The Columbus times. (Columbus, Ga.) 1841-185?, February 18, 1841, Image 2
IWii the Charleston Courier, lb b. 11.
We copy the account of the Horrible Mas
sacre bv savages, of Passed Midshipman Un
derwood and Midshipman Henry, a nephew
of Capt. U i.kes, the commander of (be Ex
plorihg Expedition on the Island of Malolo,
one of the Fegee Islands from the Norlolk
Beacon of Monday:
“We have been favored with an extract
from a letter from an officer attached to tin
Exploring Expedition, to his family in <hi>
B irotigh, dated U. S. brig Pin poise,O u. 2 ldi,
J-640, vvnich slates that the Porpoise, the sclir.
Flying Fish, and three of the large boats
were surveying a group of Islands attached
to the Fegee, but as there were numerous
shoals the brig was sent outside, ibe schr. and
lwiats keeping near the Islands, so that they
might anchor at night. T 1 e boats got separ
ated a day or two from the schooner, which
made it necessary lor them to goon shore lor
provisions.
“They were about to land on the Island of
Malolo, but were advised by the natives to
go around to the other side of the Island, as
they had nothing, hut that the chief had a
number of presents for them, such as hogs,
yarns, &.C.; and they not suspecting danger,
pulled around the Island but as there was a
long flat the boats could not get within half a
mile of the beach, and some of the officers
and men left the bials and waded ashore.
“Lieut. Underwood, from ihe circumstance
that he understood more of the language than
any other officer, was amongst these who
went ashore, and midshipman Henry begged
permission to accompany hrin which was
granted, with the provision that lie armed
himself.
“They had not been on shore but a short
time before they discovered that the Fegeeans
had nothing to dispose of, but that they were
in truth hostile to them.
“Lt. Underwood immediately ordered the
men to the boats, hot it was too late, as war
had commenced, and as Lt. Underwood, and
Mid. He nry were the only two armed, they
stopped to defend the men, and by so doing
lost their lives.
“As soon as those in the boat saw what was
going on, they came to the assistance of their
eomrades; hot it was too late, for their noble
brother officers were gasping their last.
“Mid. Henry was bled immediately bathe
was found to he dead. One sailor was se
riously injured, and the rest escaped unhurt.
“Midshipman Henry fought most despar
ateiy, and hilled more -ban one of the snva
ges brit was soon overpowered bv numbers.
“The clubs with which the natives fight
are said to be large enough to kill with a sin
gle blow.
“The bodies were secured, hut not without
killing several of the natives, and were pu> on
board the schoonrw, otherwise they would
have been eaten by the cannibals.
“On the following day the officers vvitFi 60
men, landed on the Island, marched to their
town, which was strongly fortified, and killed
57 natives.
“They were firmed info three divisions,
the first was commanded by Capt. Ringgold
and Lieut. North, Lieuts. Johnson and Sin
■clair commanded the second, and Midship
men Maury and Eld commanded the third.
“Capt. Wilkes, Lieuts. Ailen and Emmons
were in the boats to see that no canoea es
caped.
“The Americans lost no lives, and only 3
• or 4 were wounded.
“As soonas tlie Chief was killed, the savages
broke and fled. Lieut. G. T. Sinclair, a na
tive of this Borough, is said to have killed
him.
“Mr. Underwood, with whom we had a
personal acquaintance, was a most promising
officer, and had been married only a few weeks
before he left the United Slates, and Mr. Hen
ry was a young gentleman of talents and
great premise.
“Wo t><vo oio> toon favored with an ex
tract from a letter from an offioor <t,o it
S. ship Peacock to a gentleman in this town
corroborating the above statement. The
Peacock is expected to return home in the
summer of 1842. Officers and crew all
well.”
The extract of a letter which follows, we
find in the Herald:
U. S. Su ip Peacock,
Oahee, Sandwich Islands, Oct. 19, 1840.
We arrived here on the 30th u!t. alter a
tedious passage of 52 days from the Fegee
Islands. Since leaving Sydney (N. S. Wales)
in March last, we have spent full three months
~in surveying at the Fegee Islands, and it is
gratifying to know, dial we have been the
first to make an examination of that interest
ing though dangerous position of the South
Seas.
In our intercourse with the Fegees we
have had to do with the most savage and
barbarous beings in all creation, —and al
though at all times we have been goaded a
gainst their treachery, and endeavored to ex
ercise the utmost caution, vet we have to la
ment and deplore the loss of two of our bm
tlier officers, who tell victims to their ferocity.
Our worthy friend Lieut. Underwood is no
more! While on a surveying tour, lie and
Midshipman Wilkes Henry attempted to land
in a boat on the Island of Malolo, and while
in the act of defending their boat,s crew front
an attack of the savages, were both massa
cred. This sad event has created a deep and
melancholy gloom among us; and long, very
long must we think, with feelings of sorrow,
of our departed friends.
We have had an interesting voyage thus
far, although many circumstances have oo
curred to mar our happiness. No doubt you
have heard the particulars of our success in
the Antarctic Ocean, and the discovery of a
Southern Continent. I trust we shall be able
to give entire srtisfaction to the country; for
surely we have worked hard and braved ma
ny dangers.
Our good old Peacock bad Iter tail feathers
clipped very closely while in the ice, and has
stood the severe rubbings against the coral
reefs and shoals in the Torrid Zone very well.
It is rumored we are to go to the North West
Coast. Our men re-ship here, as their times
expire on the Slst, Oct. We expect to he
home by the summer of 1542. We are al!
in fine health. All the squadron is here.
Oahee is a delightful place to refresh at —
and we find it particularly so, as vve suffered
considerably on out way her; ail our provi
sions gave out, with the exception of ‘creep
ing’ bread, dust and salt beef. It ] rising
rapidly. Tt ere are several mercantile hou
ses here doing well. In a few years this must
. be the grand market of the Pacific.
From the'Washington Correspondence of the Rich
mond Enquirer.
SCENES AT THE METROPOLIS.
Extract of a letter f ont Washington, Feb. 1.
“There are some strange tilings takiiu.
place here at present. Mr. Wise has made ;
speech thiil will do him more credit, as a pub
lie man, than any lie ever tleliverftl. fie i
against Clay’s distribution of the proceeds t |
the lands; and upon that point he spoke wit
more force and eloquence than I ever heart
from him. —He spoke as a true Virginian:
and I do think his speech will decide llm
. question in your Slate. The tone, the feeliti;
and the object of the speech were all patriot
ic in a high degree. lie was against any ta
riff upon wines and siiks, atui most espeeiali
if it were intended to supply the deficiency it
revenue, occasioned by tliedis nbuiionof ifi
proceeds of the sales of the Pol,l t Land’
He was against all the principles of the lot*
Tobacco Convention —denounced it as a Ta
riff move, got up by Southern nieft lode
ceive tlip Snjlii, and tv) act in concert will
Ihe great Tariff party.
“He was against a called session—lie wa.
for the Treasury Note liiii —at* I said on the
subject of on United States Bank, he had be
ieved it the only true regulator; but upon
hat point he would go home and consult his
constituents. If he was only right upon that,
,r rather if he had not hastily committed
nimst ls upon it heretofore, his course would
ne clear. .All his principles, as developed in
his speech, are Southern aid Slate Bights.
He has spoken against every ihiig that the
Whig patty at present hold dear.
“!i has created great offeree in their party,
arid Mr. Wise is to be limited down. They
,ne fierce upon him. I never saw them more
oilier. He also intimated that he was fur the
principles of Mr. Calhoun’s land hill, and
■veil went further if necessary. * * The
whole currrnt of his speech was to warn the
South that lheis was great danger from the
pa coming into power, and fie seemed to
f<s iiis duty to put them on th> ir guard.
He intimated that it was desired that Gen.
Harrison should fall into ihe hands of s clique
for their advancement,” Sec., See.
The Outrage at Lickpivt. — A correspon
dent of ihe Albany Argus gives ihe I'olknv
mg account of the bailing of M'JLeod, and ol
liie subsequent occurrences.
M’Leud was yesterday [Jan. 27th] a hnk
ted to bait by one of our judges, before whom
ins last examination was held, and by whom
he was committed Some excitement among
our citizens was the consequence. A meet
ing was held at the Court House yesterday
morning, which was adjourned over until
this evening. Two ol our citizens bad be
come M’Leod’s sureties, after having been in
demnifi and to the amount ol Lite bail, 85,000.
Avery large majority of those who compos
ed the meeting to-day disapproved of the pro
ceeding of admitting him. to hail, and a dis
position was manifested to strongly censure
those who had suffered their names to be
used for tfin t purpose.
One of the bondsmen came before tfie
meeting upon invitation conveyed to him by
a committee of the meeting, and made a frank
a rid satisfactory statement of the motives
which had actuated him, at the same time
expressing his willingness to withdraw from
the position he had assumed, after the demon
stiatiou he had witnessed of popular feeling
upon the subject.
While the meeting was in session, a pro
cess was put into the hands of the sheriff a
gamst M’Leod, requiring bail to the amount
of S7OOO. It is the commencement of a suit
brought by Mr. Wells, the owner of the
Caroline, for private damages. So that the
amount of bail now required to give him lib
erty would be COO
The District Attorney lias subpoenaed wit
nesses to appear before the Grand Jnrv at
the session to be held the second week of next
month If an indictment is procured, he will
probably be tried at the Circuit, in March
next.
It is not denied that considerable public ex
citement exists with us, heightened by the po
sition assumed by the British Minister in re
lation to the destruction of the Caroline; yet
not so much as to preclude a fair trial of M’-
Leod if he should be indicted. The attempt
to bail him so near the period of his trial has
created a strong impression in the public
mind that the object is to allow him to escape;
and that the British authority have a hand in
the matter, was made apparent by the fact
that a colonial bond or post note, bearing of
ficial signatures, was first offered to the a
rnount of the required bail.
From tho Madisonian, Feb 6.
PROGRESS OF GEN. HARRISON.
We copy from the correspondence of the
Baltimore Patriot the interesting account of
Gen. Harrison’s journey towards this city, his
stay at Pittsburg, meetings and salutations of
the People, speeches, &c.
‘p~ —j-. oftiic de
monstrations of regard and rejoicing evinced
by the people on the shores of the Ohio, would
occupy too much room, and I fear would be
thought rather an exaggeration. From Wheel
ing to this place we would see, in every direc
tion, groups of individuals holding in their
hands flags, &c., and the hoznnnas of
freemen were heard echoing up the valleys of
the Ohio. We passed Steubenville in the
night, much indeed to the regret of the Gen
eral, as he was exceedingly desirous to visit
that flourishing village. But although it was
one o’clock in the morning, hundreds of citi
zens were on the levee to receive him, and the
town was handsomely lighted up. About 9
o’clock in the morning, we reached Beaver,
and again the General was received with eve
ry mark of attention and respect. We passed
a beautiful village, lying immediately on the
banks of the Ohio, called Economy. The ie
sidents of this village are of a peculiar cast of
religionists. They met us on the bank of the
river, all clad in a dress of the most unique
character, with a band of music, and manifest
ed, by their appearance, the greatest regard
for the hero, who had stood by them in the
hour of trial. About four miles below Pit's
burg, we discovered a beautiful flag floating
in the breeze, upon an elevated rock, the staff
being one hundred feet in height. Near the
spot was erected a Log Cabin, surounded by
about one hundred gentlemen and ladies.
As we approached in the noble steamer guns
were discharged, and this beautiful and ro
mantic spot was vocal with songs of triumph,
and liberty. We at length reached the glass
works. At this point, we locked the Fulton
to our boat, and ascended the river to Pittsburg.
Here we found hundreds of banners floating
upon the dome of every building. The banks
of both sides of the river nere li erally covered
with enthusiastic freemen. On reaching the
landing we found at least forty thousand indivi
duals, ready to receive the Old Hero, two
military companies stood in front of this im
mense multitude. The old General stood on
the hurricane deck, uncovered, with his grey
hairs streaming to the breeze. He tried once
or twice to add re- s the crowd before him,
which gave forth the most deafening shouts I
ever listened to—thousands of the fair daugh
ters of the place stood in the windows, hailing
the recept ion of the People’s Candidates. In
short, he descended the deck of the boat, ac
companied by his distinguished aids, Hon. John
Chambers and Col. C. S. Todd.—The commit
fee of arrangement then waited on him, and
fendered to him the hospitalities of the -city.
The Mayor of the city then conducted the
General to a Barouche, and thus accompanied
he passed through the town. At the request j
of tlie multitude, the general made them an
eloquent speech. lie reached the Pittsburg
Hotel late in the evening, where several gen
lemen of distinction called on him and a large
number we;e introduced to him. An incident;
occurred, which I will relate—as it was of the :
nost deeply interesting character. An old
soldier, pressing his way with difficulty through
he crowd, came limping along with one leg,
iav mg lest the other at the Battle of Tippe
■.anoe. “Sir,” said he, “1 am glad to see you j
—■! was with you at the Battle of Tippecanoe,
i lost this leg under your command—l am
tore the General's bosom began to swell with
[ ee P. emotions. II s lip quivered—lie was
teep-y affected. lie replie 1 with some inqui- \
i mter Ins health.. The old soldier again ex
iaitiled “General, I am glad that the people
ia\e Ciected you President—l voted for you
md “ filer too,” and I am in hopes thatwhen
■•m take charge of the office of Presi dent, you
■ ill look after the pension fund—the old sol
iiors can’t got their pensions.” To this, he re-
P 1 “dod ■i do not think that there is any
noney in the Treasury for any body, but if
here bo any, the old soldiers shall have their i
>art of it.” This prompt and applicable renly
■row for.h considerable applause. As soon
s the General had taken by the hand thou- [
vi!sis of his fellow-citizens, he retired to
bed, •
To-day another interesting scene took place. J
According to previous arrangements, lie ad-1
dressed thousands of his fellow-citizens in;
front of the Pittsburg Hotel. Every window 1
in the vicinity of the hotel was thronged with ■
| beau y and elegance to hear the words of ex
perience and wisdom from this venerable |
President The whole scene was a sublime
; one- It was a meeting of the working classes
; of the comunity, who had come forth, to show
1 their veneration for the eminent personage,
who had been elevated by their suffrages, to
; the most distinguished office in the world. I
[suppose ten thousand persons were present,
jli is remarks were feeling and eloquent.. llis
i commentaries on the principles of republican
-1 ism were able and lucid, and his observations
| on the duty of citizens, in watching the move
: ments of those clothed with large preroga
| fives of power, were sound in their general
I application, and perfectly philosophical. Ma
! ny indeed expressed their surprise at the re
! markable distinctness of his enunciation, and
j the full compass of his voice. lam sure that
every man present understood every word
5 uttered by him—whilst he was eloquently
i discoursing, a loco-foco propounded a series
| of questions to him, to which he calmly repli
!ed, that he concluded, he might reply to the
j remark he intended to make-—that it was
I contrary to all parliamentary rule, to allow
j two speakers at the same time. This prompt
I reply produced a great sensation—and the
[shouts rung again with great applause. The
I meeting was afterwards addressed by Walter
Forward, and Mr. Black, in able speeches—
the multitude continued to remain in the street
for hours after the General concluded. * *
P. S. The President elect, wears on the
day of the inauguration, a Hat which is the
joint handy-work of the mechanics of the
Banner and the Buckeye States.
Pittsbubg, Pa., Jan. 30-
In my last communication 1 informed you
that Gen. Harrison had made an engagement
to meet the ladies of this city, at Concert Hall.
Sometime before the hour, an immense con
course of individuals were assembling in the
neighborhood of the building. The room of
the Hall was soon thronged with all the beau
ty and fashion of the town. From my own ob
servations, and from what I could collect from
others, I suppose not less than three thousand
whig young ladies were present, exhibiting
the most beautiful and sublime spectacle l ev
er beheld. When the hour of three arrived,
the old Hero alighted from the carriage, and
accompanied by his distinguished aids, and the
Hon. Harmar Denny, ha entered the Hall
amidst the acclamations of the admiring crowd
—the band playing “see the conquering Hero
comes.” The General rose, evidently much
affected by this homage, thus paid by sucli a
fascinating audience, addressed the ladies, in
a few brief and eloquent remarks. During
the delivery of this speech, the General took
the liberty to interweave a beautiful episode
in his observations, of the most deeply interes
ting character. He feelingly alluded to an in
cident that occurred in 1794. lie observed
that he ought to have had a Pittsburg wife;
that in 1794, he exchanged locks of hair with
a lady of this town. The lady with whom the
General had the good fortune to meet in 1794,
happened to be present, and she (Mrs. A )
forthwith advanced to the General and ten
dered him her congratulations. The meeting
exhibited much exultation. After he conclu
ded, the General then shook by the hand the
whig daughters of Pennsylvania, amt all retir
ed to their homes highly delighted with the
“People’s President,” and highly gratified
that they had an opportunity of grasping by
ihe hand, the General, who had protected their
country in times of danger and of difficulty.
To-day ha attends the Episcopal Church,
Dr. Upthorp’s ; and this evening, the First Pres
byterian Church in Alleghany Town.
He will leave here for Brownsville to-mor
row about 10 or 11 o’clock. The committee
am, f-V)v f prni] n boat, for the pur
pose of conveying him and the gentlemen ac
companying him to that place.
The Hon. Harmar Denny, so distinguished
ior his elegant urbanity of manners, and emi
nent talents, has been marked in his attentions
to the General and his suite, at.d accompanies
the General to church this morning.
Several eloquent speeches were made yes
terday, not mentioned by me, bv Mr. Black,
of this place, Mr. Loomis, of Ohio, and Mr.
Robert Wiekliffe, Jr. of Kentucky, the Private
Secretary of the President.
Mrs. Harrison and Mr. Copeland, the neph
ew of the President, are at the Exchange.
From tlie Charleston Courier, Feb. llAi.
SUSPENSION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS.
The papers by yesterday’s mail give us but
little additional intelligence of the effects of
the suspension. The Richmond IV 7 iig of
Monday, remarking on the existing state ol af
fair?, thus speaks of the banks of that city :
“We ore pleased to say our banks will pay no
respect to the course of the Bank of the Uni
ted States. They will go ahead in resumption,
and meet the engagements of their charters.
The following may be regarded as official:
“Upon the receipt, Saturday evening, of the
intelligence that the Bank of the United States
had suspended specie payments, the officers
of the Banks of this city held a meeting, and
decided to continue specie payments, regard
less of the course of the Bank of the United
States. The public may be satisfied that our
banks will carry out the resolution to pay spe
cie.”
The New York correspondent of the Na
tional Intelligencer closes his letter as follows :
“Exchange on England has advanced to
108 3-4 a 109. At this rate, specie will be
likely to go out, as the amount of bills in mar
ket, except those of the United States Bank is
small. United States Bank stock sold at the
Brokers Board to-day at 36 1-2, and at the se
cond Board at 32 cash. Exchange on Phila
delphia and Balthnore9o a 97. United States
Bank notes 10 als per cent discount. There
is nothing else talked of in the city but the
suspension. Very little business has been
done, nor will there be till the worst is known.
There has been no run upon our banks, though
various reports to that effect have been circu
lated.”
In reference to the forfeiture of the charters
of the Pennsylvania institutions, the National
Gazette contains the article which follows:
“The following are the enactments provi
ding for the resumption of specie payments
by the banks of this State, passed by the leg
islature last spring.
“•That the several incorporated banks of
this Commonwealth are hereby required on,
from and after the 15th of January, 1841, to
pay on demand all their notes, bills, deposits,
and other liabilities, in gold and silver coin, ex
cept such as may have hern made and created
under a special agreement, under penalty,’ Ccc.
bcc.
Resolved , That if any bank within the
Commonwealth shall at any time after the
said 15th of January, 1841, refuse to pay on
demand, its notes, bills, deposits, or other lia
bilities, in gold or silver coin, except such as
may have been made ami created under a spe
cial agreement, its charter shall, for any such
refusal, be declared forfeited as herein provi
de I.’
“The act then goes on to sav that any one
who has been refused go and and stiver by a
batik, shall make an oatii or affirmation be
fore the Court of Common Pleas of the county,
or before the President Judge thereof, of the
fact; it shall be the duty of the Court to ap
point the tenth jiu’idical day thereafter for the
hearing of the case—notice thereof to be giv
en, at least eight days, to the president or
cashier of the bank, and also to the Deputy
Attorney General, whose duty it will be to
prosecute on the part of the Commonwealth ;
and if the allegation charged shall be substan
tiated by the testimony, to the satisfaction of
the Court, the said Court shall immediately
cause the same to be filed in such Court, and
then the charter of such bank shall be declar
ed forfeited ; a provision is then made for the
appointment of trustees to wind up the affairs
of the bank. Under this act, the Lulled States
Bank of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bank,
North America Bank, Commercial Bank, and
many others, are exempted from the penalties
of the above act, by live clause which, has been
placed til italics.
PHILADELPHIA, F.b. 9ih.
The United States Bank, we learn, will re
ceive in payments Jbr debts to herseil, no
notes but ttmse of her own issue; and at
large sums are due to that institution, it lol
iows liuii her notes must soon be in demand,
at par with the other Batik notes(7. S
Gazette.
The New York Commercial Advertiser o.
last Monday says, “There is a great deal ol
bustle and some excitement in Wall street to
day. i'ue decline of stocks has been great
—that of the United States Bank disastrous.
We have beard of the failure of bu-l one bro
ker as yet, birl there will be more at 2
o’clock.
The Ne<v York Express of the same day
says, “The fall in Slocks lias been terrific to
day, and a panic seems to have prevailed,
and ali that could sell knocked off their Stocks
at any price. The operations are all among
the Brokers—the Bills will suffer most tre
mendously, and if they can stand losses ol this
description they must be firm indeed. Uni
ted States Bank has tumbled down to 26 1-8
a rate never before anticipated.”—Charles
ton Courier, Feb. 13 th.
PHILADELPHIA BANKS.
The Philadelphia United States Gazette of
yesterday, referring to the suspension of the
Banks, says :
The law of last February, relative to future
suspensions, has operated most injuriously.
The Banks were not ready for that resump
tion, and all should have open'y and freely
stated their inability to meet the requirements
of the law. They did not; but anxious to
comply,, and place themselves on a par with
the institutions of other States at the East,
they gathered around them, at sacrifices, the
means of compliance. The Bank which had
supplied the currency, of courses, made the
principal preparations, and on the 15th ot
January, the work of resumption was only
commenced.
Then, for the first time,, some of the small
Banks discovered that the Eastern funds
winch they held, were only placed in their
vaults in paper, to be drawn from thence in
specie ; and the calm, which had been consi
dered so favorable to their views, was but the
lulling of a breeze before a change for a tem
pest. ; and in less than twenty days, only three
out of thirteen Banks of Philadelphia had paid
out nine millions of dollars in specie, llow
much the other Banks had disbursed in that
time, we have no means of knowing.
No banking institutions could have stood this
assault. It is not in the nature of their busi
ness. The whole amount of specie in all the
Banks of the State of New York, including
city as well as country Banks, is only ten
millions four hundred and twenty-nine thou
sand one hundred and twelve dollars. And
they have a circulation of upwards of fifteen
millions, and a depcsite in the aggregate of
seventeen millions. Now, if an attack should
be made upon the New York institutions,
equally vigorous and wrongly disposed, with
that upon the Philadelphia Banks, what would
these boasted Banks be in twenty days ?
From ilie Philadelphia Inquirer of yesterday.
THE RECENT SUSPENSION.
The excitement produced by the suspen
sion of specie payments by the united States
Bank, and the other Banks of Philadelphia, as
already named, subsided in a great measure
on Saturday, although the public pulse was
any thing but calm and composed. The
Banks aene v ril!y paid specie for their five dol
lar notes, and although in one or two instances
specie was also paid for notes of a larger de
nomination, we believe that no Philadelphia
institution redeemed all its notes and liabilities
in coin—that is to say, notes, deposited ba
lances, and its drafts.
We fear, therefore, that truth compels us
to state, that the suspension is general
throughout the city and county of Philadel
phia, and an apprehension must also he in
dulged that the Banks in the interior, and to
the South, will speedily be compelled to follow
the example. On Saturday, however, the
Banks oi l-larrisburg, as we learn from the
Telegraph ol that place, continued to pay
specie, much uncertainty and confusion still
exist, as to the money and stock rates; al
though it will be seen on reference to the
appropriate head, that considerable business
was transacted by our board of brokers on
Saturday. The last transaction we heard of,
in exchange on New York, was to a consi
derable amount, and done at 4 per cent.
Another transaction took place for ten
thousand dollars, in which United Slates Bank
notes were paid at a discount of 11 per cent.
This, too, wo understand, was for New York,
so that deducting 4 per cent, exchange, the
discount on the notes would be about G per
cent. The public are sadly puzzled for a
currency, and in some instances 2 per cent,
premium has been paid for small notes. The
Banks held a meeting by delegates—two from
each Bank—on Saturday evening.
Various plans were suggested, and among
others, certificates of deposit, and small post
notes. Nothing definite was determined upon.
Something, however, must be done, and that
speedily. The Legislature will, we trust, act
promptly and judiciously at tin's crisis—while
the spirit manifested by our citizens thus far,:
is calculated to make the. most favorable im- i
press ton as to their general forbearance, and I
the disposition to yieid with as good a grace as
possible, to the monetary evils under which j
we are laboring.
I rom I lie Phi aieljiha North American of yesterday
The Late Suspension. —A meeting of the
delegates from the various Banks in this city,
was held on Saturday evening last, at which
we understand it was agreed to receive the
notes and checks of eacli other; and settle
accounts in the same mannor as during- the
suspension in 1837; allowing o per ‘cent,
interest, and settling balances when they
amount to -$20,000. The United States Bank
was not represented at this meeting.
New Jersey Banks. — The Philadelphia Sen
tinel states that several of the New Jer.-ey
Banks suspended specie payments on Friday
and Saturday.
From the Baltimore Ameri an. Fob. 9.
BANK SUSPENSIONS
The result of the meeting of the officers oi
the Banks of Baltimore., held yesterday morn
i ing at eight o’clock, was th t adoption of a
! resolution, by an unanimous vote, to suspend
specie payments. This course was unavoi
dable, in view of the general suspension
which had previously taken place among the
Banks of Philadelphia. On Saturday perhaps
upwards of <§loo,ooo in specie were drawn
from the Banks ot Baltimore by note holders
and on dralts ; and yesterday morning a num
ber of brokers and agents from the eastward
stood ready to draw coin, had not the deter
mination to suspend interposed to prevent
them. The Virginia Banks will, without dout,
also suspend.
Common ‘cyjhk vs Semmes.—We learn from
the Charlottesville Va. Advocate that the tria.
of young Semmes before the Examining Court,
on the charge of murdering Professor Davis,
was brought to a close late on Wednesday
evening, after a two days investigation, and
it was decided that the prisoner should be sent
on for further trial, to be had before the Cir
cuit Superior Court in May next. — Bali. Pat.
of Tuesday.
THE TIMES.
COLUMBUS, FK.il. 18, 184li
Our T own subscribe rs who do not receive
ibeir papers regularly, and at the paces des
ignated by them, wil! please communicate the
lact to tiiis Office.
The Timcs will, in a lew weeks, be presen
ted to the Public, in an in.provtd form.
CITY .AFFAIRS.
I here is one of the ordinances of this city,
as old as (he city itself, and very imperative
m its character, which is, probably, more fre
quently violated than anv oilier. We allude
to the one which prohibits, under adequate
penalties, the firing if guns or pistols within
the corporate limits of the city. In the pro
priety, and, ,indeed, necessity, of such at>
Ordinance, ail concur, and why is it not en.
lorced ? Neither the City Council, nor i'.s
Officers, can ascertain violations of this Oidi
nance, unless complaint he made against of
fending individuals; and it is the duty of every
good citizen wi o properly regards the wel
fare of the town in which he resides, and de
sires the maintenance Os good order, and the
observance of wholesome regulations, to re
port every infringement of City law which
may come to his knowledge.
We have been induced to make these re
marks in consequence of repeated complaints
, by citizens residing near the commons, oil the
outer range of lots, of constant firing in the
immediate vicinity of their residences. We
have beiore us a note received yesterday
irom a gentleman, stating the discharge of a
gun within a few steps of his residence, caus
ing alarm to his family, and, indeed, endan
gering life.
if persons desire to hunt, or to shoot for
amusement, lei them go beyond the City com
mons, and not be a constant source of annoy
ance and alarm to families residing on the bor
dess of the City. Cannot the Marshal occn
sion'y turn his attention in that direction,
and bring some of the individuals, who are in
the practice of hunting and shooting so fre
quently within the corporate limits of the City,
beiore the Council, to be dealt with as the law
dheels. It is a foolish and pernicious prac
tice, and ought to be suppressed.
General Harrison, the President elect, ar
rived in Washington city, on the 9th day of
this month.
In this paper will bo found some account
;of the pageantry at Pittsburg, on the occasion
of the presence of Gen. Harrison in that city,
on his way to Washington. It is taken from
the correspondence of the Madisonian, and
may interest some of our readers, though
highly seasoned with fulsome adulation.
Suspension of specie payments by the Daubs
of Philadelphia and Baltimore. —We halve
transferred to our columns a succinct account,
extracted from various Journals, of the cir
cumstances which led to, and have attended
the suspension t;f-specie payments by the
Banks in the ciiies of Philadelphia and Balli-
If (lie accounts received from Washington
city, through various sou ices, a it* to be cred
ited, the friends of Gen. Harrison fonn any
tiling but an harmonious hand. How there
should be so early a dissolution of the ele
ments of the whig parh—several weeks be
fore the commencement of the new Adminis
tration —a rupture, too, emanating from the
most exclusive aril orthodox of the new paitv,
is mailer of great surprise. Wise, Alford,
.Mallory of the Norfolk District, Virginia
not embracing Hives, Garland, and some mit
ers, more recent converts —have openly ex
pressed di-satisfaction with the apprehended
aspect of afiiirs, as at present indicated by
I Messrs Clay and Webster. Neither of the
gentlemen fi.st named, can, by any possihi'ity,
be suspected of J 1 ie slightest attachment to a
solitary fagment or individual of the demo
cratic party —and, of all others, they have
| been the most unsparingin their censures, & de
nunciatory of t lie men and measures of the
administration of Mr. Van Buren. What i 8
the difficulty? Something is wrong, or this
early demonstrator) of dissatisfaction
and dislike would not have been made.—-
j They deprecate an extra session—are hos-
I tile to a farther imposition of duties, beyond
the indispensable wants of the Government
[and strenuously object to the distribution
|of tlxe proceeds of the sales of the public
| lands among the States. Now, if the two
I latter measures are not seriously contem
: plated by the leaders of the whig party,
j and the first is not designed as the meins of
j effecting them speedily, why ilie commotion ‘
; in the ranks of that party —among the most j
unscrupulous and heretofore unyielding of its
J devotees ? We have not yet forgotten tiro
j unmerciful castigation inflicted by Mr. Alford,
| in this city, last spring, upon the expiring
| Administration and its friends; and we were
j then satisfied that the Orator really and sin
-1 cerely believed that they were, if not trio same,
| the very next thing to the ‘Devil and his imps.’
! There was a richness of invective, and a ! ill
ness of denunciation in his remarks upon that
occasion, which could only have proceeded
from one thoroughly impressed with the cor
rectness of the sentiments l.e was uttering—
and we were equally gratified, with the poli
tical friends of the honorable gentleman, that
a suitable opportunity had been presented to
him to relieve his mind of presentiments, evi
dently engendered in a gloomy and disordered
fancy, and that must have ultimately resulted,
if the political illusion had not been banished,
u temporary derangement of intellect.
This gentleman, as we have remarked ir.
liis article, deprecates an extra session—he
ias “suspicions’"—his “ fears are aroused” —
hat the object of this Conven
tion of Congress is any thing but fair air.d legi
imate. By the by, will the Editor of the Macor.
Messenger read the speech of Mr. Alford,
and compare it with i is (the editor’s) ccm
msnts of last week. Mr. Alford thinks the
passage of the distribution bill :s designed to
force the Government to a high tariff-—and sc
anxious are the Whig party to effect this
measure, that they are not willing to wait un
ii the tegular cession of Congress. lie char
res tins design upon Mr. Bell of Tennessee,
Mr. Evans of Maine, and Mr. Barnard of N.
York, all prominent and influential Whigs?
Have they denied the charge? Is it likely Mr
Alford would have assailed his own political
friends, if there were uo foundation for hri
fears —no reasonable apprehension of danger?
Let any candid man answer.
the Monroe rail road and bank
ing COMPANY.
A writer, over the signature of Vindex, in
the Georgia Jeffersonian of the 14th instant,
concludes Ids communication tbus-wise :—“ I
congratulate the country upon the brightening
prospect that ts dawning upon the cotton
growers of this region, in the speedy comple
tion of Gen. Griffin’s road, which will open to
us another and better market, and will also
relieve us from the shifts and quirks of the
money shavers of Columbus.”
The object of the communication of Vin
dex is to show that an unnecessary and unjus
tifiable hostility has been exhibited both in
Augusta and this city, towards the Monroe
Rail Road and Banking Company—and that
this hostility originated not in the belief of the
unsoundness of the institution itself, but in
motives of petty spite and personal pique.
Vindex cannot be unapprised that serious
doubts have been generally entertained, for
some time, in every part of the State, that the
Monroe Rail Road Bank, in consequence oi
the unproductiveness of its improvements,aiai
the extent of its circulation, might, by possi
bility, be unable to resume specie* payments—
or, if accomplishing thus much, unless every
thing in the money market went smoothly, it
could not maintain tliem. These doubts, we
are certain, have not been confined to Colum
bus ; and although we have not particularly
examined the facts, we think it will appear by
recurring to them, that the bills of this institu
tion have borne no higher vplue in other towns
in the State, than in Columbus ; unless, per
haps, in Macon, where settlements could be
had daily with the Bank, by the holders of the
money. Vindex will not deny, certainly,
that the course of the Bank since resumption
has been any thing but correct—very far
from a full and unconditional return to specie
payments, agreeably to the terms and inten
tions of the law.
Our obj ‘Ct, however, was to notice the
concluding the communication ol
V index, quoted in the outset of tins article.—
We think trie Cotton growers have no leason
to be dissatisfied with Colutnhus, at least dtt
ring the present season. The staple has
maintained throughout, in this market, its lull
value, and the funds received in exchange for
it, have been at par in every part of the Suite,
dial there may he mosey shavers in Colum
bus, is highly probable. If ihece were none,
it would be unlike any other town of which
we have any knowledge,or have ever heard.
But that they have exercised any unfavora
ble influence upon trie planting interest, either
in the sale of Colton, or the pm chase of com
modities, at least to the injurious extent slated
by Vindex, we are totally unappriseit
The following is an extract from*the speech
of Sir. Clary of Alabama, in the U. Stales
Senate, Jan. 15th, on the Land Bill. llun>s
ville, in Alabama, is not the only place in the
Country, containing 3000 inhabitants,'or there
abouts, which can count as applicants for the
Office of Post Master, twelve individuals and
upwards :
“ Why, sir, before I left my residence, I
heard the names of some twelve individuals
mentioned, as aspirants to the office of post
master of town containing a population of
only some 3,000 souls—yet, I never heard the
first imputation against the capacity, integrity,
or fidelity of the incumbent. And so it is,
sir, throughout the country, there is scarcely
an office of the most humble grade, held bv “a
Democrat, for which there are not many ap
plicants to be found in the ranks of this office
bating, anti-spoils party. 1 have seen it sla
ted that bat a few days ago, the Legislature
of a’neighboring State, in which the Whigs
have recently obtained the ascendeucv, turn
ed out indiscriminately every Democrat, even
down to the men who swept the floors of the
Capitol. Such, sir, are the evidences of Whig
sincerity, and such will be the monuments o)
Whig magnanimity !”
From the N. O. Adver iser.
i THE LIST SYSTEM OF SELLING COTTON.
We have taken pains to inqu re into the ex
act mode of selling cotton in N. Orleans, and
! the result of our inquiries ive now pmceed to
j lay before out readers.
| The planter sends his crop to a factor, in
I whom he reposes perfect confidence. The
factor receives it at the Levee, ami disposes of
| it in such a manner as to he convenient to the
j compressing establishments. W hen that is
done, the hales are all sampled by him. The
| next step is Jbr the factor to classify thesam
j pie, according to trieir respective qualities, amt
; looking to the interest ct Ins principal, to set
the highest obtainable market price upon each
quality. AVer this, he averages these prices,
allowing lour hundred pounds to each bale,
and with trie average rate for li e article in I.is
possession, he goes into the market in search
of a buyer. In nine cases out of ten, now
a-dnys, the buying broker a hides by the sam
ple of the factor, who generally guaranties
them to be correct and lair specimens of the
article proposed to be sold. So soon as a
sale is efiected, if more or less than the aver
age price put upon the article be obtained, or
the buyer agrees to the factor's demand, the
cotton is weighed, and according to the we'ght
of each bale.fand the price obtained, the rates
are individualized for each quality. It fre
quently happens that a balance is left over
this operation, and it is charged against our
I actors that i Lev pockt t it without so much as
a blush upon their face. True, it isensvglor’
i dishonest man so to do, and if lie does not
cheat in one wa v, he can arid will in another,
hut we deny that any balance need be left in
individualizing trie prices of the various qua!-’
iticsof the article sold. It can all be ab
sorbed in trie hands of the honest iactor.
1 ins, then, is the famous list system of sel-!
ling cotton, which has excited so’mucti the in-j
Agnation of tiie Mississippi press. Lke any I
other system, it depends upon the honestv of
its administrators. In itself it does not con
tain the elements of injustice railed against bv
he Mississippi people. The factor pronct
the planter’s rights, while the buying broker
his principal, arid rarely do we i ou
tbid one man officiating as buying and selling
broker, both, (nr the factor is every day tak
ing the place of the selling broker.
As to the objection, that several planters’
:yo|)s are merged together, and that this all
onis a chance to the factor to lean to the s<h
‘I the great planter, 1o the sacrifice of the
: ess, it scarcely deserves an answer. An bon
H st man will be guilty of no such injustice and
the presumption always is, that lie planter
‘elects such a factor. If lie does not it is Ids
own fault.
An eminent broker has furnished us with a
table ol the expenses incident on a hale o(
cotton, (rom the time it reaches the Levee,
until it is sold, and lor which the usual charge
s fifty cents per hale: press, ccc., 50 cents:
sampling, 2 1-8 cents; brokerage 10 cents;
ihor; Sec., 6 1-4 cents, allowance; 6 l-4cts.
ft” we are wrong in any part of our state
nent, concerning this matter, we shall lie
dad to be corrected hv those who feci an in
ter; st in vindicating N. Orleans from the as
pensions of Strang* rs.
F rom the Washington Correspondence of ihc Charles
ton Courier, Feh. 9.
General Harrison arrived in this city lodav,
in the cars Iron) Baltimore, attended bv*a
committee from Baltimore, his family, &.c.
The day was the most dismal and dreary
that could have occurred, ram and sleet falling
thick and last for several hours, before and al
ter tiie General’s arrival.
Nevertheless, he was received by a con s
course of citizens and the Tippecanoe clttb.
I’oere was no military parade, hut there
were two bands of music in the procession.
Ahe citizens escorted trie General to the
City Hall, where the Mayor of the city ad
dressed him in an appropriate manner.
The General, in reply, said, hri*fly, that
had he not been warmly welcomed here, lie
should have been disappointed, for be knew
the people of this District well, and for a loiut
time was on the most friendly terms with
them. He should, as lar as was in his pow
er, protect and promote their interests and
welfare.
As to politics, the General very properly
held his peace. It is no longer necessary or
politic for him to talk on such subjects.
He wilt remain here only two or three days,
after which lie will go to Virginia.
There was no business of interest in Con
gresstoday. In Senate, the bankrupt bill was
again discussed, but no question was taken
upon if. There seemed to b • no disposition
to posh the bill, nor to bring up any other
subjects.
The House went into committee c*n the bill
making appropriations for navy pensions.—
The question being on Mr. W. Thompsons
amendment, appropriating SIOO,OOO for the
purpose of fulfilling some stipulations made
by Gen. Armistead with the Indians in Flori
da, wherebv the war will probablv be stopp
ed.
But this mailer was not referred to in the
debate. Mr. Cooper, of Georgia, who yes
terday commenced a reply to Mr. Giddings,,
of Ohio, continued his speech. IMr. Cooper
went on to prove that citizens of Georgia had
not been sr*ilt.v of nemo stealing, but that
citizens of Maine and Ohio had. Many at
tempts were made to arrest the debate, but
without success.
Mr. R ayner, Mr. Wise, nnd other southern
whigs attempted to arrest it, because it would!
open torrents of abuse upon the South, and
do no good. Mr. Adams insisted that it
should go on, and claimed a rijjrit to reply.
Ii became a regular, old fashioned, abolition*
Congress row. Mr. Black, of Georgia* wi
dened the field of debate still farther, in his
speech.
Soy there is no getting rid of abolition de*
hnl“s in the House.
To-morrow no legislative business can le
done. The two houses are to meet at 12 n > -
c.lock, to count and declare trie votes-fu;’
President and “V ice President of the United
States.
From the Rich. Enq.-Keb. 2>l
TIIE-CONTROVERSY Wit II NEW YORK.
Extracts from a letter of a distinguished Mem
t r of the Legislature of Maryland , to a
Member of the lLouse of Delegates of Vir
ginia.
“The subject, of the controversy between
New York and Virginia lms been referred in
the House of Delegates to the Committee of
Grievances and'Courts of Justice. * *
* * * l It is a matter of the
most vital importance. It is tho-great ques
tion of the day with the slaveholding States.
The article of the Richmond Whig upon ti ck
subject meets no response here. 1 could not
have believed there could have beeh so much 1
lameness upon such a question in all Virginia.
The policy thevs vindicated,-prostrates every’
barrier which guards our’ rights. To the”
spirit whic h governs Northern fanaticism upon
slavery* to yield on®’ inch of ground whore we”
have the right to stanch- is to give up the field.
Tiie issue is made. At must be met. It
must be decided. It must be settled. u Obsta’
principiis ” was the motto of our ancestors,
when they drew iherr sword, and with stouts
hearts and strong hands they defied all Hrit
ian’s power, rather than submit to ah unjust
exaction of a paltry tax. Under that motto’
they fought and conquered ; and by the bles--
sing of God, 1 hope there are few of their des
scendants who will not plant them, elves upon
their plain, constitutional rights, wi, h the
bright and glorious banner of their lather float
ing over them, and if it he .necessary, pledge
their fortunes, lives and sacred honor in the
maiutainance of the position. * * * * *
In reference to ilie great question to which I
have referred, I think I can pi edge you that
the spirit of “he Maryland line” yet aniiria'es
the State; and that when occasion requires,
Old Maryland, as in Revolutionary days, will
be found shoulder to shoulder with Old Vir
ginia and her sister slave Slates in defe. ee c f
ilieir common rights.”
From tiie Na-w York Herald, extra. I-Vb. 7.
j THREE DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE,
The packet ship Emerald, Capt. Ilowe, ar-
I rived this morning from Havre, bringing dates
| to January 9tb, her day of sailing.
Our news man boarded her in advance of
jail other papers, and Irought the papers up
j over land. YVe thank Gapt. Howe for send
j mg us by him several loose papers of January,
i 9 i ?-
r l he s’ate of Parts was tra qml ; the cm
j eule which was expected when trio North
i America left Liverpool, had not broken out.
The important news from China, which
! was brought by the North America, and which
reached London by a telegraphic dispatch
1 overland, via Marseilles and Paris, was d< üb
| ted by many mercantile men in Paris. The
“ Courier Francais” says that if the Chinese
have agreed to pay the English 65,000,000
[ franc s, 35,C00,000 of this sum must go to pay
: the opium merchants ; leaving only 30,000,-
! COO francs to defray the expenses of the war;
whereas the war will cost England double
| that sum.
The same paper adds, that Admiral Elliot
| could not have had any authority to make a
treaty with the Chinese, unless he thereby
obtained some permanent advantage to the
British government, which was not spoken of
in the late news.
The “ Courier Francais” further says, that
they are assured upon the highest authority’
that the British government will positively
insist (as an ultimatum to their reconciliation
| with China) that they shall he allowed to nave
[ a resident minister constantly at Pekin.
In Paris, M. Theirs had not made any fur
ther progress. M. Guizot was strengthening
himself and endeavoring to preserve pacific
all round.
The Count de l’ontois and Cochelet had
not been recalled from Constantinople arid
Alexandria when the Emerald left.
Great dissatisfaction st.il existed in the
public mind in Paris, relative to the state of
the Egyptian question, but no futher demon
stration'had taken place in the Cham! ers.
Tl e weather was still very cold in Paris.
The fortifications around the city were pro
gressing slowly.
Havre Colton Market , Jan. 9.— The market
remains nearly the same. The arrivals of the
week have been large, but the holders not
being anxious to press the sales, the prices
have been well maintained to the close.
GO* The Boston Allas says, “the public
generally may not be aware that a number
of Banks are closing their concerns ; and af
ter a certain period, their bills will cease to be
redeemed. We refer to the Fulton, Com
mercial, American. Hancock, KtJby,and Ori
ental Banks at Boston ; Norfolk a* Roxbu
rv ; Middlesex at Cambridge; Windsor at
Wind.-or; Montpelier at Montpelier• East
Bridgewater at East Bridgewater. We there
fore recomend to ihe p. blic to sot waul for
payment what hiils they may have of tj-osp
banks, before the time expires.”