Newspaper Page Text
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COLUMBUS, GA.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1846.
“ Timf* Office” on Randolph Rtrret, in the
tylrtkorpe Boildln?, in rear of the Post Offier.
THE VIRGIXIA ELECTION,
Returns sufficient have beon received, to jus
tify the belief that the Democrats have carried
both houses of the Virginia Legislature. The
contest was spiritless.
T* Notice Resolutiox Sighed. —The
President on Tuesday sent a message to the House
of Representatives informing that body that he had
■signed the joint resolution authorising him to give
the Oregon not ha.
The resolution and accompanying documents
have probably been despatched ly the steamer of
■the Ist May.
THE PROSPECT.
Ah, there will be no war between England
•ad the United States of America,” observed M.
;izot recently at a dinner in Paris. “Brother
Jonathan may not be so wise as John Bull) but
Peel is wise enough for them both.” Upon the
wisdom of the British then, in the opinion of one
ts the wisest of European statesmen, depends the
maintenance of peace. IVe are inclined to agree
with him. lUe are inclined to believe that the
calm, dignified and honorable course of Sir Rob
ert Peel and Lord Aberdeen will secure the bless
ings of peace to America and the world.
We deplore that our conduct presents so hu
miliating a contrast with theirs. Whilst wc have
foeea using words, the English have been engaged
an deeds. Whilst we have been giving vent to
•oisy threats and windy braggadocio, the English
■have been making preparations for contest. We
liave behaved like garrulous children, they like
and determined men. JUe have been
indulging in fignres of speech, they have been
calculating in figures of tact. We have boasted
what we shall do, they are ready for what may
Jmve to be done. Ours is the roar and the yesty
froth of the Ocean, theirs its strong tide and its
resistless current. IVe have flung out the folds
of a silken flag, such as is shown on gala days, to
toy with the aephyr and dally with the gale, they
Lave hoisted the bunting and nailed its firm fabric
to their masts, not to be torn down except in the
•empest of battle. Il’e have lavished the treasure
sf time n idle declamation, they have hoarded
s'verj moment in earnest effort and unceasing
Action. i
* For many weeks,” said Lord Clarendon,
4*thia question has been debated in Congress,
while Parliament has now been sitting for nearly
wo mouths, and no allusion has been made to the
aalyect, except by a noble maquis, now unavoid-
Mv absent, and a noble friend near me on the
first night of the session, add also on a single oc
casion elsewhere.” But his lordship did not add
that the most active exert'ons had been made all
ever Great Britain for immediate war, that large
appropriations bad been voted by the Commons,
that the Army and Navy had been increased and
strengthened, and that nothing had been leftun
dmc which foresight warranted and skill devis
ed. He did not relate the significant fact that an
esperiment bad been tried to test w’ith what expe
dition, a man-of-war could be got ready for sea,
fully manned aud equipped fora bloody engage
meat. He made no boast; he vented no empty
threats. Whot the British Government had been
doing was no secret to the world and required no
trumpeter.
Had the same course been pursued in this
country, we should have been prepared at least
for that contest, which so many of us seem resolv
ed to bring, about. But we have done nothing—
avethirg but talk, ff words were shot, we could
rain destruction on overy man, woman and child
in England,- Scotland and Ireland. Luckily,
words arc harmless, and more luckily still, they
arc regarded' as soch by the wise and considerate
statesmen, wlurgovern her Britannic Majesty’s
Kingdom. For that reason, let it be universally
sueerstood, and, for that reason only, will peace
lie maintained. Ouv conduct has in all respects
keen such as to provoke war. It has been utterly
devoid of dignity, moderation and magnanimous
aen. This is a* truth painful for an American to
believe, still more painful fev an American to ut
sr. Nevertheless, it is a truth, and the sooner
we acknowledge it, the sooner shall we repair our
oner. —Wextern Continent.
The above contains a great deal of froth, all of
<nth indeed, so far as it draws a comparison be
tween the efficient preparation of our Govern
ment for action with that of G. Britain. But, as
applied to the tore of our Government, it is not a
whit more just than to that of Great Britain. If
aaanjr American journals have talked big and
threatened war, have they gone farther than the
English Editors! Has not the Washington
•Union” been immeasurably more calm and less
alwii c than the “London Times” and have not
the English presses generally shown a complete
woonterpait to our greatest blusterers, with a tone
of more aggravated and domineering insolence
than any but an Englishman, speaking of Ameri
ca, can reach. Between the presses of the two
countries there has been nothing to choose.—
Too* who spoke words of billigerence in this
country had an'excuse, which the English had
ttoL A spirit seeking to avoid the contest—a
cowardly spirit had to be met and counteracted
here; and we, for one, felt that there was far more
need to fan the fire of patriotic, and if need be
warlike firmness than to assuage it The
•Syren song of peace” was cuckooed by pens and
tongues enough to make a dunghill breed of tire
whole yankee nation. We thought there was
too much sakl for peace, and too little for rights.
We were hurt at it, in feeling, and deprecated it
ns policy. We counselled a bold front, pointed
to British preparation and implored with our fee
ble voice an imitation of their example at home.
The “ Continent” cannot be too severe on this
act of the drama. Grave indeed would have been
the responsibility, as the President told Congress
tml war suddenly lighted up our coasts and not
a gun manned to meet it! But, we protest against
the injurious comparison between the two Gov
emments. We admit that Sir Robert Peel, the
British Premier has acted like a man, a States
man, and a philanthropist. He has uttered no
hanh threats, indulged in no idle yet stinging
invective. But, has the course of Mr. Buchanan
our Premier, been different! Where is the line
aTpmofofit! And if Queen Victoria has been
*calm as a summer morning,’ while mighty eventg
were progressing under her authority; pray has
notour “Young Hickory” been quite as cool,
collected and firm?
Our neglect to prepare for what might happen
iadesenring of all reprehension. It was a “penny
wise and pound foolish” policy. It exhibits the
weak point in our Government, and we earnestly
feope with the “ Continent” that we may learn
niiilnm from it, and in another exigency of the
kind, “repair our error.”
As for the rest, John Bull cannot be beaten
fry “Jonathan’’ in vaporing and swelling. They
bold it intolerable vanity in us to brag; and we
bold it to be haughty insolence in them. There
ii'§t a pin’s difference. We are the same sort of
people. Bull knows it, and he hates us for it He
cannot bear that the pure Saxon blood, of which
he is ao proud, and knowsthe value, should run in
our plebeian Yankee Doodle veins. But it is there
n the same, only somewhat warmer, freer and
riper forth* healthful atmosphere of freedom
which it inhales, and all England cannot let it
ML If anything on earth will cause the gorge
to tire in an Englishman, it is for an American to
U p and in the face of his jewelled and
owned nobility, of his superb court, his huge
navy and vast territorial possessions, to say, “ I
am as good as thou.” But we Yankees do say
.—nay more, we act it—we show H by deeds, and
■re every day convincing the world of it
MAIL CONTRACTS.
Some hundred and fifty mail contractors were
at Washington on the Ist inst, the day for open
ing the bids. The Body waited on the President
in the morning, and in the evening sat down to
a splendid supper at Coleman’s Hotel, with CoL
Johnson, the Hero of the Thames, as their guest
The Union says it was struck with the generally
fine and robust appearance of the body as it went
in procession to the President's House.
MR. WEBSTER AND MR. INGERSOLL.
“ It is really a pity that our neighbor can not be
more just, liberal and generous to his political ad
versaries—-the only qualities wanting to render
him efficient in giving tone and shape to public
opinion.”— Columbus Enquirer.
The above paragraph concludes an article of
the Enquirer in defence of Mr. Webster, and in
offence of everybody that dares to consider the
reputation of that distinguished personage as
1 questionable.” It is an old saying that “fine
words will not butter parsnips,” nor will extrava
gant eulogy alter the “fixed fact” ofMr. Webster’s
reputation. Why, the Editor assumes that these
charges against Mr. Webster, arc new things.—
Ever since we have paid any attention to public
affairs, they have been as familiar as “household
words” to our ears. And is it come to this, that
our mouths are to be gagged, and we are to
maintain a sacred silence when a member of the
Senate [Mr. Dickinson] and a member of the
House [Mr. Ingersoll] Tise in their places and pub
licly proclaim charges of corruption, which if true,
are punishable through the forms of high im
peachment—and all because, the personage
charged is the high Priest of Federalism and a
leader of Whiggism ? And are we to be pitied
for a want of liberality to political opponents
when we speak of these public things ? And
that by an Editor who has not spared Mr. Inger
soll, a distinguished member of our party, the epi
thets of “unholy fabricater,” slanderer,” &c. 1
We stated of Mr. Webster, what were notorious
facts, and expressed the hope that he would be
able to “clear his great name” from the cloud of
suspicion that rested upon it. This brings upon
us the charge of illiberally. While the person
that charges us, denounces Ingersoll and Dickin
son without stint. Now, what is the difference,
except that Mr. Webster is a Whig and is assum
ed to be innocent—while Ingersoll and Dickin
son are nothing but poor Loco-Focos, and are
therefore condemned as slanderers “ without
benefit of clergy.” ;
Every body knows that Mr. Webster’s loose
ness in money-matters amounts to a moral crime.
He is notorious for his expensive—we may say—
profligate habits. His political friends have paid
his debts again and again—they raised $60,000
for him to squander in Europe ; and while there
he received £IOOO from the Barings for a pro
fessional opinion. His friends, convinced that he
was an incorrigible spendthrift, and that there
was no hope of keeping him out of embarrassments
by paying his debts, have lately funded SIOO,OOO
for him, and informed him that the enjoyment of
the interest was his^—The money, is invested in
manufacturing stocks, and his income is larger or
smaller, as these stocks rise or fall—in other words,
as the Tariff upon which he has to vote as a Senator,
is high or low. Is this evidence of that spotless
purity which the Enquirer vaunts of? Is he not
to all intents and purposes the stipendiary of the
manufacturing capitalists ? And let not the En
quirer say this is a “ fancy sketch.” They are
notorious and public facts—admitted and justified
by friends on the floor of Congress, and in the
Whig press. But, yet, it is “ illiberal” in us,
(and “ pity” it is so,) to speak of these things.
Sure we are, that our character for liberality stands
.on firm ground, if the Enquirer has no better
i proof to array against it.
In regard to the last charges against Mr. Web
ster, of “ malversation” in office and misuse of
the secret service money, the proofs are stopped
by the decision of the President Perhaps it is
fortunate for Mr. Webster; perhaps it is fortu
nate, for Mr. Ingersoll that it is so. We do not,
like the Enquirer, jump to a conclusion, and pro
nounce an unqualified judgment in favor of our
party associate, and (ff unhesitating condemna
tion of his. Had we done so, we might have
been upraided with not being “just, liberal, and
generous to political opponents.”
THE PUBLIC DEBT OF TEXAS.
We copy from the New Era, published at Au
burn, Texas, a letter from Gen. Hamilton, ad
dressed to the President of the Senate of Texas,
upon the subject of the debt of that State, and
the duties and obligations of the State towards
its creditors, growing out of its new relations to
the American Republic.
Gen. Hamilton takes the new and somewhat
startling ground that the Government of the U.
States cannot morally and in good faith take the
Revenues of Texas arising from Customs with
out providing for the Bonds issued by the late
Republic, for the payment of which these reve
nues have been solemnly pledged. We are not
prepared to pass an opinion.upon the doctrine here
broached. The question is a delicate one and will
be decided we trust, by the proper tribunate in the
same spirit of calm and enlightened patriotism
and liberality which has heretofore marked the
negotiations terminating in the glorious union of
the destinies of the two Republics. We publish
the letter as a part of the interesting history of
the times, connected with the late great events.
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
The article we copy from the Y. York Globe
is very strong and bitter in its language. But, all
it says of American truckling to British superi
ority finds an echo in our heart. It contains
many humiliating truths—truths which are at the
bottom of full half of the incessant cries for “peace,
peace,” which have been raised in this country,
while England was Hashing her arms in our fa
ces. The writer well remarks that we owe noth
ing to England. Besides our lineage and the
ancient principles of English Liberty, we have
received nothing good from her. She was a
cruel step-mother while we were bound to her by
the ties of colonial vassalage. She was a re
lentless foe, when we severed them—she is an
envious rival now that we have taken a position
by her side in the family of Nations.
All we have obtained from her, has been rav
ished by the force of American valor. All we
shall ever get, will come in the same way. Who
but a poltroon can kiss and fawn upon the hand
that has never been raised hut to strike us? can
bow down in slavish awe and admiration of a
power and people, who never speak of us but
in terms of vituperation, contempt and slander ?
We confess, we love not England. We have
never seen a gleam of generosity in all her deal
ings with our native country, to cause one thrill
of gratitude or respect for her.
We could admire and love her, if she would
let us—hut all her actions betray the fact that
she is our .country’s hitter enemy—an enemy to
our freedom, to our institutions, our progress in
growth, power and prosperity, and as such we hold
and hate her; as such our Government should
treat, and upon all proper occasions defy her:
FROM EUROPE.
The Great Western has reached New York,
with accounts six days later than by the - Cale
donia. The Commercial news -is considered fa
vorable. Cotton had advanced about £d per lb.
Indian com had also advanced Is. per quarter
and was coming into more general use. The po
litical news does not differ in any important par
ticular from the last accounts.
THE MURDER IN TALBOT COUNTY.
A few days since, a man by the name of Dick
enson, who had been acting suspiciously, was ar
rested in Talbot, as the supposed murderer of
Blackwilder. Black wilder, it will be recollected,
was the wagoner, who about 18 days since was
found in his camp with his brains knocked out
with an axe, and one of his horses gone. The
day and night before, a man was seen travelling
in company with him, and as Blackwilder had
S3OO which was missing from his body, it was
believed that the man fell in and camped with
him for the purpose of murdering and robbing
him. Pursuit was immediately made, on every
road a horse could have travelled, but no trace
could be discovered. Dickenson was taken tip,
but proved an alibi very clearly, and was discharg
ed.
On Sunday last, a negro following a swarm of
Bees, came across the wagoner’s horse, tied to a
sappling in a thick wood, and only a mile from
the scene of the murder. The horse had been
there 15 days without food or water, and strange
to say, was still alive. It was a deep plan in the
villain to elude pursuit, to make it appear, he had
escaped on horseback, while he was flying on
foot Nothing has been heard from him, but
“ murder will out” and there is hope that the
wretch will be yet overtaken by justice.
CONVICTION OF REYNOLDS.
Reynolds who killed Lamar, was convicted
at the Superior Court, now in session at Lump,
kin Stewart Cos. of voluntary manslaughter.
ACCIDENT TO JUDGE GAMBLE.
The Augusta Chronicle, of the 30th ult. says
—We are pained to learn that Judge Gamble,
when near Jacksonboro, on his way to hold Scriv
en Court, by the fall of his horse, was thrown
from his sulkey, by which he suffered a dislocation
and fracture of the left shoulder, in consequence
of which, he was unable to hold the Court.
ALTERED NOTES.
The Augusta Constitutionalist of the Ist inst.,
says—
We were shown yesterday a bill of the Bapk
of St. Mary’s appearing to a superficial view, of
the denomination off twenty dollars. It was a
bill of five dollars with the ends of a twenty dol
lar bill of a broken Bank in Florida, with the
large figure (20) pasted upon it. The fraud is
easily detected by inspection.
We understand that in this manner, a great
many bills of small denomination have thus been
altered to represent ten, twenty, fifty, and one
hundred dollars respectively.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The Milledgeville Journal, of the 28th inst.
says—“ This Court will hold its next session at
this place on Monday next. We learn that
there are a number of appeal cases to be dispo
sed of, and as the Milledgeville District, or in a
legal phrase, the Fifth District, is the largest in
the State, the attendance of professional gentle
men, it is expected, will be numerous. Some
of the cases to be argued, will excite great in
terest, and if the Court, in making its decision!
be as fortunate in satisfying the public mind, as
they have been in those already made, we may
confidently predict for the Supreme Court of
Georgia a popularity that will bear down all the
opposition that has hitherto assailed its establish
ment. For our part, we feel rejoiced not only at
its establishment, which we long and ardently
advocated but at the prospect before it of allay
ing and subduing all the prejudices of its former
opposers; but more particularly do we rejoice at
the prospect before the people of the consumma
tion, so long and so devoutly wished for,’ of
living under one code of laws, interpreted alike
in each Judicial Circuit in the State,”
OREGON.
Some years since (says the Cincinnati Union)
a Senator of the United States, in a speech de
livered in Congress, drew so graphic and lovely a
picture of Oregon that it found its way into almost
every journal in the Union. This Senator was
Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri, and here is the
enchanting picture:—
“In extent it is larger than the Atlantic portion
of the old thirteen States? in climate, softer ; in
fertility, greater? in salubrity, superior; in posi
tion, better—because fronting Asia, and washed
by a tranquil sea. In all these particulars, the
western slope of our continent is far more happy
than the eastern. In configuration it is inexpres
sibly fine and grand—a vast oblong square, with
natural boundaries and a single gateway into the
sea. The snow-capped Rocky Mountains enclose
it to the vast east, an iron-bound coast on the
west, a frozen desert on the north, and sandy
plains on the south. All its rivers rising on the
segment of a vast circumference, run to meet
each other in the centre, and then flow together
into the ocean through a gap in the mountain,
where the heat of summer and colds of winter are
never felt, and where southern diseases are equal
ly unknown. This is the valley of the Columbia
—a country whose every advantage is crowned
by the advantages of position and configuration j
by the unity of all its parts —the inaccessibility of
its borders, and its singular introgressions to the
sea. Such a country is formed for union, wealth,
and strength. It can havej but one capital, and
that will be a Thebes ; but one commercial em
porium, and that will be a Tyre, queen of cities.”
Senator Benten then added, in the Wrongest
and mosi emphatic language—“ Such a country
can have but one people—one interest—one
government—and that people should be Ameri
can—that interest ours —and that government
AMERICAN ! Accursed and infamous be the
man that divides or alienates it /”
FOR THE TIMES.
Cnthbert, May 3d, 18416.
Messrs. Editors:—l notice that the late num
ber of the Times suggests names as candidates of
of the 2d congressional district, and not one of
your correspondents, as I have seen, has men
tioned the name of Col. Jones. Why is this ?
has not our present able and worthy member fully
and ably discharged every duty incumbent upon
him ? has he, in any way, failed to protect our
interests ? Has he given any evidence of a deri
lection of duty in any particular ? No, sir! no !
Then, why think of any other ? has he refused
to serve us again ? If so, I am not apprised of it
I think, therefore, that we should, as a debt of
gratitude, tender to Col. Jones the nomination.
In writing this, Ido not by any means intend
to detract from the .claims of those worthy gentle
men whose names have been suggested, for I
think I can safely say, that they are all prepared
to make any personal sacrifice for the good of the
cause. Col. Seaborn Jones has discharged the
duties of a faithful representative, and as for as
I know, (and I have at least been an observer of
passing events) will have the hearty support
of every Democrat in Randolph-
Yours, <fce. H.
ffj* At the Circuit Court held at Crawford,
Russell county, Ala., on Monday the 27th ult
Judge Goklthwaite presiding—S. W. Milward,
Esq. an Attorney of the State of Georgia, was
admitted to plead and practice in the several
Courts of Law and Equity of the State of Ala
bama,
FROM MEXICO.
Affaire on the banks of the Rio Grande seem
to be approaching a crisis. We have copied
in another place the intelligence received from the
Army of Occupation during the past week,
and now copy from the N. O. Delta, the news
brought by a very late arrival.
It will be seen that the body of Col. Crow has
been found four miles from Gen. Taylor’s camp.
It is also reported that Lieut Porter with a small
party of 10 men was fired upon by a party of
50 Mexicans whom he met some distance from
the camp. Lieut. Porter and 3of his men were
killed.
We hope that the reasons given by the Delta!
for doubting the story that 2,000 Mexicans had
crossed the river, and liad thrown themselves be
tween the American camp and Point Isabel, may
prove sufficient We shall look for later
news with great interest. Gen. Taylor is in a
position, if not critical, where at least he will be
obliged for some time to depend upon his own
resources of defence. So remote from the means of
re-inforcement, a reverse might prove disastrous
to his gallant army. We hope to hear, that his
prudence, seconded by his brave troops, have trr
umphed over the difficulties of his position, and
punished the cowardly murderers of his officers.
From the New Orleans Delta.
From the Rio del Norte. —By the brig Apa
lachicola, Capt. Smith, which sailed from Brazos
St. lago on the 24th ult., at half past five o’clock,
P. M., we learn from the Captain that he was a- |
shore at Point Isabel, and there learned from
Major Thomas, acting Quarter-Master, that the
body of Col. Cross had been found about four
miles above the camp, on the banks of the river,
and from the appearance of the wounds, it was
evident that he had been murdered by a party of
lancers. It was also stated that the watch, and
a part of the equipments belonging to Colonel
Cross, had been discovered in the possession of
an individual in Matamoros, and that Gen. Tay
lor had demanded his delivery. It would per
haps have been better had Gen. Taylor opened a
cannonade on the town.
Capt. Smith also reports that the Mexican schr.
Juanita, which cleared from this port some time
since for Matamoros, passed the Brazos bar on
the 22d, under charge of the Brazos pilots, and
was supposed to have been sent in by the block
ading squadron.
The force at Point Isabel is about 300 men.
Later. —The schr. Corneilia, Capt. Stark,which
left on the same day, brings the following most
strange report, which we give as it was given to
the Captain before left :
“About three hours before the schr. Cornelia
tailed from Brazos, an express from Gen. Taylor
arrived, which stated that the Mexican General in
command had given Gen. Taylor to understand
that if he did not move his army from the place
then occupied within thirty-six hours, that the
Mexican commander would then fire’into him.
“ The same express further stated that 2000
men (Mexican) had already crossed the Rio
Grande, and were stationed between Point Isabel
and Gen. Taylor’s army!
“The Cornelia left Brazos on the 24th April/
at 6 o’clock, P. M., and had a run of 84 hours.”
We do not believe this story, 1st —Because Gen.
Taylor is not such a fool as to let his communica
tions with his supplies be thus cut off without a
struggle; 2d—-Because it is at variance with all
the accounts which we have previously received;
and 3d —We cannot understand how the courier
could arrive at Point Isabel when 2000 men lay
across his route.
Capt. Stark reports the officers and crew on the
U. S. schr. Flirt all well; the brig Lawrence still
blockading the Rio Grande.
From the N. O. Delta.
FROM TEXAS—WAR BEGUN l
Late and Important from Texas—The War
Begun —Bloodshed on the Frontier, Sfc.
By the arrival this morning of the steamship
New York, Capt. Phillips, from Galveston, we
are in receipt of late and important news from
the Army of Occupation.
From the Galveston Gazette, April 25th,
FROM THE ARMY.
The schr. L. M. Hitchcock arrived from the
Brassos Santiago on Wednesday night, bringing
later intelligence from the army and Mexican
frontier. Various reports, more or less exag
gerated, or altogether fabulous, have grown out
of this arrival, but from cautious inquiry we find
the following to be the substance of all the in
formation received.
Our army is still ercamped on the Rio
Grande, some three miles below Matamoros.—
Gen. Arista sent a message to Gen. Taylor, eight
days- since, that unless the American army re
tired immediately to the East bank of the Nue
ces, it would be attacked by that of Mexico
without delay or further notice. Gen. Taylor
returned for reply that his present position had
been taken under orders from his government
and that he was prepared to maintain it against
all comers. Gen. T. also immediately despatch
ed orders to our naval vessels on the coast to
open a strict blockade, and prevent any commu
nication from the Gulf with the Mexicans on
shore, which was accordingly done, and has
since been in full force, the brig Lawrence and
schr. Flirt cruising continually off the mouth of
the Rio Grande and Brassos Santiago,
A lieutenant from our army, a short time
since, crossed the river, from what motive seems
to be uncertain, and was taken by the
Mexican forces, where he remained at the last
accounts. It is reported, but we can find no di
rect authority for the statement, that his libera
tion has been demanded by Gen. Taylor, and re
fused.
The number of the Mexican troops at and
near Matamoras is not known with any degree
of accursry, but we cannot learn of any consid
erable augmentation. Indeed, the impression
appears to be that they have been diminished of
late, in consequence of the difficulty of obtain
ing supplies.
The two armies are encamped on opposite
sides of the river, in vietv and within some 200
yards of each other, and both have thrown up
fortifications and added to the strength of their
positions.
The steamship Telegraph had arrived from
New Orleans with 200 additional troops for 4 the
army under Gen. Taylor. She struck on the
bar in going in and drifted over, without sus
taining any injury worthy of note. She is ex
pected here daily.
The weather has been exceedingly tempestu
ous off the coast, and fears are entertained that
damage has been done to vessels in the vicinity.
Later. —The steamship Telegraph arrived
here on Thursday evening, bringing Recounts to
Tuesday. The only additional intelligence is as
follows: Just before the Telegraph sailed news
arrived that Lieut: Porter and a detachment of ten
men who had been sent out on duty not far from
Gen. Taylor’s encampment had been fired up
on by 50 Mexicans, killed Lieut. P. and three
of his men. The others succeeded in making
their escape and returning to the camp.—
Whether the party which made this attack were
soldiers or robbers is uncertain; but we believe
the Mexican officers say the latter. These
officers had already said to some of ours that
every thicket was infested with banditti who
would kill a man for fifty cents or his blanket,
and that the Mexican commander could not think
of holding himself accountable for any accident
which might happen to detached parties ventu
ring incautiously too far from camp.
On the 14th Gen Ampudia sent a formal notice
to Gen. Taylor, ordering him to leave his pres
ent position within 24 hours, and to evacuate the
whole territory west of the Nueces, or that his
refusal would be considered a declaration of war.
Gen. T immediately returned for answer, that his
orders were to maintain his position on the east
bank of the river, and that he should do so, especi
ally as the roads were muddy, and it was gnpleas?
ant retreating at this season.—Shortly after the
reception of this answer, the Mexican army par
tially withdrew from the town, and a portion of
the troops disappeared from the west hank of the
river.—Thus closes the last act of the drama as
far as reported, that has yet been performed.
This movement of the enemy is quite as inex
plicable to (Jen, Taylor as to every body else.—
Col. March informs us that a report has been
put in circulation, that the threatened hostilities
are only suspended till the first of June, then to
be renewed, we suppose, with redoubled energy
and still more slaughter.
Gen. Taylor is prosecuting the fortifications
at Point Isabel, with steady perseverance.
Befbfe he returned the above answer to Am
pndia, he ordered the blockake ofMatamoras,
and directed the commanders of the Flirt and
Lawrence to enforce it stnctlv, which was ac
cordingly done. A vessel with a cargo of flour,
having been waiting some time for a fair wind
to enter the port, was the first to suffer from this
measure, and was compelled to leave the market,
where flour is now worth MO per bbl.
MANIFESTO OF GEN. AMPUDIA*
The General-in-Chief of tke 4 tk Military Divis
ion to the Inhabitants of the Frontier.
Mr Friends: I left the village of , sick*
to come and participate with you in the labors
and glories to which the hypocritical and daring
North American usurpers invite us, and I in
stantly longed <o find myself upon the banks of
the Bravo, to salute them with all the effusion
of my soul. I arrived yesterday in this city with
the brigade which the brave Gen. Don Anastasio
Moreigon directs. At this moment the second is
entering, and notwithstanding the necessity
which exists for my remaining in this city, to
adjust interesting matters, I advance, with a body
of cavalry, by forced marches; for, indeed, you
know me—l cannot have a moment of tranquili
ty while lam not with you. In the meanwhile,
let the sacred fire of your country bum as always
in your hearts, and I will answer you with vic
tory.
(Signed) PEDRO de AMPUDIA.
Monterey, April 2d, 1846.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
At a large and respectable meeting of the Demo
cratic party, of the citizens of Early, assembled at
Blakely, on Friday, Ist inst.
On motion, William Castleberry, Esq., was
Called to the chair, and James Hays, Esq., ap
pointed secretary. After having explained the
object of the meeting, in a few eloquent and per
tinent remarks. Col. de Graffenried introduced the
following resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of five be ap
pointed to select delegates to represent the Demo
cratic party of the county of Early, in the next
Congressional Convention, of the 2nd District.
Resolved, That we suggest the 4th Monday
of the next July, at Americus, as the proper time
and place for holding the convention.
Resolved , That we recommend to the Demo
cracy of the district as the most suitable plan
for the selection of delegates, the system and ba
sis of the former Legislative organization. Each
county being entitled to the same number of
members elected to our adnual Legislators.
Resolved, that we will give our hearty and
cordial support to the nominee of the conven-*
tion.
The following gentlemen in pursuance of the
first resolution, were appointed to select del
egates :
James Bush, Asa C. S. Alexander, Seaborn
Hays, Benjamin Cone, and Charles F. Bemis,
Esq’rs.
The committee reported the names of Col.
Wm. K. DeGraffenried, Seaborn Hays, Esqs/,
and on motion, the meeting adjourned sine die/
WM. CASTLEBERRY, Ch’m.
James Hats, Secretary.
Macon Telegraph, please copy.
From the Montgomery Advertiser,
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Our citizens were roused yesterday morning,
about three o’clock, by the cry of fire. The
fire appeared to have commenced in the back
part of the upper story of the building formerly
belonging to Air. Philip Rodgers, and then oc
cupied by Mr. Hugh Farrior. From this buil
ding the fire was communicated to Mrs. Reid’s
Hotel, the lower story only of which was opcu
pied, and so on from building to building to the
store occupied by Dr, A. Mcßryde, at the corner
ofMarket and Perry Streets. Here by the active
exertions of tho members of the Hook and Lad
der Company, aided by other citizens, the fire
was checked, and Hanrick’s corner store was sa
ved, though three times on fire. The buildings
destroyed were nine.
Oumed* Occupied.
1 Store, in New York, Mr. H. Farrior,
1 Hotel, Mrs. Reid, “ Fairchilds.
2 Tenements, Mr. Roberts.
1 Stable, “ Harraford,
1 Store, Dr. Ames.
X n
1 M “ “R. Donnell.
1 “ Coster A Coxe, “ Harwell.
1 “ The Bank, Dr. Mcßryde.
From the Charleston Mercury.
THE INDEPENDENT TREASURY.
The newspapers in New York give us to under
stand that the Banks and Brokers there, are some
what frightened about the passage of the Indepen
dent Treasury Bill in the House, and that they
are going to make a strong effort to arrest it in the
Senate. The Chamber of Commerce have ap
pointed a Committee to report on the subject, and
it is antiaipated that they will give the Bill a hard
handling and go far to prove that gold and silver
are poisonous and ought not to be dealt in by any
but paper money apothecaries. They speak of
symptoms of a panic; fell in stocks and other signs
of impending ruin from the passage of the Bill.
Specie is going to Europe from fear of being caught
and caged by Mr. Polk and his bloody-minded
Sub-Treasurers, and whatever else of wrong there
is, all goes to the credit of the new measure.
Now this way of discussing such questions, is
veiy impolitic and very wrong. Wrong, because
it does not exhibit truth, and impolitic, because
forebodings of panic and disaster have much power
to produce them. There is no doubt some rational
fear of difficulties in the money affairs of this coun
try, and some signs of an export of coin—which
last is quiet sufficient to account for the fluttering
of stocks. There has been considerable importa
tion on speculation, from the chance of a war with
England, and if the prospect of such an event be
comes more distinct, the importations would in
crease in proportion. War would raise the prices
of all imported articles, and the chance of war
tends to the same result. This is doubtless the
whole matter, or nearly the whole, as far as the
N. York money market is concerned.
It is true that the new measure might be car
ried into operation in such a way as to produce
a pressure, but as this is not necessary, it is not
at all probable that the Administration would seek
to create a ferment against itself, and stamp the in
dependent Treasury with discredit in the very
outset, on the contrary, for their own sake as well
as for the good of the country, they will have the
strongest motives for relieving the first operations
of the measure from every appearance of harshness.
If all the public money now on deposit in the banks
were to be suddenly withdrawn in specie, and
hoarded up, it would work • serious evil. But
we are assured there is no intention to do this.
The operation of the law is prospective. Pay
ments to and by the Government will be made in
coin; but if the revenue equals the expenditure,
there will be no necessity to withdraw the existing
deposites. They will not, accordingly, be with
drawn, until the money is needed for expenditure,
and then of course, instead of being hoarded up,
it will go into the general circulation. The Inde
pendent Treasury, then, will somewhat increase
the circulaton ofcoin, and the money in the Trea
suTy, will no longer be the basis ofbanking. That
is the sum of its effects, and they will be very
trifling.
We were shown on Tuesday lasta diamond of
the first water, about the size of a large pea, be
longing to the Rev. Pendleton Cheek, of Henry
county. It was found at the Union gold mines
not long since. Mr. Cheek informed us that sev
eral others has been found at the same place, hut
not so large as the one shown us. This is anew
discovery, and one that promises to open up to our
State vast sources of wealth, as it will give a fresh
impetus to the energies and enterprise of those
engaged in digging from the bowels of the earth
its hidden treasures.— [Decatur Wachman, 23 d
inst,
A Hi xt to Read Fast. —An exchange paper
says, that in a certain bar-room the following hint
was stuck up by a wag;—“Gentlemen learning
to spell, are requested to use yesterday’s papers.’
The Chops.— I The Alexandria (La.) Repub
lican of the 18th inst, says:
“ The cold, rainy wether last week has, we
learn, destroyed the crops in the ground in the
surrounding country, and most of the planters have
been compelled to plantboth their cotton and corn
pver ‘
Austin, March 38, 1840.
TO the Hon. Edward Burleson,
President of the Senate of the State of Texas:
Sir — l cannot leave the seat of Government
of your State, without returning my most grate
ful and respectful acknowledgments to the body,
over which you preside, for the very distinguish
ed honor they have done me, by adopting with
an unanimity which greatly enhances its value,
a resolution expressive of the gratitude of the
people of Texas for my early friendship to the
countryf my defence of the character of its peo
ple in the Legislature of South Carolina, and
(as the Senate is pleased to say,) for my ability
and success in procuring a recognition of your
Independence by some of the principal powers
of Europe.
With whatever ability my negotiations may
have been conducted, I will not be guilty of the
absurd affectation of saying that I do not feel
that I have a just claim to the residue of the ap
plause, which you have so generously accorded.
Yes, sir, I “was your early and first friend when
your Star rose over the surface of those verdant
prairies full of the light reflected from your arms.
South Carolina had just emerged out of the no
ble and fearless struggle, which single handed
she waged, against the whole Union in defence
of the Constitution of the United States, as ex.
pounded by him who drew the Declaration of
Independence, and those principles of free trade
which are at once the vital element and just re
ward ofhuman industry.
I confess that I flung myself, without scarcely
a moment’s relaxation from the toils of a dis
tinguished post, which I had occupied in my
own State; with an irrepressible enthusiasm in
your cause. Independently of the just sympa
thy I felt in your noble and heroic struggle, I
could not but venture to anticipate that what we
had contended for in South Carolina, was to be
realized in the auspicious fortunes which were
dawning on your country.
My purse, pen and tongue, in the exercise of
all the faculty of speech with which God had
endowed me, were dedicated to your service.-
My arm would not have been wanted (feeble as
it may have been) if the reapers whom you sent
down to the harvest of death at San Jacinto,
had left a single enemy to subdue or a single
garland to be won. But valor had left nothing
for ambition to glean.
Os the events connected with my civil and
foreign services to the late Republic, I am ad
monished both of the propriety and delicacy of
my being brief. Such as they were; they were
rendered with fidelity and zeal. The recogni
tion of your Independence by Great Britain
gave you the sovereign faculty of making the
compact of annexation which you have consum
mated with the Government of the United
States. You are, doubtless, aware that many
millions of your public domain had been mort
gaged by the Government of Mexico to the
British bond holders, and but for the recognition
of Great Britain of your power to contract
treaties and form alliances, some very delicate
questions might have arisen, on some new or
complicated points of publie law, which the
sword alone could have solved.
And here you will permit me to offer ex
planation of an apparent inconsistency that I,
who had been so strenuous an advocate for the
recognition of your Sovereignty and Indepen
dence by other nations, should subsequently
have been an ardent champion for their being
merged (at least in a qualified sense) in the
Government of this confederacy,
I have never had an opportunity of giving this
explanation. I will now do it briefly and ex
plicitly. On my visit to Europe in 1842, after I
had ceased to have any official connection with
your Government, I satisfied myself from the
course of public opiniou there that Texas, inde
pendent, would soon become the fulcrum on
which the lever of European politics would be
planted; that out of the Union the vast prepon
derance of European emigrants coming into her
territory would separate her in sympathy and
affection from the people of the United States ;
that in less than a quarter of a century her inter
ests would be played against those of our now
common country, and that she would soon be
come the Flanders of the North American Slates,
at once, an object and theatre for the struggles,
ambition and policy of other States. On my re
turn from Europe, passing through Washington
in the autumn of 1842, I communicated these
views to President Tyler, and found they had
been anticipated by his own patriotism, sagacity
and just ambition. Now that, annexation has
been consummated, and the grave lias slosed
over the bright and unfinished labors of,the la
mented and highly gifted Upshur, I nyy say,
without violating the semblance of pomidence,
thorny private correspondence with thßt gentle
mtSfckon this subject, would more eidfrely sus
tainnkopinions, of which I have thuswentured to
give hasty sketch. These inions may
not havcwMonged to the comprehe/sive views of
a looks far into/uturity, but J
believe find a response Ai every Amer
ican bosom. £
In reference subjec#of my pecuniary
negotiations of yol^toovernwent, I have but a
few words to say: a very
pleasant thing to it is rather a stale
and flat subject to write Jt is sufficient
to say that I never for you ex
cept at par, when your paAer a heavy dis
count in the stock mark/ of thnJnited States,
and what is far better,/ have, inWiedience to
your order, filed my accounts with tnkComptrol
ier of your Treasury Recounting far
thing I ever JMy contract witHhdessrs.
Laffite & Cos. at Pari# in 1841 has been jkpssly
misrepresented by Ahose who never reaamhat
contract. It was/A financial project drawmas
I have reason taAclieve, out by James Laffne
that valient chwpion of liberty and distinguisllj
ed Banker, tq/Knvert eventually 37 millions of
money certimcates into land warrants at seyeu
francs per This measure was defeated by
the injustice of the French Minister
of Finand^as I have the best reasons to think,
his Government, and J Ipßeve, with
the regret of the enlightened Kinwfthe French,
and his highly accomplished ALpster of Foreign
Affairs, M. Guizot, of whom jAthing more need
be great jpplic and private vir-
genius,
But, enough of thissmaWl/^
It has given me infiifly - appear
your Legislature, holwig and I
do, large claims agAnst your Government. In
reference to the fonmir, if the interests of others
were not involved, I do not know that in the self
sacrificing affection of my children, I would not
have found a justification so entirely in harmony
with my own inclination in abstaining from pre
senting them. But in reference to the claims of
others whom I induced, in the darkest hours of
your fortunes, to adventure their money in your
service, J have a higher duty to perform —a duty
which I could not neglect, without infidelity to
them; and dishonor to myself.
That Texas has both the willingness and the
ability to pay every debt, which a fair and equita
ble examination can be justly brought against her,
cannot be doubted by those who have knowledge of
her intelligent population and of her public resour
ces; and as the best means of meeting the legiti
mate demands of her creditors, permit me (who
like yourselves is a land holder, free holder and
tax payer in Texas) to suggest the policy of trans
fering your public land to the Government of the
United States upon such terms as would place
the character and credit of your State upon lofty
grounds, and secure to her an immediate pros
perity. The public domain now an inert mass
far too unwieldy for your State Government
to handle, would become, under such an arrange
ment, a source of value, and beneficient usefulness
to yourselves and the whole Union. Their pur
chase, by the Unitnd States, is a great measure
of national policy, which has no more to do with
the assumption of State debts than the purchase
of Louisiana from France, necessarily involved
an assumption of her revolutionary assignate.
It is wholly immaterial what ordinances of an
nexation the United States may have passed, they
cannot take your Custom Houses, appropriate to
themselves its revenues, with all the attributes
which belong to the sovereign faculty of indirect
taxation, without providing for debts, for which
those very revenues were pledged ; when, there
for#, your purpose to surrender your public do
main for the purpose of paying your public debt,
you make a gratuitous concssion to the sacred
object of your public faith equally creditable to
youj honor and integrity.
With a renewed assurance of my gratitude to
your honorable body for the distinguished compli
ment they have paid—l am, with greatest respect
your ob’t serv*t
JAMES HAMILTON.
“Love is U>e shadow of the morning, which
decreases as the day advances. Friendship is the
shadow of the evening, which strengthens with
the setting sun of life.” “What shadows we
are, and what shadows we pursue.”
The trial of Polly Bodine for murder, at New
burgh, New York, has resulted in her acquittal.
From the N. Y. Globe.
WHAT WILL THE BRITISH SAY OF
US?
While we condemn in immeasurable terms
the toadyism oi this eternal qucstioirwhich wd
find in t]]£ mouths of enslaved Americans, wei
will not fail in any opportunity of doing justice
to the British people. We have done them
somewhat more than amplb justice by the rapidi
ty and precision of Otir cannon; but as some thir
ty years have passed since we paid them the
last compliment in that way, and anew genera
tion has sprung up who pretend to forget tho
castigations we have given them in former times,
as if our victories over them tvere not matters of
history, it may he about time to administer a rep
etition of the dose. Be it so. If the question of
Oregon, up to and including every inch of
54 40’
is to furnish the occasion of another lesson, we
are just the people who can do the business for
them upon the slightest provocation. Ever
since we ‘rebelled’ against tire sway of that un
mitigated old fool, George 111., whose vulgar
blood, the lick-spittle English worship as being
purer and redder and nobler than their own—we
say, that ever since we ‘rebelled’ against the leg
itimacy of that silly monarch and flogged his peo
; pie in the Revolution, we have been one un
, ceasing mark for the sneers of their writers and
their statesmen; and yet, like slaves, some of us
never undertake to do or to say anything wor
thy of note but we nitist first ask the question i
* What will the British say of us]’ ‘Let us wait
till the arrival of the next steamer and see tho
tone of the British press and the British govern
ment.”
Well, we have waited again and again, until
every patriotic heart in the fends sickens with
the deepest disgust. What did we receive for
our pains, and what shall wo receive for syco
phancy! Just that we might expect, and just
what we deserve. We take the Englishman,
when he comes to this country by the hand, WO
caress him, apologize to him for deficiencies,
when in fact we are his superior in everything,
and straightway, as a reward for our hospitality
and kindness, he goes home and blackguards us
for tobacco-spitting, unmannered Yankees.—
Stop, then, in a national point of view, to treat
them with the consideration of courtly diploma
cy, and in an instant they begin to imagine they
have ‘claims,’ because we say ‘by your leave, we
mean no offence, but we would like to have do
minion over our own soil.’ Then the outbrag
ging principle shines apparent in all their nego
tions, of ‘claims’ to territory, to ‘prior discovery,’
to extended boundary, until both the British na
tion & their ignorant, monarchy-lovingpeople fan
cy, all of a sudden,that we are makingj'unpaTdona
ble strides towards aggrandizement, and are the
most grasping nation in the world.’
It was thus that our northeastern boundary
was yielded; not because England had any right,
nor even the shadow of a right, she
happened to want the use of thatr territory for
her own convenience. Then indeed did we see
that most rapacious to our terri
tory beyond a fine/ which as ours,
unquestioned, from the earit existhHu. Qf our
nation, until a was
weak enough to listendfner selfish and astound
ing rapacity, and doubtless ‘for a
consideration,’ miles upon miles of our free soil.
Here was one of the most memorable examples
of ‘waiting for the arrival of every British steam
er to see what England would say,’ rather than
at once and forever returning an indignant NO
for an answer,
Again are we called on in every print we open
almost, to ‘wait for the arrival of the British
steamer.’ ‘What will my lord Aberdeen say !
What Fir Robert Peel!’ Oh, yes, let our twen
ty millions of people ron to the sea-sid<j upon
the arrival of every British steamer, to catch tho
tone and the cue from ‘my lord,’ of Aberdeen
and Sir Robert Peel. Let us meekly bow to be
called ‘swindlers,’ and ‘scoundrels,’ and ‘cormo
rants,’ for daring to demand, and to lake pos
session of our own soil. Let us turn cowards at
once and belie the feme of the nation, and put
our craven necks beneath the dirty foot of the
English government. Let us kiss the hands of
starving stipendiary editors of public prints, who
are hired to denounce us and vituperate us, upon
any and every occasion. Such indeed, if we
would let it, would be the cowardly, mean, cra
ven and contemptible spirit in more quarters than
one, crying ‘Let us see what tire BrtLsh steamer
will bring; let us wait to hear my Lord Aber
deen and JcJir Robert Peel; oh, let us give up to
49 deg. of Oregon, for Peace. To lie sure the
British had no right to our Northeastern territo
ry, and pot a shade of a shadow of right to Ore
gon; but no matter, she is a greater & more power
erful nation, and wants the territory to make the
belt of the earth complete. —don’t let us stand
about it—give it up to her or we shall have
war!’
‘ WAR J’ did you say! Let us have it, at any
time, sooner than yield a single inch to our an
cient and never-ceasing enemy—the enemy of
American freedom, We have no favors to ask
of her: we owe her no good will—we owe her
no courtesy—and sure are we that we have nev
er received any at her hand, except that which
we have compelled from her by our cannon. AND
WE WILL DO IT AGAIN! Let those who will,
wait for the arrival of the British |fteamer, and
run to the sea shore upon every arrival —let those
who will, wait for the advent o£the supercilous
and Peel,
whicKisputforth prints, con
stantly. We are not and
will not stop to allow ompioiiest and just fiyiftfllo
be questioned bv any Nation on earth, and leasf
of all, by the Britvf. GIVE US OREGON
UP TO 54 deg. OR NOTHING!
Mk.Webster — The Annuity. —As consider
able curiosity has been expressed as to the annu
ity conferred on Mr. Webster, we copy the fol
lowing statement of the New York correspon
dent of the Charleston News, as a portion of the
gossip of the day, without knowing anything
personally about the matter. The writer
says:—
It may not be improper for me to allude to the
annuity spoken of by Mr. W ebster. At various
times the political friends of Mr. Webster have
been called upon to raise large sums of money, to
relieve him from pecuniary embarrassments.—
These demands have been promptly met, for
the whigs ofNew York and Boston are generous
men, who do not mind a few thousand dollars to
help on a cause or a man.
Though Mr. W r ebster has received enormous
fees in his legal practice, and can always com
mand them, and though he has received two for
tunes, by his different marriages, it has frequent
ly happened, as I said, that he was in pecuniary
difficulties; and I believe that there is no impro
priety in alluding to matters of such common no
toriety. At one time a large sum, said to have
been §IOO,OOO, was raised to enable him to go
to England, and so let the people ofEurope have
a sight of the Americar, whom, ofliving men, ac?
cording to the gentleman from Alabama, tbey
esteem next to Washington. ThissumMr. Web
ster expended in a very short period, with the
addition of §SOOO received from the house of
Baring & Brothers, for taking which latter sum
he was at the time severely censured- —whether
justly or pot I shall not presume to say.
These frequent calls upon the friends of Mr.
Webster for large sums of money, which lasted
him scarcely as long as the time spent in raising
them, induced them, with a prudence much to be
commended, to raise at once a sufficient sum to
give him a certain annuity, sufficient to support
him for the rest of his days, and beyond which
his friends wopld pot go in future, leaving the
funds for any extra expenditures to be supplied
by his owji exertions. This course of proceeding
may seem unusual, and is not common in this
country at least, but it may find precedents
abroad, and certainly evinces the liberality ot
Northern politicians.
HON. THOS, F. MARSHALL.
We see it reported in a New Orleans paper
that this talented but hitherto wayward gentle
man has vowed to renounce politics, and dedicate
his great abilities to the cause of temperance. If
this be so, his career henceforth will be full of
renown. Generous and gifted, independent and
sincere, he has at length cut off the last head of
the hydra that blocked his paths, and now fame
beckons him onward, and the Spiring pilgrim is
worthy of her highest honors# How glorious it
would be if such a man, debasing the vanities of
office, tri
umpfi,"ana and
often noble victims of the moral
courage which is aloj m wanting to rescue them.
How expansive wouJp be his influence ! How
enduring the honopi !— Emporium*.