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1
[From the Mobile Register, 13th ins/.]
Later from Mexico.
The U. S. brig Washington, Lieut. Com
manding S. P. Lee, 8 days from Anton Lizar
do, arrived off Mobile Point yesterday morn
ing, bound for Pensacola. Lieut. Rogers of
the navy, bearer of despatches to Washington,
who came a passenger by the Washington, was
placed on board a pilot boat outside the bar
and reached here last evening. We arc in
debted to Lieutenant Rogers, for the informa
tion, that on the morning before the Washing
ton sailed the steamer Vixen arrived from To
basco bringing intelligence that shortly after
Com. Perry leftTobasco, Commander Bigelow
who had been left in charge of that post, went
out about six miles from the town and attack
ed and put to rout a largely superior force of
the Mexicans, with the loss of two killed and
some six or eight wounded. The Mexican
loss not ascertained. Lt. Rogers understood
the Mexicans were commanded by Col. Garde,
and that they numbered some five or six hun
dred- Com. Bigelow’s command consisted of
Mine three hundred sailors and marines.—
Commodore Perry was preparing to sail for j
Tobasco. Nothing later had been heard from
Den. Scott, and there was no news at Vera
Cruz. The Raritan and the Potomac, the
former from Tobasco and the latter from Vera
Cruz, had sailed for Norfolk.
There were lying at Anton Lizardo the steam
ships Mississippi and Vixen, and the ships AI- j
bany, Germantown, John Adams and Decatur.
The health of the squadron was good. The
Washington left Anton Lizardo on the eve
ning of the 4th inst.
We arc indebted also to Lieutenant Rogers
for the following account of a fire on board the
steamship Mississippi.
On the night of the 2nd July, aboxxt 10 o'- ,
clock, shortly after the officers and crew of the
Mississippi had turned in, an alarm was heard
from the engine room, from one of the engi
neers, calling earnestly to the firemen to bring
buckets of water. The order had shortly be
fore been given to have steam at daylight, and
the fires had just been kindled. Smoke was at
the same time seen to rise from the neighbor
hood of the steam chimney, and a smell of
burning pine wood was perceptible throughout
the ship. The Commodore immediately gave
the order to beat to quarters, arid proceeded
with Lieutenant Commanding Sidney Smith
Lee to the engine room, to ascertain the scene
and cause of the fire. The officers and crew
promptly repaired by divisions to their stations
for extinguishing the fire. Preparations were
at once made for flooding the magazine, and
lines of men formed to pass water buckets i
from the gangway and port to the deck above
the boilers, from under which the smoke was j
issuing. The getting up of steam was acccle- |
rated to command the powerful aid of the cn- j
gine in pumping water when it might be need- j
ed, and thus make fire fight fire. The pumps
and fire engine, which a day or two before had *
been with their hose, examined and found in
order, were quickly rigged and streams of wa- ,
ter poured in the direction of the smoke. It
was the conjecture of the engineers that the
felt above the boilers was on fire, and was ignit
ing the deck above it. The deck above the
boilers was promptly scuttled, and the water
directed through the holes thus made.
The smoke and smell of turpentine still con
tinued to increase in the engine room, render
ing the atmosphere almost too suffocating for
endurance. Meantime the uncertainty that
existed as to the cause and location of the fire,
evidently not at the point from which the
smoke and smell px-oceeded, occasioned the
officers to visit ever)’ part of the ship, and feel
carefully with the hand for the place of great
est heat. This at last was discovered to be in
the starboard coal bunker, amidships, the in
ner side of which was heated intensely, as
was in a less degree the woodwork in immedi
ate contact with it. About the same time,
on lifting the plates over the mainholes in the
spar deck by order of the Commodore, who
from the first had conjectured that the coal
bunker was the real scene of the fire, smoke
was found to issue from the manhole in the
starboard waist, nearest the part of the coal
bunker which was found to be heated below.
Streams of water from buckets and hose were
nt onee poured down through the manhole
and through a scuttle cut in the deck above
the point of greatest heat, and the suffocating
smoke, heat and odor in the engine room was
found to diminish sensibly.
It was now known that the fire could have
been occasioned by no other cause than spon
taneous combustion in the coal bunker. The
slide of the shoot below, on the opening of
■which the coal rushes out into the fire room,
was carefully closed, and no possibility existed
of fire having been intentionally communica
ted by an ill designing person, had there been
such in the ship.
The coal bunker being thoroughly flooded,
the heat, and smoke had so far disappeared
that at 12 o’cloek, the retreat wus beat and
one w’atch left to remove the heated coal and
provide for the safety of the ship. When the
coal was all discharged, a beam which run
through it, w r as found charred to the depth of
half an inch, having the appearance of having
been exposed, not merely to an intense heat,
but to the flames, and the deck above it, was
likewise charred in the same manner, for a
space of ten feet.
On the following night, a growing heat was
discovered in the larboard midship coal bunker,
and in the adjoining wood work. One watch
of the crew was turned out and the removal
of the coal commenced. In getting out the
coal, the part of it was reached where the
process of ignition was going on. Lumps of
coal were taken out sufficiently hot to be pain
ful to touch, and particles had the appearance
of cinders. The presence of sulpher in unusu
al quantities, in this coal, was apparent to the
sight and smell.
Nothing could be finer than the dsplay of
order discipline and high moral courage ex
hibited by every man and boy in the Missis
sippi, throughout this appalling scene. At one
time the heat and smoke in the engine room
perceptibly increasing, in defiance of the
efforts made to arrest the progress of the fire,
which was expected every moment to break
out in flames still more unconquerable. Yet
in this ship, loaded with powder and shells fill
ed and fuzied, nothing was seen but order,
subordination, and a universal effort of each to
perform with zeal his alotted duty. There was
no noise, no confusion, no unnecessary orders.
Those that were necessary were given with
altomess and in the ordinary tone of command.
Though several foreign vessels of war were
near the Mississippi, and the beat to quarters,
the rapid and resounding stroke of the pumps,
and the smoke issuing from the engine room
must have been perceptible to the surrounding
shipping, yet so evident was the capacity of the
ship, for the present at least, to take care of
herself, that the compliment was paid her of
tendering no offer of assistance, though assist
ance would have doubtless been cheerfully
rendered had the emergency grown more criti
cal.
The officers and crew of the Mississippi have
frequently of late been under the fire of an
enemy, but the composure with which they
performed their duty bears no comparison to
the moral sublimity of their bearing in the
presence of this fannore appalling enemy.
This composure was especially meritorious in
I the Commodore and his acting Captain, who
i having in other respects the same stake with
■ the officers and crew, had beside to bear the
awful responsibility to the service and coun
try, of the threatened loss by fire, of the second
i and last of those magnificent steamers, which
through built seven years ago, have not since,
in any country been surpassed, if they have
been equalled.
This notice is published Avith the motiA’e of
putting those Avho sail steamers on their guard
against one of the dangei’s that menace them
from unsafe fuel, and at the same time of re
lieving any anxiety, that may be felt among
those having friends on board the Mississippi
at any exaggerated account they may hear of
the tire on bo;ird of her.
I From the St. Louis Republican, of July 7.]
Prom Santa Fc.
We com’ersed this morning Avith Mr. Mur
phy, an intelligent gedtloman, Avho had just
arrived from Santa Fo. lie left that place on
the 29th of May, and furnishes us Avith details
of some very interesting occurrences in New
Mexico.
On the 27th of May, Mr. Murphy informs
us, an engagement took place at the Red river
j Canon , one hundred and fifty miles South
Fast of Santa Fc, between a detachment of our
troops, Under the command of Major Edmond
son, amounting to about one hundred and
I seventy-five men, and a band of Mexicans and
Apache Indians, supposed to number four
hundred men. These men Were combined to
gether for the purpose of committing depre
dations upon American property, and a few
| days previous had succeeded in stealing 150
horses from the traders and othex-s.
Major Edmondson had been ordered out for
the purpose of routing them. At the place
indicated, he came upon the enemy rather sud
denly, and not very advantageously for his
operations. He Avas crossing a slough at the
mouth of the Canon, which was very miry,
and many of his horses being in a weak condi
tion, he Avas forced to abandon them, they
, being unable to get through the mire. The
engagement took place on foot, and lasted for
some tAvo hours. It was not known hoAv many
of the enemy Averc killed, but tAvo Americans
Avcre killed and a third Avas Avounded and re
luctantly left on the ground -when a retreat
! was ordered. Lieut. Elliot, in command of 27
men, principally Laclede Rangers, rendered
A*ery efficient service at this juncture. He
: occupied a point of rocks, and kept the enemy
from advancing upon the retreating force until
they had got out of their difficult position. In
doing this serA’ice, he had two men Avounded
—M. W. Wash and John Eldridge —but
neither of them dangerously. All the horses
were cither shot doAvn or captured.
On the 3d of June, Lieut. Col. Willoek,
Avith about one hundred and fifteen men, Avas
met on his inaix-h from Taos, in pursuit of the
Mexican and Indian focos. He had got upon
their trail, and was resolved upon an eagage
, ment with 'them. He had Mr. Boggs Avith
I him, as a guide through the passage of the
■ mountains. Circumstances had led them to
! suspect Jim Beckwith, a mulatto, born in this
I city, but for many years employed in the
1 mountains, as having been concerned with the
| Mexicans and Indians in the affair Avith Major
1 Edmondson. He was found in Taos, and ar
rested by Col. Willoek, and Avas taken Avith
him on this expedition. We are sorry to hear
that a garrsion of only fifteen soldiers Avas left
j at Taos, ail of Avhom we - e on the sick list. Co’.
Price Avas at Santa Fc, with portions of several
companies of volunteers. Os his movements
and plans Ave knoAV nothing.
Mr. Murphy met Mr. Wetherod, some other
traders, and tAvo government trains of wagons
at the crossing of the PaAvnce Fork. They had
been detained there for three or four days by a
freshet in the river, -which prevented them
from fording it. At this point, the Indians
annoyed them \*cry much, and succeeded in
: killing a hundred and fifty head of cattle be
longing to the government train, (under charge
of Capt. Bell, wagon-master,) and Mr. Good
rich, of this city, also lost tAAxnty-seA’en .ani
mals in the same way. The cattle Avere all
speared, and their tails cut off close, to be
as trophies of victory. A Mr. Smith of Platte
county, who was on guard at the time, re
ceived seA r cn spear wounds, one of which struck
him in the throat, but it aa-hs the opinion of the
physician who Avas along, that he Avould re
cover. About this time, or shortly after, this
party,who Avere travelling the River road, heard
the discharge of cannon on the Rridge road and
as a train of government Avagons, haAfing a
piece of artillery Avith them, Avere on that
route, it is supposed that an attack had been
made upon them by the Indians,
Lieut. Love’s command of Dragoons, Avith
the money for the pay of the troops at Santa
Fe, Avas met a few hours travel from the Paw
j nee Fork, going on well.
Eight miles from Coxmcil Grove, Mr. Mur
phy met Cuniffe and other traders. They had
determined to wait there until reinforcements
should come up. Mr, Murphy mot Captain
Shephard’s company of Infantry near Council
Grove. The companies of mounted men under
Capts. McNair and Korponay, were met 15
miles from 110, going on well.
Mr. Murphy heard nothing of the news
brought to Westport, by the “DelaAvare In
dian,” some days ago, of the attack upon a
j train of goA'ernment wagons, and the killing of
some fifty teamsters and others, near Walnut
Creek. It is, therefore, presumed to be total
ly unfounded.
California.
Col. Wm. 11. Russell, Secretary of the Ter
ritory of California, came in Avith Mr. Murphy,
and is the bearer of despatches from Col. Fre
mont for the Government at Washington.—
Col. R., avc learn, stopped at his residence iix
CalloAva county, to see his family. He may
be looked for in this city in a day or two, and
Ave then expect a full account of operations
in California.
The latter end of March is the time at which
Col. Russell is understood to ha\’e left Mon
terey. His information will, doubtless, be in
teresting. Meanwhile, as Ave cannot yet know
what has been going on there, Ave may as avcll
allude to a rumor Avhich has becoixxe quite cur
rent in this city. It is known that Lieut. Kit
Carson, Avho left this city a few days ago, on
his Avay to California, was the bearer of des
patches from the GoA'ernment at Washington,
to its agents and officers in California. Lieut.
Cai-son received these despatches at Washing
ton. It Is said that one of the documents in
question is a commission constituting Col. Fre
mont Governor of California, although if avg
be asked by what right Mr. Polk creates and
fills such an office, in a territory not belong
ing to the TJnited States, we must ans Aver that
we cannot tell. So the report goes, hoAA-ever.
It is furthermore said that he is to be alloAved
to A-isit the United States this fall, for the pur
i pose of making such arrangements as will en
able him to take his family to the new Pro
i vidnee, of which he is to be the Governor. A\ ill
the Washington Union enlighten the public
on this head?
[From the New Orleans Delta, \4rth x«s/.]
Mexico.
We shall receive tlirce days later news from
Vera Cruz to-day, per steamship Galveston, I
which left on the 10th inst. We do not how
ever, expect anything new or interesting by ,
her, as Gen. Scott, it is pretty well settled, j
could not have left Puebla before the Ist ot
July, and would be several days on the march, |
with all the communications in Iris rear cut
off. *
We think the next news from Gen. Scott 1
will be of the most exciting and interesting |
character of any which has yet been received
from the scene of war. A severe and decisive
battle will, no doubt, be fought before the road j
to the capital is left open. The immediate re
sult of this, in our opinion, will be the occupa- j
tion of the city by our troops. Os the issue
of a battle there never was less doubt. So far
from delaying Gen. Scott’s movements, we be
lieve that, with his large and complete force, a
| battle will only give new vigor to his onward j
march. The liight of the Mexicans will, no '
doubt, accelerate the march of our boys, and
give life and variety to the journey. By the j
loth of July we think Gen. Scott was knock
ing at the gates of the Capital. If a battle
has been fought on this side of the city, Gen.
Scott will be saved the disagreeable alterna
tive of bombarding it. He will have a free
entrance into it. There are no doubt many
people there who desire to make it a trium
phal entry and an occasion for rejoicing. We
hope that our army, and the friends of our
i arms, will so demean themselves that the
; groundless hatred and prejudice of theMcxi- i
' cans will be changed into friendship and es- i
j teem. Republicans can afford to be generous ,
1 and magnanimous,
j Let no ostentatious display of our power i
i mortify or olFend the pride of our weaker ;
i enemy. But at ting same time vigorous, cau- j
j tious and judicious steps should be taken to j
: complete and secure our triumph. Gen. Scott ;
will soon find —indeed we understand that he i
has already come to that conclusion —that ne- ,
go fiat ion with the Mexicans will only follow
their subjugation —that they will not listen to !
pacific overtures Until they arc placed in the
attitude of supplians* We repeat our frequent
| ly expressed opinion, that there will be no
j peace until the whole country is subdued and
j occupied by our arms.
[ From the New York Globe.]
The Character of Whigr Politicians, as por
trayed by a leading 1 Whig
Mr. Giddings, the well known Whig Aboli
; tion member of Congress from Ohio, recently
| made a speech at Concord, New Hampshire*
| We find a portion of that characteristic speech,
; in the Boston Whig, from which we copy the
! following graphic portrait which Mr. G. draws
j of his Whig associates. It looks straight into
the faces and secret workings of his Whig
I brethren. It pictures them out in flames of
| living light:
l£sgr "•Those Whigs, (says Mr. Giddings,)
rnr who have pot up this movement in favor of
isgr General Taylor, knowing him to be in favor I
tfif' of extendi up shivery, are men of desperatepo- 1
litical fortunes, xolio have become anxious to '
tfrtf share in the spoils of office; they are. men
mr who would sell their party, their country and
tfyjf their God for an ephemeral success; ortoen - !
able them to husk in the sunshine of Execu
five favor. They have underrated the in
' CJf telligence of the people. They believe the
tmeses to be as politically corrupt as those
| {Jiff who seek, to mislead them . Time will cle
i tgSjf* monstrato their error.’*
What say our neighbors of the Exptvs*, the
j Courier and Enpurler, the Tribune, the Albany ;
| Evening Journal, the Troy Post, his Excellency |
i Gov. You no, and their Whig colleagues, who |
“have got up this movement in favor of Gen. i
Taylor?” What say the Whigs of other por
tions of the Union, who have been attempting
the same, to this accusation? Can it be pos
sible that they are all “ men of desperate politi- \
cal fortunes, who have become so anxious to share j
in the spoils of office,’” that they “ would, sell their
party, their country and their GOD, for
an ephemeral success, or to enable them to bask in
the sunshine of Executive favorf*
And yet such is, the graphic picture drawn
of these men by one of there own party —one who
has enjoyed and who still enjoys the confidence
' of flat Whig party, to an almost unpreceden
ted degree. Can any Whig deny this? Mr.
Giddings himself says:
“I have represented in Congress the strongest
Whig district in the Union for ten years. lam
the oldest member on tbat floor but two; John
Quincy Adams and Mr. Rhett of South Caro
lina, are the only members who have held
their present scats longer than I have mine.—
And I tell you that if every Whig district in
this nation bows in submission, that district
will stand Ann to their principles of Liberty.
lam authorized to say that. No cause upon
this earth will ever extort a vote from her sons
in favor of a man that stands forth an advo
cate for the extension of the slaveholding pow
ers.”
We rest, now—and leave these Whigs of
i “desperate fortunes” to defend themselves, or
I own up.
, /vrvrvrvrvrvrw
Money Watters, &c., in Boston.
The Boston Courier of Monday week, says :
! Money has become so abundantly plenty that
I lenders have submitted to five and four and a
: half per cent interest, and it is said that some
of the banks have made loans below- the legal
standard. The share market exhibits a slight
improvement in quotations, but with limited
transactions, which are usual at this season of
the year. The rate at which the new city
loan has been taken, will give the holders
nearly six per cent, and portions of it have al
ready been disposed of at a handsome profit.
As in the case of the government loan, parties
who had not the courage and decision neces
sary for an. original bid, now come forward and
pay the speculators a round premium for those
qualities. A good deal of dissatisfaction has
been expressed, and some reflections indulged
in by unsuccessful bidders, without sufficient
cause, it would seem, as the field was open to
all. It is, however, not a little singular that
Boston fives should be sold below those of N.
York.
Railway shares of the dividend class con
tinue to be in good favor and demand for in
vestment, and prices are daily and steadily ad
vancing. The other descriptions are gradually
approximating to a relative standard of value,
under the influence of those healthful fluctu
ations which give them life, and attract atten
tion to their present and prospective merits.
Nearly all of the solid stocks passed through
ordeals similar in kind, if not in degree, and
have come out like refined gold from the fire.
The Warren Insurance company has resum
ed payment of dividends, and it is understood
that the stock now stands upon the books, at
about ten per cent above par.
Eastern Railroad. —Incorporated in 1836.
Opened in 1841. Length, do Miles. Cost,
,|i2,388,000.
Year. Receipts. Expenses. Net-Income. Dividends.
1811, $299,574 154,959 144,615 6 per cent.
1842, 269,168 114,040 125,128 6
1843, 279,562 101,641 174,921 6A “
1841, 337,238 109,319 227,919 % u
1845, 350.150 116,840 233,310 8 “
1846, 371,338 162,80-1 208,534 8 “
% 1.907,630 792,603 1,114,427 42 per cent.
[ From the Baltimore American , 15f/i i/urf.] •
Occur Steamships.
On the 4th instant, the Britannia left Liver- ;
pool for Boston; on the 10th, the American
Steamship Washington left Southampton for
New York; the 12th, the French steamship
Philadelphia left Cherbourg for the same place;
on the 19th, the Hibernia will leave Liverpool
for Boston; and on the 20th, the new steam
ship Gaudalquiver will leave Liverpool for
New York. The departures from this country
will be as follows, excluding the Cambria,
which sailed on the Ist. The Caledonia will
leave Boston on the 16th; the Sarah Sands
will leave New York about the 20th; the Union
will leave New York on the 24th; and the
Britannia will leave Boston on the Ist of Au
i gust.
The steamship Gaudalquiver will come to
tliis country under the command of Capt. Hos
ken, formerly of the Great Western, and who
had ; in charge the Grcatjßritain when she unfor
tunately grounded on the Irish coast. She
will not return to Europe, having been built
for a company in New \ork, to run as a pack
et between that city and Havana* Capt. H.
will leave her on her arrival in this country,
as she will become an American vessel, and
| under the United States navigation laws, will
1 be commanded by an American.
French Line o f Steamers. —Annexed Is a table
| of the days of departure of each steamer of the
French line from Cherbourg to New \ork, and
vice versa ; .
Steamers. From Cherbourg. From N. York.
Philadelphia July 15 August 15
Missouri July 31 August 31
New York August 15 Sept. 15
Union August 3 1 Sept. 30
Augusta, (Georgia.
TUSSDAY IVIOHmNG?JULY 20.
FOR GOVERNOR
HON. 6. W. TOWNS.
OF TALBOT.
General Taylor, The Ordinance of 1787,
and the Veto.
We give place very cheerfully to the article
of our valued correspondent “Onslow.” We
have some comments however to make which
we wish to be taken in connection with the
subject. It will be perceived by our readers
that the position in which General Taylor is
placed, by bis letter approbatory of the edito
| rial of the Morning Signal, had not escaped us.
In a recent editorial we called attention to it.
But we wish again to express our conviction
that Genenal Taylor is misjudged by those
who suppose that he intended to indorse the i
sentiments of his anti-slavery
and namesake in reference to the ordinance of
1787, and the veto power as applied to it —or
to the Wilmot Proviso —which is substantially
the same thing. We feel assured that no
Southern man, born and bred on Southern soil,
a slaveholder and surrounded through life, by
all the associations which must dictate the pro
priety of defending Southern rights in conuec
■ tion with slavery from the slightest infraction,
could for a moment sanction the ruthless as
sault organized against those rights in the
shape of the Wilmot Proviso. The editor of
the Signal has unquestionably misjudged the
man and misconstrued the letter, if lie find in
that letter any “encouraging indication” that
General Taylor will be found arrayed in oppo
sition to the South on this question. We feel
confident, notwithstanding the general terms
■ of approval used by him in reference to the sen
i timents and views embraced in the editorial of
the Morning Signal, that the Charleston Mercury
Will prove correct in asserting that General Tay *
lor will prove an obstacle in the way of the
Wilmot Proviso men. Our construction of Gen
! oral Taylor’s letter, is, neither that he did not
read the editorial in question, nor that lie was
ignorant of the prolusions of the Ordinance of
1787. But that he meant simply to express
an approval of the general tenor of the article,
| in respect to its patriotic scritiiticnts, and its
suggestion of the necessity of a new dynasty
to harmonize conflicting interests. That the
editorial was cursorily read and its bearings
not fully studied, and that the letter was also
written without duly reflecting that it would
attract the eyes of the entire nation, and every
word he weighed as if in golden scales, with
the most scrupulous study of its probable,
plausible, and possible meaning, and its most
remote bearings, wo strongly believe. We
shall await with some impatience for a more
; explicit exposition from the author, of his
! opinions on the questions involved. We can
i never believe, until we see it in the most cx
| plicit language from his own pen, that Gen
eral Taylor will be found an advocate of the
■ Wilmot Proviso. His letter of the 18th May,
j made its appearance in Georgia subsequent to
j the sitting of the Democratic Convention —
i subsequent in fact to the sitting of the Whig
; Convention; for the latter could not in the
j very teeth of that distinct and positive refusal i
j of General Taylor to be the candidate of any
i party, have been guilty of the absurdity of
nominating him as their party candidate. It
is very certain that if that letter, unexplained
as it still is, had been before the Democratic
Convention, the proposition made to it in con
nection with his name would not have been
submitted to that body.
We noAv invite the attention of our readers
to the follow communication:
[for the constitutionalist.]
Southern statesmen are making an effort to
excite the people of this section of the Union
in opposition to the principles of the Wilmot
Proviso. They are called upon to forget for a
time party distinctions, and rally together to
resist Northern aggression. It would not i
probably be doing injustice to say that Mr.
Calhoun is the head of this movement. Ever
ready for the conflict, when the South is in
vaded, he has already sounded the note of
alarm to Southern slaveholders from his place
in the Senate of the U. States. It has never,
I think, been very clearly announced by what
plan this most righteous war of defence is to
be waged; but it is reported in the public
prints, and not contradicted that I know of,
that Gen. Taylor is the choice of the Carolina
politicians for the Presidency, mainly for the
reason that he being a slaveholder, the rights
of the South in the extensive domain to be
acquired West of the Rio Grande will be ef
fectually secured by his election. Whether
this be true or not, I know the proposition was
made in the last Gubernatorial Convention to
pledge the Democracy of Georgia to the sup
port of Gen. Taylor in preference to any can
didate “who did not distinctly repudiate the
i principles of the Wilmot Proviso. It w ould
be an amusing commentary on all this protes
tation and patriotism, should it be ascertained
that Gen. Taylor has not only not repudiated
the principles of the Wilmot Proviso, but has
substantially endorsed them. And yet all this
I affirm to be true, speaking from the record.
Let us see how the documents will sustain
this position.
In his letter, dated the 18th May, 1847, and
addressed to the editor of the Morning Signal,
published in Cincinnati, Gen. Taylor says :
“With these remarks, I trust you will par
don me for thus briefly replying to you, which
I do with a high opinion and approval of the sen
iimeats and vines embraced in your editorial."
Among other “sentiments and views” in the
editorial about which he is writing, there oc
curs the following :
“The American people are about to assume
the responsibility of framing the institutions
of the Pacific States. We have no fears for
the issue, if the arena of the high debate is
the assemblies of the people and their repre
sentative halls. The extension over the Conti
nent beyond the Rio Grande of the ordinance of
1787, is an object too high and permanent to he
baffled by Presidential vetoes. All that we ask
of the incumbent of the highest office under the
constitution, is to hold his hand, to bow to the
will of the people as promulgated in legislative
forms, and restrain the Executive action in ap
propriate channels.”
That part of the ordinance of 1787, materi
; al to our present purpose, reads thus ;
1 “Art. G. There shall be neither slavery nor
j involuntary servitude in said territory other -
wise than in the punishment of crimes where
of the party shall have been duly convicted.”
The Wilmot Proviso, about which so much
has been said and written, is identical in moan
ing, and almost so in words. The approval of
the one necessarily becomes the approval of
the other. It reads thus;
“ Provided further, That there shall be ileith
er slavery nor involuntary servitude in any
territory on the Continent of America Avhich
shall hereafter be acquired by, or annexed to
the United States, by virtue of this appropria
tion, or in any other manner whatever, except
for crimes whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted.”
Now will any unprejudiced man say this is
special pleading to make out a case? Before (
such a judgment can be rightfully pronounc- ,
ed, it must be shown, either that the old hero J
had never road the editorial he so warmly ap- ;
proved, or else he was ignorant of the provis
ions of the ordinance of 1787.
Gen. Taylor’s correspondent put the same j
construction on the letter that is here adopt- j
ed, and this fact is plainly evidenced by a sub- J
sequent editorial* In the Morning Signal, a
few days later than the publication of the epis
tle from which I have extracted, we find the
following:
“The public attention! is occupied with one
encouraging indication. We may hope, from
the whole tenor of the publication, that the
confident claim recently advanced by the
Charleston Mercury, that Gen. Taylor will
prove ail obstacle to the firm determination of
the American people to extend the ordinance
of 1787 over the Western territories, is not like
ly to be realized by the event.”
If, by the expression, “Western territories,”
be indicated the Mexican territory West of the
Rio Grande, the whole sentence is pregnant
with meaning; if otherwise, then it is non
sensically false*
The letter of the lßth May, is pronounced
a forgery by the National Whig, who, howev
er, does not condescend to give reasons for his
opinion, blit its genuineness is not doubted by
the Cincinnati papers.
The italics in the extracts are mine;
ONSLOW.
The Southern Quarterly Review.
The July No. of this valuable work is before
us, and is full of excellent articles. We have
read several with great pleasure and derived
from them much agreeable information. The
article “China and the Chinese,” is most de
lightful reading, and imparts more knowledge
of China—Chinese character, customs and in
stitutions, their government and religion, than
any similar number of pages we have ever met
! with. The subject is thoroughly handled,
■ and the reader feels after finishing the article
as if he had extracted and enjoyed the essdft.ee
of a dozen pleasant books on that interesting
country and her people.
The folloAving are the titles of the articles
contained in this number. The article enti
| tied “Slavery in the United States,” is especi-
I ally worthy the attention of the Southern
reader.
Article I. China and the Chinese.
“ 11. Robert Hall’s Works.
“ 111. Carolina Sports.
“ IV. Slavery in the United States.
“ V. The Valley of the Amazon.
“ VI. Ecclesiastical History of England.
“ VII. Fanny Kemble.
“ VIII. The Law of libel.
“ IX. Critical Notices.
Steam Ship Iris.
This fine steamer, recently built in New
York, and intended as a regular packet be
tween that city and Charleston, on Friday
evening star ted on a pleasure excursion up
Cooper river and around Charleston harbor.—
She had on board a large number of ladies and
gentlemen, and returned to the city about 7
o’clock in the evening. The Charleston papers
speak in the highest praise of her. She has
proved herself not only a fast boat, but a staunch
one, for none but a avcll built vessel could
stand the thumping she recently received on
Cape Remain, for eighteen hours, and come off
with Avhole bones. The Iris started on her re
turn trip to New York on Saturday afternoon.
How they Do it.
The “twenty-eight gallon” law in Massa
chusetts is evaded by buying twenty-nine
gallons, and selling twenty-eight back. Catch
a Yankee or a weasel asleep, will you?
Bernard Genois, Esq., one of the eldest
and most respectable citizens of New Orleans,
died in that city on the the 12th inst., at the
advanced aged of 96,
The Cotton Crop in Alabama,
. The Mobile Advertiser, of the 14th instant,
says—“ Our account* of the growing crop arc
more unfavorable. The continued and very
heavy rains with which we have been visited
here in the city have extended to the interior,
and arc doing much injury to cotton. An in
telligent planter in a letter to a merchant of
this city, dated “Groensborough, Alabama,
July 9th,” writes as follows : “It is still rain
ing, and the boll-worm, is doing a good deal of
mischief. From all appearances the damage
will be equal to that of last year. Such quan
tities of rain have scarcely ever been known
to fall in the same length of time—now over
a week and nearly every day in torrents. I
shall be satisfied if I make as much as I did
last year, which was only about 300 pounds
per acre. My present crop is all of four weeks
behind that of last year.”.
Another Water-Wonder.
The Baltimore Sun of the 17th inst. says—
“ The Philadelphians have the promise of an
arrival in their harbor of almost as great a cu
riosity as the Chinese junk. One Capt. Wil
liam Adams left Wilmington, it seems, on
Thursday morning, iu what is called a “pas
senger gum-elastic sea-safety trunk,” bound
to Philadelphia, with provisions sufficent for
a voyage of three days. The trunk is 30 inches
long by about 20 inches broad and as many
deep. It was once written that “throe wise
men of Gothan went to sea in a bowl,” and
there really appears to be a natural affinity
between a bowl and the water; but the idea
of navigating in a trunk—a veritable trunk—
which has no such desirable property, seems
indeed wondrous strange.”
The lion, 1. E. Morse, has received the
nomination of the Democrats of the fourth
District of Louisiana, for re-election to Con
gress.
iPaixhan Guns.
A writer in the Charleston Mercury states
that the idea of the Puixhan gun originated
with the late Dr. Cooper, of South Carolina;
A Mexican circus company arrived At New
Orleans on Saturday; It is Under the direc
tion of Mr. Stephen Foote, and nUmbers six
teen performers, among w'horrl are too durk
eyed Mexican Scnoritas, from whose well
poised glances, the Delta forebodes destruction
to somebody. The performances of the troupe
' arc said to be of the most skillful order;
| The New York Journal of Commerce of the
j 15th inst., says—“ The hail storm, Os wdiioh we
; had a touch on Tuesday afternoon, appears
have been quite extensive. It avas accompa
nied by a gale of wind, which in some places
prostrated the growing corn, and did other
damage. At Guildcrland, Albany co., some
of the hail stones were as large as pigeons’
eggs; and fell in such profusion as completely
to cover the ground. In the vicinity of Bos
ton the blow was quite severe though we he. r
nothing of hail there.”
Where is the Sarah Sands.
Tills steamer, which sailed front Liverpool
on the 15th of June, is now in her thirty fifth
day. Considerable anxiety prevails for her
safety;
ecopy with great pleasure the follow
ing paragraph in reference to the sons of our
distinguished fellow-citizen, Mathew Hall Mc-
Allister. They arc worthy sons of an honora
ble sire:
We arc gratified to loam that our young
townsman, M. 11. McAllister* Jr*, has taken
the first prize in the first division of the class
of 1847, in Yale College, for English composi
tion. His eldest brother, Cadet Julian McAl
lister, has recently passed his examination at
West Point with distinction, being one of the
first foUr. It affords us pleasure to see our
Savannah boys acquitting themselves so credi
tably.
[From the WnshintrUm Uiiicm, 16 th inst.]
The Revenue.
We have procured fiom the Treasury an of
ficial letter from the Secretary of the Treasury,
in reply to a communication from the Hon.
Mr. Adams, of Mississippi* which letter, with
the table annexed, are given, below.- It ap
pears that the actual augmentation of receipt
for duties for the first seven months and ten
days under the tariff of 1846, as compared w ith
the same time Under the huff of 1842, exceeds
one million of dollars! and that, adding the
duties on the warehoused goods, the total in
crease is nearly one million and a half of dol
lars. It appears also that the rate of augmenta
tion is progressing, and that Mr. Walker’s esti
mate will be more than realized by the result.
Treasury Department, July 16, 1847.
Sir: The gross receipts from customs from
the Ist of December, 1846, to the 10th July,
1847, under the tariff of 1846, compared with
the same period of the previous year under
the tariff of 1842, exhibits an increase of the
tariff of 1846 of one million and four thousand
dollars. This is exclusive of the duties ac
crued on goods in warehouse under the new
warehousing law, which is nearly half a mil
lion, and will make the total augmentation of
duties accrued during the first seven months
and ten days of the tariff of 1816, compared
with the same time under the tariff of 1842,
about one million and a half of dollars.
Since my last letter to you, wo have receiv
ed returns for the month of June and the first
ten days of July, which would seem to indi
cate that the augmentation of revenue is still
progressing.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, R. J. WALKER,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon. S. Adams, Pontotoc, Miss.
Comparative statement of gross receijts from customs
at the ports of the Untied States during the. months
of December, 1815 and 1816, and January to July
10, 18 lit and 1817, under the respective tariffs of
1812 atul 1846.
1845-U 1816-’7.
De ccmber $2,1 06,326 $2.103,825
January 2,316,269 2,619,21!
February 2.201.319 2.151.075
March.'. 4,108.356 3,137,106
April 2,899,311 3,385,964
May 2.088,517 2,333.477
June 2,574,268 2,512509
July 10 714,266 988,319*
19,009,032 20,013,2;%
19,009,032
Excess of tariff of 13 k 3 ,51,001,254
*Not all the ports.
Treasury Department, July 16, 1847.
The exports of Cotton Goods from Boston
were, in June 4306 bales, against 1387 in June
1846. Os these shipments 2358 -went to Val
paraiso, 687 to Canton, 297 to Calcutta, 350 to
Bavaria, and 226 to Sandwich Islands. Thu
exports of Ice from Boston in June w r ere 6776
tons, against 2930 same month last year. New'
Orleans took 4148 tons. East Indies 403.
Calcutta 700. Vera Cruz 300. Rio 253.