Newspaper Page Text
ITiie
COLUMBUB, ga.
fTKfIDiT, JANUARY 4, 1848.
Mr. Suivers’ School wilt be resumed on the
2<l Monday in January next, at the School Room
lately occupied by the Rev. Mr. Slade. Terms
M heretofore.
Cit Election.—The election on Saturday
rrsultegl in the choice of—for Mayor, S. W.
Plocrkot ; Ist Ward, Messrs. HoUtead and
Barden ; 2d Ward, Harvey Hall ; 3d Ward,
Brooks and Johnson; 4th Ward, Nobody; sth
Ward, Judge Andrews and L. C. Allen; 6th
Ward, Coleman, being 8 Aldermen elected out
es 12; R. Green, Treasurer; C. Stratton, Clerk ;
.M. Hughes, Marshal; George Gullen, Deputy
Marshal.
We have not been able to obtain the official
eturns.
Military.—At an election of non-commis
sioned officers of the “ Columbus Guards,” for
•fan year 1848, the following gentlemen were
chosen:
G. W. Andrews, - - - Ist Serg’t.
£. Reed, 2d
T. Schoonmaker, - - - 3d “
A. Logan. ----- 4th “
A. Ellis, Quartermaster and- sth “
J. M. Everett, - - - -Ist CorpM.
O. Wells, - - - - 2d •*
A. Kivlin. - - - - - 3d “
John King, - - - - 4th u
I. A. Robinson, Secretary and Treasurer.
“THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE & SEN
TINEL*”
At the risk of writing what the self-sufficient
EJitor of the Chronicle & Sentinel may designate
as further “ twattle,” we crave leave to say, that
his argumentation is not so sound as his super
ciliousness is apparent.
The Chronicle insists that our facts, taken
from the “ record,” are “mere assertions.” We
might be altogether on a par with the Editor, if
w were to treat bis quotations from the “ re
cord” in the same way, and there rest the argu
ment. We do not know what else we can do
ban to give the developments of the “ record,”
unless we publish all the archives of the War
Department, beating on this subject, which would
hardly suit the limits of au editorial. We admit
that t he Chronicle makes out a plausible case
by the ingenious substitution of its own terms,
‘finally refused,” for ours of “ definitely re.
fused.” We repeat that “on the 21st Decem
ber, 1846, the Mexican Government definitely,
(not finally, for they kept on refusing afterwards,)
but definitely refused to receive Mr. Slidell, and
that the knowledge of that fact induced the
President to order General Taylor to the Rio
Grande.
And to gratify the erudite Chronicle, who
never relies upon newspaper data, but always
carries hit researches into the original musty re
cords, we will continue the quotations from the
public documents sent into the last session of
Congress, which be begins with, but stops short in
%chen he finds they are about to prove too much
for him.
We shall not quote from “the editorial of
the Union,” although we might be contented to
do so, and submit it as an able summing up of
the case, which neither the National Intelligen
cer nor its federal imitator in Augusta, (excuse
the M twattle” for the sake of the truth,) have
ever been able to refute or answer.
The real point in dispute is, whether or not
it waa definitely known to the Government at
Washington that Mr. Slidell’s peace mission was
a failure, before the issue of the orders to Gen.
Taylor, dated 13th January, 1847. If wc can
show this, then, no matter what the number or
character of the despatches written afterwards,
and no matter what faint hopes still existed that
the Mexican Government might come to its 9enscs>
the order to Gen. Taylor was an act of wise and
pruJent statesmanship, and none but a timid
100 l having the power to issue it, would have
withheld it. 4 -*’
Now let us see what the President said on this
subject in his message of December 1846. We
first quote the portion which the Chronicle finds
it convenient to use :
• This movement was made in pursuance of
orders from the War Department, issued on the
thirteenth of January, 1846. Before these or
ders were issued, the despatch of our Minister
in Mexico, transmitting the decision ot the Coun
cil ot Government of Mexico, advising that he
ahonld not be received, and also the despatch of
our consul residing in the city of Mexico—the
Conner bearing date on the seventeenth, and the
latter on the eighteenth of December, 1845, cop
ies of both of which accompanied my message
to Congress on the eleventh of May last—were
received at the Department of State. Those
communications rendered it highly probable, if
not absolutely certain, that our minister would
not be received by the government of Gen. Her
term*
We now qaote the part the Chronicle found it
convenient to omit:
“It was also well known that but little hope
could be entertained of a different result from
Crew. Paredes in case the revolutionary movement
which be was prosecuting should prove success
ful. as was highly probable. The partisans of
Paredes, as our minister, in thedespatch referred
to, states, breathed the fiercest hostility against
the United States, denounced the proposed nego
tiation as treason, and openly called upon the
troops and the people to put down the govern
arent of Herrera by force. The re-conquest of
Texas, and war with the United States, were
openly threatened. These were the circuinstan
stancea existing, when it was deemed proper to
order the army under the command of General
Taylor to advance to the western frentier ot Tex
as, and occupy a position on or near the Rio
Grande.
“The apprehension of a contemplated Mexi
can invasion have been since fully justified by
the event The determination of Mexieo to rush
Into hostilities with the United States was after
wards manifested from the whole tenor of the
*f the Mexican Minister of Foreign Af
faire to our Minuter, bearing date on the 12th
of March, 1846. Paredes had then revolution
■rd the government,and his minis'er, after refer
t*®gt* the resolution for the annexation of Tex
es, which bad been adopted Dy our Congress in
* arc ® 1845, proceeds to declare that * a fact
°t to apeak with greater exactness,
aenoUt>te an act of usurpation, created an irnpe
r^ w .f ecga yj *h*f Mexico, for her own honor,
should repel it with proper firmness and dignity.
The Supreme Government had beforehand de
clared that it would look upon such an act as a
emsus belli,- and, as a consequence of this decla
ration, negotiation was, by its very nature, at an
cud, and war waa the enly recourse of the Mex
gorernmMU/
“ It appears, also, that on the 4th of April fol
fewing, Gen. Paredes, through his minister of
war, femad orders to the Mexican General in
cornu nH on the Texan frontier to * attack’ our
•my •by every means which war permits.’ To
this Gen. Paredes had beea pledged to the army
and peepfe of Mexico daring the military revo
lution which had brought him into power. On
*be 18th of April, 1846, Gen. Paredes fddiessed
a letter to the commander on that frontier, in
which he stated to him, *At the present date I
suppose )on at the head of that valiant irmv,
either fighting already, or preparing lor the oper
ations of a campaign;’ and • supposing you al
ready on the theatre of operations, and with at
the forces assembled, it is indispensable that hos
tilities be commenced, yourself taking the initia
tive against the enemy.’ ”
Who can read these last passages without per
ceiving that the President felt and believed that
there was not the remotest hope of a more peace
ful issue to Mr. Slidell’s mission to Mexico. In
short, that be considered the despatches from oar
Minister and Consul in Mexico, of the 17th and
and 18th December, 1845,as conveying the in
telligence that Mexico “ definitely refused” to
receive Mr. Slidell. And so believing, who, we
ask again, but a timid fool, would have waited
for fur .her and yet more u definite” refusals than
* had already been given 1 And if the steps ta
ken by Mr. Polk were wise then, how fully has
their wisdom been sustained and vindicated by the
issue. It is now “ definitely ” and “ finally ”
known that Mexico designed to fight for Texas
from the first. Mr. Polk came to that conclusion
in January, 1846, and acted accordingly for the
defence of Texas. Every American citizen who
has held it to be the duty of the Government
to defend the “ State of Texas” from threatened
invasion, approved of his course. The Chronicle
and its fugleman of the Intelligencer, have not
approved of this or any act of the Government
in reference to the war. And, when Cross was
murdered, and Thornton’s dragoons were cut to
pieces, we doubt not, that had their sympathies
for the “sister republic” had sway, Gen. Taylor’s
sword would not even then have been drawn to
chastise violence,superadded to insult and injury.
And, let it be remembered that the wrath ot
these papers is not confined to the time of the
march to the Rio Grande. Judging from their
sentiments, daily printed, the time never would
come, when this Government was to assert its
rights and dignity, and this war on her part has
been always unjust,unnecessary,and cruel. What
measure of justice and fairness towards an ad
ministration politically opposed to them, can
presses like these be expected to mete out to it 1
Opposition to party has driven them to opposi
tion to country. Hatred to Mr. Polk has caused
them to fall in love with Mexico. And because
a Democrat exercises tlie executive functions of
an American President, they have ceased to act’
talk, (and we suppose to feel,) like Americans.
But all this is “twattle” to the editor of the
Chronicle. The worjd does not so regard it.—
This country has denounced it, and Europe has
curled its loyal lip at it, as something more, and
your Whig Doniphans, and Curtis’s, and Wyn
koops, have called it by a harsher name. And
if the Editor lives to see this war closed, and the
people have time to look calmly at the figure
which such Whig presses as the Chronicle have
cut in it, he will find it as difficult to escape its
blasting effects by superciliously crying out •‘twat
tle,” as has another political party that lived and
acted and damned itself in 1812—’15. Better is
it to write patriotic “ twattle” than to be wise as
the serpent in the career of “ moral treason.”
DIFFICULTIES IN THE ARMY.
The Charleston Mercury fatly expresses the
sentiments of distaste, with which the pernsal of
Gen. Scott’s army order, No. 349, iuspired us
We thought, and do so still, that it displayed an
acerbity of spirit,which savored more of personal
pique than the dignified purpose of the Com
mander-in-Chief, to discharge strictly and im
partially his public duty to the character of the
army and the country. It was certainly unpar
donable harshness to point almost by name to
certain high officers, barely inferior in rank to
himself, as “despicable self-puffers,” and that,
upon no better evidence than such as would be
afforded to a very suspicious mind,from the circum
stance that these parties were praised in the ob
jectionable letters. And the Commander-in-
Chief must have been speedily convinced of his
intemperate rashness, when Lieut. Col. Duncan
immediately came forward in the “North Amer
ican,” avowed himself as the author of one of
the letters, and exonerated Gen. Worth from any
knowledge of or concurrence in its production,
and when Gen. Pillow as emphatically denied
that he had any thing to do with the other.
These quarrels among the high officers of our
heroic army are deeply to be regretted. They
are neither creditable to the army or agreeable
to the country. “ Mustang,” the correspondent
of the Delta, writing from Mexico, says;
These disputes will no dcabt be a fruitful
theme for some of the political papers at home,
whose interest lies in making the breach wider
between their friends and the antagonists. The
whole matter as soon as the President sees pro
per to order a Court Martial, will become the
subject of juridical investigation, and the affair
sifted to. its very bottom. The result from what
I have heard intimated from the Charges, will
develop a state of affairs our people little expect
to exist here, and, I have on doubt cool their ar
dnn for elevating to prominent offices, “Military
Chieftains.” .
We annex the General Orders referred to, with
the correspondence of Col. Duncan and the com
ments of the Mercury. Our readers will thus
have a view of this quarrel as it now stands :
GENERAL ORDERS To. 3.
War Department, Adj. Gent's. Office,
Washington. Jan. 28, 1847,
The following regulation has been received
from the War Department:
War Department,
Washington, Jan, 28, 1847.
The President of the United States directs
that paragraph 650 of the General Regulations
for the Army, established on the Ist March,
1825, and not included among those published
Jan. 25, 1841, be now published, and that its
observance as a part of the General Regnlations
‘be strictly enjoined upon the army.
By order of the President.
W. L. MARCY, Sec. of War
The following is the paragraph of the Gen
eral Regulations for the Army, established on
the Ist of March, 1825, referred to above:
“ 650. Private letters or reports, relative to
military marches and operations, are frequently
mischievous in design, and always disgraceful,
to the army. They are, therefore, strictly for
bidden; anil any officer found guilty of making
such report for publication, without special per
mission, or of placing the writing beyond his
control, so that it finds its way to the press, with
in one month after the termination of the cam
paign to which it relates, shall be dismissed from
the service.”
By command of Maj. Gen Scott.
WM. G. FREEMAN, Ast. Adj. Gen.
exinn ORDERS —xo. 349.
Headquarters of the Army.
Mexico, Nov. 12, 1847.
The attention of certain offieers of this army
is recalled to the foregoing regulations, which
the General-in-Chief is resolved to enforce so far
as it may he in his power.
As yet but two echoes from home of the
briliant operations of our arms in this basin have
reached us; the first in a New Orleans, and the
seeonJ through a Tampico newspaper.
It reqnires not a litttle charity te believe that
the principal heroes of the scandalous letters al
luded to did not write them, or specially pro-
J cure them to be written, and the intelligent can
be at no loss in conjecturing the authors—chief
partisans, and pet familiars. To the honor of
the service, the disease—pruriency of fame not
earned—cannot have seized upon half • dozen
officers (present,) all of whom, it is believed, be
long to the same two coteries.
False credit may. nodoubt.be obtained at home
by such despicable self-puffings and malignant
exclusion of others: bnt at the expense of the just
esteem and consideration of ail honorable officers
ah > love their country, their profession and the
truth of history. The indignation of the great
number of the latter class cannot fail in the end
to bring down the conceited and envious to their
proper level.
By command of Maj. Gen. Scott.
H. L. SCOTT, A. A. A.O
The letters alluded to by Gen Scott as “ the
echoes from borne.” are evidently the“ Leonidas
letter and the other a letter which appeared first
in the Pittsburg Post, was thence transferred to
the Union, whence we copied it on the Bth Octo
ber, with some introductory remarks, and the
whole then appeared in a Tampico paper, in
which Gen. Scott saw first the latter. Upon the
publication of Gen. Scott’s orders, given above,
Lieut. Col. Duncan came out promptly tn the
North American with the following frank avowal
of his connection with the “Tamptco letter,” so
called. According to the North American, the
“Tampico letter” was “complied from two letter’
writen by officers of the army in Mexico to a
brother officer in Pittsburg, for his eye alone.”—
Butread what Col. Duncan has to say of it:
Mexico, Nov. 13, 1847.
To the Editor of the North American —Sir: I
herewith present a copy of the Tampico letter,”
characterized as “scandalous,” “ despicable,”
“malignant,” &c., in general orders No, 349
published in the American Star this morning.
To the end that the true character of this let
ter may be known, I desire that you republish it
in your paper; and that none of my brother offi
cers may innocently suffer for a publication so
obnoxious I hereby publicly ackuowledge myself
to be its author. The substance of it I commu
nicated from Tacubaya soon offer the battles, to
a friend in Pittsburg.
The statements in the letter are known bv
very many officers of this army to be true, and I
can but think that the publication of truth is less
likely to do violence to individuals or the service
than the suppression or perversion of it.
Justice to Gen. Worth, (who is evidently one
of the “heroes” pointed at in order No. 319,)
requires me to state that he knew nothing what
ever of my purpose to write the letter in question,
nor that it had been wrrtfen, till well on its way
to its destination; he never saw, nor did he know
directly or indirectly, even the purport of one lino,
word, or syllable of it until he saw it in print ;
and he is equally ignorant of my design to make
this declaration, which I do, as I wrote the letter
unprompted and cn my own responsibility.
Very icspectifully, your obediant servant,
JAMES DUNCAN,
Brevet Lieut. Col. U. S. A.
After the publication of this- Colonel Dun
can was placod under arrest, and subsequently
Gen. Pillow was arrested, and next Gen. Worth
The North American is of opinion that Gen.
Pillow was not arrested on account of the “Le
onidas” letter, but on the following ground;
There has been another arrest, that of Gen.
Pillow, one of the chiefs aforenamed, but not, as
appears, on account of the letters of which he is
the hero. We hear, generally, that the cause was
this: Gen. Pillow, having taken exceptions to
the finding of a court of inquiry, which finding
has been approved by Gen. Scott, addressed a
paper relating to the matter to the Secretary of
War, though the commander-in-chief, preserving
a copy which he avowed in the letter accompa
nying he had sent (or would send) directly to the
Secretary at Washington. This transaction is
judged contempt,and for the so judged contempt
Gen. Pillow is arrested. Not understanding the
technicalities of the case we were not advised
whether part or the whole transaction is regar
ded as the contempt—but that is immetcml.
Gen. Worth’s arrest is thus noticed in the
North American of the 20th ult:
The last arrest occurred yesterday—that of
Brevet Maj. Gen. Worth, and the charge is, we
believe, contempt towards the commander-in-chief,
Withoot a full knowledge of all the facts we
do not purpose to lengthen this article by any
remark upon this proceeding.
From the Charleston Mercury.
ARMY DIFFICULTIES.
The latest news from Mexico is fraught with
interest of a kind that we trust will not often
characterize the record of our military opera
tions—the interest of a scandalous dissension
among the highest officers, and which, on pres
ent information, can only be felt as a deep humi
liation to the country and the service. Better
information may explain more clearly the cause
of the arrest of Worth, Pillow, and Dcxcak;
and it may appear chat under the sting of an of
ficial insult, they really did or said things pro
perly construed into contempt or insubordina
tion. But what explanation can ever change
the character of the “ general order” issued by
the Commander-in chief] We be,g the reader
to look carefully at the section of the Army Re
gulations re-published by Gen. Scott. Con
strued in its utmost latitude, it may be made to
denounce, as an infamous crime, every letter
written by officers, which shall allude to the past
movements and operations of the army; and it is
manifestly on such a construction that Gen. Scott
has brought forward as fit subjects for contume
lious insult, the highest officers under his com
mand—and this merely on the pregumption that
because they were praised in certain letters, there
fore they must have written them, or caused
them to be written. He does not suggest any
other reason for charging them with the author
ship of letters, which, if they come, as he pre
tends, under the description in the section of the
Army Regulation re-published, renders these
high officers liable to be dismissed from the ser
vice. And this accusation, thus flimsily suppor
ted, he publishes at the head of the Army : and
not content with this, he clothes it in language
fit only to be used in the coarse quarrels of the
coarsest portion of the political press. And to”
show how rash and ungenerous the accusation
was, it was no sooner promulged, than Lt.
Colonel Duncan come forward and claimed the
exclusive authorship and sole knowlege of the
letter referring to Worth, while Pillow dis
tinctly disavows all share in the other. In what
light, then, must be viewed, so grave an accusa
tion, put forward in the most intemperate lan
guage, by this General-in-chief, against officers
second only to himself in rank.
But, in reality, is the section of the Army Re
gulations fairly chargeable with an interpreta
tion that connects it in any degree with these
letters ? We had supposed that it referred on
ly to disclosures of the future movements and
plans of campaign, and we have met with no
man who thought differently. It is clear that
Col. Duncan gave it that construction; and it is
the only one which can save the Regulation
from the charge of absurdity and oppression. It
is neither “ mischievous in design,” nor “dis
graceful to the army, ” to write letters, giving an
account of glorious battles that have been fought
and won, and no amount of “general orders”
canconvinee any man that it is.
We write morejin sorrow than in anger, al
though to see an honored hero like Worth, ar
raigned in such terms, on bare suspicion, might
well account for stronger feelings. Wc thought,
when Com. Pkrhv’s lecture to Lieut. HuxTEt,
was published, amid one uniform expression of
disgust through the country, that no officer in
either service would ever emulate such notoriety.
But what was Com. Perry’s lecture to this of
Gen. Scott ? Besides, the Commodore was
executing the sentence of a Court Martial, and
it was only his manner of doing it, that shocked
the moral sense of the country.
Mh. Wihthrop. —This gentleman has had a
masked opportunity to show his fitness to be the
successful candidate of Southern Whig member 3
for Speaker.
Mr. Giddings, the Abolition abstractionist,
presented a petition to abolish the slave trade in
the District of Columbia. The usual motion to
lay the petition on the table, met with a tie vote,
which devolved the duty of decision on the
Speaker. He voted against the motion and thus
admitted an abolition petition to consideration,
discussion and agitation. Such is the power
which Southern Whigs have placed in the hands
of a steady and consistent anti-slavery Speaker,
and such is his monster of using it.
Mb. Holmes, or 8. C.—The Charleston Mer.
cury, more in sorrow than in auger, calls on Mr.
Holmes to explain and justify the strange course
of conduct, by which he, a Representative from
the Charleston District, es the Palmetto State,
has virtually elected Speaker of the House, Mr.
Winthrop, a man, who “to Slavery in the South,
considered in a mdral, political, and religious
view, is the able, stern and inexorable opponent.”
The Aberdeen(Miss. Advertiser states that at
least one-third of the Cotton crop of the Bighee
valley has been destroyedjand swept away by the
recent freshet, and that the total less is not short
of a million oi dollars.
Palmetto Rf.ui.mext Returxixg Home
—The Greenville Mountaineer of the 25th ult.,
says—We are pleased to learn, as we do from
most reliable authority, that Governor Johnson
has received intelligence from the Secretary of
War that the remnant of this brave and devo
ted regiment will be immediately discharged, and
the State and the friends of the survivors will
have the satisfaction of greeting their return
home about the first of February next.
TAYLOR MEETING.
Large placards headed “ Old Zach, Ho!” ap
peared in cur streets last week, calling for a
Taylor Meeting at the Court House, on Monday
the 27th ult. Not finding the proceedings in the
“Enquirer;” we ventured to enquire what they
were, and learned that only some dozen persons
were present at the appointed hour. The meet
ing wa9 postponed until the afternoon, when
about forty persons appeared. Whereupon it
was resolved that the meeting was too thin to
take any action on the premises.
This is the seeond attempt of the same kind.
Two weeks ago, we observed a similar large
handbill, but never heard that any response was
made to it.
We merely note these facts as signs of the
times. Were Gen. Taylor to declare his princi
ples, and like every other citizen in the land,
take one or the other side of the line that di
vides political parties, he would be a formidable
candidate to any party.. But, we do not think,
in the present state of political enlightenment,
that any man will make a strong candidate, for
the first political office in the country, who hav
ing arrived at sixty years of age. tells the world
ho has not yet sufficiently investigated political
questions to teil what his opinions and principles
are, or what side he belongs to. If the Whig
party is willing to take such a man on trust, and
to run the risk of being again Tylcrized, it must
be from the sheerest desperation, and because
they know that no man avowing Whig doc
trines and standing on the Lexington or Massa
chusetts platform, can possibly succeed. The
plan of running a man on the “ mum” system,
was effectually tried in the case of Gen. Clinch.
And although Gen. Taylor was nominated by
the same Convention, yet the people of Georgia
showed, by their votes, that they did not under
stand or approve of a party that declared that it
was “ unnecessary to reiterate its principles.”—
The word “ unnecessary” they read to mean
“ unsafe,” and therefore elected a man who had
principles, and was not afraid to avow them.
The Richmond Enquirer, says—We regret to
hear that Senator CoJqnitt, ofGeorgia, intends to
resign His seat for the remainder of his term. In
ability, patriotism and fidelity, he has nobly re
presented the State of Georgia, and commanded
the respect of all parlies.
(C?* We regret to hear of the sudden death Os
Hon. John Fairfield, of Maine, of the U. S. Sen.
ate. lie died very suddenly at Washington
MV. Fairfield was, at the time of his death, Chair
man of the committee on Naval Affairs. Ho was
formerly Governor of Maine, and has been a
prominent uul useful member of both Hous
es.
Democratic Oo*rvßxTrox..—The Miffedge
ville Federal Union of the 28th inst. says
There were representatives of seventy counties
in attendance. The proceedings of the Conven
tion were marked with great harmony and un
animity. In the course of the evening, an able
and appropriate address was delivered by the
Hon. A, H. Chappell, and another by Col. Me.
Allister, which will long he remembered by those
who heard it, as one of the happiest and most
eloquent efforts of that ardent and patriotic ad
vocate of democratic principles.
The Delegates chosen to the National Conven
tion, are as follows:
For the State at large.
Hon. A. H. CHAPPELL.
“ M. H. McALLTSTER.
For the Districts.
Ist Dist. THOMAS M, FORMAN,
2d “ HENRY L. BENNING,
3d “ JAMES S. PINCKARD,
4th “ WILLIAM B. PRYOR,
sth “ CHARLES .1. McDONALD,
6th “ “WILLIAM H. HULL,
7th “ F. H. CONE.
8 h “ ELI H. BAXTER.
The Convention adopted a platform of prin
ciples, which we shall lay before our readers
next week.
The Manifesto of Albert Gallatin on the
war question, just issued in pamphlet form for
general circulation, goes decidedly ahead of Mr.
Clay’s resolutions and speech. The venerable
Ghent Treaty ex-commissioner throws the whole
blame of the war upon the United States for an
nexing Texas, to prove which, he ransacks Presi
dent Polk’s message and volumes of official docu
ments. The annexation ot Texas, he says, was
the cause cf all the difficulties that have arisen,
and the wa; has been consequently unjustly pur
sued on our part. How shall we get at the bot
tom of this matter, upon which there is so much
dispute among the semi-Mexican doctors I Al
bert Gallatin is a Whig, so are General Scott
and Daniel Webster Whigs; Daniel Webster,
the ablest expounder of the Constitution, so call
ed at least—says that the annexation of Texas
by the United States was no just cause of War,
and General Scott declares that the Mexican
Tyrants commtnced the War, while Mr. Gallatin
says the annexation of Texas was a sufficient
cause, and that the United States therefore, com
menced the war! Who shall we believe! Will
some able casuist explain. The fact is, these
old sages 6uch as Gallatin and Clay, whose lives
extend back to the days of the revolution, instead
of partaking of the spirit of that era have rejec
ted it altogether. Their intellects seem to suf
fer under their bodily infirmities, which may ac
count for the extraordinary positions they have
taken. They both go for abandoning Mexico
forhwith, and it is remarkable how unanimous
Webster, Clay, Gallatin, England and Mexico
are on this point. But the people of the Uni
ted States, happily for the extension and welfare
of liberty, think differently. They cry indemni
ty occupation and annexation, and it will be im
possible to defeat their will by any special plead
ing* These anti-war and anti-indemnity pamp
lets and speeches are a,loss of time, intellect and
paper.— N. Y. Sun.
A Soldier’s First Fight. —A young solj
dier of the 7th Infantry, describing his first fight,
at the National Bridge in Mexico, says: “My
feelings at the first fire I am unable to describe.
I did not feel inclined to run, yet was afraid to
fire for fear 1 should kill somebody —but after
two or three rounds it was all over, and I fired
away with the rest of them.”
A Winter GawbSw*— A writer in the Jour
nal ties Debate, giveng an account of Berlin and
its places of public amusements, which has been
translated by the Boston Daily Advertiser, has
this charming description of the celebrated win
ter gardens of that city:
There exist in Berlin vast places of assemb
ling, called, according to the season, Winter
Gardens, or Summer Gardens. Fifteen hundred
persons meet there either under the shade of
the trees, or in immense halls adorned with flow
ers and shrubs. These crowds meet without
tumult, and enjoy pleasure without noise or
scandal, and without police officers. All the
citizens of Berlin congregate there. Mathers
come there with their daughters, and emhroider,
talk, knit and sip their coffee. Often the whole
household sups there. The men, who are all
uncovered, some smoking, others drink beer from
immense glasses which hold more than a {of a
bottle- Orchestras occupy a point of the hall—
each establishment has its own; they are led by
directors, who, baton in hand, rival each other
in talent and gloiy. The crowd, attentive, mute
motionless, still continue to listen, as if retaining
its impressions. Then their transports are
expressed, but with silence; the [master bows
—they would have understood each other with
out these marks of intelligence. This is the
effect of music at Berlin, when the people for
the auditory, and the musicians are in the open
air. At half past nine in the evening every
body has returned home.
Shakspeake’s Peats. —ln the earlist quarto
editions of the plays of Shakspeare, the title pa
ges arc given exactly as they stand, and in the
form in which they are printed in the orginal ed
itions. It has generally been said that there are
20 quarto editions of plays by Shakspeare, prin
ted anterior to the folio of 1623; but the fact is
that, exclusive of “ The Taming of the Shrew,”
the title page of the quarto edition of which bears
date in 1631, there are only seventeen quartos.
Stevens, in 1766, to make up the number, added
the two parts of “The Troub esome Reign of
King John,” 1611, which nobody in modern
times has imputed to Shakspeare, although
“Written by W. Sh.” was inserted fraudulent
ly on the title page by the old printer; he also re
printed among his “ Twenty Quartos” the two
parts of the “Contention between the two Hous
es of Lancaster and York,” but he strangly
omitted “Pericles,” which had much more than
an equal claim to the distinction. The undoub
ted plays of Shakspeare, which came from the
press in quarto before 1623, were the following,
and our list is made out according to the dates of
publication:
Romeo and Juliet 1597
Richard the Second 1597
Richard the Third 1597
Henry the Fourth, part 1 1598
Love’s Labor Lost 1598
Much ado about Nothing 160<)
Midsummer Night's Dream 1600
Merchant of Venice 1600
Henry the Fourth, part 2 1600
IJenry the Fifth 1600
TitU3 Andronicus 1600
Merry Wives of Windsor 1602
Hamlet 1603
King Lear 1608
Troilus and Cressida 1609
Pericles 1609
Othello 1622
Thus it will be at once seen how irregularly
Shakspeare’ dramas came from the press, viz;
three in 1597, two in 1598, six in 1600, one in
1602, and another in 1603, one in 1608, two in
1609, and and one in 1622. Why separate
productions were crowded into 1690, while in
various years none at all appeared, is a matter of
curious and interesting speculation: five of these
six were printed from good manuscripts, whe
ther derived from the theatre or from any other
source, while the sixth was indisputably surrep
titious, and never could have been authorized by
anybody.— Mr. Collier, in the Shakspeare So
ciety i apuers.
Appoi ntmenes & Promotions in tits Aii
ki. —Several columns of the Washington Union
of Saturday are occupied by the official It** ol
appointments and promotions in the Army since
August 5. Among them we notice the follow
ing:
Second Lieut. Patrick Calhoun, to be First
Lieutenant of Dragoons, July 29, 1847, vice Hall,
deceased.
James F. Bozeman, of Georgia, to be Assis
tant Surgeon, September, 8, 1847, vice Ashe, dis
charged.
Samuel L. Barbour, of Georgia, to be Assistant
Surgeon, August 28, vice Cuyler promo
ted.
Among the resignations are Capt. John Wof
ford and 2d Lieut, O. 11. Prince, of 13th Infan
cy-
RAIL ROAD MEETING.
Columbus, January 3, 1348.
Accord ing to notice previously given, the Stock
holders of the Muscogee Rail Road Company
met at the Commercial Exchange Reading
Room :
On motion of the Hon. John G. Winter,
Harvey Hall was called to the chair, and John
Johnson appointed secretary.
The object of the meeting having been ex
plained—on motion of the Hon. John G. Win
ter,
Resolved, that the meeting adjourn until
Wednesday next the sth inst., at 11 o’clock
A. M., when an election for Directors of said
Rail Road Company will take place, and other
important business will be transacted. The at
tendance ot all the Stock-holders is earnestly
solicited. HARVEY HALL, Chm’n.
John Johnson, Scc’ry.
N. B. Those who have not paid their first
instalment of 2+ percent, had better do so, or
they may not be entitled to a vote.
From the Mobile Register.
LATER FROM MEXICO.
The steamship New Orleans arrived at New
Orleans on Tuesday fiom Vera Cruz, whence
she sailed on the 24th inst. We are indebted
to the Pi-ayune for an extra containing what
little news was brought by her.
In the list of passengers on the New Orleans,
we observe the following :
Gen. Pierce, U. S. A. Capt. Magruder, Light
Art y; J. M. Scamland, 14th Inf.; Captain Pem
berton, U. S. A; Capt Prince, U. 8. A; Capt P.
W.Gushire, 11th, Inf; Capt. L. Ford,3d Drag;
Capt W. Blanding, South Carolina Reg’t; Cap
tain F. Sumter do; Capt. McCornas, 11th Inf;
Captajn Jones, 15th Inf: Capt. W. A. Nichols,
2d Artillery ; Col. Wm. M. Srovth, bearer of des
patches ; Col. Wm. Trousdale, 14th Infantry;
Major Tolcolt, Ist Volligeurs; and Lieut. Steen,
13th Infantry.
The New Orleans also brought over the re
mains ot Col. Butler, Lieut,Col. Dickinson, Col.
Martin Scott, Col. T. R. Ransom, Lieut. Col.
Graham ; Capts. Thomson and Taylor; Lieuts.
Williams, Clark and Adams; Sergeant Madison;
Dr. Slade; Privgtes Trezvant and Kennedy.
The Free American of the 20th, announces
the arrival at Vera Cruz on the 18th, of 58 wag
ons from Jalapa, escorted by 94 men only, un
der the command of Lieut. Tilghman, of the
Baltimore battalion of artillery—and says :
After loading the wagons with provisions and
amnranition, they will return to Jalapa. It is
rumored that Gen. Marshall, who is at Jalapa,
will march on Orizaba, as soon as he can get
the necessary ammunition. Padre Jurauta the
known guerrilla chief, is now recruiting in that
city. There are about 2000 men at Jalapa.
The Ameiican of the 21st inst. contains the
following:
Gen. Twiggs, who is now in command of the
train which is on its way to this city, is appoint
ed Governor ot the Department of Vera Cruz,
| and will remain in command here until the ar
! n v al of Gen. Jessup. Gen. T. will then go
j home as Quartermaster General.
I We understand that Gen. Pierce will resign
his commission in the army, as soon as he ar
rives in the United States.
On the 27th inst., Gen. Lane, with a detach
ment, fought the Mexicans at a place named
• Matamoros, whipped them, and delivered seve
ral prisoners. We have to regret the loss ot
’ Lieut. Ridgely, of the Artillery, and Asst. Adjt
! General to Gen. Lane.
i From the Free American of the 23d, we
learn that Gen. Twiggs arrived in Vera Cruz on
thcpreviouS day, and also the train which he
commanded. A great many wounded officers
and soldiers were in the train. We uutke the
following extracts from the feame paper :
Lieut. Gordon,, of the Kfle Regiment, was
shot day before yesterday, near San Juan del
Rio. Although twice strutk by the enemy’s
balls, he is in a fair way of recovery..
The ship Texas arrived jesterday, in six days
from New Orleans, having 270 recruits on
board, under Lieutenant Huward.
The officers stationed at Puebla have resolved
to present a medal to Gen. Lane. On one side
of it is to be the General’s Vkeness, and on the
other side he wiU be represented entering the
city of Pusbla. Themedafis to cost SI,OOO.
General Twiggs, we learn, commenced his
duties as Governor of Veral Cruz on the 24th
instant.
The dates from the city jf Mexico are no la
ter than those previously received.
(Special Correspondent of the Picayune.)
City of Mexico, Dec 8, 1847.
Gen. Patterson arrived hfre day before yester
day, and the last of his coiimand reached here
to-day—He has brought wjth him about 3500
men. As soon as Gen. Butljnr arrives, he or Gen.
Patterson will be sent to Sfcin Luis Potosi, to o
pen the communication bet Ween there and Tam
pico, and the other of the above named generals
will be sent to Zacatecas, to take possession of
the country around.—Queretaro will not be dis
turbed just now.
Gen Twiggs has assumed the command of the
department with a good deal of energy, and he
will no doubt make many changes in the admin
istration of affairs in this department.
It has now become pretty certain, as I learn
from many who came with the train, that Lieut.
O’Sulivan, who was promoted for his gallantry
at Palo Alto and distinguished himself by his
gallantry in the last battles before Mexico, after
throwing uphis commission joined the Mexicans
and has received an appointment of colonel in
the Mexican army ; although as gallant and brave
a man as ever lived, he disgraced himself on
many occasions, by which he lost the respect of
all his associates, and may now fight as hard a
gainst the American flag as he has fought for it.
What does this mean. TaT a meeting of the
Whig party of Washington county, recently
held to nominate candidates for county officers
Silas Floyd was called to the chair, and Edward
Tattnall Shefflall, Esq., requested to act as Sc
cratary.—Among the resolutions adopted was
the following:
Resolved, That in the re-election of the Hon.
John M. Berrien and the election of the Hon.
William C. Dawson, the Legislature of Georgia
derserves our warmest approbation, and that we
tender to those Hon. Senators our continued
confidence in their integrity and devotion to the
great principles of the Whig party.
The proceedings are signed by the chairman,
and the following significant note appended by
the Secretary:
(L/* The Secretary declines subscribing the
above proceeding, in consequence of the intro
duction of the resolution approving the election
of J. M. Berrien to the U. S. Senate.— Augusta
Constitutionalist, 19 inst.
From the New-Herald of Sunday.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAM-SHIP HI
BERMIA, AT BOSTON.
TWO WEEKS EATER.
Important commercial intelligence — The Debate
in the English Parliament on the commercial
distress of the Nation—lnteresting financial
intelligence—Another list of failures — De
cline in the cotton and grain markets—Sup
pression of the civil war in Switzerland —
Opening o/ the Council of State in Rome,
fyc. die.
The steamship Hibemia, Capt. Ryrie, arrived
at Boston at 3 o’clock yesterday morning. She
sailrd from Liverpool on the 4th inst.
Annexed is the telegraphic view of the news.
It is important to the commercial communi
ty-
The British Parliament, far same days, had
been engaged with the subject of trade, and the
financial condition of the country. It is expec
ted that measures of a salutary character would he
introduced.
The state of Ireland is truly frightful. The
land reeks with assassination, from . ne end to the
other. Government has proposed a coercion bill of
a very mild and moderate character.
In Switzerland, the civil war has been virtual
ly terminated, by the surrender of Lucern to the
troops of the Federalists. The Sonderbund isde
serted and thus the hopes ofthe Jesuits are fully
prostrated.
The affairs of Italy are in a fair way lor ad
justment. The Pope has opened the new Coun
cil of State of the Vatican, and his speech elici
ted unmixed approbation.
The Royal Bank of Liverpool, the stoppage
of which caused so much excitement at the time
has resumed business under favorable circum
stances.
The Asiatic cholera is stated to have advanc
ed to the Prussian frontier.
The Presse of Paris, states that the United
Slates goeefnment has purchased the islands of
Lyra, from Greece, and will at once pay off the
mortgage due. [This is Greek to us.— Herald.]
The Washington at Southampton on the 3d
inst. She left this port on the 18th ult.
The steamer Caledonia arrived out on the
29th ult., and the packet ships Montezuma and
Garrick on the 24th ult.
The packet ships Fidelia, Capt. Yeaton, and
John R. Skiddy, Capt. Luce, hence, each made
the passage to Liverpool in fifteen days. This
is equal to steam.
LIVERPOOL MARKET.
Nov. 26th.—There has been a good demand
from the trade during the week, and exporters
have also purchased rather freely. In juices lit
tle change has occurred hut the middling quali
ties of American are quoted higher . The
recent import of Egyptian has been pressed upon
the market at a decline of {d to per lb. Bra
zil and Surat are unaltered. Speculators have
taken 400 American and 300 Surat, and export
ers 2050 American, 200 Madras, and 250 Surat
The sales for the week are 28,260 hales.—Uni
ted Brokers.
Dec 3d.—ln the early part of the week there
was a fair demand from the trade, but the pur
chases for export have been less extensive than
of late; holders have shown an increased desire
to effect sales, and since the arrivals of the Bos
ton steamer, bringing larger estimates of the
crop, the demand has fallen off, and much heav
iness has prevailed; in prices a decline is quoted
of £ to jrd per lb. on nearly all description*.—
Exporters have taken 700 American and 100
Surat. The sales for the week are 22,660 bales.
[ United Brokers.
A good Sign.. — Union in the Democratic
party. Signs are apparent from which we believe
thatafow months will see a complete union a
gain of the democratic party of the state of N. Y
Moreover, it cbould be recogntzed now, as a duty
of all prominent democrats, to endeavor to sink
old disputes, and be friends as nearly “all round
as posible. It there are some few—but very few
—persons who have been so prominent in, and
committed to, the bitter disputes of the past year
that they cannot make friends— let them go by
the board. But the large mass of the party, we
are snre, have no bttterness towards each other;
on the country, they agree quite well on all main
points.
The Mails. —Hon. Cave Johnson, Postmas
ter General, has addressed a note to Hon. W.'L.
Goggin, Chairman Committee Post Office and
Post Roads, in which Mr. Johnson states that
the Richmond Railroad Company refused to car
ry the mails after the 10th of December, unless
they received S2BO a mile per annum. Mr. John
son says:
So anxious was I to have the service contin
ued on that road, that I not only offered them
the maximum price ($237 50 per mile) for sin
gle daily serviee, but I consented, upon the ap
plication of others, to permit the service to be
continued, without contract, as had been the case
for many months before, so as to give the com
pany time to apply to Congress for an exposition
of the laws, or for an increase of pay ; but this
was declined by their President.
The service on this road is once a day. The
service between this city and Ncw-York is twice
daily, and they pay averages $l5O per mile per
annum, and for single daily service. For the
service on the roads between New-York and
Boston, and Albany and Buffalo, the pay avera
ges lest than SIOO per mile.
PUBLIC MEETING.
At a large and respectable meeting of ladies
and gentlemen at Planter's Academy, on Friday
Nov. sth, (it being the close of Mr. Ferrin,s ex
| animation) on motion John McKay, Esq., was
called to ti e Chair, and Charles P. YVatt re
quested to act as Secretary.
John W. Thomson), after having explained
the object of the meeting, offered the following
Preamble and Resolutions, which on motion of
James Cox, Esq., were unanimously adoj ted.
PREAMBLE.
It having l>een our good fortune to secure the
services of Mr. C. E.Ferrin, as instructor for the
past and present year ami whereas circumstan
ces, partially beyond his control, forbid our ob
taining bis services longer; we. the patrons ol
this school, and citizens genetally, esteem it a
privilege as well as duty, to this, our humblo
token of approbation, lor the honorable and up
right course which he has pursued during his
stay among us.
Therefore Resolved, That we tender Mr. C. E.
; Ferrin our sincere thanks for the able and effi
cient manner in which he has discharged his sev
eral duties as instructor during the past and pres
ent year.
Resolved, That we highly appreciate the ma,
ny jiious examples and religious instructions
which it has been his pleasure to impart to our
children while under his care.
Resolved, That we may long cherish for Mr.
I errin, feelings of the most tender regard, at a
citizen, friend and brother.
On motion ol 11. C. Kimbrough, Esq., it was
resolved to have the proceedings of this mceitng
published in the Enquirer, and Times, of the ci
ty of Columbus.
After prayer by tho Rev. James Cox, the
mce'.ing adjourned.
JOHN McKAY, Chairman-
Charles P. Watt, Secretary.
Muscogee county, Nov. 5, 1847.
COUIERCIAL.
Columbus, Jan. 3d, 1848.
Cotton. —The transactions in our Cotton
market have hitherto been so meager, that they
have required at our hands but a passing notice.
Ihe turning point of the season (christmas)
has gone by, and while business of all kinds
has been characterized by great dullness, tho
operations in cotton upon which all others in
this section of the South depend to a greater or
less extent, have not probably exceeded 7,000
bales, in round numbers out of receipts of 28,000
hales at,prices of from 5{ to 6|c per lb. extremes.
While up to the corresponding period last year,
out ol receipts of 41,000 bales, nearly or quite
30,000 hales had passed from the hands of the
planter at an average price of cts. per lb., ma
king a difference of available means to the mer
chant and planter in the agricultural section cen
tering here, of near $1,000,000 —hence tho
‘•hard times” and scarcity of money.
This of itself is embarrassing to a great de
gree to the ordinary operations of trade, and it
excites our wonder that the payments falling due
about the commencement of the New Year, for
early Fall purchases have been met so promptly.
Time was when credit was less cared for,when
the present was all, and the future unthought of.
There can he but one opinion as to the cor
rectness of the course so far steadily pursued by
the planter in holding hack his crops. Asa
general thing they are known among mercantile
men as “ weak holders,” but weak or strong, this
conceit of action among them gives time for
their h t’lerto greatest consumer, to partially
recover from her shaken crcd t and mcrcan
cantile disasters, growing out of a general defi
ciency of bread-stuffs, that have well nigh put it
out of her jwwer to consume anything but her
national existence. “ Her wealth of worlds (a
wealth of tax and paper,”) must have been sore
ly tried by her mercantile Joseph’s in buying
corn.
But the fog is clearing away, and John Bull,
having replenished his hungry maw, begins to
think of “resuming work,” and of something
else beside “ Roast Beef.”
The question of the Crop is yet to be deter
mined. It is ip the power of the. planter to make
the quantity fall below 2,000,000 bales, should
the production exceed those figures; but allow
ing it to be as great as 2,300,000 bales, the out
side figures of the most sanguine, he can he no
worse off in the spring, if, in a “weak” moment,
he lets it all go forward, than he would ha*e been
if the usual prop< rlion of the crop had been put
upon the market up to the Ist January—bare as
the markets have been of means, credits and
confidence all withheld, under the late revulsion
in prices and disastrous foreign news. While,
should the crop grown he not exceeding 2.000,-
000 bales, and a portion of this, even, held hack
under comparatively low prices, have they not
only to look for a maintenance of the present
demand and an increase, but also cause to look
for an advance in prices'! This conclusion ap
pears but reasonable.
The late news of the 4th ult., by Hibemia,
from England, gives hope that the turning point
has jiassed. The recovery will be gradual, and
the future consumption to some extent depend
ent upon the price. It is to he hoped that a lit
tle indulgence, at 4|d for fair, has not spoiled
their appetites, (which, at that price, literally grew
uj>on what they fed,) for sd. for same quality.
At low freights, this will remunerate the planter
and not embarrass the consumer. The former
would do well to bear in mind that although the
supply may exceed the demand, it is in their
power materially to lessen it. There have been
no transartions this week of note ; somo small
sales at 5£ a 6£.
Statement of Receipts, Shipments, and Stock of
Cotton, in Columbus, ls< January, IS4B.
Stock on hand, Ist September, 1847, 82 bales.
Received the past week, 1,214
“ Previously, 26,439
Shipped last week, 995
“ Previously, 6,357 7,352
Stock on hand Jan. Ist, , 20,383
Comparative statement of Recptsfrom 1840 to 1848.
Received to Ist January, 1840, 20,451
“ “ 1841, 18,002
“ “ 1842, 17,972
“ “ 1843, 31,143
“ “ 1844, 36,940
“ “ 1845, 43,441
“ “ 1846, 25,764
“ “ 1847, 41,074
“ 1848, 27,753
Total receipts of the year 1839-40, 52,700
1840- 36,192
1841- 40,993
1842- 58,095
1843- 62,331
1844- 82,466
1845- 49,003
1546-47, 55,797
Augusta, December 30.
Cotton. —’l he Telegraphic accounts of the
Liverpool market by the Hibernia caused an
animated demand to-day in our market, and a
bout 600 bales were sold at an advance of an $
a. {c. per lb.
Charleston, December 30.
Cotton —The partial receipt by Telegraph of
the Hibernia’s accounts received yesterday, sus
pended almost entirely the operation in the Up
land market; only two parcels of 50 hales, an&%]
65 bales, middling and good middling
changing hands at 7 £ a. 7 f,
New Orleans, Dec. 29.
The Prices Current reports the receipts for the
week at 20,824 hales, and the exports 10,694,
leaving a slock on hand of 159,736 bales. The
sales for three days are put down at 5000 bales,
which was mostly taken for Spain, the conti
nent and the north. Prices were irregular,
though former quotations wore continued.
Ordinary to good ordinary - 5} a 6{c
Middling to good middling - 6£ a 6j|c
Middling fair - - - 7j a 7{c
Savannah, Dec, 31, 1847.
Market quiet in anticipation of the Hibernia’s
account*. No change in quotations—to 7§,
are the extremes for middling to fully fair.
New YonK, Dec. 28, 6 P. M.
The foreign news has somewhat depressed the
Flour market, though holders continue rather
firm. It is said that some orders havo been re-