been closed, nearly the whole ofthe
parish of Terrebone would have been inundated;
as it is, great injury’ has already been done to
several plantations on the Lafourche and Ter
re bone.
[From the N. 0. Delta , 2 '.ld inst.]
Interesting News from Mexico.—From
Vera Cruz.
Arrival of the Germantown—Contemplated March
on Puehla — Gen. Scott's movements —Vera Cruz,
4 c., <fc.
The schr. Whig, Capt. Raynor, left vera
Cruz on the loth inst., and arrived at this
port last evening. She reports that the U.
S. ship Germantown, F. Buchanan rnm
m<nder, arrived off the Castle on the Idlh
inst.j and sailed immediately for Anton Lzar
do. At this port the Germantown was to
have awaited the orders of Com. Perry. The
U. S. steamer .Spitfire was waiting for des
patches from the interior. On the 19th in
-1 sfant, the Whig spoke the schr. Allen Ste
vens in lat. 24 J , ion. 94 13 . The Allen Ste
vens sailed a few hours before the Whig,
and will bring the regular U. S. Mail from
Vera Cruz. Lieut. A. Brock, with 88 men
of Company F, Tennessee Cavalry, came
passengers in the Whig. To the kindness
of one of the passengers on the Whig we are
indebted for a number ot the Vera Cruz Ea
gle ofthe 15th, from which we gather the
following interesting items;
From Fcrotr,
W e saw a letter on I’hursuay from Pernte,
written by one of the principal officers of the
army, in which he states that she command
would move in a day or two for Puebla,
where, it is reported, active preparations are
making for a proper reception of our troops,
and he intimates that they will soon move
upon the Capital. Doubts are entertained
by many, however, as to this movement.—
Our opinion is not founded upon the most
positive information.bat we believe that Gen.
Ecott will remain at Puebla, after his arrival
there, for a season, at least, and probably un
til the beginning of Autumn. In the mean
time. should no decidedly favorable step not
! have been taken by the government of this
country, the most energetic rnea>nres will be
pursued, with a view to end Die strife. The
United States possesses the most ample
means if a course of this kind is demanded,
but nothing else than the most unpardonable
provocation will compel us to resort totiiem.
Peace has been sued for so often by us, that,
it has at length amounted to humiliation, and
it cannot be expected that much longer pro
crastination can be borne with. “There is a
point beyond which forbearance ceases to be
a virtue,” says the proverb, and we believe
that point cannot be far distant. When
reached, it is probable that it will be a dark
and dreadful day for the land of the Aztecs.
Vera Cruz.
Our city is as dull as can well be imagin
ed—we have but little news, and that with
out much interest. We hope something will
transpire to relieve us from this infernal mo
notony, for there is no bearing it, when com
bined with heat. The thermometer has stood
at 89 and 92 for several days past, and it has
a prospect of going still further up before it
lowers its metalic head.
From the Ilio Grande.
By the arrival last night ot the steam pro
peller Trumbull, we received papers from the
extreme advance of Gen. Taylor’s position.
The Monterey Pioneer of tke 3d, Saltillo
Picket Guard of the 3d, and the Matamoros
Flag of the 15th instant. The news from
that quarter will be found of interest to our
readers.
From the Monterey Pioneer of the 2d, we
quote the following:
We are grieved to have to report a very
painful affair to our citizens, Messrs, W.
Train and Morris were attacked on the road,
last W ednesday, by five Mexican ruffians. —
Mr. Morris was wounded in the leg so badly
that amputation became necessary. Mr.
Tram was, we are pleased to learn, uninjur
ed. The two succeeded in keeping the ras
cals at bay., until assistance arrived, when
the Mexicans fled.
Major Chevalie, with part of ilie Texan
Rangers, is to make Cadarcyla his head
quarters.
On the 2dinst., at Monterey, thev had heard
of the particulars of the haltle of Cerro Gordo.
The current report there was, that a sanguinary
battle had been fought at the National Bridge,
in which Generals Scotland Santa Anna were
I killed, and that the Mexicans, upon hearing of
the fall of their leader, abandoned their positions,
leaving the American forces in possession ot the
field.
The Ist Ohio regiment, stationed at Monterey,
and the 3d Ohioans, stationed at Saltillo, whose
term of service was about drawing to a close,
| were expected to leave for their homes about tho
; 15th instant.
The weather at Monterey, during the latter
! part of April and the beginning of Mav, was in
| tenselv hot. Should the beat continue to increase
for any length of time,in the same proportion (hat
it had during the week previous to the *2d of May
• the editors of the Pioneer predict that the place
would soon become uninhabitable to the North
Americans.
Camp of Instruction—Palo Altn.—T> y the
“American Flag,” Matamoros, of the 15th inst ,
we are informed that Gen. Cadwallader and stall
are ot the the Camp of Instruction, Palo Alto, 11
miles below Matamoros. Also, Col. A. C. Kani
sev, Pennsylvania regiment; Lieut. Col. Fav,
10th regiment; Maj. Morgan, lith do.;Maj Tal
bott, Kith do.; Captains Carr, Lvberg, Moore
Irwin, Waddell and Cummings, lith regiment;
two companies or dragoons, Copts. Butler, and
1 Mrerick; five companies ot volligeurs. Captains
Bernard, Biddle. Howard. Edwards and Church
ill; two companies of the U>th regiment, Captains
Hendricks, and Brennan; three companies ot tho
lOth, and Capt. Pitman s company of the 9lh.
These troops will remain at Palo Alto, under
I strict discipline, and thence, it is rumored, trans
i ferred to Vera Cruz.
j Kentucky Cavalry —Col. Humphrey Mar
shall’s regiment of Kentucky Cavalry, were m
Comargo at last accounts, on their way home.
They w ill probably reach here in a day or two,
and notbe disbanded until they arrive at New
Orleans
Indiana Volunteers.
j By the arrival last night of thesteam propeller
Turnbull, we received the Picket Guard, of May
3d, a paper published in Saltillo, in winch we (ii ci
the following proceedings of courts of inquin;
one at the request of Gen. Lane on his general
conduct, to the gallantry of which the court bears
honorable testimony. The other, in the case of
Col. Bowles, at his request, Ufxm charges prefer
red against him by Gen. Lane. The amount of the
charges w-re;—“ Incompetently to fill the office of
Colonel of a regiment; that he had ordered his
regiment to retreat from a position which he w.ts
ordered bv a superior officer to maintain and de
fend; and that, while his regiment was engaged
with the enemy, he had dismounted and taken
shelter behind his regiment and his horse, anti al
ter giving the order to retreat, had abandoned his
regiment and run away and took shelter alone in
a ravine near the scene of action.”
From the testimony addueed before the court,
we are happy to see that the 2d Indiana regiment
is rel’eved from the odium of the alleged retreat, a
large portion of them, having rallied. The retreat
teas ordered by Col. Bowles, who was under tho
impression that Capt. O'Brien (artillery) had
retreated, the fact being that Capt. O’Brien had
only taken tip an ad Vancedjiosftion.
Inquiry in the case of gen. lane.
F acts. —That at the battle of Buena Vista, on
thr 2*3d of Frhrhafv, Gen. Lane commanded tho
2d rind regiments of Indiana Voluntiers. that
; on the 2Jd lie vvari in immediate command ot tho
| ‘2d regiment of Indiana volunteers, and three
I pieces of artillery under the command of Lieut.
: 0 Br»e i, and that the 2d Indiana volunteers rr-
I treated from the field without anv orders from
! Gen. Lane on the 23d Feb.; hut through the ex
ertions nfijren Lane and other officers, from on*
hundred and fifty to f vo hundred men of the 2d
regiment Indiana volunteers were rallied, and
attached to the Mississippi regiment and the 3(1
Indiana regiment, and rernainre with them on th«-
field of battle during the remainder of the day.
( )pin;on.— f he Court arenfopininn that during
the whole period of the 22d and 23d ofFchruary,
ISJT, Brig. Gen. Lane Conducted himself as a
brave and gallant offVer, and that no rensure at
tached to him for the retreat of the 2d regiment
Idiana Volunteers.
INQUIRY IN THE C ASE OF COL. BOWLES.
Facts.— In reference to the first charge, it ap
pears from the evidence that Col. Bowles is ignor
ant ot the company, battalion and brigade drills,
and that the manoeuvre of the evening of the 22d
Feb,, indicated in the 3 I specification of that
charge, Was indicative of an ignorance of the bat
talion drill.
In relation so (Ire charge, it appears from
the evidence before the Court that Col. Bowles
1 gave the order, "Cease firing and retreat;” that
Gm Lane was present, and that he had no au
thority from Gen. Lane to give such order.
It also appears that Col. Bowles retreated alder
having given the aforesaid command, but that ho
did not shamefully run avav from the enemy, noy
did he hide himself in any ravine from the enemy
or from his regiment. It appears, too, that Col.
Bowles dismounted from his horsein rear of his
regiment; hot there is no evidence toshow that tie
•lid so to protect himself from the eneniv.
The Court find that the fact of Cub Bowles
having given the order above mention d, did in
-1 duce the regiment to retreat in disorder. Col.
j Bowles gave this order with the intention of
making the regiment its position; hut the
Court does not find that he Sad been particularly
ordered to maintain and defend it.
Opinion.— With reference to the Ist charge,
the Court is of the opinion that Col. Bowlcs’ia
ignorant of the duties of Colonel, hnt the Court
would remarh that ill health, and absence on ac
count ofill health, have in some degree prevented
him from fitting himself for theduties of that office.
The Court is of opinion that at the time Col.
Bowdes gave (he order “Retreat, ’ he was under
the impulsion that the artillery had retreated,
when in fact the battery had gone to an advanced
position under the ordi rs of Gen. Lane, which
orders hud not been communicated to Col.
Bowles.
And, in conclusion the Comt find that through
out the engagement, and through the whole day,
Col. Bowles evinced no want of personal courage
or bravery; hut that he did manifest a want of
capacity and judgment as a commander.
Colonel Doniphan.
Some English gentlemen who arrived
yesterday from Durango, report Col.
Doniphan to have started fioni Chihua
j hua on the first of April for this part of
1 the country, byway of San Jose del Par
i ral. On the route they saw Gen. Garcia
Conde on his way to Durango with about
one hundred and fifty men, having as
prisoner Gen. Herredia, who commanded
at Sacramentos. He is accused of trea
son, and of being fond of American gold.
All the rest of the troops had dispersed for
their homes. Durango was in a great
state of alarm, dreading the arrival of
' O
Gen. Wool, which was expected by them
daily. Mr. James Magoffin was a prison
er, with the city for his prison limits, but
well treated by the Mexicans.
Everything was quiet in California,
the whole country is in the possession of
the Americans, and there is a very great
influx of families and settlers from Ore
gon.
Col. Doniphan must be within a very
few days of Saltillo. This may