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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAMES GARDNER. JR. '
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The incarnation Prisoners.
The Nevy Orleans Delta of the Itoh inst.
contained a detailed account of tod' sufferings i
experienced unfortunate men,'up to
the |he escape of Capt. Ifeirie/ with
which our readers were some time a/o made i
acquainted, tlirough that gentleman. The
Delta ofthc 17th, contains an accouSMf their
sufferings since his escape, as follows M
After the escape of Capt. Henrie thWpmou
ers wore closely guarded, and proceeded on
their journey to Son Luis. They had not gone
far before they met Gen. Santa Anna on his
way to Agna Nueva to attack Gen. Taylor.
The General was in a large and showy carriage
drawn by six beautiful mules, and escorted by
a battalion of hussars most splendidly uni
formed and mounted. As the prisoners pass
ed, his carriage was stopped, the hussars drew
up, and at the request of Santa Anna, Major
Gaines was introduced to him. The wily
Mexican was all smiles and courtly grace. He
expressed his regret to find the Major and his
party in their unfortunate situation, but prom
ised them the most kindly treatment, and
hoped that they would soon be exchanged and
would be able to rejoin their friends. The
manners of the Mexican General were certain
ly very fine and prepossessing, but the pris
oners would have been better satisfied with
some more substantial proof of his kindly dis
position. The contrast between the prisoners 1
and the magnificent retinue of Santa Anna
formed a picture which would have taxed the
highest powers of a Martin or a David. Th<
ill-clad, ragged, unarmed prisoners, with their
stalwart frames and bold and manly countc- I
nances, without shoes or hats, and many witt
out coats, but wrapped in their blankets, Indi
an fashion, stood with erect and uuawed front
before the array of the elegantly accoutred and
well armed hussars, mounted on choict steeds
with their long spears and heavy sabres. In
deed there was not one of these proud but
unfortunate representatives of the Anglo-
American race, who would not have given all
his prospects in life to have had one chance
with his unerring ride and deadly bowie knife
against the serried ranks of these bedizzened
and bcwluskered hussars. But this interview
was soon terminated, and Santa Anna and his
retinue resumed their journey, and proceeded
onward with great rapidity.
The prisoners passed for several days large
bodies of Mexican soldiery, who seemed to be
pushing on- towards the Sierra Madre with
great rapidity. They were in fine condition,
well equipped and supplied with all the neces
sary supplies. As they passed the prisoners,
many of the soldiers would insult them by
gestures, indicating that their throats wore to i
be cut, or they were to be hung up ! The on
ly reply our boys made to these cowardly jeers
was a very significant gyratory movement of
the right thumb applied to the apex of their
nasal appendage, and a hint that Old Zack
would give them a dose which would make
them laugh on the other side of their faces.
At night, the prisoners would encamp with
some of the divisions of the Mexican* army,
and from the soldiers they learned what wore
Santa Anna’s designs. Ho had intercepted,
they said, letters of Gen. Scott, showing that
Gen. Taylor’s army was reduced to a few
thousand ill-disciplined troops, and that the
whole valley of the Rio Grande was without
an adequate force to protect it. Santa Anna
had determined to push on, annihilate Tay
lor, recapture Saltillo, Monterey, Coniargo, and
the whole valley of tho Kio Grande, possess
himself of the immense supplies of our army,
then push on to Corpus Christi, and thence
proceed to the valley of the Mississippi and
lay waste that whole vast country. Certainly
this design was worthy of the Napoleon of the
West. It was very wrong in Old Zack to in
terfere with such a magnificent scheme. He
should have allowed the Mexicans to come
over here, when we could have caught them
all alive and put them to some more useful
and profitable undertaking than fighting A
mericans. Clearing our swamps would be a
much easier and more beneficial employment
for Mexicans than fighting such battles as those
of Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo.
Such, however, were the confident expecta
tions of the Mexicans, of the officers, even
those of intelligence and information, as well
cs of the common soldiers. No wonder with
such hopes that they marched so rapidly, and
bore so patiently the many trials and sufferings
to which they were subjected in this unparal
leled march.
In the rear of tho Mexican army, the pri
soners met Capt. Riley, with his company of
deserters from the American camp. He had
already eighty or ninety men, who constitu
ted the main artillery force of the army., and
said he w'as picking up more every day. He
made a great elfort to persuade some of the
prisoners to join him, promising them as much
land and money as they wanted, and declar
ing that it was impossible for Gen. Taylor to
resist Santa Anna’s army, which was thirty
thousand strong, and that the whole spoil of
the valley of the Rio Grande would he devi
ded among the troops. It is unnecessary to
eay that the traitor’s proposals were received
by our gallant volunteers with scorn and con
tempt. The prisoners were much gratified
to hear, sometime afterwards in the Carcel St.
Jago, that Capt. Riley’s company was cut all
to pieces, and but twenty ever returned to the
city of Mexico. This twenty together with other
American deserters, who had escaped from our
army at Tampico and Vera Cruz, became so
disordely and unruly in their habits, that they
were ordered out of the city, and on their
way were attacked by a large Mexican force
and all put to the sword.
On the first of March the prisoners arrived
within nine miles of the city of Mexico, when
the Colonel in command of the guard received
orders to detain them at the place where he
was until the revolution, which was then, rag
ing in the city, had abated. But the revolu
tion continuing longer than was expected, the
prisoners were marched into the city on the
night of the sth March, and were lodged in
the secure prison-fortress of San Jago. * Here
they found themselves in the society of all the
principal malefactors and convicts of Mexico,
and a more rascally, filthy, and villainous set
were never before congregated. Their imper
tinent and disgusting behaviour soon rendered
it necessary that our boys should give them a
little deciplining. Several of them were well
flogged by the Americans, and quite a feud
sprung up in consequence, which, reaching
the ears of the good natured, pot-bellied old |
Governor, he came down one morning after
one of the rows between the convicts and the
Americans, and proceeded very deliberately,
with many grunts, much perspiration, and* a
face full of wisdom and sagacity, to drew a
chalk-line across tho floor of the prison, assign
; ing the American one side and the convicts
| the other. And as he completed this sage
and ingenious sch -me for preserving the peace,
the jolly old-fellow chuckled very heartily
over his wisdom, and left the prison with a
very contented and self-satisfied air.
The revolution in the city still continued. —
1 There was a most terrific din of cannon and !
i small arms, drums beating, bugles blowing, 1
| cavalry charging, &c. The prisoners thought,
i from the commotion apperent among the
people, and from the immense consumption of |
gunpowder that seemed to be going on, that
a very fierce and destructive battle was raging
in the city. Great was their astonishment to
hear from an Englishman, who visited them,
that it was all sound and fury, signifying noth
ing; that the revolutionary parties kept two
or three miles apart, and fired their guns at
ran lorn down the streets. No persons wore
injured but those who happened to pass along
the streets. The little boys would watch the
cannon balls as they went booming along the
street, and when they were spent, and began
to roll slowly, would run and pick them up
and sell them to the opposite party.
For fifteen days did this fierce revolution
rage in the city. The parties would rise early j
in the morning, and while it was cool and plea- j
sant, would fire away at each other, very com
fortably retiring for their coffee and lunch. — ~
In the heat of the day they would suspend
operations altogether, but at dark they would
begin the battle with great ferocity, and fight
the whole night long.
Proposals were made by both of the par ties
to our prisoners to release them if they would
fight on their side. The Mexicans had heard
I of the skill of our riflemen, and they believed
that it was only necessary for tho prisoners to
1 join either party, to secure its success in tire
i strife then going on in the city. But our boys j
preferred looking on, like tire old woman in
the fight between her husband and the bear, 1
rot caring a copper which whipped.
In the midst of the revolution, the first news !
«f the battle of Buena Vista reached the city.
There was a great ringing of bells, and much
rejoicing on account of the joyful tidings* — i
Bad news travels fast, and the prisoners were
soon informed by Mexicans of the total rout
and capture of Gen. Taylor’s whole army, the
death of Gen. Butler, and several of our most
distinguished officers. Although but little
disposed to rely on Mexican stories there was
! such an air of probability about this report that
j the prisoners were forced to give it some cre
j deuce, and were overwhelmed with grief and
1 mortification by the disastrous result. But
i soon other stories were circulated, conflicting |
| statements were given, all tending to throw
doubt upon the story of Santa Anna’s splendid
triumph. At last the hurried despatcch of the |
Mexican General was received, and the notes
of rejoicing in the city subsided most percepti
bly. A copy of this despatch was thrown down,
! by means of a twine string, from the room
where the officers were confined to the main
I court yard, where the men were, and was
l eagerly and joyously perused by them. It
was evident that Gen. Santa Anna had sus- |
| tained a decided repulse, and the prisoners
, could not restrain their exultation, but gave it
i relief in three loud cheers, which startled the
I inmates of the prison, and brought the Gover
| nor down upon them, in the greatest terror j
j and purturbation.
On the next day, however, the spirits of the
Mexicans were somewhat restored by the ar
rival of the trophies of the battle of Angostura.
The three little cannon of Lieut. O’Brien, one
• of which, by-the-bye, had been captured from
I the Mexicans by the Texans, and the colors of
the Indiana regiments, together with a few
i markers, were brought into the city in a tri
! umphal car, and were rccicvcd with great pa
j rade by the people.
The whole story, however, of the bloody |
■ fight of Buena Vista Was soon as familiar to i
; the prisoners as a “thrice told tale.” Their j
! only regret was their unfortunate exclusion \
; from the honors and laurels of that glorious
victory. The party of Majors Gaines and Bor- j
land had been afterwards joined by that of j
■ Capt. Heady, and also by the party of Lieut.
; Barbour and Quartermaster Smith, who were
taken hy Urrea, between Montery and Comar- ;
go, making the whole number of American |
prisoners in the Carcel one hundred and sev- ;
enty.
Although the men suffered considerably I
from the want of exercise and bad diet, their
health was generally good, and but one man
I died of their whole number since they were
captured. After they had been in prison three 1
months, the prisoners were told that they had
I been exchanged and would be sent to Tampico.
Their officers, however, were not allowed to
see them, but they were told they would join
j them in a few days.
On the sth of June, the men were supplied
with shoes, and in the night they were marched
i out of their gloomy prison and through the
! gates of the city. They were then put in charge
of a colonel and twenty lancers, and proceeded
on their journey towards Tampico. The coun
try through which they passed for four or five
days was most beautiful, and highly cultivated.
The dark foliage of the evergreens, the luscious
fruit, the teeming crops, the springs of cool
I water, gushing from the mountain side, the
myriads of richly colored and variegated birds, |
I the delightful variety of mountains and valleys, i
rendered the journey of the long imprisoned ,
Americans one of great interest and pleasure. ;
They were wsll treated by the officer who
i conducted them, and generally by the people
| of tha towns through which they passed,
j There are, however, some exceptions to this
1 remark. At the large mining town of Rio del
| Monte, the people assaulted the prisoners with
j stones, and would have murdered them, if the :
j English residents had not interfered and pro
tected them. For the generous and humane
; conduct of the English, the prisoners express ;
1 their great gratitude and thankfulness. After i
I a long journey of two hundred miles, the !
i prisoners arrived at the town of Huejutla,
where they were received very kindly be Gen.
Garay, and were allowed twenty-five cents a j
day for their support. This money w'as raised
by a forced contribution from the people. Gen. I
Garay, however, c v d not consider that he was |
authorized to send them on to Tampico with
out such a guard as he had not then under his
command. He was apprehensive that the
people near Tampico were so enraged against
the Americans, that they would attack them,
unarmed as they were, and being a man of
honor he did not wish to be connected with
j such a disgraceful deed. He therefore de
tained the prisoners some weeks, but gifting
restless and impatient, several of them escaped
out of the town and proceeded on their way to
Tampico The five who arrived here in the
j Home got safely into Tampico. Four others,
j who escaped before them, were retaken and
carried back to Huejutla. One of the same
| party, and two others of another party, also
arrived at Tampico. The five who are now in
our city started from Huejutla in the night,
armed with their jack-knives and one case
| knife among the five. They had to travel
chiefly at night, and avoided all the towns and
ranches. On one occasion, however, in at
tempting to go around a to wn of some size, they .
took up a ravine, and suddenly found them- :
selves in the very centre of it. They assumed,
however, a very easy and in different carriage,
and passed by the Guard-house where there !
were several soldiers lounging about. The 1
soldier on guard cried out “who goes there,” ,
in Spanish, but the men carelessly answering
“ amigos , amidos kept on their course and got
safely out of the town.
Near Tampico, they carac suddenly upon a
ranch, where there were fifteen or twenty Mexi
cans, all armed with that formidable weapon,
the lariat. Seeing that they were noticed, the
Americans walked boldly up to the Mexicans
and commenced making signs to them of their
friendly intentions. The Mexicans looked very
threateningly, and seemed to be adjusting their
lariats for immediate use, but the Americans
showed their knives, and were permitted to
proceed on their journey.
After many trials and sufferings, the prison
ers at last arrived within sight of Tampico.
The ecstatic joy which filled their hearts, as
they saw the noble banner of our Union, with
its broad stripes and bright stars, waving from
the lofty flag-staff of Tampico, can be better
imagined than described.
[ From the N. O. Delta \lth inst]
Late from Buena Vista, Saltillo, Iftontc
rcy. Sec.
M e had the pleasure of a conversation with 1
Dr. Johnston, of Gen. Wool’s staff, who arrived
in the Palmetto, evening before last, direct !
from Gens. \\ 00l and Taylor’s camp, having |
left Saltillo on the 27th June. Dr. * Johnston
has resided a long time among the Mexicans,
and when the Avar broke out was living in
Durango. He was compelled, however, with
all the other Americans residing there* to leave :
the place; and proceeded to the city of Mexico. \
After the battle of Monterey, he detennined to j
join our army, and accordingly started for |
Monterey on horseback. He arrived at that
place in January last, and immediately attach
ed himself to our army.
Dr. Johnston acted as an Aid of Gen. Lane
at Buena Vista, and Was severely wounded—
having been lanced and sabred, and otherwise
so injured as to make his recovery almost a ;
miracle.
Dr. Johnston reports that Gen-. Wool was
encamped on the classic field of Buena Vista, I
with a force of 2700 men, consisting of Virginia,
Mississippi and North Carolian volunteers, and j
Sherman’s, Washington’s and Prentiss’ bat- ,
teries.
Gen. Taylor is still at his favorite old camp- j
ing ground, the Walnut Springs, quietly wait
ing until the Government furnishes him with j
men and means to advance on San Luis. Gen. :
Taylor has with him the 16th regiment, Bragg’s ;
battery, and two squadrons of dragoons. At
Comargo, Geh. Hoppin has about 2000 troops
of the new levies-. About the 13th June,
Gen. Wool received notice that a force of about
1000 cavalry, under Gen. Avaloa and Minon,
had left Matehula, and advanced within sixty
miles of Buena Vista. This party constituted
the advance of a strong division, which it was |
reported by the Mexicans, was about to ad
vance from San Luis Potosi, under Gens. Va
lencia and Salas. By the last accounts from
San Luis, there were but 4000 or 5000 troops
there, but Valencia expected to be joined by a
strong force from Zacatecas. We think the
swarthy General reckons without his host. —
The Zacatecanos are a shrewd, sensible people;
they are too good democrats, and like and ad
mire the Americans too much to take a very
active part in the war.
We are happy to see that our old friend Mi
non lias been liberated from the darance vile
into which he was thrown by Santa Anna, on
account of that confounded lovc-scnpe at Sal
tillo. lie is again at the head of a cavalry
force, and whenever the opportuniti offers, he
will no doubt accomplish somethin* worthy
of the reputation he acquired at Yucatan.
The citizens are generally returning to the
towns occupied by our troops. In Saltillo and j
Monterey nearly all the respectable families j
have returned, and everything goes on very ;
smoothly and quietly. The people generally
are warmly desirous of a peace, and begin to
prefer the American Government ;o their own.
Especially in the town of ZacaloWt* docs the
anti-war feeling prevail to a great extent. At
a jhiblic dinner in the town sometime ago,
Gen. Taylor and the American army were
toasted with applause.
The friends of Capt. Tobin will V? pleased to
hear that he is doing well, beinj attached to i
Gen. Wool’s staff, and having the cordial
j friendship and goo d will of all t\e officers of i
1 the army. The gallant captain baa promised
a full budget of news from his vaUable knap
sack, which we hope to receive ly the next
arrival from Brazos.
[From the Columbus Times.]
♦ Whig- Trouble.
The Marietta Advocate makes ai apt com
ment upon the amazing Whig unanimity,
vaunted by the lute Whig convention in favor
of Gen. Taylor. The convention in making
; the nomination cheerfully “respond to the gen
eral spontaneous acclamation of the American
people,” &c., Sec. It is a little curious though ;
true, that the most serious, indeed the only
open and decided hostility to Gen. Taylor’s .
success has come from Whigs. JTot many :
weeks since we published a couole of columns
of extracts from Northern and Western Whig
papers, all warmly, and many indecantly abu- |
sive of Gen. Taylor. The truth is, that Gen. |
Taylor does not please the Whigs as a party.—
Ilis intimate association and synvnthy with
the war, must estrange him in feeling, how
ever the contrary may be affected, to a party
I that holds that war to be so shocking to justice
and humanity. And it is scarcely possible
that a man who refuses to lend himself to
“party schemes” can be an agreeable candidate
to this “party of schemers.” Certos, a “strict
I observer of constitution” cannot be the accep
: table candidate of those, all of whose favorite
measures find their only basis upon a very
loose reading of that instrument.
The Whigs then are not so easy and unani
mous for Taylor, as they would have the world
believe. The true friends of Gen. Taylor in
the Un'ted States, are the moderate or no-party
men, and the Democrats. The former are
wearied with old party lines and party squab
bles, and hope for a milennial political peace,
that never will, and never ought to come. —
For when it does, despotism has set its foot
on the neck of the people. The Democrats deep-
Iv and warmly sympathize with Gen. Taylor.
He is the fortunate soldier of their nurture,
i They gave him the brilliant opportunities which
he has so brilliantly improved. ' They have
followed his banner with straining eyes and
I beating breasts at every step of his victorious
I progress. When gloom for a season hung
round his path, it was the Democrats, who re
j fused to give way to the dark progress of de
feat and boldly maintained their confidence
| that the gallant leader and his gallant men
would yet pluck victory from seeming disaster,
and hew his way through surrounding foes.
, When triumph followed his eagles from field
to field, it was the Democrats who most fer
vently rejoiced, as Americans, in the glory of
the success of a just caxise, and as party
i men. that the soldier of their appointment had
vindicated the judgment of the President and
justified the expectations of the country.
Everything indeed, conspired to cause the
hearts of American Democrats to lean towards
Gen. Taylor. Had they chosen to take him up
as their military candidate, victorious in their
cause, the hery of their war, who does not see
that they could have swept the po v tical board
of all-opposition and achieved an easy victory?
But, the Democrats were mindful that they
j had principles to defend, and measures of
policy, now in felicitous operation, to take
care of and preserve. They were after some
thing higher and nobler than a mere party
triumph, and they would not, like the Whigs,
I seize upon the succesful soldier, for his avail
i ability, and trust to luck and the adroit man- i
agement of Messrs, Clay and Crittenden for ,
his principles. Winch was the honest course? ;
which the manly course? We leave it to Gen. 1
Tavlor and the people to decide. But the
Whigs worst enemies could not wish them
more humiliation and botheration,thorn they reap
in their indecent haste to appropriate old Zack.
The General himself repudiates their embrace j
and scornes such “aid and comfort” as they can
offer him. At home, too, there is anything
but peace. Tbc Advocate thus enumerates I
some of their troubles:
“The Whig Central Committee of the State 1
of Ohio has issued resolutions disapproving the
nomination of General Taylor for various rea- j
sons, and intimates a preference for some other
candidate. This is a Whig State, without the
aid of which a Whig could hardly be elected j
President. We believe that Thomas Corwin,
whose patriotic conduct has become a sort of
i episod to the history of Buena Vista, is the fa
| vorite of Ohio. There is another competitor
I out West among the Whigs. Judge McLean
has been nominated. The Eastern States, in
-1 eluding Massachusetts, which refused even a
j vote of thanks to Gen. Taylor, will have a
Northern or Western candidate from the free
i States. We have said nothing of Mr. Clay,
the most consistent Whig of them all, and who
is not without adherents. This looks very lit
tle like “the general acclamation of the Ame
rican people” in favor of General Taylor, and
wc submit it to the consideration of those who
look with complacency and hone upon “the
! benign influences” of Whigery.”
Another Lr+te’*.
Taylor Whigery has suffered another shock \
\in a fresh letter from Gen. Taylor. We are I
reminded of Clay and Granger—“ D—nit how |
he nicks ’em !!” It is to the same effect as
I the other. The following emphatic passage
I occurs in it:
“But I will not be the Candidate of any
party or clique, and should the nation at large j
; seek to place me in the chair of the chief ma
i gistracy, the good of all parties and the nation
al good would be my great and absorbing aim.”
Wonder how the “National Whig” and oth
er papers feel, who pronounced the “Signal”
! letter a “base loco foco forgery,” and a “slan
• dcr” upon Gen. Taylor ? The letter proving
genuine, how are they ever to get back their
good opinion of the General, and unsay their
back-handed compliment to his sense and in
j tegrity.
The Whig papers are playing a perfect j
“Comedy of Errors” about these letters.—
: While some apx»rovc of the first, they pro- j
nounce the second a “hoax.” The New York ;
Mirror, which receives the first, says that the
latter “proves that Gen; Taylor has icritten
| himself oat."
The “Boston Atlas” strikes its gaffs into the
! old hero, for being a “rto-party man”—declares
1 that no partyism is a deception—a misnomer.”
1 The “Boston Courier” copies from the Atlas,
and Concludes with this refreshing announce
ment to the General.
“If General Taylor wishes to be President,
he had best say which party he belongs to,
without any further nonsensical gabble about be
ing the candidate of no party/’
The Hamilton (O.) News, says the Whigs
arc guilty of “moral destitution” if they sup
port Taylor, simply “because he smells of
blood and gunpowder.” It declares that the j
whigs must cease “trilHlng,” and bring out a
man, who is a whig, and is willing to be called
so.
The Whig Convention of Georgia, should
have had these facts before them, when they
penned and passed the “ spontaneous ” pream
ble.
[From the N. I'. Journal of Commerce.]
j The Journal of Commerce, which of course
knows better, has fifty times held up the high
prices under the present tariff as the result of
the Locofoco experiments in political econo- j
my. What will the Journal of Commerce say,
now that famine, the great ally of Locofocoism, 1
has withdrawn its support from the cause ?
Providence Journal.
It will say that the whole operation shows i
how utterly fallacious is the high tariff doc
trine that the foreign market for our bread
stuffs, &c., is of little consequence, because the
amount exported is but a pittance compared
j with the amount consumed at home. This
rank heresy in political economy has been ;
i scattered to the winds by the experiment of the
last few months. Every bodv knows that our
j crops last year wore immensely large, and that
: without a foreign demand, flour could not have
ruled higher than $4 or $44 a barrel. But
instead of that, it went up to SO, and over. —
What caused it? The demand from abroad, j
And what has now caused a decline of more
than $3 a barrel ? The prospect of good crops
:on the other side. The despised foreign mar- 1
kot, then, is the regulator of our own. It
1 drives our flour up to $9, or lets it drop to
half that rate. Even now, the foreign market
keeps the home price $1 or sl4 higher than it
| otherwise would be.
We have never contended, or pretended, that
the late extravagant prices of breadstuff were
| exclusively the result of the new Tariff. If we
have, “fifty times,” as the Providence paper
implies, it can doubtless quote a single instance.
We have said, and repeat it now, that “Provi
dence having withheld its blessings from the
people of Europe, Free Trade [not the Tariff
of 1846 alone] allows us to reap the advan
tages of the calamity;—and allows them to buy
food of us, and so to mftigtate the calamity.”
All the benefit we have derived from the scar
city of breadstuffs in Europe, and all the bene- i
fit which Europe has derived from us for the
mitigation of the calamity, is the result of Free
Trade , more or less complete. Had the same
rate of duties advalorom been charged upon
breadstuffs in Europe, as was charged upon
various articles of European manufacture
by the Tariff of 1842, (for the restoration of
which wc suppose the Providence Journal is
daily and nightly sighing,) not a bushel of
bread stuffs could have been sent thither from
American ports, unless our own prices had been
reduced one-half, or unless the prices in Europe
had been doubled. Let this be contradicted
if it can be.
Os course, upon articles of export from this
country, our own Tariff upon imports can have
only an indirect effect; though this indirect ef
fect may be large. When the Tariff men de
precated a reduction of duties on the ground
that it would inundate the country with for
eign goods, they asserted the only fact wdiich
is necessary to prove this indirect effect; for it
is a law of trade established by the experience
of ages, that facility of payment increases the
price of the articles purchased. If we sell only
for specie, on- sales must be small, and our
prices low. If we buy little, we can expect to
sell but little. Very high duties check, if they
do not prevent importations; and for the same
reason they diminish exports, both in quantity
and price. They do it, likewise, or are liable
to do it, by reciprocal legislative action. High
duties beget high duties in return. In the ap
proach towards Free Trade, England generous
ly led the way, and breadstuffs were among
1 the articles particularly favored. The duties
( on these articles, on being imported into Eng
land, are now little more than nominal, and
are soon to bo repealed altogether. Other
European nations, partly from necessity, and
partly through England’s example, have "adopt -
ed a similar course, —at least temporarily. But
what assurance had we, that without some cor
responding action on our part within a reason
able period, England would not return to her
old system of high duties? If we had any
such assurance, it arose from the fact that
Free Trade is good in itself; good, even with
! out reciprocity, though, better with; and that
, England would find it so by the experiment.
—Fortunately we met her promptly and hand
somely in this movement towards freedom,
and the result is, a cordial good feeling be
tween the two countries as to our commercial
(and other) relations, prosperity at home and
respect abroad. Instead of having all the
Banks broke, and the abomination of desola
! tion set up in our midst, as the tariff men pre
dicted, we have money plenty, the Banks in a
, perfectly sound condition, public and private
| credit good, and every thing else as it ahould
be, except and notwithstanding the Mexican
war, which it might reasonably have been ex
pected would more or less derange the curren
cy and distuib the regular course of business.
But all this, the Tariff!tes will toll us, is in
consequence of the famine. Famine and the
Devil, they say, i. e. some of them say, have
come to the aid of the Free Traders, and help
ed them out off a slough in which they
would otherwise have been sw r amped. The
Devil, (owing to the partiality of friends,) gets
credit for many gone! deeds which he never
performed. The Jews ascribe to him the cast
ing out of devils, —preferring that he should
have the credit of it, rather than the true au
thor of the miriclo. So the Protectionists arc
ready to ascribe the kindly workings of the
new Tariff to any than its intrinsic
merits, as an approach to Free Trade principles.
Even so they are obliged to admit that it has
worked well, and that is more than half of the
battle.
Augusta, (Georgia.
FRIDAY roOENIKTG. JULY 23, 1847.
FOR GOVERNOR
HOH. 0. W. TOWNS.
OF TALBOT.
The Wilmot Proviso meets with more favor
from Northern Democrats than from Northern
Whigs.— Chronicle & Sentinel, July 20.
The above assertion made by the Chronicle,
we promptly denied, Considering it as we do,
grossly unjust to the Democrats —at war with
all the facts —contrary to the Whole histo
ry of the Proviso—the recorded votes in Con
| gress, and the entire tone of the public press in
the North. Whoever believed, for a moment,
the truth of the above assertion would be mq£t
widely led astray. We have so little idea that
it will be believed, that we would not even re
fer to it again but from respect to the aditor
who put forth yesterday morning the follow -
| iug lame apology for the assertion. lie dig
nifies it by calling it a reason.
We believe that Whigs and Democrat; are
unanimously iii its favor in the non-slaveljold
i ing States. But it originated with Democrats,
and we say, it meets with more favor |om
them than the Whigs, for the following tea
son.
They are in favor of acquiring territory fram
Mexico for the purpose of making it free. T|ie
Northern Whigs are in favor of making it t|ee
if acquired, but they are opposed to the acqui
sition, because it may endanger the Union.
This is tile difference between the Northern
Democrats and Northern Whigs on this ques
tion; The Democrats are so wedded to the ac
quisition Os territory and the Wilmot Proviso,
that they go for them at all hazards. The
Whigs are willing to give them up for the sake
of harmony and peace;
If this reason is a specimen of the reasons On
which that print feels justified in making broad
j assertions on so important a fact as the one a
bove alledged to bo true, its assertions must be
] very carefully watched. Its reasons must be,
in future, scrupulously called for. Who but
the Chronicle would ever have dreamed that
| the reason above given proved the assertion
made? Who else would expect to sustain the
assertion by such proof ?
But another assertion is made by the Chroni
cle, which says: “It is acknowledged on all
hands that the North is unanimous in favor
I
of excluding slavery from the new territory.”
No such thing is acknowledged, “on all hands.”
The Northern whigs, and “their allies” the
abolitionists,are unanimous on this point. But
the Northern democrats are not. A portion
I of them are in favor of settling this question
on the principles of the Missouri compromise.
They were found with the South before on
that question, while the Northern whigs and
abolitionists were unanimous against the South,
as they ever have been and ever will be. We
| believe that the following view’ of the case
! taken in a recent letter by “Lowndes,” the
ntelligent Washiington correspondent of that
able paper the Columbus Times, is much more
to be relied upon than that the Chronicle pre
. seats, and for much better reasons:
It is becoming a general impression among
our friends that the Democratic masses of the
North are fast repudiating the Wdmot provi
so and settling dow a in favor of the Missouri
compromise line. I have lately conversed
freely with many well informed public men,
w’bo know’ the tone of popular sentiment at
the North and West, and find them all agree
| in the belief that a considerable majority of
the Democratic representatives will stand by
the compromise. It ■will then depend upon
the Southern Whig representatives alone,
whether this vexatious question of the exist
ence of slavery in territory to be acquired
sh all be next winter definitely and peaceably
i settled and in a manner satisfactory to the
! South. If they vote with the Southern De
mocrats for the compromise, it w 111 be a thing
! done. If, on the other hand, they vote with
Giddings and his crew against it, to effect
federal ends, as they voted on the Wilmot
proviso last winter, we shall have upon us a
frightful train of the evil consequences with
which the “ally” in New' Hampshire—aboli
! tionism, is so pregnant.
The Democrats of the North, with the ex
ception of politicians attached to the fortunes
| of a single Presidential aspirant, are in fact
; adopting the sentiment of all the speeches de
-1 livered by the President on his late Northern
tour. “The Union, it must be preserved.”—
This is destined to become the rallying cry of
the friends of the Missouri compromise line in
the next Congress. You will find Gen. Cass,
perhaps its leading defender in the Senate,
while Messrs. Woodbury and Buchanan, 1 hough
not in the National legislature, will probably
| give it their emphatic and influential endorse
ment. As I remarked, it will remain with the
Southern Whig representatives by their votes
to secure that line to then constituents. I
take it, if they prove untrue to the interests
committed to their charge, the subterfuge that
| they demand the existence of slavery in all ter
ritory to be acquired, will hardly, this time,
serve to blind the perception of their constitu
ents to the fact that in taking their measures
in this connection they act, counsel, and vote
! cheek by jowl with Giddings & Co.
But we are not left entirely to speculations
on this subject. We can name at least two
democratic papers at the North which take
open ground in favor of the Missouri compro
‘ misc, and against the Wilmot Proviso. These
J are the A. I". Globe, the organ of the New York
i City democracy, and the Worcester Palladium a
democratic paper in the very heart of
i blue-light Massachusetts. This is the
ground upon which w r e hope to sec the great
democratic party of the North planted. Upon
that ground, as of yore, they will rally to the res
cue of the South and of the Union. Upon the
preservation of that great party depends in an
j eminent degree the preservation of the Union.
I Could the whig and abolition fanaticism bear
sway—the Union would be rent into a thou
l sand fragments. The only check which has
ever been put upon it has been by the North
■ ern democracy which has in times past steadi
ly fought the buttles of the South against the
spirit of Northern aggression and fanaticism,
both upon thenegro and the Indian questions.
When the final test is again applied, we do
not despair of finding the Northern democracy
again standing by the South for the compro
j mises of the constitution—for the Missouri
compromise, and in practical hostility to the
( Wilmot Proviso.
IWcedag - of Editors in Georgia.
The following suggestion of the Savannah
i Republican meets wdth our hearty concurrence
as to the object in view. But to the time and
place wc would offer an amendment. We
would beg leave to recommend Stone Moun
tain, DeKalb county, as the place, and the 13th
of next month as the time.
The Agricultural Association will hold a
1 .
fair at Stone Mountain on that day, and it is
I anticipated that the occasion will be in a high
! degree interesting and the concourse of citi
zens very large. It is a point probably more
convenient to the editors of the State than
either of the others suggested, and independ
ent of the business in view, it will afford a
most agreeable trip to our brethren of the
press. There is not a more attractive spot in
the State as regards pure mountain air, and
! splendid scenery.
; This meeting would be preliminary to a
j grand Convention of the Editors of all the
l Southern cities on the line. Such a Convert -
| tion will be found highly expedient.
To Our Brethren of the Press. —The ne*
eessitv of an Editorial Convention, for the purpose
i of making some arrangements for the rate of pay
ment for Telegraphic Despatches, has been ac
knowledged by our whole fraternity, and it is im
portant that prompt action should be had in the
premises. If we postpone the consideration of this
matter until the Telegraph goes into operation, wc
will all of us suffer severely.
We therefore suggest the eighth of August as a
suitable day for meeting, and Sisk those interested
to “pass the word.” The place we leave others to
fix. Augusta, Savannah, or MacOn, either will
suit us.
Augusta Free School.
Wc invoke the public attention to the steps
taken bj r the Board of Managers of this Insti
tution to revive it, and again extend among
the children of our less favored fello-tf-citizens*
j the blessings of education. It will be pcrceiv
| ed that the Board advertize for a male and a
; female teacher, to take charge of the two de
partments of the School. We copy the fed*
lowing editorial on the subject from the Chron
icle, and Unite in the hope that a large majori
ty of our tax paying fellow-citizens will cheer
fully become members of “The Augusta Free
j School Society,” on the terms prescrilw** by
j the legislature•
| Augusta Free School.— Wc take pleasure
in calling attention to the advertisement of the
! managers of this school, by which it will b«
| seen that teachers are to be elected for the en
! suing year. By an act of the Legislature, it is
I made the duty of the Tax Collector of llich
: mond County, in collecting faxes to invite
each tax payer to become a member of the
“Augusta Free School Society,” and by
the payment of one dollar, each subscriber be
comes a member for one year*
The School has been closed for' want of
j funds for several years, and now, by the bber-
I ality of the late Augusta Home Industry So
i ciety, and the enlightened judgment of the J ns*
| tices of our Inferior Court in giving us a por
tion of the Poor School Fund of the County*
j the Board of Managers have determined to
open the School, trusting and believing that
they will be supported in their efforts by the
Hearty co-operation and aid of our citizens in
paying the small annual subscription to the
Tax Collector.
Wilkes County Hail Hoad Convention.
The Savannah Republican of the 21st inst.
contains the proceedings of the convention
held at Washington on the 15th inst. to take
into consideration the expediency of constructs
ing a rail road from Washington to the Cen
tral Rail Road. Garnett Andrews presided,
and J. 11. Snead, was appointed Secretary.
After the reports of Committees were receiv
ed, the convention was addressed by R. R.
Cuylcr, President of the Central Rail Road,
A. R. Lawton, Esq. of Savannah, Mr. Thomas
of Hancock, and Mr. Toombs of Wilkes.
A Committee was then appointed to repre
sent the citizens of Wilkes in the approaching
Rail Road meeting in Hancock county.
Mr. Toombs then offered the following as a
convenient and proper form to be used in sub
scriptions to the capital stock of the contem
plated Rail Road, which was read and adopted:
We, the undersigned, promise, each in con
sideration of the subscription of the other, to
subscribe and pay the suins annexed to our
names, respectively, into the capital stock of a
; company, to be formed for the construction of
a Rail Road from Washington,in Wilkes coun
ty, to some suitable point on the Central Rail
Road, with the following conditions and pro
visos:—
, Ist. That a Charter, for that purpose, can
. be obtained from the Legislature.
2d. That the sum of two hundred thousand
t dollars be subscribed by persons living North
of the Georgia Rail Road, and one hundred
f thousand by persons residing between the
L Georgia and Central Roads, and the sum of
two hundred thousand dollars by the Central
Rail Road Company, the citizens of Savannah,
’ and other persons, making a total of five hun
. drad thousand dollars.
And provided, furthermore, That terms of
, union, satisfactory to a majority of the subscri
, bers in Wilkes County, can be made with the
r Central Rail Road Company, which is to be
5 determined by a majority in interest, of the
- before mentioned subscribers.
On motion of A. L. Alexander, Esq.—
( Resolved, That a Committee of in each
’ | Militia District of the County, be appointed by
, the President, to procure subscriptions of
j
Stock, from the residents of their respective
j Districts.
The Hamburg Republican. ||f v
) Wm. M. Bobo, Esq. has retired front the
3 editorial chair of the Hamburg Republican.
- The paper will hereafter be conducted by
2 Benj. Baird, Esq.