Newspaper Page Text
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COLUMBUS, GA.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1846.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
OPPOSITION.
At no time, since the signal overthrow of
Whigism, with all its adjunct isms, in 1844,
have its advocates, been iu higher feather than
they are at present. The hounds of the party of
ofi/a are in full cry, “running down” as they
fondly hope, the Democratic Free Trade party,
and iu faitfeful Representative—the present
Democratic Administration. Elated by late, ac
eid'-ntal and to them, unexpected successes —re-
fusing to look into the philosophy of the under
currenU which have produced them; and reck
lessly sweeping into the strong box of Whig
capital, every election adverse to the Democrats,
however, that defeat was achieved, and however,
dear their supposed triumphs may prove to theii
own cause ; the Whig Leaders, with that prone
ness to premature exultation, for which they are
remarkable, already fancy the Lion hearted De
mocracy of the Union humbled in the dust, and
themselves robed in the purple of victory and
power.
Time will show whether this vivacious and
hopeful party is not once more to be doomed to a
hitter disappointment—and whether they are
not, in homely phrase, and as they have often
done before, “counting their chickens before they
are hatched.”
Upon what foundations do the Whigs of the
Union build their hopes of success in the next
Presidential straggle 1 What principles do they
lay down in their political chart, to which the
friends of Republican liberty and equality, will
delight to rally 1 What measurea do they pro
pose, sanctioned by the constitution, and instinc
tively drawing to their suppori the patriotic and
honest approbation of the peoplel Is it a Nation
al Bank? No; that teas the hobby of their
hopes, the theme of their patriotism and the
battery of their biggest guns against Democratic
princ pies ; but a Bank is an “obsolete idea” and
that which was the sheet anchor ofNational pro
lerty, the Panacea for all ills and the talisman of
all good, according to Whig testimony, is dead—
"stone dead, sir.” Thus has one great—wo
may say, the greatest Whig principle, died of
the light of truth, which always comes of Time
Experience and Discussion. Ex uno disce oin
ner. Is it not fair reasoning to my, that if this
great Whig measure has been exploded, like a
bubble, without one of the dies strousconsequences
which they predicted would overwhelm the coun
try in ruin—that those who proved false prophets
in the past, are not to be trusted in the future.
Is it a “Protective Tariff” that is going to
smooth their path to power ? Mr. Webster says
“ yes” and raises the cry of “restoration,” and
with shame be it said, the Whig South takes up
and sends back that cry. “Restoration” ! “Re
storation” of what ? of high taxes and low prices
—of cotton at 4 cents the pound instead of 8—
of earn in the grain growing States at ten cents
per bushel—of the cunning devices of real taxa
tion on false values; of minimums and specific
duties whereby the agricultural and working
classes of the Union were forced to pay 94 mil
lions of dollora annually for the naked benefit of
the manufacturers of the North—“ Restoration
of a “bill of abomin tons;” of a system of class
legislation, oppressive to the masses and enrich
ing to the select few, and which has done more
than all other causes to weaken the affections of
the South for the Union, by its daring and
reckless assaults upon the Constitution. It is
the “restoration” of manufacturing wealth and
power in the North and planting slavery and op
pression in the South that Southern Whigs call
for ; and with this insulting appeal to Southern
intelligence and spirit, they ask for confidence
and support.
But “ Protection” is doomed as the “Bank”
has been doomed. Free Trade is spreading her
wings for a gh-rious and triumphant flight all
over the civilized earth, and wherever truth, ex*
perience and discussion, have exploded the dog
mas of a false political economy and shaken from
by liberty-loving wings, its odious unjust and
jinnatnral restrictions. The New Yi.-rk Journal
of Commerce speaks like a prophet of oracular
troth aU 1 wisdom when it says :
“ The Democratic Party have taken their
stand upon it, aud cannot retiact. Their ranks
may be thinned somewhat by the Protectionists
among them going over v? the Whigs, but on
Free Trade, and the Tariff ./ ’46, the D; mo
cratic Party must conquer or die. We have al
ways said, and say so still, that the pa,'ty which
distinctly avows the doctrine of Free ”’ ra de,
must cany the country and the world.
Mr. Polk’s term of office expires to oppose the
Tariff nf *44. tci/l he as useless as to oppose the
annexation of Texas or Louisiana. But if this
were not so, the party must 6tand by their flag
now unfurled, and if they do, both the President
and Senate, if r ot the House, will be impregna
ble harriers against any back track in political
economy.”
We say “Amen” to the position here assigned
to the Democratic party. We are proud of the
noble and ennobling doctrines of Free Trade, &
accept the guerdon offered to “conqueror die”
by iu W• fear not to meet the bigots of a nar
row-minded policy of restriction, before a people
that loves liberty in all its shapes. Freedom of
trade, is as much the birthright of American
citizens as freedom of speeqh, of conscience and
of person; and that people is not free, whose
trade is shackled by unequal laws, and driven
from the cheap and prosperous channels of the
whole world into the narrow* and contracted ones
of New Edgtand. We claim the right to buy
oar goods and sell our produce wherever we can
buy the one cheapest and sell the other dearest.
That is the doctrine of “ Free Trade.” The
•* Restriction” party, would force us, by laws of
Congress, prohibiting trade with foreign countries,
and destroying competition, to buy our goods
trim New England manufacturers at their own
prices, and leave us to sell our corn and pork,
and cotton, and wheat, and tobacco, and rice, and
other productions of a feeding soil, as best we
•an, or in what they call the “home market”—
faua, while all the world besides is shut out to
us, as a market for our produce, we are kindly
tod, yon have the “home market!” and that
**uoum market” is New England, which is able to
buy only about one sixth part of our cotton crop
and to consume, not one hundredth part of the
agricultural products of the country!
Who. in Georgia, wants this “Restoration?”
Whs in the wide-spread fields of cultivation
throughout the South will be benefited by it ?
Who. anywhere, except the “Lords of the Loom”
who having tasted of the bloody sweat of honest
industry, leach-like, cry out, “gfre ,” “ cite.”
Win the Freeman of the land answer the cry
and still give—no, not give themselves—but per
mit a Federal Congress to give away their sub
stance to fatten still further this pampered class
of Northern Manufacturers.
Some weeks since we copied the annexed para
graph from a Boston paper. It is so appropriate
to this subject that wc re-pr.nt it
“Facts roa thk Farmers. —The Whies
have tried to wheedle the farmers, as well as Are
manufacturers, into the belief that the new tariff
was going to ruin them. Now
“ It is a fact that the farmers will produce an
amount of produce exceeding in value this year
SEVEN HUNDRED MILLIONS of dollars.
lt It is a fact that in consequence of the increas
ed demand for this produce, created by a liberal
commercial system, the prices have gone up from
twenty to fifty per cent
“// is a fact that, while the fanner will get
higher prices for his produce, and find a larger
market for it, he will also get the articles of neces
sity he uses in his daily toil cheaper than he
ever got them before.
“ These things are worth looking after by the
farmers, and they will do well to ask why they
are so. Why has one business, for a few years
past, produced enormous profits, whilst others—
among them their own—have barely paid ex
penses 1 What has it been owing tobutuNE
quAL laws ! If the farmers wish an open field
and fair play, let them look for it in the benign
influences oftruly Democratic legislation. There
is nothing like thi< to make young and free
America ©row.”
MR. WEBSTER REVISED.”
The friends of this gentleman have been forc
ed by the public indignation to take back the
marked compliment he paid his countrymen in
this sentence—
“ The natural justice of a war, it is perhaps,
not an American habit to consider. But it is an
American habit to count the cost /”
The excuse is, that it was a mistake in the
print ! and the new version they give, is this :
“ It is not the habit of the American people,
nor natural to their character, to considei the ex
pense ot a war which they deem just and neces
sary ; but it is their habit, and belongs to their
character, to inquire into the justice and necessi
ty of a war in which it is proposed to involve
them.
“In a war like this, commenced by the authori
ty of a President alone, while we look earnestly
at its origin, we may properly regard, also, its
probable expense.”
This softened version reminds the Richmond
Standard of a trick of Mr. Merry man, the clown
in the circus.
“Mr. Merryman is told to pick Up something 1
out of the ring; he replies
“ Pick it up yourself, Sir.”
“What’s that you say ?” exclaimed the mas
ter, with an angry crack of the whip.
“ I said I would pick it up myself, Sir,” re
plies the poor clown as he rubs his smarting sides
and gives the “corrected revision” of his speech.”
While Mr. Webster’s friends are “revising”
we suggest to them the propriety of taking back
some of the other statements of (facts?) and
sentiments with which the speech of this Whig
and “constitutional expounder” abounds. That
for instance in which he asserts that the Mexi
can war was commenced by the “authority of
the President alone,” and of which in the same
speech he himself produces the record to show its
untruth, in the immense vote of Congress in fa
vor of it. That too in which he declared that
Texas came into the Union with the Nueces as
her boundary, when it is a notorious public fact
that she assumed the Rio Grande for her boun
dary, and with that in her statute-book was re
ceived into the confederacy. And upon this
statement in conflict with the truth of history, he
proceeds to assail the Executive for invading the
Mexican territory, when in truth he was but de
fending our own.
(C/’The letter of our Washington correspon
dent will be found unusually interesting this
week.
The Hoy. John Q. Adams, has suffered a
dangerous attack of paralysis. Mr. Adams is
80 years of age, but continued up to the period
of his attack, the laborious and industrious hab
its of his life.
Gf.it. Taylor's Despatches giving a detailed
account of the battle of Monterey, have been re
ceived at Washington, and are in course of
publication by the “Union.” They are volu
minous, but full of interest, for the public mind
seems never to tire ol dwelling upon the events
of the glorious “three days” before Monterey.—
We shall lay them before our readers, com
mencing next week, with the report of the Gen
eral in Chief, and following it up with those of
Maj. Gen. Butler, and Gen. Worth.
Description of Moxtjhet. —On our first
page will be found a glowing description of Mon
terey, its gardens and grand surrounding scene
ry, from the pen of a young officer of the Geor
gia Regiment. It is written in the Claude Mel
notte vein. If we were a recuiting officer, and
wanted to beat up for young and ardent soldiers,
to fight the battles of our country in Mexico, we
would ask no better drum and fife, no more en
ticing bounty money, to captivate the fancy and
enthusiasm of our adventurous youth, than the
letter in question.
The Boston .Morning Post of the 17th inst.
says—We have peop!*> among us so sensitive that
they cannot bear to hear th? Mexican flags cap
tured at Monterey called “flimsy and unsightly
pieces of bunting.” The same worthy citizens
take great pleasure iu abusing their cwn Presi
dent and government.
JOB’S COMFORTER.”
Bennett, of the New York Herald, in his cyni
cal way, throws out left-handed consolation to
both political parties over the result of the late
election in New York. Here is what he say* to
his friends, the whigs.
“The Loaves and Fishes in Abeyance.
—One of the most comical features of the result
of the late elections is, that although the whigs
have triumphed, they will reap very little profit
from their victory, as every appointment to office
must gel the sanction of the Senate, and that
body being locofoco, will confirm none except
the immediate advisers of the President-elect, to
whom it would be want of courtesy to reject his
political friends. Thus the fat offices for which
so many zealous whigs have struggled, will re
main in possession of the enemy. We doubt if
the whigs can obtain any of the fruits of office,
even during the whole term ol Mr. Young’s ad
ministration. This is very unpleasant, but it
cannot bo helped. The only thing the whigs
can do, is to bear it, if not with patience, at least
as patiently as possible. Better times may come.”
Os the pos.tion of parties, he says :
“ The late election has given a very interest
ing aspect to the pohticsof this State. We have
a Governor who is half whig and half anti-rent
er ; a Lieutenant-Governor who is three-fourths
democrat and one-fourth anti-renter; an Assem
bly strongly whigs, and a Senate with a demo
cratic majority of ten. Thus, there is no asccn.
dancy of any—each is a check on the other; and
the position of parties will give rise to the most
complicated manceuvering on every side, that
has ever occupied the wits of either party since
the time that John Van Buren dealt in stocks and
Benjamin F. Butler sighed for the stated pleach
ing of the gospel at Sandy Hill”
Columbus Papers.— We were once in the hab
it of receiving the Columbus Timet and the En
quirer, by the LaGrange mail, on Thursday even
ings—but we don’t now. We have no doubt that
this failure is justly attributable to the post mas
ters on the route or at Columbus. It is our opin
ion— and we see no good reason why we should
not express it—that if gross carelessness were
a capital offence, very few post masters of the
presentday would escape the gallows.— Chambers
Herald.
There is a weekly direct mail from Columbus
to Lafayette—leaving Columbus on Monday.
This is the only loute that the Post Master at
Columbus knows of. If there is a cross mail,
connecting Lafayette with the great mail route,
via. LaGrange, the Post Office in Columbus has
never (>een officially notified of it.
If i here was such cross route to Lafayette,
shorter in point of time, than the direct one, it
was the duty of the Post Master at Lafayette to
have informed the P. M. in Columbus of ihe fact.
As the small cross mails are frequently changed,
there is no mode of keeping the run of them ex
cept by information derived from the Post Masters
who receiving letters or papers, are the first to
discover the best uses to be made of the changes.
We hardly need defend the P. Master at Col
umbus from the crime of “ gross carelessness” in
keeping back the “Times” from its subscribers.
And by the way, “hanging” is pretty harsh any
way for mis-sending a bundle of papers.
It is the fashion to abuse the P. Office Depart
ment, from its head, to its smallest members. It
is a standing theme for a paragraph, whenever
matter is scarce. But, how seldom do we see
the labor it performs, and the good it does
the reverse of the picture portrayed. While
one letter or paper fails, ten thousand go safe and
straight.
The exception is gibbeted to the public gaze
while the rule goes unnoticed and unrewarded.
This is the worlds’ justice.
Correspondence of the Times.
No. 16.
Washin&ton Citt, Nov. 23, 1846.
The first Rogiment ofNew York City Volun
teers, under Col. Ward B. Burnet, are the lucky
fellows who have drawn the pi ize in the contest
as to which regiment shall be permitted to repre
sent the Empire State under the recent requisi
tion. From what we learn in Washington,
there is to be quite a struggle in New York,
Pennsylvania and Virginia, at least, to be per
mitted to join the victorious troops in Mexico.
Ten times ‘he number called for could have been
just as easily raised in those three States. This
does not look as though the Federalists had suc
ceeded in rendering the war unpopular.
Washington, so apt to be in a ferment, is at
tbs time being under no little excitement relative
to the development now being made by the tes
timony in “Van Ness case.” Gen. John P.
Van Ness who came to this city as a member of
Congress soon after the seat of government was
changed, married the daughter of an humble
Scotchman named Burns, on whoso farm is now
situated a large portion of the most valuable im
provements in Washington. At his death, the
prudent Scot took care to leave the property then
beginning to be esteemed of great value, to his
daughter in her own right. Her husband how
ever soon prevailed on her to deed it to him, and
as he has lately died without a will there is a
struggle for the property between his brothers
and apparent heirs, and a widow Connor, who
claims to have been secretly married to him. Up
to the opening of the trial (on thursday last) the
woman, whose character is not enviable, was re
garded by the community as an impostor. In
deed, I do not think that there were twenty per
sons in our whole population who looked on her
in any other light. Now, however, the case is
different; for the testimony adduced by her coun
sel has completely changed public opinion, and it
is rare to find one who doubts that she was mar
riedto Van Ness, or that he palmed a false
marriage on her. While the parties are strug
gling for the property, which cannot be worth
less than three hundred thousand dollars (and it
may be twice that amount,) the next of kin to
the daughter of the old Scotchman who justly,
if not in law, are entitled to the estate, are steep
ed in the most object poverty. During the life
of the first Mrs. Van Ness who was a pattern ol
Christian charity, she provided for their wants,
but since then, the alms house for this county has
always held more or less of them, for they are a
numerous brood. This fact, together with the
grasping selfishness end avarice displayed by the
late owner of the properly in dealings with his
numerous tenants who were generally laboring
people, have rendered his memory odious. Nev
er in the course of my life, have I witnessed any
thing more 3avage than the apparent satisfaction
with which thousands are now gloating over the
develop:: ent of additional bad traits in his char
acter which this testimony is bringing to light.
It is absolutely fiend-like. By way of amuse
ment yesterday, I noted in my memory the topic of
conversation in every group of my acquaintances
I approached. Twenty were talking over the
Van Ness case, and three were discussing other
matters, and in these twenty different groups,
but four persons doubted the justice of the wo
man’s claim to dower from the estate !
I write you thus at length of this affair, be
cause, at the present writing, it attracts the atten
tion of all in Washington.
Since the date of my last letter, a few members
have arrived. Vice president Dallas and the
Hoa. W. J. Hugh, ofN. Y. are ofthc number.
I find that many of our political friends are still
anticipating that the Federalists intend to make
fight this winter against the new tariff. It is
true., they have avowed such an intention, for
how could they do otherwise, after their strenu
ous opposition to the passage of the bill, and their
denunciations of it since the adjournment of
Congress. This is all a sham. They dare not
make the issue in earnest, and will do nothing
more than bluster around the question ; and that
they will do, but for the purpose of blinding the
eyes of their more ignorant followers to their in
tention to shirk it.
As so much noise has been made in this re
gion of country of late, with reference to the
“ cotton gun powder,” I send you a sample pre
pared by Professor Page of the patent office, al
ter the method of Professor Schonbien of Ger
many, whose agents are here endeavoring to ob
tain a patent. I select this particular prepara
tion because it is now conceded generally to be
better than its two rivals, for which patents are
also asked. It has neither taste nor smell, and
will answer quite as well after being soaked in
water for twenty-four hours, and then dried.
The quantity sent to you will afford an opportu
nity to make four or five experiments for the
amusement of your friends. Dry it however,
before use; as it may become dampened before
reaching you. Fire a third as much (in weight)
from a percussion lock pocket pistol as would
make a load with fine “ rifle powder,” and by
firing with the ordinary gun powder, you will
perqgive on examining the effect of the ball, that
the cotton preparation possesses much greater
force than the latter. The cotton must be push
ed rather than rammed in the pistol. After dry
ing a small portion thoroughly, place it on the
best quality of gun powder, and on setting it on
fire the combustion will be so instantaneous that
the powder will not ignite! By setting fire to a por
tion on clean white paper, you will perceive that
it leaves no mark such as the best quality of gun
powder always leaves. The finest experiment
is to place a little on the hearth, sufficiently near
a fire to permit it by degrees to become heated,
when it Will suddenly explode with admirable
.'fleet I have seen cotton wick prepared in this
manner for trains, for which purpose it certainly
bids fair to supersede everything now in use. Its
portability and constant state of preparation and
convenient use, Will at once bring it in demand.
At present, it is impossible to say with any de
gree of certainty, whether it is or is not to take
the place of ordinary gun powder, for general
weapons. The agents cf the inventor, who have
the run of the puffing columns of the newspa
pers are bent on bringing about that impression.
For the sake of the additional demand for a
large quantity of cotton, (estimated at two hund
red thousand bales per annum,) I trust it may
be so; but in the mean time, I must confess that
I see little to warrant the belief.
I find that the Federal press at the north and
East are laboring to create the belief that the
South regard the Mexican war as having been
undertaken solely for Southern aggrandizement,
and as being destined to operate alone in that
way. A correspondent writing to the Charles
ton Courier, and an ill-advised editorial in a
Georgia paper have furnished all the capital
Upon which the Federalists base their late re
turn to this line of argument, which had been
abandoned. Nothing can do us as much harm
as such nonsensical and unfounded assertions in
Southern Democratic prints. The South asks
no undue advantage over the North. Her sup
port of the Mexican war springs from a higher
principle of action. She does not wish the poli
cy of the General Government to be in any man
ner directed to strengthening her at the sacrifice
of relative strength on the part of the non-slave
holding States. She sustains the Mexican war
as with very few exceptions, her sons were rea
dy to sustain a war against England on the Ore
gon question, if such had beerrthe result of its
agitation last winter.
It is indeed to be hoped that the Democratic
press of the South will refrain from using silly
arguments which only act as deadening blows on
their political friends at the North and East.
The President is already industriously engag
ed in preparing his next annual Message to Con
gress, which will exhibit his proceedings in the
War, in a light that will not fail to gain for him
quite as much eclat as he won by thq expose of
last year ppon the subject of our relations with
England. More has been effected for the means
expended, than has ever before been accomplish
ed in a war between two civilized nations, and
he will prove the fact beyond contradiction. The
Feds will find that Hartford Conventionism is as
little likely to “go down” with the masses in
1846, as in 1812 and 1814. The more prudent
of their leaders are already sick enough of this
opposition to their country’s cause, and would
gladly efface and blot it from the popular mind.
As that is impossible, however, they are forced
to make the best of a bad job”: and so putting
on a front of brass, they intend to bluster through
with it.
The board of Regents for the Smithsonian In
stitute, are to meet a Few days before the open
ing of Congress. I learn that they contemplate
putting up a huge lecture room (to hold fifteen
hundred persons) as soon as possible, and intend
employing lecturers on the application of science
to the useful ai ts, who are to instruct all attend
ing their discourcs without farther fee or reward.
They also contemplate the publication of able
tracts on industrial subjects for gratuitous distri
bution. This will be a good beginning—a much
better beginning than if after the plan of Mr.
Choate, a huge library of rare books be collect
ed in a building to cost about as much as the
never to be forgotten Girard College on which
was squandered the vast fund left to the cor
poration of Philadelphia, for the education of
the poor of that city.
Again the quid nuncs of Washington are
eagerly awaiting news from the squadron, for it
is supposed that Tobasco, if not Tampico, has
fallen. From late movements here, 16ee no'ea
son to suppose that Tampico has been attacked,
though the third effort against Alvarado has
probably been made.
Col. S. W. Walker of Texas, the hero of the
War before the battles of the Bth and 9th of Msty
last, reached Washington last night—a meeting
of the citizens irrespective of party has been call
ed, to take steps for some public demonstration
of respect for his gallant services. He is be
yond doubt, a Washingtonian.
I perceive bis visit to the city is connected
with the subject of arming the new rifle Regi
ment with Colt's revolvers, which are the fa
vorite weapons of the Texas Rangers, who al
ways go provided with this discretion of pistol
as well as rifle. Indeed, a great secret of the
superiority of these troops is to be found in the
expertness with which they manage their “ six
shooters.” LOWNDES.
The Tariff in Connecticut.* —At the
Democratic State Convention held in Connecti
cut, on Wednesday last, the following resolu
tions were adopted :
“Resolved, That while we entertain a just es
timate of the general course of our Senator in
Congress, the Hon. John M. Niles, we feel con
strained to denounce his speech recently pro
nounced in the Senate of the United States up
on the Tariff, as equallv unsound in theory, er
roneous in fact, anti-democratic in tendency and
principle.—Adopted, 55 to 20.
“Resolved, That for his noble and manly, and
decided action upon the Tariff of 1846, the Hon.
Geo. M. Dallas deserves the high regard, and ad
miration of the democratic party of the union;
and we hereby tender him the unqualified
thanks of this convention.—Adopted, unani
mously.”
Mr. Senator Niles, who urged the pressure
of opinion at home, as his reason for going a
gainst his party in the Senate last winter, will
find it somewhat hard to resist the evidence of
his mistake. Not a Democratic press in Con
necticut has sustained him, and here is the evi
dence ol want and sympathy in his course given
by the State Convention. Evidently it was a
feeling of delicacy that secured to him the for
bearance of the small minority who voted a
gainst the first Resolution, for the approval of the
course of Mr. Dallas was hearty and uanani
mous. Mr. Niles will probably consider him
self as henceforth released from all obligation to
help the protectionists, and we may look for his
return to his friends.
The whig papers publish a “pyramid,” com.
posed of states which they say have condemned
the “tariff of 1846, by large majorities .” In
diana, Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire, Florida,
Georgia, lowa and Delaware have no sort of
business in this monument. It resembles “Lon
don’s column,” which,
“ pointing to the skies,
Like a tall bull lifts it: head and lies.”
BANK OP IT. MARTS.
To the Editor of the Timat
The failure of this institution to submit •
statement of its affairs, to his Excellency the Go*
tremor in compliance with the law, has given
rise to various rumors. If the Bank can avoid
the responsibility of the law, it is at least due to
the public, that a statement of its affairs should
be known, particularly, as it is now managed,
| without any known directors, or Cashier. This
information will enable all to judge for them
selves, and relieve the Bank from many inju*
rious suspicions. M.
THE GEORGIA REGIMENT.
The readers attention will be attracted by a
communication from Col. Henry R. Jackson,
commanding Georgia Regiment of Volunteers in
Mexico, correcting the exaggerated errors, which
have been put in circulation, in regard to the
fracas which occurred at Camp Belknap. It
will be seen that but for the unfortunate interfer
ence of Col. Baker, and the more unfortunate
manner of that interference, the quarrel would
have been a trifling affair, and unworthy of the
great noise that has been made about it.
FOH THE TIMES.
TO THE PUBLIC.
At the request of a number of the officers of
my own command, as well as at the suggestion
of several gentlemen not connected with it; I
have determined to give to the public in Georgia,
over my own signature, a brief statement of the
difficulties in which a small portion of my Regi
ment was concerned on the night of the 31st. ol
August last. It is the great misfortune of those
attached to the Georgia Regimen# that, at this
remote point from our own State, we papers con
taining the most singularly exaggerated accounts
of this affair, though bearing /date near two
months back, have just came fonand, leaving us
move the
rods they
ider. In
I privates
emotion,
(stressing
■, friends,
icter and
le poison
the anti-
Deeply
haracters
peace of
e been at
■pared to
iat might
serve to feed a morbid public appetite. In pre
mising thus far, I am convinced, from the remarks
which I see in the columns of the Georgia presses,
based upon the accounts to which I refer, and
proved by innumerable private letters received by
members of my Regiment from suffering, agitated,
mortified friends, that I do not say too much.
The following is a brief detail of the difficulty
which made its appearance in the papers under
the various captions of “Riot among the Georgia
Volunteers,” “ Disgraceful riot in the Georgia
Regiment,” “Terrible riot and loss of life,” etc.,
etc., etc. Although not present upon the occa
sion of its occurrence, I have drawn my facts
from a close, scrutinizing ir.vcstij a'ion of the
transaction for myself, and from the evidence
given in before the court martial in the case of
Capt. McMahon. It is needless to say that I
stand responsible for their truth. Two or three
days previous to the affair I had left the camp
near Burita with the second detachment of my
Regiment, (consisting of four companies and the
sick of my whole command) for Matamoras and
Camargo,—two companies had preceded me, and
I felt it my duty to be with the larger portion of
my Regiment. Four companies of the second
batallion remained near Burita under the com
mand of Lieut. Col. Redd, Major Williams hav
ing been despatched to head quarters some time
previous, and not yet having returned. Among
the companies left Were two, known as the
“ Jasper Greens” from Snvannah, and the
“ Kenesaw Rangers” from Cobb county.
On the evening of the 31st of August, the
steamer (Corvette) which was to convey this
remnant of the Georgia Regiment to Camargo,
arrived fr; m the mouth of the river and proceed
ed to receive her freight and passengers. Those
who are at all familiar with the movements of
bodies of soldiery, either from camp or garrison,
whether they be regulars or volunteers, must be
aware of the fact, that they are seasons of ex
citement, confusion, and not unfrequently of dis
order. In this instance some five or six men be
longing to the companies already named, having
been supplied (contrary to explicit orders, with
ardent spirits) by the Sutler of another Regiment,
became turbulent and unruly. A fight ensued be
tween some two or three of them; about some cause
too trivial and childish to be mentioned—from a
close examination of reliable persons, I cannot
discover that more in number were actively en
gaged in the rencounter, still they were attached
to different corps, and thus ti e misstatement has
originated that two companies of the Georgia
Regiment were engaged in a bloody conflict.
The officers of these companies promptly and
effectually interfered to quell the affray. Capt.
Nelson forming his men upon the shore, and
Capt. McMahon assembling his on the hurricane
deck of the boat, so as to be able to sihgle out the
disorderly persons, and forthwith place them un
der a'rest. Up to this time no “arms” had been
used—no “life” ha.l been “lost,” and yet this
boys’ conflict had already been suppressed, and
all of the two companies named who Were pres*
ent upon the been formed Under tbeir
respective commanders. Had the affair been
allowed to stop at this point, the offenders might
have been reported to me, and would certainly
have received the punishment they richly deserv
ed, but the letter writers woulff have been de
prived of a most delectable of scandal,
the puhlic of a deeply exciting newspaper col
umn, ourlrißndshi would have been
saved from the which must have been
occasioned by the tisja'esof .exaggeration which
made their appeararice under fhej|larming cap
tions referred
privates of Regiment, from the deep
shame and jnoriification of feeling that a stain
had been olaced upon our character, wholly un
provokeu and undeserved, while we were anx
iously discharging our duty to our country, and
deeply solicitous to protect the honorable name
of the State we represent. It was unfortunately,
however, at this moment, that <H>l. Baker inter
fered, doubtless with the best ot motives.
The following are extracts from the testimony
in the case already referred to and will give the
facts of his approach, and of the rencounter be
tween his detachment an<f the “Greens” as they
occurred:
Lieut. Col. Redd testifies—” I saw a party of
troops coming, who were commanded by an offi
cer that I did not then know, but who afterwards
turned out to be Col. Baker with a detachment
of Illinois troops—l asked them who they were—
they said they had come there to flop the riot.”
Having gone, with the assent of Col. Redd, upon
the hurricane deck ; the same officer testifies
that “Col. Baker” ordered the accused (Capt.
McMahon) to “surrender” or “retire,” I do not
recollect which—’he refused to do so, but imme
diately engaged Col. Baker with his sword. One
of the Col’s, men remarked, that he could not
contend with that man, (meaning the accused)
and pulled him back—at the same time the Col.
received a wound and was compelled to retire.”
Being further questioned, the Col. testified that
he had put Capt. McMahon on duty by “ order
ing him to keep his company quiet,” and that
he does not believe the accused could have dis
covered Col. Baker’s rank.
Capt. Nelson testified as follows:—“ I was
on shore when a body of troops, commanded by
some person then unknown to me, but whom I
afterwards learned to be Col. Baker and a de
tachment of Illinois volunteers, (approached.)
They made a halt for a moment—l heard sever
al voices cry out “ lead us”—they immediately
went up the stair case—when they had arrived
on the upper deck, someone in the detachment
cried out, “ surrender ” —about the same time,
Capt. McMahon, who had been previously en
gaged in quieting his men, stepped forward to
wards Col. Baker, and said, “ damn you. cross
swords with me,” or words to that effect,
whereupon they immediately crossed swords,
commenced parrying and thrusting,and continu
ed until Col. Baker gave back, at which timr
Capt. McMahon was borne down—at the sar.r
time, tome cue of the Illinois troops cried
“ charge”—“ damn hhta, run your bayonets
through him.” ” Being further interrogated he
says that at the time he, (the witness) “ reach
ed the deck, he saw Col. Baker between the
head of the stairs and the right hand boiler, and
Capt. McMahon was driving his men to the op
posite side of the Boat.”
Capt. Sargent testifies, that at the inception
of the difficulty “ the accused and myself were
supping on board the steamer Corvette. The
accused as soon as he heard it, rushed out of
doors to suppress it He says further “ I saw
a body of armed men ascending the stair case.
Immediately as they ascended they charged bay
onets, and I saw nothing more of the accused
•until after the affray was over, but I heard the
clashing of bayonets and the discharge of two
or three fire arms.”
Lieut. O’Conner testifies as follows i—“ I was
up stairs on board the Corvette, assisting the ac
cused in keeping our men from going on shore.
I saw Col. Baker come on the upper deck—l
heard him give the order to a certain company or
body of men to follow him—they followed anJ
arrived on deck, when he (the Col.) gave the
order to charge—soon after. I saw the accused,
and the Col. cross swords. He (Col. Baker) or
some officer next to him, gave the order the se
cond time to the Illinois troops to “ charge” and
run the accused through—they charged and ths ac
cused fell- After the accused fell, some officer of
the Illinois troops, gave the order again to charge
and tun him through. I heard two or three
shots discharged, but did not know who fired
them.”
Private C. C.Hammack testified as follows:
“ I was sentinel on the upper deck of the steam
er Corvette—l taw Col. Baker and a portion of
his troops march up the stairs—when they came
near me I halted, but they passed me by force,
pushing aside my bayonet— they then marched
opposite the accused and his company—the first
I heard then was the order to charge given by
Col. Baker or some of his officers—l cannot state
positively with regard to what occurred after
wards.”
After laying this testimony before an intelli
gent public, I should suppose it entirely useless to
offer a word of comment. In the active discharge
of a duty, not only always belonging to his sta
tion, but especially assigned him by his com
manding officer, Capt. McMahon is ordered to
“ surrender ” by an individual entirely unknown
to him, at the head of a body of strangers, all
armed, and apparently anxious for a conflict.
The order was given when he had already suc
ceeded in separating and controlling those of his
men (some 15 in number) who had been ip or
near the previous conflict with “ the Rangers.”
For what purpose that order was given he conld
not learn. Had he obeyed and “ surrendered
it appears to me that he would then have been
guilty of a breach of duty.
The word “ surrender ” addressed to an officer
in command of his men was insulting, and Well
calculated to provoke indignation.
It appears that while the contest between Col.
Baker and Capt. McMahon was progressing,
“ the Greens ” did not interfere. It was not un
til the former had been pulled back by someone
of his men, and the latter rushed upon and
knocked down by some unknown hand; not un
til the command “charge” had been repeated,
and the words “ damn him, run him through,” had
been distinctly heard ; not until the startling ex
clamation, “ our Captain is dead” had been
made by one of their number, that “ the Greens”
rushed over his prostrate bod; and upon he
bayonets charged against them. I ask, could
Capt. McMahon have acted otherwise 1 could
“ the Greens” have done less 1
As to the number of persons killed and wound
ed in the affray, I believe it is now ascertained
that only one lost his life in the charge upon the
hurricane deck. He belonged to Col. Baker’s
detachment. Those who were wounded of the
Illinois volunteers, together with their Col. (I
am happy to learn) are well again. Capt. Mc-
Mahon alone was wounded of the Greens, and
he is entirely recovered. Corporal Wheelan
was shot, not in the charge, but by some un
known hand from the lower deck— a ball and
two buck shot passing through his bodj and
heart.
It is needless to correct in detail the various
other misstatements and exaggerations which
have made their appearance in the prints, in re
lation to this affair; but I will say in conclu
sion, that any impressions which may have been
made in any quarter of a want of character or
subordination in the Georgia Regiment are erro
neous, that, as its commanding officer, in the
spirit of honorable emulation, I challenge com
parison in point of drill, discipline and soldierly
deportment, and that Georgia need not blush to
own her sons, however much their character may
have been misrepresented.
H. R. JACKSON,
Col. Comd’g. Georgia Regiment.
Camp, Monterey, 2d Nov. 1846.
ccf Papers both in and out ol the State which
published the first accounts of the affair, will con
fer a favor by inserting the above. H. R. J.
From the N. 0. Delta.
TAMPICO TAKEN WITHOUT RESIS
TANCE.
The squadron under Com. Perry arrived ofl
Tampico on the 14th inst. A messenger with a
flag was immediately sent on board the Commo
dore’s ship offering, in the name of the authori
ties, the surrender of the city.
About 400 men—sailors and marines—were
then sent ashore from the squadron, who took,
and hold, possession of the place without firing
a gun. Some five or six gun boats were seized
and, as far as found available, incorporated with
the squadron.
After making such arrangements as the case
rendered necessary, Com. Perry, on board the U.
8. steamship Mississippi, sailed for this port,
touching at the Brazos, where Lieut. Anderson
was landed to inform the U. S. authorities there
of what had transpired.
The Commodore reached this city yesterday
morning. Heath of the squadron good.
After having sent off the above to our ex
changes by yesterday’s mail, we had the pleasure
ofpn introduction to the gallant Commodore. A
further reinforcement, he says, of two hundred
men from the fleet had been ordered to garrison
Tampico; besides which some men and muni
tions, as the paragraph below denotes, will leave
for the 6ame destination this evening. They
will return with the Commodore on the steam
ship Mississippi, which awaits them at the Ba
lize.
As is intimated above, there was no show of
opp osition offered to the Commodore’s descent on
Tampico. The garrison having, in compliance
with the orders of Santa Anna, evacuated the
place some days previous, and marched with all
their arms and ammunition, including the ord
nance of the fort, for San Louis Potosi, where, it
appears, the whole force of the nation is concen
trating. The Commodore places a high esti
mate on Tampice in a military point of view.
He deems its possession of far more importance
than that of Vera Cruz- But the spirit of our
gallant navy is now aroused—the Commodore is
evidently a working man. Alvarado and other
ports are still in the hands of the enemy, and
until they are taken, there is to be, and there will
be, no resting on oars. Os this we are satisfied.
The vessels composing the expedition to Tam
pico were the steamships Mississippi and Prince
ton, the sloop St. Maiys and the brig Porpoise.
The Mississippi left Com. Conner off the har
bor, and he would remain until a military force
arrived to relieve him of the charge of holding
the town.
To Purser Warrington, who came up to the
city with Com. Perry, we are indebted for the
following list of the officers of the U. 8. steam
ship Mississippi:—
Com. M. C. Perry : Com’r Henry A. Adams;
Licuts. J. C. Carter, W. A. Parker and W. P.
Robertson ; Surgeon L. W. Miner; Assistant
Surgeon W. Sherburn ; Purser L. Warrington,
Acting Sailing Master J. H. Brown ; Passed
Midshipmen A. Barbot and F. Gregory ; M id
shipmen J. 8. Fillebrown, D. L. Brain, D. A.
Cheener, and W. W. Wilkinson.
Tnoors for Tampico. —We learned last
evening, that all the troops now here, and those
expected here in a few days, are ordered to Tam
pico. There are some fifty recruits of 3d Infan
try, who will leave to-morrow for the Bslize,
where the steamship Mississippi lies, on board of
which they will proceed to Tampico.
The steamboat Albatross is expected to-mor
row, with 120 recruits—also of the 8d Tnfantrv.
She would have been here to-day but for some
accident to her machinery. The companies of
the new Rifle Regiment—loo strong—are also
expected to-moriow. All these troops will bo
sent immediately to Tampico. It is rumored
that the Governor of the State will be called on
for a volunteer force, to hold and garrison this
important point. He was closeted for some time
last evening with Gen. Brooke and other officers
of the army.
mr. mcduffie.
This distinguished gentleman has resigned his
seat in the Senate of the United States. The
following is his letter of resignation.
‘•Cherrt Hili., Nov. 19, 1816.
His Excellency William Aiken t
“Sir—-I must ask the favor of you, to com
municate to the Legislature, this, my resigna
tion of the high trust of Senator in Congress
with which I have been favored by that body.
In taking this step, I cannot but express to the
Legislature and to,the people of the State, my per
sonal sense of the obligations tinder which thev
have placed me, by the manifold honors they
have conferred upon me, and the uniform confi
dence and liberality with which they have sus
tained me, amidst all the political vicissitudes of
the twenty-five years, during which with a brief
interval I have been in the service of the State.
“And I trust the reasons which now induce
me to withdraw from that seivice, will be view
ed With the same indulgence that I have here
tofore experienced, when I accepted the place I
now hold, in a state of health that hardly justi
fied it, my sole inducement was the hope which
the state of political parties then created, that I
might be able to “render the State some service”
in restoring the compromise of 1833 by remodel
ing the tariff of 1842, more unjust and oppres
sive than any of its predecessors, and which to
tally subverted that compromise. I never in
tended to remain in the Benate after that great
question should be adjusted upon principles of
equal and constitutional taxation. Believing
that object to have been substantially accomplish
ed, by the revenue act of last session, and that
the increasing blessings of free trade which we
now see in progress, from the almost cotempo
raneous acts of the two greatest commercial na
tions in the world, will render it impossible for
any party changes to reverse what has been so
wisely and fortunately accomplished, I feel that
I may claim the privilege ol “departing in peace”
from the turmoil of political life without viola
ting any duty of patriotism, and leaving the
country, I trust in the midst of a long career
of prosperity.
I am, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE McDUFFIE.”
From the N. O. Delta.
THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE MEXI
CAN WAR.
The obstinacy of the Mexicans in resisting the
moderate and reasonable demands of our Gov
ernment, is unparalleled in history. What they
are fighting for—upon what principle of national
right or injury they persist in prolonging a de
structive war, by which they can never hope to
add to tlreir strength and glory-—and in which*
though they are the offenders, they are compell
ed to act on the defensive—is a problem which
can only be solved by those familiar with the
present peculiar position of the Mexican Govern
ment and people. XVe understand that at the
time of the breaking out oi hostilities, the difficul
ty between us and Mexico related to but two
plain and simple questions ; they were—
First, a dispute aboui boundaries—we claim
ing the Rio Grande for our western boundary,
and they claiming the Nueces as their eastern
limit.
Second, a claim on our part to have our inter
ests represented near their Government by a
Minister—the two nations being at peace.
In regard to the first dispute, we proposed, in
accordance with universal precedent, to settle the
matter by friendly negotiation. If after amicable
discussion we could be satisfied that the Rio
Grande was not the true boundary of Texas, but
the Nueces was, our Government would have
been compelled by public sentiment, if not by its
own sense of justice, to fall back on the latter
line.
As to the other point, our demand wbb one, r
compliance with which would have involved no
sacrifice ofright and dignity on the part of Mexi
co, and would have been agreeable to the comity
and law which govern the intercourse, fnations.
There was nothing in these matters of dispute
to justify a resort to arms. No nation ever drew
the sword on so paltry a pretence as that set up
by Mexico—no government ever so recklessly
and heedlessly drew upon its people the unspeaka
ble horrors ol a hostile invasion. That Mexico
stru. k ihe first blow—that she commenced the
war, and commenced it in a most unusual and
unjustifiable manner, without any previous de
clarations or manifestoes—are facts too notorious
to be disputed
How then do we explain the hot haste, the
eager and reckless impetuosity of the Mexicans
in bringing on the War, and their suicidal perti
nacity in continuing it, when their means of car
rying it on are so scant and ineffectual ] How is
it that a nation of eight millions of people suffer
their country to be invaded in three different
points, by about twenty thousand of their enemy,
in a war of their own choosing 1 How is it that
after their high-sounding proclamations and ap
peals to the people to rally to the defence of tho
country, made by their generals, so few, compara
tively, obey the call] We think all these queries
arc answered, and these apparent inconsistencies
solved and explained, by a reference to the pecu
liar situation of the Mexican people. They are
the unfortunate subjects of military rule—tho
victims of the ambition of the two thousand field
officers of their army. The whole control of the
natio nis in the hands of these officers. Their
i ule is maintained by continual revolutions or
war. By these they abstract the minds of the
people from the consideration and protection of
their rights. If they allow the people to relapse
into a condition of peace and quietude, they loae
their hold upon their passions; they must be
kept in a continual whirl of military operations.
It is only by these means that the ephemeral
rulers, who have in their turns swayed the gov
ernment of Mexico since its independence, could
maintain themselves, and it is only among such
a race as the Mexicans that they could be main
tained at all. Os pliant nature, the Mexican
soon yields to the pressure of events which the
Anglo-Saxon, the Celt or the Gaul would regard
as mere pebbles in their path.
Thus it is that this destructive war is contin
ued and encouraged by the military chieftains.
That it is not popular with the people, is appa
rent from the weak resistance offered the inva
ders, and from the feeble and partial indications
of enthusiasm which it has called forth.
If the war should result in the defeat and cap
ture of Mexico, we should considir the Mexican
people the greatest gainers by it. The entire
overthrow of their present military power would
be to this poor down-trodden race, the highest
boon of Heaven.— Fiat, fiat, fiat.
The wat this Mojckt goes. —We scarcely
open a whig newspaper without seeing an arti
cle under the above head, appealing to the ava
rice of the people against their patriotism.—
Whilst the money went into the pockets of the
rich manufactures; in the opinion of these poli
ticians, it is well enough; but when it goes to
pay the brave soldiers and volunteers who are
fighting the battles of our country, and main
taining our national honor throughout the world,
then it is waste and extravagance. They are
willing the money should go to build aristocrat
ic corporations, but begrudge every cent that is
spent in vindicating the rights and honor of our
country.— Albany Patriot.
Mr. Robertson, our consul at Bremen, the
L T nion tells us, brought a sealed packet from
Porfessor Schonbein, the disroverer of the ex
plosive gun-cotton, with that it
was rrff T tTr hpresence of the
President. It the
gun or prepared cottonJjwith hints about tho
mode of preparing it. discovery (adds the
Union) gains confidence throughout Europe.—
It is estimated that 209,000 bales of cotton will
be to supply tne demand for this pur-