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MBiUHK* AND KAA6A&.
SPEECH OF HON. A. H" STEPHENS,
OF QKOBOIA.
Hao.e or Febnmr, U. ISM-
The Room being in the Committee of the Whole
on the state ot the Cnion—
l‘*M t ver^*ou« W t before yesterday,
when Cie gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Meacham,
Xnd U*Aleman from New York, upon my
S /« r Fei.tom addresaed the House upon the
l.rV-ctof ih■ Nebraska bill, to make some re
upon the »«me subject in reply to them.
1 ,i c -irod lo do no at ihe time, but the opportun
ity «as not afforded mo. Aod though I have lost
Home of the ardor of feeling which the occasion
ft ,m oxeited, jet I think it Important that these
position* should be answered, and it is for that
purple that 1 rise to address the committee to day.
1 K - ire jou I shall bo a* brief as possible.
The gentleman from Vermont, (Mr. Meacham,)
if 1 understood the train of his argument, op
posed the Nebraska bilLa* presented to the House,
mainly ujwn the g'ouno that it declares the eighth
auction of the net of 1840, preparatory to the ad
ifiiMiion of into the Luton ee » State, in
operative, becaoee it i» inoonaiHtant with the pnn
cinie* of trie act of 1«50, known aa the compromise
of that t e'-ir.
cLmae which, without any relation to the State of
Miaeonri, prohibits elavery forever from all that
part of the territory acquired by the Louisiana cee*
eion on!aide of Mitmoori north of 86 dejf. 80 m»n.
north latitude. The armament of the gentleman
oo*j*i*uxS Ot the following Mhen of ae»amp»ion» :
Fimt. that that restriction or prohibition waa
in the nature of a compact, or contract, aa he called
ll *Socondly, that il had been continuously adhered
t0 T r uiVy?'hVi' | The° mewnre now proposed would
b V a'udv, Uu; this towichof good faith would be
alien U-l with .li-a-trous consequences to the pesce,
quiet, and repoae of the country.
This, sir, the outline of hw argument. Wow
I proooiMj to take up the«e f-o»ition» ? and show to
the House, if not to the gentleman himself, that in
every panicle they are untenable.
In the tirwt place, I atate that that eighth clause
of the act preparatory to the admission of Mis
eoari into the Union, restricting slavery north of
88 deg. 80 min., never was a compact. It nover
bad any of the requisites or characteristics of a
compact. A compact between whom! Between
the Nor h snd South f
Mr. Moaehsm. 1 used the word “ contract," not
compact.”
Mr. Stephens. The gentleman from Vermont
tun I the word 4< contract,” an I said ? but others
have used the word “ compact,” and in this con
nsetion, they both mean a Pout the same thing.
Hut wh.t I was about to affirm is that that 11 great
Missouri compromise” wh.oli Mr. Clay proposed,
and with which his fume is identified, had nothing
to do With tliis rcsiriclive clause of the act of 1820.
That compromise (Mr. Clay’s) wot in the nature of
a ” comp it.” Itwasa “compact” between the
General Government and the State of Missouri. 1
urn aware that tliegcnoral opinion on this subject
Is wiry erroneous. This, Mr. Ciav fully explained
in ! Vo. Too common idea Is, that Mr. Clay was
theiiUtnor of the prohibition of slavery north of
86 dug i'l min. But such is uot the fact. He did
not even vole tor it. That proposition came from
a gentleman from Illinois. Tho compromise that
Mr. C! >y offered was allerwards. Its history is
tin.: T/io people of Missouri, under the act of Bth
M.ircl , I*2o, went on and toimed a State constnu
tlou, which contained a clau,e authorizing the
Legislature to pass a law to prevent the immigra
tion of fn-.i! I.fgrne* ; and when application wua
made!' r admiaa oo us a State into the Union, Con
gress ruin-' I '.li'i a.iiniraiou, unless that clause
should be expunged. It was thou that Mr. Ctay
• brought forward his uioasuro. Here il is :
Jteu jlution providing /or Hit admission of Missouri
,„tu tiit On O’ 11 on n osrtain condition.
Ilrnohh lhg UuiSmiiie ami Uoussof Repreumtahus
fi/l r. Oniioi UU m/Amcriat in Congrats assembled,
V t;<> -li -l. a lOr auiuftte>l into -je Uomn od an
f >- 1! n mtu original gurcs, In ah re»i eau what
eV'-r, l.(i ill tin* f Wilarnuiltal c jmli inn that the ‘nu th
nlauMof'he taa ly ..xta Mftloo <.f th- third article of
the nrtltai 100, re .muted <ntt e part of the *aM State to
C‘our;r. in, »',.in never r e con trueii to au'h rile the par
ang-.if a»y aw, a.a that rioliw i a'l he paved In coi
for lty tier.: , l>r wh eh any e tlaen of either of the
ft tea in lila L'ntua .hill tie excluded frem the enjoy
tn it r nj of tne pnvileftel am Imtnunl !•» to which
«uch ci lien I ei* .'(lurid r the Uo'iallta'lOD of the Uni
ted rati : /’ur/i/ei hit the Le«l'Uture of the said
fttia ‘ o.'-in i pjn I ( net, elm' declare the aaaent of the
e I l at a the etui fun hi entnl 0 i 111 m, and trana
mtti he I’ lailent f t’e Un ted S'iatei, on or before the
f.mrtti tfunu y In Movenioer neat, an authenticated copy
of th- ■ '; up )' the receipt whereof the I'rijrt Pt,
be proolanmt on, -hit I ann iunce tin lact; wheiKpon,
auu v I ut any fnrth'- r|r oeredlug on the part if Con
an at. the a jmlaaioii of die aaid H ite into tlna Union shall
bo ooonlUered l ecuinplete JOlin W TAYbtIK,
tpuaor of the Hone- of Keprca ntatlvea.
JOHN GAIbI.ARD,
Prt a d* nt of the Set at , pro ti mpo'e.
Approved,Mnroti 2, Iblil. JAMaS MONROE.
This proposition, when euhinit'oil totho people
of Mi.»ouri, and acceded toby them, an it wan,
rnny very properly be culled « “oumpaot.” For
tlune wi re purtice i» it—the General Government
on one nidu, and ilio people of Missouri on tho
oth r—both agreeing to it. But not no with the
eighth noctlon ot the act referred to —there were no
hm 'i part'O-. to it—llmt wun nothing hut a law,
with no gi enter sanction limn any other ntatuto
that inuy give ph.ee to subsequent legislation.—
There was no compuot about it. Minnouri never
gave her nanctiou io it. Sho could not have been
any party to It. Bliu had no right to the territory
ourode of li r limit*. Sho had no power or au
thority to nmko any eompnotoonoeruiug it.
U ti the gentleman argued nn if he considered
this eighth neciion of the net of 1850, fixing tho line
ot IIU .eg. 30 tnin., north of which slavery should
bo lurovor excluded, and which in oommonty call
ed tho “Min-ouii compromintfliue,” an a oontraot
between tho North uua South, ah the parties. How
then, maud tho fuels upon thin point of viowl—
How did this eighth section get into the bill of
1820 I It wun in this way—tne North insisted
upon a restriction against the admlsniou of Missou
ri as a Bute, which required hor to abolish slavery
within bur limits, as a condition precedent to her
admission—the House punned a bill with such re
striction—to which the Booth were in mass op
posed. In thi/Bonate, on motion by Mr. Thomas,
of Illinois, that cl>use oontaiuii ga restriction on
the .Stale wns stricken out, and tins eighth section
inserted in lieu of it. Tho South in muss wore op
posed to tho State restriction, ns I have said ; but
many of her members—a inuj rity of two, X believe
—voletl tor tho substitute as Ihe lessor evil of the
two. In this way the substitute was carried ns an
nmondmobt to the bill. This amendment was
agreed to in tho House by a vote of 'B4 to 42
Among those 42 noesure to bo found the names of
several of the most prominont men of tho South.—
111 this way this line of 86 dog. 80 mill, was incor
porated, in Ihe bill of 1320, preparatory to tho ad
lniaaion of Missouri as a Sluto. Audio this extent,
and no ottu r, can it be called a compromise, a con
trail!, or compact. It wus literally forced upon
the South, as a disagreeable altornaliou in superior
numbers, and in •.Ills way wont upon your statute
book a- any other law passed by a majority of
■votes. 8o much, then, sir, for this “compact, 1 ' or
oontraot. Nmv hit ns see, in the sooond place, how
it lias neon fulfilled or adhered to from that day
to litis.
Tho gentleman says it has boon acquiesced in
and com trtnotl to tor thirty yonts, tindhuasks with
much solemnity, it we arc now about to violate and
abrogate it 1 have shown, sir, that the South was
in no souse, a party to this congrosaional rsstric
timt nor li ot 88 deg. 80 min. except as a vanquish
ed party, being out-voted on tho direct question ;
pro;.’'ting ugutusL it with all her might and power.
Vet air, not withstanding this, and notwith
standing a largo imajority of hor people from
that day to tltis, us f think I may safoly
afllr-n, hu*> held that eluuso of tho Missouri sot
to ho unconstitutional, as it was bused upon tha
principle of a division of tho common territory be
twe n the fr.o States and sluve Btulcs of the Union,
fbgtho sake of peaoe and harmony, the Boulh did,
patriotically yield, and was willing for all time to
come, to libido by it. 1 say reus because of this
“Missouri Compromise," autl the principles upon
which it was founded, it may now be Buid “Uliuin
suit."
Tne issue l make with tho gentleman upon this
branch • f Ilia speech, is that this agroomeut or oon
trnoi, is he argued it, hetween tho North and the
8 tilth a- I t the line of division between slave terri
tory and free territoiy, has undis
turbed i u t inviolate for thirty years, as lie affirms.
It has beutt shamelessly disregarded by Congress
repcutcd , and inpnucipla was ontirely superse
de!, as! s'mil show by the principles established
by your legislation iti 1860.
But as n.uch as thu arrangement was originally
obn \ " is to tne South, the charge of violation of
it cannot jiu- ly he made against her. No, sit ; no,
sir ; h wiis the Nortli that retusod to abide by hor
otv i harga ; n.
This 1 ffirm; and now let tis see how the re
cord st.ni.ls upon the suVjeet. The first time that
this question onne up uttcrwsrds, was within
tw Ivo month* f-otnthe date ot the act itself, a. d
Did-are the same Congress. It came up on the ap
pl'Catioßot Missouri lor admission, in pnr*nanoeof
the prov'si ina ot the very act Hist contains the
‘•covenant.” B e tmd tunned a Ststo constitution
iu pursuance of it ; she had Violated none of its
conditions. The whole South were for telling her
be admitted, and the entire North, nearly, were
againsv it. Here is fire vote rejecting her a.knis
si ti. The Vote was —79 tor it, *8 against it. The
North in mass, almost, against it. Why was this
refunu 1 * It they reogniaad the provisions of the
aetof March preceding .a containing any sec’ion,
binding upon tin in nt the nature of a “contract,"
or “com .2’," win did they refuse to fulfil it I
The , r.t-xi aasigt «d was, that the oonedtution of
Mis'vuu eon'.-lined a clause empowering the Legis
laturc '0 puss a jaw to prevent the introduction of
free par-era ot e».lor, as 1 have stated. But this
ci n d hs'-s been nothing but a pMtcxt, for at tliat
very dry Mnssachoeetts hud asiint'ar law in actual
fence linn: her -ta'uto liook. The truth is, the
North a! tiftourlv day showed that she did not re
gard the provisions ot the act of IS2O as at all obli
gatory a nni them as anything like a compact. Tits
re.i. o'bieotioa to the final admiasien of Missouri
an a State was, that slavery was tolerated within
her imits l.y her constitution, it was the old
question, which gave trdublc before this “contract"
of 183 I „•,» t :ii nle It was then that Mr. Clay’s
oo ; promise wa- adopted. Twelve months, there
fore, hid not jsue-ed before the North repudisted
thi* compscl by refusing Missouri admission with
out another compromise.
Weil, the next time this question arose was on
the admission of Arkansas into the Union in IS3B.
Tltis Biale wus formed ottl of a part of the Louis
iana purchase south of 88 deg. 80 min. By the -
teim-of the Missouri ‘contract,” the gentleman i
from \ - rmant admits that site was to come iu as a I
slave > ec. Hid tire North then so recognixe and •
act u ( «ui these t 6 t m»! The gentleman from New <
x oik. (Mr. renter.) said that thiadiviaiou '.ine had t
been approvi I ov the North for thirty years. If <
so. I a*k him when or where I Did they raise no ’
ohjec -on when Arksneas applied lor admission I i
Let ur see ; here is tho record. .
Mr John Quincy A lams, in this House June r
18. lrS6, n.oved an amendment so as to make a t
section of tho hill lor the admission of that State
read thus: ’
“ And nothin* In thi« «ci contained shallbe conttreed u
an M-ent by Co- grew* to U e art c’e in t' <*
ot tin «.»<•’ nJ.fin rooting to tiotory and Ihe emondpo
ttjm i/tUiros" itv.
“ SUI l Harping on my daughter!” .
On » vole, lhe effect of which was tonllcw this
amendment, there were eighty in fever of ttfford
irig t!«e opportuiity. There were one hundred
and nine on the opposite side, which prevented its
being offered. Os these eighty votes, some were
from the South. Their object may hate been to
get a vote upon this di linct question of the recog
nttion by ths House of the line established in ISS<‘.
Hut after the amendment was tilled out on the di
rect vote for the admission of Arkansas with a
constitution tolerating slavery, though she was
south ot bfj dog. 8 i min., there tiro Arty two names
under the lead of Mr. Adams in the negative—
every one of them, I believe, from the North—l
have the Journal before me. And amongst these
rames I sea Homan Aden, Horace Everett, Hiiand
Hal:, Henry F. Jones, and William Blade. The
entire delegation from Vermont, the gentleman's
(Mr. Mooclnau’s) own predecessor upon this floor
or he who then represented a portion of the
same constituency tost that gentleman now
does, recorded l is vote against the admission of
Argausas. Did he o» his colleagues have any other
obj oction to it ex -opt that it was a slave State! If
they regarded the line of £8 deg. 80 min. aa a sol
emn covenant be'ween the North and Sooth, why
did they not give it their sanction at that timet
Tho gentleman epoke of “ honor”—
“ I thank thee, Jew. for teaching me that word I”
■Whore was the “ honor” of the Keurasentativea
of Vermont on that occasion 1 In who»e keeping
was it placed t I suppose in the hands of their
constituents, of whom the gentleman was one
The Representatives fr. m the gentleman’s own
State did then unanimously—most dUkonorably, if
he chooses bo to characterize their conduct—repu
diate that ” contract” which theSouth never offer
ed to distort), until it was totally abandoned by an
overwhelming mrjority of the North, as I shall
presently show. 1 have shown that it was disre
garded within twelve months after it was made
““ I refused to be sanctioned by the Represents- '
tives of the gentleman’s own State in 1886, the
first time it came up again.
I will now go on, snd show the gentlemen end
the Honse, when it came up again, and when final
ly it was utterly repudiated by the almost entire
North— _ ~ ,
Mr. Meacham, ( interrupting.) I would inquire
of the gentleman if the Senators from Vermont
did not vote lor it ?
Mr. Stephens. Forwbst?
Mr. Meacham. For the admission of Missouri.
Mr. btepbens. lam not speaking of the Sen
ate, but of the House. 1 have none but the House
records before me. lam dealing with members in
tbia body, or those who preceded us here. It tne
gentleman desires, be can answer for his predeces
sors from the State of Vermont on this floor.
The neit time anything was said in our legisla
tion about the “Missouri line of 86 deg. 80 mm.,
was on the annexation of Texas. Tlia> measure
was carried with that line in it, bnt not by north
ern votes. It was the Sontb, still willing jo abide
it, that carried it then. There were one hundred
and twenty-five northern votes given on that occa
sion. Os these, only fifty-one were for the annex •
tion with this line established in it; while there
were seventy four—e large majority—who refused
to give it their sauction. I do not mean to say
that all who voted against that measure were oppo
sed to that line of settlement. Many of them nad
other reasons. And I know foil well, lor I wa*
nere, that of those fifty-one northern men who vo
ted for it, many of them would not have voted for
the recognition if that line il the question had
come up by itself. But those resolutions of an
nexation were so presented that they f ad to be ta
ken as a whole, ornot at all. I allude to this vote,
merely because it was the next time in order when
the question came up, and the vote certainly fail)
to show that the North, or even a majority of
them, gave it their sanction. >ot that reason only
I allude to it.
I come down now to another step of our pro
gress—to the period from 1847 to 1850. The gen
tleman from Vermont [Mr. Meacham] had a map
for illustration, which be exhibited to os. Ilu
pointed out to us the boundary of tho Louisiana
purchase. It commenced at the mouth of the Sa
bin •, ran up that river to the 82 deg. of north lati
tude; thence due north to the Bed river; thencs
np that river to the 100 deg. of west longitude from
Grceuwicb ; thence due north to the Arkansas ri
ver, and up that river to the 42 deg.of north lati
tude, and thence due west to the South seas or the
Pacific ocean. By this map, and his demonstra
tions from it, it appears that we had a title ceded
to us from France to territory extending to the
Pacific ocean. Well, that of conrse included Ore
gon—that is, according to the gentleman’s map, we
derived title to Oregon under the cession from
France in 1808, and that territory was psrt of the
Louisiana purchase. Mr. Jefferson so considered
it, and sent Lewis and Clarke to explore the conn-
try.
Well, then, how did the South act towards this
“solemn compact,” as it is now called—the line of
86 deg. 80 min.—when we oame to organize a terri
torial government for Oregon in 1847 I The sou
thern boundary was the 42 deg. of north latitude,
and ot conrse the whole of it lay north of 38 deg.
Somin. At this time (1847) we were in a war
with Mexioo, and it was well understood to bo the
policy ot the Administration to acquire territory
from that Government, which, in ail probability,
would, to some extent, bo south of the lino 83 deg.
80 min. From tho votes ot the Hou.-e, upon what
was well known as the “Wiimot proviso,” the
Bouth had just reasons to apprehend that it was
the fixed determination of the majority of the
North to disregard entirely what is now culled th
“sacred covenauL of 1820.” W hen, therefore, tho
bill to organize a territorial government for Oregon
came up in thiH House on the 15th of Junuury,
1847, Mr. Burt, of South Carolina, to take the.sense
of the North directly upon the question of abiding
by this lino of 86 deg. 30 min., moved as an amend
ment to that clau-e in the hill which excluded
slavery forever from the Territory, these words:
“joasmuch ai the who'e of Haiti Territory l ea north of
86 deg 8u min. north latitude, kiwwn as the line of the
Missouri compromise.”
Tho object of this amendment was to put a di
rect lest to the, North whether they intended to
recognize the principle upon which the c nuroversy
on tno subject of slavery in the Territories was
disposed of in 1820 or not. Sir, the North under
stood tiie question fully and clearly, and they met
it promptly—their res poll o wus, that they did not.
Here is tho vote upon this question ; there were
in this Hou-e then 82 votes for Mr. Burt’s amend,
merit, and 118 against it! Os these uoes, every
man was from the North. livery southern mm
in the House voted tor it. And of iheß2wbo
voted to adhere to the principle of that ad
justment, not as something too saered to bo
touched, but lor tho sake cl peace and quiet, there
were, I believe, but six from the whole North—
they were Honglass and K ibert Smith, from Illi
nois ; Cunningham and Parish,from Ohio; Charles
J. lugersoll, of Pennsylvania, and Hastings, > f
lowa. Every man from Vermont and Now Vork
voted against it.
In the face of this record tho gentleman from
Vermont, [Vlr. Meacham] and the gentleman
lrom New York, [Mr. Fenton,] in their places
upon this floor, two days ago, declared that this
“ Missouri compromise” had met the approval of
tho North for thirty years. The South, in this
instance, proposed it unanimously as a “ peace
offering,” ami it was ulmost as unanimously re
jected by the North. “ Honor'' I think, the gen
Human said. They reject'd it over torriWyto
which wo derivod title by the very cession alluded
to in the act of 1820. And so thoroughly opposed
were they to giving it their approval, and so bent
upon its total abrogation, tlmt they retused toatllrm
the princinlo when they golull by tho affirmation.
“ Honor /’ indeed! But, sir, to proceed. This
bill was delea'ed in tho Senate, 1 believe. It did
not become a law. Tho question came up again,
in 1848. Another bill wus brought forward to"
establish a territorial government for Oregon.
Tho Senate put iu the following amendment:
“ That the line of 86 ileg.3o min. of nor thlatituile, known
as the Missouri compromise line, as defined by the eigthtli
section of an act • ntitl-d ‘ An act to authorise 'he people
of the - fssourl Territory to form a constitution and .State
government, am for tho admis-ion of such Stole Into the
Union, on an equal footing with the original States, and to
Siooiblt slavery in certain Te ritoiies.’’ approved March
, 1820, b :, and the same is hereby, declared to extend to
the Pacific ocean; and the said lighth section, together
with the compromise therein effected, is hereby revived,
and declired to be in full force and binding for the future
organisation of he Territories of the United Stales, in tre
same sense and with the same understanding with which
it was originslly adapted.”
It oarao up for action in this House on tho 11th
of August, 1848. On the quo* tion to concur with
the Senate iu thin amendment, the yeas were 82,
and tho nays 121. I iiuve tho vote before mo.
This was a proposition to revive and declare in
force a provision which is now claimed to have
been held all tho time as a eacrtd compact —almost
as sacred ns tho Constitution itself; ami it wua
rejected by nn overwhelming majority iu this
House—rejected, sir, by tho North. Tho South
was again unanimous for it. From the North at
this time. I think, there woro lint four votes for it
Bitdsafl, from New York; Charles Brown,
Charles J. lugersoll, and Brodhead, from Penn
sylvania. Here is the Journal. This proposition
in the Senate was rnovod by Mr. llouglus. It re
ceived every southern vote in that body, aud win
opposed by every northern vote, except Douglas,
Diokiusou, Bright, Cameron,Hauueguu, Sturgoon,
and Fitzgerald. Tho vote on tho adoption ot it in
that body wus 38 to 21. Mr. Culhoun, who wua
well known to be opposed to the principle on
which it was founded, yet gave it, his support.
But upon the rejection ot this amendment by
the House, and a disagreement between the two
Houses upon it, tho utneudment wus lost, and the
Oregon hill prssod, and received the sanction, of
the Preeidont without Mb recognition ot the Mis
souri compromise, but in the tucu of its open repu
diation and abrogation by the North. This, sir,
is the truth of history, aud so let il be written.
And with what sort of a taoe can gcutlomen, with
these facts before them, riso up here und say that
this compromise has been uudisturbed and acqui
esced in lor thirty years I But, Bir, there is still
another chapter in this history.
At the close of the war with Mexico extensive
territories, as was expected, were acquired—terri
toiies extending south as well as north of the line
ol 86 dog. 8“ uiiu.—constituting a public domain
of hundreds of thousands of squure miles, pur
chased by the comtnou blood aud common treasuro
of the people of the South as well as the North.
The policy of the advocates ol 1 the ‘Wiimot provi
so,” from tho begiuhihg, had been to appropriate tho
whole ofthis vast region exclusively to the North.
Henco their unitorm hostility to the Missouri com
promise, because that was founded upon tho prin
ciple of division. Their deturuiinutiuu was to
have all. The South was still willing to divide,
notwithstanding tho policy which she ever advo
cated was to leave ull the Territories open for the
occupancy and colouioation of the people of the
Whole country, from whatever section they might
emigrate, with tho liberty of forming such insti
tutions, upou a republican basis, a* they might
deem most conducive to tlieir happiness, interest,
and prosperity, withous any c mgressioiial restric
tion or dicta ion whatever. Tins was si ways too
doctrine maintained at the South She was will
ing to divide, only us an alternative between that
and a greater evil. To an entire exclusion, by act
of Congress, she hail made np her mind never to
snbm t, lot consequences be wliul they might. This
was tho state of things upon Ihe assembling of the
Thirty-First Congress. The events of that Con
gress are too receut and vivid upou the recollection
ot all to need rehearsal. Tne majority of the
North etill proclaimed their determination to ap
propricte tuo whole ol the public domain to then
selves. Both stetious stood iu hostile array against
each other. The strile became so embittered and
fierce that legislation was paralyzed, aud every
thing seemed to threaten confusion ami anarchy.
The South again repeatedly proposed a sett ement
upon the Mi soun line. The proposition wa*
made in this Uousa, on the part ot the South, for
the last time, on the 18lh day of J tine, 1860. It
was in these words;
l 'Pioeided,h WMI', Thstil shall be no objection to
the admimiua into the union of an; ft’«;e whl h may here
after be formed out of the territory lyuitt aouth of the par
allel of laptude of 86 deg. 80 min., thet the constitution off
•aid State may author.» or establish African ilavery there
to."
This proposition was rejected in Committee
of the Whole npon a count by tellers—ayes 78,
noee St. It was the last time, sir, it was ever of
sered. Whon the North had again, and again,
ng*iu, for three years, refused to abide by it, the
South, driveu to the w.dl upon it, was thrown
back up n Atr oru/inal riyhls under tU Oonetituiion.
Her next position » as, that, territorial restriction
by Congress should be totally abandoned, not oniy
south or 86 deg. 80 min., but north of that hue,
too! Upon tbisgronndshe planted herselfou the
15th of June—the debates iu this House on that
day were mire exciting, ;hau ever upon any day
sinoe the beginning ot the Government. It was
upou that day 1 putthe question directly to s dis
tinguished gentkmui then here from Ohio, (Mr
Vinton,) whether he would vote for the admission
of any slave State into the Union, and he refused to
say that he would. The determination, as maui
tesled by the votes of the majority of the. Nor.h,
was to apply legislative restrictions over the whole
of the common territory, in open and shameless
disregard of the pi ineiple ot the so called Missouri
compromise, notwithstanding the gentleman from
Vermont says that it has been adhered to and held
inviolate for" thirty years. It was ou that day, sir,
that a distinguished colleague ot mine, (Mr.
Toombs,) then on this floor, now in the other w>ug
of the Capitol, made that speech which lias beoutue
somewhat famous in our State, in which he
•aid, with eloquence seldom heard within these
walls:
“We do not opppose California on account of the anti
*"™r clause in her consti.utioD. It w»8 her right, and I
ia !!? ' y *? l' re l*ared to say that she mete I unwisely in its
BriihJT iJV “ her busmeit; but 1 stand npoD the great
flon *s,* Bouu ' hssa tight to an equal particqm
twn in tee tarntane. of he Called states »
pre£ny m “urlreeZ?as.\, 4 *“» comta ™
mine. Then lam t. nen }oir women t, not
bring my childrt* m*] 1 1,111 if 1 <*an,
homhtj to your sisaiis? mZSss:
and we are ready, as ever herit, ni r “f S 0“ Ju l <n *hU,
Union, every part of it. and its ever, in’terrlt^sSi'^*
and, tor one, l will strike foi independence." '
It was then, when the Nor.h had refu-ed ail
compromise, and went into the contest tor “ the
whole or none,” that the Sooth took up the gauge,
planted herselt upon her original ground, armed
as she conceived, in the pauopolj ol truth ; and
her representatives boldly meeting those arrayed,
not only sgai net her rights; bat a great principle
of flee Government, (ace to face, said:
“ Lay on, Maciiwr:
And darn'd be him that Ural cries, tto'd, enough I”
The grounds she then took were, that there
should be no settlement of this territorial contro
versy but upon the recognition of her orignal
principles, which were, that all congressional re
striction- npon this subject were wrong, and should
be totally abandoned. This was the basis ot her
tutwmtum, as then proclaimed. It was offered in
this House on the 15th day of June, 1650. No
decision was bad on it. It was offered two days
after m the Senate to the then pending compromise
bill m the Senate. This proposition was in these
words:
“ And when the said territory, or any portion of the
tame, dish be admitted as a Stun, it snail be received mto
the Union with or without slavery, as t_ei» constitution
may prescribe at the time of admission.”
The whole question of slaver; or no slavery was
to be left to the determination of the people of the
Territories, whether north or south of 86 deg. So
min. or any other line. The question was to be
taken oat of Congress, where it had been impro
perly thrust from the beginning, and to be left to
the people concerned in the matter to decide for
themselves. This, I say, was the position origi
nallv held by the South when the Missouri restric
tion was at first proposed. The principle upon
wh eb that position rests lies at the very founda
tion of oil our republican institutions; it is that the
c'tizeuu of every distinct and seperate community
or Suite should have the right to govern them
selves in their domestic matters as they please,
and that they should be free from the intermed
dling restrictions and arbitrary dotation on such
matters from any other Power or Government in
which they have no voice. It was oat of a viola
tion ofthi* very principle, t« agreat extent, that
the war of the Revolution snrung. The South was
alwsyJ on the republican aide of this quest.on,
whUe the ■North—no; or, at least, I will not say
the entire North, for there have a! way sheen some
of them with the South on this question, but I*m
say while a majority of the North under the Fr«-
Jii. lead ot that section, up to the settlement ol
the con estin iß6o—were on the opposite side.
* Tne doctrine of the KettrMumuU or Free-Soil
ers, or those wno hold UiatCongressoughttoim
pose -heiraiWrary mandates upon the people of
the Territories in this particular, whether the peo
nle be willing or unwilling, is the doctrine of Lord
jsorth and hfs adherents in the British Parhament
towards the Colonies daring his administrator.
He and thev > ‘ vmedtbe right to govern the Col
onies “in aii ca. es whatsoever,’ notwithstanding
the want of representation on their part, ihe
doctrine of the South upon this question has be n,
and is, the doctrine of the Whig* in 1<75 and 1< im
It involves the principle that the citizens of every
community should have a voice in their tfovein
ment. This wua the doctrine of the people of
Boston in 1775, when the response was made
throughout the Colonics, “The cause ol Boston is
the cause of us all.” And if there be any nere now
who call themselves Whigs arrayed agaiust this
great principleofßepublican Government, I win
do towards them as Burke did in Englanu; I wilt j
appeal from “the new to the old Vi higs.”
I say nothing of the constiiutional view ol the
question. W non I have been a*kod il Congress
does not possess the power to impose restrictions
or to pass the “Wiimot Proviso,” I have waived
that issue; I never discuss it. On that point Lhnve
told my constituents and I tell you, I treat it as
Chatham treated it in the British Parliament when
the question of power to tax the Colonies without
representation was raised there. That was a ques
tion Chatham would uot discuss; but he told those
who were so unjustly exercising itthat if he were
an American he would resist it. Tiie question of
power is not the question; the question is, is it
right thus to exercise it! Is it consistent with
representative Republican Government to do it?
That is the question. W nere do you new latter
day Whigs from the North stand on this question?
Will you take the side of Lord North and the
the British Tories, and maintain that it is the duty
i of this great Government with its superior wißdom
’ 'o legislate for the freemen of this country, aßfree
boru as yourselves, who quit your State jurisdic
tions and seek new homes is the West i
And where do you, calling yourselves Demo
crats from the North, stand upon this great ques
• tion of populur rights ? Do you consider it Dum
i ocratic to exerche the high prerogative of stifling
• the voice of the adventurous pioneer and restrict
irg his snlf'iige iu a matter concerning his own in
' terest, happiness, and governmenl, wiiich he is
much more capable of deciding tbun you are ? As
for myself aud the friends of the Nebraska biil
we think that our fellow citizens who go to the
frontier, penetrate the wilderness, cut down the
forests, till the soil, erect school houses and church
es, extend civilizvlion, and lay the foundation of
future States and empires, do not lose by their
change of place, in hope of bettering their condi
tion, either their capac.ty for self-government or
their just rights to exercise it, conformably to the
Constitution of tho United States.
We of the South are willing that they should ex
ercise it upon the subject of the condition of the
African race amongst them, as well as upon
other questions of domestic policy. If they see fit
to let them, hold the same relation to the while
race which they do in the Southern States, Irom
tho conviction that it is bettor tor both races that
they should, let them do it. Iftliey see fit to place
them on thesamo footing they occupy in the nor
thern Stutes, that is, without the rights of u citizen
or the protection of a master, outcasts from society,
in worse condition than Cain, who, though seut
forth us a vagabond, yet had a murk upon him that
no man should hurt him—l say, if they choose to
put tltis unfortunate race on that footing, let them
do it. That is a matter that we believe the people
there can determine lor themselves better than
wo can lor them. Wo do not ask you to force sou
thern institutions or our form of civil polity upon
them ; but to let the free emigrants to our vast
public domain, in every part and paicel of it, settle
this question for themselves, with all the txpe
rieuce, intelligence, virtue, and patriotism they
may carry with them. This, sir, is our position. It
is, as I have said, the original position ot the Booth.
It is the position she was thrown back upon in
June, 1850. It rests upon that truly national and
American principle set forth in the amendment
offered in the Senate on the 17th of June, which I
have stated ; and it wus upon the adoptiou of this
principle that that most exciting and alarming con
troversy was adjusted. This was tho turning point;
upon it everything depended, so far as thut com
promise wus concerned.
1 well recollect the intensity of interest felt npon
the fate of cnat proposition in the Senate. Upon
its rejection in the then state of the public m.nd
depended eonsequeuees which no human forecast
could soo or estimate. The interest was enhanced
irom tho groat uncertainty and doubt us to the re
sult of tho voto. Several northern Sonators, who
hud before yielded the question of positive restric
tion -that is, tho“Wiimot proviso”—had given
no indication of how they would act upon this clear
declaration that tho people of the Territories might,
in the formation of their State constitutions,
determine this quostion for themselves. Among
these was Mr. Webster. Just betore the question
was put, and while anxiety was producing its most
torturing effects, this most renowned statesman
from New Kngland arose toaddrossthe Senate. An
immense crowd was in attendance. The lobby, as
well as the galleries, were full. All eyes were in
stantly turned towards him, and all ears eager to
catch every word that should fall irom his lips np
on this, the most important question, perhaps,
which had ever been decided by au Americau Sen
ate. His qwn vote, even, might turn tbe scale.
That speech I now have before me. In it he declar
ed himself tor the amendment, llis conclusion
was in those woids:
“Sir, my object is peace—my object Is reconciliation.—
My purpose is not to make up a case for the North or to
m. be up a case for the south. My object is not to continue
us-i.'ss and irritating controversies, lam against agitators
No th an" South; I amagai st local ideas Nort and South
and against all narrow and 1 jeui contests. lam an Amer
ica;:, and I know no locality in America. That is, my
country. My heart, my sentiments,my judement, demand
of me that I should pursue such a course as shall promote
the good, and the harmony, and the union of th- whole
country. This I shall do, God willing, to the tud cf the
chapter.”
The reporter says:
[“ Tlr honorab'e Senator resumed his scat amidst the
general applause from the gallery.”]
Yes, sir; lie did. 1 was there, and witnessed
tho scone; and no one, 1 fancy, who was there, can
ever forget thut scene. Every heart heat easier.
Tho triends of the measure lult that it was safe.
Tho vote was taken—the amendment wus adopted.
The result was soon communicated from thegai
leries, and, tiuding its way through every passage
and outlet to the rotunda, was received with oxul
lution by the crowd there; with quick steps it was
borne through the ci.y; and in less than five min
utes, perl apß, the electric wires were trembling
with the gludsome news to tho remotest parts of
the country. It was news well calculated to make
u nation leap with joy, us it did, because i„ was the
establishment of that great principle upon which
this territorial question was disposed ot, aojusted,
und settled in 1850. It was a new step in our
govormnontal history. From the beginning, noth
ing had been tho cause or source of so much sec
tional feeling and strifo as this question of slavery
in the Territories—a question so nearly allied in
principle to the old controversy between tho Col
onies and the mother country.
YVith tho colonies the question was not so much
the amount ot taxutiou ; it was not the small duty
on tea—that was far from being oppressive—but it
was the principle on which it was plaoed ; it was
the principle asserted and maintained in the ilpre
aml le," tlmt our forefathers resisted by arms.—
And Mr. Webster well said, on some occasion, that
tbe American Involution was "fought against a
preamble.” That preamble asserted the right or
power, of tho home Government to govern tho
colonies iu all cases, it was against that principle
the war was commenced.
The oau.-o of right iu which tho men of '7B en
gaged was vindicated in the success ofthe Revolu
tion, and the disruption of the British empire
And, as a ooiucidenco worthy to be noted, it so
happened that this kindred principle of the proper
and thejnst rights ot the peoplo of our territories,
or colon ea, made its first step towards ultimate
RUece.-s on theanniversary ol the battle ot Bunker
Hill. It was od tho ever memorable 17th day of
Juno. It was on that day (1T76,) the blow wus
struck, by the colonists at Bosion. against the un
wise, unjust, aud arbitrary policy of Lord North.
And it was on tbe same day, just seventy five
years alter, that the unwiso, unjust, and arbitrary
policy, to say no more of it, of this General Go
vcr. ment—attempting to compel the peopleof our
Territories to adopt such institutions an may please
a majority ci Congress, without consulting the
rights, interests, or wishes of those imm:diatc!y
concerned—was, lor the first, time abandoned by
the American Senate without a Uow. It is fortu
nate ter us, aud fortunate for millions that shall
come offer ns, that it wits abandoned without a
blow. Had the restrictionists of this country held
out as Lord North’s Ministry did in their policy,
it ought have ended in consequences most "disas
trous to our common well-being, and the hopes of
mankind But they did not. The power ot truth
prevailed. I‘atriotism trampled over faction.—
And as soon as this great American principle—l
so call it because it lies at the foundation of all our
republican institutions—was vindicated in the Se
nate, the House did not again resume tbe subject.
We waited until the bills came from the Senate.—
The same provision as that I have read was put in
th New Mexico Bill. That swept away the re
striction that had been put in the Texas annexa
tion resolutious overall that part of Texas lying
north ot 36 deg. 80 min., included in the present
territory of New Mexico, 'ihe House took up
these bills, after they were parsed by tho Senate
with these amendments, with thi* new principle
incorporated in them, and gave them their
sanction.
This, sir, is what is called the compromise of
1850, so tar as the territorial question is concern
ed. It was adopted after the policy of dividing
territory between the two sections, Norih and
South, was whollv abandoned, discarded, and
spurned bv the North. It was based upon the
truly republican and national policy of taking this
disturbing element cut of Congress, and leaving
tho whole question of slavery in the Territories to
the people, there to settle it for themselves. And
it is in vindication of that nsu> principle —then
established lor the first time in the history of our
Government—in the year 1850, the middle of the
nineteenth century—that we, the friends of the
Nibrts a Bill, whether !rom tho North or South,
now call upon this House and the country to carry
out in good faith, and give effect to the spirit and
intent of those important measures oi territorial
legislation. The principle of those territorial acts
was utterly inconsistent with everything like Con
gressional restriction. This is wbat we wish to
declare. And this principle, carried out in good
faith, necessarily renders all antecedent legislation
inconsistent with it, inoperative and void. This,
also we propose to declare.
The restriction imposed by the eighth section of
the act of 1850—thrown into that act cut of place
and without any legitimate connection with it,
like a fifth wheel "to a wagon—is just such antece
dent legislation. The principle on which it was
based has been abandoned, totally abandoned, as
I have shown, by those who now contend for it.
and superseded by another, a Ist r, a be'.vr, and
a much more national and republican, one. We do
not propose to repeal “any compact,” or to violate
faith in any sense—we only invoke you to stand
npon the territorial principle established oy what
is known as the compromise of 1850. That has
already received the sanction of an overwhelming
majority of the American people, as I doubt not it
always will receive when fairly presented. I have
seen it suggested, that if a proposition should be
made to extend the provisions of this bill to the
guarantee to the South in the Texas annexation
admission of slave Sta'es from
of 86 de k- 80 min., that such proposi
&who^ rUml l defe " it - By no means, sir:
how littla°th^ OD sllow not hing so clearly as
ration * ODd «staud the real merits of the
That guarantee, secured in the Texas resolu
tions so far as the character of the inaliiutioms of
sneh States, hereafter to be formed, feWereed—
that is, whether they be slave or free—: n
perfectaccorJance with the present provisions of
this bill. That guarantee was not that those new
States should be slave States, bat that the people
there might do as they please upon the subject.—
The reason that the guarantee waa important, at
the time, was because the policy of Congressional
mtHction had not then been abandoned. The
South never asked anv discrimination in her favor
from your hands. All that the South secured by
those resolutions, so far as tbe character of the*
States is concerned, was, simply, that they abonld
be admitted at a proper time, “either with or with
out slavery,” as the people may determine. As
to the number of States th.t is a different question.
So that if yon should repeal that so-called guarantee
for state States, by extending this bill to that
country, you would only erase to fill again. with
the same "words. We a'k no discrimination in our
favor. And all we ask of you men of the North,
is, that you make none in your own. And, why
should you ? Why should you even have the de
sire to do it ? Wfiy shouldyou not be willing to
remove this question from Congress, and leave it
to the people of the Territories, according to
the compromise of 1850 f You have greatly the
advantage o'us in population. The white popu
lation or the United States is now over twenty mil
lions. Os this number, the free States have more
than two to one, compared with tlio South.—
There are only a little over three millions of
blsvcs.
If immigration into the Territories, then, should
be assumed to go on the ratio of population, we
must suppose thattnere would be near seven white
persons to one slave at least; anil of these seven,
two from the fre.- States to one from the South.—
This is without taking into the estimation the im
mense foreign immigration. With such an ad
vantage are you afraid to trust this question with
your own people I—men reared under the influ
ence ol your own boasted superior institutions ?
With all the prejudices of birth and education
againbt us, are you afraid to let them judge for
themselves! Are you “free bom" sons, who
never “breathed the tainted air of slavery,” such
nincompoops that they cannot be “trusted out
; without their mother’s leaver It mast be so, or
else another inference is legitimate and clear ; and
that is, that notwithstanding all your denuncia
tions of the “batedand accursed institution,” you
have an inward consciousness that it is not so bad
after all, and that toe oniy way you can keep wise,
intelligent, and Christian men, even from New
England itself, from adopting it, is to set your
selves up as self-constituted guardians and law
makers lor them. 1 consider yonr policy and the
tenacity with which you hold to it, as the fullest
and amplest vindication ot the institutions of the
■ South against si! your misrepresentations, abuse,
and billingsgate about them.
I think, sir, I have shown conclusively that the
line of 36 Jdeg. 80 min., known as the Missouri
compromise line, never was a “compact,” in any
proper sense of that term. Andeven it it was that
it has been disregarded, broken, and trampled un
der foot by the parties who have lately so signal
ized themselves as its champions and defenders.—
1 have shown, that while the South was opposed
to the policy by which it was adopted, and took it
as a disagreeable alternative, yet she never offered
to disturb it, but was willing to abide by it for tho
sake of peace and harmony. I have shown, aiso,
that the present measure is no “breach of f
but that its object is to carry out and give effect .
the great territorial principle established in Is3o.
It remains for me now to say something upon I
the last part of tne speeohof the gentleman fr -m
Vermont; and that is, the great exci> meat task i
this measure is likely to produce. The GO ' v
was in peace and quiet, says the gentleman, until i
this bill was introduced. Well, sir, who raises
any excitement now ? Whence does the opposi
tion come? And what are the reasons for it? The
North, it is said, is to be excited. And excited
about what? Wbv, because Congress, when this
bill passes, will have recognized the territorial
principal established in 1850, and declared all an
tecedent legislation over the Territories of Kansas
and Nebraska inconsistent with that principle in
operative and void. And what is the harm or mis
chief to be done ? Why, nothing, but extending
to the freemen of Kansas and Nebraska that privi
lege which ought to be the birthright of every
American citizen—to have a voice in forming the
institutions, and passing the laws under which he
is to live. This is all. Who, then, is to be agita
ted at this monstrous outrage i Why, nobody but
those who wish to impose an unjust restriction
upon a freeman’s franchise; nobody but those
who deny to a portion of their fellow-citizens a flt
uoss or capacity for republican government. No
body but those who would maintain tho same po
licy on the part of the General Government to
wards tho people of the Territories which Lord
North and his Tory confederates, on tho part of
England, held towards the colonies. That there
may be, and that there are, some such bodies I do
not doubt. But who nro they, and what is their
force ? They are nothing but the fragments of the
old “Wilmot proviso,” “Free Soil,” and “Aboli
tion Phalanx, attempting to rally their broken
and routed effumns ny this hypocritical cry about
ttie sacrcdness of compacts. Whoover expected to
see the Now York Tribune and the Evening Post,
und such newspapers, pouring forth their invoca
tions in behalf of the “sanctity of the Missouri
compromise?” The men who thus cry aloud now
aru the very sumo who denouncedevery man at the
North who voted to maintain that line, while the
question was open, as a “dough face” and “trai
tor.” They thought then that they had tho world
in a swing, and would have everything their own
way; not satisfiud to have “the Wumot” fixed
upon all territory north of 36 deg. 30 min., they
determined to have it fixed upon the whole of the
piublic domain. With this spirit they went into
the contest. And, so fur from getting it fixed
where it was not, they came out of tho contest
with the establishment of a principle, which took
it off where it was fixed bolore. Like the man
that failed properly to use his tulent, they had ta
ken away from them “even that which they had.”
They went a “wooling,” and cam a back thorough
ly ‘ fleeced” themselves—hence their desperation.
That such men may rail, and rave, and rage, may
bo expected. Let them rage on. Had they, and
men of like opinions before them, nevor thrust
their unjust and anti-republican territorial policy
in tho Halls of Congress, there never would have
been seclioual strife within these walls. Whatev
er of party conflicts we might liavo had growing
out ot questions of legislation for so vast a coun
try us ours is, with all its complicated and diversi
fied interests, we Bhould have been saved from
tiiis lamentable quarreling about State institutions,
which threatened such fearful consequences in
1850.
But, sir, we are told that discord once reigned in
Heaven. The evil spirit ot pride and ambition,
craving powers and prerogatives not proper or le
gitimate, entered the breasts of those admitted
even to the presence of tne Most High; jealousy,
envy, and hute produced not only words, but
blows, between archangels ministering around
His throne.
“Long time in even scale
The battle hung.”
These unholy conflicts, so nnsuitod to that
place, were nevor composed until Heaven’s First-
Born, elothed in the majesty of divine power,
arose and hurled the factious hosts from the Em
pyrean battlements to the bottomless pit below.
“Nine days they fell; confounded chaos roared,
And felt tenfold confusion, in their fall,
Through his wild Anarchy : so huge a rout
Encumber’d him with ruin. Uell at last
Vawning, received them whole, and on them closed:
Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire
Uuquenehahle, the house of woe and pain
Disburden* 1 Heaven r joited, and soon repaired
Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled.”
From that profound deep, below which there
waa no lower deep, they Mill sent up much curs
ing, wailing, howling, aud hissing.
bo, sir, in these Hulls, sacred to national purpo
ses, and those objects for which the Government
1 wan formed, we have had peace-destrojing feuds
and unseemly conflicts engendered and instigated
by iho fell domon ol ‘restriction,” or “Wilmot
proviso,” which oneo stalked, with insolent brow,
in our very midst. These soenes lasted until the
Genius ol our country rose in its might, on the
17th ol June, 1800, armed with the great Ameri
can principio of self government, which had
borne our fathers through the struggle of thcKov
olution, and drove the hideous monster, with all
hie impious crew, from the Capitol—cast them
out, and hurled them downwards to that low
deop lrom which their plaintive howls now ascend.
Theso convocations at the Tabernacle and at Chi
cago and elsewhere—the ravings ol the infidel
preacher Theodore Parker, and all his weaker fol
lowers—are but the repetition of the Paudemonium
scenes; there consultations wero held, and gravo
debate had, how the banished fiends should regain
their lost CBtate, “whether by open war or covert
guile.” Those manifest atious may be expected.—
Wo havo had them before—yea, and much more
violent too. When the compromise of 1850 was
passed, these same men declared open war against
its provisions. “Kcpeal 1” “.Repeal I” was blazon
ed upon their kaunors; mobs were got up in Bos
ton, in Syracuse, aud at Christiana; blood was sh d
by three resistors of the law. The spirit of the
North was appealed to in fauuntic accents. That
spirit answered in prompt and patriotic tones of
popular.reprobatiou at the bollot-liox, just as it
will do again. These threats of what will bo the
fete and “political graves” of northern men who
vote for ttps bill oau fright nobody but old women
ar.d t mid clii drcn. They are worse than ghost
stories—we have heard them before.
1 recollect weil with what eicquenco a gentleman
from Ohio [Mr. Root] some years ago, in this
House, sp Mo of the deep degradation that awaited
evety man at the North who should dare to vote
against the Wilmot proviso. No patronage of the
Government could save him; no land cilice, ever
so remote, could keep him from being bunted
down, ferreted out, aud hold up to the juat scorn
ot an iudignuut constituency. But his prophetic
warning came far short of becoming history.—
Northern mon did abandonthe proviso. In doing
so they acted wisely, justly, nobly, aud patriotical
ly ; aud so far from digging their political graves
by the act, they havo but planted themselves deep
er and firmer in the hearts, love, affection, and ad
miration of their countrymen.
The samo “scare crow” was held up to north
ern men who occupied national ground on the ad
mission of Missouri. It was said then that they
would find “ike'rgraves”inthegroundwhere they
stood. And some pretend now to say that such
was the fact. But m the record I have before mo,
1 sec, among the very few from the North who
did then stand up for the right against the
huge clamor that was raised against them, the
names of Baldwin, from Pennsylvania; Holmes, of
Massachusetts] and Storrs, of New York; and
Southard, of New Jersey. Where did Southard
find his grave ? Mr Baldwin was afterwards one
of the judges of the Supremo Court of the United
State-s. Mr. Hoimert, when Maine was admitted
as a State, was el oted to the Senate, and held that
highly honorable post, for ought I know, as long
as ho wanted it.
Mr. Storrs, who was a man of great talents,
never lostthe confidence of his constituents. Had
he not been cut dowu by de th at an early age, he
might, and most probably would, have attained
the highest houors of the country, not excepting
the Chief Magistracy itself. These statesmen
found “political graves” where many of those who
now rail so fiercely would doubtless be very wil
lingto flud theirs. But of those who espoused the
side of the restrictionists at that time I do not see
the rame of a single man who ever attained high
political distinction in this country. Their very
memories, in most instances, have passed away,
and their “graves,” if they have any, would be
about as hard to find as that “of Moses in the
wilderness.”
So much, then, for these threats. They are bnt,
the “ ravings,” and “ bowlings,” and “hissings”
of the beaten and routed ranks of the factionists
and malcontents. |They are the wailings of the
politically-condemned, coming up from the bot
tom of that deep p’t where they have been hurled
by a patriotic people for the good, the peace,
quiet, and harmony of the whole country. We
need not expect to silence them—the friends and
advocates of the compromise of 1850 did not ex
pect or look for that at the time. That wonld
have been a forlorn hope; and though many of
the enemies of the compromise, of the North, who
were beaten in the great battle of 1852, have since
seemingly snrrendered and begged for quarters,
pretending to be.ready to acquiesce. 1 must be
permitted to say on this occasion, without any
wish to push myself in the New York contest,!
fcav- very little confidence in the integrity of their
prefer sions. They fonght the t otnpromise as long
as there was any prospect of mak’ng anything by
fighting it. When whipped, routed, and beaten,
then, like craven and mercenary captives, they
turned to power, to see if anything could be
made there by subserviency and sycophancy. I
have no faith in their conversion—never have had
any. Warmed into life again by the genial rays of
Executive patronage, 1 have always thought, and
still, think, that they wi!l only become the more
formidable whenever the occasion offers for their
real principles to manifest themselves. Hydro
phobia can never be cured—it will break out on
the changes of the moon. And so with the disease
of negro-mania. Sir, th viper will hiss and even
sting the bosom that nurtures and fosters it.
Whether lam right iu this anticipation, or whether
this administration is right in its present policy,
we shall see.
Bat we who stood by the compromise of 1850,
and intend to stand by it now, and carry it out in
good faith, are not to be moved by any clamor got
up by its old enemies; nor are we to be shaken in
onr purpose by any mistaken appeals in behalf of
the •* sanctity of compacts,” coming from a source
even as respectable as that of the National Intelli
gencer. That paper, in a late article, seems to con
sider the line ot 86 deg. and 80 rain, almost as
binding as the Constitution—the bare “sugges
tion” for a departure from which should arouse
the triends of the Constitution everywhere. If so
why did not that paper raise the alarm in 1586,
when Mr. Adams, in this House, backed by fifty
two northern voles, made something more than
“a suggestion” to depart from it f
wln 1845, when a majority of the North voted
against the annexation of Texas with this line in
wae not its voice again raised ? In 1847
and IS4S, when it was completely set at naught
and trampled upon by theNorth.asl have shown,
why was it not then raised ? Then the contest
was fierce and hot between those who stood by
that line and these who were for its total oblitera
tion. For three long years when this contest raged,
why did the Intelligencer never aay one word in
behalf of its maintenance kudjproservalion !
was certainly the time for any one who regarded
itss imbued with “sunctitt” and ‘‘sacrcdness I
to speak. It is too late now. Tho old principle in
our territorial policy has passed away, and we have
in its stead a new one. We are not, therefore, to
be shaken in our purpose to carry out this new
principle by any such clamor at appeals. Onr pur
pose is fixed, and onr course is onward. '« hat nt
tle agitation may be got np in Congress, or out of
it, while this debate laatof wfll speedily subside
as soon aa this new principle is once more yin dust
ed. Why do you hear no more wrangling here
about slavery and freedom in Utah and New Mex
ico ? Because, by this new principle, the irritating
cause was cast out of Congress, and turned over
to he people, who are most capable of disposing
ot it for themselves. Pass this bill—the sooner
the better—and the same result will ensne. -Ihis
shows the wisdom and statesmanship of those by
whom this principle was adopted as onr settled
policy on this subject in 1850. A cinder in the
eye will irritate end inflame it, until you get it out;
a thorn in the flesh will do the same thing- ihe
best remedy is to remove it immediately. That is
jußt what tne compromise of 1850 proposes to do
with this slavery question in the Territories when
ever it arises. Cast it out of Congress, and leave
it to the people, to whom it very properly and
rightfully belongs. ,
In behalf of this principle, Mr. Chairman, I would
to-day address this House, not as partisans—nei
ther as Whigs, or Democrats, but as Americans.
I do not know what you osll me, or how you class
me, whetheras Whig or Bfemocrat, in your politi
cal vocabulary, nor do I Care. Principles should
characterize parties, and not names, I call myselt a
Republican. and I would invoke you, one and all,
to come up and sustain this great republican and
American policy, established in 1850, for the per
manent peace, progress, and glory ot our common
country. If any o? you are convinced of its pro
priety and correctness, but are afraid that youT con
stituents are not equally convinced, follow the ex
ample of Mr. Webster, after his 7th of March
speech, when thedooraofFanenil Hall were closed
against him. Meet your constituents, if need be,
in the open air, and, face to face, tell them they are
wrong, and you are rishL 1 think, sir, that great
man, on no occasion of his life, ever appeared to
greater advantage in the display of those moral
qualities which mark thoeo entitled to lasting
fame, than he did in the speech ho made in an
open barouehe before the Severe Honse, in Bos
‘on. to three thousand neople who hart assembled
■ v , rr reason he Sad. to give for his course in
! tietrensto. He atoou u, before toe people
of Bristol, of as Aristid w before the people of
.».hens. When he told them, above ai* things, to be
i >“asw s +u tbstfpeeeWtt. Wooster void the peo-
I •»!?•- rfßoe’nt. Yoakf yt iKK'ywred *1 iuuospi'fcble
1 Climate ; you have compered a oterite and barren
| soil, you "have conquered the oican that washes
! vour shores; you have fought your wav to the res
pect and esteem of ma'ik’urt, bntyou have yet to
“conquer yonr prejudices.” That was indeed
speaking “vera pro gratis" And that was a scene
for the painter or sculptor to perpetuate the man in
the exhibition of his noblest qualities far more wor
thy than tho occasion of lijs reply to Mr. Hay ne, or
his great 7th of March spoech. Imitate his exam
ple—never lose the consciousness that “truth is
mighty and will ultimately prevail.” Tho great
“truth” as to the right principle ol disposing ot
this slavery questiou in the Territories, was first
proclaimed by the Congress of the United States in
1850. It was as oil upon the waters. It gave qui
et and repose to a distracted country. Let it be
the pride of us all in this Congress to reaflirm the
principle—make it oocxtoDsive with your limits—
inscribe it upon your banners—make it broad as
your Constitution—proclaim it everywhere, that
the people of the common Territories of tho Union
wherever the flag floats stall have the light to
form such republican institutions as they please.
Let this be onr pride ; and then with a common
feeling in the memories and glories cf the past, wo
can all, from every State, section, an l Territory,
look with hopctul anticipations to that bright pros
, pect in the future which beckons us on in our pro
gre s to a still higher degree of greatness, power,
i and renown.
Manufactures in Buatia.
Wo extract from a recent article in tiro N. Y.
Tribune the following account of the condition of
the manufacturing interests in Russia :
A little more than twenty years since the first
cotton mill in Bussia was erected. New Bussia
has three hundred and fifty thousand spindles in
full operation, which produce annually more than
ten million eight hundred thousand pounds of
yarn. The yarn spun is generally very low, the
number varying from twenty to forty tortho wool,
because there is a large market for coarse fabrics.
Central Russia (especially Wladimir, Kalouga,
Kostroma, and so forth) is the seat of the manufac
ture ; aud the peasants receive the yarn from the
contractors and occupy themselves with weaving
during the winter receiving very trifling wages,
while laying an industrial foundation for their
country, by so turning, to account their waste
time. Thu goods so prodneed are equivalent to
seven, eight and nine coi.t English cottons. Be
side these, there are 140 manufactories producing
superior articles, not counting cotton velvets and
muslins. The cotton volvet finds its chief market
in China, which np to the recent period of these
Russian establishments, wus supplied by the Bri
tish monopolies. Russian primed oottous are now
said to eq al those of Manchester and Alsace—all
tne growth of twenty years.
The chief seat of the manufacture of fine cotton
in Bussia is at St. Petersburg, where it is mainly
carried on by Swiss workmen. The quantity
manufactured is estimated at throe million pieces,
sufficient to supply the whole Empire, and with
the growth of civilization tho demand mnst in
crease Not more than one thousand five hundred
pieces of the highest quality of prints are now im
ported into Russia. The manufacture of muslins
is also augmenting. Added to this must be men
tioned the successful introduction of the cotton
plant into tbo Caucasian provinces.
The total value of the cotton fabrics of Russia
may now be estimated at thirty-two millions dol
lars a year. Tho movement of her industry in this
branch may, however, best be estimated from the
following table of her imports in 1846 and 1850:
1846. 1850.
Raw Cotton... .26,152,484 lbs. 44,257,500 lbs.
Cotton Yarn... 18,402,750 “ 6,838,750 “
This shows that in five years Russia’s importa
tion of raw cotton hfca nearly doubled, while that
of cotton yarn, for which she was dependent on
Great Britain, has diminished by two thirds. In
1882, Great Britain exported 19,587,781 lbs. of
cotton yarns and febrics, valued at T 1,186,787 ;
while in 1850, the total amount of ootton yarns
and fabrics, valued at £1,136,787 ; while in 1850,
the total amount Os cotton yarn imported by all
parts of Europe was 5,602,248 lbs., or little moro
thar. a fourth as much as in 1852.
Impressment.
John Haben, a nativo of Prussia, but who come
to this country at 17 years of ago, became an
American citizen, settled in Syracuse, ami joined
the citizen soldiery of his adopted city, and who
for three years exercised the privilege ot the elec
tive franchise, but who, in consequence of the
deatli of bis father, was obliged to return to his
native oountry for the purpose of obtaining the
patrimony lett him, has, it appears, been forced
into the Prussian army i Haben left a wife and
family in this country, who deprived of his support,
are now in destitute circumstances. They havo
recently received a letter from a relative in Wrex
water, Prussia, of which the following is an ab
stract :— [Carolinian.]
“ After he (Haben) had boen here several days,
the burgomusterof the place summoned him twice
to appear before him. 1 expected that nothing
good would come out of this, aud therefore went
to St. Wendol, asked there the advice of good men.
They told me that I should koep him secretly, and
send him back to America as quick as possible,
because if he came ia the power of the Prussian
Government, they w»uld detain him.
When 1 told this M John, he did not bolievo it,
but relying on his food American passport, he
went to the burgomaster. As soon as John ap
peared before the burgomaster, he took his paper,
(which has not been returned,) arrested him, and
looked him up in jail. From the4th of Doeomber,
1858, up to January S, 1854, he has boon sent from
oue prison to the other; he is now a soldier in
Sacetlius, in the 40th Prussian regiment of Infant
ry. Ho is quite despairing, and does not know
how he shall get out again of this slavery. Wo
have sent a report ol this affair to the American
consul at Franktort. This gentleman advised us
to lay our complaint before the American Ambassa
dor at Berlin, which we have done twice already,
butreoeived no answer Tho Prussian Govern
ment has confiscated John’s properly.”
The late Judge Sayre.
While on a visit to Charleston, about a year ago,
a friend in that city related to us an unneedote of
Judge Sayre, which is too good and characteristic
of that most excellent man, to be ref used a reccrd.
It seems that our friend, while travel ing at the
North, chanced tostop for a time with an old lady
residing in a small town in New Jersey. Hearing
he was from tho South, among other questions she
asked it he knew a Mr. Nathan C. Sayre, and
where he lived. Upon an affirmative reply, the
good lady remarked that, when a boy, (in 1810 if
we recollect aright,) Mr. Sayre was at school in that
village, that he boarded at her house, and further
spoke of him as a most excellent youth and a
irenerai favorite in the school and town. She re
marked, however —as the more special object of
her inquiry—that there were yet thirty-eight dollars
dneon his board, which she would like extremely
to get. Kno ving'Judge Sayre well, and being,
withal, a plain spoken man, our friend assured her
that, though many years had elapsed, it should all
be made right.
Upon his return to Charleston in tho fall, he
wrote to Judge Sayre stating that the (acts as de
tailed to him by the New Jersey landlady, and, fry
return mail, received the following answer, which
we give from recollection, but with no material in
curraey, we reet sure, for the language made a
strong 'repression upon us at the time.— Wilkes
Republican.
My Dear Sir: —Yonr favor of the inst., has
just been received, and 1 have to thank you for
the kindness in the matter to which it relates. I
have a distinct recollection of boarding with Mrs.
was then under the charge of a guardian, who
had means in his hands for defraying ail my ex
penses, and I have never had reason to believe
that he failed to pay off and discharge any liability
created by me when under his care. It is, how
ever, enough for me to know, that she thinks it is
unpaid, and I enclose yon a cheek for the amount
said to be due, with interest to date, aud would ask
the favor of you to see that she gets it.
Very truly, your Iriend,
Nathan C. Saybe.
Charleston and Savannah Railroad.— Mr. John
Johnson, First Assistant Engineer of the Charles
ton and Savannah Railroad, reached this city Sun
day morning on board the steamer Calhoun. Mr.
Johnson has come on in chaige of a party who
will immediately commence surveying from Sa
vannah the direction of Charleston. Another par
ty has already been operating from Charleston to
wards Savannah. The two will prosecute their
labors until they meet. We understand that Mr.
Mcßae, Chief Engineer, is about setting off from
Charleston, by land, for Savannah. It is said, we
know not how truly, that there will be a compro
mise between the friends of the Savannah and
Branchvllie, and the friends of the Charleston and
Savannah schemes, by which the two projected
roads will be merged into one, connecting this city
and Charleston by such route as will accommodate
the parties most interested in the road from
Savannah to Branchville. We should think it
highly desirable that an arrangement of this kind
should be made.— Sat. Georgian.
Kn.i.xn Himself —On Monday morning last,
John H. Cates, imprisoned for debt, was found
dead in the debtor’s room of the Jail in this place,
with his throat ent from ear to ear. He was for
several years engaged in merchandizing in the low
er part of the county, was unfortunate and failed,
and being suspected of an attempt to defraud his
creditors, was thrown into prison, where he had
been but a short time confined, when he commit
ted the act of self destruction. He has left a wife
and several children to mourn his loss. He it said
to bave been a kind father and an affectionate hus
band. Surely a law that can be used to drive the
unfortunate, having famades dependent upon
them for support, to such desperation as above re
lated, should be repea,ed or materially modified.
A man’s family has higher claims upon him than
his creditors, and it isthe duty of our law makers
to see to it that his wife and children are not de
prived of their protector by confinement iu a dun
geon, even though he may be unfortunate and
owe debts he cannot poeeibly pay-— Seaman Ban
ner.
Strawberries.— We were favored with a small
basket of ripe strawberries grown by Mr. Law
rence, in the Third District, of the Crescent Seed
ling, in the open air. They were ripe, luscious
ana fragrant, as much so as if ripened in midsum
mer. Hear that, ve hyperboreans of New York
and Boston: strawberries grown in the open air in
February!—A 7 . O. JMlia, KM in#.
WEEEI
(Cjinmkle & Sentinel
AUGUSTA. GEORGIA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MABCg 1, 1854.
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR.
The March number of this popular and valuable
Agricultural Journal has just been issued, and laid
on our table. The folio wing table of contents will at
once commend it to the favorable consideration of
the intelligent, and show to all classes, who do not
already “know as much as they want," of that
most difficult of all sciences, Agriculture, that it
may be read with interest and profit, by every man
who tills a foot of soil. It is a large Octavo, of 82
pages monthly, aud contains much more reading
matter than any Agricultural journal in the South.
Its pages are elegantly illustrated with engravings
on wood, and are enriched by the contributions of
many of the most intelligent, practical Farmers
and Planters in the Union :
CONTENTS OF MARCH NUMBER.
Plantation Economy and Miscellany.— Hints
on Planting in 1854; Seasonable Suggestions;
English Ladies and Agriculture ; Soil Aualyses;
Importation of Goals &i.; A Plantation Gate
(Illustrated;) Letter from Texas —MusqnitGrass—
Osage Orange Hedges, <fec.; To Prevent Weevil in
Wheat; National Agriculture, &c.; Liverpool An
nual Cotton Statement; European Annual Cotton
Statement; Sheep Husbandry in Tennessee—
M. R.Coekrill; A Now Plan for the Civiization of
Africa, Important Experiment with Guano ;
House for Poultry and Pigeons, (illustiated;)
Weight ot Devon Cattle; Kentucky Blue Grass;
The Protective Bee Hive (illustrated ;) Ostor, or
Basket Willow; Superior Cotton; American
Cutlery; How to Make Hens do their Duty;
DevoDCowsas Milkers; A Prolific Potato, &c.;
Bommer’s Manure; Guano on Sandy Soil; Culture
of Peas; Lime and Salt Mixture; Tables of Mea
sure, Distance, <fec.; Bote in Horses; Pulling Fod
der; Aquatic Fows—The Duck Tribe (illustrated;)
A Beatifal Incident—Making Vinegar, &c.
Editorial —Onr Book Table ; Baby Premiums;
Opinions es a Lady ;To Correspondents; “Na
tional Poultry Show ;” Gardening in Oregon;
More High Prices ; Cattle going up I &e., &c.
Hokticcltuuai Department,— Work for the
Month ;On the Black Rot in Apples; Garden
Fertilizers; Culture of the Sunflower; Soap Suds
lor Plants, &c; Large Lemons; Saving Garden
Seeds; Action of Drouth.on Plants.
Domestic Economy, &o.—How to wash Lace;
How to Cook Cabbage : To Keep Suet ; Impor
tance of Pure Water, &?.; Corn Bread ; Corn
Meal Pudding; Mortar for Chimneys; Valuable
Application : How to Make Light Bread ; To Boil
Tripe ;To Make Pepper Sauce; Sore Back in
Horses ; Charcoal and Salt for Sheep ; Incombus
tible Wash for Buildings; To Keep Pickles, &c.
Illustrations.— A Plantation Gate; Honse for
Poultry and Pigeons ; The Protective Bee Hive ;
Aquatic Fowls—Alycsbury Ducks; Aquatic Fowls
—Rouen Drake.
Terms, one dollar a year in advance. Address
Wm. S. Jones, Augusta, Ga.
Mr. Stephen*’ Speech.
Ocr readers will require uo apology for occupy
ing so much of onr space to-day, with tho admira
ble speoch of the Hon. A. H. Stephens, on the
Nebraska qnostiou. It is one of hiß finest efforts,
and, as it discusses a grave and important ques
tion, ono wlrch deeply interests his immediate
constituents, in common with the whole nation,
wo haston to give it a place, to the exclusion of
other matter. Goorgia, not less than his District,
has much canso to ojugratulate herself upon tho
distinguished position attained by Mr. S., and to
feel proud of him.
Arrest of Swindlers.
Two young men of genteel rip pen ranee, very
welt dressed who registered their names at the
Hotel as John B. Holliman and Henry A. Dofft,
were arrested in this city a few days since on a
charge of Swindling. On examination before
Justice Olin, they were committed for trial on
threa charges for Swindling, and ono for an attempt
to Swindle. It appeared that they have been
loitering aboot the city for some days seeking the
unsophisticated to victimise them—in which they
had been quite sucoesful, having obtained several
hundred dollars. One of them would loiter about
some secluded part of the oily, while the other
would very adroitly seduce the victim into a walk,
in the course of which they would meet his ac
complice, who would propose a bet on a “ Mexican
box game,” tho accomplice would tain tho bet,
and borrow all tho victim’s money by pledging a
worthless chock, drawn on some Back in the city,
by some fictitious firm, and promise to return to
the Hotel immediately and redeem the check by
replacing the money.
Tho money obtained and the bet lost, they took
Freneh leave of their victim, and he returned to
the Hotel to await the redemption of the chock.
Rise in the River. —Tho rain of Saturday and
Saturday night lias raised tho Savannah from 25
to 30 fset. During last night, and fora while this
morning, many feared that tho oity would bo again
inundated, but their fears have subsided, as the
water is now about at a Btand ; having risen about
82 feet above low water mark.
A portion of Hamburg is submerged, but as the
water did not rise rapidly, wo presumo little dam
age to goods has been sustained.
After the foregoing was prepared for our Even
ing Edition yesterday, a break occurred in the
, second level of the Canal, a little South of Mar
bury-street, which, for a time, threatened to sub
merge extensively some of the streets in the back
part of the city, aud therefore produced an intense
degree of excitement in those localities. Happily,
however, the water soon found vontinto tho riveT
below, and did no other damage than te spread
over some low places in the back streets and on
the South Common.
Our Savanush Visitors.
The completion of tho Augusta and Waynes
boro’ Railroad, an event which wo hail with un
ming.ed pleasure, afforded the opportunity, yes
terday, to a number of geutlonren from Savannah,
to visit us, of which wo are glad, some sixty or
more availed themselves. They left our sistor city
'at 6 A. M., and arrived at tho depot in Augusta at
14, making the run in five hours. They wore met
at tho depot and appropriately welcomed by the
authorities and invited to partake of a hastily pre
pared dinner at the Planter’s Hotel, at 2P.M.,
which they accepted. At 2 they sat down in com
pany with a number of gentlemen of Augusta, in
vited guests, to a most sumptuous dinner. Having
discussed the viands and drawn a few corks, they
they repaired to the depot and were off at 4o’clock
Savannah, whic . thoy expected to reach at 9 P. M.
Altogether it was a very pleasant affair, and wo
hope will be the precursor of much more intimate,
social and commercial relations between the two
citio3.
There was no display in tho matter nor any at
tempt at it. It was a sort of impromptu visit, for
which there was little time for preparation. Our
people desired to give them an old fashioned, cor
dial welcome, and we hope they so esteemed and
appreciated the hospitality.
Wasfctog'on's Birlh-day-
The Anniversary of the birth of “the Father of
his Country,” was marked yesterday, (a most beau
tiful and lovely day,) in this city, by the parade in
the forenoon of a number of tho Fire Companies,
as the guests of the Washington Company, and in
the afternoon by tha turn out of the three Volun
teer Corps of the city. The display on both occa
sions was very handsome and highly creditable to
those engaged. It was truly a gala day to those
who participated, and every thing went off admir
ably.
Flie.
A fire occurred (supposed from a spark fiom a
candle, carried by a servant into tho garrelt about
10 o’clock,) between 11 and 12 o'clock Friday night
in tho building on the Southwest corner of Ellis
and Elbert-stroets, owned by F. Midlam, and oc
cupied by J. W. Wiohtman. The fire had made
such progress before the alarm was given, that the
entire upper story was enveloped in flames ere
tho engines were brought to bear upon it. When
they did get into play, however, such was their
efficiency, that tho progress of the devouring ele
ment was arrested in a very few minutes. The
upper story was not entirely consumed, but so
much injured as to be valueless. The lower story
was saved—of course damaged by water. The
building was insured for SISOO, which will proba
bly cover the loss. Mr. Wiohtman, we regret to
learn, was quite a sufferer in the loss of many
valuable books and paintings, besides the injury
sustained by bis furniture in the removal.
James Smithson, the founder of the Smithso
nian Institute, left among hie effects several slips
of paper upon which there singnlar remarks were
witten: “ The best blood of England flows in my
veins; on my lather’s side I am a Northumber
land, on my mother’s, lam related to kings, but
this avails me not; my name shall live in the me
mory of roan when the titles of the Northumberland
and the Percys are extinct and forgotten.” The
sum bequeathed by Smithson was $515,169, upon
which $212,000 of interest had accrued at the
time of commencing the building. The original
fund can never be diminished, and the interest
now accumulated is slso,ooo.— Exchange paper.
We fear the chances for the name of the philan*
tkrop c Smithson, being handed down to posterity
immortalised, will be rather through the folly of
Congress, in the disposition of the fund, than any
good which the noble bequest will ever accom
plish, unless some different use be made of it. As
now used, it is only a bounty to a few pensioners—
consequently the great object of the Testator is
effectually thwarted.
Fike a Orangebcrg.— The Charleston Courier
learns that eleven buildings, in the business por
tion of Orangeburg, were destroyed by fire on
Mouday night. No details given.
The English papers say that John Duffy, the
United States Consul at Galway, is about to resign,
as the appoinmentdoes not pay expenses. A letter
from Smith O'Brien, of October l»t, says he has
no intention of escaping, and had received his
ticket of leave for six mouths.
The foreign exports from Baltimore, lor the
week ending on Thursday, were large, amounting
in value to $449,147. The export of breadstuff* for
the week comprised 86,525 barrels of flour, 1,676
bbls. of corn meal, and 27,409 bushels of corn.
The members of the Wisconsin Assembly fa
vorable to the passage of a prohibitory liquor law
have held a meeting, and agreed to pass (as they
have votes enough to pas?) the bill reported by
Mr. Knowlton, from the Judiciary Committee. It
is sufficiently stringent in its provisions, if en
forced, to put an end to all traffic in liquor in that
State.
The Boston Courier says that notwithstanding
the cold weather, the amount of ice stored in that
vicinity has not been more than three-quarters of
an average crop.
Education la Alabama —Georgia.
It is a matter of sincere congratulation to tho
friends of education in the Southern States, that
the Legislature of Alabama has passed the bill to
establish a general system of education. The fol
lowing appropriations have been made:
Ist. The annual intorest at eight per cent, on that
portion of the surplus revenue of the United States
deposited will Alabama, under the act of Con
gress of the 23d of Jane, 1836.
2d. The annnal interest at eight per cmt. on the
proceeds of certain lands granted by the United
States for the use of schools in the valueless six
teenth sections in this State, under the tot ofCou
gress of the 11th of August, 1848.
Bd. The annual interest at six per cent, on the
fund which has accrued, or may hereafter accrue,
from the sales ot the sixteenth sections in the sev
eral townships in the State.
4th. The unnual sum of one hundred thousand
dollars from auy moneys in the treasury not other
wise appropriated.
sth. All sums of money which may hereafter
accrue from escheats.
The machinery provided to carry this system
into effect is the election by the Legislature of a
General Superintendent of Education, with a sal
ary of $2,500; the election of three Commission
ers ot Free Public Schools in each county by tho
qualified voters; aud the election of three Trus
tees in each township in like manner. To these
various officers are confided the entire educational
interests of the State; and the duties are so dis
tributed between them as to secure the establish
ment of a common school in every township; the
employment of competent teaohers; the distribu
tion of the fund, <fec.
The authors of this system of education have
conferred a boon upon the State of incalculable
value, and will be held in grateful remembrance
by a far distant posterity who will owe to their en
lightened liberality the blessingof Education. In
striking contrast with this policy, is the course of
the Georgia Legislature which this day (17th) ad
journs. Rich iu resources, out of debt, intersected
with railroads, Georgia has been content to do
nate $5,000 to the Botanioo Medical Colfogo, while
50.000 of her children can neither read nor write.
There were no le and patriotic men in the Georgia
Legislature who strove to bring this subjeot before
that body, aud both our late Governors have
done their duty in the premises. But their ben
evolent designs for the elevation of the poor and
destitute have all been counteracted by a class of
men known as “guardians of the Treasury” who
conoeive that the whole duty of man is accomplish
ed when a stray d.tno is chugged back into the pub
lic treasury. And what is worse they are esteemed
by the masses their peculiar friends, because for
sooth they lighten the burthens of taxation. Tax
ation! who pays taxes? Men of woalth bear the
whole burthen. Yet wbou it is proposed to tax
wealth for the education of the poor man, these
exclusive friends of the poor man stand in tho way
and intercept the proffored boon. Our pen itohes
to give the namee of this olass of legislators, but
Quiensalef The educated already know them
and despise them; and the poor uneduoated,
whose real enemies they are, unfortunately, would
never be tho wiser for our temerity. They cannot
read.
Empire State of the South ! such is tho proud
boast of those who, in the classical language of one
of her legislators, were rat ed in the State. Georgia
is an Empire Slate in territory, in population, in
railroads—hot in ignorunco she also is an Empire
State; and may proudly challenge comparison with
auy of tho sisterhood of States. Shamo on us that
it is so. The great curse of llie Slate is that her
legislature contains an unusual number of members
who are uneducated men. Will it bo believed that
there was a member ot the last legislature who can
neither read nor writo ? What cures he for the
education of the people? And that the word “axes”
“rared,” “howbyever," &0., &0., wore as often
used in tho two houses as “asks,” “reared,"
“however,” aud that bad grammar was so common
as not eveu to excite remark.
We hope we will not be misunderstood? There
were many nobio men iu both branches whose
names are familiar to our readers. But there was
also a mass of ignorance which is dopleruble, and
ought to be removed.
Shull Georgia be outdone by Alabama—her
young daughter, scarcely out of her toens ? by
Alabama with hardly halt our popu’atiou or wealth
und burlhened with a debt of $4,000,000 ? God
forbid that so foul a blot shall longer stain tho
escutcheon of our noble Stato.— Columbus Times.
We think our contemporary, in justice to tho
great interests of the Stato, should have relieved
tho “itching of its pen," by giving the names of
t ose Legislators, who are so entirely destitute of
patriotism as to oppose a wiso aud liberal system
of general education. They should be exposed, to
the ond that they may be oxcluded from the Hulls
of legislation, to whioh they are a disgrace. Tho
Editor ol tho limes has spent natch time during
tho session, in Milledgevilie, and knows them. He
should not falter in his duty in such a cause. The
press owes it to itself, not less than the State, to
drag these men before the country, and expose
them in all their naked deformity. Wo will cor
dially co-oporalo with tho Times in such a work.
Give us the names then.
The barque J. Patton, Capt. Johns, supposed of
Philadelphia, which sailed from Havana on the
14th of December for Now York has not since been
hoard from. She was 167 tons, and had for cargo
200 pipes tafia and 9341 lbs. tobacco. Mr. William
C. Evarts, with two children and servant woman,
were passengers. Mrs. E. was the daughter of
Dr. James Wilson, of tho San Francisco Hospital,
Havana, and all muoh beloved for intelligence and
worth. The captain had his family on board.
The boiler iron makers of Wheeling, who have
beon on a “strike” against their employers for two
months past, have at length settled their differ
ences, and all the establishment have resumed
operations.
Resolutions on the Death of Mb. Clay.—Tho
following are the resolutions which were offered
and unanimously passed in the Legislature of
Kentucky, lost week, and which drew forth the
finest bursts of eloquence that have been heard
during lbs present session :
1. Sesolved li/the General Assembly of the Com
monwealth of Kentucky, That the melancholy in
telligence of the death of our illustrious citizen,
Henry Clay, was received by tho people of Ken
tucky with the deepest and mo3t painful sensibili
ty. His long, brilliant and patriotic services in the
councils of the State and nation: his devoted and
successful iaborsin behalf of tho union and tho cause
of liberty; his matchless oratory and unrivaled
statesmanship, have created an affection for his
name aud memory in tho hearts of his countrymen
that will be cherished to tho latest generation.
2. That ns a further token of onr respect for the
memory of the deceased, tho Sergeants at arms of
tho two Houses of this Assembly are instructed to
have their respective halls clad in mourning for
the residue of the session.
8. That as a further tokon of our respect for tho
memory of the deceased, we will wear tho usual
badge of mourning on the left arm for the space
of thirty days.
The speeches have boon ordered to be published
in pamphlet form, 5,000 copies, for the use of the
members.
Pbifessoi: Bbantly. —lt would seem from the
following paragraph which wo find in the Phila
delphia Chronicle, that another member of the
faculty of our State University is soon to leave that
institution. We refer to Prof. Brantly:
Wo are gratified to learn that the Rev. Wm. T’
Brantly, of Athens, Ga., has accepted the invita
tion of tho First Baptist Church, to become pastor.
The call extended to him somo weeks ago was en
tirely unanimous and vory cordial. While preach
ing a few Sabbaths, numerous congregations at
tended, deep impressions were made, quite a num
ber converted, and sixteen baptized. Brother
Brantly is just the man for this field of labor,
which is a most responsible one, and full of on
couragemont. We cunnot congratulate the church
too warmly on their success in obtaining a pastor
of the right character in evory respect. The new
house is progressing, and when completed, another
season, will be one of the most spacious, commo
dious and imposing in tho city. Bro. Brantly will
enter on the duties of pastor early in the spring.
Shooting Challenge Extbaobdinaby. —John
Travis, in New Orleans, has accopted the follow
ing remarkable challenge from Mr. Bertin L
Rhodes: Rhodes bets Travis SI,OOO to SBOO, that
he (Travis) cannot, within 90 days, produce a
living man who, standing thirty-six feet from the
Baid Travis, will allow him (Travis) to shoot with
a pißtol (off-hand) an apple placed on the said liv
ing man’s bend—the apple not to exceed 4 inches
in circumference. The said Travis is to have three
shots at the apple, and he must hit tho apple once
to win the match. If he does not hit the apple, or
if he hits the man, Rhodes wins, and the man (or
rather the fool) loses his head.
The Clipper Gbeat Republic. —The Boston At
las says that Captain L. McKay, formerly of tho
ship Republic, has bad au offer from a foreign
house to build his ship as a steam frigate, and
would leave Boston on Saturday in the new clipper
Lightning, for Liverpool, to make the necessary
arrangements.
It is stated that vessels are much wanted at
Norfolk, and merchants are compelled to store a
large quantity of grain until they can procure con
veyance for it to Northern markots. There are
now 55,000 bashels of corn afloat there.
The substitute for the Maine liquor law was
adopted in the Maryland House of Delegates on
the 16th inst. It merely provides for taking the
vote of the people on the question. Tho result is
to be communicated by the Governor to the legis
lature next session.
Copper Mine. —The Marietta Advocate is inform
ed that Gen. Lawhon, of Cherokee county, has
discovered a vein or bod of copper ore on one of
his lots near or at the “Sixes gold mine,” which
promises to yield a rich return. The bed is said
to be thirty feet thick, and the ore to yield abouQ
50 per cent, of copper. The owners are led to be
lieve that the mine is exceedingly valuable.
Railroad Meeting.— A meeting of the citizens
of Dalton has been called by the Mayor, on Mon
day next, the 27th inst., to take into consideration
the propriety of taking stock, by said city, in the
contemplated Railroad from that place to the Cop
per Mines in Polk county, Tenn.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Augusta, Atlanta, and Nathville Telegraph Com
pany, A. D. Hammett, late President, tendered hia
resignation. C. A. Baker, Esq., of this city, was
elected to the vacancy.
An aged gentleman, of Salem, informs the Lynn
Eay State, that in 1794 a ship was launched in that
place, December 25th, and that the weather was
so warm on that day, that numerous persons went
into the water to bathe, as In the summer season.
The weather was remarkably mild throughout the
whole of that season.
Heavy EoBBEBY.-The Tbomasville, (Geo.) Watch
man says:—We learn that the house of Mr. James
Groover, some five miles from Groverville, in this
county, was entered on Wednesday night last by
tome person or persons, and five or six thousand
dollars in money stolen, among which was abont
thirty-three one hundred dollar bills, mostly on
the Marine and Fire Insurance Bank of Savannah.
Mr. Groover was not at home at the time. No clue
has as yet been had as who the thief or thieves
were.
Representatives of the once great Mohican tribe 1
of Indians, now numbering about one hundred
and fifty, are in Washington, seeking the annul- (
ment of a treaty by which they were removed from t
Wisconsin to Minesota. They wish to rerurn to J
Wisconsin and live, as they nave in almost "11 j
things adoptod the habits and pursuits of the U
whites. 11
New Bosk*.
Theological Essays, by T. D. Maurice, M. A.,
Chaplain ol Lincoln’s Inn. 1 volume, jp. 869.
Bedfield.
There osskys of tbo learned divine, which are
particularly addressed to Unitarians, are based
upon the hypothesis 11 that a Theology whioh does
nolfoorrespond to the deepest thoughts aud feelings
of human beings, cannot be a true Theology.” The
essays which were originally delivered in the form
of sermons, are not in a controversial spirit, but
rather to invite investigation on the part of Uni
tarians. For sale by McKinne & Hall.
“ Classic and Historic Pobthatis," by J as. Bruce.
1 vol. pp. 852. Kedfieu).
This is a collection of veiy interesting biograph
ical sketches of individuals, whose names are
known to fame in ancient, and more modem his
tory, numbering umong them some now on the
stage of aotion. We have seen no volume of its
size, so full of interesting and valuable information
to all classes of readers. For sale by McKinne &
Hall.
“The Working Man's Way in the World,” be
ing the autobiography of a Journeyman Prin
ter. 1 vol. pp. 859. Bedfield.
Tho journeyman printer is proverbial for his
propensity to roam in quest of adventure and
sight-soeing. To those who take an interest in
such sketches of life, this volume will bo found
very entertaining.
It may be had of McKinne & Hall.
The Old Brewery, a very readable book—one
indeed of thrilling interest, which we noticed a
few days since has been laid on our table by Geo.
A. Oates & Brothers.
Adjournment of the Legislature.— Under this
caption the Maoon Telegraph has a leader, from
which we tako the following:
“It has been as usual, a tumultuous excited, la
borious and unsatisfactory session. We may in
perfect truth say of it, that much has been done
should have boon left undone, and that many
things that were not done should have been done.
Theso sins of omission and commission we fear
will be long remembered by the State. To our
minds the thing has been demonstrated through a
s ries of sessions of our Legislature, running
through a period of ten years, that unless the peo
ple dotermino to infuse more talent aud statesman
ship into the two Houses, that instead of bi-ennial
terms, one Legisislature every deoade will be quite
sufficient.”
The Pandelly Case.
The community of New Orleans have been for
several days past much excited at the trial of a
novel and highly interesting suit, termed the Pan
delly case. The suit was instituted by a gontleman
of that name belonging to a large, weultliy, and
influential Creole family, for damages on account
of alledged negro taint in his ancostry. Tho plain
tiff was elected to a seat in the Common Council
of New Orleans, but objection was made to his oc
cupying it, on account of the legal prohibition of
persons taintod with negro blood from holding
oflioo in Louisiana. Hence the suit. The plaintiff
denied the allegation that ho was distantly descend
ed from a negress, and introduced a number of
witnesses, some of them nearly a hundred years
of ago, who testified that the women in question
was a full-blood Indian. Tho testimony on both
sides was very voluminous and interesting. The
case was given to tho jury on Saturday, and on
Monday night they returned a verdict in favor of
plaintiff, without dumagos. This rosult seems
generally gratifying to the press of that city. The
Delta of Tuesday says:
“As tho result of the suit determines a question
of great interest to the plaintiff and his numerous
family, whioh, if unsettled, might have been mode
a cause of annoyance to them in the future, we
do not know that they should regret the necessity
of briuging the matter to a legal issue and arbitra
ment. Wc hope it will have tho effect of settling
tho qnostion forever, and that the peace of several
respectable families will no mere bo disturbed by
this always profitless and useless, but, henceforth,
unjust and illegal injury.
The long delay in bringing in the verdict, which
was handed in lust evening at 8% o’clock, was due
to the opposition of a single juror, who, from the
commencement, opposed the plaintiff. We pro
sumo that the verdict was tnereroro a compromise.”
Extraordinary Speed of a Clipper Snip.—The
new clipper Bhip Red Jacket, arrived at Liverpool
from Now York, on the 28d nit., after a remarkably
short passage, having caught up with the steam
ship Africa. Tko Liverpool Courier thus notiees
her arrival:
“Yesterday, the splendid now American dipper
Ked Jucket, arrived here from New York after
having made the unprecedented run (for a sailing
vessel) of thirteen days, one hour and twonty-flvo
minutes. She is one of tho handsomest vessels wo
ever beheld, possessing, with the greatest sym
metry of model, immense strength and carrying
capacity. Below we give her log:
Wednesday,llth January, 24hours, 108 miles.Q
Thursday, 12th “ “ 150 “
Friday, 18th “ “ 285 “
Saturday, 14th “ “ 811 “
Sunday, 16th “ “ 217 “
Monday, 16th “ “ 108 “
Tuosday, 17th “ “ 121 “
Wednesday, 18th “ “ 819 “
Thursday, 19th “ “ *4lB “
Friday, 20th “ “ 874 “
Saturday, 21st “ “ 842 “
Sunday, 22d “ “ 800 “
Monday, 28d “ “ 871 “
•“The main brace wassplioed,” on the strosgth
of four hundred and thirteen mileß, being tho
greatest distance over run in twenty-four hours
by anything afloat.’’
Quick Travelling. —A gentleman recently trav
elled from Now York to Mobile in 4 days and 21
hours. In five years, it will be performed in three
and a half days—perhaps less.
The Whigs of North Carolina have nominated
Gen. Alfred Dockery for Governor.
The rencontre in Washington on Wednesday,
between Senator Clemen i and Mr. Harris, of Mis
sissippi, originated in Clemens refusing to ac
knowledge an introduction to Mr. Harris. Angry
words enaaod, whon Clemens knocked Harris
down. A duel is anticipated.
A despatch from Berlin to the London Timeß
speaks of apprehension that the Emperor of Bus
sia might go oif in an apoplectio fit, in some of his
outbursts o( passion. lie is said to be a man who
gives way to furious tempests of rage; but we
suspect he is in more danger of being taken off, as
Paul I. was, by his nobles, if they are opposed to
war and cannot prevent it in any othor way.
It is estimated that England has 250 ocean busi
ness Bteamers available for transport, blookade,
and the like purposes, if they are wanted. England
has been, for some years past, building np this
powerful steam marino, by giving it mail eontracts
in all parts of the world, and thus now, in her
onset upon Bussia, she is able to make such a
dash, at the start, as the world never saw before.
Major Gatewood, of the Council Bluffs Indian
Agency, arrived in St. Louis on Monday morning
last, In oompanywith sixteen Indians from the Ne
braska Territory, of whom fourteen are Chiefs, and
two interpreters. Three Chiefs are of the follow
ing tribes: Omahas, Ottoes and Missouries—sevon
of the former, four of tho seoond, and three of the
latter. The party are on their way to Washington
City, and came so far on their journey by land.
They were to leave on an Ohio Biver boston Tues
day Evening.
Banquet to Capt. Watkins.—Wo have already
noticed that a dinner was given at the Bevere
House, Boston, to Capt. Watkins, late of the
steamer Snn Francisco. Daring the evening he
took occasion to vindicate the character of the
captains of the Maria and Napoleon, from the as
persions which bad been cast upon them because
they did not lay by the wrecked steamer. He
also stated that it was Capt. Stoaffer, of the An
tarctic, and uot Captain Creighton, of the Three
Bells, that had chalked ths memorable words, “Be
of good cheer : I will stick by yon," upon aboard
He paid a high tribute to the oonduct of all his
roscuers, and the explanation just made be felt to
be proper and right.
Elliott Cresson, Esq. died on Monday, at his res
idence in Philadelphia, of erysipelas, after a short
illness. He was associated with many of the be
nevolent projects of the day, and at the period of
his death was the President of the Pennsylvania
Colonization Society.
Woman’s Bigots in New York.— The first move
ment in the Legislature of New York in favor of
extending the elective franchise to women was
made on Monday by the presentation of a petition
in both bodies, signed in the aggregate by ten
thousand persons of both sexes. In both Houses
a select committee was raised to consider this im
portant subject.
There are 58 companies chartered for the con
struction of railroads, now in existence in Wiscon
sin, with full workings. Some few of them have
, consolidated with each other, but most are for sepa
rate roads.
The Central Ohio Bailroad, whioh oonnects with
the Baltimore and Ohio Bailroad at Wheeling,
will, it is announced, certainly be completed to
the Ohio river, so as to carry freight and passen
gers through, in the month of August next.
Bailroad Collision. —A collision occurred on
the Pennsylvania Bailroad, on Saturday, near La
trobe, between two freight trains, by which about
twenty freight cars, laden with dry goods, grooe
lies, dec., were destroyed, and the locomotive bro
ke
Tbe U. S. Steaheb Pbinoeton, Capt. Henry Ea
gle, commander, retnrned to New York on Sunday
from a trial trip of three days at sea. The trip is
said to have been of the most successful character,
her engines and machinery coming fully up to the
expectations of her engineers and officers.
States on the Calendar. —The very common
question “ where are we V’ the American Almanao
answers quite specifically. From its tables we
gather these important facts:—We are in the 78th
year of the Independence of the United States,
1,855 th year of the Christian era; the 65,767tb
year of the Julian period; the 5,514 th year of the
world, Jewish reckoning; the 2,606tb year since
the foundation of Borne; and the 2,680 th year of
the Olympiads, or the second year of 658th Olym
pian, beginning in July, 1868; and moreover, we
are in the 1,270 th year since tbe Hegira, or flight
of Mahomet.
♦ I
The Albany papers anticipate an early comence
ment of navigation, should the present weather 1
continue. The Mohawk Biver and Scboarie Creeks
have broken up, which event preoedes a freshet in ■
the Hudson. j
■ «
We learn from the Vioksburg Whig that a con- t
traot has been entered into by s Northern company, <
to construct the Southern Bailroad from Brandon |
to the Alabama line, and have it in operation by (
the Ist of July, 1856. We believe this, with exist
ing contracts, when completed, will give. Vioks
burg a connection with the Atlantic, through Ala- i
bama, Georgia, <sw. <
The Legislature— Democratic Journals.
As the lato Legislature was thoroughly Demo
cratic, wo like to see the journa's of that party
descanting upon its merits. The Griffin Jeffersc
nian thus speaks of the body:
The Legislature Has Adjourned.— Doubtless
our readers are familiar with the reply of Kir g
Goorge to the bishop, when interrogated os to why
ho had appointed a day of general thanksgiving at
B P? r r UT " v ‘>nted national reverses at homo
aud abroad, while his armies in America wero
« vo ;y where being defeated. He wanted to “thank
God that things were no worse /” With equal
cause may the people of Georgia be thankful that
hi. Legislature has finallv adjourned, and that
‘things are no worse.” \Vo challongecotnparison
with the acts of any preceding Legislature to prove
this tho most worthier arid most expensive the
Slate of Georgia has ever known. A fairspeoimen
of its important enactments may be found in tho
list of acts, on our first page (the conclusion of
whioh wo shall give noxt week.) Not one of the
important recommendations of Ex-Governor Cobb
has been definitely acted upon. Extending and
chartering corporations, cnanging names and
boundaries, pardoning murderers, passing “Bnn
c< uibe” resolutions, Ac., Ac., have occupied tho
three months time of those “grave and roverend
seigniors” of a Georgia Legislature. Over SIOO,-
000 of the people’s money has bocu transferred to
the pockets of these men for tho porforinuoco of
sorvioes almost beneath tho dignity of a justices’
oonrt jurisdiction!
Wo truat that the people will mark the differ
ence between thoeo members who tried to do
something and those who interposed obstacles to
the doing of anything praoticaliy useful to dio State,
and that, at the next election, no member of the
prosent Legislature will be returned who cannot
prove irom the record that ho was not responsible
for the unfulfilled duties of Die late session. Again
we say, however much things might have been
improved, tli«y>eople ought to bo thunkful that
they are tw worse, end bless their stars that the
last end of the Legislature was better than the
first, to tho extent ot fliatsenso of returning justioe
which dictated an adjournment 1
The Savannah River is slowly recoding within
its banks. Tho only damage sustained in the oity
was tho break in the Canal, a trifling affair, and tho
flooding of somo of the streets and lots in low
localities on the South-west bordors.
Our Hamburg frieuds, wo nro pleased to loarn,
sustained no loss, except that occasioned by the
suspension of business in the flooded portion.
An Art
To authorite the Judges of the Superior Courts, as
Chancellors, to mahe certain Orders and Decrees,
Section 1. De it enacted by the Senate and House
qf Representatives of the State of Gecwgia, in Gen
eral Atsemblu met, and it ie hereby enacted by the
Authority o/ihe same, That the Judges ot the Su
perior Courtß of tho several Judicial Districts of
this State, shall bo, and they arc beroby, respective
ly authorized at Chambers upon petition, or bill
and unswor, whore all parties in interest are repre
sented and consenting, and where there is no
auestion of foot in dispute, to make nnd pass all
rders and Decrees in relation to the appointment
or removal of Trustees, and tho sulo or division of
trout or other property, or tho investment of trust
or ether sands, and such Orders and Decrees
shall bo as valid us if passed aud made during the
regular session of tho Superior Court ot the Coun
ty, on the vordiot of a Jury, and the proceedings
in any such case, shall bo regularly recorded within
the other proceedings of said Court, and tho Order
or Decree eutorod on tho Bonk of Minutosthoreof.
JOHN E. WARD,
Speaker of tho Houso ol Representatives.
JOHN D. STKLL,
President of tho Senate.
Approved February 20th, 1854,
HERSCHEL V. JOHNSON,
Govornor.
Secretary of State’s Office, )
Milledgeville, Ga., Feb. 21st, 1851. )
I do hereby cortify that tho foregoing is a true
and correct oopy of Baid Aot, as appears of file in
this cflioo.
Given nnder my hand and seal of offloe,
E. !’. WATKINS,
Socrctary of Slate.
The Late Snuw-htorm at the North.
Some idea of the severity of tho late snow storm
may bo found from the following accounts received
by telegraph :
Philadelphia, Fob. 21. —W0 have boon visited
by tho sovero-t storm of snow that has Wen expe
rienced hero sinco the yoar 1881. Tho snow gen
erally is 12 to 15 Inches doep, anil in some places
six to seven feet. Noilher curs nor mails Is't nor
arrived here, to or from any quarter sinco yester
day afternoon. Tho sleighing is udmirablo, and
onr citizens seem determined to enjoy it. Every
street is enlivened with tho merry jingle of bells.
It is a porfeot scene of life and gaiety.
Tho truin of cars wliioh left hero at two o’clock
yostorday afternoon, Touched Huvro-do-Uraco at 9
o’clock this morning. The snow was vqry doep
all along the roud, and in many places driftod to a
depth of six to ton feet.
l’ho Washington Greys, one of our military
companies, which left on a visit to Baltimore,
Washington and Kichmoud, are uhourd.
Washington, Feb. 21.—The snow storm hero
has been very severe—snow fell to tho depth of
10 to 12 inches, with good sleighing aud many en
joying it.
New York, Feb. 21.—Tho snoiv storm here has
been very sovoro—snow tell to tho depth of 10 to
12iuohes. It was accompanied by a very strong
North East gule, and in some places snow is drift
ed to the depth of six feet. The Bleighs are out in
all directions, and Broadway presents a lively
scene. Tho various railroad trains have been de
tained going out and coming in. We are, there
fore, without mails from any quarter.
Tolographio despatches from Boston, Buffalo,
Albany, and elsewhere, represent the snow as very
deep, interrupting the mails and travel.
Business hero to-day has been partially sus
pended.
Wheeling, Feb. 21.—Them has been a heavy
snow storm hero. The river has 18 feet water in
the channel.
The Late Btobm.—The recent snow storm pre
vailed as ftr wost as Cleveland, north to Boston,
and south to Biohmond. The New York Tribune
says of tho storm there:
The heavy snowstorm of Monday night was one
of the most severe experienced In this City for a
quarter of a century. The snow began to fall
about 21*. M. on Monday, and continued without
intermission for fourteon hours. Tho wind all the
time blow a hurricane from the North East, drift- •
ing tho Bnow into largo piles in nil sheltered places,
in many instances heaping it six feet doep on ono
side of a stroet, while the other sido was perfectly
bare. It is scarcely possible to estimate the aver
age depth, but perhaps twenty inches would be
near tho-mark. Fortunately, it was not very cold,
so that there was Icsb snflering among the poor
than might have been expected. There was u gen
eral blockade of all modes of travel, liailroad
trains wore immovably stuck; bouts plied Blowly,
and at great risk, sailing cralt and steamships east
anohor, uad even horses, during the latter part of
the night, wero unable to drug vehicles through
tho drifts. .
During yostorday and evening tho sleighing was
incessantly used. The monster omnibus, the
bob-slod, the egg-shell cutter, tho pirio board
pung, the orazv crockery crate mounted on crook
ed sticks, the bond-sled, and the dashing livery
turn-out, all had their patrons, and tbo most
uproarious hilarity made the groat thoroughfuros
ring again, while tho sido stroctsand byways wore
enlivened by the morry jingle ol sleigh-bells,
from parties who shrank from the rush, the roar,
tho crash and tho danger of Broadway. All wus
life, gaiety, and especially in tho evening, all the
world seemed to be drawn into the vortex of ox
citoment and pleasure. Whole Hoots of overladen
craft fionted or rather fiew through tho streets,
each bearing a motley cargo of dandios, b’hoys,
grisettes, ladies, huge-paws, glovod fingers, gray
beards and laughing children ; all of them sing
ing, screaming, whistling, yelling, whooping,
cheering, as if their everlasting happiness depend
ed upon the amount of ecstntio joy they were able
to express during a shilling sleigh rido. It wus
indeed a Carnival; one that dwarfed all the up
roarious abandon of Venice ami I’uris, and proved
beyond question, that whatever the Universal
Yankee Nation undertake to do they can do long
er, and stronger, and louder, and broader, and
deeper, and a long streloh moro tcetotally than any
other integer of mortality in the sum of nations.
0 The oostoftho Nashville and Chattanooga Baii
-1 road, including everything, has beej $8,718,958.
• Os the road proper the cost is stated to be $2,088,
809. Its reoipts for the past year were $197,627,
expenses sl32,Bl7—nett profit $05,610. The Pres
ident concludes his last report, by saying: “The
i Directors have every coufldence in the ability of
, the road to pay good dividends as it’becomes set
, tied and permanent, and that it will greatly more
, than pay the interest on tho whole fiftoen hundred
thousand dollars of .bonds ll o next year j and that
, the increase in its buisneßS will be very rapid.”
The Legislature of Alabama has passed a bill loan
ing $400,000 out of any money in the Treasury not
1 otherwise appropriated to tho Mobile and Ohio
1 Bailroad. The loan is for two years, at 6 per cent
interest payablo quarterly—the socurity to be such
as is satisaotory to tho Governor.
Mr. J. M. Clarke, of Washington, formerly of
Bichmond, has invented a new mode for the con
struction of Bailroads—by which speed and safety
are secured. A train, on this plan, can bo run at
the rate of 80 miles tho hour without the least
danger, and in the night—and if the ongine should
explode, the passengers would not be affected.
The newspaper proprietors of Bostcn have re
solved'to increase tho rates of advertising in their
papers twenty-five percent. The high price of
paper and the accumulating expense of newspaper
publishing are the reasons given.
The Courier des Etats Unis re affirms its convic
tion in the truth of tho roport, that Bussian offi- . 1
cere are engaged in organizing privateers in Ame
rican ports. Most of the New York papers attach
little credit to the report.
Hon. J. J. Chittenden.— A grand public dinner
was recently given by the Whig members of the
Kentucky Legislature, some Democratic members,
personal friends, and many private citizens, as a .
mark of their personal and political respect for
their Senator elect, the Hon. J. J. Crittenden.—
Two hundred and fifty persons, several invited
guests from other cities, sat down to the dinner.
The toasts were admirable in spirit and eloquent
in language. That to Mr. Crittenden, and which
drew forth one of his eloquent and admirable ad
dresses, was as follows :
Our Quest and friend— John J. Crittenden :
His purity, his wisdom, his patriotism, render him
dear alike to Kentucky and the Union.
The barque Pario, of Thomaston, Mo., loaded
with coal, bound from New York to New Orleans, -
arrived at Savannah on Friday, in charge of tho "
chief mate, Mr. Chas. H.Shermun, in a leaky con
dition, and the crew in a state of insubordination. J
After leaving New York, tho captain manifested il
symptoms of insanity, and when the vessel was
off the Hole-in-tbc- W all he jumped overboard and
was drowned. j
The late snow storm appears to have extended
from Maine to Virginia, snd embraoed a range of
territory over three hundred thousand square j
miles. All the papers in these various quarters
speak of it as being the most severe snow storm of
the season.
A telegraphic dispatch from Louisville brings - *,
the intelligence that at 11 ocloek on the morning
of the 2Sd inat., the steamer James Nilos, from i
Cincinnati, with a heuvy cargo and two barges in
tow, sunk on the Falls, in Big Eddy, and will prove
a total loss. The boat capslzod, and the cabin m
broke off and went ovorboard, it is feared that “
many lives are lost. One of the barges also Bunk.
By tho arrival at this port yesterday of the brig
Leonioe, Captain Doling, from St. Thomas, which
port Bhe left on the 9th instant, we Kara that m
the cholera was rapidly abating on the Island, and *• Cj
that at her departure, there were but few new '■'f
cases. A list of the American shipping she left in > * j.l
port will bo found amongst our marine intelligence ,
on the fourth page.—6’A as. Courier.
The “Big Mound” at St. Louis, from which that '