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WATKINS & WRIGHT, EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS. LUMPKIN; Saturday: : : December 15, 1860. The President's Message. The last Message of the last Presi dent of the United States, as it is call ed by some of our cotemporaries, and as we are forced to think it is, was re ceived here through various newspa pers on Sunday last, and we suppose there are few if any of. our readers who have not ere this had an opportu nity of perusing it. Thinking that it would consequently be as so much dead matter in our columns, we deem it better to otherwise employ the space it would occupy. This document was looked for with much interest by the people of all par ties, but we dare not say that any have read it with that satisfaction which they expected. For our part, we were never more disappointed in anything which we had seized with the same de gree of interest. It is not such a mes sage as we looked for. Far from being sufficient unto the times, it is about the same as no message at all. It is not able; it is not well-prepared; it is not bold; it is not clear; it is hardly read able. The very best that can be said of it is that it is cautious—extremely cautious—and powerless for effect, cith er good or bad. So regarding it, any further comment would waste time and space, and tax patience. Foreign Goods. The Savannah Republican of the 11th says the arrival of the bark Henry at that port may turn out to be a more important event in the history of the South, and, indeed, of the entire com merce of the world, than one would suppose on reading a simple announce ment of the event. It i s known that the leading object of her voyage was to bring over a con signment* of manufactured goods, in great variety, from Germany and France, for exhibition and sale at the Cotton Planters’ Fair, which is now progrossing in the city of Macon. No department of the exhibition will be sought after and criticised with so much severity and interest as this. It is to develop our true relations with the manufacturing world, and teach us whether or not our interests are best promoted by our dealings in the pres ent channels of commerce. It brings the North and a foreign competitor face to face in the presence of our peo ple, and grand results may hang upon the contest. Spurious Money. For the benefit of such of our friends as may handle money occasionally, we copy from the Augusta Constitutionalist a description of spurious ten dollar notes purporting to be issued by tl< Mechanic’s Bank of that city : One, letter A. No. 704; dated Octo ber 4, 1859, and signed M. Hatch, Cash ier, and Thos. T. Metcalf, President. One, letter B, No. 1,424, dated July 4, 1854, and signed as above. These spurious bdls arc totally dis similar in appearance to any genuine bills issued by the Mechanic’s bank, although the engravings and paper are calculated to deceive. We give this dcscriptoin of the plate: The lower left hand half repre sents a man attending to machinery— right hand represents two men pour ing molten metal, and others in the rear are engaged in other foundry ope rations. The word “ten’’ is in red, and the character, X, is in green ink. On the genuine bills no colored ink is used. None of the issues of the Menchanic’s bank have colored inks on them. These spurious bills represent the capital of the bank to be three hundred thousand dollars, while the capital of the Mechanics bank is five hundred thou sand dollars. The engravers’ names on this spuri ous bill, are “Danforth, Wright, Co., New York and Philadelphia.” These spurious bills came in a pack age from Memphis, Tenn , to the Geor gia Railroad Bank. Governor of South Carolina.—Much interest is very naturally felt with re gard to the individual who is to become the first Governor, or President, of the new Republic of South Carolina. The Columbia correspondent of the Charles ton Courier has the following informa tion on the subject: The ballot for Governor will com mence on Tuesday next. The most prominent candidates now spoken of are Messrs. B. J. Johnson, J. 1). Allen, F. W. Pickens, F D. Jemison, and R. B. Rhett. As all is yet conjecture, and the friends of each appear to be san guine of success, 1 shall not indulge in what might prove a mistaken fore gone conclusion. Capt. West, who went to Trux illo after Gen. Walker’s remains, lias returned to Mobile without them,, in consequence of an Honduran law pro hibiting exhumation. Col. Rudler was well, humanely treated, and hoping for a speedy re lease. Milledgeville Correspondence. Milledgeville, Dec. 10, 1860. Messrs. Editors :—I did not fulfill my promise of writing “ a correspon dence’’ for your second number, and even now I doubt whether I can furnish any items of interest to your readers other than those already known to them. Many important measures are still unpassed so far as both houses are concerned, and to-day an effort is being made to prolong the session. The growing evil of Local legislation must be in some way suppressed, or the forty days session provided by the Constitu tion will soon have to be extended to eighty. An earnest effort was made last week to pass a bill, amending the Constitu tion so as to reduce the Senate to forty four members, giving one Senator to three contiguous counties. This reduc tion would save the State about $20,000 per annum and secure a Senate that would be some check upon any hasty and impulsive action of the House. It could not have become a part of the Constitution until voted fur by two Legislatures, and if it had passed at this session the people could have de cided in the next election whether or not they desired reduction of their Sen ate. However, the bill failed to re ceive the required vote. The relief bill to which I referred in my last communication, was vetoed by the Governor and then passed with the purpose of passing such amendatory acts as would cover many of the Gov ernor’s objections. Accordingly the Senate to-day passed a bill providing that the costs should be paid by de fendants in execution, and also author izing the fi fa to be levied, should the defendant sell to a third person, and that person attempt to remove the pro perty. The house has a bill to relieve defendants in the Federal courts, but I have not seen the bill, and know noth ing of its provisions. It may not be out of place here to suggest that since this bill has been passed so as to afford relief to all persons whose debts are not within the jurisdiction of Federal Courts, and necessarily leaves mer chants and traders subject to the mercy of foreign creditors, every man ought to pay his first money to that class, so that they too may have relief as well as others. Among the measures referring to our Federal affairs, one of the most signifi cant is the passage of certain resolu tions, for the credit of which Mr. Cul lens, of Clay, is entitled. These reso lutions declare in substance that Geor gia will resist any attempt on the part of the Federal Government to coerce any seceding Southern State back into the Union. Many able speeches were made in the House, on the passage of the resolutions. Mr. Cullens lead off in the debate in a compact argument, showing that no power to coerce was delegated to the General Government, and should such power be usurped, the unity of interest, and community of feeling and destiny between the South ern States, required that they should combine against the General Govern ment. Good speeches were also made in favor of the resolutions by Mr. Hart ridge, Mr. Gibson and others. The ar gument against the resolutions was mainly confined to the question of ex pediency; no speaker claiming for the Government the right to coerce. Another bill of general interest is the bill to encourage the building of an Armory in the Cotton States. This act authorizes the Governor to purchase arms to the amount of $50,000 per an num, for five years, from such armory, provided the arms are equal to those manufactured elsewhere. The bill requiring all free negroes in the State to choose masters by the first of May or remove beyond the limits of this State lias passed the House, and probably will pass the Senate and be come a law. A bill has been introduced and will probably pass, to incorporate a “Steam ship Navigation Company,” to carry on direct trade between Savannah and European ports. This measure is a recommendation of the Governor in a recent special message. Another bill is <o commit to the In ferior Courts the power to change coun ty lines. This bill will relieve the Leg islature of much troublesome legisla tion. Another bill having for its object to relieve the Legislature from local bills, confers upon the Inferior Court power to incorporate associations of men for various purposes. A general incorporation act has pass ed, under which each volunteer corps in the State is incorporated and ordered to be supplied with arms. A bill has also passed the Senate au thorizing the Governor to accept the services of 10,000 volunteers, and pro viding for their organization into Bri gades, Regiments, Ac. According to invitation the Governor and members of Legislature will visit the “Fair” at Macon, on to morrow. If anything of interest occurs on the trip, or anything of importance is seen, I will furnish you with a description. Yours, Ac., f An exchange says that dollars and sense are a very rare combination. But if one has the dollars, he is a great man without the sense. Free Persons of Color. Mr. Sprayberry, of Catoosa, has in troduced a bill in the House of Repre sentatives, to allow free persons of col or in this State, to go into voluntary slavery, or to compel them to remove from this State, which provides— 1. That every free person of color who has reached the age of fourteen ■years, may choose an owner and go into voluntary servitude for life, by filing a petition, stating age, occupation, and the desire to become a slave for life to a particular owner. In such case, the Inferior Court shall examine such free person of color, and if it shall appear that the application is voluntarily made, the court shall pass an order declaring said free person of color a slave for life, and the absolute property of the chosen owner. Parents may choose owners for their children when the lat ter are under fourteen years of age. 2. That all free persons of color who may be found in this State after Ist of May, 18G2, who have taken no steps to select owners, shall be liable to be seized and sold at public outcry by the Sheriffs of the several counties, after the usual advertisement, and the Sher iffs shall execute title to the purchasers. The proceeds of the sale shall be paid to the county treasurer, and shall be come part of the fund for county pur poses. Cotton Culture Abandoned in India.— Foreign papers contain the following very significant paragraph, showing that after all the protracted efforts to grow cotton in the British Indian pos sessions, the attempt has been at length abandoned as hopeless: “In the annual report of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce a statement an nounces that the Indian Government had finaly abandoned, as being a hope less failure, their experiments at cot ton-growing in that country. These experiments had commenced as far back as 1789, and were prosecuted almost without intermission during the seven ty-two years that have since elapsed. They had cost, from first to last, <£3so, 000, and, as the report states, had ab sorbed “ the energies and intelligence of governors, collectors, commissioners, American planters, and painstaking amateurs.” Y’et the result of this prolonged ef fort and enormous outlay had been nothing but a continued scries of dis appointments. One solitary success is recorded as having been achieved, on ‘a small scale,’ by Mr. Shaw, Collector of Dharwar, who, taking up the enter prise in 1840, upon an area of only 220 acres, developed the results so rap idly that in 1851 there were 31,688 ‘kupas’ planted with American, and 224,314 with native cotton, and in 1856 the area increased to 155,316 kupas ap propriated to the American, 230,567 to the native variety of the plant. It does not appear that Mr. Shaw was assisted by any government grant in this work; and at all events, all direct co-opera tion of the State with the cultivation of cotton is now summarily abandoned. The Sugar Estates of Cuba.—From a work on the Cuban sugar estates, by Charles Rebcllo, British Vice Consul, at Cardenas, it appears that there were in full operation in Cuba lest season, one thousand three hundred and sixty five sugar estates, which produced one billion one hundred and twenty-seven million three hundred and forty-eight thousand six hundred and fifty pounds, equal to five hundred and sixty-three million six hundred and seventy-four thousand three hundred and sixty-live plantations, nine hundred and forty nine use steam power, and four hund red and nine ox power, in the old prim itive style. The extent of land plan ted with cane on these plantations is six hundred and ninety-one thousand nine hundred and seventeen acres, while the area on the estates used for other purposes, viz : cattle fields, fruit, veg etables, garden, Ac., comprises one million two hundred and eighty-nine thousand six hundred ami fifty acres, or nearly double the quantity used for cane. The crop of sugar the present year is expected to yield oneJiundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred boxes more than the last. Holding Back Cotton.—lt is said at New Orleans that it is now’ fully as certained that the planters have re solved to hold on to their cotton, and the sudden falling oft’ in the receipts at the ports (amounting to nearly one half) is ample confirmation of the fact. The reason assigned by the planters for their course is the severe depres sion that exists in the Atlantic and Gulf markets, and the suspension by the Banks of Georgia, South Carolina and other States, through which their exchages are done. It is thought that this action of the planters will have a tendency to arrest any further downward movement of the staple. The decline already submitted to on the balance of the crop yet to be received, (estimating the whole crop at 400,000,000 bales) amounts in round figures to about $15,000,000. Hogs.—We notice that during the past few days a considerable number of hogs have passed through to the South. About 3,000 have already been shipped. We hear of no sales at this point. The prices asked, 7 and 8 cents net, are altogether too high for specu lation or safe investment.— Chattanooga Advertiser Ith. Political News From Texas. A late dispatch from New’ Orleans says that Mr. Stewart, a member of the Texas Legislature, from Gonzales, has issued a circular, in accordance with the resolution published at a meet ing held at that place, inviting the members of the Legislature to meet at Austin, on the 3d Monday in December, to hold an extra session to call a State Convention. The hoisting of the “Lone Star” flag in Texas still continues, and the people are united in resistance to Lincoln’s administration. There is an understanding between the members of the Texas Legislature that they will meet at Austin, on the 17th of December, without a formal call from the Governor. It is under stood that the Legislature will call a Convention for the Bth January. The latest accounts from Texas say that Gov. Houston, notwithstanding his opposition to calling the Legisla ture together for existing causes, has agreed to issue a proclamation, should it appear that a majority of the people desire it. Price of Slaves. A lot of negroes were sold at Sa vannah on the - 4tli at an average of six hundred dollars cacii. A valuable young negro man was sold in Upper Marlboro’, Md., on Monday, Nov. 26, for eight hundred and fifty dollars. A month ago he would have brought one thousand five hundred dollars. The Huntsville (Ala.) Advocate of the sth says t The sale of negroes (one hundred and sixty-five in number,) belonging to the estate of Sam Townsend, deceased, was commenced in this place on Mon day, and will be continued ty-day until concluded. The terms were twelve months credit, with interest from date. The prices was very high—negro men bringing one thousand five hundred, one thousand six hundred dollars, and upwards, and others in proportion. A large number of persons were in at tendance from this and other coun ties. The Rome (Ga.) Courier says : On last Tuesday the land and negroes belonging to the estate of Francis Ir win, deceased, were sold before the Court House door in Rome. There were fifty-two negroes of both sexes, old and young, but remarkably fine for a family lot. One very fine boy sold for $1,500, and another for $1,600. The 52 sold for $35,531; or on an average of $683.30, each. Most of them were purchased by the legatees. The land on Coosa river, 1,000 acres, of which 450 are botton land, sold to Col. N. G. Foster of Morgan county, for $24,560. Terms of sale, one-third cash, and bal ance in 12 months, with interest from date. Eli Whitney. At Charleston, South Carolina, there is a monument, made after the model of (that of Scipio at Rome, with the follow ing simple inscription: “Eli Whitney, the Inventor of the Cotton Gin.” Sim ple as is this inscription, it speaks as much as one more labored, for it records in enduring characters the invention of a machine, which has contributed as much as any’ other single effort of hu man genius to the wealth and prosper ity of the United States, and particular ly’ - of this section, where cotton consti tutes the principal product. It has fur nished a large part of the population with a lucrative employment, increased its resources and consequently its cap ital, and greatly augmented the value of landed property. Now that we are familiar with the machine, and know that almost any ordinary mechanic can make one, there is hardly one in a hun dred who can tell the name of the in ventor. While we are receiving bene fits we are in general too apt to forget the benefactor; but this cannot be said of the people of South Carolina, who in the erection of the monument above mentioned have perpetuated the name of the inventor with that of the inven tion. An Invention to Secure Fine Weath er.—There is now before the Academy of Sciences at Paris, “a wonderful in vention” of Mons. Helvetious Otto, of Le’psic, by which he promises to “in sure fine weather.” He erects a plat form at a considerable height in the air, on which he places a “propeller,” or huge bellows, worked by steam.— With those bellows, which are “very powerful,” he blows away the clouds as they gather; and as rain comes from the clouds, it must necessarily folloAv that where clouds are not allowed to gather there can be no rain. lie main tained that if a certain number of his rain propellers, or “pluvifuges,” as he has named them, are placed at inter vals over the city, he can provide for the inhabitants a continuance of fine weather, and a certain protection from sudden showers and muddy streets, so long the terror of fair pedestrians. Lunatic Asylum Burnt.—The Lunatic Asylum at Hopkinsville Ky., one of the largest and finest buildings in the State of Kentucky, was destroyed by fire on Friday morning last, and several of the inmates perished in the flames. Thbre were three hundred patients in the Asylum, and it required almost superhuman efforts to rescue the saved, and a great many of these, rendered still more delirious by the appalling ex citement of the occasion, broke loose from their custodians and the citizens, and are still at large. Something about Matrimony. FOR THE PALLADIUM. Messrs. Editors:—l was very much pleased with a short piece about “Old Maids,” which I read in the last num ber of your interesting paper; so much so that I cannot refrain from express ing a few thoughts which occurred to my mind at the time. I am not an old maid myself, nor a young lady, but a wife and mother, and it cannot be considered amiss in me to speak a word concerning the maidenly aunts, and advise the gentlemen to give them their “distinguished consid eration.” I would advise any gentleman of ma ture age to marry an old maid—not too old—a good old maid, who is settled in her good habits and true in her affec tions. Yes, sirs, she is worth all the double-minded misses who are all the time hunting for husbands. I tell you that when a woman gets to be twenty five or thirty, she settles into a calm; in other words, she anchors in deep wa ters, and is safe from shore. There never was a class of persons so belied as these dear “ancient mai dens.” They are called peevish, fretful, quarrelsome, and all that—having no warmth of affection, and no regard for those who have. This is a most egre gious error. Look upon it as no re proach to a woman that she is not mar ried at thirty or thirty-five. Above all, full not into the vulgar notion that she is continually lying in wait to catch a bachelor’s heart. For one woman in the calm of years who is anxious to catch a beau, I will find you fifty girls in their teens who lay a thousand and one snares to entrap somebody. Be careful, gentlemen, lest you be sought as a lover with the cold-blooded intent of exciting jealousy in others, as a last resort. How would you like to be treated in that way? Marry a healthy woman, between twenty-five and thirty five, who is inclined to love you, and never bewilder your brains with suspi cions about whether she has intentions on you or not. What if a woman does show that she loves you and would marry you? This is right, and you should take it as a reason for self-con gratulation, but not suffer it to puff up your vanity. The most loveable age of woman’s life commences at twenty-five, and lasts till she shows the marks of old age. My advice to every sensible man is, to marry a woman who Is old enough to think for herself, and he will never have cause to repent it. MATRON. RicAZani, Dec. 10, 1860. There is doubtless a good deal more truth than poetry in the above, yet we are inclined to think that the matronly writer is rather too severe upon the girls. These precious exotics from a better world certainly cannot be so heartless as she seems to think they are. For our part, we admire all good maidens, whether old or young, plain or handsome, and don’t like to hear any class of them spoken of disparagingly. We set ourselves up as defenders of the girls against all such attacks, from whatever source they come, and shall see that justice is done them so far as our paper is concerned. The impression seems, to prevail, among old folks, that young persons don’t amount to much, any way—that they are good-for-nothing creatures, in capable of doing anything properly.— Now, this is a mistaken notion, calcu lated in its influence to effect no good, but a vast deal of harm. Encourage rather than discourage the young of either sex, if you want them to become useful men or women. If every sensible man is to marry an old maid, we should like to know what the girls are to do for husbands. Must they be content with fools, or wait till they too become old maids? This would never do. We are decidedly opposed to any such arrangement, and are sure the girls would never submit to it. We would not be understood as ad voting - early marriages, for we do not think it advisable for young persons to assume the responsibilities of the mar ried state before they are prepared for them, but there can be no good sense in waiting till they reach the shady side of thirty before beginning a life of use fulness and happiness. Movements of the Southern States. North Carolina Legislature, (regu lar session), metj November 19th. South Carolina Legislature, (regular session), met November 26th. South Carolina election for members of Convention, December 6th. South Carolina State Convention, meets December 17th. Louisiana Legislature, (special ses sion), met December 10th. Alabama election for members ot the Convention, December 24th. Alabama State Convention, meets January 7th. Virginia Legislature, (special ses sion), meets January 7th. Florida Leguslature now in session; election for Delegates to the State Con vention ordered 22d of December; Con vention meets 3d January 1861. Georgia Legislature now in session ; election for Delegates to the State Con vention ordered 9tq January, 1861; Con vention meets 22d January. 1 The Legislature of Mississippi, (spe cial secession), met on the 29th ult.— Bills were immediately introduced pro viding for a State Convention, which will probably pass unanimously. Interesting from Europe. Arrival of the Kedur. TERRIBLE BATTLES IN CHINA. New York, Dec. 12.—The steamship Kedur arrived to-day at this port with advices from Liverpool to the 27th. In China two fierce battles had oc curred, in which 30,000 Tartar cavalsy were completely routed, 2,000 killed, and 50 guns taken. The Allies had 18 wounded. The Times correspondent says Con sul Parks and three officers had been taken prisoners and conveyed to Pekin, where they were well treated. The Chinese had sent a flag of truce with propositions for a treaty to the Allied camp. Lord Elgin demanded a lease of the prisoners before the com mencement of negotiations. All was quiet in Shanghai at latest dates. The Government despatch says the Allies were within six miles of Pe kin. The London Times reviews the Pres i idential election in the United States, and the serious movements towards secession, and reiterates the belief that the Union will be maintained. Count Halant had been appointed French Ambassador to London. The King of Belgium was seriously ill. In Italy, the whole of the Diplomatic corps, at the request of Francis, had left Gaeta and gone to Rome. Further by the Europa. General Markets.—ln Liverpool flour was dull, and all qualities slightly de clining. V heat dull and declined 2s R) 3s. Sugar dull and declined 6d.— , Coffee quiet. Rice quiet and unchan i ged. Rosin heavy at 5s 2d ft 5s 4d. Turpentine dull. Washington News. Washington, Dec. 6.—To-day the Speaker’s warrants for pay of the mem bers of the House, were refused at the Treasury for want of funds. The war i rants will be formally protested to i morrow. About two hundred thousand dollars only, have been paid to the members since the commencement of the session. Congress, &c. Washington, Dec. 12.—The Senate, to-day, reduced the House Relief bill to three millions, and then passed it.— Mr. Powell’s resolution was then deba ted until the adjournment. In the House, about a dozen Union saving propositions were introduced, debated, and referred. Several unim portant bills were passed. General Bonham resigned his place on the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Cobb’s letter of resignation, and and the President’s acceptance, are published in the papers to-day. Manifesto from Mr. Cobb. Washington, Dec. 11.—Hon. Howell Cobb, having sent in his resignation to the President, will leave to-morrow for home. He has prepared an address to the peopie of Georgia, calling upon them to arouse all their manhood and maintain their independence out of the Union. They will never again have equality and justice in it. He enter tains no doubt of either their right or their duty to secede. Southern Caucus Saturday Night. No Conclusion 1 Seven States will Se cede. Washington, Dec. 9.—The Senators from the slave States held a caucus to consider the State of the Republic and the chances of compromise, yesterday. No conclusion was arrived at tend ing to encourage the belief that any harmonious action could be secured.— No proposition was put forth requiring a vote. Senators Powell and Crittenden, of Kentucky, made strong and eloquent appeals, but the caucus adjourned fully convinced that at least seven States would withdraw from the Confederacy. There is no prospect and hope of sa ving the Union. Col. Henningsen, of Nicaragua mem ory, is out in a long letter, urging the South to stand up for her rights, and pledging his own services and those of all his old companions in arms, for her defence. New Jersey Commissioners. Trenton, Dec. 12—The Union Con vention, which assembled here yester day, appointed its chairman, Commo dore Stockton, also a chairman of a committee to confer with other States in relation to the crisis. Tennessee.—Gov. Harris has issued a proclamation calling an extra session of the Legislature of Tennessee, to meet on the 7th January, the same day on which the Virginia Legislature is called together. The Legislature of Kentucky will also, probably, assemble at the same time. Oregon and California for Lincoln.— News from Sacramento, California, via Fort Kearney, in reference to the Pres idential election, confirms the intelli gence heretofore received to the effect that both California and Oregon have certainly gone for Lincoln. Report of the Secretary of the Interior. Os the Public Lands we learn that 12,060,033 acres have been disposed of, 3,977,619 selling for cash, yielding $2, 021,425, and $2,665,723 absorbed under railroad grants, and the rest in bounty land warrants and swamp grants. Over a million of dollars were expended in the payment of pensions during the fis cal year. The income of the Patent Office is SB,OOO above expenses; 3,896 have been issued and 3,612 applications have been rejected. The Census will be prepared for the present Congress. The necessity of revising the present laws prohibiting the slave trade, and especially in providing for the disposal of rescued negroes, is urged. Manufacturer’s Bank.—lt is believed by some that this bank has not failed, but only suspended. We learn from the best that it is hopelessly broke—that its own stock holders will not take its bills. We have heard of some persons buying up the bills—all such must lose, as the bank is broke.— Federal Union. Rumors and Reports.—Rumors are current, says the Columbus Enquirer, that Gov. Letcher, of Va., has appoint ed a joint commission, consisting of Ex-Presideut Tyler, Senatoi 1 Hunter, and Hon. Wm. C. Rives, to visit South Carolina at once, and urge delay in her action; and Gov. Magoffin, of Ky., has responded to this action of the Virginia Executive, by deputing Vice President Breckinridge, Senator Crittenden, and Hon. James Guthrie, on a similar er rand. Senator Clay Resigned.—The Mont gomery Advertiser of the 7th instant, says : “We have before us a letter from the Hon. C. C. Clay, jr., tendering to Gov. Moore his resignation of the office of Senator of Alabama in the Congress of the United States, to take effect on the 4th of March next, unless the State should at an earlier day dis pense with his services in that body, as he fondly hopes and expects.” Official Vote of Missouri.—The of ficial vote of Missouri has been an nounced. It stands as follows: For Douglas, 58,801; Bell, 58,382; Breck inridge, 31,317; Lincoln, 17,028. Hon. R. J. Hill.—We regret to learn from the last Sumter Republican, that this gentleman, the Senator from that county, is very ill of a malady contrac ted the first week of the session and considered to be in a critical condition. Commissioner of Alabama.—Col. John A. Elmore, of Montgomery, has been selected by the Governor of Alabama, as a Commissioner to South Carolina, to advise with her as the representa tive of Alabama in the pending crisis. Falling-off in the Customs.— The receipts at the Boston Custom House for the past week were only $30,000 —insufficient to pay the monthly salaries, which were forwarded from Washington. Right thinking has a practical val ue, even though the thinking never be published, for from right thinking springs right acting, and men will pro fit by the example, although they are never otherwise taught the lesson. It is reported that Secretary Cobb has resigned, and was to have est Washington for Georgia on Thurs day last. A telegraph cable was success fully laid across the Mississippi river at Vicksburg on the 7th inst. A dispatch from New York says that the shipment of specie to the South still continues. About one million dol lars shipped last week. The Mayor of Milledgeville has called a public meeting of the citizens to take into consideration the condition of the suffering poor of that city. Queen Victoria has been presen ted with four of the smallest horses in the world. They are entire horses, of perfect symmetry, well matched, being all of a color, (dark brown,) and the highest of them is barely thirty-one inches. They are from Africa. The Express and the Mails.—Some of the Northern papers are “dreadfully taken” with the idea of Gov. Gist of South Carolina, to carry letters by the Adams Express after the Federal post offices and routes are abolished. The Post considers it the only sagacious idea in the programme of the secession ists, and worthy of general acceptance in lieu of our present defective system. Byway of a pun, it characterizes the suggestion as the “gist of the matter.” The Planning of Cities.—The London Builder says that a spider’s web fur nishes a better plan for the laying out of our new cities, than any which has yet been devised by surveyors or engineers. Any one who can find a distinct and complete web unbroken will see how beautifully regular it is, and how per fectly adapted for the quickest passage from one point to another. The con centric rings are not circles, but poly gons, the radiating exquisitely regular and straight. Bgu Governor Brown has vetoed the bill for the pardon of W. A. Choice.