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THE TfeIMES.
COLUMBUS, GA.
Maroli 18, 1810.
“Times Office'” on Ran
dolph Street, in the Oglethorpe
Uuilding, in rear of the Post Of
fice.
I’UBLIU DOCUMENTS.
Our • knowiedge.nents lo Senator Col
quitt, and the lions. Messrs. Lumpkin, Jones,
and Haralson fur Public Documents.
TtiK BRITISH TARIFF.
The progress of free trade doctrines in !
England and the new policy of Sir Robert
Peel’s Government have deprived the pro
tectionists in this country of their favorite ‘
argument of the necessity of retaliatory du- i
lies. The time is at hand, when the advo* j
cates of monopoly can no longer aver their j
preference for the freedom of commerce, pro- j
vhled it could he universal; but insist u|>on ‘
the necessity of countervailing duties against
the goods of those foreign countries (by way
of retaliation) that impose them upon our
goods.
The signs of the times indicate, that un
der the enlightened policy of the British
minister, the sincerity of those who have
tised this argument will sooner or later, be
put to the lest. Even this false prop of a
vicious system —even this argument which
invites Governmental interference with the
liberty of the people to buy in the cheapest
markets and to sell in the dearest, because
England has done so in regard to her peo
ple ; and which converts the injury inflict
ed upon the American people, in common
with the agricultural aud commercial peo
ple of all nations, by British restrictions,
into a reason why our own Government
should aggravate these injuries by similar
restrictions—even ibis support is to be knock
ed from under the protective system.
We already sco the fluttering produced
by the grand movement of Mr. Peel in the
direction of free trade.
The protectionists are whispering in’o the
Mrs of tbo agricultural west, whoso produc
tions aro proposed to be admitted into the
English ports upon the most liberal scalo of
duties —that they will derive no benefit from
the relaxation, and that the Baltic and con
tinent of Europe will furnish the grain and
deprive America of the new English mar
ket. This would be serious if it were true.
But the continent is not able to do it, at
any time, except upon a most limited scale;
and at this moment, more than one Govern
ment on the Continent, is providing means
at the public expense, by the purchase of
grain, to keep gaunt starvation out of its own
dominions.
When Mr. Canning was minister of Eng
land, under a famine excitement similar to
the present one in that country,be despatched
a commissioner to the grain growing conti
nent —lo that Baltic country, which i3 now
represented as another Egypt—to learn from
statistical enquiry, how far the surplus grain
of the continent, would go to supply the
people of Eugland, Scotland aud Ireland,
with bread. Mr. Jacobs, the commissioner
made an elaborate report, and the result
was, that after feeding the continent, a sup
ply of fourteen days was all that could be
spared to Great Britain. We have no con
ception in this abundant land, how nearly,
in the densely populated countries of Eu.
rope, the demand for bread treads upon the
heels of the utmost capabilities of the soil to
yield it. The harvests ore watched with in
tense interest—a week, more or less of bad
weather is a thing of the gravest importance,
and an unpropitious season, the certain pre
cursor of want and famine.
Free Trade with England will produce
Untold blessings to the agricultural and com
mercial interests of this country. The du
ty on ludian Corn, an article scarcely knowu
in England, as food for man, is proposed by
the new tariff, to be 3 cents per bushel. The
West can furnish this article by the millions
of bushels, at from 25 to 100 bushels per
here. Is it nothing to be able to feed the
20 millions of human beings crowded into
the small area of the Kiugdom of Great
Britain ? Lord Morpeth, in a speech in Par
liament has borne testimony to the excel
lence of our Jonny Cake, made of corn
meal; and while the British Lords may
think it only fit food for cattle, the starving
peasant will not find it hard to take, to keep
down the horrid gnawings of hunger. But
suppose the hall-fed laboring people of
Britain are too dainty to eat Indian Corn
or “maize” as they term it; we can sup
ply them with Rye, Whear, and Barley,
Pork, Beef, Lard, and Cheese. Is it noth
ing to open the ports of England to these ar
ticles of almost illimitable production in
America ?
The cotton planter too, will come in for
his share of the advantage, for the stimu
lant given to other articles of American
agricultural production, will decrease the
number of hands employed, and the num
ber of acres used in the culture of cotton.
Upon this subject, we copy the following ar
lic e.
From ihe Federal Union of the 4 h inst.
THE GROWERS OF COTTON.
The principles of free trade, which have now ta
les such deep root in England, and which ere long
will be carried into successful operation must import
a powerful impulse to all the agricului.il pursues of
this country, it will at once be telt in all those sec
tioas of the Union, where the btead stuffs are the
prnc pal staple; and the rearing of provision stock
ter auaket ax oi ject of attention. But it may be
asked, what edect will the repeal of the corn laws !
•ad a mod ficati >u of the British tariff have upon the
eoCtoagriwtng inures* ? The effect will be indirect,
hat nevertheless certain and beneficial. As these
measures wilt reduce the price of provision-in Eng
land, they will increase the tursns for stpplyingo her
necessaries, and as a consequence enhance t .e cn
muaption of c t’toi. But the eff ct whl be not only
to tx'erai the consaai ition, bur also, if not to reduce
th* prod<*cUo:i, at lea>t to prevent its raid.l exten
sion. Itw.lt keep in the wh<-at fields of Virginia;
•ad Mar viand the thousands cf *luvcs that are an- j
seat to the cotton fields of the smith and
■onihwopt, to their production, already rtn iereda).
most valueless by its superabundance ; it will <h-
Hk ntsh the amount of cotton grown in Tettifcssee
and other regiena better adopted to provisions and
•lack ; it will divert labor to some extent to the cul
ture f lice; it will cause < migrants to Texas and
other new regions, in their lo c-ttoas to have refer
ence to other put suits than the growing of cotton;
.sql lastlv, but not least, it wi:l compel every co ton
Ranter to i*jr upon him*elf for his own .provisions.
And to do wha* his in'ereet b'.s lorg inipe’a'ively
di mail la t 9*fce less colon and thvr- bj taike nrore
■aif.
We c tnt ra'ulaie the growers of Cotton upon the
pro-p'Ct i hat baa ‘dawned upon them. Let our own
govcrntiunt imitate ills example of Great Britain,
let her reduce the odious tariff of 1842, the Burden
of which they have so long and patiently borne, and
which luscau ted tin into bow their beads like the
buiirush. Then they inay lookup with the proud
com<cioumie-s, that their chains have been loosened,
and that they a*e !re*. With the world t elore them
for a market, and in iho enjoyment ct the privilege
of sellirg where they can sell best, and buying when
they can buy cheapest, if prosperity shall not then
be their poitn.n, they will deserve to remain the de
pendent, oppressed, poverty stiicken or poverty-fear
ing class oi the community, which the unjust < xac
tions of their own, and the selfish policy of the Brit
iii government, have hitherto rendered them.
’ OREGON.
Our Washington correspondent speaks of
worm speeches and hard feelings among
some of the Democratic Senators upou the
subject of Oregon.
To the people at a distance who regard
; the question before the Senate, as it is, with
eyes undimtned by the personal and party
considerations which affect the visions of
j Senators engaged in the debate, this will
i cause surprise. Wltar, we ask, should
j cause discordance of feeling and contrariely
;of opinion among grave Senators upon a
question so truly American and so obviously
, simple in its propriety and hearing,as wheth
jer the “Notice” shall be given to England
| that this Government will terminate the
Convention that provides for the misnomer of
a “joint-occupancy” of Oregon? All the
difficulties that enveloped the question, all the
dangers which surrounded it— all the pro
phecies of disaster to grow out of it, made,
when the President recommended it, have
vanished before investigation and by the
lapse of time. At first, it was loudly urg
ed that tear would follow the “Notice.”
The first steamer from England vetoed that
t‘cry”and proved its falsity.
So far from being the cause of war, Eng
land has hetself had it under consideration
to give the “notice” if we do not. Eng
land believes with our Government, that
the time for the settlement of a dangerous
dispute has arrived, and the policy of a
“masteily inactivity” is perilous to the
peace of the two countries.
Where then is the obstaclo to the “No
tice” in the Senate 1 What the stumbling
block in the way? Wiiat prevents that body
of American Statesmen from quickly, bold
ly and unanimously sustaining the recom
mendations of the Executive, endorsed as
it is by the noblo vote of the Rep. branch
of Congress? Wo fear—for we cannot oth
erwise account for it—we fear, that the an
swer is to be made in one word—Ambitiojv.
We give this warning word to the people
and advise them to keep a Hawk’s eye up
on their public servants. We trust that we
may be mistaken—but, to our apprehension,
the Presidential canvass for 1848, aflortls
the only clue to the extraordinary state of
things in the American Senate. How inef
tably stupid is any man, who fancies that
he can control circumstances to make him
self the President of there United Slates !
THE CURRENCY AND “A MERCHANT. 1 ’
We are glad to know that we were mis
taken in supposing our correspondent to be
writing on the “Shinplastei side of the
Shinplasler question.”
But while he avows that his spirit is on
the right side, we must take leave to say
that his reasoning cuts the other way. He
is singularly mistaken when ho avers that
the “ better currency always drives out the
worse.” The reverse of the pioposilion is
the truth. Coin and irredeemable paper,
will not circulate in the same channels ; but
every days experience demonstrates that it
is the paper that is the usurper, and the coin,
that has to give place to it. The paper be
ing the most unsafe, every man passes it
oil’ first and helps to give it circulation,
while coin being worth the most (that is to
say ‘par, and not a premium, as a “A Mer
chant” avers) is held back, hoarded in stock
ings and money drawers, and sold as a com
modity of commerce. No writer upoD po
litical economy has ever laid down the pro
position that a dear currency will drive out
a cheap one. And if “A Merchant” be
lieves that an acquiescence by the public
and by the Law in Shinplasler issues would
ever bring to us a sound currency, even
though there were twenty Banks in this
city, with 10 millions of specie capital and
each paying coin here, be has neither read
human nature aright, nor studied the true
relations of cause and effect. Shinplasteis
will predominate, and gold and silver will
fly before them, like chaff before the wind,
just so long as men consent to use them, and
the Law tolerates them.
Now, if it be true, as “ A Merchant”,
avers, that the notes of the Bank Agencies
are one per cent below par (lie speaks inac
curately, when he says that specie is vvoith
1 percent premium—for specie has a uni
form anil unchangeable value, and it is only
paper that fluctuates) then according to our
principles, these Bank notes, are, to that ex
tent, the enemies of a sound metallic cutren
cy—and the same rules should be applied
to them, and they should pass, if they are
permitted to pass at all, only at their value.
No man will take an Alabama State Bank
BUI, at par, if it hears a discount in the mar
ket, of 3 or 4 percent —and why should they
lake an Agency Bank Note ? Let the public
apply the corrective —refuse them at the
hundredth part of a mill less than their spe
cie value, and our word for it, the Banks in
other cities, having Agencies and issuing
Notes here, will take measures lo redeem
them here. At all events the Banks and not
the public will have to suffer the discount.
But is it true that the Agencies do refuse
to furnish specie change ? We understand
that it is not, and that a man may at any
lima convert SSO or SIOO or even S2OO of
therr bills into specie change at their coun
ters. If we are co rectly informed, the ar
gument of “ A Merchant” is met by the
fact, so far as change is concerned. Wheth
er they should be compelled to furni&h spe
cie in sums of thousands, is another ques
tion, aside ftom this issue.
But, we have a Bauk iu Columbus, pay
ing specie here—and in a lormer commu
nication our correspondent complained that
it was hard tor the St. Marys Bank lo import
and to pay specie here, while three Agen
’ cies were exporting it. Is our correspondent
! ignorant of the proceedings of the Bank of
; St. Marys iuthis respect ! Je it not the prae
tice of that Bank, to charge one per cent for
coinof a patticular kind—English or French?
Or, does it, as every Bank (as contradistin
guished from a Broker’s office) should do,
accommodate the bolder of its bills with
any sort of coin asked for. It seems then
that the Bank whose duly it is to pay specie
here, is not a whit tr.ore useful to the com
munity in this particular, than the Agencies.
The truth of the matter is, that this Agen
cy question is unnecessarily and improperly
mingled with that of the Shinplasters. Let
every tub stand upon its own bottom. If
the Agency system be admitted to be vicious,
it does not rob individual Shinplasters of one
of their attributes of impudence and lraud.
TIIF. HON. ROBERT TOOMBS.
Mr. Toombs has written a letter from
Washington to the Augusta Chronicle dp
Sentinel, in rep'y to the strictures of the Con
stitutionalist, upon the eccentricity of that
gentlemans course in speaking for the “no
tice” and voting against it. The Represen
tative, does not in our judgment, better his
position. For while the leltergives him the
opportunity of making some of his ad captan
dum flings at the President, he fails to rescue
himself from the charge of glaring inconsis
tency. Indeed in his very accusation against
the President, he involves himself in a deeper
bog than that into which he labors to thrust
Mr. Polk. Take an example; Mr. Toombs
says in his letter :
“It seems to nte that the true honor of the country
would bo better preserved by claiming only wMat we
intend to mam am and defend, than by asserting a
“ clear and unquestionable” title to the whole country
and then offering to surrender nearly one half of it /
“Clear and unquestionable” rights ate not, in my
judgment, things to be negotiated about, but to be en
joyed, and if need he, to be fought for. lfour title to
the whole of Oregon be “clear and unquestionable,”
what condemnation of Mr. Polk can be gr at enough
for offeiing to surrender nearly one halt ol’ it to the
British ? Under that state of facts, nothing short of
that overwhelming neotssity which would compel the
nation to pass under the conqueror’s yoke could jus
tify nun.
In his speech, Mr. Toombs had stated dis
tinctly that “England rtߣ no right to de
‘‘mand, and I would not yield by negotia”
“tion an acre south of 49 deg.” and the sen
timent is reiterated in his letter—“ England
“has no color of title to the country south of
“the 49th deg. of north latitude.”
It is plain then, that in Mr. Toombs’s
opinion, the American rights to the territory
below 49 are “clear and unquestionable” and
they are of that character to be “ enjoyed. and
if need be, fought for.” But, what does Mr.
Toombs propose in regard to the territory,
“ an acre of which he would not yield,” and
to which “ England has not a color of title”l
Why, he proposes to submit it to arbitra
tion. Yes; he would arbitrate “clearand
unquestionable” rights to American soil ?
And for what reason 1 for what possible rea
son, other than that England has taken a fan
cy to the country, and has set up a claim to
it? Would a policy identical in all its parti
culars, justify the submission to arbitration
of the State of Georgia, or the county of
Wilkes, if England should choose to claim
that ? According to Mr, Toombs’ Own facts
and logic, there is not a hairs difference be
tween consenting to arbitrate the country be
low 49, or any portion of the| soil of
Georgia.
Now to apply his own sentiment towards
the President, to himself. “If our title below
49 is so perfect, what condemnation of JWr_
Toombs can be great enough for offering to
hazard any portion of it by arbitration ?”
The President is condemned for offering to
compromise “clear and ui questionable” rights
to the whole of Oregon when he had the
Statesman's reason of a precedent set by prior
administrations to justify it, and Mr. Toombs
is lobepvztsecffor offering to arbitrate clear &
unquestionable” rights below 49 deg. without
any reason, pretext or palliation, except that
Britain wants it.
But if Mr. Toombs’s policy is bad, his rea.
son for the distinction he drawe between
compromise and arbitration is worse. He
would not he says “ negotiate” away “un
questionable rights”—he would fight first—
because to negotiate is to contract', but he
would arbitrate away ‘unquestionable rights;”
why, he does not inform us; but vvepresum e
from the converse reason, that to arbitrate is
not to contract. This is what Governor
Crawford calls “unadulterated moonlight.’*
What is an arbitration, but an agreement —a
contract to abide by the award of the refe
rees ? and, pray, if a man or a Government
i6 to give up a “clear right” to buy his or its
peace, is it not more just and frank, and man
ly and generous, and less the subject of “con
demnation” to give it up voluntarily, than to
submit it to an arbiter to deternnue how
much shall be given up to secure the object :
It really does seem that nothing but the exi
gent partisanship of the Hon. Member, and
his purient proneness to condemn the party
opposed to him, could have led him into the
blunders which his own clear mind in its
cooler moments, must reject and condemn.
While reading Mr. Toombs’ lecture to
the President upon the subject of American
rights to territory—we cold not help ejacu
lating, and this is (he gentleman who made a
stampede through Georgia in 1844, vocifera
tion against Texas.
CORNING THE ENGLISH.
The New York Journal of Commerce, of
the 2J iust. says—The ship Cornelia is load
ed with 28,000 bushels of Indian coin and
7,000 barrels of corn meal; and, though not
full, is, we are told, as deep as it is expe
dient to load her. The ship Empire has
also on board 15,000 bushels of corn aud
10,000 barrels of meal. Sir Robert Peel’s
“cattle” must get very fat on this excellent
feed, which he promised the fanners should
come in free, in compensation Vo them for
taking off the duty on wheat.
THE YOUNG CHURCHMAN’S MISCEL
LANY.
This is the title of a useful little monthly
published by the Rev. J. A. Spencer, in N.
York. It is intended for the use of children,
and we recommend it to parents as a suitable
work to put iuto their hands. It is very
neatly printed in small octavo, and is pub
fished at $1 50 per annum in advance. We
have a few specimen numbers which are
at the service of parents washing to sub
scribe.
The Kentucky Legislature adjourned sine
dU oa the 2 i h ult.
4
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE SHIN
PLASTERS.
In our advertising columns the public wilj
find the result of the discussions of Council
on the subject of Shinplasters, in a resolu
tion to repudiate them at the City Treasury,
after the Ist day of July next.
This resolution gives them a longer grace
than they are entitled to. A public wrong
so outrageous in its features deserved to be
strangled at once. But the advocates of the
resolution acting upon the idea that “ half a
loaf was better than no bread” were com
pelled to consent to the postponement, in or
der to carry a vote or two necessary to its
passage. The yeas and nays on the pas
sage were as follows :
Yeas—AlJ. Shorter, Ruse,Stewart, Morton,Q,ttin
Co'eman, and Woodruff.
Nay —Aid. Billiug, Holstead, Robinson and Wig
gins.
The Council having performed its'duty,
in this matter, it remains for the citizens to
do theirs. They have nothing to do but to
set their faces resolutely against them—to
refuse to recognise and receive them as mo
ney, and the thing is done.
THE SHINPLASTER CURRENCY.
The Editor of the Jeffersonian, (Griffift,)
approves of our strictures on Shinplasters,
encourages us to go on, end hints that the
public in his vicinity, enjoy the same rag
money in Scott Carbart’s and Shotwell’s
bills, which he thinks, it is time to abate.
We are glad to hear the Jeffersonian so
speak. All these Shinplasters, wherever
and by whomsoever issued, are in the same
boat—a wrong and fraud upon, and an inju
ry to the intelligence of the community.
We hope our brethren of the press, will
speak out upon this subject, and join us in
what we consider a positive duty to the
community, to do all in our power to put
down so pestiferous a nuisance as a curren
cy of small change-bills. An authorized
paper currency, sanctioned and guarded by
law, is bad enough ; but these paper bitts
and quarters —this spawn and fungu9 of a
.false system is too bad, too impudent, too
dangerotiS to be endured an .instant longer.
SENATOR^COLQ-UITT’S SPEECH.
We find from good author;;?, that we were
not mistaken in supposing that Judge Col
quitt’s Oregon Speesh wa3 very inaccurate
ly reported—a conclusion to which we were
brought by the discrepancy between the re
ported and revised copies of the same speech.
This cireiicM’ance has proved very unfor
tunate to the Speaker, inasmuch as it ha 9
been the cause of commendation from his
political opponents, a* favoring the Whig
scheme of arbitration, to which he is heartily
opposed, and the pretext for an open assault
by pretended friends, who were evidently
not sorry to find the opportunity.
Judge Colquitt needs no delence at our
hands before the Democratic party of Georgia,
against hostile or friendly attacks. We know
of no man, more devoted to the principles of
the Republican cause—no one more
to hispaity duties & obligations. Those who
assail him might take valuable lessons from
him upon this subject and learn, that to be a
just and honorable member of any associa
tion, or party, political or otherwise, that
something more than passion, and prejudice,
and policy that knows no polarity but self
interest, should be the guides of the politi
cian.
We understand Judge Colquitt to hold
that the American title up to 49 is “clear
and unquestionable,” and Hot the subject of
compromise—that between 49 and 54, 40.
while ours is the test title, it is not perfect
as against Great Britain, and therefore
the proper subject of compromise—and that
he is opposed to arbitration in all its forms.
We have believed ever 6ince the Oregon
negotiation was made public, that that which
Judge Colquitt contends for,would be the finale
of the controversy—49, with some mutual col
lateral concessions, we now predict will be the
end of the dispute—if pacific. If the two
Governments do not meet here, time or the
sword must settle it.
SENATOR BERRIEN.
This gentleman is out in the Recorder
with an address to the “People of Georgia,”
in reply to the comments of the ‘‘Federal
Union” upon his famous Boston, Albany and
Milledgeville speeches. The Senator uses
angry words towards the “Federal Union,”
evidently manifesting a serious ruffling of
his temper.
He charges the Federal Union with ‘‘cal
umny” ‘‘misrepresentation.” and all that—
but seems to forget, that while he is lashing
the Editor with hard words, his political
friends at Milledgeville, who daring the Leg
islative session, threw him overboard on ac
count of these very same speeches, are fully
entitled to and do receive, morally, an equal
share of his castigations.
The ‘‘galled jade winces” terribly in Mr.
Berrien. He is suffering from the slings
which his own gyratory windings have shar
pened for his flesh. What else could he
expect, as the author of the great Philadel
phia Free Trade Report, and the subsequent
apologist fur the Tariff of 1842? Tergiversa
tions so*naked, icunpaihated, are by no means
calculated to make a bed of roses for a pub
lic man to repose upon. Mr. Berrien played
a heavy stake for Mr. Clay’s election. “Alls
well that ends well” and if Mr. Clay had
been President, Mr. Berrien would have
turned up a trump of the first magnitude.—
But he lost the trick, and is now chewing
the cud of his bitter disappointment. For
one, we have no sort of commiseration for
him. We can forgive no politician from the
State of Georgia, who as we believe, w ith
his 4 eyes open tojthe truth and force and beauty
of Free Trade principles, apostatized from
them; or who bas been led away by the
false glare of party lights, into the gre
vioussin and political plunder of hostility to
Texas Annexation. Verily JuJge'Berrien
•‘hath his reward.”
DAILY MAIL.
We learn that on Monday last, the Steam
er line between Savaunah and Charleston,
resumed its daily trips, under a double con.
tract with the P. O. Department and the
Central Rail Road Company—the former
paying $9,000 and the latter $6,000.
We learn also, that the establishment of
a daily mail from Macon to Columbus, is
under consideration by the P. M. General
THE CITY POST OFFICE.
We copy the following article and cor
respondence to show how much easier it is
for ill-nature to make charges than it is to
find facts to sustain them. In the language
of the author, “ comment is needless.” The
public will know hereafter how to appreci
ate similar fabrications from the same quar’
ter.
From the Muscogee Demociat.
“Fool Plat — l One of our subscribers at Sh*-ll
Creek, called upon us last week to enquire why our
papers were not sent to that office. Ho stated that
none had come for three weeks pievious ! Ncv this
is intolerable. The iShell Creek Post office is only
20 miles distant from Columbus, and theie is no oth
er Post Office on that route, between the two places!
Our papers have been tegularly put into the Post Of
fice heie, and we can account for their non-arrival
there, in no other wav, than by attributing it to the
negligence of the Postmaster of this city! And this
idea became a conviction of mind, when the additional
fact was stated by our informant, that the “Enquirer”
had also failed to arrive, but that the “Times” was
received regularly ! Comment is needless.”
Post Office, Columbus, March 9, 1846.
To Post Master, Shell Creek:
Dear Sir—Complaints have reached this office that
tho“ Muscogee Democrat” is not regularly received
at your office by the subscribers of that paper. Be
pleased to inform me wi-at grounds there are for the
complaint—the extent of the irregularity, if it exists,
and the causes of it.
The same complaint is alleged in regard to the
Enquirer, (though not by the proprietors of that pa
per.) State if you please, if there be any ground for
it, in regard t<> that paper. Also inform ute, if there
is any difference in the regularity with which the
Enquirer, Times and Democrat reach your office.
Very respectfully. &c. &c.
J. FORSYTH, P. M.
Shell Creek P. O. March 11, 1846.
Post Master, Columbus :
Dear Sir—Your note of the 9th inst. is before me.
In regard to the non-an ival of the “Muscogee De
mocrat” with the other Columbus papers for this of
fice, J can only charge my memory wi h one such
occurrence. As, however, no complaiut was made
by the subscribers for that paper, and as the acci
dent was not repeated, I did not deem it my duty to
notify you of the fact, as 1 otherwise should have
done.
I remember a similar occurrence in connection
with the “ Times.”
The Enquirer has been regularly rec iv-d with
the exception of one or two instances, in which the
Mail failed altogether.
Such accidents will occur to so small an office as
ours, under the strictest surveillance, and I cannot
say that they are more frequent now than they have
been heretofore.
With much respect ,
JAMES McGUIRE, P. M.
Post Office, Columbus, March 12,1846.
To the Editors of the Enquirer :
Gentlemen—Will you do me the favor to state
whether you have received any complaints of the ir
regularity in the receipt of your paper, by your sub
scribers at Shell Creek Post Office ? If so, can you
inform me of the causes of that irregularity.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
JOHN FORSYTH, P. M.
Orncs or the CoLUMBOs Enquirer, ?
March 12, 1846. 5
Sir—To your note of thi 3 morning, the undersign
ed replies, he has caused Careful enquiries to be
made of all connected with this Office. and the result
is, not a solitary complaint has read 1 ;-d t?s in relation
to irregularity in the receipt of the Columbus En
quirer at Shell Creek Post Office.
Very Respectfully, yours,
J. S. CALHOUN.
To Jour? Forsyth, Esq. P. M.
FRANCE AND TEXAS.
We publish to-day the correspondence
between Mr. King, the American Minister
to France and M. Guizot, upon the subject
of the coarse attack of the London Times
upon that gentleman and Mr. Calhoun.
To understand the merits of the case, it is
necessary to accompany the correspondence
with two other letters from M. Guizot—one
to Count de St. Aulaire the French Minis
ter at London, and the other to M. Pageot
the French Minister at Washington, which
we have done. Our readers will find in it
a vindication of Mr. King, and convincing
proofs of the interference of France and
England in the matter of Texas annexation-
It explains all the activity, a year ago, of
Mr. Saligny and the “man of the white
hat,” and shows how completely the diplo
matic intrigues of the two first powers of
Europe were foiled by the straight forward
will of two people, bent on an annexation
of their territories, and a union of their Re
publican destinies.
Virginia Legislature. —This body com
pleted all their business on Thursday week
last, & were to have met on the following mor
ning for the enrollment of several bills, when
they were to adjourn.
FROM TEXAS.
The Steamship Alabama, brings later ad
vices from Texas, [n its summary of the
news, the N. O. Delta, says, that the peo.
pie of Corpus Christi have objections to the
movement of the army to the Rio Grande,
and they have even gone so far as to ques
tion the right of the United States to the
territory between their village and the river;
besides which they have been guilty of cer
tain other outrages, unpardonable in a civili.
zed community, and which are thus des
cribed in the Corpus Christi Gazette : “ The
contemplated removal of the troops has
created a poetic fever which nothing but
“ low diet and quietness’ will cure. Ele
ven cases of this contagious disease in only
one day ! God help us.”
V. S. Senators. —lt will be perceived
from the following, that Genl’s. Rusk and
Houston have been elected to the Senate of
the U. : States, by the Texas Legislature.
Later from Austin . —Tire bill lbr deliver
ing to the United States the public property
named in the Joint Resolutions, passed the
Senate without opposition, and was proba
bly acted on in the Lower House on Mon
day the 23d—on which day the election of
Comptroller, Auditor and Treasurer was
ordered to be held.
The election cf our U. S. Senators took
place on the 20th. Only one balloting was
had, and the following was the result:—
Gen. Rusk received 70 votes, Gen. Hous
ton 69, and 4 were scattering votes. Ex
presses were immediately despatched to
them with their commissions, and they wiil
doubtless repair to the city of Washington
without delay.
The candidates for the Lower House of
Cougress from the Western Congressional
District, are—Co!. Win. G. Cook, (late Col.
lector,) Bexar county; Col. S. M. Williams,
Galveston county ; Hon. T. Pillsberry,
Brazoria county ; Gen. J. M. Lewis, Mont
gomery county ; Gen. Megginson, do. ;
Gen. Thos. J. Green, Brazoria county; Hon.
R. M. Williamson, Washington county, is
also spoken of.
The Hon. J. Hemphill, as Chief Justice,
Abner S. Lipscomb and Hon. R.T. Whee
ler, have been appointed and confirmed as
Associate Judges of the Supreme Court of
Texas. —[Galveston News, March 3.
<4*The Duke of W ellington. —At a late
party at the house of Lord Stanley, in Lon
don. a young lady asked the Duke of Wel
lington “if it were true that one English
man could beat three Frenchmen?” The
Iron Duke replied that “when a boy he bad
been told so; but he thanked heaven he had
never been placed iu a situation to try the
experiment.”
DEATH OF DR. BABER.
The Macon papers announce the sudden
decease of this gentleman. The
ger after paying a tribute to his virtues and
his professional abilities thus, narrates the
melancholy circumstances of his death.
“The immediate circumstances attending the death
of Dr. Baber, are of a truly melancholy character.
He had prescribed for & consumptive patient, a reme
dy often given, of which Prussic (Acid is a ma
terial component, and known among the medical fac
ulty as ‘ Cyaniiral of Potass.” The meaicine was in
a much stronger form than it should be adnnnis'ered.
The error probably occurred by a reference to “
l ; s’ Formula,” a work in which it exists on page 83,
7lh edition, where an ••unce of the medicated article
is prescribed in place cf a drachm. The patient
believing the medicine too strong, m consequence of
an intimation Pom the druggist, did not take it. Dr.
B. had been in the practice of taking and administer
ing the medicine ; and not being aware of the error,
took a large dose of it, which terminated his life in a
few minutes. No blame can be attached to the drug
gist ; and it is one of those fatal errors that will some
limes occur among the best informed medical men.
The health of Dr. Baber at the time was very feeble,
and perhaps hastened the operation of the fatal dose.’
The Editor of the Muscogee Democrat complains
that his paper, as well as the Enquirer, are ki ;>t back
in the Post Office at Columbus, while the Times, one
of tiie Editors of which is Post Master, is dispatched
in due time. This may be so—though we are toth
to believe it—in regard to the particular Post Office
named; but here is the fact: —the Enquirer and the
Times are both printed on one day, and the fo*mer
reaches this place on Thb: sday, and the Times not j
till Friday, (the day following.) Both papers, we :
believe, have a respectable subscription list here.
[Chambers Herald.
We refer the Editor of the “Herald” to
another column for proof of the value of this
and all similar charges from the like source.
As the “Herald” has mentioned it, we will
thank it also to place the matter right, before
its readers. ___
LATER FROM. EUROPE.
The Packet Ship Toronto, at N. Y. from
London, brings dates five dates later than
the Cambria.
Cotton was firm.
The Charleston Mercury sums up the
news as follows:
“ The foreign news is not of very stirring import.
The great event, the commencement of war in, or
rather for the Panjuab—the country lyir.g between
the tributaries of tho Indus, —has been so long look
ed for, that li seems qui e in the e-iurse of naiute.—
In the markets there is no material change. The
probability of great suffering, especially in /reland,
from deficient food, is much increased, and the pros
pect of the adoption of the Ministerial plan or the
modification of the existing tariff, is certainly impro
ved, As to the relations of England with this
country, there is nothing new”
His Excellency Thomas Stockton, Gov
ernor of Delaware, expired suddenly on
Monday week last, while sitting in the
office of the Clerk of the Orphan’3 Court,
at New Castle.
The “American Deer,” and Gilders
leeve, the great foot-racers, are in Savannah,
and it ia said that they are to tet the light,
ness of their heels this day, over the Ogle
thorpe Course.— Charleston paper.
Correspondence of the “ Columbus Times.”
Washington, D. C., Match 6.154 G.
Dum Sir.—You will soon perceive in the
whig papers throughout the union, rejoi
cings and congratulations upon the antici
pated destruction of the democratic party.
Mr. Haywood yesterday completed his
.speech in the Senate, on the Oregon resolu
tions ; and as he iiad taken a course in his
argument which displeased some of the wes
tern Senators, rather an unpleasant conver
sation occurred between him and Senators
Alien and Hannegan on a question from the
twodatter touching the authority on which
the Senator from N. Carolina presented cer
tain views and opinions as those entertained
by the President.
Although the verbal misunderstanding be
tween those Senators (which you will find in
the Union of last evening) should not, and
perhaps will not lead to any serious injury of
the democratic cause ; still, the whirs, in
their anxiety to seize upon some hing where
by to encourage the hopes of the rank ami
file of their party, will blazon the scene in
the Senate of yesterday throughout the
country, and represent it as a certain omen
of the defeat of the democracy at the next
contest for the presidency.
Jf the integrity of the democratic party
did not depend upon immutable principles,
consecrated, established, and made indes
tructiblej by the experience and unerring
judgment of a free and enlightened people,
there would be some ground for the leaders
of the federal party to draw consolation from
the misunderstandings of democratic Sena
tors*
In view of the course which the debato
on the Oregon resolutions is now assuming
in the Senate, 1 cannot venture to'predict,
again, what will be the finale. I can only
state conjectures. Some opine that the res
olutions from 4he House will be amended
and pass the Senate, with provisions author
izing tne President to give the notice, leav
ing the time at his own discretion, and ur
ging a settlement ol the dispute by compro
mise. Some predict that such a resolution, if
sent to the house, would not be acceptable
10 a majority of that body ; and that, conse
quently, the whole subject would be left by
Congress precisely in the way it was found
on the day the President sent in his annual
message’ Should this be the case, Mr.)
Calhoun’s policy, now by common consent
styled that of “masterly inactivity,” will
have obtained the mastery', and our public
servants tn both houses wiil have a year j
longer to ponder upon the manner in which
the claims and pretensions of England to Or
egon shall be met.
You will perceive in the Daily Times of
this morning a very grave charge against
some of our Senators. No less a charge
than plotting with the British minister, Pak
enham, to force the Executive to a treaty re
linquishing to England a portion of our terri
tory in Oregon, &e. Indeed, many suppose i
that the article will be noticed in some way j
by the action of the Senate when they next
meet on monday.
While the Oregon debate is going on in
lbs Senate, the people in the weet are mov
ing, and already resolutions from the Legis
lature of Illinois, Indiana Mississippi, Mich
igan, and 1 believe some other states, have
been received, instructing their Senators to
oppose any arrangement which shall surren
der to G.eat Britain any portion of Oregon
below 54 degrees 40 minutes:—ln the
Eastern States, and particularly in our At
lantic cities, preachers, and in some instan
ces, religious congregations have united their ;
exertions to prevent a rupture of the friend-1
ly relations existing between the two nations *
—they pray for a continuance of peace—:
and that is all they pray for.
The last news from England is to the 7th
February. It i3 quite evident that the re
ceipt of the proceedings in our Congress up
on the Oregon question did not produce any
change either in the price of stceks or price
of cotton or other s’aples—and Iron# this it
is argued that neither politicians nor specu
lators look upon war as very near. One of
the London papers, (the Chronich) is quite
brave in its lone, and declares that if the
Congress of the United States attempts to
carry out the recommendations of the Pres
ident, as put forth in his message, “war is
inevitable.” But another London paper con
tains an opinion thht the Oregon dispute is
not worth an inquiry involving war, &c.
It would seem that we have many able
friends in the French Chamber o) Disputes
—and whatever may be the anxiety of the
old K ; ng cf the French ai.d the eelfieii views
of those about him who hope to secure to
their children a place near throne, by
making strong and sure the succession of
the Kings offspring, and that, too, by a closo
alliance with England—it is quite evident,
that in a rupture with our old foe, France
would scarcely be kept from lending us a
helping hand.
By the latest accounts it om JTexae, our
forcea are drawing towards the fcTo del Norte.
They were to have broken up their canton
ment at Corpus Christi on the Ist inst.
Gen. Taylor has 4009 troops—infantry, ar
tillery, and dragoons—and they are repre
sented as being in excellent condition. He
has 20 pieces ol field artillery, with a body
of artillerists that, in point of discipline and
taciical and practical knowledge was seldom
equalled.
The Mexicans, by the last accounts, con
tinue their threats and their braggadocias.—
From my personal knowledge of them I can
not beiteve that they will march against ‘Tay
lor. even if it were possible for them to con
centrate twenty-five thousand men.
The House is not yet halfway through
the bill making appropriations for harbors
and the improvement of rivers, &c.
Yours, Z.
Without knowing anything of the merits
of the question iuvolved, we publish the
following communication, coming as it does,
from a responsible source.
for the times.
UIY COUNCIL-BRIDGE-KEEPER.
The almost unanimous sense of the City
demands that an able and efficient Bridge -
Keeper should be eleettd, at the present cri
tical juncture. All confess, and every body
knows that an error was committed in turn
ingout Mr. Martin. It is equally true that
Mr. Burt, although honest, is totally incapable.
Every body knows it—menders of Council
know it: The Mayor knows it. Are not the
members and the Mayor sworn to do their
duty and to protect the revenues of the citv ?
Without intending any disrespect, I may
confidently affirm that the great mass of tho
citizens feel, and knov) that Council have
not done their duty in the premises. The
public eye is upon them, and it demands
that, they should have moral courage enough
to do their duty and elect an able and efficient
B ridge- Keeper.
The Mayor and one Alderman , Mr. Quin,
were present yesterday at the Bridge. They
know, and I hold them to the fact, that au
efficient Bridge-Keeper is needed.
Gentlemen, the public requires that you
should do your sworn duty. We hold you
to your oaths.
J have no feeling against any members ;
but the public know and demand that you
should elect a Bridge-Keeper. To all in
tents and purposes, we have no Bridge-
Keeper. Pray Mr. Mayor and gentlemen of
C; uncil, what is the fulling off in your re
ceipts ? The question should mantle your
cheeks wi'h the deepest tints of the rose, if
you longer delay to do your sworn duly !
Allow me to suggest a gentleman as
Bridge Keeper, who has all the qualifications
required— honesty, capacity, vigor of mind
and body, personal courage and an intimate
acquaintance with the citizens both of Alaba
ma and Georgia: That man is Ephraim
C. Bandy.
The crisis demands this action. Elevate
yourseives gentlemen high above a'l party
and personal feelings, and the benedictions?
of the good, the wise, and the virtuous will
approve your action. A Citizen.
for the times.
Gentlemen—ln yrur comments upon the
communication cf*a Merchant’ in last weeks
paper, you come to conclusions which can
not be inferred from the leading of the com
munication; for instance you said that it was
the ‘first essay on the Shinplaster side ofth<
shinplaster topic with which you had been
favored.’ In this inference youdogreat in
justice both to the reading and spirit of the
communication. Ido not pretend to justify
or defend the issuers of change bills, but on
the contrary, I want to get tid of them ; but
l differ with you as to the mode of accom
plishing that object ; your doctrine and that
of the City Council is to refuse the change
bills and specie will follow*. My doctrine
is to compel those whose duty it is to bring
the specie here and it will drive the change
bills from circulation, the better currency
always drives out the worse—and 1 attempt
ed to show you in my last communication, &
ihe.interrogatorics referred to, that we never
could have a specie currency while the pre
sent agency system was tolerated here as it
ha3 been ; and consequently there must bo
some reform iu that quarter if we would get
rid cf the change bills. Let the agencies
even pay their small bills in specie and
change bills wiil be scarce in three months.
Iwi i make one assertion upon the point at
issue, and time will prove that 1 am correct;
with the ptesent agency system in full ope
ration you may wine and declaim upon the
subject from January until December and
the Council may pass resolutions every
week during the time, and at the end of tho
year there wont be five thousand dollars less
(change bills) in circulation than when you
began ; but on the other hand, if the agen
cies will furnish their pro rata of coin upon
Banking principles the Shiners wiil dtivo
every shinplaster fiom circulation in lose
than six months, w ithout the aid of a single
paragraph upon the subject. You remark let
the wrnetassist you in putting down the
change bills and then prove to you that
there are others needing reform and you
will help him in return. I thick I have
show n that there is but one evil to remedy
and if you will direct your efforts to the root
of it with the same zeal andAufiiiiy that you
have'displayed inloppinapf the branches,
we shalisucceed in estaldishing a specie cur
rency ; coin never cit&mrges as a currency
when it is above agencies lioot:
the country with theyoills of banke,
which are worth oiwprr cent, less than coin.
They furnish three fourths of the circulation
and they charge one per cent for coin ; and
as long as this is the state of things coin will
continue to be a species of commerce ami
will not enter into circulation.
A MERCHANT.
March 16th, 1846.
WESTERN <5- ATLANTIC RAIL ROAD.
By reference to our advertising colums of
to-day will be found the “rates of freight for
the conveyance of produce, Merchand-ze,
&c., over the Western and Atlantic Rail
Road.” This road is now in successful op
eration from Atlanta, the Southern terminus,
to Davvsonville, (or in the “ rates of freight,”
Oothcaloga, in this county.) There is no
road in the Union more agreeable to travrd
on than this, from the simple tact, that it is
new, and the iron smooth and cf excellent
quality.
It affords great facilities to the traveling
community, especially those going West, an
the siage facilities are excellent, both via
Rome through Alabama, to Memphis, Ten
nessee, and Springplace, Ga., to Nashviile
Tennessee.
We much regret to state, that the Engi
neer has faded to get the transportation of a
daily mail over this road, owing as we un
derstand to the price which lie proposes to
carry it at. There should be some under
standing on this all important subject, and if
Mr. Johnson, supposes it too heavy a charge,
vve hope the State Road will be allowed ibu
satno as the Georgia Road, which vie are as
sured will satisfy both pv'ic-3. More o/Upv—
Catsville Pioneer. -/