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IJOLUMBUB, GA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, IS4S.
THE SOUTH‘WESTERN RAILROAD.
T® S* Columbus advocates of giving: aid
•oJ comfort” to Ac South-Western Road, which
i to run. to lie east and south of Columbus,
leaving this city in a M boundless contiguity of
•bade.” with a branch road, we commend the
fallowing paragraph from the Macon Messenger:
** Thc Boat Ibnmt —A meeting af the citi
,M of Kufaola, Ala. was to hove taken place on
the Bth iost-, preparatory tea geaeral aieetißg to
be held at some future day to take into consid
eration the propriety of diverting the South-
Western Railroad from the more southern crosf
mg of the Chattahoochee to that place. We have
■a idea that the Road wfH terminate either at
Fart Gaines or may other point aa the Chattahoo
chee ; bet of this we feel confident, that a branch
Road to Kafaula would secure to that place more
than doable the cotton now received there, and
perhape build it up as a rival of Columbus her
self.”
If the South-Western Rail Road project is
carried out, there is reason in this semi-predic
tion, of the rivalry of Eufauln with Columbus.
Our policy is plainly one of independent and
apeedy action. It justly observed by a
city cotemporary, (the Democrat,) that the red
fines of contemplated Rail-Road improvements
laid down on the map accompanying the Report
af the Engineer of the South Western Road,
ran all around and about Columbus,while a little
Mack streak indicates that Columbus is vouch
aafcd a petty branch to Pondtown, to connect
her with the great thoroughfare, which passes
her by, some 85 miles distant. We are opposed
to any system which makes this city play a su
bordinate part, when her enterprize and wealth
ara abundant, if lightly used, to enable her to
retain a position on the great highway of trade
nd travel. In the multitude of counsels on this
subject—where there has been so much talk, wo
have felt a disinclination to add to the sea of
words. But the time has come to speak out,
ond wa raise our humble voice to protest against
the project of making Cotumbus play second fid
dle to Macon, and of using onr fingers to take
the hot chestnuts out of the fire for the cunning
nss of rival competitor*.
Am a city, onr object is two fold.
IsL To open safe and speedy commuica
taona with other Roads, having their termini on
the Atlantic, Ac. ,
Sd. To open anew market for this city, in
the Cherokee region of Georgia and of Tennes-
The benefits to be derived from the first, are
the cheapening of all the commodities, manu
factures, At, of the North and East, which are
said hero, and the improvement of Columbus as
n Cation market The object is, and the effect
will be, to make goods cheaper here, and Cotton
higher—the cheapness of the ne and the higher
price of the other, being effected by the same
cause the greater facility of bringing goods
here, the ability of merchants more frequently
to turn over the same capital, and the greater
fcdity of carrying Cotton away.
The benefits to be derived from the accom
plishment of the second object, is to make Co
lumbus an important grocery market. Colum
bus wiU be the first and mostnatural mart for the
great and staple articles of Western produce,
connected with New Orleans by water, and with
the vast and growing aud largely consuming
country above us, by Rail-Road. The impor
tance of this position can scarcely be estimated.
Wa have always thought, indeed, that the cot
ton trade ol this city, on which it now chiefly
depends, will be a consideration of secondary
interest, in comparison with the immense trade
in sugar, salt, bagging, rope, &c., which its po
sition will force into its lap. To ensure this
trade—bring already at the head of steam n&vi
gattoa.tnMn the west—we have nothing to do but
to open the channels through which these
streams of necessary supply will flow, and Co
laaabus being the point of transhipment, will be
tba depot, the mart, the manipulator of all
that heavy business. Now, a single false step
may deprive ua of this great advantage of posi
tion. By consenting to be the out of the way
torminos of a branch road, leading to a great
highway, we lop off at a single stroke, the great
Mood-vessei of our prosperity and dwindle into
n village, supplying the commodities of Musco
gao county, and perhaps one or two others.—
Either Enfaula or Macon becomes the gro
cery mart and depot, and the commerce that
should have added thrift and wealth to this
city, will be borne by us, through Pond Town,
on the wings of steam ; and every pufT of the
Locomotive will remind Columbus of her folly,
and ache the laugh of our sister city of Macon,
at eur simple-minded gullibility.
Natan baa given Columbus the position. —
Art aay deprive her of its advantages. But we
hope oat ta see the day, wher. it will be reckless
ly thrown away. Macon knows this. All of our
enterprising neighboring cities know it. We have
no objection to a road to Macon,but cannot consent
to yield to the demand of the latter to cut our
sriveo off from the grain growing region, tra
vneaaJ by the State Road, and leave its trade a
manopoly to other cities. But Macon will not
listen to our connection with that region. We
am* abandon that, on thc penalty of those red
fines running in ta rot an all around ns. She
wants Columbus to travel through Macon, 130
milae to Barnesville, cn route for the Cherokee
ragimt, instead ol going direct, 75 miles. The
consequence of which would bo that Macon
weald be the great mart of that region, for the
•apply of her immense wants of the necessaries
of life the present natural position of Colum
bus would be virtually, by artificial means,trans
ferred to Macon; and our merchants, instead of
selling groceries to the up-country, would be em
ployed aa commission merchants, forwarding
thorn to the Macon dealers to sell.
Lot os, manfully and fearlessly, pursue our
awn trae policy, undisturbed by the red lines
•kick rivals have drawn around us. Let us
•pm raaumanteataonsby a profitable Road, con-
Wrtif with the other three principal Rail Roads
a# the Btate, with the trade of the Atlantic, with
• choice at porta at Charleston or Savannah;
•■d by all means, be in a position to supply the
taominf wants of that beautiful, bountiful, and
“*, in which the Chattahoochee
taken its nee; and which, in Ha turn, will pour
*P°* ne its tribute of cheap provisions, ba
can, gram, fruit, and the producte of the barn.
“and the dairy. How, pray, is a Road di
*** to Macao to compensate os for the loss of
ol this • especially so, when by Barnesvilie, we
r* *** Macon eonununieation, by only fifteen
ilaa of additional travel! Why is Macon so
pertinacious in refusing to run farther up
the country, except that she is jealous of our
eotuinanicetion with this firoored region ! The
reasons that impel her to- resist that connection,
apeak trumpet-tongued to ns, to persist in it.—
The preponderance of advantages ate all in favor
et the Barnesville route. While by the lower
route we connect only with Macon—by the oth
er, we connect with Macon, the Cherokee coun
try, the Georgia Road and Charleston.
Let as not then, in the spirit of an itt-timed
economy, and because it i easier to build forty
miles of Road in a wrong direction, than to
build seventy-one in the true one ; throw away
the gifts of nature and of fortune, and yield to
the transparent designs of rivals to ravish our
city of its trade, its population, and its prosper
ity.
Were not this article already spun out to an
undue length, we could easily show that the
apprehension of loss of trade from a road through
the cotton counties of Harris and Talbot, are not
writ founded.
Since the above was in type—a meeting of
citixens, the largest and most respectable we
have ever seen in Columbus, has had this sub
ject under consideration. An animated debate
continued ontil 12 o’clock on Satnrdey night,
which resulted in the decision of the meeting by
a very large majority, that they had confidence
in the City Council and in the Direction of the
Muscogee Rail Road Company, and were wil
ling to leave the question of route to those on
whom its decision legally and properly devolved;
and also, that the public expectation would be
greatly disappointed, if those having the matter
in charge, did not go on and build the Road. It
is proper to state that the meeting was gotten up
by those favorable to the lower route. The feel
ing displayed at the meeting, proved conclusive
ly what we said to the Board of Council when
it went into office, that the Columbus public ex
pected them to “ go-ahead.”
Week before last, the tax-payers of the City
were polled on the question of the Rail-Road
tax. The vote was 330 for, and 27 against.
Thus have both questions been decided, beyond
cavil. Now we say, once more, “go-ahead.”
STRAWS.
It is an old saying, “ when rogues fall out,
just men come by their rights.” Without intend
ing any disrespectful literal application of the
adage to our brother Whig Editors, we must say
that the principle of the proverb is peculiarly
applicable to their dispute over Mr. Clay and
General Taylor.
The Montgomery Journal and Mobile Adver
tiser, are just now engaged in an Irish fight on
the question of who should be the candidate—
Clay or Taylor 1 Out of this family jar, many
little truths are evolved—the cat out of the bag—
which are useful to the Democracy, to the “ no.
parly” men, and to the country to know.
The important fact leaks out, for instance, that
this “ no-party” “ spontaneous combustion’’
movement in favor of Gen. Taylor, is, to the
marrow, a Whig affair. The Mobile Advertiser
charges the Montgomery Journal with hostility
to Clay and an “abandonment of Whig princi
ples,” as the basis of its Taylorism. The Jour
nal (the “ no-party ” organ) stoutly denies this,
and says that “ the Advertiser knows, or
ought to know, from authentic evidence in pos
session of the public, the principles ot General
Taylor on the old party issues, as well as he does
those of Mr. Clay.” All of which means that
Taylor is as good a Whig as Clay on the “ old
issues.” This is the argument addressed to
WJliggery, but not the one used when the
“ spontaneous combustion” is to be worked on
Then it is that he is a “Southern man,” that he is
a “ no-party” man, and will make a “People’s
President.” The Journal proceeds to give its
reasons for opposing Clay’s candidacy. The
first, that Mr. Clay doesn't want the Presidency,
will provoke a general smile of incredulity.
“We do not urge the name of Mr. Clay as a
candidate for several reasons. First—we believe
that Mr. Clay does not desire again to enter the
political contest, and if persuaded to do so by the
importunities of friends, would do it against his
wishes and best judgment.”
.The above is the diplomatic reason intended
to soothe Mr. Clay, and reconcile his friends to
“spontaneous combustion.” But the Journal
goes on to give be'.ter reasons and the true ones—
which amount to this, that Mr. Clay is not
strong enough —“ embodiment,” as he is of
Whig principles—\o be elected by the peopl \
This reason amounts to a full confession of judg
ment, by the defendant in the great cause where,
in Democracy is plaintiff, and Whiggery defen
dant. The great Whig party cannot elect their
greatest Whig leader! What then? Why
say the Taylor Whig party, if we cannot whip
the Democrats in open fight, let us, under a
fraudulent “ no-party” banner, steal a march on
them, and carry our wooden horse filled with
armed men, into the Trojan citadel. Hear the
Journal again:
“We know that an effort is making by politicians
of this stamp to deceive Mr. Cfay as to public
opinion, and force him again to the field ; but we
are yet to know that they have succeeded in their
selfish aims. Again we do not advocate the re
nomination of Mr. Clay., as we believe the great
masses of the people do not wish it; and though
preferring him to any man under heaven, as their
President, if he could be elected, do not desire
him as their candidate—not that their confidence
in his ability, fidelity or patriotism has been sha
ken, for one moment, but they are unwilling again
to force the gallant old war horse to a contest
which is hopeless.’*
Now this game may be possibly excusable in
Whigs; if indeed, it can be excusable in any
party to foist on the country by indirection,meas
ures and principles, which they admit are reject
ed by a majority of the people. But what is to
be said of the man who calls himself a Demo
crat, who lends himself to this transparent trick
to defeat his own principles ? He must be ei
ther as green as a cucumber— an unsophisticated
child of nature “out” without the knowledge of
his mother, or he wants an excuse to turn his
political coat.
This we say of such action, in the present
state of the Taylor movement. If Gen. Taylor
were to declare his principles, a very different
state of things would exist. But now, the Dem
ocrat who favors the Taylor movement, is either
very fishy or very green.
These siftings of Whig opinion, and jarring
of Whig ideas end wishes, show fully where
the party stands and what it is after. Despair
ing of success in open fight, strategy is to be re
sorted to; and a nut de guerre is to overturn
the great and glorious fabric of Democratic poli
cy, which, it is admitted, combined Wbigism
can never do, while the eyes of the people are
open to the assault and the issue. Never was
there a time when a Democrat should stand more
** he never could stand more proudly
by his principles. The Whig standard has been
lowered to their triumphant sway and self-vindi
cation—they are acknowledged by their enemies
to be impregnable and. indomitable, and that’ a
“contest”'agiiiiist them is “ hopeless,” even by
their “ gallant old war hsrre,” Henry Clay.—
Glorious and conquering; Democracy ! thy vic
tories are yet tfiany in the future, and cast their
mighty shadows before them f
AVAILABILITY THE WHIGS IN
TROUBLE.
As Gen. Taylor has declared that he will not
be the “candidate of any party ,” a Whig Na
tional Convention to nominate bins is out of the
question. Accordingly, the Taylor Whig press
es are down on king caucus, and repudiate the
idea of a Convention. Ihe last “ Recorder”
has a leader against a Convention. “Spontane
ous combustion” is what the Taylor Whigs rely
on. The Clay Wbig, per contra, are all for a
Convention. And, rightly too; for a Conven
tion gives them a double bßcb in their plans.
Ist the chance of nominating Clay over Taylor,
and 2d, if the latter gets the nomination, he has
vowed not to accept it. We do not know how
the Whigs will settle it.
Nevertheless it is curious to hear the Whigs
talk to each other over this little trouble. The
Richmond (Va.,) Whig espouses the Taylor
cause, on the score of “availability.” The Au
gusta Republic adhereswith a very commendable
devotion to “ the great old civil Captain”—Mr.
Clay—and thus discourses his Virginia brother.
The reader will find this •* talk” full of truths
and home-thrusts:
From the Republic.
No one can fail to perceive from the above
comments of the Richmond Whig, that the main
reason for ranging Gen. Taylor is his supposed
“avaii.abii.jtt. We are not unmindful of the
adage that “Policy goes beyond strength,” but
we should be certain that in quitting Mr. Clay
for Gen. Taylor, we are going lor certainty when
we give up hope.
We have not the least donbt that seven out of
every ten Wbigs in the Union would vastly pre
fer Mr. Clay to Gen Taylor, if they thought he
could be elected.
. We desire to present a few facts to the con
sideration of the Richmond Whig, and other
whig papers on this subject* It is one of pro
found importance and worthy of the most con
siderate attention. Does Gen. Taylor possess
that extraordinary “avalability” which his ad
vocates imagine will sweep down ail opposition
and bear him triumphantly to the Presidential
chair? We will assume now that he is a true
whig and not a democrat, nor a neutral in poli
tics, We will suppose that his refusal to be run
as the whigeanidate will not offend any portion
of the party, but that they will take him up and
run him upon trust, and with the hope that he
will be a whig President though not run as a
whig but an independent candidate. We will
then suppose the canvass fairly opened, and the
claims of the respective candidates undergoing
public scrutiny. Gen. Taylor being run by the
whigs on account of his military services, “what
will be the natural order of attack upon him by
our opponents? We have already heard enough
in j r.vate conversation with democrats to know
what they will do. They will first attempt to
demolish his military “availability,” and then
called upon the whigs for his civil service. It
matters not how important and brilliant his
military achievements have been, his opponents
will seek to disparage them, and diminish the
lustre of his fame by every means in their power
They will address tfyp people after the following
fashion:—“The whigs are running Gen. Taylor
because of his military ‘availability.’ He fought
the Mexicans in several battles, it is true, and
defeated them. In the greatest of all his battles
that of Buena Vista, he maintained his strong
position against the Mexican attack, three to
his one, in their strongholds and entrenchments,
drove them from fortification to fortification, and
finally from their far famed capitol. The Mex
icans fought under the walls of their capitol for
the national glory and imiependence-they fought
before the eves of their matrons and daughters—
beauty gazed with hope and dependence upon
their efforts, and every impulse which could an
imate a people urged them on in the fearfulstrug
gle. But their banners which streamed lrom
the national palace and their other public build
ings and cathedrals were displaced by the stars
and stripes. Forty-two battles have been fought
in Mexico, and no one can point to a Mexican
victory. The pestige of General Taylor’s sup
posed peculiar “invincibility” is gone, for every
General, Colonel, Captain and Corporal in the
American army have prevailed over the Mexican
in every instance, with all the odds in their fa
vor. They are imbecile and cowa r dly, and of all
troops in the civilized world can be kastdepend
ded upon in the hour ofbattle. They will stand
a few shots, but the glitter of cold iron frightens
them too bad to permit them to stand long enough
to suffer it to be hid in their cowardly bosoms.—
Again we ask for the evidences of General Tay
lor’s civil service. When did he serve in the
National Senate, or House J of Represntatives ?
What chair of State did he ever fill? Os what
legislature was he ever a member? What speech
can be produced as a testimony of his civil qual
ifications? Where are his political writings to
show that he understands the science of govern
ment? Did he not state in a letter in answer to
enquiries put to him, that he was not acquainted
with the publie measures and questions of the
day, and that before he can answer them, he
must get the documents and make up his mind.
The Whigs tell us that his despachesare well
and ably written, 1-u.t they were written by his
Adjutant General Bliss. They say he is astrong
minded man, but they do not produce the testi
mony, and he is utterly without experience in
public aflairs.”
Such is an abstract of what Democratic editors
will publish to the people. The lynx eyed keen
ness of political opposition will caricature the
Generals fame and character till he will be dwin
dled down in their papers to a dwarf, from the
giant proportions which he now possesses. How
was it in the last election in Georgia ? General
Clinch’s Military services did not avail him
against an ordinary man, but very respectable
%nd amiable gentleman. And although we did
believe that General Clinch possessed the qualifi
cations requisite to make an excellent Governor,
the Whigs must have seen and felt his want
of more civil service. General Taylor has had
none. He has never been, as General Clinch
was, a member of Congress. We put forth these
facts and statements for the consideration of our
able comtemporary of the Richmond Whig, ami
that of other Whig ed’tors and members of the
party, hut more especially for the consideration
of the Whigs of Georgia. Let us not be misun
derstood. We do not deny to General Taylor
the qualifications requisite fora President. But
we warn the Whigs that they will have to
struggle hard to make it appear.—Let all
Whigs look this matter fully in the face.
Forewarned, forearmed, is a useful saying. We
should not make a blunder now. History points
not to a character possessed of more varied pow
ers tor rule than Mr. Clay possesses. His char
acter and services endear him to the people as no
man has been, since the ilays of Washington.
He has adorned every station to which he has
been called.
It it would not be taken as intrusive, wc think
we could give the “ Whig” and the “ Repub
lic” a bit of wholesome counsel, that would re
lieve them from the dilemma in which they are
placed, between an “available” candidate rep
resenting no principles, and an unavailable can
didate, the “ embodiment” of principles which
are hopelessly unpopular, and ejected by the
voice of the Nation. Our advice would be to
remodel the Whig creed, and adopt a platform of
principles, in harmony with the honor and pros
perity of tbo country at war abroad, and beating
in unison with the heart of the popular masses at
home in a time of peace. With popular princi
ples, they would have less to care for in the ques
tion, “ who shall be the candidate?” and with
out them, they can elect no-candidate. As the
American people have already spurned the Tariff,
Bank and Federal Peace policy of the Whig par
ty; it is very certain that they will not fall in love
with iljww that it has added to itself the crowning
distinction of being the peace party in time of
war.
Thus, adding the only leaf in its chaplet; be
tore wanting, to establish a perfect similitude be
tween Whiooism and Femhhism.
THE PEACE PARTY.
The Whigs caH themselves the peace party,
and plant themselves against the enormous ini
quity of destroying the Nationality of Mexico.
The administration has declared that the dena
tionalization of Mexico is no part of its plans.
It expressly disclaims such purposes; and in
sists that in vigorous measures will be found the
surest and quickest path to peace. Meantime,
the vigorous measures of the administration—
the ten regiment bill, Ac. are retarded in Con
gress, on tie false plea, that the Mexican Gov
ernment is to be destroyed.
Now let the real friends of peace and of Mexi
can Nationality, mark the position of the
Whigs and the issue involved in it. Procrasti
nation of this war is the chief danger to
Mexican Nationality. If through Whig oppo
sition at home and Mexican obstinacy abroad,
the war is continued two years, it will not be in
she power ot any Party or Government on earth
to save the Nationality of Mexico. The Texas
drama will be re-enacted, and the emigration and
pushing enterprise of our restless people will ac>
compiish without Government agency, and in
spite o(jit, the entire absorption of Mexico.
If Mr. Polk and the Democratic party were
really bent on the destruction of the Mexican
Government and its absorption, their true and
plain policy would be a lagging and procrastinat
ing war—keep up a quasi fight for a few years,
and Mexico will be forever blotted out from the
roll of nations.
The action of the Whig party directly courts
this result; and they, the pretended friends of
Mexico and of peace, are showing themselves
the worst enemies of both.
GEN. CASS
Treats the war question in a matter-of-fact
manner, in striking contrast with the namby
pamby-ism of those Congressmen who oppose
facts and combat realities, with fancies and hy
potheses. We like the hopeful and trusting
spirit in which he speaks of the destinies of this
great country. He holds in proper disdain the
prophecies of those croakers of evil, who, all his
life long, have been “killing the country” with
vaticinations of evil. We almost fancy we hear
ourself thinking aloud, when we read the follow
ing answer of his, to prognostics of ruin, loss of
liberty, &c. conjured up by the opposition in the
Senate to make head against as just, and right
eous, and inevitable a war, as nation was ever
engaged in. Gen. Cass feels and talks like an
American and a man of sense, and believes that
the only way to obtain a treaty of peace from an
obstinate foe, is to maul it out of them—to fight
the war straight through—and having failed to
produce any effect with “ tufts of grass, to try
what virtue there is in stones.” Here it his re
ply to some of the moans of Messrs. Mangum
and Crittenden, over the proclivity of this ill-fated
country to hopeless ruin !
“My allusion to this subject was in this wise.
The honorable Senator from South Carolina, in
his speech a few days since, deprecated the ab
sorption of all Mexico, which measure, if adopt
ed, he considered to be fatal to this government.
Now, sir, what was my remark in reference to
this 1 Rather light in manner, perhaps, but suffi
ciently clear in its meaning—that this govern
ment would stand a great deal of killing; and
that 1 did not believe even the swallowing of all
Mexico would be fatal to it; though I was not
myself in favor of the measure. I was satisfied
with taking a reasonable territorial indemnity, if
the Mexicans would cede it, leaving the subse
quent relations of the two countries to he deter
mined by subsequent events. Well, sir, I repeat
again that I have no belief that if Mexican inde
pendence were annihilated to-morrow, and the
whole country annexed to the United States, it
would kill us.
“ And I believe there is nothing under heaven,
which can kill this government, but the people
themselves. That is my opinion of its power of
vitality. Ever since I have been upon the stage
of action our country has been killed by prophets
of evil, crying ‘woe! woe! to Jerusalem.’—
Cassandras predicting u crisis to-day and destruc
tion to-morrow. Yet we have gone on irom in
creasing to increase. And where our final boun
daries are to be, He who controls the fate of em
pires alone can tell. I did not suppose that the
honorable Senator from Kentucky could misun
derstand me, or have converted a figure of
speech, such as swallowing a nation, into an ar
gument to be refuted by a serious analogy to the
human body. War and conquest are means to
attain an end, and they are controlled in their
general operations by the law of nations. They
are to be directed by the Executive government,
upon its responsibility, subject, of course, to the
supervision of Congress, with the great object,
in the present instance, of making a speedy and
honorable peace with Mexico. The honorable
Senator says that we are now. ‘ in fact,’ at peace.
What this qualification ‘ in fact’ means, I do not
know. The Mexican government is resisting ; a
fugitive,sometimes travelling from place to place,
still resisting, still unable or unwilling to do us
justice. When Mexico is willing to do us that
justice which you, Mr. President, and I believe,
all this side of the Senate believe, and some por
tion on the other, to be due to us, then, and not
till then, we may relax our exertions—as we shall
have conquered a peace. But I repeat what 1
before said, that the longer Mexico continues her
obstinate rejection of reasonable indemnity, and
the greater the exertion she compels us to make,
the greater will he our demands, and the heavier
her losses. What we would have accepted last
year, or even at the commencement of the pres
ent campaign, we may well refuse now; and
what we would accept now, we may well refuse
after a few months. And how much the public
sentiment of this country may demand a year or
two years hence, if the war continues so long, I
do not pretend to predict. We may have to make
the great experiment, so dreaded by the Senator
from South Carolina, and the Senator from Ken
tucky, and annex the domains of Mexico to our
own. This is the penalty which national injus
tice has often been called to pay, and which
Mexico may be preparing for herself.”
From the New York Globe.
Voice of the People.t— Demochatic Gov
erxobs.I—From 1 —From the recent election returns it
will be observed that the democracy are greatly
in the ascendant. There are now 29 States,
out of which the democracy have elected 20, and
the whigs 9 governors. Wisconsin will add
another to the dominant party. Does not this
prove that a large majority of the people are dem
ocratic? The fist below will show what we
have stated to be correct:
Democratic. Whig.
Maine. Vermont,
New Hampshire. Massachusetts,
New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania, Connecticut,
Delaware, New York,
Maryland, North Carolina,
Tennessee,
South Carolina, Kentucky,
Georgia, Ohio.—9.
Alabama,
Mississippi,
Louisiana, *
Indiana,
Illinois,
Missouri,
Arkansas,
Michigan,
Florida,
Texas,
lowa.—2o.
We refer our readers to the Act which we
publish this morning, abolishing the usual allow
ance of tare on cotton.
I. O. O. F.—We bad the pleasure on Satur.
day of wituessing the very interesting ceremo
nies, on the occasion of the laying of the corner
stone of the building about to be erected for ed
ucational purposes. A large concourse of citi
zens, including a fall representation of the fair,
was present. The address was. delivered by
Wm. H. Chambers, Esq.., and was listened to
with marked attention and interest by the audi
tory. sAlthough more than ordinarily fastidi
ous in our tastes on the subject of such address
es, we were highly pleased with this efTort. It
was as simple, chaste, and appropriate as the
most exigent critic could have desired.
On the whole,our hour was agreeably, and we
hope, profitably spent, and we left the scene with
a better opinion of the objects and aims of this
order, with very enlarged ideas of the extent ol
it practical usefulness, and a profounder admi
ration for the reality which it has given to the
heavenly precepts of “ Friendship, Love and
Truth.” Glorious Trinity I And how much
more sublime, did their beneficent influen.es
extend to the creation of personal moral worth .
as by its associated power, the order undoubted
ly does, diffuse public blessings !
Mississippi. —Col. Jeffersou Davis, who was
appointed last summer to fill the unexpired Sen
atorial term of Gen. Speight, has been elected
U. S. Senator by the Mississippi Legislature.
He was elected by acclamation.
National Conventions. —At a meeting of
the Democratic members of Congress held on
the 22d ult. in the Senate Chamber, the 4th Mon
day of May, gnd Baltimore were fixed on as
the time and place for holding the National De
mocratic Convention, to nominate candidates for
President and Vice-President. The best feeling ß
prevailed at this meeting.
A similar meeting has been held by Whig
members and determined on a National Whig
Convention at some future day.
U. S. Senator. —The Hon. Pierre Soule,
the distinguished Jurist of N. Orleans is elected
to a seat in the U. S. Senate from the State of
Louisiana, in the place of Henry Johnson, whose
term expires 4th of March, 1849. A splendid
choice ! His majority was 7 votes, and strange
to 6ay, the Legislature is Whig. And stranger
still, the same body, immediately afterwards elect
ed as State Printer, Peter R. Wagner, Demo
crat!
Cheap Music. —We find on our table a very
handsome collection of Music, of E. Ferrett
& Co’s, edition, for which we are indebted to
Mr. Charles Reps. We learn from a memo
randum on the back of it, that it is sent as a “ spe
cimen of three cents per page music.” We
must say, that while the paper and printing are
very beautiful, the music is surprisingly cheap.
Mr. Reps advertises this music for sale, at his
Rooms, over Pond & Willcox’s Drug Store.
The Rail-Road. —A Parallel Case.—The
citizens of Louisville, Kentucky, propose a Raii-
Road to Lexington. A subscription by the form
er city of $500,000 is suggested, and the plan
proposed for issuing scrip to the tax-payers is
very similar to the one contemplated here. We
copy from the Louisville Journal:
“ In case the city subscription is made and a
tax levied to pay it, certificates should he issued to
every one paying a railroad tax for the amount
of the tax paid, convertible at any time into stock,
whenever an amount equal to one share should
be presented to the city clerk. In this way the
tax paid would remain as assets in the hands of
each payer, and the stock subscribed by the city
would ultimately he converted into private stock.
This would materially lessen the burden of the
enterprise. The certificates could be convertible
at a certain discount, and if held they would re
present stock in the road. The road would final
ly come under the control of individual stock
holders, and from the first every large tax-payer
would feel and take an active interest in its man
agement.”
Funny Publications. —John Donkey, a
Yankee imitator of London Punch, has, for sev
eral weeks past, visited our table. Like its prot
otype, it sometimes says and does (in the way
of etching) some very good things. But like
Punch, its wit is more apt to be over than under
done. Wit is like diamonds, found in minute
particles, and their minuteness and scarcity are
what constitute their value. “Punch,” “Yan
kee Doodle,” and “John Donkey,” have p'oven
that wit cannot be made to order, in large quan
tities, as the soap boilers make soap.’ Wit, like
the Poet, nascilur, non fit —it is born, it cannot
be made. Hence it is, that these Charivari news
paper enterprises are the most difficult of suc
cess. The sparkling brilliants of the imagina
tion won’t come up regularly to the weekly edi
torial call; but as a given supply has to be ready
for the printer, pastes and imitation’ diamonds
have to be substituted for the true stones, thus
proving that “all that g’iiters is net gc 1.1,”
John Donkey has made a hit in a political
caricature. Mr. Clay is represented in two fig
ures, hanging in the air, in medias res of two
tremendous leaps. Under him, his feet drawn
up, are two bramble bushes, one of pence, the
other of war. The whole story is told, and the
etching pointed by the annexed verses and quo
tations :
MR. CLAY’S SALTATIONS.
“ There was a man in our town.
And he was wondrous wise ;
He jumped into a briar bush,
And scratched out both his eyes.
“But when he saw his eyes were out,
With all his might and main,
He jumped into another bush,
And scratched them in again.”
“ SOME NOOK OK CORNER IN THE ARMY, IN
WHICH I MIGHT SERVE TO AVENGE THE WRONGS
DONE TO MY COUNTRY. I THOUGHT I MIGHT
BE ABLE TO CAPTURE OR SLAY A MEXICAN.”
Speech at New Orleans.
“This is no war of defence, but unne
cessary AND OF OFFENSIVE AGGRESSION. It
IS MeXICOTHAT IS DEFENDING HER FIRESIDES,
HER CASTLES, AND HER ALTARS, NOT WE.”
Speech at Lexington.
Chattanooga Rail Road. —The Chattar.oo
ga Gazette of the2lst instantsays:—The amount
of private subscriptions to the Nashville and
Chattooga Rail Road is now $1,800,000. The
Board of Directors are endeavoring to get the
Legislature to apropriate $50(b000 more, to en
able the State to obtain the subscription of sl,-
000,000 from the cities of Charleston and New
York. Mr. Stevenson and Gov. Jones have
both addressed the members of the Legislature
imbehalfof the Road.
Unitf,d States Senators. —The terms of
the following Senators expire on the 4th of
March, 1849. Whigs —Vermont, Wm. Upham,
Maryland, Jas. A. Pearce. North Carolina, G.
E. Badger. Louisiana, Henry Johnson. Ken-,
tucky, John J. Crittenden. Democrats —New j
Hampshire, C. G. Atherton. Connecticut, J. |
M. Niles. New York, John A. Dix. Pennsyl-!
vania, Simon Came.-on. South Carolina. A. P.i
Butler. Georgia, W. T. Colquitt. Alabama, *
A. P. Bagby. Ohio, Wm. Allen. Indiana, E.
A. Hannegan. Illinois,Sidney Breese. Missou
ri, D. K. Atcheson. Arkansas, H. H. Sevier.—
Florida, Jas. D. Wescqtt. Total, 5 Whigs, 13
Democrats.
’ (j'j* Oqr new press and type are by this time
we hope, in Apalachicola or on the river hound
up. If we- get them in reason, we shall in a short
time put away our eld form and put in a new.—
The occasion is an opportune one to adJ new
names to our inscription lists. For terms see the
head of our paper.
Correspondence or the Times*
No. 73.
Washington Citi, Jan. 23, 1848.
After the presentation of resolutions on Mon
day, in the Senate, Mr. Butler ofS. C. made his
speech on the Ten Regiment bill. It was a sec
ond edition of that of Calhoun, by no means im
proved in the re-print. In fact, his friends were
disappointed vvijh the effort.
The only resolution of particular importance
presented in the Senate on that day, was one by
Mangum, calling on the President for copies of
all instructions forwarded to Scott. He based
the necessity for this call on the allegation that
the President is bent on conquering and annexing
Mexico. Cass replied to him, and his dolorous
prognostications of ruin ! ruin 1 ruin !—by re
minding him that whenever the Democrats have
been in power, the Opposition have cried out
thus. According to Mr. Cass’s mode of thinking,
there was really danger that the Whigs might
lament the people of this Union into the notion
of bolting all Mexico, which, he thought, would
not choke us past all digestion.
Monday was also resolution day in the House,
where a resolution offered by Chase, of Tenn.,
saying that it was inexpedient to withdraw the
troops to a line, (giving up a portion of our con
quests,) was voted down by seven majority
Wick, of Indiana, offered a resolution, making
it obligatory on naval officers harrassing the halls
of Congress in person, to appear in full dress !
This arises from the fact that any quantity of
commanders,lieutenants and passed-midshipmen,
have, of late, been banging around the lobbies,
endeavoring to effect the passage of a bill to take
from the Pursers and naval Surgeons the relative
rank conferred by the Department on these offi
cers. By law, the paymasters and surgeons of
the army are entitled to such rank, and in the
spirit of this law, the epaulettes were extended
to pursers and naval surgeons. I should not be
surprised if the interference of the officers against
whom Wick’s resolution is directed, superin
duced an order forbidding naval officers from ap
pearing at head-quarters, except under orders or
by permission. This is a standing army regula
tion.
On Monday, Mr. Badger made a speech in the
Seriate, nominally against the war, indemnity and
the President, but (many think) really againsi
Gen. Taylor. IJis points against the President
were, substantially, against the commander of
the Army of Occupation, whose proclamations
and letters of advice were the blame-worthy
items for which he held the Executive responsi
ble. Clay attended, and appeared to enjoy the
speech with great gusto. I need hardly write
you that he has no iJea of declining in favor of
Gen. Taylor, whose positions on the war ques-
tion, one and all, are now understood (in politi
cal circles here) to be identical with those of Mr.
Calhoun.
Tne debate on the President’s refusal to send
in the Slidell correspondence was recommenced
on Tuesday, in the House. Jamison of Md.
made the first speech. Jones of Ga. followed in
a sophomoric strain j and Robinson, of Indiana,
closed for the day. Robinson proved himself a
man of superior ability. His forte is in collect
ing a very strong array of facts. This was his
first speech.
It may not be amiss to call your attention to
the fact that Mr. Badger devoted much of his
speech to a lament that the sturdy locofocos of
the Jackson Democratic Association of this city,
failed to exhibit signs of disapproval of the foast
drank by Senator Dickinson, at their recent Bth
of January supper! Ten to one, Mangum and
Badger are preparing to humbug the good people
of the Old North State with the cry that the de
mocracy, with their President at their head, are
aiming to swallow all Mexico—and to rest, for
proof of the allegation, on the shouts with which
Dickinson’s toast —“ A more perfect Union : the
North American Continent”—was received, as
were all offered on that occasion ; for the b’hoys
were in an uproariously merry mood.
On Tuesday evening, we had the grand Clay
demonstration at the hall of the House of Rep
resentatives —nominally, the annual meeting of
the American Colonization Society. Mr. Clay
presided, and spoke for an hour. Thousands
upon thousands of the “ upper ten ” of the me
tropolis were there. The hall was crowded well
nigh to suffocation, and nearly as many as were
in were forced to retire, being unable to get with
in fifty feet of the doors. Three-fourths of tl.e
audience were ladies. Bless me ! how they
shouted for the gallant Harry during the prelim
inary reading of the report and speech from a
short, fat, uninteresting gentleman ! Their sweet
trebles appeared to be as earliest and skillful in
public-meeting shouting, as the thorough bass of
the Bowery boys, at Tammany Hall. Until Clay
spoke, littiq was heard save huzzas for “ that
same old Coon,” and for 1849. Clay, the gal
lant champion, was never in better feather, lie
looked as well as I have seen him look at any
time within the last twenty years. I have a pas
sion for Clay, personally, though his political
principles will insure my earnest opposition to
him in all time to come. I love to look at the
man—so fair a specimen of a western American
is he. They shouted for him in the hall —out of
it —in the street on his way home—and under his
windows, after his return to his lodgings.
Col. G. W. Morgan, of Ohio, who served in
Mexico with distinction, reached Washington cn
Wednesday morning. In the House on thatday,
the debate on the President’s refusal to send in
the Slidell papers, was continued. The notable
fact ol the day’s legislation was the dead failure
of Tompkins, of Miss. He essayed a bald stump
speech, full of Jo-Millerish attempts at wit, and
misrepresentation. I have not heard the first
member characterize it as a light, but lamentable
failure. Foote, of Miss., made what would have
been a strong speech in the Senate, on the same
day, but for the latin and poetry with which it
abounded. It was in reply to the positions of
Clayton.
On Thursday, Gen. Foote furnished his speech.
His effort of thatday was principally in reply to
Mr. Calhoun, characterizing the effect of Clay’s
presence, in at once leading all Congressional
Federalism on to the “ conscience” platform as
mesmerisim ; he afforded Crittenden an oppor
tunity to essay an effort to make his peace with
Clay. C. undertook this in an eulogium on his
late leader’s want of ambition, fulness ofhonors,
&c., which was Englished into an appeal to the
gallant Harry to back out. He did not pretend
to intimate that Mr. Clay intends doing any such
thing, however.
The news of the election of Jefferson Davis to
retain his seat in the Senate,which he now occu
pies by appointment, reached us on Thursday, is
well received by all Democrats in Washington ;
Col. D. having distinguished himself this winter,
not only by his talents and attainments, but by
the sturdiness of his Democracy. Believing
that if elected, his father-in-law will make a
thorough Democratic administration, he advo
cates his nomination by the National Democratic
Convention. He will, however, doubtless sup
port any regular Democratic nominee, as in duty
[boynd,
j I received advices on Thursday from Louiij.
, ana > wllich B tis f y me that though the opposite*
; have a nominal majority in the Legislature, tith.
j er Slidell or Soule will be returned to the Scn
-1 ate, in place of Gov. Johnson, the present in.
cunibent.
The announcement of the death of the lat*
Hon. Mr. Hornbeck, caused the adjournment of
the House on Thursday, and that of the Senate
on Friday, without the transaction of busines*
The Hon. Jacob Carcfman, who represented
the district of Pa., will be the Democratic can
didate, to fill the seat. A brother of Thomas
Butler King, of Ga.—formerly from the land o’
wooden nutmegs—will probably be the Whig
candidate. The House spent Friday in debating
the claim of the step-mother of Major Brown to
a pension. This bill bids fair to occupy half the
time to be devoted to private claims this winter!
Gen. Houston arrived on Thursday afternoon.
1 he federalists of the House write down the
death of the late Mr. Hornbeck, as a clean loss
of a member to themselves, the District being
largely Democratic, when polling its strength,
as it must, so near the time of a general nation
al election.
Another effort to effect the passage of an in
ternational copy right law, is about being made
and a powerful effort it will be. Although l
would be one of the last men in the world to
take away a man’s property in his brains, or the
workings thereof, I have ever been an opponent
of this bill, which is really designed to put money
io the pockets of a few wealthy publishers and
importers of Foreign books. The soundest ar
gument in its favor, is the demoralizing effect of
the multitude of cheap editions of the works of
foreign writers, such as Eugene Sue and Paul Do
Kock, with which, they say, the absence of such
a law enables publishers, without moral sensibil
ity, to overwhelm the readers of trifling books.
I have no idea that the passage of this contem
plated law will lessen trie consumption of such
literature ten per cent, while it will effectually
cut off cheap American editions of foreign works
having a tendency to elevate and otherwise im
prove the reading public of tbo United States
It will well nigh ruin the business of those con
nected with the sale of cheap literature, which,
within the last ten years, has become a very im
portant branch of commerce, I may almost write.
There are ten purchasers of many books, now
that they are cheap, to one twenty years ago;
cheap literature has already done much for tbo
mental culture of the people at large, and 1 shall
regret to witness the coming of the day when it
is to be thus taxed.
The bill to establish a board of Commissioners
to audit American claims against Mexico, report
ed to the rienate a week or two ago by Mr. John
son, of La., gives great umbrage to the old claim
ants for spoliations. They declare that it opens
the door for augmenting our claims on Mexico to
an immense amount, as it provides for the ad
justment of all claims on the Republic of Mexico,
and fails to confine then?, as heretofore, within
the provisions of the treaty of 1831, or of the
laws of nations. They say, too, that as all claims
presented to the board are to be examined and
decided on, any citizen may purchase hundred*
ol thousands or millions of dollars of claims on
the Mexican Government fora song, and present
them to the board for decision, where they will
stand on equal footing with the old claims for
spoliation. The opposition have probably de
termined in caucus to defeat, if possible, the
practical operation ol the supply bills, one and
all, by such amendments as may best suit this
purpose. I have no doubt that this plan has been
matured, and that their effort to turn the bill now
under discussion in the Senate into a call for vol
unteers, is but with the view to carry ont tho
scheme. I think our friends have already seen
enough of their policy to head them at this game,
which can be done by calls for the yeas and nava
to exhibit them to the country, systematically
opposing every war plan of the government.—
There arc a few of them who dare not go all
lengths in opposition. Mr. Ciay is supposed to
be counselling this, mode of opposition as the
surest way of bringing the universal Federal par
ty to a position utteriy incompatible with the sup
port ol Gen. Taylor. How ever, this were need
less on bis part, if he aims simply to defeat the
nomination of the General ; lor it has become
apparent to all observers, that the Federal party
of the non-slave-hoiding States will not touch
him with a forty foot pole, unless he subscribes
openly and fuily to the principle of the Wilmot
Proviso. And even then,at least one quarter of
their votes will be withheld from him, which
would insure his defeat, past all contingencies.
No Southern Taylor federalist pretends to be
lie.e, that with an avowal of provisoism on his
lips, he can carry a single slave-holding State in
Convention. Under these circumstances, Mr.
Clay’s evident anti-Taylor labors are thrown
away on a job completed to his hand by the wide
difference in principle between Northern and
Southern Federalism. The leader in Saturday
morning’s National Intelligencer will show you
how dead-set “ conscience” is against Taylor
ism. Your readers, I presume, know that the
Nominal National Whig organ is, in truth, but
the organ of “ conscience”—that wing at pres
ent comprising three-fourths of the strength of
Federalism in the Union. Mr. Clay is just now
said to be on a visit to the Editor of the National
Intelligencer, winch the Taylor Whigs give aa
an excuse lor the crushing blow upon the Gene
ral’s hopes embraced in the editorial referred to.
It simply lays down the law upon the subject of
a National Convention, that bug bear to the
Tayloriics. Whigs (about Washington) for tho
love they bear Whig principles, are rejoicing
that the Intelligencer has at last come forward to
open the eyes of the opposition to the fact that
it is on the verge of dissolution as a party, with
the consequent certain dissolution of “ Whig
principles.”
Mr. Secretary ‘Walker is about publishing an
elaborate letter on the various issues involved in
the Mexican question. Those to whom he has
imparted his views in this connection, say that
his letter will fall with an effect on the public
mind, equal to that which distinguished the re
ception of his powerful letter on the Texas ques
tion.
Gen. Taylor may shortly be expected to pub
lish a letter on the indemnity question. He will
probably advocate the virtual destruction of the
military factions of Mexico than to fall back to a
line from Tampico along the Sierra Madre to
California, and the establishment of separate U.
S. Territorial Governments for Tamaulipas, Chi
huahua, New Mexico, and California, against all
of which the Whig party of Congress (without
exception) stands committed. Gen. Scott has
not been recalled. The charges he has prefer
red against Pillow and Duncan, and those of
Worth against him will be the subject of aCourt
oflnquiry at Perote. His charges against Worth
have been dismissed, I think. Gen. Butler
will be in command while this is going on.
LOWNDES.
The Loui.-iana Legislature met at New-Or
leans on Monday—that is, the members came
together at and about the State House, but did
not organize the House of Representatives.—
Four or five members were absent from the ci
ty—detained, it was said, on the river by a fog ;
and it so happened that the political complexion
of the House depended on their presence.. In a
full House the Whigs have a small majority, and
the absentees were whigs; so when the time for
organization arrived, ti e whigs refused to act. —
The effect was, that no quorum could be got to
gether. The two parties divided the House— ,
the democrats took the inside and the whigs the
outside. They remained thus all day, changing
only in position by occasional dodgings in and
out, and it at last dispersed without having or
ganized. The next day all was right. The log
on the river was passed, and the troubles of whig
gery for the possession of the legislative offices
cleared off with the fog. The absentees arrived
—the House was organized with a whig Speak
er and Clerks, and is ready for business.
It was a tight fit after all. One of the miss
ing whigs voted for the democratic candidate,
and the result came up a tie. He then asked to
change his vote, and Farrar (whig) was chosen.
It must be a good choice, for it is the same gen
tleman who was chosen Speaker in the last Leg
islature, when the democrats had a majority.
The election of U. S. Senator, to succeed Mr.
Johnson, occupies a great deal of attention. By
the State constitution, we believe, or perhaps it
is a law, the election must take place within tl
first week of the session—so that it will be ef
fected within three or four days at the farthest