Chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Geo.) 1838-1838, May 01, 1838, Image 2

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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