Newspaper Page Text
POLITICAL.
MK ALPOKIvS sF’KEliil.
On the Resolution to censure the Hon■ John
Quincy A Jams. Delivered in the House oj Rtpre
tentative*. Ftb. 7th, 1837.
Tl* question being on ilie revolution of cen
mr against Mr. Adams, lor inlruduciiiK a peti
lion from sundry In c negroes ol Virginia, airl
for inquiring ol llid House if it would lie in or
tier to introduce n petition from persons |itirpui
ting to be slaves, and for declaring in liis place
that lie would introduce a petliion from slaves,
upon llie subject of abolition, it the House would
permit him to do so s
Mr. Alford addressed the House as follows:
Mr. Speaker: I have several limes attempted
to address the House upon this important ques
tion, hut have not been able to obtain the Hour
before this, on account ol the great number of
members who wished to speak ; indeed, nothing
bm a solemn conviction of my duty to do so, lias
Mist a lin'd me in tile determination to he heard.
I'n me, sir, it lias been a subject of the most
painful excitement, to sit here and see the consti
tutional rights ‘I tiie its in til ail put aside, and
t , las of the people whom I have the linn
, , int insulted in ibis House, by the in
i I petitions from the wild and furious
1 itics ol tio.Noiili, upon the subject of iiholi
t.. \J,. > ;,, ■■.s lias h- eu laid, in this debate,
.. . .I,’ -a ■ lit ~f petiliun, and miiiibeis
...•i., ‘ople have I ecu herrloloie de
, i. taliil cil'm’ of leceitiug them.
■■Hi mditimi it this affair, there
“, dl, I hope, at least all
(•■•.,, , o ; ’Hi- just indignation
■ i | opostul 111 (lid lll;ll-e.
. Mas-, othuseits [Mr. Ad
mi i o m nos House, and it has been
n;c: ;i ..-d, um.er i Mile ol the House iulopted he
i.ir 1 i nut urn:, a pililmii l.oui free negroes,
uid now holds in Ins hands wlril lie is pleased
ii .i pi.ilium which purpoils in he signed by
s i ... .ml .isi,s ul the Speaker wlial disposition
n..ti,e ol it. Sii, is there to lie no end
■ ; mis i unions .uid insulting course ? Is the gen
i, in to I .i (iron ctei! in a continued assault upon
me H null, and in a course ol tilings here, which
must, and peiscrered in, lesull in the overthrow of
this (i oi e i lime lit, and I feat in I lie destruction of
the liberty of the American people ? When the
member from Massachusetts announced his
course to the House, 1 looked around me and
saw, or thought I saw, hut one sentiment, ami
that was of universil disgust; anil the idea cros
sed my mind, if it could lie possible that there
was a single man ill this House that would at
tempt to screen him from , n expression of that
censme by this House, much less to justify hint
in his course. I answered myself, in my own
mind, not on*, unless the fact that Jrtt negroes
petitioned here through ihv member from Massa
chusetts, should arouse the ardor of some honor
able representatives from llie great Slate ol New
York; who, history said, had a peculiar regard for
lice negro suffrage, and, id cnuiie, the right of
petition. Scarce had l lot guilen the thought,
belote an honorable gentleman liom New Yoik,
the leadci of Mr. Van Ilmen's li lends in this
House was upon his feet, and, not pretending to
repeat his words, the substance ol what he said
was, that if there was Riiy tiling wrong in this
proceeding it came from the South ; the peti
tion came from the South; and if th ire was any
censuie any where, it was where the petition
came from, and not with the member from Mas
sachusells, ‘.litis throwing the broad shield of
protection of the coining administration over the
member from Massachusetts. Cun any one he
now ignorant of the true character of those who
have deceived the South ? Can honorable gen
tlemen from the South beany longer in the dark
as to the course they should pui.vuc? I hope
not—l believe not. 1 think 1 see in Souihern
members upon this door a strong disposition to
he united upon ‘his subject at last ; and no man
shallsay 1 have throw u a firebrand among them.
No, sir, although they committed the fatal error
of voting to receive these petitions last session,
if they are now convinced, I for one will reccivu
them as Southern men, as citizens of the South
with an identity of interest, of feeling, and ol
honor, under the strong impulse ol a common
feeling of disgust at llitf wrongs done to the
South here. Let them unbotton their collars and
come hack to the snppoit ol their common coun
try aml their old friends, and they shall be receiv
ed.
Mr. Speaker, the member from Massachu
setts would screeu himself liom the censure of
this House, beeause he lias not sent his petition
trout slaves to your table. Sir, lie lias stut the
petition from the free negroes of Fiedericks
burg, anil that is as wrong and insulting to us as
if it were from slaves. The Constitution ol
these United Stales no more allows ilia one than
the other, and both are equally insulting. More
over, the member lias said tie would not refuse
to present a petition Horn slaves, if Hie House
did nut object. The member liom Massachu
setts says he would not offer an indignity to this
House; the fact speaks lor itself, and is more
conclusive to my mind tliau all his professions.
A great number ol these petitions are from fe
males of good character, says the member from
Massachusetts. It may be so, and 1 have no
reason to dispute the tact; but I must say, the
member has placed them in bad company, when
he places them on a level with such people ; as
the honor; ble gentleman front Virginia (Mr.
l'atton) says his mulaita petitioners ute persons
of ill lame and infamous character, as far as he
knows them. 1 ask again, Mr. Speaker, if this •
wur upon the South H never to cease ? And il I
it is to co on, wlial kind of people are w to look
for in the grain! ciu.ode against us ? Are they
to be old men <iu.. j ouiig women? Il so, we
• .)! 11)1 Wdltt O’ ‘ • v f dile lo bght them w ith;
; , .•■ y sutler means, if ihey
,t. .s then mm.iiiln-i would have them
.•ul, sir, il they <ne lo be t he Uollis and
>i me North, (no allusions to our friends
ol con ’,) I hope their fate will
■>e that invaded Britain,
all we can in our own
Hus of this, which may
•’.cede one inch ; we will ‘
. j soil, and preserve our
perish in the attempt,
ne difference of opin
,i .icte, as to tvliat cuuisc
/ mi. . , . on .vis in tinsawlul ciisis of eui be
i.ned mutiny, some ol our friends, as patri
otic ~s any. have ingc i, 111 this debate, that c
ougiit noi to sit litre and submit to lliis outra- j
genus course ol tilings; that it it does not cease, j
we sii uid go home. No sir; no sy; this must
not be: we will neither submit nor retire. If
they prosecute this measure in this House, by at- I
‘iiipis at iegisl.itjnjg us out ol our rights, nr !
will resist u hole by legislative acts as long as
we can. and il at last lliey prove too stiong lor
ns, and succeed in passing unconstitutional laws
to rob us ol oui property, lo murder our wives
and children, still *e will not submit ; they must
change thee (institution before they can bind us
by any laws of abolition ; this they never can do,
if ihe South is lute to it sell. And true we shall
he, 1 hope in God, to our constitution, our wives
nnr children and our country. If Mill they pur
sue us In the lasl, ami attempt to do hy force
what Ihey cun never do Irv law, we will not be
found wanting; we will not desert this Capitol,
nnr this coimliy. This is the Old Dominion :
this land is ours aA well a* theirs : it was ceded
hy Virginia and Maryland, where slavery is tol
erated hy law. Shall we leave it, then, to the
dominion of force, and that, 100 indicted hy the
unhallowed arm of the wild and worse than sav
age fanatic ? No, never!
I apprehend, Mr. Speaker, that the South is
not well understood upon this subject. Party
purposes and party policy may have prevented a
fair and full expiessmu of the feelings and opin
ions of people of all parties at the South upon
this floor. Tiie spirit of the South has not been ‘
felt here as ii should have been. Let me tell !
gentlemen, it ivafinw and unconquerable resolu-
tion never to surrender one jot or tittle of our
constitutional rights upon this subject. We have
a common ioteiesl in this Government, a com
mon title in this capital; it heats the name of the
immortal Washington, and lie was a Southern
mail. Shall we. then, ever surrender the one or
desert the other ? No, never! Never, until lliis
lair city is a held of Waterloo, and this beautiful
Potomac a liver o! blond.
CoiT'siposi<lciic'’ of ilm Courier,
Washinuto.n, Feb. 27, 1837.
It is now pretty well understood that the Sen
ate will not sit beyond the Bth or 9th of March
as (Its business to he submitter! to them will be
of little importance. The only change which
is certain in the Cabinet, if it may he called a
change, which is only supplying a vacancy. will
he the appointment of Mi. Poinsett to the War
Department; Mi. Holler continuing lor the pres
cm to till the office of Attorney General, lo
reference to the Navy, there appears to be an
uncertainty. Some believe that Mr. Dickerson
will retain the office, at least for a short time ;
and perhaps Mr. Van Ilmen will rather desire
that this should he the case, than he should he
called on to settle the contending claims fm the
station between Mr. Dallas and Mr. Mnhlenburg,
who am both assiduously pressed upon him hv
their respective friends. Mr. Woodbury and Mr.
Forsyth, it i* generally conceded, will remain in
theii respective stations until some new arrange
ment shall he more necessary than il appears in
he at lliis moment.
The Commune on Commerce, of (lie .Senate,
are exceedingly engaged. They sat yesterday,
w liicli is veiy unusual, never happening except
when there is an urgency, which cannot lie tii
fled with or postponed. It is whispeteil that
they have made some discoveries, in ihe course
of their investigations, of extensive malpracti
ces in the Custom Houses, I do not Itnow
whether thete :s any crimination of collectors,
hut I suppose vve shall hear something on the
subject hcloie (lie breaking op ol Congress, it
is said that frauds have been discoveieil, and
that officers of rank aie in some wav impliea
ud. ’lhcie is a strong tendency in our naitue
to yield to temptation, which is not to he coun
tervailed or checked by any legislative enact
ments ; and it is only by the most indefatigable
research, that the traces of human frailly can
be followed, il there are criminals, I presume
there will be fouud no disposition lo shield them
from justice.
Some days since a memorial from the Direc
tors ol the United was presented
lo the Senate, staling were ready lo
settle their accounts with ilieU. Slates, taking
for a basis the value set on the stock ol the Uni
ted Slates in that Hank, by the Commissioners
of'lie l)iiitcil|States, and readying the dividends
claimed lor commissions on the unpaid bills
drawn hy the Secretary of the Treasury on the
French Government, to awaii the decision of a
judical tribunal. To day, Mr. Webster, from
the Committee on Finance, lo whom that me
morial was leleired, reported a joint resolution,
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to make
a settlement of Ihe accounts, on the let ms pro
posed by the Dneciors of the U. S. Hank, winch
was read twice, and oidcrcd to be engrossed for
a .lord reading, without opposition,
The repoit of the Committee on Futeign Re
lations, ou the message of the President ol the
United States, concerning Mexico, concluding
with a resolution postponing any legislative ac
tion on the subject of reprisals until next session,
was taken up; and alter a few remarks from
Mi. Clay, exjnessnig his acquiescence io lhe res
olution, but dissenting fiom some of the points
in the report, and a short explanation trom Mr.
Huchanaii, the resolution was agieeil to by an
unanimous vote ol 46.
Mr. Walker called up his resolution for the
negotiation of the independence of Tixas. Mr.
Hubbard moved to postpone the consideration of
the resolution until Wednesday, in order to give
lime to act on the bills which must he sent lo
the House. Mr. Walker considered every other
subject as ol minor importance, and said lie
looked on the present as a test question. Mr.
Preston advocated the propriety ol taking up the
resolution for action now ; and the question be
iug taken, it was decided lo postpone the reso
lution, hy a vote of x!b toil.
The regular calender was then taken up for
consideration, and considerable progress was
made therein. A bill making appropriations lor
building light houses, &c. was reported, and ur
deicdtua second reatliug. A bill for ilia erec
tion and tepair of certain custom houses, was
ordered lo be engrossed.
Tlic House has been engaged, (hiring the day,
on the hill makilig approptialions for the repair
and improvement of certain harbors, &c„ which
is still under consideration. Charleston Courier.
OFFICIAL.
OPINION OK THE PRESIDENT
On the Proceedings of the Court of Inquiry ordered to
Investigate the Causes of the delay in the Campaign
against the Creek Indians.
The President has carefully examined the Pro
ceeding* of the Court of Inquiry reeently held at
the city of Frederick, by virtue ot orders No 65
nml 68, so tar as the same relate to tho enuses of
the delay in openiuir ami prosecuting Hie campaign
in Georgia and Alabama, ugainst the hostile Creek
Indians, in the year 1836 ; and lias maturely con
sidered the opinion of the Court on (hi* part of the
subject referred to il.
The order constituting: the Court directs it, n
inung other things, “to inquire and examine into
the causes of the delay in opening and proseruling
; the campaign in Georgia and Alabama, against I lie
{ Hostile Greek Indians, in ‘lie year 1836, ami into
I every subject connected with the military opera
lions in the campaig.l aforesaid ; and offer liilly in
vestigating Ihe same, to report the liiets, together
with its opinion on tlic whole subject lor the iulvr
mution ol 11/e President,”
It appears, from the proceedings, that after the
testimony o! nine witnesses hud been leccivedby
the court, and offer more than one bundled docu
tnci is, heuring ou the subject, liadulso been pro
duced in evidence, and offer Major General Scott
bad addressed the. court on (lie subject, tlic court
proceeded In pronounce its opinion, aslollows;
” Upon a caret'll examination of the abundant
testimony taken in the foregoing ease, the court
is of opinion that no delay, which it was practica
ble to hair avoided, was made by Major General
Bcoll in opening tlic campaign against the Greek
Indians. On the contrary, il appears that lie look
the cmiiiM measures to provide munition*,
and provisions lor In* forces, who were found al
most wholly destitute; and ns seen as arms could
be putinlo the bands of (lie volunteers, they were,
in succession detached and placed in position, to
prevent the enemy Irotn retiring upon Florida, and
vv lienee they could move against Hie mum body of
the enemy, os soon as equipped lor offensive ope
rations.
“From the testimony of the Governor of Geor
gia, of Major General Banlord, ceminandrr of the
Georgia volunteers, nnd many other witnesses ol
high rank and standing, who were acquainted
with the topography of Ihe country, and the posi
tion and strength ol Ihe enemy, Ihe court is ol o
pinion I hut Ihe plan ol campaign adopted by Ma
jor General Beoti i was w ell calculated to lead to
successful results, mul that it was prosecuted by
hiui, as far as practicable, with zeal and ability,
until recalled from the command, upon representa
tions made by Major General Jesup, bis second in
command, from Fort Mitchell, in n letter bearing
date the ‘JOth of June, 1836, uddressed to K. I*.
Ulair, Esq at Washington, marked •‘prieate,” con
taining Il request that it be shown to the I’lesident
which letter was exposed and brought to light by
the diguilicd and magnanimous ait ol the t'resi
dent, in causing il to be placed on tile in the De
partment of War, us an official document, and
which lorms purl of these proceedings; (see docu
ment No, 214.) Conduct so exlruordinury and in
explicable nn the part of Major General jesup, in
reference to the character of said letter, should,
in the opinion o( the court, be investigated.”
I'll* tiiregoing opinion is not accompanied by
any report ol the facts in the ease, as required by
the order constituting the court; ou the contrary,
Hie fuel* are less to be gathered from Ihe mass of
orul and documentary evidence contained in the
proceedings; and thus u most imporlunt part of
Ilie duty unsigned to (lie court remains unexecu
ted. Had (lie court stuled Hit liuts of the ease,
n estnblslird to its satisfaction by the evidence
before it, the President, on comparing such state
of lads fniind Ivy tin- court, vv ith its opinion, would
have distinctly understood the view* entertained
by the court in respect to the degree id proinpti
tude anil energy which ought to he displayed in h
campaign against Indians—a point manifestly in
dispensable lo n eorreet nppreeinlion of Ihe opin
ion, nml one which Ihe President's examination
of the evidence has not supplied, innsmneli ns he
lias no means ofknowing whether the conclusion*’
drawn by him from tin evidence agree with lliose
of the court.
The opinion nftluv court is nlso argumentative,
nml wauling in requisite precision; inasmuch as
il stole* that • no delay, which it wos practicable
lo have avoided, wos made by Maj. Gen. Scott,
in opening the campaign against the Greek Indians
&<•. Ac.thus leaving it lo be inferred, but not
distinctly Hailing, that there was smile deluy and
that il was mudr hy some person other than Ma
jor General Scott; w ithout specifying in what such
delay consisted, when il occurred, how long il
continued, nor by whom it was occasioned. Had
tin* court found a state of facts ns required by the
order constituting it, the uncertainty now existing
:n this part of the opinion would have been obvia
ted, and (be justice of Hie opinion itscll readily
; determined.
Thai part of the opinion of the court which an
imadvetls on the lellcr ndtliessed by Maj Gen.
Jesuplo I . P. Hluir, Esq. bearinir date tlic DOlli ol
June. 1830, and which presenlN the same as a still
j jeet demanding investigation, appears to the Pre
sident lo lie wholly unaiillioriseii Ivy the order enn
stituting Ihe court, and hy which its jurisdiction
was cniitiiied toon inquiry into the causes ol the
delay in opening and prosecuting the campaign
against the hostile Creeks, ami intosiich subjects
as were eonneeled with theinilitury operations in
that campaign. The causes of the recall of Maj.
Gen. Bcotl liom Hie command, and tho propriety
or iiiiproprie y of ihe eonduel of'Gen. Jesup in u ri
ling the letter referred 10, were not submitted lo
tin court as subjects of inquiry. ‘1 be ( onrt it-cll
appeals lo have been of this opinion, inasmuch as
no notice was given lo Gen. Jesup of the penden
cy of ihe proceedings, nor hod ha any opportunity
lo cross-examine ami interrogate Ihe witnesses;
nor to be heard in respect to his conduct in Ihe
matter remarked on by tho court.
Tor the several reasons above assigned, tlic I'rc
sicenl disapproves the opinion of the court, and
remits toil the proceedings in question, to therm)
that the Court may resume the consideration ol
the evidence ; and trom the same, and from such
further evidence as sludl be taken, (in ease the
court shall deem it ncces-nry to take liirlber evi
dence,) may ascertain olid report, with distinc
tiveness and precision; especially as to lime, place,
distances, and other circumstances —all the lacts
touching the opening and prosecuting the cam
paign in Georgia and Alnbaniu against the hostile
Greek Indians, in Ihe year 1836, and the military
operations in the said campaign; and touching
Hie delny if any there was, in Ihe opening or pro
secuting of suid campaign, and the causes ofstirli
delay; and to the end, also, that the court, whilst
confining its opinion to the subject-matters sub
mitted to it, may fully and distinctly express its
opinion on those matters lor the information ol I lie
Presided.
The Secretary ol War ad interim will cause Ihe
proceedings of the court oil Hie subject ol the rani
paign against the Creek Indians, with the docu
nieulary evidence referred to therein, and a ropy
of the foregoing opinion, to he transmitted to Ma
jor General Mtieomb, president ol the court for
the proper action therron.
ANDREW JACKSON.
Washington. Feb. 14, 1837.
Public Sewtimkwt. —At a large meeting of
the Detrocracy of Chester county, Pennsylva
nia, held in the Court House of that county, on
the 7'h init. the following resolutions among oth
ers, were adopted :
Resolved, That we consider the mutilation of
the Journal of the Semite of the United States,
as a violation of the constitution ; as a degrada
tion of the nation : as an encroachment upon
the rights an I powers of Congress; as another
attempt to strengthen the arm of the Federal
Executive, at the expense of tho other branches
of the Government; as an act more becoming
the tools of the depots than the independent rep
resentatives ol free and sovreign Slates, ami as
one step towards a consolidated monarchy, which
will cover the political infamy, for all time lo
come, the authors of the outrage.
Resolved, That James Buchanan, Having in
1836 voted in the Pennsylvania Legisluitire,
against the right of expunging any part ol its
Journal, and offered a resolution against such
right, even Ivy the unanimous consent of its mein
hers; and having lately made speeches, and
given his vote in favor ol the expunging resolu
tions in the United Slates Senate—to deface the
Journals of that body and ill that to violate die
constitution—exhibits in his change of senti
ments a despicable servility to the K edcral Ex
ecutive, glaringly illustrative ol the il an genius
influence practiced upon the people’s representa
tives, and alike degrading to him and humili
ating lo this Common-wealth.
When Gen. Jackson on the 4lh of March
leaves Washington, these truths, should stare
him in the face in blazing capitals through every
village which he passes on his way to the llerini- ,
tage:
“You began your experimemtjin 1829.
You found the nation with the
in the world, considering the extent of its
territory. The experiment promised us a
better one. You have tripled the bank cap
ital of the country instead of reducing it.—
You have frightfully deranged our domestic
exchanges. You have enhanced the prices
of all the necessaries oflife which the poor
man must have. You leave us with the
worst currency on earth, and in the power
of usurers and extortioners. These are the
fruits of the great measures of your admin
istration. Think of them in the hermitatge.”
On the Cumberland Road there is x niouu- i
men! to Henry Clay, its great projector. A 1
monument with the above inscription :n honor
of Gen. Jackson, might operate as a warning to
future tinkers on the currency.— N. Y. Express, j
Speaking of President Jackson's late annual
message, the Liverpool Jnurnnl| says:—“ There
are other points in the message which are worth
notice—and none than the long and labored tir a
- against the United States Hank, which General
J. ckson plainly calls a corporation of swindlers.
The “ hero of New Orleans,” we think, never
made a greater tnistatC !!'” n his downright at
tempt Hi give a metallic, instead ol a paper cur- i
icncy lo the United Stales. The principle nay
have been good, but lie quite forgot to make the
previous inquiry, where and bow were the pre
cious metals to bo obtained.
Abolition Impudence. —The following is an vx
traet of a letter from the notorious James G.
Hurney, Travailing Agent and Lecturer of ‘he
American Anti-Slavery Society in Ohio. He
is wiiiting from the Miami Valley, Ohio.
Every day gives me fresh evidence that ihe
cause of emancipation is soon lo predominate
Every affurt ol ottr opponents is spasmodic, and
whilst God has not, as yet, permitted any of us
to he destroyed, they ate constantly weakened.
If I mistake not, they are now more faint heart
ed in this place than they were before Ihe recent
attempt and failure to put us down. I do not
believe we will have another open mob—il may
be that we may suffer Horn rni</nigM depreda
tors.
The crisis of our cause is much nearer than
brother Goodwell, and many others expect. I
take it lo be, Ihe conviction on the mind of Ihe
South is that the abolitionists cannot be stopped.
When this is produced, ami that will be before
another year, you will see how gentle slavehold
ers will become!”
Let the South once become convinced that the
” abolitionists cannot be stopped” “and yon!
w ill sec how gentle slaveholders will become!"—
If lilts be yotir calculation gentlemen abolition
ists, vou are destined lo a woful defeat.
Salisbury (R. C ) Carolinian
[From Hit Ifashington Globe ]
The Old Salt. —Rkuiic.n J amki was born in
the county of Busex, State of Delaware, in
1777, and when quite a lad, entered the meicliant
service; in 1797, while on hoard an American
privateer, engaged a french privateer bit’ the
island of Guadaluiipe, in which he was captor
rd. lie reltirned to the United Stales anil en
tered the naval service; sailed in the frigate
Constellation, Com. Trnxton, and “in Februa
ry, 1799, fell in with the French fiigate Le In
surgents, and alter a close action of an hour
and a half compelled her to strike. The rate of
■ lie Constellation was 32 guns, that of the Le
luturgente 40. The former lud 3 men wound
ed and none killed, the latter had 41 wounded
29 killed.’’ Refitted and put to sea; “in Feb
ruary, 1 800, engaged the Le Vengeance of 54
guns, in the evening ; the action continued with
great obstinacy on both sides till one o’clock,
when the Le Vengeance was completely silenc
ed, but sheeted off during the night in conse
quence of the Constellation losing her main
mast, ” Com. John Rodgers, the senior Captain
in the Navy. at this time served as fiist I.ieuien
ant during lire first engagement.
He next shipped on hoard the frigate Presi
dent, and sailed under Com. Dale, in 1801, lor
the protection of our commerce in the Mediter
ranean against the Barhary powers ; his term of
service expiring while at sea, he reshipped on
hoard the frigate Chesapeake to continue the
tame service. In the harbor of Gibraltar lie
volumeeied on board the schooner Enterprise,
Lieutenant, now Ccimuodore, Hull : gave chase
to a Tripolitan sloop of war, which, alter some
sharp shooting, blew up, it is supposed, by acci
dent.
In 1803 he -“as one of CO men selected by
Lieutenant Decatur to destiny the frigate Phila
delphia, which had surrendered in consequence
of accidentally getting aground within the har
bor of Tripoli, and was then at anchor within
half a gun shot of the Bashaw’s castle. surroun
ded by ciuisers and gun bouts.
This bold undertaking was accomplished in
the most gallant manner, and was pronounced
by Lord Nelson “the most bold and daring act
of the age.’’ And we add, with much regret,
that, even at this late day, the prize money so
nobly earned has never been awarded to the cap
tors.
In 1804, Commodcre Pieble planned an at
tack upon the battery and vessels by means of
the squadron and gunboats, which was carried
into execution on the 3d of August.
The first division of gun-boats was to com
mand of Captain Decatur, wiio hail been pro
moted for his gallant achievement in the de
struction of the Philadelphia. Reuben James
was on hoard the same heat with him, and du
ring the engagement saved the life of Captain
Decatur by an act of the greatest bravery and
attachment to bis commander ; the incident is
thus narrated in the Naval Temple, page 31 and
32.
“At this moment Captain Decatur was in
formed that the gun boat commanded by his
brother, bad engaged and captured a boat be
longing to the enemy, but that his brother, as
he was stepping on board, was treacherously shot
by the Tripolitan commander who made off with
iris boat. Captain Decatur immediately puisu
ed the murderer, who was retreating within the
lilies : having succeeded in coming along side,
lie hoarded with only eleven men. A doubtful
contest of twenty mi nines ensued. Decatur im
mediately attacked the |Tripolitan commander,
who was armed with a spear and cutlass. In
parrying the Turk’s spear, Decatur broke his
stvord close to the hilt, and received a slight
wound in the right arm and breast, but having
seized the spear he closed, and after ’a violent
struggle both tell, Decatur uppermost. The
Turk then drew a dagger from his belt, but De
catur caught hold ol his arm, drew a pistol from
his pocket, and shot him.
“ While they weie thus struggling, the crews
of both vessels lushed to the assistance of their
commanders, and so desperate had the contest
around them been, that it was w til: and ffirulty that
Decatur could extricate himself trout lire killed
and wounded that had fallen around him. In
this affair an American manifested the most he
roic courage and uitarlimeni to his commander.
Decatur, in llie struggle, was attacked in iherear
by a T.ipolitan, who lad aimed a blow at Ins
head, which must have proved fatal, had not this
geneiutis minded tar, then dangerously wounded .
and deprived of (he use of both iiis hands, rush- ,
ed between him and the sabre, the stroke of
which lie received on Ills head, whereby he was j
severely wounded. This hero however, survived, j
and now receives a pension from his grateful .
country.’*
Soon after this event, Captain Robinson pur
chased lour gnu boats in the Gulf of Venice, and
being scare* of officers) the subject of this me
moir was assigned the command ol one of them,
lie was separated fiom the others at sea, and
was picked up by a Venetian ship, and carried
to Messina, and placed in charg-e of the Ameri
can consul. He was transferred to the brig Sy
ren, Captain Smith, and appointed an acting
gunner, at which duty he remained until the trea
ty of peace with Tripoli, when lie returned to
the United States, in gun boat No. 6, Captain
Lawrence, after an absence of nearly six years.
During ihe embargo, he served on hoard the
frigate Chesapeake, and afterwards on board the
United States, Captain Decatur, as guard ship at
Norfolk, until me declaration of war, when they
put to sea ; during her second cruise, on the 25th
of October, engaged and captured the British
frigate Macedonian, in which the disparity of
loss was astonishingly great : on the pari of the
enemy one hundred and tour were killed und
wounded ; that of the Americans but eleven.
Befitted in New Vork and put to sen ; tell in with
the British squadron, which gave chase, but the
United Slates escaped by ruining into the harbor
of New-London.
From Ihe United States lie was transferred to
the frigate President, with Commodore Decatur,
and ibuglit on board her when she was whipped
by the Emlymon, and was captured by tliv British
squadron otf Sandy Hook ; in this engagement lie
received three wounds.
War being declured immediately thereafter a
gaiust Algiers, Reuben James sailed on board the
Guerriere, Commodore Decatur, lor the Mediter
ranean, where they till in with and enptured the
Algerine frigate with their Admiral, and proceed
ed to Algiers, where a treaty was made highly
honorable to lire Americans, after which he re
turned to Ihe United Stated.
Ilis next service was in the cruize of the Inde
pendence 74, Commodore Bainbridge, and after
that in the Guerriere, Commodore Macdonough,
in the Mediterranean.
His next re-silipment of three years, lio served
under Commodore Porter, on the West India Sta
tion, in his cruizes against the pirates, in which
many dangers were encountered from the enemy
and disease. Alter tho difficulties on that station
were settled, he suiled lor the I'ueitie, with Com
modore Thompson, where he reinuined three
years.
Jlis next term of service he passed on board the
receiving ship at Norfolk, alter which he re-slup
ped on hoard the Brandywine and sailed lor the
South Seas, tram which station he was returned
in consequence ol ill lieallh, and arrived ut Nor
folk hospital in lffilo.
His health having sufficiently recovered, he
came on to Washington hi October Inst, lor the
purpose of obtaining a pension ; being tilt years
usage, and having served 311 years in the Ameri
can navy, during all its most active service.
Soon otter his arrival in Washington his right
leg, which hud been injured by u musket bull some
years previous, became extensively diseased, in
consequence of which lie was ordered by the Se
cretary of the Nuvy, to the naval hospital of this
station, where it was Ibuiid that the only means
by which bis life could be saved was u speedy
amputation.
lie “ thought it hard that he should be put un
der jury masts now that lie was laid up,” but at
once consented to the operation, which lie bore
without u murmur, carefully observing every step
f the operation. He lost much blood in tense-
qucnce of the diecaecJ condition of the blood ves
sel®. nml violent symptom* of lockjaw Ibllovved.
When the spasm* were n,u4 severe, and deglu
tition anil artit iilnlion both very diflicull, lie aban
doned all hopes of recovery; and begged of his
surgeon, l)r. J. M. Foltz, of United States Navy,
“ to cusc him off handsomely,” exhibiting a de
gree ofiesignation nml fortitude seldom to be inel
with. He. however, soon eomineneed improving,
when it wus necessary to use stimulants ; he was
asked which he would prefer, brown stout or bran
dy toddy. Itis reply was, with the true spirit of
an “ old salt,” Suppose Doctor, you give us liodi
The maximum pension that can be ullowcd him
by the Navy Department has been granted, about
100 dollars per annum, which is not sufficient to
hoard and clothe him ; “and now that lie is grown
too old to light, lie is lei! either to beg or to starve
whichever may best suit his convenience,” un
less Congress should grant him a pension which
would make him comfortable tin- the short time
which will be yet allowed him to live.
[ From the Cincinnati Evening Post.]
Progress of the Newspaper Press. lit 1802,
among a large pmcel of ohi books that we pur
chased of an English gentleman in Charleston,
were a sequence of five small folio volumes of
the first Gaieties published in England. They
were printed at Oxford, by order of the govern
ment, and commenced in November, 1G66.
They were in good preservation, each volume
containing one year's papers. The first contain
ed an account of the great fire of that year, und
a number of articles on the great plague of the
preceding year. There was news in them fiom
all parts of Europe, from some pmts ol Asia,
and from “our colony of Virginia.” One of
the articles from the latter place gave an ac
count of the prospects of the “ Tobacco ciop." —
In the making up and arrangement of matter,
they were little, if any inferior to the country pa
peis of the United States forty years ago, eveiy
article of intelligence beginning with a two-line
letter, as ours did then. Not duly appreciating
those volumes, w hich we had bought with others
for a mere trifle, and finding that others put a
still less value upou them, we determined to take
them to London, (which we visited annually,)
where their vrltte would be duly appreciated.—
VVa did so, and left lliein for sale with our agents,
Vernor, Wood and Sharp; they failed soon al
ter, and we never heard more of those interest
ing volumes, for what is more interesting than a
volume of old newspapers?—yet how lew theie
are who take (he trouble to preserve them.
The material for the best history that could be
written ol the last war, is to be found in the
newspapers, ol that period, which will be invalu
able to the future historian of our country.
The.first newspaper printed in this country,
was the Boston News Letter, in 1740. We have
turned over some ol those and other antiquated
volumes of the periodical press, which contains
numerous interesting facts, in our revolutionary
history, no where else to be found.
The best, and we believe the only collection,
of the newspapers of that period, are to be found
ill the valuable Library of tiie American Anti
quarian Society, at Worcester, Massachusetts,
founded and munificently endowed, by the late
Isaiah Thomas, L. L. D. The Library of the
Massachusetts Historical Society, at Boston, has
some also, and many pamphlets of the period o(
which we speak.
It is a great misfortune that at the period im
mediately preceding and during our Revolution
ary war, there were so fewjnewspapers, the whole
number probably not much exceeding twenty,
(now there are Irom ten to twelve hundred.)
What there were, furnished incomparably the
best accounts (particularly in their neighbor
hood) of those thrilling events, which were of
such freequent occurrence, in “the days that
tried men’s souls.”
i We cannot say when, where, or by whom die
I first daily paper was printed in the United Stales,
hut, if our memory serves, (he firsl one published
at Boston, was in 1792, or 93, edited by Thom
as Paine, the Poet, who, after the death of his
elder brother, was called Robeit Treat Paine,
after his father, one ot the signers of die Decla
ration of Independence. The paper was called
the “ Orrery,” and did not lust long, we believe.
It was a mimher of years after before another
daily was attempted in the town. They had no
deficiency of papers, iiowever ; there were the
” Independent Chronicle,” the “Centinel.” the
i Palladium,” and the “Gazette” all twice a
week. Demi was the common size of a news
| paper in those davs and when they were enlar
| get! to super-royal their size was as much a mat
ter ol astonishment, as the mammoth sheets of
’ the present day. Editors gave themselves little
i trouble about marine news, shipping lists and
j price currents in those days. The first marine
j list published in the United States was by Tom
j Allen, at New London, Connecticut. Werecot
j lect a remark in it during a bitter cold spell some
j five and forty years ago, it was this that “ Hell
j gate had frozen up, and no vessels could pass,”
this place formerly so called, in the East River,
New York, has its proper cognomen “Hurl
gate”
Sa late as 1795, the only notice that was ta
ken ol marine affairs in the papers of Charleston
S. C. was their arrival or departure, with the
bare mention of the vessels and captains names.
There were then hut three papers in that state,
two daily in the city, and one once, or twice a
week at Columbia.
The facts in the above article are all from
memory, and may, in some trifling particular, be
incorrect, hut in nothing essential.
Newspapers. —Eveiy thing tinder Heaven in
creases in price except newspapers. Beet and
pork, floor and butter, sugar, tea and coffee,
salt, fish and oninos, dry goods ami wet. groce
ries, fuel and rent, buck wheat and wash women,
are all advanced in price. But newspapers,
that most indispensable and not getling-alung
without it article—the sum and substance of
men’s existence, remains in statu quo. And yet
there is nothing, not even steam-boats, that keep
up with them in the march of improvement.—
They are constantly improving'in size, appear
ance and talent—in every thing but price—and
all to benefit the reader. YVe have seen a man
charge two und a half dollars for an article, the
construction of which probably occupied some
bungler hall a day, and grumble at a printer’s
charge of two dollars for a year’s paper, which,
when bound up would ma kejav olumeof news, of
incident and of moral, interesting and instructive
miscellany, that no bookseller would dispose of
for less than twenty times the amount.— North
River Times.
COCHRAN E RIFLE.
“'flie principal peculiarity ol tiie invention is”
that the charges iiiyteadjof being placedjin.the bar
rel!, as in the common gun or ftflo, are plat?!?
in a cylinder, resembling some what in appear
ance and shape, (ihougli considerably smaller,)
tliejbox ol a compass.
The charges which are then inserted in the f
perphery or of the cylinder at (
equal distances, resembling in some measure in
their position and arrangement the spokes of a
wheel, the balls, corresponding in their position
to the extreme points of the spokes at tiie circum
ference or run of the wheel. The cylinder is
placed at the base of the barrel near the butt end
of the stock, so as to have the circumference,
with the charges, come in close contact with the
end of the barrel. As you turn the cylinder when
discharging tlie rifle, each chamber, containing
lb charge, comes successively into a line with
the barrel, so as to fit exactly to the aperture in
to the same, and in that position is, fired. Un
derneath the cylinder, not lar from the centre
and around it, are artanged the cones on which
the percussion caps are placed, each communi
cating with its appropriate chamber. As each
chamber, in tiie revolution of the cylinder, comes
in contact with the tube of the barrel, the cock
strikes the percussion cap, and the explosion in
-1 stautaneously follows.
I Since the original invention was made an im
| portant improvement lias been devised, which
promotes very much the despatch and the facili-
ty’of discharging llie rifle Originally the cap or
the piece of iron which is inclosednn the cylin.
der, was fastened down by means ol a screw.—
Now, by the improvement referred to, a spring
is made use of for this purpose, so that as soon
as the charges in one cylinder are fiietl, the cyl
inder mav be instantly removed, and its p| llc#
supplied by another cylinder newly charged .
This improvement, simple as it is, in some res
pects lulls but little short of the original inven
tion itself. Three or four cylinders may be
curried by a soldier without inconvenience.
This invention doubtless will be ipgarded uuj.
versally, and especially in the military world, a,
| one of a most retnaikable character, as forming
a sort of era in the history of weapons of war.—
| And we see not, w hy arms of the description w ill
not eventually take the place of all oilier fne
arms—lie put into the hand of our standing a r .
my and of the militia, and our national armories
he exclusively employed in manufacturing them.
The period is probably, also, not far distant,
when our whole frontier and seaboard will be ef
fectually protracted at every assailable point, by
means of cannon and fire arms constructed upon
the principles of this invention.
And as regards the destruction of human life
in war, we believe, that this invention, like the
invention n( gunpowder, will have a tendency to
lessen rather than increase it—for the obvious
reason, that nations, in the face of such weapons
will be less disposed to engage in wat—and both
wars and battles, when they do occur, w ill the
sooner be hi ought to a close.”
FGZIXSXCriSr.
( from slips from our Correspondents.)
NEYV YORK, Feb. 25.
LATE FOI?I JiUnODE.
By the arrival ol the'ship New York, from
Gieenock, whence she sailed oil the 14th of Jan.
Glasgow papeis to that date have been receiv
ed, containing London advices to (he lOr It inclu
sive. The political and domestic intelligence is
sought; we copy only the latest report o/ th o
markets.
The subjoined items were gathered from our
papers by the last Liverpool arrival.
A Norwegian courier, employed by tlie Aus
trian Cabinet, lately returned to Germany from
Calcutta, have performed a journey of 1100
German miles in eighty days.
King Louis Phillippe lias uppropiinted a mil
lion of francs, from the civil list, for ilie relief of
operatives in the great cities, who h.,ve been
thrown out of employ by the rigor of the sea
son. Yet the enemies of Louis l’liillippe call
him penurious and niggardly.
An officer of the National Guards, living in
Paris was so affected when he heaid ol the late
attempt upon the King’s life, tint lie fell dead
on the spot. He was in his sGlh year.
Tiie legacy of Charles X, to’lns grandson,
the Duke tie Bordeaux, is likely not to prove
very valuable, the debts of the late King being
found to exceed lliiity six millions ol tiancs,
and bis assets to fall short ol five millions.
The proportion of crime to population is sta
ted, in a London paper, to be in England 1 to
740—in the United Stales 1 to 3500.
No less than one hundred extra coaches, wag.
oils, and other vehicles, were put in rquisitiou the
week preceding Christmas day, for ti.e convey
ance of geese, turkeys and other Cliristmasfare,
to London. Several of the Norfolk coaches re
fused to take passengers, being loaded full with
game and turkeys.
The London Morning Herald gives a report
that Mr. Stephen Pi ice was about to resume the
management of Drury Lane Theatre.
The bridge of boats across Hie Rhine, at Cob-
Icntz, was carried away by a raft on the 19th of
December, with all the passengers then on it.
Number of lives lost not ascertained.
We give our readers all the intelligence reli
live to the fate of the packet ship Eiit. But the
subject is still involved in doubt, us the items in
the Scotch papers, are most likely taken front
the London ami Liverpool papers, and there
fore, do not in our opinion, strengthen the laets
one way or the other.
Copied from Lloyds List.
“ The Erie, Funk, from Havre, lor New Yoik
(packet of the 24th Dec] was totally lost near
the former port on the Ist insl. and all on board
drowned.”
From Another.
“The Erie, Funk, from Havre to New York;
Boyne, Codings, do ; and Eveline, do. to Gua
daloupe, are wrecked in the Bay of Lalloque.”
A card is published i’i this city by Captain Pell
of the ship Normandie, which sailed Irom Havre
on the 4th January, stating that it was as at first
believed at Havre, that the Erie was wrecked in
the great gale, but all the subsequent ncounts
contradict it. He thinks, the accident would
have been known at Havre in one day if it had
actually happened.
Sir Robert Pell had been installed Hold Rec
tor of the University of Glasgow, on the llthof
Januat y. A great dinner was given Inin at the
l'avillion : tables were prepared lor three thou
sand persons, and Sir Robert made a speech
which is reported in all the papers.
Correspondence of the Courier & Enquirer.
New Orleans, February I4tb, 1837.
TEXAS.
Since writting my last letter we had several
arrivals from Texas, and one from Tampico.—
One schooner came in 5 days from Velasco, one
Irom Galveston, and one from some other point.
No additional items are furnished by these arri
vals, to what have already been communicated.
The movement of Mexican troops from Matamo
ras, has not been confirmed , the probability, is
that they remain in “statu quo.” and will not be
so easily tempted to invade Texas. The citi
zens of this new Republic are in higdi spi■ its.—
The Government is paying olf the debts of the
nation as last as it can be done, in land, at a ve
ry moderate price. Their national debt is by
no means large. This republic, by the increas
ed facilities of spreading information, combined
witli the general improvements of the age, has
made greater advances in their national charac
ter in two years, than that of tile United States
did in ten, or twenty. There is not a dollar of
debt owed by Texas today; blit what is worth
more than the value of ten dollars of continental
money, at one period of our national existence.
It is true many ol the Texians arc mere emi
grants from tiie United Slates, and they had our
free government for a model, the workings of
which they well understood. They aiso under
stood the defects which experience had pro
ved to exist in our own system; these they
have attempted to modily er lo obviate in the
system they have adopted. Ilow far their
svstein will successfully work, must be detet
n'flupd by time.
I two or three weeks hack had a conversation
with a wealthy and influential merchant of this
city, of Spanish descent, and who is largely en
gaged in the trade of Mexico, and to whose house
extensive debts aie due fiom citizens of that
country, and pcriiaps no house in New Oilcans
scarcely receives larger shipments ot specie than
this, and there is none better acquainted with the
disposition and feelingsof the Mexicans than the
head of this house; nor does any one understand
the resources of that nation better than he does.
He told me candidly, that it was his belief that
Texas was forever lost to Mexico. “But,” says
he, “ if Santa Anna had overrun the country and
then returred to Mexico, her independence would
have been soon acknowledged, as lie would have
discovered at once, that it would he fruitless to
nttenrp to hold a country so thinly settled anti so
far from the seat of government asTexas. They
then could and would have made the concession
without any sacrifice of national pride; hot,
“ now,” says he, “their national pride is aroused
they ate cxciled and indignant at Manta An
na’s defeat; they look upon it as a stain upon
their natioual character, —and they aie now ma
king vigorous preparations to send another force
into Texas. 12.000 troops are concentrating for
that purpose. The Government has ample means