Newspaper Page Text
CONGRESS.
[Correspondence of the Char. Courier.]
Wa*hi!»otojt, Feb: 21, lfiGP.
This has been a day of unparalleled excite
ment in the House. As soon as the journal of
yesterday was read, Mr. Prentiss, of Missis
sippi, rose and called the attenfioif of the House
to the abosite attack upon Mr. Staslt and Mr.
Southgate, contained in the Gloht, under tiic
signature of A: OvncAit. . He offered a resolu
tion for an impure, whether these publications
were authorised by Mr. Duncan, of Ohio, a
member of the House; and, if so, whether he is
rnjrthy of hold'mg* a seat in this Body, ao<!
whether he ought not to be forthwith expelled.
Mr. Prentiss followed, up the resolution in a
speech of more than an hour, in which he dwelt
upon the aggravated and aajaetiJwble charac
ter of the insult offered the House bv these pub
lication, and apon the obligation of tlic House
to protect its members from these outrages.
The insults here offered were on account of
words spoken in debate, and they were publish
ed during the session, end in the official paper.
, Tfteir‘evident object was to provoke a conflict
«f some sort or other. The publication was
made after the law for the suppression of duel
ing had received the President's approbation,
end a member could not now semi a challenge,
without exposing himself to the penalties of
that law. Under the protection of that law he
had apprehended that blackguardism would be
sheltered. He now called upon those who
had passed that law, cither to protect members
from theec vituperative attacks, or rcacind the
Jaw and suffer gentlemen to protect themselves.
Give us back the arms of chivalry, or expel from
this body those who are guilty of gross and
wanton violations of decorum.
Mr. Jenifer, supported the resolution, and
was very severe upon Mr. Duncan.
Mr. Duncan replied, and spoke at length in
justification of his conduct He alluded to the
nature of the wrongs Le had received from the
members concerned—to the publication of a
speech by Mr. Stanly, on the Ith of‘February,
w hich he liad not heard on this floor, and w hich
was grossly abusive to him; to the insults
which were daily heaped upon him and the
party to which lie belonged, in the House, in
tire Senate and in the federal new simpers. To
attacks made upon him in the newspapers, he
had -replied in the newspapers. lie had been
forced to take this course, but he did it in sell
defence. He was unwilling to take back one
word of what he had said. He re-aftirined now,
all that he had said in these publications. He
had not thought of the duelling act. He was
willing the tiling should stop here if gentle- j
men chose, or lie would be responsible to them.
The duelling act would not operate upon him
Riid'thc aggrieved parties ten days hence, and
out of the limits of the ten miles square.
Mr. Grey, of New- York, after some remarks,
in which he alluded to another question of pri- j
vilegc, (the Cilley and Graves concern) ns still
on tlic calendar, and unsettled, and ti (lie want
ol time, at the close of the session, for attend
ing to questions of such moment, moved to lay
the whole subject on the table. liost <>3 toPI.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Men- j
ifer, Prentiss, Grey of N. Y., Wise, Thompson j
of 8. (X, and Glascock Messrs. Grey and!
Glascock opposing the resolution,
Mr. Menifee was severe and |iersoiinl in his '
speech. The point lie made was, that Mr.
Duncan allowed that he was insulted by Mcs- j
srs. Stanly and Southgate, and that it was his )
duty to call upon them for satisfaction. But, in
stead of that, he had recourse to an offset, ami l
after holding up his wrath for some weeks, j
poured it out in billingsgate abuse tliromrii the !
Globe. |
Mr. Duncan here begged leave to explain
that he had wrote the article a fortnight ago.
Yes, said Mr. Menifee, but it was not pub
lished till the day the dueling law took effect.
Here there was a shout from the members
nnd loud and clamorous applause from the
galleries, which were crowded to suffocation, as
they always are, when a fight is expected.
The speaker interposed, and said he would
clear the galleries.
Mr. L. Williams hoped, lie said, they would ,
be cleared. But many members cried out j
“no,” “no.”
Mr. Duncan replied, but half suffocated with ;
rage, that whoever intimated that lie would >
avail himself or had availed himself of the
d'fblling law, was a foul calumniator and scoun-,
drcl.
Mr. Menifee said, in rejoinder, that the day
of recrimination and of 'set was past by. No
body .minded that now. Abusive epithets
would not pass as an offset to insult.
Mr Prentiss’ second speech was still more
abusive. It wns evidently intended to drub
Duucan in retaliation—that is “offset”—for
his attack on Stanly and Southgate.
It was an humiliating spectacle for an Amer
ican—take it all and all. The House adjourn
ed without taking any question.
In the Senate, the bill to regulate the mode '
of keeping the public money, was passed, 28
to 15.
Feb. 22. [
The House resumed the consideration of the
following resolution, offered on yesterday, by ,
Mr. Prentiss, of Mississippi:
Resolved, That this Iloun proceed to in
quire, Ist, whether Alexander Duncan, a mem
ber of this House, from the State of Ohio, be
the author of a certain publication or publica
tions, under his name, in relation to the pro
ceedings of the House and certain members
thereof, published in the Gtobe newspaper of
the 19th inst 2d, whether by said publica
tion or publications, tiie said Alexander Dun
can lias not been guilty of a violation of tbe
privileges of this House, of an offence against
the peace, dignity and good order, and of
grossly indecent, ungcntleinanly, disgraceful
and dishonorable -misconduct, as renders linn
unworthy of his seat in this House, and justly
liable to expulsion from the same.
The question pending was on the motion
of Mr. W addy Thompson, to amend the res
olution so as to cause Mr. Duncan to be re
primanded by the Speaker at the Bar of the
House.
Mr. Petrikcn made some very appropriate
remarks on the great waste of the public time,
by the prosecution of personal matters, and
concluded by moving to lay tiic whole subject
on the table, which, after considerable de
bate was decided in the affirmative, yeas lIV
nav.s 94.
Whether the- matter will be prosecuted out
of the House remains to be seen. The Globe
says that Mr. Duncan’s publication was not
intended “in the nature of a posting.”
Ibe majority of the Select Committee on
the charges against Com. Elliott, made a re
port, and asked to be discharged from the fur
t.ier consideration of the subject, on the ground
that there was not time for a full examination
ol Uiv charges, and they further urged the
opinion that it is inexpedient for the House to
interfere in the mttter. *
My Naylor and Mr. Chamber* made a mi
nority report, setting forth, in detail, the char
ge* made against Com. Elliott; and declaring
the necessity of an investigation into their
truth by Congress; and also, stating that, with
proper industry, the Committee might have
made a satisfactory examination of them.
Fra. 21.
In the House, a number of bills from the
Senate were then taken up. read twice, and
referred. On coming to the bill providing for
the armed occupation of Florida, a motion
being made to refer it to the Committee on
| Military Affairs, Mr. Robertson moved to lay
it on the table, which was negatived, yeas 91,
nays 94. He then moved to amend by refer
ring different portions of the bill to three com
mittees, but pending the motion the House
passed to tbe orders of the day.
The Senate, to-day, debated the bill to pro
vide a territorial government for the Western
Indians, and it was opposed, partly on the
ground that we had no more right to establish
a territorial government over them than they
iiadoierus. But they ordered the bill to be
engrossed.
The bill establishing a Board of Claims was
also ordered to be engrossed.
Senitor Morris’ abolition speech is publish
ed in the Globe. It beats Garrison or Thomp
son.
ThjPfeports were ordered to be printed, and
laid On the table.
_pß Monday, the report from the Investiga
ting Committee will supersede every other bu
siness. There will be many important bills
crowded into tbe last few days of the session
[Correspondence of the Southern Patriot.]
Feb. 2<>.
In the Senate Mr. Walker from the Com
mittee on Public Lands, to whom had been
referred the memorial of the accomplished
Maria Helena America Vespucci, reported un- j
favorably on the same.
The House bill making appropriation for.
the Naval Service, was then taken up.
Mr. Rives moved to amend-by adding to
the hill .*.{.{0,000 to commence the construe- ■
tion of three steam vessels of war, which
amendment was agreed to. The bill was then
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
TIIE DISPUTED BOUNDARY.
A Message was received from the President
of the United States, on the sub ject of the dis
pute between Maine and New Brunswick.
lie first recapitulated the circumstances
w 'hich have led to the present difficulties; —
the imprisonment of the Land Agent etc, and
adverts to the fact of an amicable negociation
being now pending on the subject, between
the United States and Great Britain.—He also
stales his determination in case the said ne
gociation shall not he brought to a satisfactory
issue, to make a proposition to Great Britain
: to adjust tiic difficulty by a reference to a third
power. He disproves of the course taken by
the 'Governor of Maine, ns calculated to in
terfere with and retard the negociation novy
pending, and does not conceive the application
‘•f the Governor tor assistance from the Gen
eral Government ought to be granted. lie
hopes that Maine will instantly withdraw her
troops from the disputed territory. On the
other lmid, he says that if the authorities of
i New Brunswick should cause nil invasion of
the State of Maine, he should then consider
I that the contingency alluded to in the Con
, stilution had occurred, and which it would be
j the duty of the general Government to pro
tect her. He says that lie lias expressed his
conviction to Mr. Fox, the British Minister
in this city, that the land agent will be imme
diately released by the authorities of New
Brunswick, and all cause for aggravation re
moved. But ns but a few days remain of tiie
Session of Congress, he recommends that meas
ures may he taken, so as to guard against any
[ contingency during the recess, and obviate
the necessity of calling an extra Session.
Copies of all the correspondence, which has
transpired on the subject, were then read.
Mr. Howard moved that tho message and
documents lie committed to tho Committee of
Foreign affairs.
Mr. Waddy Thompson said that on an oc
casion like the present, he would lay aside nil
party toolings, ns the important subject before
them was ot such a nature ns to require a com
bination of nil, of whatever party, to net to
gether. lie said that although he disapproved
the internal policy of the Administration, yet
in this ass air, he felt it due to himself to say
that its course had been manly, w ise & spirit
ed, and it was with the greatest pleasure that
he would support it. He remarked that with
regard to our title on tbe disputed Territory,
both Houses of Congress were unanimous and
the only question now was, whether wc would
tamely submit to an extinction of that right.
In liis opinion w# had now passed the Rubi
con, and we must either sustain our honor, or
relinquish it forever. He asked the House to
consider in what condition they were thrown.
Our-soil bad been invaded on a most frivolous
pretence. Great Britain found it convenient
to have a Military road over the disputed ter
ritory, on that account only, she had persisted
in her claim, and had demanded a right of
way.
Mr. T. then alluded to the letter of Lieut.
Governor Harvey, which stated that if the
' troops of Maine were not withdrawn he would
compel them, lie considered this as the most
insulting letter that could be written, and dic
tated in a spirit of insolence not to be borne.
He said no man could deprecate a war with
Great Britain more than lie did, ns its conse
quences would extend much w ider than might,
be expected. He was convinced that among
other things, it would lead to the seizure ol’
Cuba. But let the war begin or end where it
mitrlit, the honor of our country ought to bo
maintained at all sacrifices, but it was gone
forever if «e submitted to be deprived of onr
rights by bullying, threats, and gasconade.
He concluded by moving that 20,000 extra
copies of the message be printed.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Ad
ams, Howard, Evans, l’ickens, Cushing and
others, and no question had been taken w hc-n
this letter was mailed.
Free Banking. —The New Orleans Bulle
i tin of the 14th ult. says.—
The subject, of free banking is now being
discussed by all classes of the community, of
every trade and calling; and the more its prin
ciples are understood tiie more favor it gains
i with the public. • Indeed, very few doubt its
■ utility, or question the absolute necessity of
adopting it as means of bringing immediate
relief to the pecuniary interests of the Suite,
and of the western trade that centres in Neiv
Orleans,
BRUNSWICK ADVOCATE.
NORTH EASTERN BORDER TROU
BLES—HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM
MAINE.
THE STATE IN ARMS !
We are indebted to our attentive corres
pondent of the Boston Atlas, for a slip,
dated Boston, Wednesday, 10 A. M. from
which we derive the annexed deeply iii
(teresting and important intelligence. It is
evident that, unless moderation and discre
tion prevail in the councils of both parties,
i steps may now be taken leading to results
of tbe deepest consequence to tne peace of
the world.
[Correspondence of the Atlas.]
Senate Chamber, j
Augusta, February 18, 1839. )
The crisis has at length arrived and
' Maine is in arms to sustain her honor and
the integrity of her soil. An Express has
I arrived this morning bringing an official
communication from Sir John Harvey, in
which he says he shall repel all invasion
—he says that he “claims EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION.”
Eight thousand troops have been order
ed out to carry into execution the Resolv
es passed by the Legislature of Maine,
which was to seize the Trespassers and
! the lumber cutout on the disputed territory,
I McLaughlin, the Land Agent of the Prov
i inCes, has been arrested, and is now at
Bangor. The greatest excitement pre
vails and a fixed determination to sustain
jour rights at all hazards.
State House, I
Augusta, Monday, Feb. 18, 1839. J
I A special messenger arrived here last
night from Sir John llarvcy, Lt. Gov. ol
the province of New Brunswick. He has
j been sent to demand of our Governor that
the forces of this State that have been
sent to arrest the trespassers on the Aroos
took, &.c. shall be immediately removed
from HER MAJESTY’S DOMINIONS.
The Messengers from Sir John llarvcy
informs our Governor that Mclntire, our
Land Agent, is at Fedorickton, and that
lie will be retained there by order of the
Provincial Government.
From the Aroostook I learn that Mr.
McL auglilin, the Warden of the disputed
territory, appointed by Sir John Harvey,
came to No. 10 on the Aroostook, where
our forces are stationed, and commanded
them to leave the territory forthwith.—
Capt. Rimes who was in command, arres
ted him and sent him to Bangor, where he
arrived yesterday. Gov. Fairfield has di
rected Gen. Hodgdon to order out one
thousand of his division to proceed forth
with to the support of our forces on the
Aroostook—two hundred men are now
there, and Sheriff Strickland has enlisted
live hundred men by order of the Gover
nor, who are on their way there —sixty of
them left town yesterday, making in all a
force of seventeen hundred men now at,
and ordered to, the vicinity of the Aroos
tock.
Our Governor lias this morning issued
orders to each ol the Commanding Offic
ers of the eighth Division of the Militia of
this State to order one thousand men to
he drafted from each of their respective
divisions, to hold themselves in readiness
to he called into actual service.
[Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce.]
Boston, Feb. 20, 1»39.
The news from Maine is alarming. Gov
ernor Everett lias, 1 learn, prepared a
Message to tiie Legislature on the sub
ject. From liis excellent character and
great wisdom, 1 anticipate something
which will tend to arrest the rash proceed
ings of Governor Fairfield of Maine. The
Governor of Mane certainly ought to hav'c
asked the Governor of New Brunswick to
aid in expelling the trespassers, particular
ly as Mr. Livingston, as Secretary of State,
proposed that neither Government should
exercise jurisdiction over the disputed ter
ritory during negotiations, and the British
minister readily acceded thereto. Nothing
but the good sense of the people of this
country can extricate us from the difficulty.
Maine has passed a resolve appropriating
SBOO,OOO to support 10,000 men u hicli she
is now calling mlo the field, and calls on
Massachusetts to join in the expense.
I*. S. Governor Everett has just sent his
message to the Legislature. He savs the
sovereignty iSc jurisdiction of this land be
longs to Maine, and the United States,
and that should unhappily circumstances
cause the General Government to call on
Massachusetts for force to aid in protecting
the territory of Maine, that she will cheer
fully respond to the call.
The Message is short nnd a good one.
The impression here u , that this matter
will he settled without war between the
United States and Great Britian, although
New Brunswick and Maine may come to
ihe spilling of blood.
By an extra of the Bangor Whig, dated
Saturday evening, received at Boston on
Wednesday morning, we learn that Maj.
Gen. Isaac Hodsdon, by direction of the
Governor, had ordered out 1909'men of
his divisions in Penobscot County, to
rendezvous at Bangor on Wednesday, to
march immediately to the frontier, to aid
the State agent in driving off the trespas
sers upon the public lands. All the inde
pendatit companies of Bangor were order
ed out.
[From the New York Heralil 20th ult.]
Mr. Mclntire, the land agent, lias been
released; so have Messrs. Cushman, Rog
ers and Pillsbury. Mclntire has been re
leased on parole, for accepting which the
people of Maine blaine him. The eastern
papers breathe nothing but war. Ten
thousand troops are ordered to the frontier
by Gov. Fairfield; the draft of militia made
throughout the state, to march to the fron
tier, consists of 74 cavalry, 151 artillery
',482 infantry, 584 riflemen—in all 10,-
343. The excitement in every town in
Maine is tremendous; the military assem
ble with the greatest alacrity, and all seem
anxious for a fight.
Despatches have been received by Gov.
Fairfield from Sir John Harvey, in which
he makes these propositions:—
Ist. That the Provincial Land Agent,
Mr. McLaughlin, lie released on the same
terms that Sir. Mclntire was released.
2d. That the force on the disputed terri
tory be immediately withdrawn.
Sir John has sent 200 soldiers to the
Aroostook, and says he intends to send
large reinforcements instantly, and that his
orders are to defend the disputed territory,
which he will do to thedeath. These are
his words to Gov. Fairfield:—
i It is proper that I should acquaint your
j Excellency that I have directed a strong
j force of Her Majesty’s troops to be in readi
i ness to support Her Majesty’s authority,
and protect Her Majesty’s subjects in the
disputed territory, in the event of this re
quest not being immediately complied
with.
The greatest alarm and consternation
prevails throughout the State—men leav
ing their families—women taking leave of
their friends. There are no horsed to be
had. One officer paid $lO for a horse (o!
go as many miles. Mclntire says that Sir]
John is getting together all the forces far
and near, and only wants delay to prepare
himself for an engagement, which he is de
termined on.
The letter of Gov. Fairfield to Sir John
is firm nnd respectful, but determined.—
He tells him he will not, nor will Maine
withdraw their troops from the territory.
After reiterating the fact that Maine and
Massachusetts have long exercised juris
diction over the disputed territory, he thus
concludes:—
The party of the Land Agent is now on
the territory engaged in executing the trust
with which it was charged—and with my
consent will never leave, while the protec
tion of the property of the State from plun
derers renders it necessary for them to re
main. If your Excellency chooses to send
an armed force to attempt their expulsion
I can only say that this State will endeav
or to meet such an attempt as it will de
serve.
[From the same, 27th ult.]
We have received no news of a fight
yet, but expect to hear of one by every mail.
There was a rumor in the city Inst night
that 74 of the British had been killed, nnd
a colonel of the regulars and several mili
tia taken prisoners, but it wants confirma
tion. Certain it is that on both sides
“Their soul's in arms and eager for the fray.”
At St. Johns, N. 8., orders have been
received from Sir John Harvey to send up
nil the disposable troops and artillery to
Fredericton, the garrison of that place hav
ing marched for the Aroostook country.
The following extracts from letters give
all tiie authentic information that has yet
reached us:—
Augusta , Feb. 23, 1839.
On Monday morning one thousand men
will muster nt the capital, and march forth
with. Major General Foster of the east
ern division, with iiis command, is order
ed forthwith to Moulton—one thousand
men will be ready to march as early as
Wednesday next. From the determined
character of Sir John Harvey and the na
ture of his instructions, we anticipate a
conflict, and ere this reaches you, I great
ly fear the blood of our citizens will Le
shed. Mr. English, the messenger from
Sir John Harvey, informed me that he had
no doubt that on liis return with the letter
of Governor Fairfibld, Sir John would in
stantly order the troops to advance. Mr.
English must have reached Fredericton
last Tuesday night. We arc anxiously a
waiting the result.
The “Bangor Whig” of Friday says:—
The Fire Department of this city, embrac
ing about three hundred young men had
a meeting yesterday afternoon, voted to
organize themselves as a battalion of Ri
flemen, and petitioned the Legislature for
a supply of arms. There scetns to be no
doubt that their request will he granted.”'
Bangor, Me., Feb. 23, 1839.
The excitement of the last few days has
subsided, and little has been doing. As
for news, wc have none of importance.—
Many rumors have been abroad during
the day, but none of them can be relied
upon as true. 1700 of Hall’s best rifles
have arrived, and a very large supply of
blankets, which have been sent up. It is
reported, but with how much truth I am
unable to say, that 800 British troops had
arrived at the mouth of the Aroostook, a
bout 89 miles from our encampment. I
.should’ be rather disposed to doubt the
correctness of this rumor, through I have
it from good authority.
In my yesterday’s letter I remarked that
Col. McLaughlin has been released on
his parole. In this I was mistaken—he
refuses to accept any terms short of an
unconditional release, and therefore, re
fusing to pledge his honor, he is still in
custody.
Capt. Rines, we learn, lias strongly
fortified his position, having thrown up a
breastwork of timber twelve feet in thick
ness, which is also surmounted by or
dnance. About 7or 800 men are now
plobabiy there, and when our present ar
my arrives, the number will not fall much
short of 2,000.
Seeing a wicked boy throwing stones
at the gallows, Diogenes observed, “Well i
aimed, boy! you will hit that mark at
last."
BRUNSWICK AND FLORIDA RAIL
ROAD.
“Me had a meeting of the stockhold
ers of the Thomasville, at which
all my favorable Impressions are realized.
I am satsified that there are many people
in this quarter of large means, and that
the subscribers in Georgia may be relied
on for future instalments, with as much
confidence as a list made up in the same
wav in Boston would deserve, perhaps
| more.
t Five per cent, on $427,000 was paid in,
: in two days, and more subscriptions were
coming in. lam in company with Mon
i cure Robinson, Esq., chief engineer, who
is taking a general view of the country.
Mr. Robinson becomes more and more en
] ' n the spirit of the undertaking as
be advances, and thinks it one of the most
promising that could be projected.”
The Brunswick and Florida Railroad
! is to extend as nearly as practicable in a
direct lint from Brunswick to the junc
tion of the Flint and Chattnhoochie riv
ers. By a glance at the map, you per
ceive at once that we run below the last
ridge of the Alleghany range, and above
the lime stone formation of Middle Flor
ida, and that we occupy the only direct
route from a Southern port to New Or
leans—taking Pensacola ancrMobile in
our way. There is no route above or be
low us that can even compete with ours be
cause the port of Brunswick is the best on
the coast, and placed precisely in the very
best position. If you start south of it you
encounter first the Okefinoke Swamp,
and afterwards the lime stone ridges and
sinks of Middle Florida and cross sever
eral rapid and large rivers, and would
then be thrown to the south of a direct
line to Mobile and New Orleans, and com
pelled to resort to a port for a terminus
to the east of Apalachicola River, and
consequently east of Cape St. Bias,
and be subject to an open sea voyage to
the west, if you were to commence north
of Brunswick, you have a very broken
j country and n much greater distance, be
\ sides several large rivers crossing your
path. This is not all. In order to have
. a safe ns well as rapid communication
1 with New Orleans and all places border
ing tlie Gulf ol Mexico at nil seasons of
j the year, a healthy seaport is absolutely
| necessary—and it must be suited to ac
commodate ships of the largest class:
[such a port is Brunswick harbor. We,
jat the south, from the first settlement of
j the country, have labored under the great
disadvantage resulting from sickly sea
ports in summer. My object has been
j and is, to bring into use a port which
[ w’ll be as safe to strangers in summer a3
|in winter; such a place l know Brtins
: wick to he. The reason is this, it is a
salt water harbor. All our other ports,
from New Orleans to Charleston, with
the exception of St. Josephs, on the Gulf,
which has been recently opened to tbe
interior, are at tbe mouths of fresh water
\ rivers and extremely dangerous—not on-
I ly to strangers, but to natives, for at least
five months in the year,
j Thus you will perceive the com muni*
[ cation from all parts of the southwest
would be kept up as well in summer as in
spring and autumn with New York; and
the autumn supplies of goods could be
sent out in September instead of Novem
ber. Merchants at the South would not
;be under the necessity of making such
large purchases at once, and would make
their remittances more frequently and reg
ularly. In short, the intercourse with
your city will be uninterrupted from one
end of the year to the other. Texas will
, be brought within seven days of New York
[and nil parts of the valley of the Mississippi
may receive their supplies from her at all
times in a very few days, and your citizens
can visit the interior of the Southern
country without passing through Savan
nah, Charleston, Mobile and New Or
leans.
The Brunswick and Florida Rail Rond
will he about two hundred miles to the
junction of Flint and Chattahoochc, from
thence there is now a steamboat and rail
(’road communication to St. Joseph’s, and
■ from that place to all parts of tbe Gulf of
Mexico. If we continue our road to Ce
dar Bluff on Choctahatchie, or to St. An
drew’s Bay, we shall have about 40 to B 0
miles more of rail road to make, which
will increase the distance by rail road to
about 250 miles, between New York and
j New Orleans; the rest of the distance will
be overcome bv steamers from the termini !
of tbe road. The distance from Charles
ton or Savannah via Milledgeville and
Montgomery is more than seven hundred
and forty miles. M e propose to make the
-road seven feet , «/t<) j
that the grades shall not exceed ten feet to
the mile, and the route is so favorable that
we shall b« able to locate it more than one j
hundred miles in a straight line. You are
correct in supposing Brunswick will be
the master key to the lock that fastens N.j
ork to New Orleans. Nor can that!
chain be broken in time of war. Cu
ba, will no longer be the key to the Gulf
of Mexico; and tho’ Great Britain were to
take possession of it the day our channel ;
of communication shall be completed, it j
would be valueless as a naval station.— j
Had I time I could prove to you that the;
produce of the valley of Mississippi can be j
brought to the Atlantic cheaper on our [
railroad, than it can be carried round j
Cape Florida; and when we take into con
sideration the saving of time, all doubt
vanishes. Goods may be carried to New j
Orleans, and produce from thence to New j
York in very little more time than it would!
require to transport passengers, provided
the channel of communication be arranged
on a proper scale.
One hundred miles of our rail road will
he placed under contract in the early part
of the fall, and it is the design of the stock
i holders to finish it to the junction of Flint
, and Chattahoochc, in two years from the
j Ist of January next.
I will only remark further, that the
Brunswick and Florida Rail Road will be
connected with the State Work in Geor
' gia, leading to the Tennessee river, and
with the rail roads in Alabama, leading to
Mississippi and Tennessee.
St. JOSEPH CANAL.
' An arrangement has been entered into
by the St Joseph Company, with certain
individuals, by which a Steamboat Canal,
connecting the Apalachicola river, with
j St. Joseph Bay, is to be completed within
three years, from the first of January last.
! Satisfactory assurances for the faithful
completion of the work, have been given,
j and the'present Railroad, under existing
; stipulations, has been placed under the
i control of John D. Gray, &. Cos., subject
to specified restrictions, in regard to the
rates of transportation. It is proposed to
[ construct this Canal, on the surface, and
of sufficient breadth, to admit the passing
of boats, under full steam..
The new Railroad, from Jola to St.
Joseph, would have been capable for the
present of transporting all the l-ade of the
Apalachicola River, but the increasing
products of that river, its want of a good
natural outlet, and the probable immense
importation of foreign goods, destined for
this Port, have fed to the commencement
of this great work, which will he as cer
tainly completed, and which securing a
direct water communication with the in
[ terior, will place our city on the most
; favoured position for commercial arrangc
; inents.
i We have never doubted, and are still
! sanguine in the belief that the increased
facilities of trade on the completion of the
new road, will effectually put down any
opposition, that now exist, or may hereaf
ter spring up, against our Town. The
results under the present route circuitous
i as it is, show clearly, what may he antici
pated on so decided an improvineut. The
[trade of St. Joseph now in the third year
'of its commercial existence, will equal, if
1 it does not exceed, that of our neighbor
I city; its improvements are steadily advanc
ing, and the Commission Merchants and
.Shippers of Cotton, are satisfied to a de
monstration, of its superior facilities—in
the receiving and forwarding of produce.
But to meet the almost illimitable re
sources of the Chattahoochee country, to
i lessen the inconvenience of re-loading,
j mid to complete the connecting link of a
; great line of internal communication, be
tween the Gulf •’id the Atlantic sea board,
tiiis Canal is highly important. It will
place the company on the most favorable
position, for uniting with the Brunswick,
or any other corporation, that will display
an equal enterprise in constructing a rail
road, from the Atlantic to the Apalachico
la river. The scheme appears and is,
magnificent—but this is the age of improve
ment —the school master is abroad, and
[experience has tested the wisdom of simi
lar improvements, gigantic in their'con
ception, and with less of value, in their
prospective results.—[St. Joseph Times.
The indefatigable “Spy in Washington,”
gives the following items of news. In
reference to the supposed visit of the Presi
dent to this place, during the period of the
Reduction Convention, while, we have
no doubt, lie would receive from all parties
the respectful courtesies due to liis exalted
station, yet, we would feign hope, that the
May Convention will have more important
work on its hands, and that which too
deeply interests our people, to convey it
self into any thing like an instrument for
the electioneering purposes of any man or
party: — [Milledgeville Recorder.
Washington, Feb. 10, 1839.
I understand that Mr. Van Buren pur
poses, during the ensuing spring and sum
mer, to make a grand tour through the
Southern and South-western States, the
ostensible object of which is, to visit his
son’s wife’s father in South-Carolina, and
his illustrious predecessor at the Her
mitage. He will set out in April, and
travel slowly through Virginia, North-Car
olina, South Carolina, to Augusta, thence
up through Tennessee, &c. home. It is
expected that his Georgia friends here,
will so arrange the President’s journey,
that lie will accidentally happen to reacli
Milledgeville, about the time of the great
Convention, which is to meet at that place
ip IVVvJa
There is another little arrangement that
may be promoted by this tour, lt is now
perfectly understood, that the Hon. R. M.
Johnson is to be handed out of the Vice
President’s chair sans ccrcmonie, suid al
though the nomination of his successor,
by the Loco Focos, will be nought but an
empty compliment, as defeat inevitable,
yet in certain quarters there is an anxiety
that Mr. Forsyth should be designated.—
Something therefore may, and probably
will bo done, “in the course of events,” oh
this subject. Such are the hints that ray
Asmodeus gives me, and he is seldom
wrong.
A hypocritical scoundrel in Athens in
scribed over his door, “Let nothing evil
enter here.” Diogenes wrote under it,
“By what door does the owner come in.”
Never defer till to-morrow that which
vou can do to-day, nor do that by proxy
which you can do yourself,