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About News & planters' gazette. (Washington, Wilkes County [sic], Ga.) 1840-1844 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1843)
to their obvious injury, upon a protraction of hostilities. These United States threw off th n ir colonial dependence, and establish ed independent Governments ; and Great B itain, after having wasted all her ener gies in the attempt to subdue them for a less poiiitd than Mexico lias attempted to subju gate Texas, had the wisdom and justice to acknowledge their independence, thereby recognising the obligation which rested on her as one of the family of nations. Ane.x ample thus set by ono of the proudest as well as most powerful nations of the earth, it could in no way disparage Mexico to imi tate. While, therefore, the Executive would deplore any collision with Mexico, or any disturbance of the friendly relations which exist between the two countries, it cannot permit that Government to control its policy, whatever it may be, towards Tex as ; but will treat her as by the recognition of her independence the United States have long since declared they would do, as en tirely independent of Mexico. The high obligations of public duty may enforce from the constituted authorities of the Uni ted States a policy which the course perse vered in by Mexico will have mainly con tribilled to produce ; and the Executive, in such a contingency, will with confidence throw itself upon the patriotism of the Peo ple to sustain the Government in its course of action. Measures of an unusual character have recently been adopted by the Mexican Gov ernment calculated in no small degree to asset the trade of other nations with Mexi co, and to operate injuriously to the United States. All foreigners by a decree of the 23d day of September, and after six months from the day of its promulgation, are for bidden to carry on the business of selling by retail any goods within the confines of 1 xico. Against this decree our Minister lias not failed to remonstrate. The trade heretofore carried on by our citizens with Sante Fe, in which much cap ital was already invested, and which was becoming of daily increasing importance, lias suddenly been arrested by a decree of v irtual prohibition on the part of the Mex ican Government. Whatever may be the right of Mexico to prohibit any particular course of trade, to the citizens of subjects of foreign powers, this late procedure, to say th.. least of it, wears a harsh and unfriend ly aspect. The instalments on the claims recently settled by the Convention with Mexico have be.-n punctually paid as they have fallen due, and our Minister is engaged in urging the i; taldishment of anew commission in pursuance of the Convention for the settle ment of unadjusted claims. Wi:h the other American Slates our re lations of amity and good will have remain ed uninterrupted. Our Minister near the Republic of New Grenada, lias succeeded in eifecting an adjustment of the claim upon that Government for the schooner “By Chance,” which had been ponding for ma ny years. The claim for the brig “Mor ris, ’ which had its origin during the exis tence of the Republic of Columbia, and in demnification for which, since the dissolu tion of that Republic, has devolved on its several members, will be urged with re newed zeal. I have much pleasure in saying that the Government of Brazil has adjusted the claim upon that Government in the case of the schooner “John S. Bryan,” and that sanguine hopes are entertained that the same spirit of justice will influence its councils in arriving at an eariy decision :i).>n the remaining claims ; thereby remo ving all cause of dissension between two Powers, whose interests are to some extent i.;let-woven with each other. Our Minister at Chili has succeeded in indue ing a recognition by that Government, of tlie adjustment effected by his predeces sor of the first claims in the case of the “Macedonian.” The first instalment has been received by the claimants in the U cited States. Notice of the exchange of ratifications of the treaty with Peru, which will take place at Lima, has not yet reached this country, but is shortly expected to be received, when the claims upon that Republic will doubt less be liquidated and paid. In consequence of a misunderstanding between this Government and that of'Buenos Ayres, occurring several years ago, this Government has remained unrepresented at that court, while a minister from it has been constantly resident here. The cau ses of irritation have in a great measure passed away, and it is in contemplation, in view of important interests which have grown up in that country, at some early period during the present session of Con gress, with the concurrence of the Senate, to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries. Under the provisions of an act of Con gress of the last session, a Minister was des patched from the United States to China, in August of the present year, who, from the latest accounts we have from him, was at Suez, in Egypt,on tho 25th of September last, on his route to China. In regard to the Indian tribes residing within our jurisdictional limits, the great est vigilance of live Government has been exerted to preserve them at peace among themselves, and to inspire them with feel ings of confidence in the justice of I his Gov ernment, and to cultivate friendship with the border inhabitants. This has happily succeeded to a great extent; but it is a sub ject of regret that they suffer themselves in some instances to be imposed upon by art ful and designing men—and this notwith standing all the efTorts of the Government to prevent it. The receipts into the Treasury for the calendar year 1843, exclusive of loans, were little more than eighteen millions of dollars ; and the expenditures, exclusive of payments on the public debt, will have been about twenty-three millions of dollars. By the Act of 1842, anew arrangement of the fiscal year was made, so that it should commence on the Ist day of July in each year. The accounts and estimates for the current fiscal year, will show that the loans pud Treasury notes made and issued be- fore the close of the last Congress, to meet the anticipated deficiency, have not been entirely adequate. Although on the Ist of October last, there was a balanco in the Treasury in consequence of the provision thus made of (53,914,082 77, yet the appro, priations already made by Congress, will absorb that balance, and leave a probable deficiency of two millions of dollars at the close of the present fiscal year. Thcreare outstanding Treasury notes to about the amount of four millions six hundred thou sand dollars ; and should they be returned upon the Treasury during the fiscal year, they will require provision for their redemp tion. Ido not however regard this as pro bable, since they have obviously entered in to the currency of the country, and will continue to form a portion of it, it’ the sys tem now adopted be continued. The loan of 1841, amounting t0#5,672,976 88, fulls due on the Ist of January, 1845, and must be provided for or postponed by anew loan. And unless the resources of revenue should be materially increased by you, there will be a probable deficiency lor the service of the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1845, of upwards of about four millions of dollars. The delusion incident to an enormously excessive paper circulation, which gave a fictitious value to every thing, and stimula ted adventure and speculation to an extra vagant extent, has been happily succeeded hv the substitution of the precious metals and paper promptly redeemable in specie, and thus false values have disappeared, and a sounder condition of things has been introduced. This transition, although inti mately connected with the prosperity of the I country, has nevertheless been attended with much embarrassment to the Govern ment, in its financial concerns. So long as the foreign importers could receive pay ment for their cargoes in a currency of ■ greatly less value than that in Europe, but fully available here in the purchase of our agricultural productions, their profits being immeasurably augmented by the operation, tho shipments were large and the revenues of the Government became superabundant. But the change in the character of the cir culation from a nominal and apparently real value, in the first stages of its existence, to an obviously depreciated value in its se cond, so that it no longer answered the purposes of exchange or barter, and its ul timate substitution by a sound metallic and paper circulation combined, has been at tended by diminished importations, and a consequent falling off in the revenue. This has induced Congress, from 1837, to resort to the expedient ol issuing Treasury notes, and finally of funding them, in order to sup ply deficiencies. I cannot, however, with hold the remark that it is in no way com patible with the dignity of the Government that a public debt should he created in time of peace to meet the current expenses of the Government, ot that temporary expedi ents should be resorted to an hour longer than it is possible to avoid them. The Ex ecutive can do no more than apply the means which Congress places in its hands for the support of Government; and happi ly for the good of the country and for the preservation of its liberties, it possesses no power to levy exactions on the people, or to force from them contributions to the pub lic revenue in any form. It can only re commend such measures as may, in its o pinion, be called for by the wants of the public service, to Congress, with whom a [ lone rests the power to “lay and collect | taxes, duties, imports, and excises.” This duty has upon several occasions hereto fore been performed. The present condi tion of things gives a flattering promise that trade and commerce are rapidly reviving, and, fortunately for the country, the sour ces ofrevenue have only to be opened, in order to prove abundant. While we can anticipate no considerable increase in the proceeds of the sales of the public lands for reasons perfectly obvious to all, for several years to come, yet the public lands cannot otherwise than be re garded as the foundation of the public cred it. With so large a body of the most fer tile lands in the world under the control and at the disposal of the Government, no one can reasonably doubt the entire ability of the Government to meet its engagement under every emergency. In seasons of trials anddifficulty similar to those through which we are passing, the capitalist makes his investment in the Government stocks with the most assured confidenceofultimatc reimbursement; and whatever may be said in a period of great financial prosperity, such as existed for years after 1833, I should regard it as suicidal in a season of financial embarrassment, either to alienate the lands themselves, or the proceeds ari sing from their sales. The first and pa ramount duty of those to whom may be en trusted the administration of public affair, is to guard the public credit. In re-estab lishing the credit of this central Govern ment, the readiest and most obvious mode is taken to restore the credit of the States. The extremities can only be made sound by producing a healthy action in the Cen tral Government, and the history of the pre sent day fully establishes the fact, that an increase in the value of the stocks of this Government will, in a majority of instan ces, be attended by an increase in the val ue of the stocks of the States. It should, therefore, be a matter of general congratu lation that amidst all the embarrassments arising from surrounding circumstances, the credit of the Government should have been so fully restored that it has been en abled to effect a loan of seven millions of dollars to redeem that amount of Treasury notes, on terms more favorable than any that have been offered for many years.— And the six per cent, stock which was cre ated in 1842, has advanced in the hands of the holders to nearly twenty per cent, a hove its par value. The confidence of the people in the integrity of their Government has thus been signally manifested. These opinions relative to the public lands do not in any manner conflict with the observance of the mostliberal policy towards those of our fellow-citizens who press forward into the wilderness and are the pioneers in the work of its reclamation. In securing to all such their rights of pre-emption, the Government perform# hut an act of retribu tive justice for sufferings encountered and hardships endured, and finds ample rentu aeration in the comforts which its policy en sures arid the happiness which it imparts. Should a revistou of the tariff, with a view to revenue, become necessa'y in the estimation of Congress, I doubt not you will approach the subject with a just and enligh tened regard to the interests of the whole Union. The principles and views which I have heretofore hud occasion to submit, remain unchanged. It can, however, ne ver be too often repeated, that the promt nent interest ofevery important pursuit of life, requires for success, permanency and stability in legislation. These can only be attained by adopting as the basis of action, moderation in all things, which is an indis pensable necessary to secure the harmo nious action of the political as of the ani mal system. In our political organization, no one section of the country should desire to have its supposed interests advanced at tho sacrifice of all others; hut Union being lite great interest, equally precious to all, should be fostered and sustained by mutu al concessions and the cultivation of that spirit of compromise from which the Con stitution itself proceeded. You will be informed, by the report from the Treasury Department, of the measures taken under the act of the last session, au thorizing the re-issue of Treasury notes in lieu of those then outstanding. The system adopted in pursuance of existing laws, seems well calculated to save the country a large amount of interest, while it affords conveniences and obviate dangers and ex pense in the transmission of funds to dis bursing agents. I refer you also to that report for the means proposed bv the Secre tary to increase the revenue, and particu larly to that portion of it which relates to the subject of the ware-housing system, which I earnestly urged upon Congress at its last session, as to the importance of which my opinion has undergone no change. In view of tlie disordered condition of the currency’ at the time, and the high rates of exchange between different parts of the country, I felt it to he incumbent on me, to present to the consideration of your prede cessors, a proposition conflicting in no de gree with the Constitution, or with the rights of the States, and having the sanction not in detail, but in principle, of some of the eminent men who bad preceded me in tlie Executive office. That proposition con templated the issuing of Treasury notes of denominations not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars, to he employed in payment of the obligations of the Govern ment in lieu of gold and silver, at the option of the public creditor, and to an amount not exceeding #15,000,001). It was proposed to make them receivable everywhere, and to establish at various points depositories of gold and silver to be held in trust for the redemption of such notes, so as to ensure their convertibility into specie. No doubt was entertained that such notes would have maintained a par value with gold and silver, thus furnishing a paper currency of equal valueovcrthe Union, thereby meet ing the just expectations of the people and fulfilling the duties of a parental Govern ment. Whether the depositories should be permitted to sell or purchase bills under very limited restrictions, together with all its other details, was submitted to the wis dom ofCongress, and was regarded as of secondary importance. I thought then, and think now, that such an arrangement would have been attended with tlie happi est results. The whole matter of the cur rency would have been placed where by the Constitution it was designed to be placed ; under the immediate supervision and con trol of Congress. Tlie action of the Gov ernment would have been independent of all corporations, and the same eye which rests unceasingly on the specie currency and guards it against adulteration, would also have rested on the paper currency, to control and regulate its issups and protect it against depreciation. The same reasons which would forbid Congress from parting with the power over the coinage, would seem to operate with nearly equal force in regard to any substitution for ihe precious metals in tiie form of a circulating medi uni. Paper, when substituted for specie, constitutes a standard of value by’ which the operations of society are regulated, and whatsoever causes its depreciation, affects society to an extent uearly, if not quite, e qual to the adulteration of the coin. Nor can I withhold the remark, that its advan tages, constrasted with a Bank of the Uni ted Stales, apart from the fact that a Bank was esteemed as obnoxious to the public sentiment, as well on the score of expedi ency as of constitutionality, appeared to me to be striking and obvious. The relief which a bank would afford by an issue of #15,000,000 ofits notes, judging from the experience of the ldte United States Bank, would not haveoccurred in less than fifteen years ; whereas, under the proposed ar rangement, the relief arising from the is sue ofsls,ooo,oooofTreasury notes would have been consummated in one year ; thus furnishing in one-fifteenth part of the time in which a bank could have accomplished it, a paper medium of exchange, equal in amount to the real wants of the country, at par value with gold and silver. The sa ving to the Government would have been equal to all the interest which it has had to pay on Treasury notes of previous as well as subsequent issues, thereby relieving the Government, and at the same time af fording relief to the people. Under all the responsibilities attached to the station which 1 occupy, and in redemption of a pledge given to the last Congress at the close of its first session, I submitted the suggestion to its consideration at two consecutive ses sions. Tho recommendation, honever, met with no favor at its hands. While I am free to admit, that the necessities of the times have since become greatly amelior ated, and that there is good reason to hope that the country is safely and rapidly e merging from the difficulties and embar rassments which every where surrounded it in 1841, yet I cannot but think that its restoration to a sound and healthy condi tion would be greatly expedited by a re sort to the expedient in a modified form. The operations, on the Treasury now rest on the act of 178 w, anil the resolution oflßl6, and those laws have been so admin istered as to produce as great a quantum of good to the country as their provisions are capubleof yielding. If there had been any distinct expression of opinion going to show that public sentiment is averse to the plan either us heretofore recommended to Con gress, or in a modified form, while my own opinion in regard to it would remain un changed, I should be very fur from again presenting it to your consideration. The Government has originated with the States and the people, for their own benefit and ad vantage ; and it would be subversive of the foundation principles of the political ed ifice which they have reared, to persevere in a measure which in their mature judg ments, they had either repudiated or con demned. Tho will of our constituents, clearly expressed, should be regarded as the light to guide our footsteps ; the true difference between a monarchical or aris. tocratical government and a Republic be ing, that in the first the will of the few pro vails over the will of the many, while in the last the will of the many should be alone consulted. The report of the Secretary of War will bring you acquainted with the condition of that important branch of the public service. The Army may be regarded in consequence of the small number of the rank and file in each Company and Regiment, as little more than a nucleus around which to rally the military force of the country in case of war and yet its services in preserving the peace of the frontiers are of a most important na ture. In all cases of emergency, the reli ance of the country is properly placed in the militia of the several States, and it may well deserve the consideration ofCongress, whether anew and more perfect organiza tion might not he introduced, looking main ly to the volunteer companies of the Union for the present, and of easy application to the great body of the militia in time of War. The expenditures of the War Department have been considerably reduced in the last two years ; contingencies, however, may arise, which would call for the filling up of the regiments with a full complement of men, and make it very desirable to remount the Corps of Dragoons, which by an act of the last Congress was directed to be dissol ved. I refer you to the accompanying report of the Secretary for information in relation to the Navy of the United Stales. While every effort has been and will continue to to be made to retrench all superfluities and lop off all excrescences which from time to time tnav have grown up, yet it lias not been regarded as wise or prudent to recom mend any material change in annual ap propriations. The interests which are in volved are of too important a character to lead to the recommendation of any other than a liberal policy. Adequate appropri ations ought to be made to enable the Exec utive to fit out all the ships that are now in a course of building, or that require repairs, for active service in the shortest possible time, should any emergency arise which may require it. An efficient Navy, while it is the cheapest means of public defence, enlists in its support the feelings of pride and confidence which brilliant deeds and heroic valor have heretofore served to strengthen and confirm. I refer you particularly to that part of the Secretary’s Report which lias reference to recent experiments in the application of steam and in the construction of war steam ers, made under the superintendence ofdis. tinguished officers of tho navy. In addition to other manifest improvements in the con struction, of the steam engine and applica tion of the motive power, which has ren dered them more appropriate to the uses of ships of war, one of those officers has bro’t into use a power which makes tho steam ship most formidable either for attack or defence. I cannot too strongly recommend this subject to your consideration, and do not hesitate to express my entire conviction ofits great importance. I call your particular attention also to that portion of the Secretary’s report which has reference to the act of the late session ofCongress which prohibited the transfer of any balance of appropriation from other heads of appropriation to that for building, equipment, and repair. The repeal of that prohibition will enable the Department to give renewed employment to a large class of workmen who have been necessarily dis charged in consequence of the want of means to pay them ; a circumstance at tended, especially at this season of the year with much privation and suffering. It gives me great pain to announce to you the loss of the steamship “ The Missouri,” by fire, in the Bay of Gibraltar, whereshe had stopped to renew her supplies of coal, on her voyage to Alexandria, with Mr. Cushing, the American Minister to China on board. There is ground for high com mendation of the officers and men, for the coolness and intrepidity and perfect sub mission to discipline evinced under the most trying circumstances. Surrounded by’ a raging fire, which the utmost exertions could not subdue, and which threatened momentarily the explosions of her well sup plied magazines, the officers exhibited no signs of fear, and’ the men obeyed every or der with alacrity. Nor was she abandoned until the last gleam of hope of saving her had expired. It is well worthy ofyour con sideration whether the losses sustained by the officers and crew in this unfortunate affair should not be reimbursed in them. I cannot lake leave of this painful sub ject without adverting to the aid rendered upon the occasion, by the British authori ties at Gibraltar, and the commander, offi cers and crew of the British ship of the line “ The Malabar,” which was lying at the time in the bay. Every thing that gener osity or humanity could dictate, was readi ly performed. It is by such acts of good will by one to another of the family of na tions, that fraternal feelings are nourished and the blessings cf permanent peace se- cured. Tiie Report of the Postmaster General will bring you acquainted with the opera tions of that Department during the past year, and will suggest to you such modifi cations of the existing laws as in your opin ion the exigencies of the public service may require. The change which the country has undergone of late years in the mode of travel and transportation has afforded so many facilities for the transmission of mail matter out of the regularmail, as to require the greatest vigilance and circumspec tion in order to enable the officer at tho head of the Department to restrain the expenditures within the income. There is also too much reason to fear that the franking privilege has run into great a buse. The Department nevertheless has been conducted with tlie greatest vigor, and has attaint'd at the least possible expense, all the useful objects for wihch it was es tablished. In regard toali the departments, I am quite happy in the belief that nothing has been left undone which was called for by a true spirit of economy, or by a system of ac countability rigidly enforced. This is in some degree apparent from the fact, that the Government has sustained no loss by the default of any of its agents. In the com plex, but at the same time, beautiful ma chinery ofour system of Government, it is not a matter of surprise, that some remote agency may have failed for an instant to fulfil its desired office ; but I feel confident in the assertion, that nothing has occurred to interrupt the harmonious action of the Government itself, and that while the laws have been executed with efficiency and vig or, the rights neither of States nor individ uals have been trampled on or disregarded. In the mean time tiie country has been steadily advancing in that contributes to national greatness. The tide of population continues unbrokenly to flow into tlie new Slates and Territories, where a refuge is found not only for our native horn fellow citizens, but for emigrants from all parts of the civilized world, who come a tnong us to partake of the blessings of our free institutions, and to aid by their labor to swell tlie current of our wealth and power. It is due to every consideration of public policy that the lakes and rivers of the West should receive all such attention at the hands of Congress as the Constitution will enable it to bestow. Works in favorable and proper situations on the lakes would lie found to be as indispensably necessary in case of war to carry on safe and success ful naval operations, as fortifications on the Atlantic sea board. The appropriation made by the last Congress for the improve ment of the navigation of the Mississippi ri ver, has been diligently and efficiently ap plied. 1 cannot close this communication, gen tlemen, without recommending to your most favorable consideration, the interests of this District. Appointed by the Constitution its exclusive legislators, and forming in this particular the only anomaly in our system of Government of the Legislative body being elected by others than those for whose advantage they are to legislate, you will feel a superadded obligation to look into their condition, and to leave no cause for complaint or regret. The Seat of Gov ernment of our associated Republics cannot but be regarded as worthy of your parental care. In connexion with its other interests, as well as those of the whole country, I re commend that at your present session you adopt such measures, in order to carry in to effect the. Smithonian bequest, as in your judgment will be well calculated to con summate the liberal intent of the testator. Wheu, under a dispensation of Divine Providence, I succeeded to the Presidential office, the state of public affairs was cm barrassing and critical. To add to the irri tation consequent upon a long standing con troversy with one of the most powerful na tions of modern times, involving not only questionsof boundary which under the most favorable circnmstanoes, are always em barrassing. but at the same time important and high principles of maritime law—bor der controversies between the citizens and subjects of the two countries and subjects of the two countries bad engendered a state of feeling and ofconduct which threatened the most calamitous consequences. The haz ards incident to this state of things were greatly heightened by the arrest and im prisonment of a subject of Great Britain, who acting as it was allcdged, as a part of a military force, had aided in the commis sion of an act violative of the territorial ju risdiction of the United States, and invol ving the murder of a citizen of tho State of New York. A large amount of claims against the. Gosernment of Mexico remain ed unadjusted, and a war of several years continuance with the savage tribes of Flor ida still prevailed, attended with the deso lation of a large portion of that beautiful territory, and with the sacrifice of many valuable lives. To increase the embar rassments of the Government, individual and Stale credit had been nearly stricken down, and confidence in the General Gov ernment was much impaired, that loans of a small amount could only benegociated at a considerable sacrifice. Asa necessary consequence of the blight which had fallen on commerce and mechanical industry, the ships of the one were thrown out of employ ment, and the operations of the been greatly diminished. Owing to the condition of the currency, exchanges be tween different parts of the country had become ruinously high, and trade had to depend on a depreciated paper currency in conducting its transactions. I shall be per mitted to congratulate the country that, un der an overruling Providence peace was preserved without a sacrifice ot the nation al honor ; the war in Florida was brought to a speedy termination ; a large portion of of the claims on Mexico have been fully ad judicated and are in a course of payment, while justice has been rendered to us in other matters ; confidence between man and man is in a great measnre restored, and the credit of this Government fully and perfect ly re-established. Commerce is becoming more and more extended in its oparntions, and manufacturing and mechanical indus try once more retipi thq rewards of skill & labor honestly applied. The -'operations of trade rest on a sound enrri ncv. and the rates of exchnnge are reduced to their low est amount. In this condition of things I h ive felt ito be my duty to hring to your fa vorable consideration matters of great in terest in their present and ultimate results, and the only desire which 1 feel in connec tion with tho future is, and will continue to bo, to leave the country prosperous, and its institutions uninjured. JOHN TYLER. Washington, December, 1844. Plain Talk. —The ‘New York Gazette,’ the new Calhoun paper, gives Van Buren o “mortal lick,” under the fifth rib, in the following paragraph : “How can a candid man read Mr. Tan Buren’s letter to the Indiana Convention un derstandingly, and not feel himself insulted and paltered with, bv its duplicity l That it contains ‘avowals of freo trade opinions’ is perfectly true ; and it is also true that it stultifies them by adopting protection to the i full breadth of the present tariff. But tot i the Richmond Enquirer, he wrote about the’ * very same date, declaring he disapproved the present tariff, both in principle and de tail. What, then, finally, does ho approve or disapprove ? ‘You told me the other day,’ said an enraged author to Garrick, ‘that my talents did not lie in tragedy ; to day you tell rue they do not lie in comedy ; now tell me, if you please, where the divil do they lie V ” Thomas H. Benton, in a Speech made to the Loco-focos of St. Louis Cos., Missouri, at Manchester, on the 4th inst., uttered the following among other equally gross and flagitious falsehoods: “The election (of Gen. Harrison) was carried by bribed votes, paid for with sus. pended bank notes—by false votes, given by people who did not exist—by imported votes, carried from State to State—by sim ulated votes, changing their dress and name twenty times, and voting as often—and by changing tickets after the vote was in the ballot box. By these, and such like means, the election was carried ; and judicial proof lias since established the degrading fads.’’ Mr. Benton! each of the above observa tions is a deliberate falsehood, and you are an unqualified villain ! We dare you, we defy you, to produce “judicial proof,” or any thing like it, of what you assert! You know you cannot, and you have lied delib erately, wiifully ‘ Not only is there no proof of what you charge on the Whigs but there is abundant proofof the very contrary. The States which in 1840 cast the largest vote in pro portion to their population were New Hampshire and Illinois, both voting for Van Huron. Illinois, we think it will be conceded, was carried for Van Buren by the votes of aliens not Naturalized accor ding to the requirements of the Federal Constitution. At any rate these votes were admitted by the Van Buren party and were cast accordingly for that party. New Hampshire not only cast an enormous vote in proportion to her population, but the rote of the Van Buren townships -of that State teas ten per cent, heavier in proportion their population than the vote of the townships. In this State we have not a shadow of doubt that four illegal votes were polled for Van Buren to one for Harrison, We do not in this charge our opponents with designing foul play but the material for illegal voters is overwhelmingly on their side, as every one knows, and it would hardly be possible that a majority of illegal votes should be given to the Whig tickets. Col. Benton is one of theleaders who ate determined to bully the Loco-foco party into the renornination of Van Buren. We heartily wish them success in this; for the man to sustain whom you are obliged to contend that the People are a debauched, befooled, unthinking mob, and their elec tions a mere farce, can never be elected. But he shall not utter such gross and dis graceful libels on the People and their em phatic, righteous Verdict in 1840 without castigation.— N. Y. Tribune- Books and Newspapers. —Of all the a musements that can be imagined for a hard working man, after his daily toil, or in in tervals, there is nothing like reading an in teresting newspaper or book. It calls for no bodily exertion, of which he has already had enough, or perhaps too much. It re lieves his home of dullness and sameness. It transport him intolivelier and gayer, and more diversified and interesting scenes; and, while he enjoys himself there, he may forget the evils of the present moments ful ly as much as if he were ever so drunk, with tlie advantage of finding himself the next day with the money in his pocket, or at least laid out in real necessaries, and without the drunkard’s miseries of mind and body. Nav, it accompanies him to his next day’s work ; and, if what he has been read ing be any thing above the idlest and light est, it gives him something to think of, be sides the mere mechanical drugcry of his every-day occupation ; something he can enjoy while absent, and look forward to with pleasure. If 1 were to pray for a taste which should stand me instead, under every variety of circumstances, and be a source of happiness and cheerfulness to me through life, and a shield against its ills, however things might go amiss, and the world frown upon me, it would be a taste for reading. Shameful Theft. —Capt. Marryatt has published a “ Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet, in Califor nia, Sonora and Western Texas.” This Narrative it seems, is made up from the sketches published by Mr. Kendall in the New Orleans Picayune, of his journey to Santa Fe, and from that place the city - of Mexico, after he was tak<rt> prisiSner jy the Mexicans. Mr. Kendall, in b letter to the Courier and Enquirer, exposes this great literary fraud, which should damn its au thor to everlasting infamy. /
