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COLUMBUS, GA.
TtKIDIY, DECEMBER 1810.
TtlE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
t
hu been received with marked encomiums from
the Democratic and Neutral presses, and has ex
torted sentiments of praise from some of the most
influential organs of the oppos.tion. The N.
Y. “Courier &. Enquirer” and the N. Y. “Com
mercial” have ronfesed that the argument of
the President in behalf of the justice of the
Country (and not “apologetic of the Adminis
tration,” as some of the less liberal Whigs have
it) is unanswerable. The “Jour, of Commerce”
states that “it has convinced many who were
before unconvinced, that the war is fairly charg
eable upon the Mexican Government.”
The Georgia Whig papers treat it with char
acteristic ill-nature. The Republican of Savan
nah introduces it with two lines, about its great
“ length,” and a quotation from a Baltimore
Whig paper, that that part of it which explained
Santa Anna’s return, was received with a “laugh”
when read in Cgjigress. Perhaps the lagugh
was at the exposure of the palpable Whig hum
bug of Mr. Polk’s “bargain” with the Mexican
Chief. We “laughed,” when we came to that
passage, to see with what moonshine, the Whig
guns have been bo often loaded and exploded.
The Columbus Enquirer treats it with flip
pancy, as a thing unworthy o! its serious no
tice, and most unworthy of the notice of its rea
derv. Accordingly it does not publish it now “if
ever!” That is praise enough of the message.
The Augusta “Chronicle & Sentinel” is wri
ting column after column, in a series of labored
editorials to neutralize the powerful impression
which the message is destined to make upon the
public mind. It is an up-hill business, and we
dont envy the Editors the labor of reconciling
the awful contradiction that they are for the
country in the w4r, bnt aguimt James K. Polk,
who ha* been on the country’s side all the while.
The Charleston Mercury says of it:
“ The general reception of this document has
been highly favorable, and none but the most
violent of the Whig papers are found to dispar
age it. A letter from New York speaks as
follows of its effect on popular opinion in that
city.”
“Th gre-t theme of the President’s message
i* at present engrossing the public mind here, to
a* great an exteut as it docs the voluminous and
exceedingly well executed document, which ap
pear* to have revived the subject in all its origi
nal freshness and vigor. The political war in
our local party has been renewed, too, on this
great subject. The staid old Commercial con
fesses to a conversion to the cause by the argn
nent* and expositions ofthc message; whilst the
wrath of the Tribune waxes hotter, and the bit
terness of the Express becomes stronger of gall
because the Courier exceeds even the Globe
•nd the Evening Post in its approval of the whole
war ground covered by the President. A simi
lar result is observable amongst the people.—
There i* less of dissent to the war to be heard
amongst the masses, whilst its most violent
opponent* have become still more eagerin their
opposition.”
The “Georgia Journal” is exceeding wroth at
the “aid and coinfort” passage of the message.
Does the Journal think it personal 1 If not,
erhj take it so vehemently ? We l ave spo
ken of this in another place.
On the whole the message is a powerful pa
per, whether we regard the great truths which
form its matter, the extreme and beautiful
simplicity of its style, or the time-liness with
which it comes to scatter whole legions of hum*
bogs & mis-representations to the winds. While
it establishes Mr. Polk’s claim to the highest
consideration of his countrymen, as a firm, able
clear-headed Chief Magistrate, worthy of hi#
office; it triumphantly vindicates the Government
of the United States, in its relations with Mexi
co, by an appeal of facts to tho justice of the
whole world.
From the N. Y. Courier & Enquirer.
*Thk President's Message. —This document
reached us by government express at half-past
•iae o’clock last evening, and will be found in
our colums this morning. It is a document of
groat length; but it will be read with absorbing
interest bv all classes of our fellow-citizens; and
i aro happy to add, that all which refers to our
relations w;{h Mexico —embracing three-fourths
of tho whole —will give very general satisfac
tion. For ourschcs, wc say unhesitatingly that
thia portiou of the message does great credit to
tho executive, and will be a noble vindication
ot our government in the estimation ot the civil
ised w orld. It addresses itself to the justice as
well as tho patriotism of our people; and we in
dulge tho hope that no American citizen will
permit mere political hostility to the administra
tion so to warp his judgement as to induce cavil
ling at wlnt is so forcibly and 60 truthfully pul
forth on this subject.
Tho review of the conduct of Mexico towards
this government, anterior to her invasion of Tex
as and her attack upon oar army, is admirably
well put, and cannot fail to to remove from eve
ry ciadid mind all question as to the forbear
ance of our government towards our sister rc-
Eublic. Ou this subject, the position assumed
y Mr. Webster is more than proved. We
would particularly invite the attention of our
readers to that portion of the message intended
•o prove that Mexico, and not the United States,
was the aggressor in this war. To do this, the
Executive demonstrates, beyond question that
the legitimate western boundary of Texas was
the east bank of tbe Rio Grande. lie shows,
fce. &c.
• •****
The id*a that the United States invited or pro
raked a war with Mexico by occupying thu coun
try west of the Nueces is therefore repudiated
by the Executive; and ho proceeds to show, by
the orders ol Parades, that it was the intention
of Mexico to make war upon the United States it
her troops wcr6 found anywhere south of the
Sabin*.
All is admirably put forth in the message, and
ery ably reviewed; and it cannot fail to pro
duce a salutary effect upon the public mind, both
at home and abroad.
The reason* for permitting Santa Anna to re
turn to Mexico are also satisfactorily explained;
and it is admitted, moreover, that if it had been
desirable to prevent his return it was not possi
ble to do so.
Christmas Ets.—The Episcopal Church
of this city will ba opcavd for divine service on
Christina* Eve.
Cox. SrocßTOx at the Saicdwich Islands.
The Rev. Walter Colton, Chaplain of the U. S.
frigate Congress, in a recent letter from Monte
r*y, on the pacific, speaking of their late visit to
the Island, says:
The missionaries were very hospitable and
attentive to ua. We visited all thc-ir schools,
and were highly delighted. They are doing an
immense amount of goed. I spoke in their
great stone church to some three thousand per
sona, on the Christian sympathy fell in the Uni
ted States for them—and then told them Com.
Stockton wss present, and I hoped he would
consent to address them—he was sitting by the
side of the king—conic forward and spoke for
so hour with fervency and effect, on the bene
fit* of the Chri*tian religion, &c. The king
sad high chief mc up at the close, and thank
ed us for our addresses. We raised two hun
dred dollars on board our ship to aid the sea
•neo s chaplain at the port of Honolulu, and
suikd for this port, which we reach in tv> enty
“AID AND COMPORT.”
These words in the President’s message have j
made, the “ galled jades” an otigtbe Whig Editors j
wince. You iney easily pick them out by a
glance at thrir papers. Whig Congressmen, too,
have opened their batteries upon the President
for daring to hint at the presence of this spirit of
“ moral treason,” in the country. W liile they
claim the prerogative of vituperating the Presi
dent ns tlie guilty author of this war, and hang
up for the President’s “ bed-room” gloomy pic
tures of widows tears and orphan’s wailings,
caused by his wickedness. While they proclaim
him a remorseless tyrant and murderer, gloating
over these bloody scenes of his mad ambition,
and threaten “impeachment” for his crimes;
they themselves are struck aghast, at the bare
hint that “ aid and comfort” has Iccii given to
the enemy by certain people in this country.
But an impartial world will judge correctly of
these crocodile tears, and this offended virtue.
The ink is scarcely yet dry, in which these men
have written down the self-condemning proof of
the charge of giving “ aid and comfort” to the
enemy. We are not so uncandid as to charge,
that this “ moral treason” is a cool and deliber
ate act; it has been done in a spirit of violent
partizanship, pursuing the President, with a blind
hatred, to the brink—aye, into the abyss of trea
son. In their anxiety to injure the President,
they have stabbed past him, at the honor and
peace of the country. Mexico has taken cour
age from their words—her drooping spirits have
been sustained under the terrible pressure of our
arms, by the dcclaiaticns of Whig newspapers,
that it was a President’s war—that it was not
sustained by the people—that our Treasury was
exhausted, and that men could not be had to
carry it on. The N. O. Delta, an able, indepen
dent press, wh6se every pulse beats for the honor
of the country, deliberately declares that the
war has been protracted by the “peace party”
in America. Let sensitive Whig Editors look
into the mi ror which the Delta holds up to them :
But it was not to criticise the speech of Mr.
Webster that we took up our pen. It was to
prove the truth of our text, that the war with
Mexico is now maintained and continued by the
peace party of the North, of which Mr. Web
ster is one of the mouthpieces. But for their
traitorous opposition ; their continual croaking
and outcry against the Government; their gloo
my prognostications ; their ill-concealed satisfac
tion at every obstacle our arms meet; their ex
ulting exaggeration of the difficulties and ex
pensiveness of the war ; and their wild romances
about Mexican patriotism—but for these acts of
the Northern peace party, the war, in our opin
ion, would have terminated ere this. It has been
an up-hill task for the Mexican papers to sus
tain the drooping courage and desperate fortunes
of the Mexican people. Arguments for this pur
pose were hard to find. Their pride was effec
tually crushed by their inglorious defeats. The
safety of the government and country seemed
deeply imperilled. To what hope, then, could
they cling in such emergency 1 A volatile and
sanguine people would easily grasp at the feeb
lest ray of hope—at a straw, at a shadow. But
fortunate, indeed, are (hose, upon whom devolve
the severe task of upholding the spirits and con
fidence of (he Mexicans, when they arc supplied
with such pregnant evidences of the unpopulari
ty of the war in the United States—of the op
position of a large . nd influential portion of the
Union, as a.e afforded in the speeches of Mr.
Webster and his compeers, and in the editorials
of so largo a portion of the Northern press.
Here is some substantial encouragement for the
Mexican. “ With such sturdy opposition (they
argue) to the Goserninent, on a question upon
which if is not permitted in most countries, that
there should be any open discussion, or differ
ence of opinion, proceeding from such respecta
ble and powerful individuals and sections of the
country, surely the Government of the United
States will not be permitted to continue this war
any longer, and we shall be saved from eternal
infamy and destruction.” In proof of this posi
tion, we give the following extract from a letter
from Vera Cruz, which only confirms the state
ments previously made by us, respecting the
public - diriment in Mexico :
“ Extracts of letters from the United States are
published, in which it is represented that our peo
ple, especially in the Northern States, have be
come thoroughly disgusted with the war on ac
count of its enormorts expenses, amounting to
half a million of dollars per diem ! and that it
has become eo odious that it will be impractica
ble for our government to raise the required num
ber oftroops ‘ —that the Senate will refuse any fur
ther appropriations for the war !—that the British
Government has insisted on its mediation being
accepted,” &c.
We conclude then, as we began, by asserting,
that “ the Mexican war is maintained by the
peace party.”
The Delta speaks of the opponents of the
war as the “ Northern peace party.” It has al
lies enough at the South. Scarcely a Whig pa
per in Georgia is free from the contamination of
this association.
It is true, that while they do all to “ comfort
and aid” the enemy, that is so forcibly portrayed
by the “ Delta,” they defend themselves by the
allegation that it is not the war, but the com
mencement and conduct of it by the President,
that they assail. The distinction is too nice for
the patriot to draw ; and if it be true that the
army is filled with Whigs fighting the battles of
the country—if it were true that every officer
and soldier in the army were Whigs ; it does
not wipe out the stain of treason from those
Whjgs who, at home, neutralize the efforts of
Whig valor in the field, by dishonoring and de
grading the cause in which they aro shedding
their blood.
But whatever the motive may be, it is fact, sus
ceptible of daily proof, that the course of these
Whig revilers of the President and the war, does
give “ aid and comfort” to the enemy p and
whether this “ moral treason” is the off-spring of
over-heated, thoughtless and impetuous party
hate, or the cool malice of the traitor, the effect
is the same upon our enemies in Mexico, and
upon foreigners in Europe who are watching
the progress of the controversy. It has tended
and it does tend to give “aid and-comfort” to
the enemy.
We take two examples, one from an English
and one from a Mexican paper, from a host-of
proofs, to sustain what we aver has become his
torical truth.
‘* Jalapa, July 31, 1846.
“Our predictions begin to be fulfilled. The
last news from N. Orleans is, that a large portion
of the United States are - disgusted with the war,
because it has given rise to fears of privateers,
and thus caused a rise in marine insurance. The
Whigs do not yet dare to raise their heads; but
they begin to be encouraged by the loud discontent
of the merchants in consequence of the paralyza
tion of all enterprise. This discontent will be the
theme of their first speeches ; and they are ready
to leap into the arena so soon as a reverse shall
afford an opportunity, and to repeat what their,
prudence had enabled them to foresee the diffi
culties which tho annexation of Texas, and the
misfortunes of the war with Mexico indispensa
bly following that act, must briDg on a nation of
merchants, which almost always has two-thirds
of its capital embarked upon the ocean.
“ At New Orleans the discontent was manifest;
and we may calculate what it is Jikteiy to be r
the other cities, since it cannot be concealed in
the very cradle of all the projects against Mexico.
Under these circumstances, one effort on our
part would increase the sufferings of the Ameri
can merchants so as to oblige their government
to change its course.”
Front the London Globe, 16th Nov.
“ In the meantime, the papers discuss the ex
pediency of public demonstrations to induce
Coqgrcss to appoint committees of investigation
to inquire into the object, expense, and coustitu
lin'wiliu .v ‘if ..
Polk of a country four times as large as the Uni
ted States, and into the prospects ol*the termina
tion of the war with the aggrieved power. One
of the writers on the subject graphically informs
the people that the one hundred and fifty millions,
which the war has cost up to the present time,
would, in silver, load “fourteen hundred six-horse
wagons, and require a train of teams to draw it
more than twenty-one miles long.’ What is most
manifest at present is, that the sinews of war are
wanting. Much is made of the taking ofMonte
rey, and of all the ‘strong points’ in California
having the American flag flying on them. But
neither the petty fortified places taken possession
of, nor any of the other ‘strong points,’ advance
the handful of American forces (to whom the
loss of a few hundreds before Monterey was a
serious affair) in any perceptible degree towards
the object of drawing the war to a close.” * *
* * “For at present the deficiency of the pri
mum mobile seems to arrest all measures to in
crease the effective land forces which will be re
quired. In the last session of Congress a vote
was passed authorizing the calling out 50,000
volunteers to serve in the Mexican war. It was
afterwards considered that 25,000 would be a
sufficient force. It how appears, however, that
neither 50,000 n0r25,000 will be levied; and the
only probable explanation ofthis is, that till the
meeting of Congress in December, there are no
means of keeping additibnal forces, or even the
forces now engaged, on foot.”
THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE fc SENT.
TIN EL.
Our Whig contemporary at Augusta has done
us the honor twice of late, to make our articles,
the subject of its commentary. We infer from
this, that they contained some sound Free-Trade
truths, which it was deemed hurtful to Whig
ism in Georgia, to let pass un-mystified.
No one who reads the Whig papers of this
State, and remembers, that most of these ram
pant sticklers for the blessings of a high Tariff,
were in the bye-gone days of Nullification, the
tow and turpentine enemies of all such doc
trines, but must perceive the up-hill difficulty
which these gentlemen have to encounter in con
vincing their readers, and un-convincing them
selves. It is true they have illustrious authori
ty for such change in the example of Mr. Web
ster, whose great Free Trade speech in 1820, he
himself has never been able to answer. But, it
is easier to turn from great truths, and to apos
tatize from great principles, than it is to disturb
the immoveable foundations upon which these
truths and principles rest ; and “ protection” is
just as odious and unjust, and just as hostile to
the genius of republicanism this day, as it was
when Webster pronounced and proved it so, in
1820, and the present Whig party of Georgia
buckled on their armor, to fight against it in 1832.
But, the price of the integrity—the holding
together of the Whig party, came to be the sup
port of the high Tarill. The decree, command
ing and imperative, went forth from the Temple
of Whigism at the North, “ protection, it must
be preserved,” and Southern Whiggery had to
oficy. It was immaterial that these, latter had
sworn to “ die in the last ditch” against protection
—that they had taken their stand by the side of
Nunification in S. Carolina, and joined in the
anathemas of “ cowards” and “ submissionists”
against all who prefered a more peaceful remedy.
It was nothing that in taking this “back track”
the ensign of their chivalry had to sweep low in
the dust, and all the mortifications and pangs of
glaring inconsistency and bloated blustering,
turned to shameful backing out, had to be endur
ed-—all this was nothing—principles, eonsisten
cy, and pride of Opinion and character, all had to
fall, before the rapacity of the manufacturing
interests, and the stern commands of their North
ern political masters. Judge Berrien, boldly
took the leap, trampling over his immortal Phil
adelphia Free Trade Report, and away went the
faithful with eyes shut, and consciences seared,
over the awful gap. We all remember how the
world was astounded, and we may well imagine
how Webster and Appleton and Lawrence and
Greely, chuckh and over the facility of Southern
Whig, Nullifying, State Rights principles !
It was not to be supposed that it would be an
easy task for Southern Whig politicians to travel
this new road, freshly blazed for them by North
ern Federalists. But brass and perseverance
have done wonders for them, and they have con
vinced vast numbers of their “intelligent” fol
lowers, that what was horrible heresy in 1832,
and to be resisted by the sword, is of the essence
cf American patriotism in 1846 ! And, now,
not even in the N. York Trioune, or the Boston
Courier, will you find the dogmas of
and the right of the few to live by legislative
plunder, upon the many, more strenuously urged,
than in the Augusta Chronicle & Sentinel.
Our contemporary may say this is no answer
to its comments are our Free-Trade facts. We
think differently, and while we hold that Web-,
ster’s Fanucil Hall speech of 1820, and Berri
en’s Free Trade Report of 1832, aTe the very
best answers to. all their efforts now, to falsify
the noblest acts of their lives, in a great and
truthful cause ; we also hold it an unansvveral le
argument against Southern Whig attempts to
embalm the doctrine of protection in 1846, that
they were its most violent and uncompromising
enemies less than a dozen years ago.
Living and publishing on the opposite extreme
borders of the State, with a different class of
readers, it would be a bootless task in us, to en
ter into a discussion of particular points of the
Tariff policy, with the Chronicle & Sentinel;
but these general views are of universal interest,
and worthy to be holden in remembrance by all
Georgians who wish to form an enlightened and
unbiassed opinion upon the subject.
The stubborn facts of the times, are dealing
sledge-hammer blows to the dogmas of tho pro
tectionists.
The opening remark of the President’s mes
sage, that “there has been *.o period in our past
history, when all the- elements of National pros
perity have been so fully developed” is a crush
ing truth, which meets the assent of every ohser
er, and strikes to the earth all the fantastic pan
ic castles of the high Tariff’ Whigs. It is vain
to say, the new Tariff is just gone into opera
tion, and these elements of prosperity cannot be
attributed to it. The manufacturers knew it was
to go into effect tlic.Sd day of* December, and
they have not stopped their machinery—on the
contrary, they are building whole towns of man
ufacturing establishments; and besides, the Brit
ish Free Trade has been sometime in operation,
and it is to that our farmers are now mainly in
debted for a market for their overflowing produc
tions.
There is no need to answer, specifically, the
facts and commentaries ot the lesser lights, wheij
the grand luminary of the protective policy,
Mr. Clay, makes such blunders as the following:
*■ We, in the west, do. not believe the relaxa
tion in the British system of restriction is going
to create any considerable demand for the surplus
of our agricultural produce.— [Henry Clay, in a
late letter.
This is theory. What are the facta ? The
whole amount of the single article of Indiau Corn,
received at N. Y., by way of the Erie Canal, in
1845, for foreign shipment, was 30,838 bushels ;
while the amount received this year from the
opening of navigation to the end of the 4th
week in October, by the Canal, was one million
four hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred
The N. Y. Journal of Commerce of the 2d
November, states that the exports of cheese “ last
week ” were a million of pounds, and adds the
“ home market made the price 24 cents, the for
eign markets made it 7£ cents, or 200 per cent,
advance.” The following table shows what
Free Trade has done for a market for wheat,
corn, anil floor in barrels:
[From the Liverpool Times.]
The importations of wheat, flour, and Indian
corn into Liverpool, from the U. Sta es, in the
first nine months of 1845 and 1846, respectively,
were as follows :
Wheat. Flour. Ind. Corn.
Qrs. Brls. Qrs.
T05ept.15,1846 104,790 684,458 100,013
To Sept. 15,1845 1,584 5,828
Increase, 104,730 662,864 94,285
We should think that an increased exporta
tion of 104,730 qrs. of wheat, of 662,864 bar
rels of flour, and 94,285 qrs. of corn, in the one
period of Free Trade over the other of restriction,
would be even in Mr. Clay’s opinion, the “ crea
tion es a considerable demand” for thdse pro
ducts of the U. States.
Samuel Wier, Esq., the only Whig Editor in
the State of South-Carolina, has enrolled his name
as a private in the Columbia Volunteers. What
miserable traitors these Whigs are ! [Cohimbus
Enquirer.
The Savannah Republican copies the above
from the Col. Enquirer, and both papers seem to
think it a trump idea—an argumentum ad ho
minem—a “ten strike.” But while it proves
that Mr. Wier, the S. C. Whig Editor is a whole
souled patriot, and a man, how does it excuse
those Whig Editors who are hourly exciting pre
judice, religious, moral anil humane, in every
possible shape against the war in which the
country is engaged, and in which Mr. Wier has
gallantly offered to shed his blo&l? Those Whig
Editors who are doing all m their power to de
grade the cause, are not in the same category
with Mr. Wier. It is another proof, that the
mass of the Whigs are patriotic and true to the
country, while there are a few who treasonably
give “aid and comfort” to the enemy. Let
“ every tub stand ori its own bottom,” and let not
Mexican “ aiders and comforters” attempt to ride
to honor on the backs of those Whigs who love
country first and party next.
LATEST FROM THE ARMY.
The United States transport ship Alabama, is
at New Orleans, from Brazos St. lago, which
place she lei’ on the 11th inst.
Heavy weather had again been experienced
on the Mexican coast. The vessels oil’ the Braz
os were obliged to ship their cables and put to
sea. The steamer Sea, from Tampico, was total
ly lost on Brazos bar—ere to saved.
All was life, activity and motion in the army.
The 2d Infantry under Col. Riley had marched
as an advance guard from Camargo to Tampico,
by way of San Fernando and Victoria. The Ist
Regiment Tennessee Infantry was about to fol
low. The Alabama Regiment had sailed for
Tampico from the mouth of the River. The 3d
Illinois, 3d Ohio, and 3d Indiana Regiments were
preparing to move on the same point. Gen Pat
terson was daily expected at Mctamoras from
Camargo, where he had been active in patting
his plans into operation.
Wc have private information by the same ar
rival that the Georgia Regiment will go to Tam
pico, whether by land with Gen. Taj lor or by
water, is not stated. Nothing definite is known
of Sarita Anna’s movements.
Gen. Wool was at Monclova awaiting orders.
Gen Worth has taken Saltillo without oppo
sition, and it is said Gen. Taylor will leave Mon
terey and join Gen. Patterson at Metamoras
These warlike events are progressing to an im
portant conclusion', and before long we shall
doubtless obtain exciting news from Mexico.
Couxtf Officers.— Theobald Howard, Esq.
has been chosen as the Democratic candidate for
the office of Tax Collector of this county—and
J. C. W. Rodgers , candidate for Tax Receiver.
There were several other candidates, who in the
handsomest manner submitted their claims to the
arbitrament of 30 mutual friends of the parties,
who by ballot selected Messrs. How r ard and Rod
gers, and recommend them to the suffrages of
their fellow-citizens. We hope they may re
ceive a warm support.
The two companies of regular troops at Tam
pa Bay have been ordered to Mexico, and a re
quisition is made on the Governor of Florida, for
a company of 90 volunteers to garrison Tampa
during their absence.
Rich. —When Mr. Webster was in Philadel
phia making an onslaught upon the Government
of his country, on account of the Mexican war,
he makes a speech to Capt, Bennet’s company
of Light Guards, oiganized for that same war,
in which he tells them to “ bear up the stars of
our country” and let their rallying cry be “Wash
ington, our country and our homes.”
The Washington Union, looking at his speech
es to his patty friends, thus amplifies the sense
of his address to the military defenders of the
country.
Mr. Webster's patriotic appeal to the sol
diers.
“ You have volunteered to go to-a strange
land, to bear up the stars of our country in a war
which nobody voted for, and which is a violation
of the constitution. You are to maintain the hon
or of this nation in a conflict which is a just cause
ofimpeachment against your constitutional corn
mander-in-chief, and I charge you in the battle
to remember that you are the countrymen of
Washington. Congress alone has the right to
declare war, and this war he first heard of in the
President’s proclamation. Remember, then, that
you arc Americans when you march upon your
foe. Remember, I adjure you that the act of
Congress under which you are embodied, restricts
your operations to the defence of our own terri
tory, and press manfully onward to conquer an
honorable peace, to procure indemnity for the
past and guarantees for the future in the heart of
Mexico. Forget not as you strike that you are
engaged in an unjust, unconstitutional, and
wicked war of aggression and conquest* wag
ed without authority of law and for the worst par
tisan purposes. And as you sweep onward from
point to pointy and the eagle standard of victory
floats over your splendid career of iniquitous and
impeachable invasion, let your rallying cry be
‘Washington, oar country, and our homes !”
A Good Joke. —Our Washington corrcspon
dentlast week referred to one of the richest jokes of
the season. It appears that on account of the im
mense length of Mr. Webster’s speech none ofthe
Whig journals of Philadelphia were able to get
out at the usual time next morning. The “Penn
sylvanian,” (loco foco) however, had out an ex
tra bright and early, and flooded the city with
them, steamboats, hotels and highways, headed
“ Pennsylvanian extra — Mr. Webster’s great
speech .” Thousands were sold to the eagerly
expecting people, when lo ! it proved to be Mr.
Webster’s Free Trade speech delivered in Fan
, euil Hall, twenty-six years ago— -a speech, the
arguments of which havo never been answered
ani are unanswerable. The N. Y. Tribune
says, it \va.- “a dirty Lick I”
j Professor Henry hq# been elected Secretary qf
Correspondence.
WisniXGTOx, D. C. 7th Dec. 1816. £
Sunday Evening. 3
Sir—l think, from the number of arrivals ol
members of Congress last evening and this, that
there will be a quorum to-morrow, and some to
spare iii both houses.
From the preliminary notes which the leaders
of the Federal party have sounded, there is rea„
son to believe that the Mexican War will be the
point on which the main attack will be made, in
their endeavor to weaken the administration in
the estimation of the people. The apparent
change in the sentiments of the people of some
States, as indicated by recent elections, has so
exhilcralcd the federalists, that, as usual when
under such excitement, they are now exhibiting
themselves to the nation in very questionable
positions, to use no harsher term. Their talk
about the Nueces as the proper boundary, and
our infringement upon Mexican territory and
Mexican right, at this time of day, and the threat
of their great orator Daniel Webster, to impeach
the President for usurping powers not conferred
by the constitution, &c. will show to the people
that federalism is the same to-day that it was in
1812, ’l3 and ’l4.
It would seem from the facts which are press
ing in upon us from Florida and lowa, that the
manufacturing monopolists have been unusually
busy in these new States, and have expended large
sums for the purpose of changing their political
complexion. In lowa, particularly, agents, well
supplied with money, traversed the entire State,
and in many towns and settlements left ample
means in the hands of partizans to use for the
purpose of corruption. In Florida, also, the
whigs were very profuse in the distribution of
presents and liquors several public
houses open and free for all comers; several
days before the election. Indeed, the tariff of
1843 has thrown so much wealth in the hands
of the manufacturing capitalists that they have
become vain and arrogant, and really believe they
can effect by money what they have failed to
effect by reason—a revolution in the minds ot
the people upon the subject of protective tariffs!
For one, I think it fortunate for the country
(hat the federal leaders and editors have thus
early evinced their hostility to the administia
tion on account of the Mexican war—on this
subject the democracy are invulnerable, as the
Message of the President will demonstrate. It is
also fortunate that at this time the democrats of
Pennsylvania and New York should receive
some hearty buffets from their adversaries—it
will show them the necessity of union and exer
tion. Yours, truly;
Correspondence of tlie Times.
No. IS.
Washtnptox Citt, Dec. 18, 1846.
One hundred and ninety-three members of the
House and forty Senators answered ‘o their
n imes at tile first roll call of the session on last
Monday. This was an unusual full attendance
at so early a period. Indeed, the oldest mem
bers say it was heretofore almost unheard of.
The Democrats come to Washington nothing
daunted by our recent quasi defeats in N. York,
Florida, and Pennsylvania., Our friends were
never in better spirits or more confident of vic
tory at an approaching Presidential election.
The Pennsylvania Democratic members who
with one exception voted against the new tariff
ill sta'n'iJ now, to a man, as I have reason to be
lieve, ready to defend that as against the propos
ed re-enactment of the tariff'ot 1842 ! This was
Unexpected ; and has of course chagrined the
Federalists as much as it has gratified our triends.
Coal arid iron have risen rather than fallen in
price, as the Feds predicted, while on the other
hand the produce of the farms in the State has
also risen in price, as the Democrats predicted,
as one of the consequences of the enactment of
the new law. This fact has doubtless much to
do with the altered tone of the delegation from
the Keystone State. - Their position seems a
matter of importance; as for the sake .f consis
tency if for no other reason, they might have
been expected to stand by the bill lor which they
struggled last winter. The conviction that the
principles of the tariff of 1842 are rapidly be
coming as odious in the estimation of the yeo
manry of Pennsylvania as the U. S. Bank be
came after the exposure of the enormities hid
under its fair face, has probably produced much
of this change m the delegation. I see nothing
in the words or acts of the Federalists “smack
ing” of an intention to agitate the tariff question
seriously ; and the Democrats have generally
come to the conclusion that - after a few windy
flourishes on the subject by way of raising a
smoke under which they may draw off unob
served, from that point of attack, we are to hear
I little or nothing of the threatened struggle for
I file re-enactment of the law of 1842.
No sooner was the message read on Tuesday
than Mr. Garret Davis of Ky.—“the Kings own”
(as he is familiarly called in Washington) rose
to propose a resolution of inquiry—nominally to
obtain more information relative to the tempora
ry governments established in California and
New Mexico, but really to call the forces of
Federalism into life preparatory to an assault on
that particular part of the war policy of the ad
ministration. Now there happens to have been
much backing and filling among them as t > the
policy of formally flinging the Hartford convention
flag to the breeze; and a considerable and more
prudent wing are opposed to any such hazardous
experiment. It was the calculation of Davis
and his immediate backers that a prompt and
violent assault on the administration would so
unite them as to give the wire-pullers little trou
ble in leading them to any position. In„this, he
was correct; for they one and all appeared to
rush cordially to his support.
-On the next day, when these resolutions came
up for discussion, Davis, himself, folio-wed by
Schenck of Ohio ; and Winthrop on the Feder
al side pitched inti the president “like a thousand
of brick,” accusing him of a gross violation of
the laws of nations, the constitution, &c., in the
prosecution of this ‘‘unjust, unrighteous and
damnable war” as they term it.
Upon the particular subject of governing the
conquered territories while in our possession by
and through officers exercising civil functions,
they were as outrageously vituperative as at any
time during the last session, on any question.
Indeed, they held up the Executive as a Cresar
sending out his proconsuls, and a Nero in the
cruelties inflicted by his order (for they say it is
his war) on the innoccntand unoffending Mexi
can nation !
They were replied to by Douglas of 111. Gen.
Haralson, and Rhett of So. Ca., who first proved
that It was hot only his right, but his duty so to
govern the conquered territories while in our
possession; and then went on to show that
their opposition was factious and in its tone ane
temper was practically taking sides w ith thi
enemy against their own country. Mr. Dar-
—l. r> i ._? n i i*_i . .i .*
the next morning (Thursday,) and for the first
hour of that day’s debate amused the Democrats
by spouting such a cataract of words as no
member but himself (now that Col. Baker of 111.
has gone to the war) can sputter forth. Dar
ragh’s flood of words only served to float his pari
ty further into the roadstead of Hartford conven*
tionism where, by the bye, they were safety an
chored by and through the National lutelligen
cer’s six and a half column leader of Saturday
morning. Messrs. Seddoil of Ya. and Wood
ward of So. Ca., spoktf to the question after
Darrngh, and so fortified the previous speeches of
Douglas, Haralson and Rhett as to make the
Feds exceedingly anxious to terminate the de
bate without more ado. So none of them at
tempted to get the floor, which is interpreted as
a positive declension of what they begin to un
derstand is to be a suicidal contest on their part.
It pained the Democrats to find Winthrop of
Massachusetts descending from his former posi
tion as the fairest of the Federalists, to play the
demagogue in this instance. He evidently felt
that the character did not become him ; for he
halted and stumbled through his speech as he
never halted and stumbled before ; and, after all,
rather embarrassed than aided Davis and Schenck,
tlie most adroit of all congressional thimble-rig
gers in their labor of factious opposition which is
just the work for gentlemen of their calibre, who,
like the old fellows’ oxen, “ pull d-n stroag at a
light load.”
Neither House has been in session since
Thursday last, amd the Feds have employed the
intervening time in consulting upon the proprie
ty of continuing this fight against their country’s
cause. The result is, that many of them are dis
posed to hack water, and will doubtless exert
themselves to prevent the discharge of any more
such pop-guns as those of Schenck and Davis
which, being prone to go off half-cocked, are al
most always certain to send their contents right
into federal hopes of success before the people in
1848. The men of common sense among them,
however, will have a hard task to keep the rest
under a check ; more especially since the Nation
al Intelligencer has so promptly taken ground on
the Hartford convention platform. Yesterday
and to-day, they have been cursing that journal
for having pioneered the party into e'ery posi
tion taken since bargain and intrigue made John
Q. Adams President, which has tended to render
federalism the more odious in the estimation of
the people.
The message come upon the Feds in Con
gress like an electric shock, since its promulga
tion, we hear nothing more, either of the “ enor
mous war expenses,” or of the folly, if not to say
crime of admitting Santa Anna into Mexico, &c.
These were points on which they had hoped to
be able “ to kick up a pretty considerable dust”
ere the close of the session. Indeed they, made
boasts around the street corners, that with these
strong cords in their hands they could oppose the
war policy of the administration with impunity.
You will not be surprised then to learn that they
die hard under the President’s expose of the fi-
nancial and military details of the campaign.
They writhe too under the infliction of the para
graph in which he holds up to public reprehen
sion the conduct of those who afford “ aid and com
fort” to ttve enemy by factious opposition. Un
der the pretext that it is the constitutional right
of Americans to make factious opposition on a
question of war, Mr. Winthrop made this portion
of the message the principal text for his speech.
The fact is, they know that the paper will be
read by almost every voter in the Union who
can read, and dread the powerful effect it must
have Oh the popular mind* The Democrats in
Congress, from Maine to Georgia, are more
than satisfied with it. Indeed, they receive it
with as much enthusiastic favor as was bestowed
on the last annual Executive message. A few
of the more liberal of the opposition, acknowl
edge the conclusive force of its iacts and the
stringent cogency of its reasoning. The Cour
ier & Enquirer, for instance, when republishing
tlie document, pronounced it a full and conclu
sive vindication of the justice of the contest on
our part, as well as of the wisdom and sound
military judgement with which it has been con
ducted. In this same article the editor unwit
tingly denounced all who took ground with Da
vis, Schenck and trie National Intelligencer, on
the war question, as undisguised enemies of their
country! The New York correspondent of the
National Intelligencer announced that instead of
depressing the stock market (as had been hoped)
its publication in the Commercial Emporium,
caused even the “ fancies” to rise one or two pr
cent. ; while the call for a new loan of some 20
millions of dollars had not had the effect of de
preciating the value of tlie £5,000,000, so lately
taken.
The fact that the Executive asked for a modi
fication of the sub-treasury law, as it now stands,
was endeavored to be twisted into a recommenda
tion of the repeal of the specie clause. Where
upon these gentlemen (the bull’s and “bears” of
Wall street)’ for a while sa w nothing to find fault
with in the message.
This exceedingly amiable temper only lasted
until it was understood that the Executive refer-;
red to other details of the law, rather than to;
this same specie clause/ As-Soon as rhey unde-!
ccived themselves, their newspapers, which had
remained quiet of late, broke loose against the i
administration, anil ate even now fighting its poi
sitions with as much earnestness as the National j
Intelligencer exhibits in the cause ot Mexico, j
There is no doubt of the passage of the re
solution of Davis’, for the Democrats are quite
anxious that the whole matter of the establish
ment of temporary Government in California ttnd
New Mexico shall be spread before the country.
Indeed, it is believed that on Saturday last the
Documents had been copied and the message to
accompany them had been written in anticipa
tion of the debate. The President himself is
said by his friends to be perhaps more anxious
than any one else, to give the Feds such a bone
to crack—their teeth on—as these same docu
ments .will prove. Poor fellows; some how or
other they will catch little else than “ Tartars”
in all their hunting.
I have reason to believe that whenever a trea
ty is made with Mexico, the administration will
insist on obtaining permission to construct a ca
nal or other channel of communication across
the Isthmus of Tehnantepec which, being situa
ted immediately in the rear of Vera Cruz, divides
the Pacific from the Gulf of Mexico. If Cala
fomia is to be ours, some such channel of busi
ness communication will of course be necessary
for its proper enjoyment.
General Gaines and Lady are in ."Washington
at the present writing. The old veteran has re
covered from his late spell of sickness.
Little was done in the House to-day, besides
the announcement of the death of the late Gen.
F. G. McConnell. Mr. Lynn Boyd of Ky.,had
the floor, and Mr. King of your State, endeavor
ed without avail to prevail on him to yield it.
so ti at he (King) might offer an amendment to
is intended to foreshadow the ground which the
federalists, after mature reflection and consulta
tion, have determined to occupy without refer
ence to these governments in California and
new Mexico. Mr. Boyd however, would only
yield to the resolution of adjournment on ac
count of the death of Mr. McC.
In the Senate, both Messrs. Crittenden and
Benton proposed resolutions instructing the mili
tary committee to make provision for increasing
the pay of the volunteers. Mr. Benton’s reso
lution was passed as proposed, and that of Crit
tenden was passed as amended, on motion of
Benton, some of the Whigs voting with the lat
ter, td the evident chagrin of Mr. C., who doubt
less moved in the matter by way of “lakin-the
wind out of the sail,” of Lynn Boyd, the latter
having proposed a similar resolution in the House
on the first day 0! the session.
lowndes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRE COM
biittee.
Monday, 7th December, 1846.
The Committee met pursuant to adjournment
JWntßev. Dr. Goulding in the Chair:
7 he Treasurer .eported having received since
ffom D m Trf t dty ° f Athcns * 27o ’
The committee to whom was referred the dis
of the O Tre f remainin g in the hands
ot the I reasurer, recommended that the follow
ing named persons be paid the amounts annexed
to their respective names, which after some dis-
° r<^ to l)e P a id by the Treasur-
M T °n Mr % o ? ai i7 ss ° ; Phili P Kaynal *3O 1
° r 1 r ’ Stark ’ Mr- Manner SSO;
Mr.Danforth *SO; Mr. Walton *3O; Mr. Bay
ard SSO ; Mr. J. Cox SSO; Mr. Tarbutton S2O •
Mr. Tooreene S2O; Mr. Holden S2O; Mr. J
; Q lr; \' Ic of Len<Jon * lO ; Mr. Curry S2O;
M ’ J ‘ S niith SSO; Messrs. Forsyth & Ed
monds S3O ; Miss Coolidge SSO ; Messrs. Tilly
& Ligon S4O ; Mrs. Webster S2O ; Trustees of
B. Wick s children s2o—making $655.
On motion, ordered, that the balance of $i 18
37 cents he equally divided between John Dur
kin, John Afflick, and Thomas Bostwick.
. Gn motion, resolved, that the committee ad
journ subject to the call of the Chairman
w n „ THOS ■ GOULDING, Chm’n.
Wm. P. \ onok, Sec’v.
From the N. Y. Jour, of Commerce 2d inst.
THE NEW TARIFF.
The beginning of kujn.— To-day we
launch out upon the sea of free trade. Many of
the old pilots say the water is shallow, the cur
rents resistless, and the shore nothing bat rocks.
Others say that the water is deep and calm, the
wind favorable, whichever way you may be sail
ing, the harbors good, and the markets, both for
buying and selling, tlie best in the world. ‘They
say that most of the difficulties ol the navigation
are caused by the bars which have been built,
and the hulks which have been sunk by protec
tion; that, in fact, all the attempts which Lavo
been made to improve the navigation, have on
ly made the matter worse. But to dispense with
the ocean figure. The tariff of 1846 goes to
day into operation. The prophets have spoken
of its effects, and both sides should be holden to
their declarations; not as a matter of personality
or figure, hat for the eniightmerrt of the public
mind, and the settlement of the greatest of all
questions in political economy. Mr. Lawrence,
of Boston, has predicted that eighteen months
from to-day there will hot be a specie-paying
bank in the United States. This he did, not in
haste nor in private, hut in a series of letters ad
dressed to an honorable senator from the great
State of Virginia, and published with the name
of Mr. Lawrence, and with his approbation, in
the papers favorable to the doctrine of protec
tion throughout the United States. The decla
ration was therefore substantially endorsed by
the prophets on that side generally. Mr. Clay,
the iather of the American system, in a recent
address, characterized the new tariff as “the fe
tal ol 1846, whose calamitous effects will, I ap
prehend, sooner or later be extensively realized.”
This, with his declaration that “we of the west”
do not think the repeal of the English corn laws
will he of much importance, exhibits the views
ol this greatest of the protectionists as to the new
policy upon which Great Britain and tlie U.
States have entered.
We believe these prognostications of the great
men who have been named to be utterly ground
less; nay, the very opposite of the truth. Wo
have doubt of the truth of the following propo
sitions, viz: that protection lessens the wages of
labor; if not directly, yet really, by enhancing
the price of protected articles purchased by the
laborer.
It lessens the product of capital.
It reduces the prices of the produce of the
dountry, and enhances the prices of the protect
ed articles to the consumers ; so making a dou -
ble loss to tire farmers and all producers, and
of manufactured articles of export.
It aggravates the fluctuations of trade, carry
ing excessive importations to greater excess, and
so exposes the country to injurious drains of coin,
and its moneyed institutions of embarrassment
and bankruptcy.
With these views, and sure of their truth, we
predict that the currency will be sound and the
banks strong under the influence of free-trade,
and that, instead ot ruin, the tariff of 1846 will
bring with it a dot ree of solid prosperity never
before known in our country. Not bring with
it exactly, but allow it to develop itself. The
sources o; prosperity are not either in free trade
or protection. I hey are in the good laws which
God has given us, tire- high principles which our
lathers taught us. the influence of a free and en
ergetic Bible religion among us, the security of
our prosperity, and in all the mighty energies of
a free, intelligent, and comparatively virtuous
people. Frce trade is nothing at ail. It is mere
ly the absence of restriction. Liberty is noth
ing. ft is only the absence of oppression.—■
This abs nee lets out the mighty energies of our
racte, stimulated ry laws which protect us in the
pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. It is our
boast, our glory, that wc are free; and this it is
which will stimulate the energies of the people
by securing to them the largest reward. This
will till the coders of our banks and our people,
arid secure the steady and most rapid prosperi
ty of the country. Do men earn money or accom
plish & obtain a desirable thing by being forbidden
to"act? Do they make money by what they can
not do? Events will determine the great ques
tion now submitted, and the people will endorse
the verdict with “Live free trade ! Live liberty
in everything!”
Our collector very kindly and properly kept
the custom house opened until 10 o’clock last
night. Then in the darkness protection went
out, and the doors were closed against it, we
hope and believe forever.
Two HCXDIIXI) AND SEVENTY-THREE Mlt
tioxs worth of “Rl in !”—A writer in the
“Boston Courier” estimates the increase in val
ue on the agriculture produce of the United
States since September Ist, 1846, as follows :
“On the crop of Indian corn (estimated at
480,000,000 bushels) the advance (estimated at
25 cents per bushel) is $120,000,000; on the
crop of wheat the advance is estimated at $56,-
000,000; on the crop of oats, $16,000,000 ; rye,
$36,000,000; on the crop of hay the advance
(in consequence of the increased use of com
and other grains for breadstuffs) is estimated at
$45,000,000. Showing a total rise in value of
$273,000,000.
SorTH Carolina Senator. —The Hon. A.
P. Butler has been selected as Senator to fill the
vacat cy occasioned by the resignation of Hon.
Geo. McDuffie.
A soldier writing from Monterey, says: “I
get eighteen ounces of flour, one, pound of pork
meat, with coflee and sugar in proportion, every
morning, more than I can eat. My bed is ra
ther hard, but have a good tent for 6 or 8 to
sleep in.” Wc are satisfied that the soldiers arc
well taken care of and. not neglected.