Newspaper Page Text
Speech of J. 11. Iluidcn on the Aboli
tion Question.
The Hon. Jesse R. Hindoo, President ol
'the Stme Senate of Pennsylvania, lias for
warded tous hia Speech on tho Abolition
'question, of which we publish below, a Icngt by
Extract. The Whigs of the North have bi on
roundly abused c/i masse ns abolitionist;. —
Tho charge wo have always been satisfied wa
false. This speech is proof in point.
‘‘The course of England has boon refer red
"to on the subject of slavery. Humanity ne
ver interfered with tho policy of tint govern
tnent; her course Ins been marked by calcu
lations of sordid interest. Her cruellies to
the people of India arc well known; lew op.
'pression of llm noble people of In land is more
bitter than Ihewurst slavery ul I lie blacks in
onr southern states. England established
slavery in this country when we wore coin
ntes; she turned adi al'car to the urgent
prayers of tho provinces of the youth when
they implored her to abolish the slavo tiado.
She told the assembly of Carolina mao many
words that it was tho interest of the mother
country to continue the trade in human flesh.
She sustained that trade until, having lost
most of her sugar colonies inlhr V ivt In
dies, she thuugi.t it policy to destroy the su
gar trade of the French. She tie i began
to preach human ty and ptulantl ropy; rh"
preached this louder when she thought, it
would aid her in what she called the “light
of search;' 1 that was to seam . vessels to as
certain whether they were engaged in the
slave trade, the easier to imprest American
seamen. Such tender mercies arc cruel.
Our lathers when they declared indepen
dence in (77t!, could not abolish iloiinsli:
slavery—it had hcon introduced hy th? mother
country. When they declared that all men
were tree and erjm', they did not tiac ti;o de,
elaralion in its unliini ed sense—tin y knew
that men worn unequal in many respects.
Had they intended it in the .sense which some
in our day have endeavored to attach to it,
domestic slavery woo'd have censed so far as '
it Was in their power to have abolished it;
they, however used the nhra.ie, aware of the
existence ot domestic rh very, and with no
in ealion of eradica ing it.
When Iho nun ol the revolution “in oid r
to form a more perfect Union, < slabl nh> d joe
ticC| ensure domestic t rutiqtnlily, provide Cor
* tho common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure tho blessings of liberty,'’
established tho constitution of the United
Staten in the year 1787, they had to consider,
with deep interest, tho subject of domestic
slavery. A Union of sovereign elates which ;
should “ secure all rights ot ind peril ml so- j
vcrcignly tuoar.ii, and yet provide fur tho in
terest and .safely of nil,” was no easy task.
The difficulties were increased by ll o particu
lar interest of the slsve holding status, and
occurred in deciding upon one of tho peculi
arities ot our government, the princ'ple of re
presentation. One branch of tho govern.'icjit
was constituted by giving ouch state t.vo (Se
nators, without respect to the ante or popula
tion of the stale.
Per the House of Representatives, mem
bers weru apportioned among the several
elates accord ng to their respective numbers.
In fixing this basis (ho South contended that
their slaves shuttld be considered an persons.
The North would not consider them an per
sons, but solely as property, Tho mutter was,
however, compromised by considering them
three fifths as persons and two lil'lhs us pro- 1
•perty.
The constitution not only sanctionedi’/avc-
Ty but provided that the filayc trade should he
■protected cut! -flfo year 1809,
__ General Wasliingion t Mo President of the 1
Convention in his letter to Congress says: j
ft is at all times ddlicu t to draw with pre- j 1
eision tlio line between those riglits which j '
must be surrendered and I hose which may bo , 1
’reserved; and on tho present occasion ibis i 1
•difficulty was increased by a difference among 1
the several states na to their situation, extent,
habits and particular interests.
“In all our deliberations on this subject we '
kept steadily in our view that which appears
to ns the greatest interc ut of every into Amo
rican, the consolidation of our Union, in which
is xnvoiosd oiir prosperity, felicity, safely
t]H\rhaps our national existence. This nnpor.
lant consideration, seriously and deeply nn
presied on our minds,led each state in the j
convention to be less rig-d on points of nferior .
magnitude than might have born otherwise ,
expected; run! tfms the constitution which wc 1
now present, is the result of asp rit of aunty, |
and of that mutual deference mid concession !
which the peculiarity of our political ei'ualion 1
rendered indispensable.
7'iial it will meet tho full and entire appro- |
baton of every stale, is not perhaps is bo ex- j
peeled, but each wiil doubtless consider that
tiad her interest alone been consulted, the
consequences might have been particularly
disagreeable or injurious to others.”
The Union could not have been formed, the
constitution could not have been framed,
without the recognition of domestic slavery.
Our fathers bad to chooso between union
vit/i domestic slavery — and disunion with do-
Leslie slavery —for refusing to unite would
not have abolished this institution. That !
union in the opinion of George Washington, 1
■lnvolved “our prosperity, felicity, sa la j
haps our national ex n once.” Titan him, no j
man ever lived better able to judge of what 1
is right and proper, more entitled to the re- |
fcpcctaml homage of tho world. Pur.a in ms ;
private character, spotless in his patriotism,
cautious iu forming opinions, firm in minium
ing thorn—no age has produced his parallel.
God never made such another man. Ho was
not alone in tho belie! that our Union and
liberties wore iudissnl ibly connected—the sa
ges of the revolution thought with him. The
framers of the constitution were nut tverv
day men; they bad rake 1 their lives and for
tunes, and pledged their honor for iheir conn*
'try in a long and dreadful struggle. They
had no monster party to bow to, lor piety had
not then arisen to assume the garb of patriot ■
win,—They knew and fell what liberty ai d
freedom meant; they understood what wore
tho rights of man; they permitted what they
could not prevent; the continuance ol d ones
lie slavery. Who will charge the at w ith want
•f philanthropy! Look at their lives, judge
them by their actions, examine the cons Hu
tton which liicy framed, calculate its effects
on this country, compare its resells with the
history of any government for the same time,
and let the world decide whether nay ether
age has produced their equals. Their w sdoni,
patriotism, integrity, philanthropy, and if you
will have it, their chrislinail-t was quite as
great ns that which the anti-slavery uh'ii
claim.
The language of Jefferson ha i been quoted
against this institution. He wrote that when
ho thought of slavery; he trembled to think
there was a God of juslicii yet when he
writes to Peter Carr, he tells him that if he
should be lud to disbelieve m the existence
et a God he will fund sullieieut iiiCetilr. ee to
' ' virtue iii'il morality without d. So much for i
. 1 his oppinion. IT tie thought slavery such an |
j evil why ilui he not fro o has slaves! A man
I | might a * v 1 cimni repentance to C!oil
1 viol .t Ik> inj'ifcs hia follow man, as a slave j
linlilur to exclaim against the wickedness of I
■' il.t v■ •.., Mr. Madison's opinion is entitled ,
t to no more weight on this subject than Mr.
, Jort'erson's, for he retained Ins chives.
Thomas Fain: was among the earlie-t ad
. i i’i iol ihohtioii in this country and across
h .• At t ' With him philanthropy was a
11 i-'iion | Ins heart overflowed with kindness '
1 in Urn liunuii nice. His theories on most
, mihjcc's were too fanciful for practice; and, 1
in politics; and honcvoleiice, Ins views were j
. j 100 vis,unary in many iiii-tancca, to meet with j
i th" assent n( the end and reflcclinjr.
Mr. H. said he had understood that the |
members oftlie abolition society, those who i
had engaged at an early period of’ onr history
in this cause, did not w.sh to b> ident tied
! with the anti•!■ !uvery men ol late years.—The
ah citioti socieiry appears to have been in* j
diluted in Ft miry Iv.iom, not for the purpose
; id interfering v, ith the rights of other states,
' but (or the purpose of ameliorating the con
dition ol tin: colored people in our own state,
ari 10l promoting them m their rights. He
: did not doitlit Ih it on : ( f tlicu' objects was
the gradual abolition of slavery, in such man
ner a M ehonld not invade rights guaranteed
hy the Co iHiitution. Their means were per
snasio;) ,Tid reason, not ernta le.
lie said that as hum indy had linen appeal- ,
Oil to mid had been identified with the cause
or an i slamry, he wl.old nnku a tew obser. ,
va i nnm that point.'. 110 would not speak
of the feeling which actuated tho advocates
I ol initial;;wry, f >r he had no doubt it was lion
-1 a, tiTlio' misguided; ho would however
i ••.vam.no the ic.su, 1.., and cndetivi ur to show
■ 1 the practical consequences. The abstract he
would not inleifcre with; the reality he would
J :,iClll I'lrZn.
U livt lias resulted from the agitation of the
question of slavery 1
UeTurn the cause was taken up with so
; much zeal, the colored people in Fennsylvnii.a
i wen: grad illy elevating their standard ol j
chiirncici - . They had among them men who
merited and received the regard and respect
of the community. Among these he would
name James Furten, of Philadelphia. Tina
man had served with honor in the revolution;
in all the relations of life his reputation has
been spotless, b'uch men had exercised an
immense mid useful influence on the colored
populat'd).— With the exception ot two or
three counties in the state, coloured men were
permitted, without question, to give their
suffrages for stale and town officers. Their
deportment was gradually and silonly over,
coming the prejudices against them; a few
more years and the privilege of voting would
have been tacitly conceded to them. Ho
spoke of their deportment, because ho con
ceived that on this point injustice had bacii
done to tho race, hy friends and locs. Ho
said that although ho had never served in an
iilficc of profit, he had served in his country,
pi nearly all those win h are called offices of
ho'iur; that as inspector of the prison, and
gu.ardu,?! of the poor, lie had possessed op-
I’orttlnJies uf’Jinowing tho condition of the
colored population. From the very few who
asked pauper rclu-. r , he judged they were pro
vident and industrious. In the prison they
wore numerous, their olTutiLp 3 seldom ol a
high grade, generally those incltlm.? Id «OV.
city. The number of commitments vvti* id
a great measure to be accunted for from pro-'
jjudice against tho color, and from want of i
j Iriemla, 'Air Pennsylvania system of‘squires’ £
fcoks bus to the satisfaction of justice, than 1
to the satisfaction of tho justice’s pocket— ?
obed knee to the laws is starvation to the 1
magistrate—lds interest is made to consist in 1
having the laws broken, or in committing men 1
under colour of law. Ho will discharge a "
white man from prison because n low dollars j
can be raised among his friends; tho colored
man, for want ot funds, remains in prison r
until term time. .
Ho said he had never known an instance (
of a negro using disrespectful language to a ,
white man, when spoken to in the manner .
which a gentleman ought to speak. Hu bo- ,
lieved that the conduct ot the colored people i
had been as good as any person had a right
to expect, considering the circumstances un-
I dur which they wore placed.
Modern abolitionism has, however, broken
in upon th s stale of things! It has held out
expectations to tho colored people which
cannot be realized—it hasted their young
j men to a course which has produced reac
tion—it has revived a prejudice which had
t boon slumbering—it has given to the wanton
and'unthinking an excuse for persecution—
( it. has brought on your table memorials to pro
| hibit coloured people from voting at elections
i —it bos induced ilie convention for amending
the constitution to agitate the question of their
suffrage.
In the slave states, it has interfered with
the comfort ami independence of tho free
colored man ; measures of police ai d r« s'raint
have been adopted towards him which would
otherwise never been thought of, making him
the object of suspicion, and a slave in every
thing but tbe naino. It has madr tho cuuli- !
tion of tho slave worse; self-protection indu- |
ces the owner to make tho chain mure j
j galling.
Modern .\bolitiomu ii has product d then'
| effects—lt boa been humane in IHe abstract 1
Tint dreadfully cruel in the reality.
What will bo the consequence if tho cm
j sada against the institutions ol the south is
j continued.
If it bo carnt cl ...» far os to induce the peo
ple of tin- f a illi in huv.l w • I .rounded foam
of insurrection, Hit y w .11 1 ; v ■ irom their «tut• ■
1 all the free colored pt'p’j. FHesa people
i will have to leave tl»e:r homes which wore
once peaceful and happy, to find relugo among ,
I strangers; with whoso manners, customs:
and modus ol living they arc unacquainted 1 \
! to gain subsistancc they must enter into com- !
petition with tho cnlotirctl people who now 1
I reside muting us ; this competition will re* 1
duco the price of wages in all the employments |
i in which colored people engage in onr slate, ]
The thousands and ten of thousands who will
• | emigrate will bo willing to work for the
. Mira)list pittance, and the competition will
. compel Our colored neople to the site rc
, dilution. It is easy to determine that such a
. j state of things will be injurious to tho ititcr
s i sts of the race ; their compensation for eni'
, ' pluymont is already sufficiently low.
How will the \vlutes bo affected? Colored
I labor will come in competition with white in
hor. It is well known that in our large cities
! vvagra are so ow us to compel tho laboring
ll n . 1 O
, \ man to restrict Ins expenses to tho necessa.-
} rii sos life. The nominal rate of wages may
! appear high, but tho expenses of living are
j 1 high in proportion. The efforts of the intol*
t ligunt and the benevolent have been directed
to the subject of wages, to ascertain what
, mode can be dev sed to bolter the condition ol
, tho working portion of tho community.—
, Thru-; efforts have not produced the desired
, efiWvt. Jlring oi from tho slave , atis th
i frcn coloted artizana urn] laborers, and lii«
: sadden increase of hands will at once reduce
j t lie wages of the whites to the point et mere
eubstonre. The journeyman now who has
■i wife and children, finds that it requires all
foe industry and economy with that of his
I family decently to get along what will it he
i with the additional competition.
I Thin competition has already been fell to some
extent in our large cities. Twenty years ago
' the poor man had no hesitation in placing his
daughter in a respectable family a; a servant; sirs
| had before her the inlluencc ot good example—
was treated with kindness anti reaped; her habits
j of industry and principles of virtue tjnalifxd her
[ to boa respcc’ablo and valuable wife to the young
mechanic, The fashion became general to hnvo
! colored servants. They could be obtained at
j lower wages, and the white girl, who had respect
I for herself, could not pul herself on an equality
' with colored servants: low places wc.r; left " hero
j while girls could he employed. Unable to get
employment at Forv.itt'n, the needle ;« the next
r • rorl; so many are thrown on that t;t an it sub
sistence that price.i are reduced, ci :i hero color*
oj females, to a limited ester?!, cun : into com
petition. Tito subject of female wage* ban for a
few years past engaged the attention of the be
nevolent. Tire prices am s > reduce I that a wo
man must have constant work, enjoy unin'errup
ted health, and work fourteen hours of the day
to make a bare subsistence. Increase ;l.c com
petition by the importation of free colored per
sons from the south, ami lire result will bo heart
rending. Tito dreadful alternative of proslitu.
{ lion ot starvation will lie left for the white female
llm price of wages and poverty have already
contributed too modi to this vice, i’ermil a
greater reduction of wages, and wha l will bo lire
prospect of lire laboring man] His own indus
try, crippled by colored competition, ho will look
on every child, not as a blessing, but as an adiii
lional cursr; ho n i;l look on iris infant daughter,
and, it.sicad ol indulging the anticipation of see*
ing her tire virtuous wits of a worthy husband,
must look upon her innocent face and feel that
bet homo must l<u the brothel. Keif, with all its
j horrors, could scarcely lie more appalling to a
j parent’s heart. These may bo tiro results of tile
crusade against lire institutions of the south,
j II tiro exertions of the anti-slavery men should
j succeed in severing the union of the states, would
| they succeed in abolishing slavery] No!—fcila
: very would bo perpetuated in the south. Those
| sovereignties would no longer bo annoyed by
the missionaries and missiles of abolitionism; the
men who would venture to generate a spark of
incendiarism would be hanged according to law;
and in every spi»t where slavery existed slavery
would be eternal. Such would be the effector
visionary philanthropy,
l*o said that in case of tire disunion of the
state.- - , slavery might, in the opinion of some,
bo abolished by scrvillc war, resulting in iho
extermination of tiro slave-holders. This
opinion, if critith d to be called so, was not
founded on n knowledge of human nature.
Notwithstanding the efforts Os rn ssionarifs,
and tho quantity of trae’e, the people of tiro
south yet slept quietly in thier beds? they had
no fear of insurrection—the owners were re
spected and often beloved by their slaves/
Ho doubted whether the safety oftliu whites
had yet require d them, in all the slave-holding
slates, to employ p.s many policemen and
watchmen ns were employed either'in New
York or our own non-slave-hodtng state. In
tho absence of slaves wo have to resort to
bolls and bars, and organized bands ot police
to guard our persons and property in the large
cities.
Ho did not believe that any general insur
rection of slaves could be formed ; he d d not
he'.'‘ n U that, if formed, it cou'd be succssful.
Cut. .admit ‘hat it could, he would oak, would
such a result be js'led lor on the score of huma
nity? If there live.’ thd wretch who could anti
clptile withjiy tiro cx(cri,.. , oa,*’ o u of the noble and
intelligent population of the soih'h, l ‘ v i^ e mur
derous hands of the infuriated and igiid' l '® l -*
ho would look upon him as one unworthy the
namnofman.
He bad heard much talk about liberty and free
dom. As cabillistic words they might answer
he purpose of some. He did not believe that
man was free merely on account of being clear
of personal servitude.—The history of liberty oc
cupies but a few pages of the anrals of the hu
man race; it is a small volume comprising thous
ands of centuries.—Constitutional freedom is of
slow growth, and is enjoyed by comparatively
few, oven in the nations where it is recognized.
In tire feudal ages, tho vast majority ofmen were
slaves to a meagre minority, and submitted to a
bondage more galling and oppressive than the
worst which has been portrayed of the domestic
slavery ol our day. Fortuitous circumstances
from time to lime rusted the shackles until a por
tion of men in a low countries obtained political
liberty. Tho masters and the slaves were of tho
same color, and this enabled tho bondsman to
merge into the character ol the freeman. Had
they been of different colors, they might have
changed positions, but one or the other color
would have remained slaves.
In Europe the colored man is looked upon
without prejudice, because in Europe there are
no colored slaves. In this country the fact of the
slaves being colored will always prevent them
from merging into the character of freemen.
Tho white man may treat tho colored widi kind
; ness, hut ho will not admit him to art equality
he will not receive him, no matter how groat his
abilities, how correct his morals, into his family,
ns a husband to his sister or daughter. The laws
■ and tho statue book may draw no lino ofdistino
j lion between the white and the colored, but the
j irresistible law of public opinion, and in (his
, in-tanco, the unconquerable dictates of prejudice
Jo make, and will continue, an impassable gulph
between the races. You may extend to tho col.
| ored nrm the right of suHVago and the elegibility
to dice -you may give him the name of freeman
—but you cannot confer tho reality,
t’he pi.vrss of generation may produce mulat-
U-rs, ■ ms and quarterons, and thus whiten
ih-- in color, feature and bony structure;
bur. i!;t.. « 1 • occur in very few cases, for, its Dr.
I'r.ii.h 11 rrcetly observes in his remarks on
lire imnr.n. n-mt ■■ f i ho human species, no legis
lation of procreation will be submitted to. Whilst
J the color of the master and bondsman arc incon
| vcrlible,there can bo no virtual equality.
He said, that vvhateeor might be the opinion
| respecting slavery, the constitution which wo
i arc bound to support makes it imperative upon
j u< to recognize, and sustain tbo rights ot lire
. stales, to the letter and spirit ol the compact.
That constitution was the wonder and admira
tion of the world. For more than kalf a centui
ry, it had proclaimed that man was capable ol
| self-government: it had secured happiness and
1 safely to our people. It was too precious to be
, put in jeopardy by abstract notions or chimerical
l benevolence. I,el it be annulled, and freedom
■v\ id have foun 1 its tomb. What people could hr
1 found so rash a, to attempt an experiment whic!
1 had failed in the hands of the Americans, sur
rounded with every favorable circumstance. He
would not attempt to show the consequences o
disunion; they hud been portrayed by able
hands, by the sages of the revolution. The)
considered union and liberty as one and indivis
, iblc; they had the best right to know. And an
we to pause between considerations of such im
porlauco and personal ami political consequence
Ito ourselves? He trusted there was no senate
; | who was not prepared to make the sacrifice ifi
1 were necessary. He did not believe, however
i j that tho people wore false to themselves, or blind
I 1 ed (o ihair own true interests; he did not bcliev.
jhat for experiments against the institutions r
■ | the sovereign states of trio south, under the color
: | of philanthropy, they would permit the union to
t i bejeopardized.
lie had expressed his opinions without disguise,
j without fear; the people might judge of them. He
had discharged bis duty, and the consciousness
of having done so was of more itnpoilance to him
than all the personal consequences which party
rancour or tanaticism might inflict.
BY EXPRESS 91 AIL*
[FROM OUll COBIIESrOJiDEST.]
WASHINGTON, April 271 h 1838.
In the Senate, to day, Mr. GRUNDY from
i the Committee on the Judiciary to which was
| referred a resolution of the Legislature of Alaba
! m i recommending the annexation ol W est Flo
! rida to that Slate, asked to ho discharged from
the further consideration of the subject. The re.
quest was acceded to.
Mr GRUNDY from the same Committee asked
to be discharged from the consideration of a
resolution proposing an enquiry into the expedi
ency of establishing a new Judicial District in
j Louisiana.
The act to establish a Board of Commissioners
to examine and decide on claims against the Uni
ted Stales, was taken up, read a third time, pas.
sed, and sent to the House for concurrence.
On motion, tho Committee of Commerce were
discharged from the memorial in relation to a
Dry Dock at Philadelphia, and the memorial was
referred to tho Committee on Naval Affairs.
The Senate then resumed lha consideration of
the Bill f-u tho protection of the emigrating and
other Indians West of the Slates of Missouri and
Arkansas, and was engaged with it till tho hour
of adjournment without coming to any decision.
The President transmitted to the House of Re
presentatives, to day, a message communicating
sumo farther information respecting the negocia
lions pending between tho United States and
Mexico. It was referred to the Commi teo on
Foreign Affairs: but was notread.
The House resumed tho consideration of the
reports of the Duel Committee; and tho Clerk
continued the reading of the documentary testi
mony accompanying tho report; and after that
was finished, he read the Journal of tho Com
mittees proceedings. It occupied three hours.
Mr TOUCEY then rose and entered on a
long and elaborate defence of the proceedings of
the Committee as being entirely regular and
accordant with tho rule laid down in Jefferson’s
Manuel, which has been so frequently referred
to. In the course of his remrks on the institii"
lion of the Committee, ho referred to some allu
sions which had been made to the necessity
tho Committee being armed and other threats
rnado in the first report of tho debate on the
question of raising tho Committee.
Mr WISE instantly rose and asked Mr Tott
ery to declare whether there had been any at.
tempt or appearance to offer any violence to the
Committee’s in any form.
Mr TOUCEY said in explanation, that here,
ferred to what was said hero in open debate be
fore the Committee was appointed, and not to tho
conduct of any person before the Committee. He
added, too, in justice to Mr Wise that his con
duct throughout was decorous and unexception
able, and that there had not beer, the sfigliest
ground for any objection to his course.
Mr WM COST JOHNSON of Md. said he
uresumod that Mr Toucey referred to an obser
vn'ion made by him, and mistake by another
member in u«b»lc. There was no threat in his
language. He *P<* 8 of a ™" : mgcnl case. He
spoke of the House DoarJs ofHonor
and had only said that if tho Committee proposed
to bo raised did convert the in s elves Board
of Honor, they would require to bo atrncJ- A’ ll '
he added, that he would never submit to be
attained as to bis individual conduct by a Com'*
uiittco. It was tho privilege of every member to
be tried by the House.
Mr GRAVES then intimated to Mr Toucey
that his answer to Mr Wise’s question was not
broad enough, since Mr Wise only had been re
ferred to in the answer.
Mr TOUCEY then declared that what ho said
of Mr Wise,ho would also say of the conduct of all
the gentlemen involved.
Mr T then proceeded to speak in support of
the motion to print.
Mr ELMORE followed with a few remarks
expressive of his indifference whether the motion
to postpone prevailed or not. But he thought
the papers ought to be printed.
Mr ADAMS asked whether the report was
signed. Tho question was not permitted to bo
propounded.
Mr ROBERTSON then took the floor and
j opposed the motion to print and postpone, in a
’ j most able and interesting speech, without conclit
i : ding he gave way to a motion to adjourn.
From theft ¥ Herald April 26.
i ; Money Market.
Wednesday, April 25,
i We have always contemplated Mr. Biddle’s
proceedings as, in the main, the natural, proper,
’ and beneficial conduct of a man of powerful fa
’ I cultics at an extraordinary conjuncture ; and if
j his plans bo eventually successful —of which
t 1 there is no rational ground to doubt —he will, in
the course es time, bo regarded as the greatest
benefactor of the agricultural and commercial in.
tercst of his country, and tho manufacturing in
terest of Britain. Wo arc, however, very far
from wishing to see the bank over which he pre
sides with so much skill and judgment, or any of
its agents or creations, lake the place of the sta
ble upright merchants of England, and we are
i therefore at all lim.s anxious to give our humble
,p ; tribute of approbation to all who endeavor to
I 1 keep the legitimate commerce of our own country
| !in tho bands of its native merchants. At prts
,l 1 out we are acquainted with no fact that has the
n ! slightest tendency to impeach Mr. Biddle’s inten
lions and proceedings. It may fairly be doubted
q : whether a single farthing ofpiofit, derived from
| an advance in tho price of Colton, would find its
, I way into the hands of this gentleman or any of
q his friends. Cotton may be withdrawn from
' 1 safe in a drooping maikct, to protect the interest
, v of those who consign it, and secure the liberal
j. advances made upon it; but this is what all men
re chants consider they have a strict and IcgitimaU
, right to do, when they deem it for the advantage
ps of themselves or their correspondents to supply :
or market scantily. It is a subject of regret lha
p v the prostration of so many eminent firms in Eng
r ! land should have given to the Ametican bank
j* ! anr thiugapproaching to the power of monopoly
I C in a commodity of so much importance to th
p ., industry ol this country as Cotton; But this is
result to be charged against tbo Dank of England
and the timid shrinking spirit of our capitalists
who have allowed the American hanks to lake
so advantageous a position.
Allusion has been made in tho Morning Chro
nicle and other papers to a letter written by Mr.
Biddle to the Bank of England, A letter has
been written by that gentleman, touching a point
of banking practice, but it is not of a nature like.,
ly to lead to estrangement and hostility between
the two banks, and wo trust and believe to an
issue very different from this; in the mean time
Mr. Jaudon is treated with becoming courtesy
and personal attention by tins leading Directors
of tl o Bank of England. Whether the view ta
ken by Mr. Biddle or by our own corporations on
tho subject matter of the correspondence he the
correct one, time will show. This is not an in
cident that gives ns the slightest apprehension.
Tho Bank of tho United Stales lias been cen
sured for speculating in cotton. We believe that
no allegation could bo more false, unless making
advances against consignments, and in anticipa
tion of sales, can bo called speculation. Those
operations arc, as far as we are informed, conduct
ed in the most liberal unrcstriclive manner by
the Bank. When a planter or a holder of cotton
applies for an advance upon a shipment of that
commodity about to be scut to England, the ap
plication is not met by an attempt to impose the.
condition that it shall he consigned to the nom
inees or special b lend; of the 'nk, but the nat
ural and proper question is a, Ad, who arc your
agents'! If a name be given satisfactory to the
querist—such as Baring, Brown, c- any other of
known respectability— not the slightest hesita
tion is evinced, hut the advance is made just as
freely as it would bo if tho cotton wore to bo
placed for sale in Ibe handset Humphreys and .
Biddle. We have taken somo pains to ascertain
this point, because the conduct of the Bank of
tho United Slates is become a mailer of groat inv
porlanca to Bankers from the circulation of its
credit in England, and to the mercantile and
manufacturing classes generally on account ol i s
influence on Amcrcan commerce, and we believe
there is no trace of a narrow and selfish personal
spirit to be found in the proceedings cf this Bank.
The raising up (if so it did) of a firm in Livers
pool, in which it could have unreserved conll
dence, was a necessary and inevitable conse
quence of tbo breaking down of so many hereto
fore eminent English houses. It was a measure
of strict prudence and precaution, looking circum
speedy and prospectively at the extended operas
tions of American commerce. That tho merch
ants of the United States rather than those of
Groat Britain should have the spirit and discern
ment to supply a great and pressing want, sud
denly created by untoward circumstances and
should profit thereby, may be mortifying to our
national pride, but they have a right to all the
emolument to bo derived from it; and wc trust
and confidently believe it will eventually abun
dantly reward their enterprise and exertions.
The reflection which a new linn of foreigners
coming to take the commission of British mer
chants throws upon our supinen'ess and want of
energy is just; wo expressed astonishment many
months ago that there were no firms of sufficient
soljdity formed to take up the safe and lucrative
business which had been scattered by the com
mercial convulsions of 1836-7.
CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL.
A lift IST A.
Tuesday Morning, May 1.
Wo have received a copy of tho late Banking
Law passed by tho Legislature of New York,
and will publish it to-morrow.
IVo nrn requested to state that the Ladies of
tho Baptist Church will provide refreshments at the
City Hal! this evening, from 4 o’clock until 10, to
aid in repairing and cleaning tho Meeting House.
The Charleston Mercury of yesterday says,
“ By the schooner Empire from St. Augustine,
we learn that an Express arrived at that place
on Friday lust, stating that upwards of one
hundred Indians had gone in at Fort Van
swearingen.”
Death of Ex-Governor Wolf.
Wo learn from tho Philadelphia Ledger, that
George Wolf, Ex-Governor of Pennsylvania,
and the recently appointed Collector of that
port, J' e, l on W ednesday 25ih tilt, at his late
residence >u that city.
Flour was selling at Cincinn ab on the IBth
inst. at $5 a512 V. Whiskey at a c,s .
Pork, bulk 15 a SJ; Mess. hbls. SI3V 14. A fait'
business was doing m all descriptions of goods;
Extractor a letter tea Commercial house in
this city, dated
NEW-YORK, April 25, 183 S.
“ Certificates of deposit on Augusta could be
sold hero to day at 10 per cent discount, but to- -
morrow they may ba 6 or 133 or 15, and you
can’t guess even at their value ten days hence.
Mobile funds sold hero Bth January at 5 per cent
discount; 90 days afterwards ut 30 dis., and to
day they could be sold at 20 to 22J. On the
14th inst. sight checks on Charleston, S. C. sold
at 4 dis., to day thay go at 8, a difference of 4
per cent in 11 days, fu sueh limes as these,
therefore, you may as well go ahead with your
eyes shut as open. You will probably go wrong
in either case. The only safe thing to do, is to
do nothing. The Banks here have been making
•Judy’s’ of themselves, ever since their suspension
and in tho fix they are now in, cant avoid paying
specie. They have been paying (quietly) fir
some days, and should have done so some months
' since—said nothing about it, and no one would
i hove known it.
Exchanges must, we think, be better on all
I points, 90 days hence, and we think the lowest
point of depression is passed, not only in cxehan
r ges but in every thing else. Hoping for better
j. times, worse we can’t well have.”
From the N Y Daily Whig, April 26.
Without mourning for the past, wc see in the
! doingsot the present enough to occupy our •*"
■* tenfmn. Will cotton fall in Europe is the o reat
f question that naturally occupies the mi” d ot l^. c
‘ economist? We have ever conte 1 B' at tl
c will not. The chances arc that it will rise even
* in the face of tho non-demasd British sniffs
don this side of the water. ?h® B rea ’ mass 4
II the present crop, when it ' laV(! ' H ' en -‘ nt
8 foward, will bounder the control and owi-Ghip
f of the U.S. Bank of Pennsylvania, "no raw
11 material will not be forced by this in-iution on
il a falling market. It is a great ar'Tvemcnt in
1 Mr Biddle to keep up prices t/iheir present
■ standard. Even at present rat;- I h® wi 1 realize
lo _ teat p ro (Us. Only think of AOOO hales being
® sold in one week in when not even
a ,ho German trade for and yarns had not
at vel opened. This »v'‘he case m that market
5- last month. By the '.eat Western, we learn
• - i . c,l i'll rnurUol ot IHL lUHIHIIhCo
vS that, m spile ot Ibe uii mnnu i
v * • jfmsind for raw coiton con
y luring towns, tne>emana » , „.. n . .
ic finned fair. I) A sales averaged 3000 bales.-
. a for th ' five Ending April SIU IT.OOO bales
went off And this 100, when it is well known
that any attempt at extensive sales would be
sure to bring down prices.
The history of the Cotton market at Liverpool
since last August, proves conclusively that some
great and controlling power has had possession ot
the ballaneo wheel. Before the Ist of next Oc
tober we shall see cause to bless the day that Mr.
Diddle ever came for ward to keep up the price of
Cotton, to save the planter from ruin, and to re-,
alisc to the Southern country a fair valuation on
its labors. The purchases of Co'ton by the Sou
thern Banks, we look upon as merely transactions
on account of Mr. Biddle. At least, the greater
portion ol the shipments ftom Southern ports
have been to a favored house in Liverpool. It is
easy to say, to whom went the hills drawn against
the Cotton sent forward.
We intend to pursue these remarks at our lei
sine. Wo know that the entrance of the Bank
ot the U. S. of i’ennsylvania in the Colton mat.
ket has excited the ire of private dealers, Imt re
flection has done much to wear off the edge of
the r anger. It is easy to show that greater good
lots been.effected, than if the market had becu
left free to the competition of individuals.
trom the Charleston Courier of yesterday,
GREAT FIRE !
One third of C’hnrlestou in Ruins I !
About U o’clock on Friday evening lust, the
citizens of Charleston were alarmed by the
sound of the fire bells, and the rty given that it
was in King-st. a part of the city which,— from
the great quantity of wooden buildings with
which it is literally lined, from Tradd to Bonn.,
dary-st. on each side, with here anti there n
brick house, and occasionally one intended to bo
semWiro proof,—was always considered to bo
the most dangerous place for a conflagration to
commence, and where, 100, waa stored a large
portion of the moat valuabla dry goods in the
city.
When we arrived at the place where the fire
commenced, the flames had just made their ap.
pcarance in the rear of a small shed or building
adjoining the house, North West corner of Be
resford and King street, and but a few moments
elapsed before the three or four other houses
and the houses on the South West corner of
Bcresford street were also in flames. The fire
then commenced roaring and leaping from dif
ferent points, as well in a horizontal direction
as in the air, with a vigor and virulence, whioh,
was truly appalling, and it being known to all
that there was an unusual scarcity of water, it
was apparent to any observer that the apparatus
ol the Engineer, for blowing up of houses, and
the application of fire hooks, were the principal
means to be depended on for battling with the
destructive and devouring element. Fire hooks,
wo believe, were used in but few if any instances
and we arc under the impression that there is
not a sufficient number of them, or that their
usefulness, particularly in pulling down small
building*, is undervalued The principal En
ginocr was absent, hut his assistant, Mr Freder
ick Schnierle, was promptly on the ground, with
the apparatus, and with a courage, coolness, and
efficiency, not to bo surpassed, and seldom equal
led, commenced operations, and continued unre
mittingly employed, until his life became the sa
crilice.
The fire now rapidly extended up King street,
on both sides, and down Markct-st. to Meeting
street with the most uncontrollable rapidity. ;
The engit cs were literally powerless- except in
a few instances—that of saving the Theatre,
perhaps, as prominent as any other. After pass,
mg down Market-st. (hoth-sidos of which, as far
asUhurch-st, Markets inoluded,wcre destroyed,)
it look a north easterly direction, the wind being
from the south west, but Mewing only mode
rately, and extended in that direction to the Su.
gar Kofincry.on Anson street, thence down An.
• son to Hasell, street, thence due cast to the wa
ter, leaving but a few buildings between Hasell
and Society sts., except Mr Stoney’s residence
on Hasell at. and Mr Heyward’s house on the
corner of East Bay and Society sis. and the largo
steam mill of Mr Bennett. Liberty st. was the
boundary above King st. on the Northern line,
and St Philip to the west, a roty of front build
ings being loft on the west stdq of that and
Archdale st., including at least one fourth of the
centre oj our beautiful and flourishing city, and
destroying.our very splendid new Hotel, the
pride of the citizens, and nearly ready for the
reception of boarders, the new Masonic Hall, at
the west end of tho Market, the brick work of
which was nearly finished, and somewhat injur
-1 irg the new Theatre, .
Tho loss ol property is variourly estimated
but from what wc ran ascertain it will be in tho
vicinity of THREE MILLIONS OF DOLLS,
of which about ona half is probably insured.
Wc have made every exertion in our power to
obtain a correct list of the buildings destroyed,/
, and names of tho sufferers, having had several
■ persons employed in that duly throughout tho
tfholo of yesterday. A list of such ns could be
ascertained, was completed at a late hour last
evening, and a part of it placed in type, hut jt. 1
was found impossible to got more than one haff
in this morning's paper, and wc came to the
conclusion to defer it until the whole appeared,
which wil! bo in to-morrow’s Courier.
We were largely out of_tho way (in an extra
issued on Saturday afternoon last) in our esti
mate that tho Insurance Offices would pay but
50 per cent, of their losses. This estimate wis
made at a time of confusion, when it was impos
sible to obtain correct information. We now
i learn that the Charleston Insurance and Trust
, Company will pay in lull, the Union Insurance
I : Company nearly, if not quite all, and the Fins
and Marine 75 per cent, if not more. The two 1
1 agencies of Georgia Companies, in this oily, are
> interested, as we understand, to the amount of
r about eighty five thousand dollars; their losses of
r course, will all ho paid. An advertisement of the
Trust Company announces that claims will be
| [laid as soon as presented.
' i It affords us sincere gratification to slate that
i 1 the Hotel was insured to tho amount of One Hun
r j dred Thousand Dollars, 20,000 each in five dif
{ ferent offices, and, therefore, this splendid edifice
I will surely rise, Phoenix like from its ashes, to or*.
* | namc-nt Charleston, or wc mistake the spirit thst
1 j animates our people.
During the course of tho con flagration, a buii
-1 | ding vised as a store house, on Kerr’s wharf, foot
I of Laurens’ street, (formerly Norton’s Rico Millj
1 j took fire from seme cause not exactly known,
‘ j and burnt to tbe ground—loss $5OOO, no in«u.
r ; ranee. TV steam packet Neptune, lying at that
i wharf, w jS in imminent danger, but lortunatejy
i 1 was extricated from her perilous si'uation, and
J an ,aoredin rafety in the stream.
Wo cannot help remarking, thst hi the blowing
tip of buildings, there was not, in our opiniati,
t sufficient judgment used, or (hero was too much
B fear oftesponsibilily exhibited. It appeared tr
t us, (bat orders were seldom given to destroy s
1 hctiso in litis way, until it was cither on fire, or
the flames in .such proximity, that the execution
iI of the order was almost useless. We were not
i actors, but spectators, and, therefore, feel convin
, i cod that many will say that our persona/exertions
j at the time, would have been of more use than
| our after opinions; but still we deem it a duty to
' remark that there wero times when hail the engi-
I ncers been directed fe destroy houses some consi
j durable distance Horn tho point where the flames %
, ! were raging with undisputed sway, employed '
[ ! persons to drag away the combustibles, and tha
i engines to play on the adjoining houses, ipstead
■ of wasting water where it could not possibly have
! dona the least good, the conflagration would have
] been earlier arrested, and a vast amount of pro
perly saved. Another suggestion is also offered,
that idle persons, particularly negroes, should b«
forced to keep away from places where their pro