gutanons w l^
and sentinel,
lette-' ‘
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this city.
SPEECH OF MR. CALHOUN,
IN REPLY TO Mr. BENTON,
ON THE THREE MILL ION BILL.
In Senate February 24, 1847.
Mr. Benton having concluded—
Mr. Calhoun rose and said : One thing, Mr.
President, at least, may be inferred from the un
provoked attack of the feeuator, and the great
solicitude he evinced to trace the authorship of
the war to me —and that is, that the war is un
popular. There can be no mistake. He felt
that the tide of public sentiment had turned
against it, and hence the anxiety exhibited to
place its resposibilities on my shoulders, and
take it from those on whom it ought justly to
rest. Had he supposed the opposite had he
believed that the war was necessary and una
voidable, and that its termination would be suc
cessful—l am the last man to whom he would
attribute any agency in causing it. lam grati
fied that the Senator has furnished this evidence.
It affords reasonable hope, that those who are
responsible for it, will exert themselves, and I
hope with success, to bring it to a speedy ter
mination.
He traces the authorship to me, because, as
he asserts, I am the real author of the annex
ation of Texas, and that annexation is the real
cause of the war. I trust, Mr. President, there
will be no dispute hereafter as to who is the
real author of annexation. —Less than twelve
months since, I had many competitors for that
honor; the official organ here claimed, if my
memory serves me, a large share lor Mr. I oik
and his administration, and not Jess than hall a
dozen competitors from other quarters, claimed
to be the real authors. But now, since the war
has become unpopular, they all seem to agree
that I. in reality, am the author of annexation
I will not put the honor aside. I may now
rightfully and indisputably claim to be the
author of that great event —an event which has
so much extended the domains of the Union,
which has added so largely to its productive
powers, which promises so greatly to extend its
commerce, which has stimulated its industry,
and given security to our most exposed fron
tier. I take pride to myself as being the author
of that great event.
But the Senator objects that I so conducted
the question of annexation as necessarily to
lead to the war. On what does he rest this
charge ? He rests it on the ground that I se
lected the resolution as it came from the House
of Representatives, as the basis of the annexa
tion. instead of giving the Texan Government
the choice between the House resolution and
the amendment of the Senate originally moved
by the senator himself. He complained bitter
ly that the Senate resolution —passed at the
very heel of the session, under the expectation
that it would be carried into effect by the pres
ent administration, then just coming into pow
er, and not by Mr. Tyler’s administration,
then about to expire—had not been adopt
ed.
He seemed to think that the then administra
tion had no right to act upon it, and that un
dertaking to do so, was depriving its succes
sor of some of its rights. He accused me of
acting with the greatest promptness. The fact
is so. The resolution, if I recollect, was signed
by the late President about the first of March.
I saw the importance of acting promptly, and
advised the President to act without delav, that
he had the constitutional right of doing so, and
that I deemed it necessary that he should act in
order effectually to secure the success of a mea
sure which had originated with his administra
tion. His cabinet was summoned the next
day. and concurred in the opinion. That night
I prepared the despatch for Mr. Donelson, our
charge in Texas, and the next day, late in the
evening of the third of March, it was forwarded
to him. It was my last official act of any im
portance as Secretary of State.
I selected the resolution of the House in pre
ference to the amendment of which the senator
from Missouri was the author, because I clear
ly saw r , not only' that it was every way prefer
able, but the only certain mode by which an
nexation could be effected. My reasons for
thinking so were fully set forth in my despatch
which may be found among the public docu
ments accompanying the first annual message
of the present Executive. They will speak for
themselves; they'never have been controvert
ed, and never can be successfully. Indeed, I
never considered the senator’s amendment as
expressing the deliberate sense either of the
: Senate or House of Representatives. It is
well known that he, and a few of his friends,
had the pow'er of greatly embarrassing the pas
sage of the resolutions of the House, if not of
defeating them ; and that his amendment was
moved not so much as an improvement of the
resolutions, as to gratify him and them. That
the course I adopted did secure annexation,
and that it was indispensable for that purpose,
1 have high authority in my possession. That
which all would admit to be the highest, if I
could with propriety introduce it; and for this
prompt and decided act, if for nothing else, I
might claim tlie authorship of annexation.
How can anything be more absurd than the
assertion that the war with Mexico resulted from
selecting the House resolution, instead of the
amendment of the Senator ? He has ventured
the bold assertion, without the shadow of an
argumeutto s.istaiuit What possible difference
could it make with Mexico, whether the annex
ation was made upon one or the other f Whv
should the one not be as offensive to her as the
other? Indeed, I doubt much whether“veu
w, tIC f°- ernmeut al Mexico knows
whether the resolution was passed with or with
out an alternative. Such is the baseless ground
•mth V “ C rI e hilS ch:i r rg r d me with be ing the
author of the war. I had heard, for several
eSboSS?' M hC Had P ™ pared to make an
elaborate attack on me. Some of my friends
asked, rather jestmgly, if I did not expect to be
nmhilated. After these givings out and such
laborious preparation, I did suppose the Sena
tor would make some show of a
charge : but of all the attacks 1 have ever wU
aessed. in this or any other legislative bodv I
have never known one so empty and ridicu
ehher ° n * ° f h ‘ S ° harges funded
ether in gross error or partial statement of
I ° nSOin ! fo l rced Hlld absurd conclusion.
H?h-.H th m Wlth the Ver ' v first that he made,
of the assurance to assert, in the presence
the uLI. n ’.! hsit ‘ Was the first to introduce
of thi •t 3 }’ "v° Was die rea i author or cause
and eve"' L N ?"*- Ia PP ea * to every Senator,
the one ° lel md ividual who was present on
he occasion, whether the Senator from Ten
nessee, [Mr. Turney] did not first charge me
« Uh being tiie author of this war, and whether
I did not limit myself to repelling his charge,
by showing that it originated in the order to
Gen. Taylor, to march from Corpus Christi,
and take position on the Rio del Norte ? Igj
timber and ask, is there a Senator here igno
rant of the fact, that the question, of who was
the author or cause o! the war, had been long
before elaborately discussed iu this body—in the
House ol Representatives, and throughout the
whole country Irora its declaration Sp to that
time. In the lace ot all this, the Senator rises
up in his place, after a long and laborious pre
paration. and asserts, that it was I who origina
ted the inquiry, as to w'ho was its author. This
is a lair sample of the accuracy of the Senator
in his numerous allegations to show that I was
the author of the war. I might go on and take
. them up one by one, and show that every one
= of his positions and deductions is equally un
founded in fact or false in conclusion. Ido
not deem it necessary. A large portion of his
' speech was but the stale repetition of what he
said in the sesrion of 1842-’43, when the treaty
D which I had concluded with Texas, was under
5 discussion in this body. All the documents
2 now brought forward, were then before the
Senate, and he went over the same topics very
| elaborately, and with much more power than
, on the present occasion, without making any
impression on the country. The country was
> against him then, and still remains against him,
i and it is in vain, that he undertakes to disturb
its settled conviction. It will remain ever un
changed, in spite of all that he can do. Under
this conviction, I will not weary the Senate, by
repelling assaults then made and then repelled.
The most prominent of the charges—the or
ders given by the administration to place a fleet
in the Gulf of Mexico, and a portion of the
army on the frontier of Texas —was repelled
by my then colleague, [Mr. McDuffie,] of
whom he speaks so highly on this occasion. In
repelling it, he said, that if the orders to which
the Senator then and now objects, had not been
■ issued, the Executive would have been guilty
of great dereliction of duty.
The Florida treaty, forming another subject
of attack, figured also on that occasion, in con
nection with annexation; and whathehas said
now is but a repetition of what he said then.
He then, as now, made me responsible for that
treaty, although I was but one of six members
of Mr. Monroe’s cabinet, and the youngest of
its members —responsible, without advancing a
particle of proof to show that I even gave it my
support or approbation. He rests the charge
on some disclaimer, as it seems, that the then
Secretary of State, (Mr. Adams,) has, at some
time, made, that he was not responsible for the
treaty. The Senator may be right as to that;
hut how can that, by any possibility, show that
I was responsible? But I am prepared to
take ray full share of responsibility as a mem
ber of Mr. Monroe’s cabinet, without having
any particular agency informing the treaty, or
influence in inducing the cabinet to adopt it.
I then thought, and still think it a good treaty ;
and so thought the Senate of the United States;
for, if my memory does not deceive me, it re
ceived nearly every vote of the Senate. [A
Senator. “Yes, every vote.”] It then re
ceived the unanimous vote of the Senate,
promptly given. Os course, if that treaty was
the cause of the war with Mexico, as the Sen
ator seems to suppose, this body is as much the
author and cause of the war, as the individual
on whom he is now so anxious to fix it.
I have said it is a good treaty, not without
due reflection. We acquired much by it. It
gave us Florida —an acquisition uot only impor
tant iu itself, but also in reference to the whole
southwestern frontier. There was, at that time,
four powerful tribes of Indians, two of whom
—the Creeks and Choctaws—were contiguous
to Florida, aud the two others—the Chickasaw’s
and Cherokees —were adjoining; they were the
most numerous and powerful tribes in the Uni
ted States, and from their position, were ex
posed to be acted on and excited against us from
Florida. It. was important that this state of
things should terminate, which could only be
done by obtaining the possession of Florida.
But there were other and powerful consider
ations for the acquisition. We had a short time
before extinguished the Indian title to large
tracts of country in Alabama, Mississippi, and
Georgia, lying upon streams and rivers which
passed through Florida to the Gulf—lands in a
great measure valueless, without the right of
navigating them to their mouths. The acquisi
tion of Florida gave us this right, and enabled
us to bring into successful cultivation a great
extent of fertile lauds, which have added much
to the increased production of our great staple
—cotton. Another important point was effect
ed by the acquisition. It terminated a very
troublesome dispute with Spain, growing out
of the capture of St. Mark’s and Pensacola by
General Jackson, in the Seminole war: and
finally, it perfected our title to Oregon, by
ceding to us w hatever right Spain had to that
Territory.
Such is the treaty on which the senator has
lavished so much of his abuse ; but there were
other reasons for adopting the Sabine as the j
boundary, and of which I was ignorant at the !
time the treaty was formed, and to the know- j
ledge of which I have come within the last few
years. Mr. Monroe, if lam correctly inform
ed, in adopting that line, acted under circum- 1
stances which left him little option. lam not ,
at liberty to state them—the information I re- j
ceived confidentially. It is sufficient to state !
that he had ascertained that the Senate would
not ratify a treaty with a boundary farther west.
It was communicated to him by senators of
first respectability. Their reason for refusing
to ratify a treaty which would extend the boun
dary beyond the Sabine, I do not choose to go ■
into, although it w r as communicated to me with
the information to which 1 have alluded,
CONTINUED TO-MORROW.
Col. Gumming.— This gentleman, who de
clines the appointment of Major-General, is
highly spoken oJ. “Col. Gumming is uot gen
erally known throughout the country,” says the |
Louisville Journal, “but all who do know him
speak with enthusiasm of his chivalry, his i
genius, and his accomplishments.” We
have heard the gentleman referred to designated
in a similar manner—a tribute warranted by
personal acquaintance and made valuable by
intelligent discrimination.
Col. Gumming served in the Army in his
youth, and distinguished himself in the last w r ar
with Great Britain. He resigned his commission
iu 1815. The reasons which have induced him
to decline the high appointment recently prof
fered him, have not come to our knowledge.—
Baltimore American.
St. Louis, March 9.
The stage of water in the Missouri is low for
the season. The Illinois river is high.
The lowa Legislature has adjourned without
a settlement of the difficulties between the rival
wrings of locofocoism. They failed to elect
Judges of the Supreme Court or United States
Senators, and consequently the young State
will be unrepresented in the upper branch of
Congress for the two next years,
A letter from Independence, Missouri, un
der date of Ist instant, mentions the arrival
there of Mr. Hoffman of Baltimore, and some
others, from Santa Fe, 13th January.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Journal of Commerce, says:
“ The Smithsonian building is about to be
put under contract, and no time will be lost in
the work. The design selected is very beauti
ful and striking —the collegiate Gothic. Should
the institution be as w ell managed as it promi
ses to be, it will become one of great notice to
the country and to the world. There are hun
dreds of philanthropic individuals in this coun
try and abroad w'ho will contribute large means
to the object of the institution—should it be so
constructed as to secure thatobject, to wit, “the
diffusion of knowledge among men.”
Fatal Accident. — We learn from a gentle
man connected with the road that the engine
passed over a man by the name of Donnegan
two or three miles below Jonesboro’ yesterday
evening, horribly mutilating his body and killing
him instantly. He was supposed to be intoxi
cated.—Griffin Whig.
Aitchn-ille (pronounced Chilly) Mclntosh,
son of the celebrated Idian chief Mclntosh, was
recently assassinated iu Arkansas, by an Indian i
and a half-breed. Mr. B. Dubose of Tallahassee,
gives us the information.— Alabama Journal.
The Emperor of Russia gives a premium to
the engineers upon his railroad who complete
the year without any accident causing the loss
of life or property.
: Cjronicle aub Sentinel.
AUGUSTA, GEO:
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 33, 1847.
The Northern Mail failed last night be
yond Charleston. The Savannah Stage arriv
ed on Saturday and brought no mail from that
city.
War News and Rumors.
Nothing has yet reached us to remove the
painful uncertainty of General Taylor’s posi
tion. The additional rumors and accounts
would seem to represent his situation to be
more critical than was previously supposed by
many. It is, however, proper to add, that we
attach no credit to the rumors brought by the
Mexicans.
If the Mexicans have got between him and
Monterey in as large a force as is represented,
so as to prevent his more easy retreat to that
place, nothing can rescue him but the most
determined and unparalleled feats of valor.
We still hope for the best, and shall not believe
that defeat has overtaken him, till forced to do
so by authentic accounts.
The news from Santa Fe is of a most dis
astrous character. We shall be compelled to
remain for some time in the most painful un
certainty in reference to the troops in Santa
Fe, and Col. Doniphan and his men, who left
Santa Fe to march to the assistance of General
Wool. But the accounts speak for themselves,
and to them our readers will look with the
most anxious solicitude and interest.
Party Right or Wrong.
Thkre is much to excuse, yea, something to
recommend the sentiment, “Ourcountry right
or wrong.” We fear that with some people,
the sentiment, “our party right or wrong,” is
considered as admirable as that in reference to
our country, and of authority equally as bind
ing. We repudiate the sentiment, and advo
cate the doctrine, party for the goou of coun
try. When this fails, when we cannot sustain
party without injuring country, the obligation
to sustain the former ceases.
We do not know when we have seen a clear
er instance of tergiversation and inconsistency,
than in the following case of Mr Charles J.
Ingersoi.l. In 1845 Mr. Ingersoli. used the
following language. It is found in a speech
delivered by him in the House of Representa
tives on the 3rd of February of that year.
“The stupendous deserts between the Nueces and
the Bravo rivers are the natural boundaries between
the Anglo Saxon and the Mauritanian races. There
ends the valley of the West. There Mexico begins.
Thence beyond the Bravo [Rio Grande] begins the
Moorish people, and their Indian associates, to whom
Mexico properly belongs; who should not cross that
vast desert if they could, as we, ou our side, too,
ought to stop there, because interminable contlicts
must follow our going South, or their coining North
of that gigantic boundary. While peace is cherish
ed, that boundary rriUbe sacred. Nottill the spirit
of conquest rages, will the people on either side
molest or mix with each other; and whenever they
do, one or the other race must be conquered, if not ex
tinguished.”
Now compare it with the following taken
from a report made by him shortly before the
close of the late session. In both instances he
was acting as the chairman of the committee of
Foreign Relations.
“ President Polk had no constitutional right to stop
short of the Bravo, and in truth, the Province of Tex
as extended to that river by territorial configuration
which nature herself has rendered the limitary of
that region.”
In the first, Texas terminated at the Neuces!
Natu re it self had interposed stupendous bound
aries between the Anglo Saxon and the Mau
ritanian races. These barriers were between
the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers. “ Not till
the spirit of conquest rages," said Mr. 1., wdlthat
barrier be passed. “ While peace is cherished,
that boundary tcill be sacred." It was passed,
however, by Mr. Polk, without consulting
Congress, and when not demanded by necessi
ty or propriety. According to Mr. I. it was
passed for purposes of Conquest and hostility.
Can the President engage in such enterprises
without the consent of Congress ?
How does the first position of Mr. Inoer
soi.l compare with his last ? How utterly in
consistent they are ! What confidence can be
placed in men whose opinions can be so easily
changed, and moulded to suit the circumstances
of the case? Mr. Polk must be sustained,
right or wrong; party must be upheld though
the constitution falls ! The first must be “grap
pled with hooks of steel” to the soul, though
the latter is in consequence, torn, tattered and
profaned ! Such doctrines may suit professed
politicians who cling to place, rather than prin
ciple, but they cannot suit the people whose
only interest consists in having the constitution
and good laws honestly administered. It is
their duty to see lo it, that while men may make
wrecks of their own characters, they do not
make a wreck of the constitution and the
country.
Requisition for Troops.
The following is the requisition for troops
of Col. Curtis, the commander at Camargo :
Headquarters, Camargo, March 2, 1847.
gif —l send an officer to headquarters, at Washing
ton making a requisition on the President of the Uni
ted States for fifty thousand six months’ volunteers.
All communication for several days has been cut off'
between this place and the army above, and I see no
adequate relief this side of New Orleans. I request
you, therefore, to call out ten thousand men of this
character oftroops, and I anticipate they will be re
cognized under the call of the President.
As fast as any considerable force can be accumula
ted, let them be forwarded to Brazos Santiago. All
troops as far as practicable, should be armed before
leaving the United States, and the officers command
ing companies should take in charge ammunition
enough to distribute, in case of emergency, forty
rounds at least.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL R. CURTIS, Col. Com’g.
To the Governor of Louisiana.
The N. O. Picayune of the 16th, says, in re*
fereuce to the above : “The Senate [of Louis
iana, now in session] yesterday passed resolu
tions authorizing the Governor to raise troops
for the Rio Grande. In the House of Repre
sentatives this resolution was referred to a com
mittee office with instructions to wait upon the
Governor and ascertain what grounds there are
for supporting the resolutions. The committee
did not report before the House adjourned. —
We have no doubt the Governor will make
the matter the subject of a message to-day.”
Mesmerism. —By reference to the card of
Dr. Webster in another column, it will be
seen that this gentleman gives another exhibi
tion of mesmerism, this evening, at the Masonic
Hall.
I IMPORTANT PROM NEW MEXICO.
-
Insurrection at Santa Pe—Massacre of
Americans —Col. Doniphan’s Com
mand, «fcc.
The Philadelphia North American of the
17th inst., has the following late intelligence
from Santa Fe. It came from St. Louis in six
days by steamboat to Pittsburgh, and was de
spatched to Philadelphia by telegraph :
Pittsburgh, March 16.
By rider we have St. Louis papers four days
in advance of the mail, with dates from Santa
Fe covering important news. There has been
an extensive Mexican insurrection at Taos. All
the Spaniards who evinced any sympathy with
the American cause had been compelled to es
cape. A
Gov. Bent, Stephen Lee, Acting Sheriff,
Gen. Elliott Lee, Henry Lee. Henry Seal and
twenty Americans were killed and their families
despoiled. The Chief Alcalde was also killed.
This all occurred ou the 17th January. The
insurrection had made formidable head and the
disaffection was rapidly spreading. The insur
rectionists were sending expresses out all over
the country to raise assistance. The number
engaged in the outbreak at Taos was about 600.
They 3 were using every argument to incite the
Indians to hostilities and were making prepara
tions to take possession of Santa Fe.
The Americans at Santa Fe had only about
600 effective men there ; the rest were on the
sick list or had left to join Col. Doniphan.
Such being their situation they cannot send
succor out, as they are hardly able to defem.
themselves. It is thought that Santa Fe
must be captured, as neither the Fort nor
block houses are completed.
It is announced as the intention of the insur
rectionists who captured Taos, to take posses
sion of the government wagon trains, which
are carrying forward our supplies, and thus
cut oft'all communication.
The representations made to Col. Doniphan'
that Chihuahua would be an easy conquest,
were evidently intended as a lure to entrap him,
beget a spirit of security, and lead him far into
the interior, where he might be easily cut off.
It is the universal opinion in Santa Fe that if
Gen. Wool had gone direct to Chihuahua there
would have been no trouble in New Mexico.
Col. Doniphan bad possession of El Paso del
Norte on the 28th December. Letters had been
received from the Governor of Chihuahua,
stating that Gen. Wool was within three days
march of the capital. This, too, was doubtless
another ruse to lure £ol. Doniphan on in con
fidence, and cut him off'from all chances of es
cape, or of falling back upon Santa Fe, to re
lieve in its emergency.
The Mexicans are bold in their tone and con
fident of capturing Col. Doniphan and his com
mand. which consists of about 600 men, 500 of
them being of his own troops, the first regiment
of mounted Missouri volunteers, and a detach
ment of 100 men from Santa Fe under com
mand of Lieut. Col. Mite lie 11 of the 2d regiment
—consisting of 30 men from Clark’s battalion
oflight artillery, under command of Capt.
Hudson and Lieut. Kribben, and 70 from Col.
Willock’s battalion. They then assert that they
will massacre every American in New Mexico
and confiscate all their goods.
A letter from Lieut. Abert, U. S. Topo
graphical Engineer, of later date, confirms all
the above intelligence. The details oftbe battle
of Bracito are also confirmed. The massacre
beyond doubt has been a horrible one, of which
we have as yet heard but the beginning; and
the insurrection has been kept so quiet until
all was ready for the outbreak, that our handful
oftroops there must be demolished, before any
effortcanbe made to relieve them from the
most advanced of our Western military poss.
Lieut. Abert’s men suffered severely coming
to Missouri. The calls upon government for
prompt assistance and large reinforcements are
strenuous; end the situation of our gallant
men, far away from succor, in the heart of an
enemy’s country, shows the rashness which
has characterized the whole advance into New
Mexico.
Eight of the leading men engaged in the con
spiracy have arrived, (our correspondent does
not say where) who have made a full confession
of the whole plot.
Letters received also state that Col. Cook
and the Mormon battalion were 350 miles be
yond Santa Fe. They were generally in good
health and progressing slowly.
From the N. O. Picayune of the 1 C)th inst.
From Tampico.
The brig Ann Still has arrived in the river
from Tampico, having sailed on the 3d inst. To
Major Burns, who came passenger in her, we
are indebted for our correspondent which we
subjoin. Though it contains little news of im
portance, it brings down the narrative of events
to the latest moment.
Lt. Col. Stamford, oftbe Bth Regiment U.
S. Infantry, came passenger from Tampico in
the Ana Still, in consequence of the injuries
received at Tampico during the embarkation
of his regiment. He fell into the bold of one
oftbe vessels, broke two of his ribs and other
wise injured himself, He is, however, we are
happy to learn, recovering, although slowly.
Editorial Correspondence of the Picayune.
Tampico, Feb. 28,1847 —8 o'clock, P. M.
This morning the U. S. steamer Edith, from Bra
zos Santiago, with Gen. Worth and staff and twoconi
panies of troops on board, touched off the bar at the
month of our river, coming to anchor two miles out
side, and sent despatches up to Gen. Patterson. I
went down with a friend and saw Gen. Worth ; found
him in good health and fine spirits. The Edith being
bound for Lobos Island, sailed on her course at half
past 2P. M. By the E. I learn that at least ten ships
are ou their way from the Brazos to this place, to take
troops down.
The U S. steamer Alabama, now lying in the stream
opposite this city, is to sail to-morrow with Gen. Pat
terson, staff and troops. The steamer Virginia, with
Gen. Pillow, do. do. do., as the merchants say. If the
transports on the way here from the Brazos arrive, it
is probable that by the last of this week all the forces
to leave will have sailed.
A few days ago we had a report that Santa Anna
had left San Luis Potosi to march against Gen. Tay
lor at Saltillo. The Mexican has far the greatest
number of troops, but I’ll bet on “ Rough and Ready.”
Whether or not there be a battle any where else,
however, it seems to be pretty certain that we shall
have one at Vera Cruz—and before we get to Vera
Cruz. It is known here that the enemy are preparing
to give us a warm reception on landing. In the rear
of Anton Lizardo they have built strong fortifications,
too fur for the guns of our squadron to bear upon them,
but in reach of the point of lauding. On these forti
fications very heavy guns are mounted, and other ar
rangements are made and being made to make a des
perate stand against the landing of our troups. It is
also to be expected that the city of Vera Cruz is in a
condition to make a bloody resistance. But a few
days, I hope, will tell the tale, and make all specula
tion unnecessary. Who doubts the issue ?
Besides what I have written you abov there is lit
tle news with us here ; excepting the embarking of
troops, stores and munitions on shipboard, every thing
is still.
Tampico, March 2, 1847.
The brig Ann Still sails this morning for your city,
and though I have but little to say, I will give the last
rumor. News reached here yesterday that Gen. Mi
non, leading the advance ofSanta Anna’s forces against
Gen. Taylor, with 5000 men, had attempted to sur
prise Gen. T. by a night assault, but that he met with
a total disappointment. The whole force was defeat
ed — how many killed and made prisoners not stated
precisely, but they were essentially whipped. I hope
this may be true. The Mexicans here are not mak
ing much noise, which is positive proof that their
friends have not achieved a victory. Whenever they
have any good news every man, woman and child
know s it at once.
I think all the troops will get away by the last of
this or first of next week. Gen. Shield’s brigade will
be the last to embark. I shall go with the General,
every body seems anxious to be off and see what Vera
Cruz will do. Yours, in haste, f. a. l.
P. S.— I almost forgot to tell you that there is to be
a meeting held here this evening for the benefit of Ire
land ! See the noble spirit of American benevolence !
Here, in an enemy’s country, are the “Yankees”
found doing their good deeds of charity for the poor
and distressed in another quarter of the globe, as if
they were at home ! Besides others, I learn that' Gen,
Shields will address the meeting.
We find little news in the Sentinel of the 3d
inst. or 27th ult. not embraced in Mr. Lums
■ den’s letters or the intelligence we ga\ eon
Sunday, by the Pioneer.
From the New Orleans Picayune , \6th inst.
The News from the Rio Grande*
In point of fact, nothing in an authentic shape
has reached the city, since our last publication,
from Gen. Taylor’s army. The arrivals yester
day brought nothing but amplifications of ru
mors hitherto afloat. There was a report in
circulation, brought by a passenger, that a let
ter was received at Matamoros from an officer
of the army at Camargo to the effect that Urrea
had got between Monterey and the Rinconada
with six thousand cavalry, thus cutting oft'
Gen. Taylor’s retreat upon that pass. How this
information wasconveyed to Camargo we were
unable to learn. The same authority reports
more positively the loss of Col. Morgan’s de
tachment of Ohio volunteers—but perhaps up
on no better foundation than what has been be
fore known. We might fill column after col
umn with these rumors, many of them exag
gerations of previous accounts ; but until some
thing definite is heard from Monterey, or rather
from Gen. Taylor’s camp, it would add little to
the knowledge already in possession of the
public. As good an idea of the prevailing feel
ing in Camargo can be obtained from the requi
sition of Col. Curtis, in another part of our pa
per, as from all the reports that have reached
us. That document would lead us to suppose
the valley of the Rio Grande to be in great
danger and the officer who penned it to be very
sensible of the fact. If one half of the fifty
thousand men Col. Curtis requires of the Pres
ident are wanted immediately, we fear there
will he wailing in these States before the May
apple blossoms. But as we before remarked,
we count nothing as adding to what has been
known for several days that does not come di
rect from Gen. Taylor’s camp.
The most ominous anticipations we entertain
respecting the safety of the American army, are
derived from Capt. Ilenrie, who thinks that if
a battle has been fought by Santa Anna in force,
the chances are many to one that he has proved
victorious. Capt. H. is the same gentleman
‘ whose gallant escape from the Mexican troop
which captured Majs. Gaines and Borland, and
Capt. Clay and their companies, has excited so
| much enthusiasm in the country. He is not a
I man to be alarmed at trifles, and his opinion
somewhat dashed the confidence we entertain
ed in the result of the reputed collision. These
are, however, hut opinions. In this connection
we may add that Capt. Henrie did not leave
Saltillo on the 23rd of last month as has been
* said. He left Gen. Taylor before that time,
: and brings nothing to confirm or contradict the
accounts of battles, which have been so rile ol
late. We may say further that the great length
' S of time that has elapsed since Gen. Taylor was
| last heard from, is not a favorable sign in these
| times, when so much is left to speculation and
i conjecture. In a short season we will know
: j all, and until then, we counsel our readers lo
have patience,
From the N. O. Picayune, 16 th inst.
Prom Galveston and tlie Rio Grande*
The Steamship Palmetto. Capt. Smith, ar
rived on Sunday evening from Galveston, hav
ing sailed ou the 12th inst.
Accounts to the 7th inst. have been received
from the Brazos at Galveston. There was still
nothing later than the evening of the 22d of
February from Monterey. We give below a
letter we have received from Camargo by this
arrival from a responsible source.
We have a copy of the Matamaros flag of
the 6th inst. From this we learn that a com
pany of volunteers was organized in that place
on the 4th inst. This makes the second com
pany of volunteers in Matamoros, and there are
: materials left for others.
Tlie 2d Mississippi Regiment reached Mata
moros the morning of the sth inst. They re
lieve the Indiana regiment, which was to leave
the 6th for Camargo.
Two companies of the North Carolina vol
-1 unteers arrived at Brazos on the 6th inst.
Another Mexican spy was shot on the 3d
inst. near Matamoros. He had been arrested,
| and was endeavoring to escape from his guard
when he was shot dead.
A Mexican engaged in the murder of the
Rogers family and other outrages has been
arrested in Matamoros, and will be tried before
the alcalde.
The Americans residing in Mier evacuated
the town on the approach of the Mexicans.
Previous to leaving, they made a surrender of
their goods to the alcalde, and took a receipt
therefor.
Col. Curtis was determined to make a strong
defence at Camargo. To make an opening for
the play of his artillery on the approaches to
the town, he ordered two houses to be torn
down. The order was executed by setting fire
to them. A strong wind arising, the flames
were communicated to other buildings, and a
great many consumed, principally jacales of no
great value.
The impression in Matamoros is that Gen.
Taylor had fallen hack on Monterey, but they
know nothing authentic on the subject. The
tenor of our previous advices leads us to a
different opinion. The Flag thus speculates
upon the news :
“The attack on Gen. Taylor no longer remains
doubtful. All that we know about it has been deriv
ed from Mexicans. Their accounts —and they are
numerous—all concur that several severe engagements
have taken place, and that in all of them the Mexicans
have sustained severe losses. The result, whatever
it has been, has evidently had the effect to depress the
spirits of those in this region. Had Gen. Taylor been
the sufferer in those affairs, Camargo and this place
would have been attacked before this. Gen. Taylor
we think, must have effected his retreat to Monterey ;
at least we hope so.”
The Flag discredits the reports that the
Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande.
Washington’s birth-day was celebrated by
all the Americans at and about Camargo.—
Thomas F. Marshall, of the Kentucky Cavalry,
pronounced an oration in his usual eloquent
style.
In regard to the Mexican troops approaching
the Rio Grande, the Flag has this paragraph :
“ Victoria and San Fernando.- —There are various
rumors afloat in regard to the number of Mexican troops
at these two points. One rumor states a force of 5000
—infantry, cavalry and artillery. This, we hear, has
been repeatedly denied by Mexicans who profess to
know—theystate that all the troops recently there,
with the exception of one brigade, or a corps of obser
vation, have moved on towards China and Cerralvo.—
At San Fernando, there are said to be not more than
55 to 60 men.”
A company of mounted riflemen from the
counties of Navarro, Limestone and Robertson !
in Texas, was organized on the 12th February.
They took their departure the next morning
for Bau Antonio, to place themselves under the
command of Col. Hays. This company, says
the Civilian, mainly composed of hardy frontier
men, and accustomed to the fatiguesofthe camp,
will no doubt render efficient service in what- ;
ever position they may be placed.
From the Civilian we learn that Capt. Symp- i
tom, a famous Gulf pilot, left Galveston on the !
4th inst, via. Brazos Santiago, for the American !
squadron before Vera Crvz. He was sent for {
by the commodore, and will, it is presumed, )
he employed in the operations near Vera Cruz, i
The Texas Democrat of the 27th ult. states j
that the company which left Austin the 21st i
ult., to ascertain the fate of Clark and Sims,
proceeded to the place where they fell, and i
found they had been interred by Capt. Henry
McCulloch’s meu, in a neat and appropriate
manner. The names of Grant, Sims, and
Clark were marked on the head-stone. The
horse left by the Dutchman on the Arroyo
Blanco was found. No very recent Indian
signs were discovered. The company return
ed on the 25th.
There were said to be about three hundred
Texan volunteers in San Antonio three weeks
ago. They are in arms most opportunely.—
Immediately upon receiving the requisition of
Col. Curtis we trust they will be sent forward.
i Expresses had been [sent to San Antonio for
- aid. Volunteers were constantly reaching
i San Antonio.
The Houston Telegraph of the 7th inst.
learns from persons who have lately visited the
western frontier, that a large body of Indians
has been collected for some weeks high up on
the Colorado. Many of the western settlers
* have entertained fears that they were preparing
> to resume hostilities against our settlements.—
The Catnanches who have lately visited Tor
' rey’s trading house, however, were remarka
-1 bly friendly and manifested no s,gns ofhostility ;
“ on the contrary, they appeared to be quite anx
r ions to renew their pledges offriendship. They
1 were much elated with their successful foray
\ against the Mexicans, and it is probable that
f the Indians who have been discovered on the
5 Colorado have assembled for the purpose of
5 recommencing hostilities against the Mexican
* settlements.
Mr. Colin Cock, of Fort Bend county, Tex
as, was recently killed by his neighbor. Mr.
■ Jonathan Waters. The Houston Morning
Star say that Mr. Cock, who was regarded as
a very violent and desperate man, had threat
ened to kill Mr. Waters whenever he met him;
and the latter, on hearing this, went with seve
’ ral of his friends to the house of Mr. Cock and
! killed him. The latter was unarmed when
Mr. Waters found him, and consequently made
no resistance. The affair is to be judicially in
’ vestigated.
i Correspondence of the Picayune.
; Cam argo, Mexico, Peb. 2B, 1847,
“Give the devil hisdue.'*—Santa Anna is playing
the game according to Gunter. He gets hold of Gen.
Scott’s despatches, in which are all the minutias ofthe
intended operations ; he sees this line of Gen. Tay
lor’s is to be left weak, and at once he takes measures
to operate against it; and should he be successful, it
woidd be “beautiful as an army with banners”—and
should he fail, all he has to do is to shrug his shoul
ders, and say “I tried or, if he can’t speak that
much English, say “Q,uein sabe,” which is the same
i thing only differently expressed.
. The last intelligence from Monterey arrived day be
s fore yesterday, and says that Gen. Taylor and Santa
Anna were fronting each other: Santa Anna had sum
j rnoned Gen. Taylor to surrender or he would “Knock
him from taw.” The general replied, “Come and
1 try it,” and the expressman who brought this from
Monterey hither, says when he left Monterey the two
‘ armies were engaged, and (Jen. Taylor was giving
> Santa Anna “the devil.”—l give you his own words,
i Yesterday we received intelligence that 4000 of the
i enemy were in Marin, (this side of Monterey,) 2000
were in Cerralvo, (this side of Marin,) and 50 were in
i Mier, (this side of Cerralvo,) and twenty-eight miles
1 from here. These are all cavalry, and had come through
a pass near Parras.
It is generally believed here that a wagon train
(about 100) and 350 mules (the latter packed with
’ merchant’s goods) were captured on the 23d near Ma
\ rin, by Gen. Urrea’s cavalry. The force above is
1 said to be intended for an attack on this place. We
i are ready; we can raise about 1000.
s Many rumors are afloat and all are on the tiptoe of
i anxiety to hear from Gen. Taylor and Monterey, and
j to have a peep at our customers. Our picket guards
{ are out, our sentinels are on the top of the church, and
j little knots of fellows are goin? about to pick out their
s[>ots on the tops of houses. The artillery company
is drilling at the guns, and the infantry line the breast
works peeping over the parapet walls with their “ eves
all sot” fora “greaser.” So you see we are all ready
for duty, and when the work’s done I’ll drop you a
line, unless a line shot drops me; in which case, “I
take this opportunity to assure your excellency of the
continuance of my high consideration.”
“God and Liberty.”
Fort Harney, Brazos, March 6, 1847.
t Editors of the Picayune —ln the absence of any
i thing like authentic information from above, we have
i many runiors and somcof them are exceedingly un
pleasant. Nothing has been heard from Gen. Taylor
f since the 22d, except from Mexicans, and little reli
ance can be placed upon their statements. On the
22d Gen. Taylor was attacked by the Mexican army
in force of about 15,000, at Agua Nueva, twenty miles
beyond Saltillo. Gen. Taylor fell back on Saltillo,
* and there another engagement took place, with severe
loss to the Mexican army. Gen. Taylor ordered eve
rything to be destroyed which could not be taken
along, and fell hack to the Rinconada, twenty-five
! miles this side of Saltillo, at which pass a body ofsooo
Mexicans were stationed. The movements of Gen.
Taylor this side of Agua Nueva are Mexican accounts,
as also the rumor of Capt. McCulloch and company
I being taken prisoners, and the capture of the train of
120 wagons. The latter is believed to be true at this
j place. Col. Morgan left Cerralvo destroying the sup
-1 plies which he could not take with him, and it is said
that he and his detachment were taken prisoners near
' Monterey.
i Everything is conjecture in relation to what has
; happened to Gen. Taylor and our little army, in con
sequence of all communications between Camargo and
Monterey being cut off. It is evident that in conse
quence of so much of Gen. Taylor’s force being with
* drawn from him for other operations, he is in an ex
tremely critical position.
The 2d Mississippi Regiment has arrived at Mata
moros, and one hundred and fifty volunteers from
North Carolina arrived here to-day.
Fortifications were thrown around the public stores
at the mouth of the river on the 2d, and the same was
done here on the 3d, in consequence of rumors that a
large force of Mexican cavalry had crossed the river
this side of Matamoros.
This place is under martial law. Capt. G. Porter,
of the Ist Artillery, has command of the post, and
Capt. Churchill has charge of the artillery. The
quartermaster’s men, numbering about 500, are arm
ed and held in readiness. Last night an attack was
expected, from information received in the evening,
but nothing appeared.
On the evening that the fortification was finished our
flag was run up, a salute fired, and the place named
Fort Harney.
Col. Harney left yesterday with the balance of his
command for Lohos. Yours, &c.
Relief to Ireland*
We take pleasure in publishing the Report
of the Relief Committee for Ireland. We
hope that they may be enabled from time to
time, to continue to report progress in terms
equally creditable to our community, and to all
others who have united with it in this noble
charity.— Constitutionalist.
The Committee in this city have collected up to this
time 82,354j|35
They have received from the citizens of
Warrenton 105 25
Also from Mr. G. Griffin, being amount of
subscription of Locust Grove, Raytown,
Crawfordville,[and their vicinities 416 25
82,875 85
They have ilso received a donation in Corn from a
gentleman ol i> i. hmond county, of 200 bushels, and
have and are receiving from Atlanta, Penfield, Athens,
and other places in the interior of our state, Corn,
Flour, &c., which will make the whole quantity, it
is supposed, equal to 1,000 bushels.
I John Bonbs, Chairman Committee.
Commodore Conner. —The United Sates
Gazette states that Commodore Conner on his
I return from the Gulf Squadron, in the coiu
mand of which he has been relieved by Com
modore Perry, will demand a court of Inquiry
for the purpose of showing that his inaction has
been occasioned by the neglect ofthe Govern
ment, in not furnishing him with small vessels.
The Three Millions.— The Mississip
pi which sailed on the 7th instant, car
; r *ed out full instructions to Mr. Black, our
: Consul at the City of Mexico, in consequence
; of which Mr. Black will announce to the Mex
| ican Government the contents of the Three
i Millions Bill, with a view of expressing to the
j Mexicans our desire for a speedy and honorable
peace. This is given on the authority of the
W ashington correspondent of the New York
I Journal of Commerce.
A destructive fire occurred in Bradford (Pa.)
on the 12th inst., which destroyed twenty build
ings in the business part of the town. The fire
originated in the store of N. N. Betts and ex
tended very rapidly so as to destroy property
to the amount of from $60,000 to SBO,OOO.
Naval. —The bomb-ketch AEtna sailed from
Boston on Saturday for the Gulf. She carries
out a big gun, which is t/ngun, for the arrival
of which, the attack on the Castle of San Juan
d’Ulua has been delayed.
The expense ofthe Alms House of the city ol
New-York is $350,000 a year.
