Newspaper Page Text
From the Kick< rbocker.
SKETCH OF MIRABEAU B. LAMAR.
Si FRANCIS COPCUTT.
Shortly sftet Ihe revolution of the edict V>f
Nantes by Louia XIV., nd to escape from
lie horrible cruellies ami persecutions which
billowed that event, one of the tinguenul
iwnilies which were fleeing from France by
t housands to various parts of the world, bade
their native country farewell in haste and
icrror, and crossed the Atlantic in search of
some spot of earth where they might w orship
Micir Cod in peace and safety, (unterrifled by
that bigotry which would annihilate them
while it held the cross aloft as its pole-star to
light it on to deeds at which the angels might
w ell weep, and the dark spirits of Hades
laugh ia Irwunph. The bead of the family,
u Inch was of noble blood, was named John
LaMar- They reached the colonies in
raiety about the beginniog-of the past century
settled in Maryland* and as the family in
creased and anew generation arose, they
Crunched ofl from then- first resting-place,
and look their new abodes principally in Geor
gia, near and among the wild tribes ol Chero
kee* in whom they found friends, compared
with the civilised fiends from whom their s
parents hod fled in Ihe Old World. Years, (
passed on; another and another generation |
was burn: a century bad passed away since j
the first La Mar stepped upon our shores, ,
and the United States had come into exis- (
teuce as’a nation;-and, a giant at its very birth,
having thrown oft'tlie snack led wh rh bound it, j
when one of the great grandchildren of the
exiled Huguenot, with his young wile, settled |
at Louisville, then tho capital of Georgia i ‘
and there, on lire sixteenth day of Align
1798, the subject of this sketch, Miraj’ , lAU
11. Lamar was born. _ /
The family consisted, besiaes birr , a elf, of
five daughters and four sons, who, under the
eare of a fitlier of inflexible integr t ty, and a
fond and intellectual mother, g’.ew up res
pected and esteemed, and several of them
afterwards filled .various of.iuial stations.—
When Lamar was three y ears old, the family
removed to Putnam county, where, on the
plantation which I r 1 been selected as a
homestead, they rer.iained for the next quar
ter of a century. Lamar grew up a lively,
healthy, and vigorous boy, with inexhaustible
animal spirits, and an insatiable fondness for
fun and frolic. A melancholy part of Lamar’s
life was the period when he attended school,
the routine-duties and confinement of which
he hated; but parental authority of course
kept him there for a number of years, during
which, as each new sun arose, and the school
hours approached, the boy, so generally gay,
his companion’s favorite aud leader, trudged
off to his six hours’ confinement with a heavy
heart, to repeat his half learned tasks; and
then, as the happy hour of dismissal arrived
like the uncaged bird, fly off to revel in some
new sport, or with favorite and schoal forbid
den authors, find young romance, and store
his mind and enlarge his thoughts with
knowledge which from task-books be found
it impossible to acquire. The release from
school came at last, aid Lamar with his large
capacity revelled in hie new liberty, and pass
ed the days and nights in fencing, dancing,
.and riding, being one of the most expert
equestrians in the country, and in reading
aud poetry, a taste for which was born with
him; and lie now composed with facility and
published effusions in the newspapers of the
neighborhood.
Having arrived at manhood, he entered in
to mercantile life as copartner with Dr.
Willis Roberts, at, Cahawba : the Doctor,
however, was extravagant and careless, and
Lamar too fund of poetry and politics to be
very successful as merchants. The copart
nership lasted but one year, when he sold
out to tho Doctor, and united with Mr. Wm.
Allen in'the publication of the ‘Cahawba
Press,’ which step was occasioded by his in
terest in Governor Bibb’s measures; and
these having been carried through, he left
the paper and returned once more to his
father’s borne. The time was now passed
principally in attention to politics, in travell
ing from town to town, and speaking at the
various meetings on such measures as lis
party were endeavoring to carry through.—
While on one of these exj||Hoiiß, he acci
dentally met the being w|Sms to have a
marked and powerful influlroe over his fu
ture life, He saw the face hut a moment;
it was that of a mere girl, upon whose cheeks
some fourteen summers had scattered their
roses. He knew neither tier name nor resi
dence, nor did he endeavor to discover them
until it was too late ; but he itad seen his
beau-ideal of female loveliness, and die mem
ory ol that face haunted him like the recol
lection of a pleasant dream. The three fol
lowing years were passed in a somewhat
desultory manner, yet at times with a deep
earnestness, and eager prosecution of un
dertakings to which iiis imagination on the
one hand, or his love of justice and principle
on the other, directed him. He had already
become a favorite with his party, both as a
w riter and stump-orator, and with his friends
as a poet and a man of large heart. His
political influencewßS perhaps widened by
his utter refusal ®Mcept or run for any oi
fice in the gift ! ®jfce people about him.
Being at Edenton in the spring of 1824 he
was invited to and attended a social party.—
As lie entered the gay saloon, what whs his
surprise and pleasure to behold the fair girl
whom he had met four yours before, now
grown up to womanhood, with full and grace
ful form, and large blue eyes whose expres
sion told of an intellect and affection. Lamar
with enthusiasm poured his fancies and
thoughts into the ear of the being, the recoli|
lection of whom had given brightness to hiß’
dreams for so long a time. Before the even
ing was over, he proposed and was as prompt
ly refused. He was not however to be put
off so easily, but made immediate overtures
to her friends. The unsettled state of La
mar’s existence, however, and the lady’s
youth, with other reasons, were held up as
barriers, and he had to retire from the field
without hope. He left the place with a feel
ing of recklessness, and plunged somewhat
into dissipation, more deeply than ever into
party politics, and at the request of Gov. Troup
accepted office as his private secretary. The
Governor had been long acquainted with him
and placed much confidence in his integrity
and abilities; and for the next year Lamar
engaged warmly in supporting the measures
of the administration, the principal of which
arose from difficulties with the general gov
ernment, about the line then being drawn
between Georgia and Alabama, aud the re
moval of the indians from the State. One
day while passing along the street, he was
startled by the sight, through tho window cf
a carriage, of Miss , the lady who had
refused him at Edenton. He followed her
to the hotel. The lady was on her way to
Ah#na to settle there with her brqfher-Hi-
Uif ‘'Lamar met her, ami in a burst of pas
sionate eloquence, bogged her to reverse her
cruel decision ; and the lady softened by his
enthusiasm, gave him some words ofencour.
agement. He soon after followed her to
Alabama, where, after a few months, they
■were married ; and, happy beyond what most
of us are qjpable of feeling, bore his bride
hack towards his father’s house.
Btttgnisfortune followed ; the ‘Evil Eye’
watmHßlflnG a,, d i |e was about to pass
through iirordeal, compared with which the
deatit'strife of battle was to him a pwurt.
He had left thfjaMTjagc for a mometitfwhile
passing tbrolgflKgdjFl' ail country, in charge
of bia horses suddenly took
fright and ran thecarriage, which
•truck against a tree and shivered to pieces
and his lovely bride was thrown out upon a
rock against which her face was dashed.—
Lamar rtrshed to the spot toclaspin his arms
his fainting and mangled wife. The specta
cle was a hortid one: from the eye to and
through the lip, her face was cut op* „ t„the
bone, and the severed flesh hung i tt,e
other part of the cheek. With a f eady tact
and iron will he saw his course f am) was
ready to pursue it. Bearing her inanimate
form to an Indian hut, he placed her on a fur
skin bed. Slie slowly recovero* j, and looking
up to her husband, wiib an expression of
profound grief, wbieli seemed to make her
forget her pain, said : ‘You 1< ,ved me for iny
beauty —ills gone fotever!’ *lt is true,’he
answered, with a look, whi h belied his burst
ing heart. Weeing what sr ,e must suffer, he
thus aimed to nerve her ‘to the task. ‘But
these ia one possible way/ 0 f not losing my
affection.’ ‘Oh ! name ‘ ,tp she cried, with
new hope. ‘Let me w ; w up the wound,’ he
answered. She cor isented at once. He
placed her head upor , |,; s knee, trimmed the
ragged edges of tho, wound with his razor, and
with a common nee dle-and.thread sewed tl.e
several parts togtf her. And during the ago.
ny of those momr M ts, she allowed no groan
nor sigli to esc/ ‘pe her. The wound healed
rapidly, when it was well, but a
smalt while ri ne hardly perceptible, and not
. marring her/ beauty in the least.
ImmediL tely after his return, Lamar re* I
signed commission with Gov. Troup.—
Columbu/s was settled about this time, and
had beea> selected as the seat of government.
Lamar thought it would be a capital opportu
nity for I Ostablieliing a oewspater; and hav
ing mads j the necessary arrangements with
regard. ;i0 his plantation, he removed to Co
-1 mu'jus and forthwith commenced the *Co
i’’.mbits Enquirer,’ which still exists a pow
i orful paper, and has inado the fortunes of
many who have been Irom tune to time en
gaged upon iL The paper was established
avowedly to support the administration cf
Gov Troup, and in firm defence of broad
State Right principles. He was now in h,s
element; ail his strong domestic feelings be
ing gratified Willi a quiet home, loving wife
and child, and his strong mind with the ‘eye
to see and the mind to do t’ being in its prop
er arena fighting lor principle, with a single
ness of purpose, daring, and brilliancy, which
made his opponents quad before him, or sub
dued them to his will. In this arena Lamar
would probably have passed the remainder of
his life, had it pleased the Almighty to spare
him farther affliction ; but the iron was yet to
enter his soul. During the second year ol
his residence at Columbusi he was chosen
Senator from Mgscogee county; and had be
come a candidate sot re-election. Ttjfftpan
vass was in progress, aud everything jWrais
ed well lor the future. lie was a favorite in
the Legislature, and a brilliant career was
opening before him, when he was struck to
the heart with sorrow at the sttddbn illness
of his wife. Fevuywj placed its heated
hand upon her, hour to hour and
day to day he that the disease
was preying form; Ali that
love could do was done, but it availed nothing.
A few days from the first attach, the compan
ion of Ins soul, Ifls consolation under affliction
and the shrine at which he laid each new
laurel, died in his arms, far away from all
tier relations. Lamar was now a stricken
man. He relinquished his purpose of run
ning again as senator, disposed of his paper;
placed his little daughter under the care of
his mother, (an infant son having died pre
viously) and went forth a homeless, aimless
wanderer. All was sad and gloomy ; the
earth dead, the heavens dark, except with
one star shining there ; and hope anil ambi
tion were crushed within him. Few of us
can look clearly into a soul like his, and ap
preciate the desolation which such an event
would cause there ; the ambitious or selfish
man certainly cannot. He had a powerful
mind, and all the domestic Os the
strongest class, and was withl^^^MUion. —
All his sirength therefore ha9|Hßcoiicen
trated upon home. Tho wish’ bright
er smi'es there, had urged him on his public
career, more than fame or the dazzling tri
bute of public admira.ion; and his feelings
had nothing to fall back upon, save his little
daughter; and she but brought to mind,
whenever lie looked upon, her the magnitude
of his lots.
Years roiled on, and time gradually moder
ate 1 his grief, as he wandered front place to
place, seeking to escape from himself. Poli
tics once more attracted his attention, but it
was only impulsively, for the moment, or at
times when some darling principle was at
stake, and a sudden and daring effort might
save it In this way he became an indeMP*.
dent candidate for Congress against fl|
parties, for the avowed purpose of breaßkgg
Kus system, which was at .(HM
a debasing excess. He suc
iking it down fAr the time ;and
urse defeated in the election,
re gratified at the large vote
td, and the strong evidence of
popularity t*Mch,met him at all points; but
he'remained indifferent to that which hap
pened around him And Texas at that lime
exciting conaideratnin, he turned hie steps
thitherward, with the intention of tiavelling
through it merely for amusement.
Arrived in Texas, which was to be the
theatre of his future career, though little
dreamed of then, ho found the excitement
concerning Mexican oppression to be strong
and daily gaining strength. The Congress
had been turned out at the point of the bayo
net, and many other aggressions, at which we
cannot glance. After having passed some
tints in tiie country, with growing interest
in it, and indignation at the Mexicans, lie
attended a meeting of the people and made
an eloquent appeal to them upon their sufler
jjujs, and the insolent arrogance of their op
preason;; first broached tiie subject of a revo
lution, and informed them of his intention to
flfefiome a citizen of the country; urged them
to let ail half-w ay measures alone, or attempts
at -ra jßsittaiinn. and promised to he theirs in
a struggle for independence last drop
of Iripimnod. ” He afterwards 4Pt Stephen F.
Austnffbnolher meeting was called, aud
Austin’s speech on that occasion reconciled
die people, who had been divided about the
question of peace or war. He had just re
turned from his Mexican imprisonment, and
they saw from h;s statement that war was
inevitable, and they deiermined to resist the
enemy to the death. After travelling through
the country, addreaing the people, and aid
ing die operations as far as lay iu his power
Lamar to Georgia to settle Jus af
fairs and replWish his purse ; but while so
engaged, he received a letter from the unfor
tunate Fannin, urging his return, and stating
that the enemy had arrivtd, and were devas
tating ffte country. Fired with zeal for the
cause, lie hastened his departure, but some
delay was unavoidable, and he at last arrived
at Velasco, there first to learn that (he Alamo
bad fallen, and that Fannin and his compan
ions had been murdered. Many of them had
been Lamar's friends and neighbors, and with
a sad heart, and earnest longing for ven
geance, lie set out on foot lor the army, hav
ing found it impossible to procure a lior se at
Velasco, from which place the inhabitants
were flying away in terror.
After walking thirty miles, ho succeeded
in purchasing a horse of some Indiana, and
hastening on, soon joined the army which
was lying at Groces, on the Brazos. Here
discontent was loud in its utterances against
General Houston, because he still continued
retreating; and many oLthe leaders threat
ened to leaVe uijieea they were led on to ac
tion. A1 arniedjby tbe exc itement about him,
the eouimainler-irj-chief with tiie army moved
forward the nagt day to San Jacinto, where
the Mexicans were met, and after some slight
skirmishing, tire two armies encamped in tiro
open prairies some three quarters of a mile
apart; and the night was spent by tho Texians
in watchfulness, and hope that the morning
sun Would see them hand to hand with the foe.
The morning passed, however, and still
Houston delsycd the action, until impatience
again grew loud ; and at last Col. ShenrAn. ij
with tire Cavalry, (which Lamar lad joined |
as a private; after purchasing the most [jbwer- i
fal horse in the camp,) were ordered ‘out to i
alarm the enemy, attack them if he ‘saw fit i
and the support of the infantry was ‘promised
if nedessaty. The Texians moved tin, burn
ing with desire to avooge their murdered
friends at the Alamo and Goliad- As the
Mcxicane saw them advancing, their own
cavalry moved in advance of the lwne to meet
them, and a regiment of infantry tiled off on
their flank to cover the retreat if necessary.
As soon as the Texians came within range
of fire, they moved forward with a. gallop, and
a sharp but eliort conflict en/ned; for the
Mexicans were armed with spears which
kept their opponent at a disadvantage, and
the Texians, not receiving support from their
own army which had bee j promised, retreat
ed some fifty yards ; but rallying a cry was
raised, and the party a;rain returned to the
charge, with Lamar at ils head. jThis time
the attack was more fierce but soon over, and
both patties began retroating, save Lamar,
who with the ‘spirit of the battle’ upon him
still kept up with the retreating Mexicans,
hewing his way among them hand to hand
with eabh opponent, as if blind or indifferent
to his danger. Turning an instant he saw
Colonel Husk at some distance, surrounded
by, and keeping at bay, four or five Mexicans.
Plunging his spurs into his maddened liorse’s
sides; he dashed on to the rescue, and hewed
do*n the first of the Mexicans, striking Iris
knee however; with the full force of his speed
against the saddle of his adversary, as he
sent him to eternity. Tiie blow upon Lamar’s
knee gave him intolerable'pain ; he fell as if
he had received a inbrial wound : all things
swam around him, and for the moment he lost
all consciousness. Recovering again lie
found he was alone; the three remaining.
Mexicans bad fled toward their parly, and
Cok Rusk toward his.
Now came an act of reckless daring seldom
equalled. On Lamar’s right was tiie regi
ment of Mexican infan ry, and a direct line to
bis own army would bring him within one
hundred and fifty yards ot them; on his left
was a clump of trees, round which his re
treating party had passed in safety. Should
he follow them on a run, and without danger,
or go by tiie diiect line? He chose the
latter, and turning toward the camp, in sight
of the two armies, lie walked his horse the en
tire distance while the Mexican regiment were
firing at him along their line as he passed.
He heard the bails whistle about his head,
bbt reached the camp unhurt, and by accla
mation was selected to command the cavalry
for the next day’s engagement. Morning
again bloke upon an eager, anxious and busy
mass of beings ; and soon after mid-day came
oft, the famous battle or rather rout of San
Jacinto. Lamar not only commanded but
led liis band, rushed into the thickest of tiie
fight, hewing to pieces the wretches who op
posed liis career; and by his efforts iu the
work of death, rendered his sword-arm use
less for several days after. The events of
that day of Slaughter are tod well known to
repeat the details here. Over six hundred
were left dead on the field, and some forty
Texians killed or wounded;
Soon alter tiie battle, Lamar was called
into the cabinet as Secretary of War, the
important question before which was; ‘Shall
we shoot Santa Anna, or treat with him?’—
Lamar was fertile former, and wrote a pow
erful paper setting forth his views* but other
councils prevailed, and tho tyrant was let
loose again upon a career of blood. Soun after
Lamar was appointed General of the Army;
and the following year, at the urgent solici
tation of his friends; became a candidate for
the Vice Presidency, and was duly elected
under General Houston. Alter presiding
over the Senate at Columbus for some time
he obtaineJ leave of absence; and returned to
Georgia to settle his affairs; where lib re
mained some months, and again came back
to his loved Country, iiis term
of office nownUHlg to a close, and after
urgent soiicitanaKvn the part Ofhi9 friends,
for he wished to rStire to private life, lie was
induced to become a candidate for tiie Presi.
dency. Toe other party, Its soon ns they
knew who was to be their opponent, wit lidrew
their candidate, and Lamar, was elected with
out opposition to the highest office in the gilt
in whose army a lew days he-
BBfe its had been a private soldier.
fy'Lamar found the govtrnment affairs of
fTrotfiS in a rather chaotic state, each man
[’doing literally that which seemed good unto
yjiim, his predecessor had left things in about
the same state iu which he found them;
haMMßthad no moral courage and caring
partisans, and indulge in
bring order out of the
!, im. lie owed his
elevation popularity ; the higher
qualities f head and heart were wanting.
As quickly as possible Lamar had the dip
lomatic corps organized, and under liis ad
ministration the Supreme Court y|U|cifirst
sittings; he soon established tMPWfefocks
til <1 balances in thfi vari u - do
offices, without which g overn| i>B|BMr be
comes an anarchy. With the
Indians, Houston’s policy had been to leave
the Irontierß unprotected, with a view of
concentrating the settlements : and many a
scene of cruelty and blood was the conse
quence. The protection of the frontier and
removal of these Indians was one of the first
objects w jjßW- amiir endeavored to obtain.
With tl®Bptninalioii to do so peaceably
if he c oflHoßfo°dily if he must, he made
overfuree’wHhe principal tribttjjw their re
moval beyond tiie Red
pay lor tiieir improvements®
perty which they could not i
readily consented, but
delay to prepare, which was
soon after a courier was captured
meets which proved that the Indians were in
league with Mexico and preparing for war.
They were then told that theymust go, aud
at once ; hut Lamar was still pay
them, although they had placed themselves
out of the pale of mercy; but the Cherokees
threw offtlte mask, and showed a front of
rifles and tomahawks, instaadof negotiwiqj)
and parchment. The Texians, /however,
had also been on the alert: two battles were
fought, and the red men scouigedjflMfatfiven
from the country. The most ferocious be
ing driven away, the other tribes w®|sfe
inoved bjf,treaty without dilficulty r atjheir
improvements paid for at a valuatioiMnspecte;
‘Lamar being determined to do them ‘jtMtifee,
while securing the safety ol his own country
men. The Indians are now in the place as
signed them, and in peai e and prosperity in
stead of continual turmoil with the whites,
aggravated by their conflicting interests.—
The friendly Indians were paid for their ser
vices as warriors or spies, and had their share
of the spoils taken in battle. General Lamar
also made strenuous exertions with regard
to education, hut succeeded in getting from
Congress only scanty appropriations for that
purpose.
The Navy was also built up and sustained
during lus admin slration ; and among other
important results was the protection of Gal
veston, the key of the country, where the
Mexicans had meditated a descent; but they
were soon put upon the defensive by the
spirit and courage of Commodore Moore—
And during the same period, the independence
of Texas was acknomledgetl by Great Britain,
France, Belgium, and liolraud. The expe
dition to Santa FA, so little understood, was
made under Lamar’s direct supervision—•
He bad always been impressed with the im
portance of extending their jurisdiction to
that place, which was within the limits of
Texas by tiie treaty of independence framed
with Santa Anna; and a regiment of regular
soldiers was formed at the beginning of his
administration, for the purpose of pursuing
the Cuiusuciita to Santa Fe, and then taking
possession ot it; but the soldiers were em
ployed in driving out the Cherokees, and af
terwards disbanded by Congress. Still La
mar saw the importance of diverting the im
mense trade of Santa Fe through its natural
channel, Texas, and that it would enable the
country to sup'port ita government and pay
off its debt. He therefore held to his origin
al purpose, and despatched a regiment ot
volunteers under the command of a gentle
man Os talefit anil unflinching courage, Gen.
Hugh McLeod ; but for causes beyond his
control, the expedition failed leaving him
entirely without m'erited censure or reproach.
But perhaps the best feature of Lamar’s
administration was ihe appointments he made
to office. No wire-pullers and hungry ap
plicants were the chosen ones; but with his
clear eye, and ready perception of character,
the able men, men of integrity; those who
had the eye to see and will to do, were se
lected, and in most cases without their seek
ing, often without knowledge. But we must
leavejhim with this hurriedsketch. His term
of bffice closed ; and he has since; in his
Texian home or in travelling; quietly watch
ed the progress of events on which, if in his
proper Sphere; he should be placing the im
press of his mind : but with the quiet of pri
vate life came back some of his old iudolence,
some of his old sadness ; and his friends have
been uuable again to draw him from his se
clusion.
General Lamar is now in his forty-sixth
year; but tiie many sorrows which tiie higher
powers have seen good to inflict upon h.m,
have left their impress, and hfe appears to be
some years older. He is of the middle size,
with a frame which indicates great muscular
power; has blueish, indolent-look ng eyes
when unexcited ; is modest and retiring in
his manners and address, and what a pdtil
maitre might call somewhat ‘unpresen table ;’
but it arises from a carlessness of the niceties
in the matter of dress, rather than from any
want of dignity or graceful bearing ; and ins
quiet is like the calm sea with its unfathom
able depths, ready, when opposed in its
might, and rage all-powerful, until its errand
is accomplished, then fall back again into its
old smiling calm, when the fairy pleasure
boat can ride oh its bosom in safe’y. Asa
friend he is unbhangeabie; he avo.ds or is
careless about the bustle and crowd of social
life; and contact with strangers: he seeks for
that little circle which will form itself around
every one who has a heart and soul of large
capacity Among those whom he loves, and
who love him, he prticipatcs unrestrainedly
in the joys, of social intercourse; Eloquent
in debate, he yet has little of the finish of
scholor-like oratory ; but even speaking un
less his own feelings are deeply interested in
the cause; his hursts of eloquence Seldom fail
to carry his hearers with him ; ‘for as face
answers to faefe, so does the heart of man to
man.’ This holds as good now as when it
was penned centuries ago. Lavish in ex
penditure, he seems to have little idea of the
value of money, except as a means whereby
to work out the end immediately bbfore him
to’reward those who assist him in so doing;
add to answer the calls of friendship.
The strong feature of Lamar’s character
however is liis indomitable dare-devil cour
age, and that ready ability to do, on the spur
af the moment, when the danger becomes
more imminent, that which it would have re
quired the safety and reflection of the closet
lor most others to have perceived as the best
Course, When thoroughly excited, he ap
pears to have no feeling or ijiought that there
is such a tiling as death; but in singleness
of purpose, be it for right, justicefor revenge,
dashes on to the end in view, though the val
ley of the shadow of death be tiie course
thereto, and it is one of the faults of his
character, thit in minor causes of dispute, he
displays unnecessary fierceness and harsh
ness, being unable tU forgive or tolerate those
whom he believes to heading witlt selfish
ness, duplicity, or injustice.
His irteliectual charattor is more reflective
than perceptive, and his mind instinctively
nS it wero ‘c(,s* fh© eorerbig iron! itnngs, ami
looks down, down at tiie things themselves
in their native beauty or deformity ; begin
ning at the point; by one grasp of strong
cournidflHjuse, where others alter arrive by
long processor thought. Would
that t®|Prßpace to examine iris character
more in detail, but we must close. Much
ol the old Roman we find in him; much of the
great man ; may we soon see him in his prop
er sphere, the high places among his people ;
a pole star to the lovers of right, and a terror
to evil-doers ! F. c. 1
From the J Age.
ORIGIN OF TO THE
The of lire Eri
isli government territorial rights of
otheurntions is a matter of universal nolo
rjfldHMiealcely a nation exists which lias
time felt tiie insidious advances
SnHnpiug avarice of this nation for ac
groiitfcfiw territory. No sooner lias
fixed its eyes upon a
it finds desirable asanWM
it sei up some vague, indßV
finitapretence of claim to it, whieb it urges
with all and perse
verance c'dpUfctort an admission
itsinj®® territoiy
tiros
ment her success is title be
ing ouce admitted to be in dripfite, negotia
in the progress of which, by
plionson her part, and tinguaril
rns on tiie part of her adveisary,
Is in process of time in presenting
le array of facts and arguments
in support of claims, which at the outset
j had not the slightest foundation on which to
,rest. This was the process hy which
Maine was robbed of her territory, and the
process hy which she now hopes to plant
hei power in the Oregon.
Our title to tiie Oregon territory is too well
known to our readers to require that we
should now set iiJjßrtll id detail. Suffice it
to say, that fjTOqythe year ldll u;> m tin
time that tlMtfippsh broke up our settle
ment on tliijMHiitn.hja.'during the last war,
we were ia®, peaceable, and quiet pos
session of that up. to that
time the British hotTneverJntirnfcled to our
government that I&ey baddjhe sljjfctesl pre
tence of a claim
tiie war an expeditiotri(ft sent by the Brit
ish against the American post at the mouth
of the Columbia, which succeeded in cap
turing it and taking possession in tire name
oftlie British king. Tiie possession was
held by iheifßririsli after the close of the
war. On the 18th of July, 1815, Mr, Mon
roe, then Secretary ol Stale, informed Mr.
Baker, the British charge d’affaires at
Washington, of the intention of our govern
ment to resume possession of this post un
der the provisions of the first article of tfie
treaty of Ghent, which stipulates for the
mutual restitution of the territories and posts
which each nation had wrested from Ure
other during the war, at the same timdjHH
questing a letter from Mr. Baker
commander of that post, directing him nr
yield it up to the jurisdiction of the United
States.
To this note of Mr. Monroe |i|&P a kcr
replied that he had no instructwWHpn his
government in relation to this marffr, and
referring hint to Vice Admiral Dixon, in
“whose command the Pactfie oceart is in
cluded,” and as being in “posscwMß qI eve
ry necessary information in rejMiOh to this
post.” In this corrcs|ximlnce, in wlßb
tin: restinuion id the territory in question is
claimed us having belonged to iis t he
war, rt is a singular fact that the British
charge made no claim to the telritoty on the
partot his government, but simply declined
acting on the ground of want of authority.
This was iu July, 1815.
During the yeai 1817, our government I
sent the sloop of war Omaiio, under the l
command ol J. B. Prevost, to theColuinbia,
to take possession of this post according to
the provisions of the treaty of Ghent.
On the 26th of November, 1817, Charles
Bagot, Ihe British minister, then resided at
Washington, in a note addressed to Mr
Adams, Secietaiy of State, expresses .his
regret that the Ontario should have been
sent on its expedition without having firSt
notified the British government. In this
note is presented, for the first time; a claim *
in behalf of that government to tiie territory
now unhappily in dispute. And we wish
our leaders to mark the foundation on which
that claim was based.. He says tiiat, from
reports made by tiie govehiof general oT
Canada to Mr. Baker, ‘- it appears that the
post in question had not been capltired dur
ing the late war, but that the Americans had
retired from it, under an agreement made
with the Northwest company, who itad pur
chased their effects, and who had ever Since
retained peaceable possession of the coast;
As it thus appears that no claim for restitu
tion of this post can he grounded upon the
first article of the treaty of Ghent, and as
the territory itself was early taken posses
sion of in his Majesty's name, add has since
been considered as a part of Iris Majesty's
dominions, I have to request that you will
furnish me with explanations of tiie object
of the voyage of the Ontario, &c^’
Here, then, is the first claim of title which
the British made upon our government to
Oregon, and this claim admitted tiie title of
the United States bafore the war, and is
based by the British minister upon the fact
that the post was not captured during tho
war, hut abandoned by the Americans,
whose eflects the Northwest company put
chased ! Thus resting the British claim
1 entirely upon ihe fact of the abandonment of
thepoSl by the Americans and the subse
-1 quent possession of the country by the Brit
ish. Subsequent acts ol the British govern
ment show bow much honesty there was
in this, their first claim to this territory.
The Ontario proceeded on tier voyage,
and on the 611 lof October the postal the
mouth of the Columbia was formally sUr
-1 rendered by the British to the United States,
as appears by the following acts of surren
der and acknowledgement.
“ lu obedience to the coriirhander of his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, signi
I fled by a despatch from the Right'Honora
ble Earl Bathurst, addressed to tile partners
oi agents of the Northwest company, hear
ing date 271 h day of January, 1818; and in
obedience to subsequent orders, dated on
1 the 29th of January last,’from WHliaffi H.
Sheriff - , esq,, captain of his Majesty’s shin
1 Andromahe, wd tiie undersigned do, iu
1 conformity with the first article of the treaty
of Ghent, restore to the government of the
through its agent, J. B. Pre
-1 rest, esq., the settlement of Fort George, on
the river Columbia.
,'* Given tinder our hands in triplicate, at
Fort Gedrge, on the Columbia river, this
6th of October, 1818.
F. HICKEY,
Captain of his Majesty’s ship Blossom.
JAMES KEIL’H,
of the Northwest Company.”
“ I do hereby acknowledge to have this
day received, on behalf fifihe government
df the United Slates, the fiosSession of rite
Bettlemem designated aboye; fit conformity
with, tiie first article of the bfGhent.
“ Given under iny hand, in triplicate, at
Fort George, Columbia river, this fl’.h of
October, 1818.
J. B. RREVOST,
Agent for the united States.”
Mr. Prevost, in his despatclt to tiie Se
cretary of Stale, dated October 11, 1818, in
giving an account of tltil transaction, says:
“The British flag wasthereupon lowered,
and that ol the United Stales hoisted iu its
Stead, where it now waves in token both of
possession and sovereignty.”
Tiros much for (lie honesty of the first
claim made to Oregon by Mr. Bagot, on the
ground that it had not been captured from
the Americans, but abandoned by them.
Tiie pretence was palpably false, that even
the British ministry liud not sufficient ef
frontery to maintain it i hut, by a solemn
act of surrender, “in conformity with the
first article of the treaty of
provided only for the restitution
•one nation had i n e
firing the war, acknowledgfflpH
■before the war, and their
it.
The inquiry will naturally arise, how it
should happen thaU after the British claim
to the territory limlween proved so palpa
bly false hy their owWWts, and tiie
session and sovereignty” of the Country raj
stored to tiie United States, the question <■
sovereignly or possession should afterwards
have been drawn into dispute ac-
Icpmplishcd in this nronner.
Best Company liaJHHKCoiumRH large
Priount of of furs, pel
tries, and goodsofmanufacture,
for the purpose of supplying those in their
employment, and ol trading with the na
tives. Beiug thus lo oted, at a great dhi
lance frojgflßJhiush post, Mr.
agent requested that wjby
might hem Pied to remain, and cairyon
the business under the flag of the United
States. To this request Mr. Prevost an
swered that he had to stipulate,
but presumed *our would nfif
compel them to without
givingsuflicient loss. Thus!
wete they permitted to remain in the terri
lory, on mere suflerence, and without even
a pretence of right.
In the mean time, the great value of the
country became manifest to the British min
istry, although our Secretary of Stale (Mr.
Adams) looked upon it as so “minute a ques
tion” as unworilty to be referred to commis
sioners with the question of remuneration
for a few miserable negroes which the Brit
ish carried off during the war !
According^.in 1822, we find the British
ministry agMHknlimating to Mr. Adams
that they hjjrflr -'“it” ‘'’ ‘ territory, but,
itv it 1 1 tact, refusing
to disclose thedßjWkMf'fouodnlion on which
they were bam. Bju®actously insist
ing on these mysterious
claims, our govenment, which Itad not sa
gacity enough to perceive the value of the
country, was subsequently induced to enter
into that most suicidal arrangement for joint
occupation, which has been continued for
the last twenty years, and under which the
British government has been enabled to
magnify an occupancy, commencing in
mere sufferance in 1818, without even a pre
tence of right, into a formidable clatm, the
settlement of which now threatens tiie peace
r f two of the most powerful nations of
Christendom !
Such is the origin of the British clairrfcp
:the Oregon. Such is the result of the boto
ptnd shameless assumptionsofliet diplomacy,
and tiie short-sighted and jrielding policy of
our own government, Had we done as the
British would have done in similar circum
stances —driven them out of the country
when it was restored to us under the treaty
—all subsequent trouble would have been
avoided. But our government, with unsus
pecting confidence, permitted them to re
main, and the result is now seen. Every
year of delay has added strength to their
claim, and emboldened tiieir government in
its unjust demands. Such will cunlitiue to
be the case. Yet will) these startling facts
before us, there are not wanting those
(among whom, we regret to say it, are to be
found some professed democrats) who have
so little American feeling ns to refuse to ter
minate this fatal joint occupancy, thus eua
bling the British to fortify themselves under
the claim of possession, in such a manner
to endanger the ultimate loss of this
rich, ami valuable territory ! How long lift
American people will tolerate such remiss
ness on the partol their government, remains
to be seen.
We take pleasure in publishing the fol
lowing correspondence betw ecn a number
of gentlemen of Richmond and Mr.RiTCits,
drawn forth by his approaching retrieval to
*J,Vashington. % the by, from a him in tire
last Enquirer, we presume t lie new Organ
oPlite Administration is to be called the Un
ion:
*. CORRESPONDENCE.
Richmond, April 2S, 1845.
DearViir—The Republicans of Virginia
have learned with deep regret, that they are
shortly to li*se you as a citizen, and to be
deprived of vour direct participation in the
political concerns of the State—a partici
pation of now more than forty years’ con
tinuance —and it*.which they have often
been aided by the.yigui and power of your
press. Always devotedly attached to the
great principles of our party, you have, in
The hours of our polttALtriutaphs, as well
as in the periods of dtttifr, been alike the
bold fearless champion wfeur cause. Wlial
a debt of have such ser
vices Republicans of the
State ! How tijjfay is their loss to be 1—
But we, your neighbors, whose
constant arid d#i®ypn c ‘ a,lo,,s with you
have created and added those of
personal friei\jij99^political attachment,
feel the loss tee are
Believe, dear Sir, that
you wtSlpiry hence, to the new theatre
of your nOTre labors tn the service of the
• Republican party, the cordial and sincere
goad wishes of all the patty in Virginia, but
especial y those of Richmond and its vi
cinity, for your success, peafce happiness
and prosperity, On behalf of the Republi
can party of Richmond and its vicinity, we
have been deputed to req est, that you will
partake with them of a public dinner, to be
give n at such time as you may appoint, in
testimony of the admiration in which they
hold your private worth and your political
fidelity.
We remain, dear Sir. with high and sin
cere regard, your friends, very truly,
ROBERT G. SCOTT.
JAMES A. SKLDON.
DANIEL TRUEHEART.
JOHN M. GREGORY.
WM. A. PATTERSON.
THOMAS BIGGER.
ROBERT C. NICHOLAS.
11. A. WASHINGTON.
il/eSSrs. Robert G. Stott, James A. Seldon ,
Daniel Trueheart, JohnM. Gregory, VYt7-
liath A. Patterson, I'lumas R. Digger ,
Robert C. Nicliolas, 1L A. Washington ,
Richmond .
Richmond, April 29,1815.
Gentlemen—On my return, last evening;
from a haux excursion in the country, 1 had
the receiving your very kind
Hist. 1 need not express,
lam srNPro you, the feelings with which
1 am about to leave my native Stale.—
Bound to her by so many lies of respect, of
gratitude, Sind affection —devoted to her
principles, proud of her charicter; and cher
ished in her bosom, I leave her honored
soil with a regret which no language can
adequately tell. It is some little consola
tion, that I leave her in the midst of her
triumph, after she has achieved a political
victory in behalf of her principles, which is
not surpassed by any achievment in her
brilliant annals,
Nor is it necessafy, I am sure, to express
to hearts like yours tiie poignautsorrow with
which ytfj^Richmund—(he City in which
I have s —who lasso kind
ly mine, and with whose
liberal inhabitants, I have cultivated
the most liberal and agreeable
have ate of their bread, and tasted of lIH
cup, without distinction of age or of
—and I am happy, even in of
parting, to hear inis feeling grati
tude to her I am
proud to recognize, in party
of Richmond, and kindest
friends, To my I
urn unable to c-'itvj sense ol
gratitude winch 1 Hi
ry account. Tt.cv -
ed me —and honored me ul“'v
sens. * /'■’
1 cannot accept, my valued fpaflUßrfne
generous invitation which you have given
Elite name of the Democracy of Rich
and ils vicinity. No one could ap
te that honor mote highly than myseif.
e would he more pleased with the op
ity of bidding them ali farewell—but
I do not want this tribute of your favor as
an evidence of your and your con
fidence. Besides, lam compelled to leave
Richmond to-morrow, and it is utterly im
possible for nte to foresee Ihe moment of my
return. Excuse nte therefore, for declining
the huflor, although I ant deeply sensible of
the kindness which would so cordially confer
it,
With the sincerest wishes for your own
happiness, gentlemen; as well as for the
prosperity ot your beautiful eity, I am, dear
Sirs, Your obliged and faithful friend,
THOMAS RITCHIE.
of Pennsylvania has ad-
the adjournment a bill was
SoD.UUO tor the
of tnwHHRg sufferers.
of Baltimore liJH
tor the relief of thq^B
sufferers, besides the eoiitributi|H|®
the cittzeus, upon whom a strong appeal has
made. Tiie City Council of
VVaUiihgton City has appropriate) JJ2OO
for the samfe purpose, and appoiaed com
mittees to make collections amoag tlje ci
tizens.
k —. f- ■ m
An Englishman s opinion of our NAHH
—sA shrewd writer in tiie London Unit®
Service Journal, says; “There is no doubt
that we (tiie English) have three powerful
rivals in France, Russia, aud the United
States; but of these three the Americans
are the most important ones on account ol
their origin, their courage, and their even
greater enterprise and activity than our
own.” The writer then proceeds to show
that our navy, though numerically inferior to
that of France, and even to that of Russia,
is intrinsically superior to cither, and con
tains the germ ol a great and poweiful fleet.
We have the raw material, the workmen,
and a sufficient merchant navy to arm as
men of war, whenever called on to do so.—
Our navy is a thing of life; it is procreative;
that of the French and Russians resembles a
huge and costly machine, which, once de
stroyed, is not easily replaced.— Sun.
Tiie editor of the Knickerbocker ludicrous
ly illustrates tiie necessity of a reform in
medical nomenclature. Very mnch confoun
ded, lie says, was our friend Mr. Doatte, a
lew years since, by a remark of one of his
paliente. The day previous the Dr.had pre
scribed that safe palatable remedy tiie syrup
of buckthorn, and had left his prescription
written in the usual cahalastic characters ;
‘Syr. Rham Cath. On inquiringifthe patient
had taken the medicine, a thunder cloud
darkened her face, lightening flashed from
her eyes, aud she roared out; No! I can
read jour writing doctor-=-aud j ain’t agoin’
to take tiie Syrup of Ram Cats for any body
under heaven!’
FOREIGN POLITICS.
The N. Y. Journal of Commerce of Sat l
uiduj’ cv-rihlng has the following letter frufii
Waiferjjpon, winch has a sort dfauthorita
tive air about it. as if the wirier .meant to
be believed. I may be to a extei£ an in- -
dication ofihespini iu which the ‘ English
piCws has been taken at the Capitol.
Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce .
Washington, April 25, 1845.
The intelligence, by tjrfe Caledonia, awa.
kens deep anxiety as to the course which
our Government will take on the Oregon
question, and those questions which are ne
cessarily connected with it.
The Cah net was called together at eight
o’clock on \\ adnesday night, and remained
a long lime in session. Nothing has tran
spired as to the views of the Administra
tion on the subject, and it is not believed
that any correspondence of moment has
passed between the British minister and
the Secretary ol'Stamin relation toil, since
the formation of the cabinet:
The tone of menace assumed by the
Britisli ministry was not unexpected hy
those who had marked, during the past year,
tiie uniform spirit of hostility towards tl.e
people and the institutions of the United
Stales which has characterised the British
press. That a deep and settled enmity to
wards this country lias possession of the
public mind iu Great Bntian there Can be
nodoub', and tone of the ministry
is hut an echo o^^^Hentiment.
Tiie remarks in his In
augural Address OTWlte Oregon question
were seized upon evidently as a there pte*
text for a contingent declaration of war.—*
The real Causes were more honestly set
forth in the pliillipic of Lord Brougham;,
and they are, that, an ‘‘obscure individual’*
has beiti elevated to the Presidency.
’ That a portion of the U. States‘‘tolerates
domestic Slavery;”
That smiac of the States have not “paid
their debts;” aad that, finally our institu
tions tecogmZe the right of the people, and
are necessarily antagonistic 10 monarchical
Institutions.
The three first causes of hfiStillty all pro
ceed from tiie last, and, iu order tj> remove
them we must so modify our in|®Kkms nti
to prevent the ascendency of
who may be the popular
the State Government and thus enable thti
consolidated Government to abolish ‘'do-
mestic slavery;” and tocbinpel the payment
of debts contracted by thC States; and lot
conform our institutions iu fifie, to sonm
standard which the “five povveis” of Eu
rope may establish for us.
If we do all this, and then agree to Con
fine ourselves within tiie boundaries pre;
scribed foi us by Great Britain—not passing
the Sabino not the Rocky mountains, and
agree [oshirt out the Valley of the Missis
sippi from all communication with the Pa-
secure to Great Britain the entire
< Mos the best Cotton growing re-
Hpe tvofld and guarantee also to her
tmQ®Rsstnn of Cuba; —if we do all lliit
we arero be allowed id enjoy peace; and, if
uot, we are to haVe interfniuable and de
vastiiig war-a wat, according to the Lon
don Times, in tvlitch “no Usages, how.
ever barbarous, are to be deemed Unwar
rantable;” a War which is td expose out
commerce to the privateers and adventu
rers of all nations;” a war in which Great
Britain is “to raise the standard of freedom
among a popdlation t f staves;” a War rtl
which servile insurrection and lndizfn bar
barity and Mexican Cruelty are to be sub
sidized by Eng and, no matter how “repug
nant it may be to (lie interests of civiliza
tion.”
This is the true abd plain state of thsi
case, and it becoinCs the people of the Uni
ted Stales to look at it, with calmness and
fortitude, as becomes republicans and Chris
tians.
IN- P. TalmiiaDue. — ; Mr. Polk ia entitled
Mje thanks of the nation lor removing this
■bated political trimmer from tiie office
iGovernor of Wisconsin: Alter turning
veral previous folltica! somersets, lie siga
nahzcd infamy by at length” turning
Tyltrite. This was a finishing touch; add
“Finis” is now written on Iris political cas
reer. Gen. Dodge the Indian fighter; is ap
pointed in his stead.
It has been afevofite argument faith il,a
friends of duties, that Eng.
land lias and prosperous by their
aid, and that InßSnearl to be great and pros
perous, we must follow her example. Yet
the people of England are not quite satisfied
with the sort qftify-oeperiiy to whieh it has
given birth. ‘Ev#y arrivaMrom <l>at coun
try* for years past,Stas brought accounts of
the progressof that great eflort which is mak
ing by her people to shake ofi’ the fetters of
that system,although have gr iWn into the
very flesh, & cam o now be removed without
pun. We areglad tosee that even tfie jour
nals in this country friendly to the protective
system, admit that, in England* it is regard
ed as an experiment which has failed. The
National Intelligencer says : Mr
“ The time appears to have gone by when
Protection was tiie order of thftjday inJ&EW
land. We do not here use lhat f
limited sense, as applied to a protectfvSjiHpf
in behalf of domestic bill
in it extended to almost every ip the
nation, and to almost every elad^ 4 u#' l1 eit
p'e.”
If we want a prohibitory fsPßWorlB 4
thing it is one which will exclude such fofflC
of the old world as the protective syslemwr-
LWe import enough of the frivolous nojfeftieo
Bf Europe * let us not be guilty of ga]fesSßi|
B) and introducing among us her |kM
BsumiUfc If a system of
has been tried there ancL
found tSwve the effect of impoverishing, ana’
oppressing the larger class of the people, let
ts avail ourselves ol the experienne thugtgain
ed and beware of purchasing our wisdom at
the same price. Let the tariff go with the
Catholic disabilities, and the rotten boroughs
■Mother abuses which have been abolished
MKnglaml—all excellent things in the o-
Hpn of some, and defended by able 9ml in-
Wnious which few would be
hardy enough todHfae transplanting intofe
this country been uprootf
there.
The. (opinions every
where is towards freedom of trade and liberty
of occupation, not only as the best condition
of tilings (or the comfort of individuals and tbe
prosperity of communities. For ourselves,
we have only to keep to that state in which
we began our career as a naiion. What is
an exploded barbarism in England is a pre
cocious novelty here.—[JV. Y. Eve Post.
A Windfall to Fanny Wrigiitvl* Quite
a windfall hasemne to Fanny Wright. An
uncle in BcoJHHB| recently died, and left,
her a She is now
in Jersey remain in this coun
try for a few for the purpose of tak
ing certain necessary legal steps prelimina
ry to taking possession of tilts magnificent
legacy.—iV. F, lkrahd.
The Tusbabosa (Ala,) Monitor announ
ces the sudden death of Eros Sms 4 of the
University ol Alabama. *
The Swiss Bell Ringers %ave returned
from a very successful iripVto Havanna,
and are now playing in New Chileans.
The Factory Girl's Offcritjm, soyn that
‘‘lie that hath no wife wandeWWj up and
down sot towing.” It may he so.ihut that
is better than to be compelled to slay a
home sorrowing.