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DOMKft'ft'M •
Tetter from, the Secretary of the Savy. trans nit
ling a copy of the report of commissioners hnr
grit icilh the examination oj harbois south of
Chsiapeake lay, with a view to the establish
neat of a navy yard. February 2. 1H37.
He.ul, ii(i I iill ii|)i)ii ilie iU!e.
Tiie undersigned, commssioners 11 ncJoi a rc'o
Ini',oil us the Sen lie of Hie IJoiie.l State* in sur
vey ami examine ports south ol llie Chesapeake,
with a ilew to their comparative facilities anil
aclvaut iges for the eslalilisiiineiilof* “i>v>’ yard,
hare the honor to report:
That tltev li.i'.t given to the subject a!! the re
flection which its national importance demands;
have personally inspected the several pot Is w hose I
(trauu.li! of water gave claim to public attention ;
an>l have maturely weighed their n laltve preteu
sinns to the.favorahlc consideration ot tin* Guv-
n iirnenl.
‘J’lte undersigned, in anivmg at a pic erence
for a partictilar port. hnvedicarded all pijudice
of n local or sectional nature, and have solely
been ii flneitcetl tty a strict regard to the public
good. Asa basis for their decision, they have
looked to fundament tl principles, and have been
guided by Hie great desiderata in u naval estab
lishment on slime. Tliev may lie classed un
der the follow in* Heart* and tih'ain value in the
order in which tnev s'i'id. r
1. Sufficient depth of >’ : t-;■'to permit free ac
’ si, a: any stale of ‘ode, for the in • lass of
ships of rvar.
2. Defence, hr land ami by water.
9. Resoutces aud supplies of every kini sot
the speedy equipment of fleet*.
4. Saluhtitr ut every seasoniif llm year.
5. Amph? supply of fresh water. •
fi. Facility tor wbarfing arid duels.
As no ; rt * a>th ■ the C• .qieake .sesses
a’! daae adt i%’ ■* r>. ( utii, it■ >- I. Hotc is hut
tttta r. tits tvit.i - I .on tv of a do; ’asic* them,)
it has bi'cnu.c the rt.ny ol the uadi-’ -igced. by
the r.-sultrl,.jii of the A, nate, tn lie . mute that
one which seemed to litem to have tin- greater
number of approximating qualifications.
Charleston, S. C,
The port ol Charleston, being the If'tin mag
nitorle and also first in llie ortler u! inspection,
claitncii llteir primary attention. This haibor
has heeti repeatedly surveyed, and recently by
competent officersof'ttre United State* army.—
The chart projected by them lias been tested by
rite- undersigned, and the result proved it* essen
tial accuracy; from which, together with a naval j
suivey in 1823, and valuable information obtain- I
ed lioin experienced pilots ami other sources, it ;
would senni to he estahlistied that the bar at the |
mouth ol the harbor is the main obstacle to its j
present usefulness as a naval station ; for being I
deficient in deptli of water, no vessel larger than >
sloops of war can pass, and they only at high
tides, and with a smooth sea.
This bar, which is of sand, forms an al.nast
com muons chain of breakers, running nearly
parallel with the coast, for nine or ten miles.— ;
The titles and freshets ol the river have broken!
through this barrier, amt lour channels have I
been formed lor the discharge ol the waters.— !
Three of them are now incapable ol bring navi
gated bv Urge vessels, and the fourth, the main j
channel, is liable to great changers from heavy j
gales. Within twenty years it lias been entirely j
removed Iron* its iorurcr site, it is disidaevrd hv i
more than hull a mile ; and were formerly pass- j
ed it) security ships of 17 and IS feet dratighof!
water, now rolls a dangerous breaker. The us- I
dei signed, in contemplating the possible oblitera
tion of the present ship channel by Hie depo-i'e
of smile future gale, do not regard it as a lasting
injury to the port; for they bclseve that anew,
more convenient, and perhaps, deeper channel
■ nay be effected, by obstructions in the tide-way,
which shall guide to a given poitil on the liar
the vast anil swift column ol water composing its
freshets and tilth. Stitch is observed to he the ac
tum presented by tire .fortification now being
eiected in llie riser, which has already, though
incomplete and not very extensive, caused, in
the opinion of pilots, the overfallchaiinel to be
considerably deepened. Ihe ciect of so much
power, directed on such an easily moved sub
stance.;.* this bar, when aided by dredging ma
chines, cannot be questioned. Ibe treble har
bor within, sufficient in every respect to accom
modate a large fleet and l lite heaviest draught,
tiie great seal of southern wealth and southern
coinmcice, all seem to bespeak lor it a generous
expenditure of lha national treasure, lint these
speculations, whether true or otlteiwtse, belong
to the engineer, whose knowledge of currents and
their effects will have doe wcigiu in such a con
tingency. Charleston is how considered acces
sible with a draught ol 17$ leel, hilt with the aid
of’ steam, a good title, ami smooth water, a snip
drawing 10$ feet may he salely conducted. The
average rise of the tide is 0 feet, which is increas
ed or diminished by the violence and dotation of
the seawaid or landward winds; and this rise j
and exterior influence is applicable to all ihe ■
harbors of the Carolina* and Georgia. Thtre j
can be tin difficulty in oblainiugnligible sites for |
a navy yard, whenever u may he resolved toes- !
lablish one ill Chatlaston.
Beaufort, S. C.
This harbor was surveyed by Lieut. Stockton
in IBii). llis report has been tested by sounding* )
and observation, and ns general oorrecmess a*- j
certained. The arm of lire sea which enlerH be- ;
i ween Hunting and lliiion's islands is known as ,
Port Royal sound, ll is sufficiently deep and |
capacious to acuamnioriaie llie largest heels, hul,
like all (he puns small ul the Chesapeake, labors
under llio disadvantage of having a ba. placed at
ils entrance. From the bar to Beaufort the dis
tance is about 13 miles. A betier position lor a
navy yard can be louird in the vicinity of Beau
lort man at the town. The bar has an aveiage
rlepih of 17 feet, which permits, with a full tide, j
the passage of a frigate Beaufort is placed in .
the line of internal navigation between Charles- ;
lon Savannah, and lienee, it blockaded by an
enemy by sea, has a sale and speedy transport of
supplies. The absenca ol a Irtish-water river and
marshes seems to avsure as great a degree ol -
health as in any ol the southern harbors.
Savannah, Gtorgia.
The bar at the mouth of the Csavalirinh rivet is J
tba deepest and most accessible ol any on the ;
southern coast. Thcjaverage depth is 19 feet at j
low water; and hence, with a full tide, a frigate
may pas* in safety. But although, thus lavored
at the entrance, litcse advantages are soon lost in
ascending live liver, rite fust point ol eflectu.il
defence, salubrity, and locality (or a navy yard,
is Cockspur island, situated five miles within the ;
har, ail-1 two miles within the river; Imt a Irigate j
nannot reach this point, by reason of in exten
sive sand bank half a mile below it, on which
Imt 11 feet, al low water, can be obtained. In
ascending still farther up, the shoals are frequent j
acd ol levs draught of water; and the river, at j
first brackish, becomes fiesh ; and hence, in s..
low a latitude, and surrounded by marshes, is
unhealthy in summer.
Darien, Georgia.
Merchant ships of heavy burden can enter the 1
poil of Darien ; Imt it is unsuitable to naval par j
poses, hv reason of its unfavorable locality, being
surrounded by swamps and morasses, and onac- ’
count of its being placed on a fresh water river, i
which, in so low a I ititmle, must cause unhenlthi
nes. The port of Darien can have no greater
pretension than the ingress of a sloop of war; and
hence, cannot compete with the deeper harbors
in the same State.
Brunswick, Georgia-
The waters forming the port ol Brunswick are
generally designated as ‘futile river; but properly
speaking, it is an arm ol the sea, which, enter
ing between the Islands ol'Jekyl and St. Si
mon's, 11 mvs into tile interior for upwards of go !
miles, forming a wide, deep, and swift column, j
As no fresh water river empties into this basin, it :
is always salt, free from Iresheis and alluvial de- 1
pus.tcs; and hence, fn*m an early period ultimo
uo change whatever has been perceptible in the
•os'.idings or general character of the port.—
From the large islands of St. Simon's and Jekyl,
(which are distant from each other about one
mile,) and running seaward for six miles, arc
found jutting two extensive sand-spits. At low
water portions of them arc laid hare; and miles*
the sea is units illy smooth, they form, in neatly
tltcir whole extent, lines of continu ms breakers,
fletwceii these lines of surf lies the channel,
which is three-quarters of a mile wide between
the spit heads, and which enlarges ton mile soon
alter entering. Between the spit-heads e found
22 leet at low water. Proceeding towards the
land by traversing llie wlnvle breadth ol the chan
nel, the soundings gradually shoaled to lit fed,
which is the least draught of water found in lire
channel-way. About one utile within the spit
heads is the “ middle ground,” which is a bank
of land resting on t Ire southern or Jekyl spit,
and jutting into the channel way some 200 fath
oms; but leaving a sufficiently wide 18 fed pas
sage towards the St. Simon or northern spit, fin
a I urge ship even iih an adverse wind ; lit* mid
dle ground has hut 14 led at low water. Filter
ing still (tlrlher up, the soundings grailuslly grow
deeper, so that when between the island it lias
obtained a deptli of 12 fathoms. The sessel is
now in safety. On the right is St. Simon’s
sound, which together w ith similar watercourses
still further north, affords a sale internal nsviga
: lion to steam boats and cralt to Savannah and
j Charleston. To the left is the arm ol the *c.i,
| (called the Turtle river.) Irani which, by Jekyl
1 .mil Cumberland sounds, is a southern internal
navigation as far as St. Mary’s. Tito course
from sea to the mouth of the haibor is nearly
west north-west, keeping the northern breakers
on board ; the channel then runs smith and south
westerly, and making a short turn to the north
west, we arrive ut the town ol Brunswick —insig-
nificant at present, hot destined, we believe
through her rail toad and canal, to future impor
tance. A shoal of soft mud, close to anil below
the town, on which but 12feel can be lound at
low water, seems to indicate some other point iu
llie harbor as a more suitable position lor a navy
Vttrd. We believe Bvtlie's island, on theoppo
site shots, to be the most eligible. It contain*
some hundred acres, covered with limber, and
every way convenient lor wharves, docks. &c.,
and for a nutsery of the live oak; it i* dis
tant from Brunswick two mile*, and ha* hold wa
ter to within a lew l.iihotnspd the slime, Thoie
is no doubt that the port may he strongly forti
fied. The islands of St. Simon ami Jekyl pres
ent suitable positions liir extensive works; and a
sand shoal two utiles within and in the venue of
the river (dry at low n ater) affords a third basis
for powerful defence, awd steanr baliettes will
complete the whelp. The average rise of the
tide is six feel, which gives, at high water, oo the
bar, 2 l led ; sufficient lor alt igiue. It is deem
ed healthy ; and the absence of i Iresh water tiv
er, or Iresh water swamps, seems to justly the
upiuimi.
St Mary's. Ceorgir..
The harbor of Ht. Mary's, on the smith fron
lier of Georgia, lias a bar very similar to that ol
i Charleston in its general features and depth ei
i water ; it is subject to the same vicissitudes liorn
great gale*. In 20 years the ship channel has
; hrcri lorced to the southward ; and the sileof the
j passage, were formerly passed Ihe largest sloop
I ol war in the navy, is now filled up to eight feet.
Under the most favorable circumstances ol wind
and tide, the present ship channel tuny be staled
at IS leet at low water; the average rise of the
tide is six feet. The localities arc unfavorable
for the establishment of a navy yard ; and, regard
ing the haibor in (vary light, we feel compelled
to express mi opinion adversely of St. Mary's as
a putt suitable for naval purposes.
Key West and Ihe Tortugas.
Circiimsiaacns ‘(synod our control &. knowledge
to the department, have prevented an extension
of our survey to Key West awd the Tortugas ; j
but our knowledge of those place*, obtained in
the course ol service, justifies m in pronouncing 1
an opinion adverse to them fur the establishment
of a navy yard.
Key West is but a small island, distant from
the main; and the Toting ts, a cluster of islands
still smaller. The owe can have but limited re
sources; the other none whatever, not even fresh
water. Being islands, anil incapable el succor
in the presence ol a superior force, they must
eventually fall, when cut etf from supplies. The
more valuable either might become by the estab
lishment of a navy yard, the more it would in
vite attack from a powerful enemy. Their posi
tion is no doubt commanding, hut we deem them
not worthy of greater value, when fortified, than
to afford a rendezvous to our cruisers, and to give
shelter and protection to them when pressed by a ,
pursuing enemy.
The Comparison.
The undersigned, in obedience to a resolution
ot the Senate, have arrived at Ihe point where
they are directed to report on “the comparative
advantages and facilities of ports south of the
Chesapeake, tor the establishment of a navy
j yard.” Depth of wvtei and easy acres* being
| objects of the first consideration, they aie of npin-
I ion that the ports of Charleston, D.irien. and St.
j Mary's, being tlefii ienl in depth of water to per
j mil the entrance of a 1-rrgei ship than a sloop of
war, are rirtfii to compete with the frigate hat hors
j of Beaufort, Savannah, and Brunswick.
The presence is narrowed down to one of i
these ; and having duly weighed their relative
pretensions, e have no hesitation in preferring
Brunswick. Beaufort must yield to her in the
essential point-, of depth of water, easy access, and
capability of defence. Savannah must give way
for her easier access and greater depth ol water
on the har cannot ho carried tip the river to a
site safe from the sea and an enemy, and applica
ble to the establishment of a navy yard.
If a frigate could Ini’ reach Cockspur island,
the opinion expressed in favor of Brunswick
might b* tecalled. Brunswick is tire most south
i pro frigate harbor on the Atlantic seaboard. -
| Placed near the gnat outlet of the commerce of
! the West Indies and Gulf of .Mexico, her posi
tion in • state of maritime warfare would be iti
; valuable, since the navigating inlerests of an en
pmy must pass by her door. All which is respect
: lullv submitted.
M. T WOI.SEY.
ALEXIS. CLAXTON,
M. IS. SIII'BKICK.
! December 20, 1836.
From the W ashington Sun.
The House was engaged during the w hole of
Monday and yesterday in a debate of i mast un
pleasant and exi ited character, on a piopontion
| to censure the lion. John Quincy Adams for an
■ ulledged contempt ot the House.
! The material facts of the case are contained
in the following tuunitary ;
On Monday Mr. Adams presented a number
i of petitions on the subject of Hie abolition of sla
very, from various hi tales; and, among them,
One from Fredericksburg, in Vngini.i. These
were all laid on the table, as the crop, of the
House directed. So far all went off cpiietly
enough. Tlta Ex President, still keeping the
floor, saiil lie had in liis possession a petition
from slavks. of a character different fiom the
petitions he had just offered, and lie asked the
Speaker whether it was subject to the order of
the House adopted under Mr, Hawes's resolution,
and must he laid on the table ? The Speaker
declined to give a decision, as the question was
new, and submitted it to the opinion of the House.
This, we have mi hesitation in saying, was the
true cause of all the dilTirnliy and excitement
ill at followed, llad a manol intellect and ii ■-
pendence filled the chair, lie would have prompt
ly decided that the petition could not be received.
Mr. Patton then rose, arid, after making some
remarks on the character of the petition fron
I'redericksbtng, that it was signed by people ol
! color, abandoned women, fee. he moved that it
1 be returned to the Member from Massachusetts,
•lust at this point Mr. Thompson, of Smith
Carolina, rose, and offered a resolution lhat Mr.
i Adams, in presenting a petition fiom slaves, p’ ny
, ing for ihe abolition of slavery, had committed a
Starts rbniempt upon the House; and further
moved that ite he brought to the har, and recuivc I
the censure ol llie Home.
This resolution was in some degree modified j
by Mr, Lewis, of Alabama ; hut the substance ,
was not alien'd. A debate of great animation t
ami interest ensued. Mr. Granger made a lew
forcible and Impressive remarks, in which lie en
trented the House to act vvillr caution and delib .
eration in snserious a matter as passing a resolu
tion ol censure on a member; tint animadverted I
in strong terms to the reprehensible conduct ol
Mr. Ail mis, in presenting su"lt petitions as that !
i• felted tu hv Mr. Pattern, and lire one purport*
iog to coiue from slaves. Mi. \N ise spoke with j
hi* accustomed siriril and > iiergy against the res
olution of censure. He considered tri.it llie House
was more to Illume I'nr ihe course they had pur
sued oil this question, than the gctilleoian Irum
Massachusetts, and lie thought it petitions were
lo he received at all, that slaves liar! as much right j
to present them as otliei*. and much more re.t- ;
son. Mr. Wise was exceedingly eloquent in
part* of his speech. Several other m-nibci s ad
dressed ihe house; and among them Mr. Patton,
who called upon the member* in lake care lest
they might do nil act of injustice to Ihe gentle
man Iroiil M issaehnsetl*. Il might, lie *aid
turn out that this petition teas not for the obeli
lion of slavery ! Mr. Patton’s remarks rxctteil
immense curiosity in every part of tiie Home;
and when Mr. Adams lose, the memhe,* poured
down into the aisle and pis* in and s'-at* ’ >r
him. in such crowds, that the A, ca ker vs a* old igeii
lo interpose, nrl order them hack n tl eir pm • i
places.
Mr. Adam* said that at gentlemen had uivfir
tukeu to offer a resolution ol ren*me on him. he
had determined to remain silent, because he
knew that il he should he brought to t oh-, as
the previous question would r.r,t he ap| lice’ • to
hint, lie would lie allowed to speak II .in*e||,
and lie could put down the resolution ‘1 c> n*tire
bv a single worth He ileoitl altogeihef wb the
resolution had chatgcd, lie had r,> t >n . ted
to present the petition. He had only .Dimmed
the Speaker he had such a paper tn In* posses
sion, and asked what would lie the orm r ol the
House upon it. He had not made n si’ gle step
luitlier than that, lie now told the gentlemen
who proposed the resolution ofcensrire, that they
were mistaken in one important point. ‘I lie pe
tition was not for the abolition of slavery, but ihe
reverse! They would, tlierefore.be oblige il lo
amend llie censuring resolution. Instead ol
praying lire abolition of slavery, these petitioners
pray for the very thing which the resolution is
designed to accomplish ! Ami these slaves are
(lie auxiliaries of the movers of i lie lesolutinn, not
their opponents!
Mr. Adams then defended himself for present
ing the petitions for the abolition o! .ivtry no
the around of the right of petition ; but he avow
cd l.e was, and always had been notoriously ad
verse to the prayer ol such petitions.
After a lew remarks liorn .Mr. Maori, Mr.
Thompson, of Smith Carolina, offend . r- min
lion similar tn ill it he hail introduced .1 firs;, hut
emitting 111: statement that the object of the pe
titionci* was the abolition ol slavery, lie con
tended that the presentation of any memorial Irem
slaves was insiih'r'g lo the House, and to Hit
southern people. Mr. Pickens took the same
ground. Mr. Glasscock and Mr. Pinckney also
supported the resolution of censure. Mr. Carn
j breleng intimated that the petition was a hoax,
iiitenueu lo instill mr. Audit)*, an( ’ 5:01 u s” lo '*’
for llie purpose of agitation, lie said he believ
ed that there were southern gentlemen present
who knew how it was got up! No sooner did lie
make this unguarded remark, than Mr. Dawson,
ol Georgia, one of llie most high-minded and de
termined men in the House, demanded who the
persons were lie referred to; and declared il Mr.
Cambreieng would name him nr them, lie would
move Hie expulsion of sucti members from Hie
House. Several other gentlemen of Hoik p.diti
-1 cal parlies called loudly upon Mr. Oam'oeteng
lo name llie persons lo whom he alludeo. tin
j meuse excitement prevailed. Cambtclcng tout
to retract the imputation lie had ma 0.. He had
heard, tie said, several gentlemen in his neighbor
hood make the same remark.
Agria the debate was resumed. Several mem
bers from tile South contended that it was due to
the House and tbe country that the resulalion of
censure should be adopted.
At last, Mr. Lawler, of Alabama, rose and sug
gesting that the House was in too inflainahle a
condition to (nine to a sound decision, moved an
adjournment, wtiieli was carried.
The petition that caused all ibis tumult, was
one purporting to lie from slaves, and praying
lhat Mr. Adams, and FTcry oilier abolitionist, be
expelled from the House.
On Tuesday, the resolution to censure Mr.
Adams, offered by Air. VViddy ‘Thompson, rame
up as the first business in order; a question of
privilege taking precedence of every thing rfse.
At the suggestion of Mr. Adams, the Journal
was corrected so as to record the fact lhat the res
olution of censure was offered by Mr. Lewis, of
Alabama, shiclt was accepted by Mr. Thompson,
as* substitute for his own, Mr. Adams said lhat
whatever member hid introduced a lesolutiorv of
censure upon him, he wished the Journal t show j
the fact.
1 Mr. Janiferlhen rose to addiess the House on
: tbe subject of the resolution, lie said he w islred, j
i before tbe vote was taken, that the House should j
’ distinctly understand the position assumed by Mr.
Adams, iu regard to which there was much mis- j
apprehension. He read fiom the Globe the re
port of the remarks of Mr. Adams, and asked
lhat gentleman if he had been reported correctly.
Mi. Adams replied in the affirmative ; and. with
the consent of Mr. Jenifer, proceeded further to
explain his remarks. He did not *ffer the peti
tion in question, Imt only stated he had in his pos
session a paper signed by persons calling them
selves slaves. He had distintly stated, at the out
set, yesterday, that the resolution ol January 18,
(Mr. Hawes’s resolution) would lead to imposition
on members, as under that resoltnion certain pe
litions could not be read, and tbriefore their con
tents could not be known to the House; anti Ire
had said lie had one in Ins possession, respecting
tbe character of wnieh, lie had sir i g suspicions
No man, lie maintained, hail a light to infer Iroin
* any tlfing be had said, that tbe petition prayed
j for the abolition of slavery If that had been its
| object, he would have paused before presenting it,
jot even asking a question about it; not, however,
j on account ol the mere cirennislanre that it came
) Iroin slaves, for that would be no inducement to
| him to withhold the presentation of any memo-
I rial. Mr. Adams hero spoke in a most impas
rsioned strain of eloquence on the right of petition;
and lie declared that though he would not pretent
a petition I rum slaues for the abolition of slavery,
yet if sin It a petition came to him, praving that
slavery should not he abolished, and asking for
ilie expulsion ol hiinsell and others fiom the
House, he would offer it, if the House permitted.
Nothing, lie declared, was further from his
II lion gilts than to offer any indignity or disrespect
j to any portion of the House or of the country.
Never was lie less disposed to trifle, never did he
act under a more solemn sense of duty, than when
lie put the question to t e Chair yesterday. It
was his respect for the House, hit determination
to abide by their decision, and uat to offer the
petition if they opposed Hie presentation, that
induced him to ask that question, lie >oi elud
ed by expressing n hope, that, if brought tu the
bar, be might be allowed to speak lor hiinsell,
before the censure which gentlemen invoked
should lie passed.
j Mr. Jenifer then resumed, and commented in
a tone nf severity nod indignation on the whole
course of the Ex Pi evident with i expert toll is
question, mid avow ,<I lbs determination to vote
! for the resolution ..f noun e.
Mr. Dromgoule oral r -■ ml ff rod a rvsolo
! lion, which Mr Tb<o v eewpforl ns a substi
tute lor his own. Tim tesi.lution recites that
Mr. Adams, by his enutve, h ul given color to the
idea that slaves had i- tight ofpeimnii, and that
lie was willing to b their mean, aud for life same
j he deserves the censure of the House.
An animated debate arose on this resolntion
Mr. Pickens supported it witli gieat warmth and
earnestness. In the c.nurse of his speech he re
fcrreil to a remnik made by Mr. Cainhreleng yes
lerday, that there was patriotism enough in llie
cuuntry to put down fanaticism at the North and
rebellion at the South, lie asked whether Mra
C. meant his remaik to have any application to
Inin 7 Mr. C. disclaiuied any snob Intention.
Tuesday, Ftinuary 7, 1837.
IN SENATE. *
The following message w.is revived from the
President olthe United States, through Mr. Jack -
son, his private Secretary :
To the Senate ol llie United Slates.
At the hegining of this session. Congress was
informed that our claims upeu Mexico had not
treen adjusted, but that, notwithstanding the irri
tating effect upon her councils of the movements j
in Texas, I hoped, by great forbearance, to avoid
, the necessity of again bringing thej subject of
them to vour notice. That hope has been dis
appointed. Having in vain urged upon that
Government the justice of those claims, and my
indispensable obligation to insist that there
s i,mkl be “no farther delay in the acknowledg
ment, if not io the redress of the injuries corn
id lined of,” mv duty requires that the whole sub
ject should lie presented, ns it now is, for the ac
tion ol Congress, n hose txclusive right it is to
,i c ile uti llie further measures of redress to he
employed. The length of time since some of
.toe injuries have been committed, the repeated
.md unavailing applications for redress, the wan
nm character ol some ol the outrages upon the
properly and prison of our citizens, upon the
ofticeis and fl ig of the United States, indepen
dent of recent insults to this Government and
People hv the late Extraordinary Mexican Min
ister, would justify, in the eyes of all nations,
immediate war. That remedy, however, should
not he used l-y just and generous nations, confi
ning io liieir stiength for injuries committed, if
, it can lie honorably avoided ; and it has occurred
to me that, considering the present embarrassed
condition ol that country, we should act with
both wisdom and moderation, by giving to Mex
ico one more opportunity to alone for the past,
before e lake redress into our own hands. To
avoid all miscoiicepiion on the part of Mexico,
as well as to piotecl our own national character
from leprnacb, this opportunity should he given
wii ihe avowed design and full preparation to
take immediate satisfaction if it should not be oh
lained on a repetition of tile demand for it. To
tins end I recommend that an act he passed au
thorizing leprisals, ami the use o( ihe naval
force of the United Slates by the Executive
ig iiiist Mexico, to enforce them, in the event ol
~ refusal hv tin Mexican Government io come
1., i ■ adjustment ol ihe maiteis in enu
trover.sv i i;s, upon another demand ihne-
I o| made from on I .aid one of our vessels of war
lon the ast ‘I Mexico.
The rioeuincnts iierewilh transmitted, with
I those . rimm ,irvi"g mv meS'Hge in answer to a
cal 1 ol it< Ihn.-i .•.-entatives of the 17th
nil lino, w ■, Congre, s to judge ol the
piripnet* .e iv-tir*® Heretofore pursued, and
to tieci'.e upon the -vit-ssrty of that now recoiit
nif.:ii:
If these views should fail to meet the concur
rence of Congress, anil that body be able to find
in file condition of (lie affaiis between the two
countries, as disclosed hy the accompanying doc
uments, with tlii.se lelered to, any well grounded
reasons ‘o nope that ail adjustment of the con
trotersy baiwt-en them can be effected without a
resort to the me.mra 1 have felt ,t my duly to
reeiiimiienil, they may be assured ol my co-oper- j
ation m any oii.-r course that shall he deemed I
honorable and proper.-
.NUREW JACKSON.
Washington, Feb t. 1(137.
‘Phe fallowing is a list of the grievances for
which Mi. Ellis, our Minister to Mexico, was
instructed to demand redress, and on its refusal
to return home.
Outrageous conduct of the authorities at To
hasco, towards Mr. Coleman our consul there,
and the officers, crew and cargo of the schooner
Mexican, wrecked there.
An oppressive proceeding against Dr. Bald
win, a citizen of lha United States by the Al
calde of Maostelan, in the colony ol Guazeu
alco.
The case of tbe Schr. Topaz of Maine, the
masiei and male of which was murdered hy
Mexican soldiers, ihe crew imprisoned, and the
vcsel seized and convened to the Mexican ser-
vice.
The seizure of the American schooner Bra
zoria and her forcible employ the Mexican ser
vice on which she was rendered nnseaworthy and
aband* ncd.
The -e /.ore at Toh tseo of the steamboat Hi
dalgo, schooner Consolation and lnig John.
The imprisonment at Tobasco, of Captain
M'Ceige of the schooner Industry.
T. e firing into the Ainniran brig Paragon by
the Mexican armed schooner Tampico.
The seizure and condemnation of the Ophir,
of New York, at Campeachv.
| The seizure of the schooner Martha at Gal
veston, and the confinement and ill treatment of
the passengers.
The seizure of the schooner Hannah and Eliz
\ abeth of New Orleans and the barbarous treat
ment of the master, crew and passengers.
The ill treatment ofW.n. Il.dlcttand Sainton
Hull citizens of the United States, at Metam
oras.
The fine and detention of Mr. Slocum of the
the city of Mexico, for carrying despatches of
this government.
The detention of the schooner Eclipse, and
maltreatment of her master and crew at Tobasco.
The detention of the schooner Compeer and
other merchant vessels at Metamoras.
Mr. Ai.ford, of Georgia, of whose speech
our correspondent recently wrote, must have
made a very successful r Hurt. A correspondent
of a Philadelphia paper, says that no speech !
in Congress, for years past has produced such
a sensation. It must he gratifying to our State j
Rights friends in Georgia, that so soon as they
succeeded iit sending a man of their politics to !
Congress, he Should place himself so far ahead i
of Ins Van Buren colleagues in public estim.v ■
lion. - Charleston Mercury.
COL. ALFORD.
We find in the newspapers received front all i
directions, (lie most ample and honorable testi- ,
money home to the ability of this gentleman,
and the distinguished stand taken by him in
Congress. He has more than fulfilled the expec
tations of his friends, and falsified the predic
tions of his foes. The State can very well
spare Col. Towns to pursue Iris land specula
tions m the West, when Ids place can he suppli
ed by inch a man as Alford. Indeed we think
it incumbent upon Col. T. to resign his sat in
the next Congress having by his recent resigna
tion forfeited the confidence of all parties in the
Stale. ‘l'lte following is finni the correspond
ence of the Charleston Mercury.— Chi on. &r Sin-
Washing ton, Feb 10, 1837.
Triumph of our Enemies.— Let Southern men
Trail, n fleet and resolve !—Congnss disgra
ced—M< ding of the Southern Membeis South
ern Convention .
Y ! 1 ads “.radii the fact that the House
of |i, .... vo: iti¥•••., last night re/icted the Reso
lution declaring that “any mem her who shall
her* after present a petition from Slaves, ought
to be considered as regardless of tile feelings
of J loose, m i ‘he rigms of ihn South, and
;n . arm; tlto Union.” The vote wus. Yea*
fig, Nat Tofi. This result is the more oxtraor
(iitiiirv iiifiM- Nch ‘i** ii 4 Hsolution oiftffljt s
sprtt an **si! ifci ■!•, .!? and lniuliu* no f’Pn
sme u on Mr. Attains. wht ilis<hju vil ,uly
intention to offai such |)9tiiion without the as
sent f tip Hun si* Well • i •p. It f Gen. Thump
son sav, that there is a solid phalanx in dial
House, arraigned against the rights and peace of
the Scull). The fn si Resolution having teen
thus rejected, Mr. l'ickeiis rose and earnestly ex
pressed the hope tlm the second Resolution
would not he adopted. The second Resolution
winch directs that all flutter proceedings on the
suhiect of Mr. Adams’conduct shall now cease,”
was then rejected by a vote of £2 to IS7. Thus j
tho House lefoses either to acquit or condemn j
Mr. Adams, or to take any order, upon the :
subject. i
But there the matter cannot stop; for Mr.
Adams will not suffer it to rest, even “ere ttic
Southern members disposed to do so. Mr. Ad
ams has announced his intention to take the fust j
opportunity that may he offered to him, to press ;
upun the Speaker and Ilia House a decision of
the question lie has raised, whether a petition
from the Slaves, tomes within ‘he order of the
House of the 18tli January. He affeets to con
| siiler that the right of petition, the liberty of
speech, and the Ireetlom of debate, all depend
upon the decision of this question, llis speech
yesterday is the most artful and incendiary up
eal to the passions and prejudices nf the people
of the free States, that could possinly have been
formed. 1 foresee that it ts to he made an effec
tive instrument til the hands of the Abolition
ists and their friends. It will he circulated uni
versally in the Northern States, anil without any
eo-exicnsive reply. You will find that Gen.
Thompson, of South Carolina, is the principal
object ol Mr. Adams’ attacks, —and in fact, the
brunt of debate on llie Southern side ol'tlie ques
tion was home by that gentleman. Mr. A.
make* his strongest point hy a perversion of Gen
eral T's. argument ; for he represents General
T. as having maintained that a member is ame
nable to the municipal laws of the District, for
words or acts in the House ;—whereas, in fact,
the position taken by Gen, Thompson is,—and
he is supported in it by nearly all his Southern
fiiends—that the previous communication with
’ slaves, out of the House, as implied in the pre
sentation of their petitions, in the House, may
bring a member within the power of ihe Grand
Jury of the District. If that is m>( law, it is
time that it should be so ; for it is easy to fore
see that the principal incendiaries and fomenter*
of insurrection, will lie sheltered under the pnv.
ilege of the House of Representative. Her, the
battle is to be fought between the champions ol
Southern lights, and the agents and leaders o (
Northern aligators and incendiaries. 1 was
pleased, therefore,at the rebuke with which Mi.
Alford met the suggestion of Mr. Lewis & Gen.
Ripley, that the Southern members had no busi
ness here, ami ought to go home in a body, if an
attempt to present the peti ns o( Slaves, should
he tolerated by the House. ” No,” sa dMr Al
(ord, “let us stand or tall b t posts. The
gioiind on which we stand belongs to the South
ern and the Slave holding region ; ami this City
was founded hy, and bears the name of, our be
loved Washington, himself a Southern man,
and a Slaveholder. Here, let us meet the ques
tion—ait,; iel this City be raised toils founda
tions, and the Potomac roll iu torrents of blood,
before we yield it.”
The question is row an abstract one, but is
Inot. on that account the less important. John
Q, Adams has declared his delermioaiion ta push
t o matter to a decision. If the Speaker decide
I that petitions from slaves cannot he received,
j Mr Adams will appeal from the decision, and
I after an inflammatory speech will force the House
to decide it. I: is not a question raised by the
Abolition sis, and the Philo-Abolitiomsts of Ihe
North, whose organ and agent is this Ex-Presi
ri#nt Andrew.
Extrect from a letter addressed ta tbe Charleston Cou
ner,by a Washington correspondent under dote Feb. 12.
Hut the most interesting part of tbe proceed
ings of yisterday, to you and your readeis, was
tb it which took place in tbe House ol Represen
tatives, on the question of the slave petition.
TUp resolutions which I sent to you, substaotiol
|y, by yesterday's mad, were, by a modification,
i added together, so as to read :
Resolved, That this house cannot receive pe
; tilionx from slaves, without disregarding the dig
’ nitv of the House, the rights of tiie people of the
Southern and Western States, and the Consti
tution of the United States.
Resolved, That slaves have not the right of pe-
J tition. secured to the people of the United States
hy the Constitution.
The discussion upon these resolutions was long
and very animated. Mr. Adams dosed, in a
speechjwhich was lemarkable for its sarcasm and
poioted ridicule. He ridiculed the course which
the House had taken in relevance to Ins move
ments; declaring that when he asked the qttes
tion of the Chair, whether it would be proper
to present the petition whieli had excited so much
agitation, the simple monosyllable ” No,,’ from
the Speaker would have prevented all this waste
of time, all this heat, and all the ingenuity which
had been exhibited by gentlemen in their various
devices to send him before a Grand Jury for
having offended me dignity ol the House. Be
catisc a motion to send him before a Grand Ju
ry did not succeed forthwith, the Union must be
dissolved! Because the gentleman from Massa
chusetts was not punished, the confederacy must
be broken up ! The ptoposilion of the first res
olution which had been offered, [the last in the
modification.] was a mere abstraction, which he
would be glad to have discussed, and which lie
was now ready to discuss. It was an important
question relating to our policy, involving the free
dom of the States—the freedom of the citizen—
the freedom of the press. He was willing now
to go into the discussiou of this abstraction, and
should probably, unless converted by the elo
quence of the Southern gentlemen vote against it-
After he had closed, the previous question was
moved and seconded, and the question was laken
’on each of the resolutions, separately. The vote
1 on the first branch, was 160 ayes, to 35 nays; and
the vote on the second, wai 162 ayes, pnd 18
nays; so the resolutions were both passed hy an
overwhelming majority ; and it is hoped that the
gentleineD of the South, who have had two meet
ings, and had adjourned until to-morrow even
ing to await the result of yesterday's vote before
they adopted any specific course of action will
he satisfied.
The Speaker announced to the House, that
Mr. Kr.uißN M. Wnrr.wtT. and,his counsel Gen.
Walter Jones, were in attendance, the Sergeant
at Arms h iving served the Warrant en the former
and returned it. But there was no opportunity
to read) his case, which will probably eomo up
to morrow. Chrrleston Courier,
Correction. —The official return of the late
Congressional election from Laurens county, by
some mischance it appears was inaccurate. The
vote as stated was fur Alford 05, for Liddle, none.
By this mistake, injustice has been dune noth
gentlemen. Although from the Inclemency of
the weather, the vote was unusually small. Col.
Alford received 143 votes, and Ins opponent re
ceived the full party vote of the country—one
vote. No weather, had or good keeps back the
Van r.oirn party of this country from the poll*
It is always at its post. Come w i| or woo, No
one ever tails. We rea’ly thick that this unit
voter deserves, for iiis. fidelity and vigilenre to
be rewarded by being cn n ert it wi twedt cm
the right side. —Recorder
Savannah Insurnnre and Trvsl Company. —
The Georgian of Wednesday says; “The Imnks
of subscription to the Capitol Slock of this Com
pany wer> again opened yesterday, and although
there was les* apparent eagerness for the stock,
tlto subscription exceeded that of the first day,
(Monday.) 75 shares. Eighty two thousand
fiva.hundred anil sixtv-one shares were yester
day subscribed, on which the instalment of thir
iv dollars per si are was paid, i, e. $2,470.(30.
•t’ w* “hi that of yesterday, to the subscription
of the day previous, we have 167,047 shares snb
b.tr cif in Ma days, or gtfi.io4.7oo subsetihed,
oil which thirty per cent, has been paid, to wit
54,081,410,”
From the Minor's dleco^itor.
WILLIAM N. HIS HUP.
The repoii ol the elevation of this peculiarly
fortunate bully to the office of Teller ol the Gen
tral Bank of Georgia, which has so justly cul
led lot tit universal expression of indignation
tli roil howl the “hole up country is confirmed by
the Standard of Union of the Stst tilt, \V e look
upon it. let uthei s think of it as Ihey may, us a
signally uiifuitunste step, tun only to those wh
conferred the apuiiitment, be their motives how
ever pure or in | ute, In.l also lu the Union par
ty, thousands ol whose members, from an hon
est conviction of their minds, have battled u
| with them in tho hotly contested field of strife in
the maintenance nf those sirred principles npjn
which they religiously believe our admirable
form ol goverment was established, and can alone
lie sustained and perpetuated. Politicians, ami
even parties now a-days are not judged by thv*
jirinclples, but by their conduct. And, theiefure,
whatever censure is justly attached to this ap
pointment, will fall, withgequul force upon the
heads of the Union party as well as of those
who conferred it. They cannot justify Ihe act
under the plea of ignorance of Bishop's moral
character, or tbe many crimes with which he
then nod now stands charged in the. Superior
Court of Mutrtiy county, because they have re
peatedly promulgated, without exageiatiou, to
the world. If they have been, by a little pecu
liarly selfish dynasty, linked together by selfish
and sordid motives, then it betrays an imbecility
and a credulity wholly incompatible with the
high and responsible station they occupy. But
if from other causes, then indeed may the people
begin to tmuble lor ilie safely of the institutiuu
in which the whole of ilieir public funds me de
posited. In either case the art calls loudly for
reform, short of which the people cannot, ought
not, nor will not he satisfied. II our anticipa
tions are veiified, as we honest,y and conscien
tiously believe they ought and will he, they can
not say you did not warn us, we did warn you
but you heeded not, the fault is yours and not
ours, and therefore be the consequences upon
ynui skills not ours.
The public may, or may not believe the slatr
nieut made with regard to Ihe attrocilies of that
man. Hut the day is coming-, when that con
temner of the laws of his country, will meet the
leward due his infamous and disgraceful conduct.
Office of the Herald, Net v York, Jan. 12.
’i he price of flour astonishes every body. Why
should floor, in such a country as this, be so
high? We will raise thc*curtain ami show the
reasons.
Last August flour was quoted at $7 l-£ to £f,.
34. A number of capitalists in New York.—
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and nthar places, heaid
at that lime that there was a shortness in the crops.
They sent agents throughout the various wheat
districts of the country and after a close inquiry
discovered that the wheat crop as two thirds
of its usual quantity. This diminution was part
ly owing to the badness of tbe season, and tbe
nt-sitect of tilling, caused by the extensive specu
lation and restlessness of the -agricultural inter
est. During the seed lime of that year, the real
estate speculations were in their highest point of
culmination. This caused the fanners to neg
lect their business. Coupled with tiie season the
craps became short. As soon as this was ascer
tained by the capitalists, a general, movement
was made, to purchase up on time, or Jin any war
the ctop in anticipation. This was done by a
variety of individuals, and some companies, in
places we have named, and also, in the interior
of tills state. The price of flour immediately
rose to 33 $8 1-4 J 9. At |9 il stood for sxjuio
time. When it reached J'.O foreign grain begin
to be imported. The closing of the rivers have
laid an embargo on* large qualities, at Albany
and other cities. The season advances, and n
now see the price ol flour at jliitn almost every
city oh tne Atlantic-board.
Thus do we tsace the history of the lise of flu.tr
—a rise equal to 50 per cent since last August.
It has been produced hy the combined move
ments of the capitalists—the shot t sets of the crops
—the spirit of speculation—and the general level
of the money market. It is highly prnbable that
the prices oi flour may reach 214 or %! 5 belaie
we receive a supply next spiirig. There , a
large quantity iu thefmter or. but whether?*™ it
that quantity, if here, would reduce the price,
seems problematical. In Illinois, and other
western agricultural states, flour is equally bigti
comparatively speaking. Ag-ain should we have
a supply from Europe, it will only einhaiiass the
money market arid tend to increase the pressure.
The St. Louis Republican, of the 27th ult.
says, “Gov. I’oindexler is dead. The wounds
received hy him from a fall at tiie Mansion House
in Natchez, proved fatal to his lile, after his
friends had begun ta entertain strong hopes of
his recovery.”— Charleston Courier.
—*--
Tilings to Iso remembered.
The following individuals received from the
hands of Martin Van Boren the accolade, on the
night ol the 16th of January, 1887, anil aie le
ceived into the order as “ KN I GUTS OF THE
BLACK LINES.” They want fame, mid so
far as we can aid them, they shall have it. They
shall stand thus in our columns until they me
known, and we trust that every independent
Journal in the United States will lend their aid
to give them a like celebrity.
rl LIST OF THE L
I BZACK KISI&HTS.
ii JOHN RUGGLES, Maine.
Si JUDAI! DANA. do:
m HENRY IHJBHARD, N- Damp.
If JOHN PAGE. do.
JOHN M. NILES. Connecticut. W
|l SILAS WRIGHT. New Yoik. f
iS N. P. TALLMADGE, do.
M GARRET D WALL. Newjcisev. f
P JAMES BUCHANAN, Pennsylvania.
Sfl VVM. C. RIVES, Virginia.
SI BEDFORD BROWN. N. Carolina, f.’
m ROBERT STRANGE, do.
$1 THOMAS MORRIS, Ohio.
0| FELIX GRUNDY, Tennessee. t.
W R. C. NICHOLAS, I jOuisianH. I
m JOHN TIPTON. Indiana,
if ROB’T. J. WALKER, Mississippi.
J. M. ROBINSON. Illinois.
m WM. L. n. FAYING, do.
WM. It. KING. Alabama.
h* TIIOS. H. BENTON , Missouri.
LEWIS F. LINN. rin.
H A. II- SEVIER, Arkansas.
II ROBERT FULTON. do.
([]/*Tlie following is the original Resolution
pissed in 1834, which a majority of the Senate
have expunged Irom the records. It should bo
published in capitals in every papor which is con -
dm led liy a freeman :
Resolved —That tlie President,
in the late Executive proceedings
in relation to the Public Revenue,
i has assumed upon himself authori
ty and power not conferred by the
Constitution and laws, but in dero
gation of both.
Originally passed — Yeas 26.
JYays 20.
fj'y* 7 Vic Parricides /iom Georgia tr ho voted
Jor receiving the Abolition Petitions : P
JESSE E. CLEVELAND,
SEATON GRANTLAND,
CHARLES E. II \ YNES,
GEORGE VV. OWENS.
Those who voted against rtreiving them, wen
War. C. DAWSON
AMI
T. GLASCOCK.