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TUKKDAV, KEBKCART J, 1848.
TUB MEXICAN ttEB TIO7f .
TVj reader will find an admirable letter on
Mrtiran afLirs, m oar celumns. from the jk*ii of
Maj. W. B. lib***, of *bc U. 8. Engineer corps,
it m pcrfretly hmivclloim, (and ouly to be ar
cownted for on (lie known power of party feei
ng, to iiapreaa the moat alwurd views of cern
■aaaraK things ow party mitula.) how two
its inrnnr ran l<c held on the question of what
rnne daty. hower and interest, require the
American Government to pursue in regard to
JVeaico. *>n the one band, the Admini-tratioH
and the party etwlaining it, demand that this
Mriina question should be treated as all nations
at common sense have heretofore treated such
questions. That bring in a war, all I andsshoald
unit* to -fight it through—that the war being
Intcrd upon ut, the enemy should be made to
pay tor it—that wc being the conquerors have
the. right to dictate the terms of peace—that as
the conquerors, it wontd be the extremity ol
public weakness to back out without attaining
the object tor which oar blood and money have
been expended. These are common-sense prop
ortions, and as nothing on earth is so unreason
able as political party opposition, so nothing but
that factious spirit cooid be found to gainsay
and deny these propositions. Yet denied they
ato—they are denied on hypotheses ami State-
Mats the most foreign from the truth. To
Make their negation plausible, it is contended
that the United States Government and not
Mexico is in the wrong, it is pronounced an j
“unconstitutional and unnecessary war,” that
we struck the first blow, that wc arc guilty and
Mexico innoccut and persecuted. In short, po
litical opposition goes to the limit of takingsides
with the enemy and against the country, and all
this to make the party in power unpopular, and
to pave the way to power, for the paity now out
of it. All this is not only wicked, hut it is
weak—it is not only traitorous, but what these
po itieians will be even more chagrined to find
oot— it is impolitic. The party that pursues it,
w catting its owu throat. It is a libel on the
■teady patriotism of the American people, who
have always placed couttlry first , to believe that
any party can commend itself to their favor, by
trampling on the bright honor or circumscribing
the expanding power of this country. Every
day we have evidence of this fact in the private
declarations of men known as staunch Whigs,
who condemn the course of opposition on the
War question, without stint, who feel a genuine
and patriotic contempt for such men as Corwis
and llows, and who have given up even Mr.
C/ay, their chief and brilliant favorite, and a
Ml poaKssing so many rare, attractive, and
admirable personal qualities, because they be
lieve he has wavered from his integrity to his
country —became he does not now, as in his
palmy days of 1812. stand the foremost man in
amrrting at the cannon’s mouth and at the bay
ooct’s point, and at all hazards, moral, political,
and physical, the rights and honor of his coun
ify.
Maj. Cham takes a sensible view of the war
question. Without a particle of partisanship,
he tolls his countrymen plain truths, on his re
sponsibility as a distinguished military officer
and citizen. How singularly do such letters
contra-1 with the vapid electioneering speeches
of Whig Congressmen.
WHIG DIFFICULTIES.
Ibe war continues to rage betwixt the Tay-
Icrites and the Clay it os. So far a war of words.
\*y respectful and full of mutual expressions
of rdmiration for the respective competitors, at
first, bat waxing warmer and warmer. The
Clajitcs swear they wont take a mau who refu
aaa to avow himself a Whig in feeling and in
principle, and they are opposed to “military
candidates'* “any how.” The Tayloritcs on
the contrary, said first that they loved Mr. Clay,
as the “apple of their eyes'’—so dearly indeed,
that they would not force him against his will tobe,
their candidate. But lately having discovered
that it would not be a very forcing operation to
get the “embodiment” to take another heal;
they have dropped mincing and sensibility, and
•peak it plainly, that they are opposed to a Con
vection, because Clay will be nominated, and be
brain. The Alabama Journal, the chief Tny
lor organ in Alabama, takes all the electioneer
ing chances, and is at the same time for Taylor,
heennse of “no-party,” and because of “Whig
ghw.** According to its logic, the foolish Demo
crate arc to support hitn, because he is a no-party
Man, and the wise Whigs, because he is as good a
Whig as Henry Clay.
Th* “Recorder,” of this State, is for Taylor
na a “ Southern man,” as a man who can he
elected, and against a Convention, because the
Central will have no showing against the Mag
nether. ,
Meantime the Mi higs in Congress have settled
the question in favor of a Convention which is
understood to mean, in favor of Mr. Clay. One
Oeorgia Taylor member, it is said, seceded from
the Convention in a fit of spleen. Who is he 1
A frw of the Southern Whig Journals, who
•re turd of taking all their principles from the
Federal mint of the North, are evidently squeam
ish about a National Whig Convention, lest a
MM nml doctrines are there palmed upon them,
which they will find rather too much to “tote.”
We think oar friend of the “ Recorder,” who
hue gat • great deal more political conscience
than the generality of his brethren, smells this
danger “afar oftj” and Gen. Taylor is the plank
la whirh he clings for safety. Now what will
the Whigs do in Convention ! Plainly, one of
two things Ist, compare notes aod principles,
and adopt the latter in a series of resolutions; or
Sd, follow the example of the Harrison Conven
tion, uud put forth an “available,” with no ‘prin
pfea for the public eye.”
If th* first coarse is adopted, where is the
UMHnan ground on which Northern and South-
Whiggery can staudT What will they do
with tha “Proviso” and Slavery questions!—
Sandy if they agrse to meet at all, it must be on
t’w Northern platform. The North is the stron
ger, and has always impressed its doctrines on
tha Whig party, and forced them down the
throats of Ha Southern wing. They did so with
•hew Caned States Bank, their Protective Sys-
BM.*be*r Internal Improvements, all of which
■■of to be as hateful to the present South< n
Wtf parfjT* as they now arc to the Democrats
A Convention, then, that is to adopt common
pWffc*, ujt either break up- in a row, -or
ewd rnlhe disgraceful surrender by the Southern
Whig party of tf*e dearest principles of locaj
.and vital interest. The “ Recorder” sees this.
The second eowrse, of meeting to nominate
and adopting no platform, is a farce thakcannot
fie twicesaeresstully enacted. It succeeded once,
whew commercial distress wav rife, and the coun
try ready fora Bankrupt! Act. The tiuaps are
to good now, for a rejxilition of the handing.
But from past experience, we have nothing
else to expect, but (hot the Whig politicians of
the South will go into Convention and consent
once more to'submit their noses of wax to the
plastic finger* of Northern Federalism, and agree
to anything they propose. Tho Whig press of
Georgia-, in generally hauling down the Taylor
Flag, are preparing for this event. A few may
have the virtnc to stick out. Ts they do, monu
ments of brass should be erreted to them.
HEAR THE OTHER SIDE.
While very decided in oor preference of the
Barnesvilie route, as one, not only best for Co
lumbus, but best for the public at large, au-J
equally just to all other interests ; we arc willing
to hear and suffer to te heard, the other side.
We therefore c>py from the Georgia Journal &
Messenger, a communication signed “Compro
mise,” recommending a meeting of five dele
gates from each company (the Muscogee and
South-Western) at J>auier, to consult on a com
promise route—that is to say a route not so low
down a Pondtown, and not so high up as the
direct one to Bartlesville.
We will not repeat here, our objections to
a read that is to cut us off from the nearest con
nection with the Cherokee country and the great
West, the latter now secured by the recent ac
tion of the Tennessee Legislature, adverted to
in another column. But, let us ask what objec
tion have Savannah or Macon to the Barnesvilie
road, aside from the question of up-country
trade, from which it is sought entirely to exclude
Columbus ? Our belief is that nine out of ten
of the bales of cotton that will reach Barnesvilie
over the Muscogee Road,will go to Macon and Sa
vannah. It is 139 miles further to the Atlantic
from Barnesvilie- to Charleston, via Augusta, than
to Savannah by way of Macon. By what freak
of trade—and trade, by the way, is never gov
erned by freaks—could the cotton freights of the
Muscogee Road ever be diverted to the Georgia
Road? And while Macon and the Central Road
will thus draw nearly all the cotton, they will
have a fair division of the travel. Indeed, when
their ocean steamers begin to ply between N. Y.
and Savannah, few travelers will hesitate to
exchange 139 miles of fatiguing Rail-Road tra
vel for the comfort of a berth on a good steam
ship. Why then, draw us down the country to
Macon, and off from a penetration of the upper
country of Georgia, which Macon has so sedulous
ly sought in her Monroe Road, for the accomp
lishment of an object, selfish at best, and which
may boas well accomplished, or nearly so, via
Barnesvilie ?
The advocates of the Barnesvilie route arrs for
it, as the middle and compromise route. More
than a year ago, we favored it on this ground.
It was the medium route, nearly bisecting anoth
er road, connecting the two great Rail-Road ar
teries of the State—a route to feed and be fed
by both of them—in short the nearest approach
able plan to rectify the egregious blunder origin
ally made of constructing the rival Georgia and
Central Roads. The consequences of that mis
take are new past entire remedy. But, this is a
good reason why in future improvements, the
same blunder should not be repeated. Rail-
Roads are expensive things—they are heavy
taxes on tha surplus capital of a country and
can only be usefully constructed over great tho
roughfares. It is folly to multiply them in rival
proximity to each other. One Road therefore
to cross the Chattahoochee, is all that this time,
perhaps this age, demands. Let that Road be
tun centrally to all other great interests—neither
too high up or too low down—benefiting the
country at large, and being equally just to the
Georgia R. R. Company,the Central R. R. Com
pany, and the Macon and Western R. R.
Company. This is “ compromise.” This was
regarded as “compromise” and was agreed upon
as such a year ago, by all these companies at
a Convention in Macon. That “ compromise”
should have been faithfully carried out. We
have not a doubt that it will be carried out. Cer
tainly it is the fixed purpose here,|pdo it.
In support of our position, that Macon and
Savannah will get the cotton freights of the
Muscogee Road, we find in the “Jeffersonian,”
the following table of cotton shipments from
Griffin.
MEMOXAXDDm OE COTTONS TOnWAKDED FROM
GntFFIN.
To macon. To Atlanta-
In September, 45 - 00
October, 1,436 ]64
November, 1,25S 612
December, 4,884 165
January, 6,230 _ 1,321
13,852 2,162
2,162
Total shipped, 16,014
On hand about 6,000
Total received 22,014
The returns of shipments are kindly furnish
ed by L. W. Dubois, Esq. the Agent at this
place, and are transcribed from his books.
Such is the result—l3,Bs3, against 2,162 —
at Griffin, 20 miles further from Macon than
the Barnesville depot. We think the figures
fully justify our opinion that 9 out of 10 of the
bales of cotton passing East over the Muscogee
Road, will take the Macon end of the Macon
and W. Road.
The Tenxeskke Railroad. —The following
important intelligence we copy from the Nash
ville Union.
Goon News. —We announce, with more of
satisfaction than we have experienced in chron
icling any eventsince our connection with this
press, the passage of the bill to loan the bonds of
the State to the amount SSOO 000 to the Nash
ville and Chattanooga Railroad, and $320,000
to the Hiwassec Railroad. The bill passed
the House by a vote of 37 to 35. It liad already
passed the Senate. Tennessee will now take
rank with the first States of the Union in wealth
and population.
This is indeed an important movement for
Tennessee, and connot fail to give a powerful im
pulse to the development of her” vast agricultural
and mineral resources.
National Moncmf.xt Fund. —The account
ofJ.B. H. Smith, treasurer of the National Wash
ington Monument Society, shows that since the
20lh November, 1846, the date of the last ac
c unt, he has received $10,017 10. Os this,
$9,156 35 has been paidnut, or invested in stocks
with the exception of some SSOO consumed in
expenses, leaving a balance of $860,85. The
aggregate investment* now amount to $62,-
35966; the above receipts comprising the inter
est thereon, with $633 collected in Washington
alt hut a fractional part of it lately, and $4,089
85 received from the general agent under the
new subscription.
7~*~ m • rri-w- 1 b. •JSfjSgTrfflKi ~~
“ THE HARSiOMUtTb Is h.3IOCiI AC Y,”
is a favorite Whig taunt. The following, from
lengthy, eulogy of Mr. Clay, taken from .the.
Augusta “Republic,” shows that our Whig
friends knowhow to scratch, and pull hair as
well as some of their neighbors. For our part,
wc think t|je best thing that could happen for
the country, would be that Clay should be run
on the “Lexington platform,” and let all the
truo friends of the country who are opposed to
taking sides with the enemy, unite against him
and his platform. The entire Democracy and a
mighty sprinkling of Whigs would then be uni
ted to sustain the honor and rights of the coun
try on the momentous questions growing out ol
the war. On these questions the Presidential
election will turn. Our information from Wash
ington leads us to the conviction, that the Whigs
in Congress are boldly making tho issue, and
will shortly stand out as the anti-war-ami-pcace.
on-any-terms-purly. Let it come, the people are
ready for the question :
From the Republic.
The friends of Gen. Taylor, we rowst say, have
practised undue arts to fasten him upon the peo
ple, to the prejudice of Mr. Clay. Letters have
been Written, saying that the latter would,under
no circumstances, consent to run again. Per
sons, pretending to be his best friends and great
est admirers, have endorsed these proceedings.
* * * * * °
All the traitors to the Whig party have been
Taylor men from the beginning. We aliude to
some ol the Tyler office-holders. Several of the
leading Taylor papers are edited by those who
held office under John Tyler—who followed that
“traitor” to the last—and who hate Mr. Clay for
his goodness, greatness and glory. These men,
professing to be Whigs, have been and are shout
ing over Gen. Taylor. They make the welkin
ring with his praises—and for what ? Because
they hope, under his administration, to share the
loaves and fishes.
Some Democrats in Alabama have come out
for Gen. Taylor, it is true j but what can they
f * ‘* * Some of them,
who, as editors, hoisted the Taylor colors, have
taken them dowu as light has burst upon them,
an3revealed their false position.
Too A J^ti-Calhovsisn.— One of our sub
scribers in Merriwether stopped the “ Times,”
the other day, because the “ Times” was too
“anti-Calhnunish.” Our crime, if there be
any, consists in preferring the integrity and
principles of the Democratic par'y, to a surren
der of those principles to Mr. Calhoun’s singular
whims and capri- cs. The “ Times” is a Dem
ocratic paper, be it known to our late Merri
wether subscriber, and not o blind adulator of-
Mr. Calhoun or Mr. Anybodyelsc. We greatly
admire, and think we rightly understand Mr*
Calhoun. He is no friend to the Democratic
party. Under the circumstances we think Mr,
Calhoun has been treated with wonderful for
bearance by the Democratic party. Certain is it,
that wc have often been restrained in the ex
pression of our feelings, at his course, by senti
timente of respect for the few good Democrats
who, with all his faults, cling to him still.
We do not think our subscription list will be
permanently affected by our devotion to the Dem
ocratic cause, and certainly the way to make us
less “ anti-Calhounish” is not to punish us for
an independent expression of opinion. At all
events, with one subscriber less, “we arc of the
same opinion still.”
Grit. Scott. —The Whig Editors are in a
fresh paroxysm of grief and indignation about
Gen. Scott. Awful, say they, that this glorious
Chieftain (in a “damnable, unrighteous and un
constitutional war I”) should be suspended.
But what do they know about it? What if
it should prove that General Scott demanded the
Cou rt of Enquiry ? Better “wait for the wag
on,” gentlemen, and save your powder until you
see the enemy. “It msy turn out,” (says the
Richmond Enquirer.) “as more than once be
fore, that the Whigs are on a false trail, and
that the Administration will once more foil
them.’’
Avxkxatiox. —Mr. Turner, of Illinois,
brought into the House on tho 31st ult., joint
resolutions for annexing to the United States
New Mexico, and Upper and Lower California.
To “this complexion-must come at last” the
obstinate folly of Mexico, in prolonging the war,
and the traitorous “ aid. and comfort” given to
the enemy in this country, by withholding sup
plies and men, and making party speeches in
Congress, instead of voting war measures.
Direct Trade. —The schooner Midas, has
arrived at Savannah with a cargo of Coffee, di
rect importation from Rio Janeiro. The cargo
was imported by Messrs. Paddlcford & Fay.
The Whig Candidate. — The Charles
ton Courier (of Friday) remarks—One of our
Washington correspondents says in a late let
ter, “The contest between the Clay men and the
Taylor men iii and out of Congress, is becom
ing very vehement. It bodes no good to the
Whig party. It must either end in a feud, or
in the withdrawal of Mr. Clay—a thing which
cannot happen.”
Whio National Convention.— lt is-offici
ally announced in the National Intelligencer,
that the whig caucus at Washington has deter
mined on a Convention to nominate Presidential
and Vice Presidential candidates, and that Phil
adelphia is the place and the 9th of June the
time for the said proceedings.
It is said that Jefferson Davis denies having
propounded any interrogatories to Gen. Tavlor,
or having received any letter from him, since
his arrival in Washington. This denial is said
to be called forth by the report, that in reply to
Mr. D., Gen. T. had avowed his preference for
the Tariff of 1846 and the Independent Treasu
ry-
The Fremont Case. —The Court Martial,
so long engaged in the trial of this case, adjourn
ed sine die, on Monday week, and transmitted
its decision to the President. It seems to be un
derstood that the decision is against the accused
but no intimation is given of the nature of the
punishment prescribed.
Veto or the Mobilz and Ohio Railroad
bill. —Gov. Chapman of Alabama, has vetoed
the bill chartering a company to construct a rail
road from Mobile to the State fine north to bo
extended to the valley ol the Ohio, on the ground
that tiie stock of the Company should not be ex
empt from taxation till it paid a dividend of 8
percent, per annum.
Henbt Clay. —The Pittsburg (Pa.) Whigs
are unanimous for Clay for the Presiden
cy-
The Richmond (Va.) Whigs, after endorsing
John M. Bott’s vote on the resolution of Hud
son, (the Massachusetts Federalist.) which
sought the withdrawal of our army to the East
bank of the Rio Grande, and a treaty jff peace
with no indemnity—(aresolution whiennad but
forty-one votes in the House) —adjourned a meet
ing recently, without passing a resolution offer
eJ, in compliment to Taylor and Scott, lest ’it
should elicit one in favor of Clay.
The Enquirer repeats that oa the subject of
/he war the Whigs are as “ dumb os oys
t era.”
--yjgr— r: ■.-
GEN. TWIGGS.
At a supper at Velk Cruz it will be remem
bered Gen. Twiggs gave the lollowing toast;
“Honor to the citizen roldier who steps ior
ward to battle’ for bis country. Shame to the
knaves at home, who give aid and comfort to our
enemies.”
Some of the Whig Editors are mighty wroth
at this simple and natural expression of patriotic
disdain for traitors and admiration for those who
battle for country. Where’s the harm in it 1
Is’nt it right to contemn and despise traitors?
Is’nt it just and proper to honor and praise pa
triot soldiers? Where then is the offence of
the “ white-haired veteran?”
The truth of this thing is in a nutshell.—
Those whom the cap of this toast fits , are alone
offended at it. “Uneasy is the (Whig) head
that wears this crown.” Whig Editors know
that large numbers of their political brethren of
the-press and in political stations, deserve the
withering rebuke of the Hero of Cerro Gordo.
They have in their eye their jGreclys, and Cor
win*, and Appleton Howes’, their traitors to
country, and loyalists to party, great and small,
who belong to the class on which the old sol
dier pours forth his scorn and contempt And it
is for this and not because of any thing improper
m the sentiment of the toast, that those gentie
! men are so indignant. Honi soit, qui mal y
pease “ Evil to him who evil thinks,,’ is the
touchstone of thi< matter. The Savannah Geor
gian concludes a sensible article on this subject
with these sensible reflections:
“ But Gen. Twiggs has given mortal offence
to the Republic, and doubtless all of its political
allies, by alluding to certain knaves in this coun
try who give “aid and comfort” to our enemies.
Why should it suppose that he intended to re
flect upon the whole Whig party of the country ?
Are there none in this land who have called up
on themselves this rebuke from a distinguished
[officer? Are the soldiers of the country to be
subjeet to such attacks as are daily made upon
them in different portions of the Union and to be
permitted to utter not a word in reply f The
Corwins and the Howes are licensed to abuse
them 11 ad libitum ,” to pronounce them cut
throats, murderers, ruffians, “ hired assassins,”
to stigmatize their character and to dishonor
their remains, and yet if they should attempt to
reply, they are to be gaggod into silence by an
aliusion to the commissions they hold, and the
services they have rendered. The position is
untenable, unjust, and absurd. Our army is en
titled to its opinityi, and has a right to express
it, upon all the questions that interested the na
tion. Our liberties are as safe in its hands, as
in those of any portion of our people. The day
is past when “the fanfaronade” about the dan
gers of military rule will produce the slightest
effect upon a sensible mind. The day is rapidly
coming, if nqt already come, when patriotism
will make every soldier who has drawn his sword
or fired his gun in the Mexican war, a Democrat
in feeling, principle and action.”
LATEST FROM MEXICO.
Ws copy from the Mobile Register th foilevf
ir*g summary of the latest accounts from Msxi
co*
Mexico,like the United Slates, is filled with ru
mors of peace. It is difficult to trace them to
any authentic source. We have no hopes of
peace until the whigs of Congress change their
party tactics.
The steamship McKim arrived at New Orleans
on Sunday from Vera Cruz, via Tampico, having
left the former place on the 24th and the latter
on the 31st ult. We are indebted to an extra
from the Picayune office containing letters from
its correspondents in Vera Cruz, but wefind but
little ofinterest in them, notherctfare jpublish
ed
From Tampico we learn that the United States
propeller Secretary Mason returned to Tampico
on the 28th January from an experimental trip as
far as Tancasnequi. The Tamassee river, hith
erto unnavigable except for canoes, has been
opened by our troops as far as that point, which
is in fact the head of navigation. By order of
Col. Gates, Coi Deßussy, ably seconded by Capt
Cole, Is Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, has
thus, after a deal of labor, succeeded in facilita
ting operations incase communications are to be
opened with San Luis Potosi. One hundred miles
of land transportation are by these means obviate
and the supplying ofa division at San Luis made
comparatively an easy matter. A post will be
immediaiely established-at Tancasnequi,- a com
pany of dragoons being ordered up the day our in
formant left. They will keep the roadsopen for
the traders in that neighborhood, and but little
will be heard of the guerrillas in that quarter
hereafter.
The trade of Tampico is represent*:! as more
active than at any time since its occupation.
Yet Later. —The bark Archimedes, Captain
Lane, arrived on Monday from Vera Cruz with
one day’s later date, having sailed on the 26th.-
The Free American of that date notfees ru
mor that Capt. Wipple arrived from the city o f
Mexico, and brought down news that Orizaba has
been taken, and is now in possession ofa body of
troops despatched from the city of Mexico. The
editors of the American had been unable to see
Capt. W. personally to ascertain the facts.
Kextuckt. —A series of bold and vigorously
conceived resolutions in opposition to the Wil
mot proviso scheme and in support of the exist
ing war, was presented in the Senate of the Leg
islature of Kentucky, on the 17th ult., and re
ferred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
It is only mcessary to quote the lollowing reso
lution to show how much they are opposed in
tenor and in spirit to the “Lexington plat
form
Revolved, That in our judgment, the present
war with Mexico was founded in imperative
necessity on our part, and could not have been
avoided without hazarding the honor of the na
tion, and that according to the usages oi’nations
we stand justified before the civilized world, and
we believe it to be the duty of every patriot to
sustain the Government in prosecuting this war,
which was brought on by the acts and doings of
Mexico, to a reasonable termination and an hon
orable peace.
Congress has now been nearly eight weeks
in session, and so busy has a whig House of
Representatives been in discharging the public
business—so much fonder are they of words, than
of works, that to this moment the President’s
message has not been distributed among the dif
ferent committees. This is a species of aiacrity
and energy, in a whig House, which is scarcely
paralleled in the annals of American legislation.
Every thing drags. The whole business of the
session is kept back. It would really appear as
if gentlemen have come here to debate, and not
to act; and this, too, at a time when we are in
the midst of a foreign war —when the executive
department is pressing for supplies—and when
the whigs themselves, who had loudly complain
ed of there not having been men enough sent to
the army, have not voted one regiment more, and
talk of sending not another man. Washington.
Union,
Death of Dr. Myron Bartlett. —lt be
comesour painful duty to announce the death,
in this city, on yesterday morning, ol Doctor
Myron Bartlett, the former Proprietor and Edi
tor of this paper. Doctor Bartlett was in his 50th
year. He was a native of Concord, New Ham
pshire, but has been a citizen of Georgia lor the
last twenty-five years. For nearly twenty years
of this, time, he was connected with the news
paper press of this State, first in Savannah and
afterwards in this town. The sterling integrity
and merit of his character obtained for him in
this situation, the respect and esteem of the good
of all parties. —Mncon Telegraph.
The following toast w'as lately drank:—“Un
cle Sam—A respectable branch of the Bull fam
ilv—He broke the bond of parental authority and
went into business on bis own account, in 1776
—He is new well to do in the world, clothing
himself, and feeding his poor relations into the
bargain!”
The Western(Mass.) Railroad have petitioned
the Legislature of that State for $3,000,G00 in
crease of their capital stock, in order to complete a
double track the whole distance from Albany to
Boston, and to enlarge their depots, &c, The
Boston and V. orccsler Railroad have also asked
for an increase of $1,000,000, to defray the cost
o! branches. &e. The present capital ol the last I
mentioned RoaJ, is $8,500,090
Comipondft* of th Tlmi.
N>. 5.
Washinbtos Citt, Feb. 6, 184$.
On Saturday last (a week ago) Mr. \ inton)
Chairman of the Committee on Ways imd
Means, Ashmun, who is now as famous as the
redoubtable Mr. Schenk himself, for letting no
opportunity to “put his foot in it” pass, an<l
Conger, of New York, a member of the Com
mittee on Printing, essayed an effort -to create
the impression that the Secretary of the Trcast-*
ury had been altering the text of his annual re
port,as originally transmitted to the House,which,
thanks to the promptness of Gen. McKay, was
met and nailed to the counter at the very last
Federal roorback. The extraordinary delay cn
the part of the Federal committee on Ways and
Means, in bringing forward the leading annual
appropriation bills, being the subject of a con’
versational debate, Vinton excused hinweif on the
ground that the delay in the printing of the
Treasury Report was the reason of his failure
in his duty. This brought out Ashmun, who,
after characterizing the change of the system in
which the printing is done as “penny wise and
pound foolish,” and declaring that he had op
posed it, propounded to the Committee on Print
ing, the question why the printing had been thus
delayed 1
Conger, of that committee, announced that
the alteration being made by the Secretary in
the text, was the “cause why.” This brought
out Gen. McKay, who after proving that hereto
fore the Committee ot Ways and Means had
always reported three of the four great appropri
ation bills, without waiting for the printing of
this document, which was, by no means, neces
sary for their purposes, declared on the authority
of the Register ol the Treasury that not a word
or figure of the report had been or was at any
time designed to be altered ; that it had been in
the hands of the Secretary of the Treasury only
for the customary revising of the proof; and fur
ther, that while Ashmun was knocking up so
great a hubbub, the Report itself was laying,
printed, in the document room, ready for all
members who would take the trouble to call for it.
Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, who is famous for diving
to the bottom of matters, having searched the
journals, found that Ashmun had voted in favor
of the “penny wise and pound foolish” policy t
and announced it to the House, to his (A.’s)
great dismay. He had to il acknowledge rhe
corn,” in terms which said plainly that he had
sustained a measure to subserve a party pur
pose, and which his convictions of duty and
ft'StiGe counselled to be wrong.
It being the general impression that Vinton,
Conger and Ashmun had arranged this scene hy
way of making a point against the Secretary,
their complete discomfiture and tho exposure to
which they were subjected, afforded lots of fun
for the wags—political.
On Monday we had, in the Senate, a very able
war speech frem Gen. Downs, of La. After ex
posing the manner in which Federalism had
gradually worked itself to the point of open
opposition to the war, he weni on to prove that
the manner in which Gen. Taylor had operated
(contrary to the orders of the Government,) he
was the proximate cause of the collision; the
primary cause being the long continued state ol
our relations with Mexico.
From Gen. Taylor’s letters to the War De
partment, he satisfied all present that the Gene
ral took post where he did, and also blockaded
the Bio Grande with the definite determination
either to force Ampudia to retire from Matamo
ros into the interior, or to cross the river and offer
us battle. Without essaying to blame General
Taylor for this course, he exhibited in a strong
light, the fact that it was directly in the teeth of
the inductions under which he acted, and by
which he was directed to avoid (by all reason
able means in his power) a collision with the
enemy.
In the House, Monday was resolution day,and
nothing transpired there of interest.
On Tuesday, in Senate, we had a powerful
war speech from Douglass, of 111., who, if he
lives and continues to be as discreet as he has
proved since first entering public lile, is destined
to reach the Presidential chair.
In the House, the resolutions from the Com
mittee of Ways and Means distributing the an
nual message, was taken out of the Committee
of the W 1 ole, at 2, p. rn. In the course of the
voting on the amendments, one to instruct the
Committee on Finance to inquire into the pro
priety of laying a direct tax (for war purposes)
to the amount of five millions per annum, was
passed by fifteen majority. The Whigs to a
man, and a few Democrats voting in its favor.
Mark you ! tluftc was no record of the yeas and
nays about this, for it was done in Committee.
After getting through with the voting in Com
mittee” on the various amendments proposed and
resolving into a house. Mr. Cobb, of Ga., ob
tained the floor for the first speech on tho sub
ject in the House, and then they adjourned.
On Wednesday, in the House, the debate on
the reference of the Annual Message, was
continued. Mr. Cobb, ot Georgia, making
the first speech, which was marked by his
usual ability. He exercises great influence
in Congress; certainly as much as any other mem
ber of the House. This is the result of his strong
sense, great experience, and unwavering integ
rity as a public man, in things great or small, and
a readiness making him always prepared to dis
charge his duty, howsoever difficult the task
may appear. I have heard it said of him, that
when he speaks,the House listens to his sugges
tions as a jury to the words of a witness on the
stand.
Mr. Stevens followed in a speech which I must
be permitted to 6ay, mortified many ol his friends
and admirers. It was characterized by ability
and study, of course, but at the same time it was
unexpectedly marked by coarse vituperation and
malignant accusations against the Executive—
which he does not dare essay to prove by moving
an impeachment. I have heard twenty shrewd
observers of men and things political, declare
that the tone of his speecli is proof positive that
Federalism is grasping, like a drowning man, at
straws.
Charles Brown, of Philadelphia, followed Ste_
vens, closing the debate of the day.
On Thursday, after speeches from Caleb B.
Smith and Vinton, this subject matter was finally
disposed of.
On coming to vote by yeas and nays, the Whigs
generally backed out from their direct tax
vote in Committee, where the question is taken
by simply counting the members as they pass
through tellers. But forty-seven members voted
aye, a large majority of whom were Democrats.
John Bell, of Tennessee, occupied the atten
tion of the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday
in delivering by far the ablest anti-war speech of
the session.
On Thursday night, Hearn through the Intelli
gencer, the Federal caucus determined to call
their National Convention together at Philadel
phia, on the 7th of June.
Friday’s session of the Senate was occupied by
I Mr. &evier, in a war speech, marked with great
* ability,-on the Ten Regiment Bill.
I The dullness of the House proceedings (on
[private bills) of Friday, was relieved by a mes
• gage from the Executive, transmitting, in answer
to a call, a letter from Gfen. Taylor received at
the “War Department some six weeks after the
close of the last session of Congress.
Thifrwas his rejoinder to the order reviving
the army regulation,forbidding officers at the seat
of war from writing concerning the operations of
our army, and the military designs of this Gov
ernment. Though couched in respectful lan
guage, of course, it breathes defiance to the Ad
ministration ; and says, in effect, though not in
words, that being a candidate for the Presidency,
he deems it for his political interest to “ show
fight” against a Democratic President, notwith
standing his position in the service ofhis country.
For some time past the reliable Whigs have
apparently abandoned, atj|least, all “talk” of
running Gen. Taylor. So remarkable is their
sudden silence —change of tone —in this connec
tion, that it appears to be well understood that
his name will not be seriously brought before
their National Convention, unless he shall have
fairly and fully taken back all the many no-party
pledges with which his political letters teem. It
is not the impression of many well-informed per
sons, that he will thus expose himself to ridicule,
in order to achieve the now certain honor of an
unsuccessful canvass for their nomination. The
most ultra Tylerites among the Taylorites, (and
you know this is a sanguine race of bipeds) seem
at length to have abandoned all hope of securing
the nomination for the General,now that common
6ense appears about to come to the aid of Fede
ral councils. They see clearly that before the
session ends, the present system of opposition—
carping atthc details ol the war bills, and vilify
ing the administration —will give place to sturdy
anti-war votes from almost the entire Whig party.
To votes which must militate with crushing lorce
against the hope that they may succeed with a
candidate only known from saceessful connec
tion With the prosecution of the war. Though
aware that, with few exceptions, the opposition
are gradually working themselves clear up on
the Lexington platform, I entertain no fear that
the supply bills may fail to become laws. All
will uotrisk political martyrdom by voting “tooth
and toe nail” against the war, you may rely on
it. As eloquent and able as was the appeal made
on Thursday by Mr. Senator Bell, for harmony in
their ranks, it will fall powerless on a few Fede
ral ears, for the desire to live politically a while
longer, is far stronger than the fear of present
denunciation from the wire-pullers.
Beil’s speech (delivered on Wednesday and
Thursday) was, I repeat, by far the ablest yet
made on the Federal side of the war question.—
It was, however, decidedly non-committal as to
indemnity. On most of the points made, he goes
rather with Mr.. Calkona than with Federalism
proper (if I may be permitted to dtsavK a. distinc
tion ’twixt tweedie-dum and tweodle-dec.) In
the course of his shower of compliments upon
Mr. Calhoun, he expressed great regret that no
other Senator had come forward to sacrifice party
on the altar of country. More than one of the
opposition leaders looked at him as though highly
displeased at this virtual thrust at them, for so
steady opposition to the cause of the country.
The Whigs in Congress trembled in their shoes
at the fear the papers connected with the mission
of Mr. Trial sent into the Senate on Wednesday
would prove of a tenor very different from their
expectations a week or two since. The tone
of the debate in the House, on the Veto Mes
sage, shows that having anticipated a valuahle
mare’s nest in the S.'idell correspondence, they
were furious because the Executive judged it
best for the country to keep it for the present
locked up in the State Department. They are
even more furious now, under the impression
that in the multitude of their calls for informa
tion, (by way of making Federal capital,) they
have “missed the goose and hit the gander.”
In plain English, it is believed that letters from
Gen. Scott to Mr. Trist, connected with the ne
gotiations of the latter are more laughable than
the gallant General’s famous “soup” paragraph.
The opposition will hardly recover its equanimity
until discovering in the . printed documents that
the Prcsidont has not yet thought it necessary to
send in the letter or letters from the General, in
which the latter thus “puts his foot in it.” I fan*
cy this is the case, and therefore expect soon to
find the Whigs breathing freer. However, Fed
eralism can hardly fail, session ends, to
blunder upon some call fifty to force the Exec
utive to send in the paper papers, if in exis
tence,as most well-informed persons here have it.
I refer you to the columns of Saturday morn
ing’s Intelligencer, and Friday night’s Union, to
show how completely absorbed the public mind
of the metropolis has become, with the idea that
a treaty is in existence. The impression has its
origin in the speculations of my wrefhren of the
letter-writing corps, who, when were is a lack
of news or other matters of intqwtet, whet the
appetites of their readers with concern
ing the desired settlement of the Mexican affair.
I beg you to take notice that I have never encour
aged the belief that the government has received
a scrap of a pen concerning a treaty since the
failure of Trist’s authorized negotiations, otbe r
than letters from individuals now in Mexico,who
have no more right to interfere in the matter
than the man in the moon. These letters, and 1
am, by no means even certain that any such have
been received —cannot amount to any thing more
than the opinions of the writers as to terms upon
which a treaty may be negotiated, and informa
tion concerning the supposed attitude (in this
connection) of individual Mexicans and Mexican
parties. Washington Federalism and the Fede
ral press of the Atlantic cities, will,
have it that if not a regular, signed, sealed, and
delivered convention, the Administration is in
possession of a skeleton treaty, with satisfactory
assurances that it may be negotiated with the
enemy.
The Federal leaders in Congress are playing on
this impression in the public mind with no little
adroitness ; for they essay to create the belief
that the Administration only withhold it—hesi
tate to close upon it— because anxious to prolong
the war, so as finally to insure the conquest, ab
sorption or annexation—call it which you will —
of all Mexico. In this, as usual, they essay a
bold game of deception, as will be made oppa
rent to their discomfiture before the session ends.
Their mendacity has never been greater than
at present, at any moment since the parties first
divided under old John Adams and Thomas Jef
ferson. They see with Mr. Botts, Greeley, Mr.
Clay and the Intelligencer, that if trusting them,
selves before the country either on the honest
issues between the parties or with a brazen disa
vowal of their real principles and intentions, if
successful, on their lips, they are lost. So they
aim to combine pure Federalism enough, with
‘false charges against the Democracy and its pol
icy, and also their usual medium of subterfuges
to palliate their course on the Mexican war, so
as to humbug the people, while preserving their
identity and character as the Whig party.’ This
they would do to secure a thorough Whig ad
ministration, if successful, or to preserve their
party organization if defeated, which cannot be
achieved under “no-party” colors, as their bitter
recollection of the times of “Tyler too” satisfies
them.
They have indeed, a hopeless task in hand.—
Now, as ever before, they essay too much.—
Their schemes involve the traversing of a laba.
rynth of political duplicity filled with traps,
, springs, and pitfalls, set for the Democracy, int®
srfcne of which they must stumble or they will
adhievo-an escape, such as has heretofore failej
to* mark their course in a national canvass.
The Fedcl policy, in connection with she
loan hills is coming to light. In caucus, th T
have probably determined to make a desperate
effort to re-cnact the Protective System, and f®
seize upon the absolute necessity for raising mon
ey for the prosecutiou of the war, as their oppor
tunity to once more force it on the coantry.—.
Hilliard, of Ala., and one or two ether anti-pro
tectionists in their party, however, stand in their
way ; but the leaders hope to- coax and hrow-bet
these gentlemen into their purposes, They will
endeavor to prevent the enactment of * single
loan bill, in a form in which it will be of prasti
cal utility. Our friends may (possibly) then, to
save our arms from dishonor, and the conntry
from the additional burden of a heavy tax for tho
benefit of the capitalists, be compelled to sustain
a temporary direct tax bill ; between which ami
a biil framed on the principles of the Tariff ®|
1842, there can be no hesitation, I presame,—
However, I do not fear any such necessity.
II the Committee’ of Ways and Means fails to
carry out its threat of reporting a direct tax bill,
ten to one, Gen. McKay, himself, will bring such
a proposition forward, “ his own hook.” He
will not do it, however, by the advice and con
sent of a majority of our party.
The opposition know not what to make of the
election of P. Soule to the Senate, by the Whig
Legislature of Louisiana, and that, too, by a
clear majority of seven votes I The more ultra
non-slaveholding Stale Whigs regard it as but the
natural resultofTa) lorism,aud taunt their Taylof-
Whig brethren with it, as proof that “ no-party
ism” must cut both ways, or at least against
Whig men and Whig measures. Very naturally,
the triumph of Soule, a Democratic State Printer,
and a staunch Locofoco State Treasurer, over th®
heads of their nominees, most devoted partizan
and deserving Whigs, where Wbiggery (being in
power) is but another name for Taylorism, ha*
not yet served to increase the little confidence
in the Federalism of the Commander of the Ar
my of Occupation, heretofore entertained by tli®
leaders in Congress. LOWNDES.
From the N.O. Delta,
THE CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL
SCOTT.
We stated that the charges made against Gen.
Scott, by Gen. Worth, and perhaps by other*,
were ol so serious a nature that it was due to th®
character of the Commrnder in Chief that they
should be thoroughly investigate and definitely
decided. Though cognizant of most of th®
specifications against Scott we did not think it
proper to refer particularly to them ontU they
were properly brought before the Court to be held
at Perote; but a correspondent of the Evening
National, who seems to be well informed on ma
ny points,, lias developed some of the charges and
complaint* which have been made in Washing
ton, against the course ol the Commander in
Chief, and we see no impropriety in quoting there
from.
After referring to many cases of wasteful ex
tra'pgance in procuring supplies, and of con
temptuous disregard of the directions and arrange
ments of the Secretary of War, the correspon
dent of the National proceeds:
“On the arrival of the army in Puebla, the same
course ot extravagant expenditure was pursued :
the General-in-Chief was again surrounded by
the m3’rm id on sos Santa Anna; he eagerly cour
ted tiie acquaintance of the leaders of the mon
archical party : visited the bishop of that diocese,
who was always one of the leading monarchists;
and studiously kept aloof from all communica
tion with the great republican party, which com
prises at least ihrec-iourths of the population.
The monarchists again became his confidential
advisers, and through them he opened a corres
pondence with fctanta Anna’s particular friend,
Mr. Voss, of indemnity memory, from which
source he drew all his information, until Santa
Anna sent him Garcia, a Spanish interpreter,
who, under the pretext of having been banish
ed from Mexico, as an American citizen, ram®
to Puebla, feigning to have been robbed on the
road. In fourteen hours after his arrival in Puv
bla, he was taken.into the family oi the General
in-Chief, as an interpreter. It is weil known
that this Spaniard, Garcia, had never claimed to
be an American citizen, aud we are induced to
believe that he had no other title to citizenship
than what arose from his haviug married a cast
off mistress of a late Minister to Mexico ; be this
as it may, he regularly furnished his fiend San
ta Anna, in cypher, with all the information he
could gather in the family of the General-in-
Chief.
The Political action of the General-in-Ch'ef
was concentrated upon one single object : “con
quer a peace.” llis counsellors persuaded him
that Santa Anna was omnipotent in the country
and that through his influence alone would that
desirable o ! ject j attained. He refused to avail
himself of other and more correct channels of in
formation off red to be opened to him, which
would have been the leaders of the great repub
lican party, from which sources alone, positive
ly useful information could have been derived.—
They would have informed him frankly, that no
propositions for peace could or would be enter,
tamed until that host of cowardly vagabond*,
called the army of Mexico, was destroyed. They
would have said to him, “We know that Sant*
Anna and the army are desirous to make peace
on any terms. They are supported in that ob
ject by the church and the aristocracy, not from
patriotic o/ humane views: but the sole object of
retaining in their hands the reins of governmen t
which will inevitaniy escape their grasp, when
they are without bayonets to sustain their des
potism. We, the organs of the republican par
ty, have the power to prevent any peace being
made, and arc determined to exercise that pow
er until the military power of our country is an
nihilated, and the government thereby restored
to the people. When that is effected, and tho
people enabled to speak through the representa
tives of their will, then gratitude will dispose
them to cede to your government, our benefac
tors, even more than'it has asked at our hands.
Again .- if you entertain a hope or expectation of
patching up a peace with Santa Anna and his
satellites, we tell yon, in all candor, that your
hopes are fallacious. There will bo no peace! Wo
the sovereign people, must be delivered from
our oppressors, and placed in the enjoyment of our
rights before we will or can consent to make peace.
Out of the evils of our wo. we, the people, must
and will extract the blessings of liberty.” Tho
power of the republican party to carry out this
purp i?e, would have been fully and satisfactorily
demonstrated to the General-in-Chief whilst in
the city of Puebla, if he had not w ith scorn and
contempt, refused to hold any communication
with, or derive any information from, the person
recommended to him by the Secretary of War:
and if be had acted upon that inform itO: wheh
would cheerfully have been given to him, ho
would have been saved from the ignominy ofhav
ing made an armistice before the gates of Mexi
co, which in its disastrous eflects, cost u* some
thousands of valuable lives. AZTEC.
The editor of the National Intelligencer is get
ting to be very caustic upon the Taylor whigs,
who refuse to go into National Convention, lio
tells the whig paper of Maryland, which adopts
this no-convention policy, that the whigs must
go into convention:
“If they will not do that, however, then the
rest of the whigs of the Union must do the best
they can without them. The idea ol their un
dertaking to drive the rest of the Union before
them, a they would a drove of oxen to the mar
ket is hardly compitilde with the common sense
and courtesy by which the whigs of Maryland
have always heretofore been distinguished; and
we cannot but believe that the ‘Republican’ mis
apprehends their views in this lespect.”
This is a fair set i'll’to the declaration of tho
Milledgeville Recorder, (Taylor Whig) which
says that Gen. Taylor will run as the no-conven
tion candidate, and adds, “ If party leaders ere
not satisfied, with this, they must go unsati*fi~
edr
In the mean time, the Baltimore w higs are
stealing Gen. Taylor’s thunder, and a meeting
there has actually proposed to run Henry Clay
aethe“ no-paity” candidate.