Newspaper Page Text
[From th Southern Herald.]
THE SECRET CONCLAVE.
A Mellow Dramah.
BY J. R. KAUPIIY, ESQ,.,
OF KILCRANKIE, GA.
ACT I —Scene.
Hamilear pacing his chamber at night
troubled with unpleasant thoughts of his tergirer
salinns--moo<hj and snappish. —A servant raps
ttpon the outer door.]
Lord lI. —Ho ! without there! Who is’t that
disturbs
Our privacy at this hour o’ the night ?
f Enter Bilev.]
Billy ! attend that summons and report!
Tis strange that I should thus be (Exit Hilly)
Annoyel.’ Some, plebian rascal
Why bv virtue of his vote, pretends
To familiarity with me. Ha! I’ll teach
I he rascal better, onl’lection day
,Tis true I’d arm him to the polls—
And drink his health, and all that—
But at all times else 1 know
Such men—hardly by sight—
| Re-enter Billy
Well, sir, what report bring you ?
Who is the visitor ? From whence?
liilli/ —My Lord—the messenger is from
[Athens
Ho bore this letter (gives a letter,) and
Has ridden in hot haste. Himself
And beast, bears tokens of hardship—
For six hours since he sat out,
And forty miles or more he Iris measured.
Lord H —(Tearing open the letter.) Ha ! tis
[from Hmvell!
[Reads] He craves iny counsels!
lie's in much T tribulation—but he must expect it.
I le speaks of “ That Letter’ yes “ That Let-ter.
Is too Hindi weight—but d—n the fellow ;
Twas his own fears that prompted the. writ
ing—
And |ie deserves to suffer ! [Reads] He wishes
Also the counsels of our “little Alick’’—
He shall have them—for by the break of day
A messenger shall be dispatched to him
And he. will meet us here!—
I Reads.] Ha! he comes to Washington
Iv set of sun to-morrow. ’Tis well timed!
“Alick” will then be here!
They both will reach our dwelling
Unknown to our townsmen. That suits our
. [purpose;
Nigh is the time assassins seek their prey,
Darkness will be. the mantle we desire;
Our deeds, both past and present, need to lie
[buried
Deep in the earth, and could the waters
Os Ijethe flow o’er them and obliterate from
Men’s minds our acts—then we’d have peace,
i ßeads. JHe wishes his pilgrimage to 11s
‘o remain unknown. lad a servant breathe
A word and I'll ont with his tongue. (Exit.)
Scene 11.
[ Ttmc — Sundown. Washington ’ (la. — Lord
Hamilcar’s palace—Lord 11 , in soHlim/iii/.
[Enter Lord H.]
Lord ll —Well the time is near at hand !
Our visitors will soon be here;
How different their positions:
Ha! some men are hut puppets,
Who dance au<J caper as the wirepuller
May desire ! They often prate of dignity,
But alas! how few possess it!
Fit sample of the class is this man Cobh.
His ambition knows no bounds!
His love of office is never sated.
The. means lie takes to secure him place,
Boots hot with him—therefore, although
“Alick and I” opposed his flight after
The Speaker's eh air—we wow find him.
So pliant a tool we must e’en use him
Federalism must hear sir ay in Georgia
And where is a standard bearer more lit
Than he? Ha! hut we will use him
Fertile nonee—our object gained—
Ourself a Minister <f State, and “Alick”
111 Senatorial robes “embalmed,”
We’ll let the creature go! Then
By success emboldened, we’ll teach.
And openly defend Consolidation.
[Enter Billy.]
Billy —M v Lord, a carriage lias driven up ;
The porter e'en now opens the gate!
Lord ll —Who is it! Knowcst thou ?
Ah ! yes! 1 see! ‘tis Howell,
His alderinanic proportions
Loom largely in mv sight.
[Enter Howell.[
Why, Cobb! my dear confrere !
Hows’t with thee ! ’Tis dusty
Travelling and thou liced'st ablution!
Ho! there, Billy—attend our lion, friend
To his chamber; when thou hast
Exchanged thy dress dear Howell,
We'll meet thee here, (Exit Gold) and Hilly.)
What keeps our crony! Has lie not
Yet recovered? We hope so ! we want
His shrill trumpet voice to rouse
His “lick spittle” followers in the “7th,”
There where we. think iary.
Instead of Abraham's bosom, seek
Only “final rest” in his.
Hark I hear his chariot wheels!
’Tis well lie copies! and now, i
11 Fire rating dogs” we'll conjure up
Such tricks as’U make you How(o)ll
[Enter Billy.]
Billy —Mv Kurd ! “Georgia's pale .Mlar"’
Has just arrived!
Lord ll —Show him in, as soon as lie alightsj/
| Looks from the window] yes! that is lie!/
Among a thousand better lookitmituyfiT""’
We could not mistake him
I ut A leek.]
!>,'>. eyes,thou'rtright welcome!
“"Thy arrival is opportune! Howell
Has but now retired to change 1 1 is
IJ lbiliiuents—-(his inner clothing of
Patino fistfi.a-nd right lias long since given way.)
The Fab- Star —Hamilear! under much bodi
[iy
Affliction I tome to thee!
But not with undiuiinishcd tire,
Os mind and genius! no! The.
Window sos my soul yet emit
Sparks of flashing light !
And the emitting I possessed ahvay
WitL vour assistance, is able now
To cope with anv! you say that Howell
Is here ! Ha! lias lie hope
Does he vet see through our trick!
Lord U —Howell suspects us not but then
He seems to doubt his being quite
So sure of Milledgoville its he once was ?
And! Aleck, ‘tw ill be -mr w ork
To reassure his doubting mind!
For, if lie at this early day, but #
Shrinks from the unhallow ed contest!
Wc’cr lost to all intents and purposes!
Th* Talc S‘ar —Ah ! Hamilear! I'll make it
[right.
I c m electrify him with my talismanie
Watchword “ T-h-y-g-h-t' I ." —But
Thus must be left ,to me! alone
Can resuscitate him
[Enter Colds [
How are von, Cobb? I greet you
With lteart,(.’) hands and words!
And hope th it all is going on
Well with thee and thine?
Howell —[with assumed hilarity] What mean
(you noble Sir,
Ha! Ha! in! methinks you joke!
Dost mean politically! If so (with sober face)
1 bring vou no good news!
The Tale star —w hat mean you?
Howell—l mean that “olddocuments”
Are rising up in judgement gainst me,
Old acts of mine are staring at me
From every point! from worst ot all.
Those editors of Macon and Savanneh
Who once denounced me!
And bitterh-denounced me.“Traitor,’
Have furnished :Htn*unttiou
To m v foes* whose guns are-daily
Cutting down my hopes by regiments!
This causes iny sadness! These
Are the unkiudest, deepest cuts of ail:
Hence 1 come for counsel and advice,.
“That Letter” written to our convention
Is called for in trumpet tones!
Shall it be published to the world or not!
Suppress it altogether, and our foes
Use it with terriblesuceess;
Publish it and the doctrines it contains
Will yet double and nme in the eyes
Os honorable men!
What's to be done? How shall we act?
Lord //.—Howell -to be plain but friendly—
The writing, sending and telling of “That L°t-
Exhibited more assinine quantities ter”
Than I thought you possessed or
Conld lay claim to!
Twa* foolish in the extreme—
’Tis unfortunate—’tis ruinous!
We’ll help thee if we can, by
Mystifying its contents! How else we know
[not.
’The. Pale star —Howell! my friend, Hamil
[car
Speaks truth! But then he
Has a remedy! We always use it;
We mystify socji points and.
Though nujt always crown our works
.With good success; yet,
Tis worth the <tial, as the last resort!
Hardt —Ye bo/J.i ;ge good counsellors!
And as clay in the potter’s hands,
Mould me as ye mav!
L. Hamilear. —’Tis bedtime, gents, and after
Coffee, we’ll retire. To Morrow
Our plans can be matured. [Exit all.
ACT ll—Stexe I.
[After Breakfast—Lord 11, Little Aleck , and
Howell present.]
Honed] —Well noble friends, I await the
Statement of your plans!
I listen to your advice !
I am all ears and attention!
The Tale Star —-Hamilear and myself, friend
„ , , ‘ [Cobb,
Have bad the case under consideration !
For myself, from feebleness of body,
I am unable to do much!
But this I'll do—
To the 7th and Bth Districts my pilgrimage
Shall be! Hamilear must
Seek Cherokee, and yourself
Braving all danger to your health
And ease must hie to the
Hand of Ghofers and tall pines!
Thus posted the enemy no vantage
(irounds can take, and we’ll sing
I’teans to the blessed Union!
Such as will quake the Earth!
And doing so will generate,
An awful fear among those
Sons of Georgia, who believes she’s
Degraded and who still battle
For Truth and Justice ’gainst
Wrong and might! Thus juggling.
We may succeed in making Georgia
A slave to northern power!
OUR reward will be —Federal Office
Isrrd ll —My friend Aleck speaks sentiments
Dear Howell! after iny own heart—
His counsels we will take!
What say you ! Dost thou consent ?
Howell —Your plans my friends commend
[themselves,
To my inmost soul! I’m with ye
Even to the hitter, hitter end !
But still. “That Letter ”
Tale. Star —Ah ! yes, it ’scaped my mind!
’Well, our plan is just now,
To neither acknowledge or deny,
But still keep on and “mystify”
The “flats” and “gulls” are numerous yet,
We’ll, make them believe—’tho”tis black as jet,
That snow in its purity is not more white,
While they will shout and swear we’re right!
Lord ll—Yes, Howell! when Aleck speaks—
Tho’ hardly more than so many squeaks—
He possesses the power, thro’ pity no doubt—
To make the rabble crowd loudly shout!
Thus bv bis suigeneris powers
He can mystify—three mortal hours.
Howell —Well gentlemen, ’twill be to my
[mind
To keep this secret session confined,
To our own bosoms—awhile at any rate—
I’m bound to “trot round” tin* Empire State,
So wishing you both all you may desire
I'll hie back to Holsey and give him the wire.
[ Exit Gohh
L. Hamilear —lie’s ours! We'll use the fool
[He’s not a very sharp edged tool !
Ta'e Star —Yes: he is onrs, and he's sharp
[cnotig!]
Till the Oetoberelection lie’ quantum stiff.
[U xeunl Omnes.]
Will On. and Water Mix. —We learn that a
fraternal meeting of the Georgia triumvirate-
Toombs, Cobb and Stephens—took place at \\ ;ush
ington, before Mr. Cobb started 011 bis pilgrimage to
Southwestern < feorgia. Is it not a little strange that
Howell Cobb, formerly a Democrat of the “strictest
sect,” should turn out of his way to hold a secret con
clave with the modern Hamilear and “little Eleek,”
both of whom it was his delight to denounce a few
■short moons ago as “Federal Whigs!” \) by should
these parties —formerly .as widely separated as the
poles—politically holding no intercourse —but oti the
contrary openly denouncing each other—why should
(1110*0 incongruous materials now fraternise —o|>only,
we were about to say—but we have been told that
their conclave was a secret one—that Mr. Cobb did
not show himself in the streets of Washington pub
licly ami in Hay light! Wo do not take the responsi
bility of making this charge ourself, though we do
most distinctly state that we have heard it ill the most
respectable quarters. We repeat the question : Why
do these men now fraternise and harmonise ? Their
friends claim that it is to save the Union! There
might be some plausibility in this, if the Union were
in any danger, and they had the power to save it.—
This, however, not being the case, the conclusion
must force itself upon the minds of all reflecting men,
that the secret conclave was held to perpetuate the
union between the triumvirate-—a union intended to
inure to their lienefit alone !
What do the old wool-dyed Democrats think of
Howell Cobb taking counsel of “ Bob Toombs” and
little Eliek ?” and what do the old \\ higs'of Geor
gia think of Hamilear and the “Pale Star” being
closeted with Mr. Cobb, whom they have all denounc
ed in by-gone days? We ask the men of both parties
calmly to pause and reflect.
Is there not something rotten in Denmark !”
Southern Herald.
[From Die Montgomery Ailv. ncl Gazette.]
THE HON. JERE CLEMENS.
To a charge made against this gentle
man at Blue Springs, Barbour county, on
the 16th ult. that “he compromised his prin
ciples to obtain his election to the United i
States Senate, ’and to induce the whigs to j
support him had pledged himself secretly
and in writing, to the whigs to sjjgtednY'ay
lor’s administration, has hy/the defence he
attempted clearly admitlrfjd the charge. He
does not deny gave a secret pledge
—he does i.yfff deny that the pledge was in
vijxil/flfg, er that it was given to the whigs;
’ out undertakes to ward off the effect of the
accusation by saying “he had never writ
ten or made any pledge to support any ad
ministration that was not truly Southern.”
He was “willing any letter be had written
on the subject might be published,” when
lie knew perfectly well that the pledge was
near three hundred miles distant, and could
not be published before the election, and
it was in the handsot'a party to thefraudu
lent contract whose guilt would be expos
ed by its publication, and would therefore
be disposed to withhold it —“hut he would
not trust to any man’s memory about it.”
No, the letter, or pledge lie knew could
iM-evt fee fwod'ueed, &wd hy this evasion he
should he able to stop all inquiry into his
•conduct touching this transaction. No;
!ft<s would not trust the memory of his friend
Abercrombie, >or any other person out ot
the whole whig ranks, who was a party to,
or witnessed the contract. No, no, I will
trust no man’s memory, and the letter can
not be produced. So I will get out of this
scrape.
But observe the stratagem and duplicity
to which he resorts in the sequel: “That
his letter in relation to the Senatorial elec
tion was in possession of Thos. Wilson and
Gen. J. P. Frazier ot Bellefonte, Jackson
county.”* It is true, and very well known
that he did write a letter to these and otii
ergentlemen oftlie democratic party abotst
his election, in which he professed demo
cratic sentiments, and in which no pledges
are given to support the whig administia
tum ; but this is not ‘.lie writing referred to,
and Mr. Clemens knew that tact as well
as he knew his name was Jere—and by this
artifice was anxious to lead the public mind
oft on a false scent from the Pledge he gave
to support the whigs if they would elect
him. That Pledge, it is understood, was
in the hands of Rip. Davis of Limestone
and nodoubt, by its influence,Clemens had
been compelled to enter the field of con
test between Abercrombie and Cochran to
support the former. Do the people doub,
the developments of these astounding facts
if they do, let them read a publication,
made a few days after Clemens’ election,
in the Columbus Enquirer, attributed at that
time, by the Gazette ot this place, to Baker,
Representative from Russell county, the
authorship or truth of which was not de
nied by that gentleman, who was then in
tlie city of Montgomery, and let them look
at his course in Congress after Capt. Aber
crombie went to Washington city, and ob
serve his obsequious support ot Fillmore
and his measures, and his present course
in this election, and no rational man can
doubt the truth of the charge—indeed its
existence has long been understood and
accredited by men of all parties. I heard
a whig say in the streets, but a few days
ago, he expected “they would corner Cle
mens about this matter.” Ifthis charge is
not true it is a most easy matter to put it
to rest at once and forever. Let the whigs
of the last Legislature speak out openly
and honestly, and without any equivoca
tion on this subject—not merely a few who
may not have been present or may not
have seen the bond, but the partizan drills
of that night—let them answer upon their
honor according to the best information,
belief and knowledge, that the charge is
untrue, and I for one will withdraw all I
havesaidagainstMr.Clemens. Ichallenge
Mr. Abercrombie to a disclosure of his
knowledge and information on this subject,
and venture he will not peril his charac
ter for honesty and truth, by denying that
Mr. Clemens gave a pledge to the whigs
on which they supported him for Senator.
Let us have the letter. Let it speak for it
self. A Looker on.
Mr. Shorter’s statement ot his interview with Mr.
Clemens.
THE COLUMBUS TIMES.
TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 5, 1851.
■ SOUTHERN RIGHTS NOMINATIONS.
FOR GOVERNOR,
CIIAS. J. M c DONALD,
or COBB COUNTY.
FOR CONGRESS.
HENRY L. BENNING,
Os MUBCOGKE.
FOR STATE SENATOR,
B. K. HARRISON,
OF STEWART COUNTY
TO OUR COUNTRY SUBSCRIBERS.
This office stands in need of money. W e are not
going to Ix-g your alms, hut to appeal to your justice.
We <lo not trouble you'often in this way. Now we
must—money is scarce—the season of the year dull
—our expenses heavy. You can relieve us without
feeling it. You have only [each of you) to put into
the mail to our address, one years’ subscription—
and if you have not that In; \<u, half a years’ sub--
srriptian. Will you doit ? We know that such ap
peals generally are given to the winds and unheeded.
If we are eniharr.iss* and and bedeviled about money,
how can we give our thoughts and energies to
our cause ? We have made our wants known, llow
many of you will h> cd them ? We shall see.
“We commend to the careful perusal of
our readers the clear and aide argument ofMsj.
John 11. Howard in defence of t lie Sovereignty
of the States, in the letter we publish to-day,
addressed to Judge Nieoll.
No man understands this question better than
tlie writer: and no man has lteen so unswerving
in his devotion of State Rights principles through
all the mutations of party and the backsliding
of politicians, for the last quarter of a century.
THE GIRARD AM) MOBILE RAIL ROAD.
Greenville, Butter County, July 2S.
K litors Advertiser and Gazette :
Before I received your last number, I had understood the
rail road through the counties of Russell, Macon, Tike, But
ler, Ac., was to he abandoned, and regret to see that infer
■nation is confirmed. Great expectation was based upon the
benefits from the road, an! very considerable expenditures
have been made on the line in view of it, that must result in
great personal sacrifice to many good citizens that can illy
bear the loss. I would, if I dare, still hope it was not to be
abandoned. May we put any faith in that hope?
Yours, resjHf t fully,
We have for some time understood that the rail road re
ferred to by our correspondent was abandoned in despair of
ability to complete it, and was to lie superseded by a road
from Columbus to Opelika, in connection w ith the Motgom
ery road. This arrangement, we Iwve learned through one
of the directors of the Montgomery and West Point rail road,
may now he considered definitely settled ; and that compa
ny, upon this consideration, is to co-operate in building the
Girard and < pelika branch, anti perhaps concede some other
privileges on their road.
It affords us pleasure, in replying to our Greenville friend,
to be able to assure him that, whatever may he the sacrifi
ces of other sections on the abandoned road, that his part of
the country promises not to he materially injured by the last
contemplated arrangement. It is estimated that twelve hun
dred passengers leave New Orleans monthly hy steam ships
plying between that port and New York, and the number is
increasing constantly. To proven* this draft upon the rail
road profits, there is .now being made a concerted movement
by all the mil road companies from New York to Montgom
ery, to form a continuous line of rail road communication;
and in a very short lime we may expert to s**e the extension
of our road through your comity to Mobile and Pensacola
bay. The execution of this plan, doubtless, had a great ileal
to do with the abandonment of the Girard and Mobile route.
The Northern and eastern rail road companies, who were
looked to for assistance in the construction of the Girard
road, saw that while its completion would be so long delay
ed. their own business would, in consequence of the steam
ship competition, go to ruin. To counteract that, the pre
sent scheme has been undertaken.-— Montgomery „hivirti
ser and Gazette .
If the statements and apprehensions expressed in
the foregoing articles are correct anil well-founded,
we are authorized to state that the President and
Directors of the Girard and Mobile I!. R. Company
are wholly unaware of it. Indeed, there is no com
petent authority to say that this great enterprise has I
been abandoned : nor lias it been abandoned, as the j
following statement of facts will show. j
It will he remembered, that last spring, when it
was definitely .ascertained that the land hill in favor
oft his company hail failed in Congress, the board of I
Direetorsappointed a series of meetings of the Stock- j
holders along the line of the route ; at which the j
question was distinctly put, shall the work he Com- i
mcnccd and prosecuted with energy; or shall it j
await the more favorable action of Congress ?
At every one of these meetings it was decided to
go on with the road. The u uhseribe^e,'and contrac
tors for grading. themselves ready to
l.JircsfcUgironnd and begin the work, relying on the
| means in hand to complete a considerable part of it,
j and oft the intrinsic merits of the enterprise to draw
; resources for its continuation.
Asa result of this ■ meetings and in obedience to
the instructions of the stockholders, the following ac
tion was taken by the Board of Directors:
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of tlie Girard Bail
Road Conipany, held on the lilst day of .May lA>I, the follow
ing resolution was ottered hy Homer Blackman, and adopted,
viz:
“From tlie instruction of tlie Stockholders of the Girard
Rail Road, recently on the line,
“Hrsolcnt, That the Engineer of said Rail Road bo instruct
ed to proceed at once to put tlie work of grading under con
tract, in the counties of Russell and Macon.”
A true copy from the .Minutes.
IVJIJ. 7’< J.V /,'. II.IRKIS, Src'y.
Aug. 1. Girard Kail Road Cos.
And in compliance with this resolution tho En
gineer, accompanied by the President, went out. and
in a single week, dosed up the contracts for grading
on 3D out of the 13 miles of the first division. The
Board itas no doubt of its ability to close the contracts
for the remaining 13 miles so soon as the Engineer,
now absent, can resume his duties on the line.
The company has ample means to complete the
grading of the first Division reaching from Girard to
Chunnemiggve ; and unless the stockholders give
up the enterprize (of which they have shown no dis
position) it will not he abandoned by the President and
Directors. It is their purpose to prosecute the work
with all their energies and with all the means at their
command. And if they are seconded with half the
zeal which the personal and public interests involved
in the enterprize demand, they will and must suc
ceed.
AW It.ivo lnd o ra-Aui Wc -. to call the attention
oftlie Coin nlm-ioninainnity to tlteir great stake in
this gigantic improvement. Our citizens are pro
verbially slow to move where their interest .as a com
munity are concerned. With a vast deiil of individ
ual enterprize, with a private wealth, more abundant
than usually falls to the lot of communities of the size
of C ilumbus; there has always been a lethargy when
called upon to combine their energies and make as
sociated efforts for the public improvement, whether
in iqieiiing new avenues of trade, or in saving them
selves from the drain of the old ones, affected by rival
projects. The Muscogee Road has been suffered to
drag out a lingering prosecution, fully live yesrs after
it should and could have been completed. This city
has remained indifferent and torpid while county af
ter county and section after section of its richest
trade have been tapped and drawn off. It has suf
fered “D.DOD li lies of eotton to be diverted to Griffin;
it was steeped in apathy, while a project was in pro
gress to cut it off from the trade to the South by a
line of road from Macon to Fort Gaines ; and now,
it raises not a finger, while a rood is rapidly going on
to completion across tlie country above it, which by
wav of West Point and Atlanta, throws it off the
great highway of trade and travel, and will give to
active rivals their rich fruits, which it relinquishes
without a struggle. In all the great R. Road im
provements of the State, Columbus has received the
cold shoulder of studied neglect; and whatever other
interests were consulted, her’s n ere sure to be disre
garded. For much of this Columbus has had to
fhauk its own stolid apathy. Instetid of putting her
own shoulder to the wheel, she has eaUed on Her
cules ; instead of exhibiting a power of effort and a
spirit of improvement, commanding respect, attention
and friends, her lukewarmness has condemned her
t) a condition of isolation, which no other interests
have thought it worth their while to disturb.
But, thanks to its happy location, this city has stil
die [lower to redeem its prosperity from the faults
and mistakes of the past, and triumph over the ma
chinations of competitors and its own evil genius of
apathy. The road from Girard to Mobile is the rod
of Aaron, which will command the fountains of trade
and prosperity to gusli I'vYth afresh into her bosom.—
It wil place her on tH)"old vantage ground of equi
distance and command of the trade from the Atlantic
and the Gulf—it will give her access to the provi
sion and produce trade of the great west, place her
on the ltiglt road from New York, even to the “golden
gate” of California; and make her the entrepot of
the meeting currents of commerce and travel from
the extreme cast and west of this great continent.—
AH this can be accomplished by building a rood—not
to Mobile Bay, for that is not necessary—but to
Greenville in Butler county, a distance of a little over
100 miles. If we can get to Butler county, we need
have no concern about the continuation of the road
to Mobile or Pensacola. Our rivals utill hare to
build that , or aid this company in building it. —
The vast line of road soon to be completed from
Montgomery to Charleston, must fill that gap , or in
a few years, lose, by western lines tho great flood of
Northern and Southern travel. •
The struggle now is for this great prize, between
the roads diverging from Charleston through upper
Georgia, and the roads starting and continuing from
Savannah. I>-t not our citizens lie amused with the
project of the read hence to < Ipelika, and be diverted
i from this great enterprize by the allurements of this
smaller one. It is a bait held out to our simplicity, a
lure to onr known want of energy. Columbus may
leave alone the Opelika road in perfect security.—
Turn your attention to the great tcork to the gulf,
and the smaller one will be built by the greater.—
j Hero, again, as at Greenville, Ala., our rivals will be
forced hy our own well-dericted energy to come to
j our aid. If wc run to Mobile, the Georgia R. Road
Company, must hare a ■ communication with us,
and Opelika is the best point to make it.
i w e conjure onr people to Lake the subject into I
I consideration. Great interests are ir it—sweeping
gains to he made—heavy losses to be averted. With
an assistance that this city can give, without difficul
ty, almost without eftbrt, the Girard R. R. company
can at once ensure the road toChnnnenuggee Ridge,
! a distance of 50 miles. That alone would return a
trade more than compensating for our losses to Grif
fin. It is estimated hy competent judges at 30,000
! bags of cotton per annum. Beyond Ohnrmenuggeo,
; henry subscriptions for grading have already been
I made, and its completion to that point, will insure its
i continuation.
We again earnestly invoke the intelligence and the
t self-interest of this city loan enquiry into the snb
! joot. We call on our citizens individually, on onr
! city fathers in their corporate capac'ty, and on the
1 Muscogee and Central R. R. Companies, to discuss
and determine what they each and all can do to prou
; eciitc a mighty work fraught with great interests to
all of them.
idE?” James Johnson Esq. of this city has re
; eeived the nomination of the Constitutional
| Union party of this District for Congress. An
! other lick at the. Union whips! If Mr Clay was
| here he would say “D—n it lioic he nicks ‘em.'’
j The Constitutional Union Whigs do not seem
to stand high or fire well in their new party.
1 None of them seem to he considered fit for
, leaders and officers. They are all kept back
in the ranks,while the Democrats who went over
i to them in the agony of unionism, sweep all tlc>
[offices. In this Convention no loss than three
aspiring, strong and popular whigs have been
; made to “clear the track” in a general overslaugh
,to make room for a Democratic “hell).” This
thing happens so uniformly that it can scarce
ly be accidental. Wherever there is a doubtful
contest, honor tc be won and blows to be given
and received, a Democrat is sure to got the
post. Witness Cobb, Chappell, Chastain,
Hit Iyer, Murphy, etc. etc.
Why was not Col. MeDottgald, who it is well
i known was the choice of the party in this, part
! of the District and especially of the Union
Whigs, the nominee of this Convention? We
do not know.
HENRY L. BENNING.
Tlie biigatmo cry of “disnninnmt” is already raised
j against Col. Benning. Let it go on. No otic will
j be effected by it but a Federal conxolidntionist who
| believes that under all circumstance* separate State
action is treason, or cowards who will submit to lie
j trampled on rather than take the risks of a imply dev
j fence of their liberties. . f
We propose to meet this cry raised against Col.
j Benning for the purpose of frightening men—andjap
j pealing to the fears of the Georgians of the 5Jd district.
! We meet it by defining Mr. Benniyig’s position.—
! isition he intends to stand by, and he would
7/ot, nor, aa his political and personal friend, would
we have him, budge the thousandth part of an inch
front it, for all the seats in the Halls of (!<>i*grss.—
We have in Col. Benning [thank God !)a candidate
for the public suffrages who values his integrity above
place ; and who will remain for ever, an honest tnan,
: with an approving conscience —mens consent sibi
recti —-in the shades of private life, sooner than bar
ter away one jewel from his diadem of truth and
honor for the highest place. It is not'often we have
the satisfaction of supporting such candidates. Wc
have one now, and while we will adopt all honorable
means to insure his success before the people, we
shall labor tenfold harder, to guard and preserve his
political purity, as a gem more priceless than official
station.
Mr. Benning was a member of the Nashville con
vention. Let his enemies make the most of that. —
We shall not condescend to defend a body gotten up
expressly for the vindication of the rights and liber
ties of the South. We have nothing but scorn for
the direlict Southern man who will speak of that body
as a “vile assemblage. “j That convention was the first
bright emanation of Southern patriotim—the first
organized eftbrt to unite the South in a league of de
fence against Northern wrongs—backed, aided and
abetted by Southern treason. It failed of its object,
because the fruit was not ri|>e. Party was too strong
for patriotism—the sceptre of demagogues triumphed
over the oftbrts of freedom struggling to give utter
ance to the sense oftlie tyranny which crushed it.— |
But that body conveyed a morot to the world, and
the day will come, when it will remembered and hal
lowed,.and associated with the first Congress that met
to deliberate on British oppressions. That conven
tion did two things—lst. To recommend the old
line of boundary between the North and South as an
adjustment line—3fi. 30.; and 2d. A Southern Con
gress in the event that Congress violated the claims
of the South to a share of their territories.
Here then is Col. Benning’s offence against the
South. He recommended the old compact line of
36. 30. as the basis of peace betwixt the North and
South; and if the North still persisted in injustice
then a Southern Congress to decide whatshould be
done. The Southern Congress has never met. —
Had it met, however, and had Mr. Benning been a
member of it, anterior to the meeting and action of
the Georgia Convention, Nlr. Benning would have
raised hi* voice for a dissolution of a eojwtrtnership
in which Gis>rgin as one of the parties, hail been
treated with foul injustice and indignity. Mr. Ben
ning believed that tho North had daringly provoked
the South to the contest, and that present honor and
future safety required the South to break op all con
nection with a people who had proven themselves
faithless to their bargain, deoil to every ‘sentiment
of fraternity and reckless of justice and right.
But Georgia took this matter into her own hands.
Deciding against co-operation with other States, she
resolved on separate State action. Her convention
met to decide the great question— submit or resist.
She chose the first. Mr. Benning believed that de
cision unwise and wrong. But as a State Sovereign
ty man—as he acknowledges full allegiance to that
sovereignty as represented in the State of Georgia,
lie is bound by that decision. He was a Southern
Rights man ready to go further than the convention
—the convention has now rendered it impossible to
go as far as he deeired, and now he is a Southern
Rights man, going to the uttermost length that the
limitations of the convention will permit.
Mr. Benning’s offence then, People of the Second
Congressional District, is. that he lias been a warm
and ardent advocate of Souther*’ Rights. If that
be a crime, banish him from your confidence!
ALABAMA ELECTION,
The trial betwixt the North and ffie South befor 6
the grand Inquest of the Sovereign People of Ala
bama takes place on Monday next. It is the fust
Southern State to speak its “ second sober thought”
on Southern Rights since the passage of the so called
compromise measures. Georgia spoke in Novem
ber, 1850, but it was a voice uttered under deep ex
citement and extraordinary panic, raised by the Un
ion croakers to stifle the true sentiments of the Peo
ple. Georgia will 1 ntter another note in October,
1851. Os the verdict of Alabama on Monday next,
we have great hopes. We cannot think that the
Southern cause will suffer detriment in the house of
its friends.
FOUND DEAD.
We are pained to state that Mr. Templeton
Reed, one of the oldest citizens of Columbus,
and a man far advanced in years was found
dead this morning near the river, in the lower
part oft he city. There is a spring near the
spot, and it is surmised that in attempting to
reach it, he fell down the bank w hich is high and
steep and being too much hurt to seek relief, he
expired before morning.
Mr. Reed was in many respects nn extraordi
nary man. His genius as a mechanic was of j
the first order. His skill was equal to his in
ventive powers—He was a capital artificer in
wood, and in the metals. His business was that
of a gin maker, and his machines have long en
gaged a high celebrity. His industry was as
untiring as his genius was fine. Yet, like so
many bright spirits who have gone before him,
he failed to accumulate much of this world's
goods. Mr. Reed has left behind him many
friends, who valued his excellent and kindly
qualities of heart, and will remember him ns j
one of those good but eccentric men, who was
his own worst enomv.
Touching tho duties of the managers of elections,
we copy the following from the “Spirit of the South":
“Til y. ElfctioSk.—D-t tlie ninnaiter*, before openini; tlie
election, turn to ClajV Digest, pine-* 174 ISC, and they will
tlml their duties fully laid down.
I,el them reineruhr that two boxes lire to ho kept—ln one
of which is to tic deposited the Toll's for Representative to
Congress -and in the other, the rotes for Stale ofllccn.
There enn he no mistake if they w ill only rend the law.”
\v e are requested to state, that it is contrary to
the laws of Alabama for any voter to vote for mem
ber of Congress out of bis own enmity.
And now, Alahamaimis, give the day to the South
and your country. Cast no vote that will carry a
thrill of delight to your enemies at the North; and
God defend the Right 1
UNITED.
‘Hie Augusta Constitutionalist anil the Augusta
Republic have united their fortunes, and will hence
forth do battle as the “Constitutionalist and Repub
lic’* umler the joint care of their talented editors,
Messrs. Gardner & Smythc. This is a strong coali
tion, and will give the new pa|>or a jHiwerfnl influ
ence with its heavy combined circulation. We con
gratulate our friends, tlie editors, upon the arrange
ments. \\ e felicitate them upon the acquisition of
each to the other. We almost envy them an ar
rangement that ilivides the laltor, the wear ami tear
of mind ami body that falls on one [xxir editor, jiarti
eularly during these sweltering days of July and Au
gust.
The new paper will stand at the head of the Pres*
of the State in point of diflttsion. The editors will
have tlie prutul ami ivs|toiisil)le duty of speaking daily
to eight or tell thousand subscribers, and we suppose
five times as many readers; for we take it as a rule
that five men read a paper where one subseribes tor
it. We wish them success in their new enterprise--
prosjieroiis financial gales, ami an overwhelming tri
umph of their glorious .Southern Rights Principles.
Cus*.—The city of New Orleans is in a tremen
dous excitement about the news of revolution in Cuba
W e are glad of it, although it has always appeared to
as as strange that a jieople who are so impatient of
the wrongs of other people, should he so tame ami
easy under their own. From all we can learn, no
where in the south hare the tyrannies and wrongs
of the “fompromisc,” Tieen so exlly lx>rne as in N
Orlenus. fkut this cannot always lie so. The ardor
with which they threw their whole souls into the
Mexican war ; their warm sympathies for their op
pressed brethren in Cuba, are tokens of a spirit that
will yet he evoked to Like a stand against sectional
injustice in this country.
There have-been several immense Cuba meetings
in N Orleans, from the temper of which we infer that
the brave “Creseents” intend to give more substan
tial aid to the cause of liberty in Cuba, than are con
tained in s|’cehes and resolutions. Gvli. Lopez ad
dressed one of the meetings, and at the same time
the Cuban Declaration of Independence was read,
and received with every mark of enthusiasm.
“BArKim Oi t—The fire eaters are now telling the people
that they asserted the doctrine of Recession at MillnlgeTille
only hetvuiae they understood Mr. Cobb nas opposed to it,
and would be the I'nion candidate for fiovernor!! Now this
is false. The Nashville Conrention caine out for Secession
last year and so did Charles J. McDonald, in an address to
the people of Ceorgio, dated 2d December, 1800 !
Mr. McDonald wasth efirst m in to start Disunion In (Jeor
gia—let the people remember that/’ N.
[MUUtlgeoille linear h r.
Mistakes ;ill the..way through—lst. The Southern
Rights convention asserted the doctrine of secession
because it believed in it and intended to stand, nr
fall by it. When Mr. Cobb denied it, he sealed his
own fate.
2d. We have never heard that the Nashville Con
vention recommended secession. Tliev advised HG.i’.O
as the line of adjustment, and a Southern Congress.
3d. We dispute with Gov. McDonald the palm of
the ‘‘first man in t Georgia to start disunion.” We
came out for it, the moment Congress violated the
compact ot union in the passage of the compromise
and we stuck to it until Georgia in her sovereign ca
pacity decided otherwise. W e are now fir disunion
tile “next time,” and we have got the submissionist.s
committed to “go it” the next time. We want to
elect McDonald because we know lie will carry out
the “< reorgia platform,” the next time; and we are
against Cobb, lieeause we know he wont; and 1 lo
calise lie will submit the “next time” and every time.
CIILOXI7.ATIUX—A I.ARIIK COMPANY OF EmIORANTS'—
j The Rev. J. M. Pease is now in Itoston, to procure aid in
i Rending out a large company of emigrants from X. Orleans,
; in December next. Almul !ta() are now already engaged,
i and additions are expected, wliicli will raise the number to
.'•on. The expense of this expedition will In- at least $23,000.
Os this, it is ex|Mft<st that some $13,000 will tie raises I in
! I ouisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, where these emigrants
| belong. A large amount will tie gireti by the masters, by
whom some of them will tie emancipated, tie needs to
; raise the balance, about SIO,OOO, at the North.— KicAntige
j paper.
W e suggest that Mr. Pease leave the blocks where
tliev are, contented and happy, and devote his $25,-
j (too to emigrating 500 abolitionists from the North.
; The pence of the country would he greatly promoted
by it. W e will subscribe something to this object.
TsißGi.Aß.Snor.—The house of Mr. W. C. Coop
er was entered night before last, by a negro. Mr. C.
was aroused by tile noise, got up, saw him retiring,
and seizing a pistol lie had at hand, pursued him to
the front door and shot him at a distance of 20 paces.
The -burglar is severely, probably mortally wonnded.
This is the second robbery of the same sort within a
week. IVabahly the same thief.
Furir. are indebted to Mr. .lons Dozier
for a basket of the finest fruit we have ever seen in
this city. The neetarim's are immense—ns large as
the largest bench, and jierfcetly developed and ma
tured. This fruit was grown on Mr. Dozier’s plan
tation in this county.
M e are pleased to see our fellow citizens turning
their attention to this branch of culture. Col. J. G.
M I-Ntei. deserves well of the community for the fine
fruit with which it has been so abundantly supplied
this summer from his orchards. His peaches are
superb, but he will hare to knock under to the “Do
zier nectarines.”
The Columbus Enquirer of yesterday
morning is uncommonly tart and peckish. No
surer sign that.it begins to “smell woollen* The
handwriting is on the wall, and our neighbor
is reading it. It is good that pride should have
a fall.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Ilumpty Dumpty lmd a great fall;
And all the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Cannot place Humpty Dumpty where hewas again.
Mors Help.— The Southern Advertiser , publish
ed at Buena Vista has raised the flag of McDonald,
Benning and Southern Rights.
[From the Southern Press.]
FREE-SOIL TACTICS.
We have repeatedly called the attention of
the Southern people to the insolent tone of tri
umphant mockery assumed by the Northern
Free-soilers, while joining in the chorus of “this
cry of Union.” They do not even take the trou
ble to conceal the contempt with which the ac
quiescent attitude of the despoiled South has
inspired them; and taunt and twit and jeer their
Southern .brethren with the most malignant
mockery of “moderation” and ot condescending
pity. Asa high-caste Hindoo, ot kind disposi
tion, might spoak to, and of, an humble Pariah
who “born for his will, lives but to oblige him
—so do these now and self-appointed lords ot
the “soil” put forth their promises of protection
to their Southern tenants at will, and coolly ex
plain to them the tenure and tho terms on
which they are to hold their own property, and
the thankfulness they should feel for the enjoy-
I ment even of that poor privilege —for a time.
Hate is hard to bear patiently and silently, when
it exhibits itself in open acts of defiance, insult
and aggression, but there is a sense of pride and
power, enkindled by it. But derision and scorn
as from superiors to inferiors, it unresisted or
deserved, creates that “self-contempt, bitterer to
drink than blood,” and carries poison with its
sting.
The sternest commentary on tlie “Compro
mise” measures and their consequences, is to In
drawn from this source. The trail ot the ser
pent Abolition is over them all, and no longer
winding its stealthy way with cautions cunning,
it nowopcnlv hisses and stings,exhibits itsspcck
led deformity at full length in the broad sun
shine, ami elate with its recent triumphs and
those yet in prospective.
“Raises its rttl ami burning crest,
Radian l with victory.”
These things should be seen and understood
by the Southern people, that they may properly
appreciate Northern sentiment and Northern
tactics. They must learn tlie policy and the
purposes of their enemies at the North, by
watching the course and observing the move
ments of those who head this crusade against
them—and properly to do this, they must keep
an eye on the Free-soil press, and the demon
strations of the Froc-soil politicians. That South
ern editor is recreant to this duty, who is deter
red from producing these proofs and evidences
from the Abolition organs, by the cant of “cir
culating incendiary documents,” or the coward
ly dread of misrepresentation. That Southern
man who heeds such hypocritical bowlings from
politicians whose patriotism is a matter of pot
tage, is too ignorant, too dastardly, or too preju
diced, either to comprehend his own true inter
ests, or properly to maintain them. Unmoved
and undeterred by such clamors, Come from what
source they may, or prompted by whatever mo
tives, wo intend to keep the Southern people
advised of the real position of the enemy; and
to do this, we. know of no better way than to
give them a full survey of the hostile camp, and
a sight ijf the field orders of its generals.
One ortho most striking and significant of
these we append, from the New York Tribune
of Monday last—calling especial attention to
the passages italicised. The article is written
with great care, and presents a programme
which will probably indicate the course to be
pursued by the Free-soiiers, in the event of the
continued acquiescence of the South in the op
eration of the spoliation bills, or the delay of
action on the pirt of “resolute and ready’” South
Carolina. The Tribune editor has evidently
prepared his article after a careful perusal of the
“glorious Union” speeches'of Mr. Webster and
the “Whig Administration.’' —to whom he pious
ly returns “thanks” for “beating the South on
the main question”-—the introduction of new
slavcholding States.
He also declares the threat of dissolving the
Union to be “a senseless warning,” even as
those gentlemen, and their Southern• satellites,
Whig and Democratic, from Cobb down the de
scending se lie to Foote, and from Toombs low
er still to the subterranean Shields of Alabama,
seem disposed to regard it.
This eoinsidence of sentiment—the holy hor
ror ofdismiionists, ami wholesale, abuse of them
by the great Abolition organ of the North, and
the submission leaders of the South, is worthy
of reflection, if not of comment.
It is one of the most pregu ;nt reasons why
certain Southern politicians so strenously urge
the impropriety of republishing the articles con
tained in Abolition papers, for therein, as in a
mirror, may be seen the distorted reflection of
the features of their own doctrines and p< I icy.
The. fraud and folly of the. submission stage
thunder about making the repeal of the Fugi
tive slave law a test question, and an issue, for
resistance, are also exposed by the admission
made by this chief of Abolitionists, that “that
law is destined to remain on the statute-book;”
and the reasons given are conclusive in favor of
such a policy on the part of that faction, a;■
confmmtorv of,the assertions we have made ‘'l
often on that subject. J
Referring our readers, therefore, to the \\ Ihjt
scope and tenor of this Free-soil manifie.-kf,
which is well worthy of their closest .scrutiny
and most serious reflection, wo append the.sum
ming up of its conclusions at the close of its ar
ticle, condensing much into a small space:
“And now that this agitation is substautiy./y
over, for the present, at least, we may exports
our conviction that it lias been a mast vs/ful
j thing. If has virtually put a check oil fftjure
; schemes of annexing stare Slates , it has s/rulith
/limed llie I'nion us a storm purifies the jtiLox
! phere , and shown the full absurdity of :lnlli
Carolina separatism. It has rooted dee pit the
natural dislike offreemen to slavery, andjht hen
i llial institution shall at bu t cease to exist Jet this
continent, we doubt not that those who i lness
, its extinction will look back with greatfcl tafinn
bran.ee to the crisis wr hare just gone thv.lgh.'”
[From tlio New York Tribune of Monday laslj
Rueaway Slaves. —lt has latterly boob.said,
again and again, that the South will d'{.solve
; the Union if fugitive slaves were not setback
when filled for. On the other hand w j have
i heard, rather indirectly than directly. Juiced.
. a great deal of a large party at the NortliPw hie It
would dissolve the Union, or at least, dr every
thing possible toward it if they were se/jt hack.
Neither of these assertions or implic.Tlons is
true. Bet us look at the facts. j.
* We presume there are a great many I honest
hearted and weak-headed gentlemen (fi slave
States who are in a condition ot interne nerv
ous excitement uliout slavery, who in met, are
ready to faint w hen the word is pronomrerl with
the accent of freeborn lips. These gcn.lenicn
regard the end of the world as close at hand,
and no doubt hurry on their ascension gibes at
the sound of a fish horn with all the'difpatch of
a practised disciple of Father Miller. ITo hint
in their hearing that slavery is not a firine in
stitution and under the special pafrontfcf of hea
ven, is to deserve, tar and feathers niultf prome
nade upon a rail. For them our political system
is already a doleful ruin, and the most glorious
form of government man ever devised the object
of tears and lamentations, like a friend lying
dead in the house. Disunion they Ijave, grown
familiar with by often threatening ts perpetrate
it, and hearing others threaten, till t® last they
only wait <in oecasion for it to eomejof itself.—
That occasion they assure us will file modifi
cation of the Fugitive slave law. I r-
Whoever dares these boots displace j-
Must meet Bom bastes face to loce! I
It is true that they have announded the same,
catastrophe as sure to arrive on oilier occasions
—on the admission of California, die separation
of New Mexico from Texas, or thf exclusion of
slavery from the territories. And fret California
was admitted, New Mexico was organized as an
independent territory, and we have yet to hear
of the transportation of any number
of slaves to New Mexico or Utah* Hut the great
climax of disunion has not been njtrformed. And
now, having lieen driven from tiese positions,
the same oracles of despair and flestruction pro
claim cither in tones of menace §r tearful exhor
tation, that what they have pot done when
there was something real at isA, they will now
do when the point is to them nil worth a farth
ing. If tlie Fugitive slave law is modified they
will dissolve the Union.
And like an unsubstantial pageant faciei,
Leave not a rack behind.
Wli.at degree of respect is to be paid to so
senseless <t warning, how iar we ought to regard
this awful threat, we have endeavored to show
on former occasions. But, when we hear the
menace repeated, we cannot suppress the wish
that these silly boys might be gratified for a
while, and allowed to quit the Union and left to
take care of themselves alone. Not long would
they crave such independence. Soon, like weary
truants,they would return to the genial shade
and security of the rooftreeand 1 he fireside they
had abandoned, and, grown wise by sad experi
ence, would never more desire- to wander. Rut
this is out of the question. They cannot be al
lowed to cut up such capers, nor in trulh is any
thing further from their intention. They would
feel badly if the ohancej were open to him.—
They love bluster, but Fate action.
Nor shall we bestow my pleasure on these
gentlemen when we a4lire them that the con
tingency on which the have based the execu
tion of their grand sc/dune ot pyrotechnics is
not likely to occur. Vi look in rain for the pro
bability (f a repeal ofliotlifica/ion of the fugi
tive shire law. Tlujjtw we suppose is destined
to remain on the start book. We could wish
it \vm* otherwise. ( could wish to ikuo il
modified in many p.vfi-ulars, especially by the
introduction of a jiii’ltrial among its provisions.
[hit /here is not the least indication that sneli a
change wilt lie made. The next Congress will
not make it. Tlierjf is nowhere a great party
demanding it. Puliß- sentiment regards it with
comparative indifl'ea-nee. There is no such over
whelming popular movement in favor ot repeal
ing or changing this law as there was at the
North in 1848 and ’4‘J against the extension of
slavery. How then can this law be touched?
Aor in /rath is the matt rof so great practical
consequence as has hern su ppposcil. In the South
the law is of no real adratt/age , because the e.r
jx’nse of getting a dare under it is. after all,
more than he is worth. \\ hat is the market
value of all the sines reclaimed by virtue of its
provisions who weald not have been reclaimed
without it? Is it SIO,OOO-? \VY. don't believe
it: the captives haje not paid the expense. Cer
tainly, compared Mill the number of .runaways,
the number of tlune taken buck to slavery is scarce
a drop in the burliet. Tie- law is then worthless
to the South, e.vjept so far as it may satisfy tin
susceptibilities aid appease the wounded digni
ty of slave ownefs.
’ At the North the feeling against the law
is rather one of abstract principle than of
universal, ever-ready interest. It is seen
that the law i: an improper and, favor
ing slavery, and trampling on the time
honored guarantees of American freedom,
but still this fret does not rouse the peo
ple to action. Were slaves recaptured
every day it would be otherwise, but so
rare are such captures, and so various
and easy the! means of conveying fugi
tives into sijfety under the British flag,
that there is no general excitement on
the subject. It is seen that the main point
at issue in tie struggle was won by
freedom , and though and occasional out
rage on humanity may be committed un
der the law/ still in the reaction which
necessarily succeeds a warm popular
movement,ithere is a disposition to let
the law itself remain untouched and sub
side into itfj natural place as a dead letter.
Some time, indeed, when in some rare
case it is brought forth and applied, as
sometimes Jiappened with the law which
preceded A, there will be local excite
ment; but: warm general feeling is not
to be ex potted. As we said; we could lor
some reasons wish this were otherwise. —
Rut these ore the lacts; the people will not
act and i'l such a case we must acknow
ledge their decision even while duty may
require us simetimes to oppose it.
The frith is that the business of slave
catching would never such
magnitude in the public view, but for the
great caitrorersy on the more important
question of slavery extension. The South
would lever have thought much about
it, had not defeat on the main issues of
that controversy made her strenuous about
lesser Rings. The South annexed Texas
to exteiidthe power of slavery, and by the
help of Northern ‘Democrats,’ (we will
not now mention names,) errried the day
in thai struggle. But that was not enough.
The Mexican war was made and the terri
tories., acquired all with a view tothesame
end oil intending the Southern institution
and pprpetunting its power. But here the
North, Which had meekly anquicsced in
the mxas operation, kicked out of the
tracTfe,!and the Free-soil agitation begun.
In t'Je contest then set on foot, each party,
of/purse, raked up every ground for
corrolaint againstthe other,and the South
tn/'fe a eeeat ado about the escape of
si ties. And while beaten on the main ques
tit 1 1, —thanks to a Whig admins istartinn
ad f I'fie. firmness of some gallant spirits among
fhlj Northern members of Congress, —the
slf very party gotthe present Fugitive law
enkcjted.and much good may it do
than.
For the whole agitation the South is
responsible. Had it obeyed the dictates
of practical wisdom, staid at home and
minded its own business—bad it concen
trated its population instead of dispersing,
and had it let Texas and Mexico alone,
tlie Free-soil party would not have been
called into existence, nor would there
liave been any necessity tor saving the
Union. Nor yet would a now fugitive law
fiave been enacted, but on that head
fillings would have gone as quietly as be
fore. Slaves would now and then have
escaped from the border States, and one
out of fifty or so would have been re
captured. But the grabbing or losing of
them would not have been a question of
national importance as they have now
sought to make it appear, nor would the
South have endured any humiliation. The
lesson is a good one; let u.s hope it may
be improved, and that the South may at
last profit by experience and in future avoid
all unwise attempts to enlarge the area of ils
institutions.
And now that this agitation is substan
tially over, for the present, at least, we
may express) our conviction that it has
been a most ukeful thing. It has virtually
put a check oh future schemes of annex
ing slave States, it has strengthened the
Union as a storm purifies the atmosphere
and shown the full absurdity of South
Carolina separatism. It has rooted dee
per the natural dislike of freemen to
slavery, and when that institution shall at
last cease to exist on this continent, we
doubt not that those who witness its ex
tinction will look back with grateful re
membrance to the crisis wehave just gone
through.
Such is the prospect as.-regards this law.
There is no chance for its immediate repeal
or modification. But while we shall not
attempt any new agitation for an end
whoso attaintment we cannot anticipate,
we shall not withhold any part ofour con
victions on the subject whenever they
are called for by an antagonist or the
attempt to canyaman into slavery by vir
tue of tts authority.
SOCTHERN RIGHTS .MEETING.
IV MF.RRIWETHER COI NTV.
At a convention held on the 2ttli duly, 1851 at
tho Chalybeate Springs, Meriwether county, Ga., for
the purpose of nominating a candidate for the 28th
Senatorial District composed of the comities of Mor
rin-ctlier and Talliot;
The convention was organized by callin'’ Jes?c
Carter of the county of Talliot to the Chair, and re
questing R. W. 11. Ken non of the county of Talbot
and M. A. Adams of Merriwethcr county to not as
Secretaries.
The mil of Delegates being called the following
names were reported present, to-wit;
From Merriwethcr county—Jc sse Hinton .I. H.
Hill, B. Caldwell, Oliver I). Park, I). C. Gresham,
M. A. Adams, B. M. Leverett, B. P. Shannon, Win.
Ellison,.John Bonner and R. M. Gamble.
From Talbot county. —Maj. G. W. Darden A.
G. Perryman, Esq., Col. L. P,. Smith, M. la. Mc-
Pherson, G. JI. Furgerson, Thomas Powell, Thomas
Barron, Joseph Brown, W. H. Willis, J. W. Avan
Dr. William Drain, Hiram Drain, John McDonald,
Dr. Burundi Burge, Elijah Lawrence, Maj. J. W.
C. Smith, R. W. 11. Kcnnott, C. A. Boynton, Wil
liam Anderson, James Allen, John Howard, E. B.
Sinitli and J. J. Stmmcrson.
On motion of Col. Smith, of Talbot—
Resolved, That Ihe county of Merriw ethcr lie en
titled to as many votes in balloting for a candidate as
reported from the county of Talbot.
The nomination of the candidate being tendered to
Talbot county by Merriwethcr county, the delegates
after retiring a few minutes, reported the name of
Col. L. B. Smith, ofTalbot, as a suitable person to
represent them.
On motion of James 11. Hill, Esq., Col. Smith tvas
nominated by acclamation
„Qn motion of M;tj. A. W. G. Smith j “
of seven were appointed by the chair, to
Col. Smith and request liis acceptance,
J. W. G. Smith, J. Hinton, .T. 11. Hill, f
Gresham, B. M. Lcverelt, J. Arons and Maj. C...
Darden.
Col. Smith being waited upon made kn,, Wn (
acceptance,and addressed the niectin-rin aUi
w ori,.f
and pertinent remarks, touching the great pHn..*,.
of Southern’ Rights and the important issues n l)v |
fore the country.
On motion of J. If. T fill, F.sq., the convention
j owned until 3 o'clock.
, j M , . vjV .i:aiU<'o V<a*tTV*
, ... 3 O'clock I*. M.
The convention rm-t according to adjournment, nt , |
A. G. Ferryman, Esq. being called, ‘rrepdndt-d j n ,
speech of some length, deeply engaging theattentv,
of his hearers, in one of his most happy etlorts.
Mr. -lames T. Flewclh n being !j>|-esent, an,] .
for, rose and with the eloquence and pcrxi!**;,,,,
worthy of an older head than hisy charmed Ills a, v |
once for some considerable length of lime, in a ~| lns| ,
and enthusiastic speech ii|x.n the doctrine of s<,ml,,
orn Rights, as well as iqxm the great and absorb,,,
questions which now agitate the country. Mr. |-\ I
etlort was truly a happy one, his reasonings >iin,|
and his arguments upon the great principles South,
ern Rights unanswerable. May lit- live to be ati h, Hl .
or to bis friends and an ornament to his country.
Oil motion of A. G. Ferryman, Esq._
Resolred, That the minutes of this meeting | K .
published in the Columbus limes and .Sentinel „i|,|
Macon Telegraph.
fin motion of Maj. Smith the meeting adjourn,.,|
*1 KSSI? CARTER, Chairman.
M. A. A dams, C. , .
;• Secretaries.
B. \> . K. KEXXON, t
(tg-ExtracLs from a letter of Gen. Fkhx
HustonTo a gentleman in South Carolina,
dated July 12, 1651:
“I fully believe, tliat if (he Union con
tinues, slavery will not exist three or four
years after the census of 18(10 ”
* * * * *
“It is unfortunate that yon in South Car- i
olina are divided as to tlie time and motto
of secession. If you wejs. united, ami it
was well understood that yjoj would secede
alone, if necessary, you euUlcTTßen act
without precipitancy and place yourselves
in a position to draw to you the co-opera
tion of other States as the} beco ne ripe fi r
the movement.
“Those of your pure and high-minded
Statesmen who have counselled against
separate State action, have done much to
defeat their own object—-that is, theco-op
eration of other States. Ardent minds are
sometimes too soon discouraged. Tim
growth of political opinions is sometimes
like our own cotton plant. It may check
and present a slow and drooping appear
ance, but it is not idle but is forming deep
and vigorous roots which will ultimately
ensure a rich and abundant crop. Such, I
am satisfied, is the Slate of affairs in this
State and Mississippi, and in Alabama and
Geotgia. Could all your great statesmen
have the same confidence which I have,
the object sought, a union of the cotton
States, would be certain, and then the oth
er slaveholding States would be forced into
position. They must adhere to us.
“I could point out ten men in your State
who could save South Carolina, at the head
of whom are Messrs. Butler and Cheves.
Let them fully endorse the propiietyot
separate State action, and then let your
Convention act firmly and without precip
itancy, and there is not a doubt in my mind
that before next spring, other States will
be as ready to secede as South Carolina
is. But all doubt as to your determination
should be removed.
“Give earnest. Go on with your pre
parations, withdraw your representation
in Congress, and resolve that no son of
South Carolina shall be contaminated with
one cent of the extorted treasure of a cor
rupt and tyrannical government. Hold
your position steadily, reserving to your
self the right of cutting the last ligament
which binds you to the Union, and you may
rest assured that other States will, before
next spring, take position alongside ot.ymn,
and be as prompt for the final issue
are.
“I have always thought that a Southern
Convention should follow, not precede the
separate action of the States', and then on
ly embrace those States who concurred ill
the resistance policy. Any other course
is dangerous.
“I do not know that my idea rs clearly
expressed. It is that each State should for
itself determine on its course ; and when
that is manifest, delay at its option the fi
nal blow, with a view of giving time to
other States of whose junction hope may
be entertained, to mature their policy and
determineonthcircour.se of action. South
Carolina might do this with honor and dig
nity, if it was not for the divisions amongst
your leading statesmen.
“Can you not harmonize—at least re
lieve us from doubt. I assure you, sir, that
the opinion entertained hy many here is,
that Messrs. Butler, Burt, and others,
have become alarmed, and are only op
posing separate State action as a pretext
tor ultimate ‘submission.’
“Unfounded and unjust as this impres
sion is, it is doing immense injury, and ma
ny wavering and timid men have either
turned against us, or become lukewarm in
support of our cause.
“Many a battle has been lost, because
it became known through the ranks that
able officers were opposed to fighting, or
to the plan and mode of attack or defence.”
The Vera Cruz Rail Road. —The Wash
ington National Intelligencer, of Monday
contains an Official notification from Jose
Joaquin Dk Herrera, President of the
Repulic of Mexico, to the inhabitants
thereof, dated May 18, stating that the
Mexican Congress has given antliority to
the Government to contract for a Rail
Road from the port of Vera Cruz to the
Capital, thence to some port on the Paci
fic; with such branches as may seem con
venient to other, towns, provided that
the Road be finished within fifteen years,
and the work commenced before two,
calculating the time from the date of the
contract, Contractors are to have an ex*
elusive privilege for fifty years for the
read and its branches; and the trains, ma
terials, and necessary instruments for its
construction, and the coal which they may
require, until that of the Republic may
be brought into use, are to be free of du
ties. Should the Road pass over any of
the public domains, enough land will bo
granted to the contractors tor the construc
tion of said road and its appendages; be
sides which, tlie preference will be given
to them for tlie establishment of colonies
on both coasts, subject to the laws which
will be dictated to that effect. Should tho
Rail Road, two years after the date of the
contract, reach that part of the county be
yond Vera Cruz where the yellow fever
does not prevail, the Government will
then grant and extension of two more
years to the exclusive privilege, and if it
reaches the point indicated before the ex
piration of the two years, a privilege of
one year more for each month thus saved;
and provided thecontractors allow twenty
per cent, of the profits to the Public Tre
asury, a further extension of thirty years
will be granted on the exclusive privilege.
Foreigners engaged inthe unertakingare
notified that their right as such cease in
all parts ofthe country, where this work
is carried on. The time allowed for le
ceiving the contracts which will be awar
ded to him whose proposals ate the roost
advantageous, and in keeping with tlio
conditions abpve mentioned, is stated at
three months, commencing from
the packet left with copies of the decree.
It is optional, however, with the
nient to prolong the time to three mon.ttur”
more. Should the contractors for the
principle road think proper not to con
struct the branches which may have been
selected, ths Government will then con
tract with, others for this object. At the
expiration of,the exclusive privilege the
Rail Road ‘trains and buildings will be
come National property, but should the
contractors solicit any concessions, the
Executive will, in ease he thinks it ex
pedient to grant them, demand authority
from tho Mexican Congress to allow
them such.—[ Charleston Courier.
ijif H illeck, the poet, is now residing in hi,
native town of Guilford, Conn., where he in
tends passing the declining years of his life. It
is stated that. Mr. H. is now engaged upon a re
cord of Ins life and times.
I here is a landlord in Boston who is in
the habit of placing an extra fork beside tho
pkrteot such hoarders as have not paid promptly,
being an intimation to “fork over’’ likewise.