Newspaper Page Text
From California.
The following letter from San Francisco is
taken from the N. O. Delta, and is well worth
reading:
Sax Francisco. Dec. 1, 1849.
Dear Delta: My last letter to you was writ
ten on first landing, and before I could get time
to examine and report on the present condition,
or future prospects of this little village of thirty
thousand inhabitants. A stranger entering this
harbor for the first time, cannot but be perfect
jy astonished, 01 , as a sailor would say, “taken
all aback,” at seeing the. vast number of ves
sels, of all maratirne nations on the globe, lying
in this port : and will be still more surprised at
the size and handsome appearance of the ho
tels and warehouses in the city—especially
those facing on the public square, or “Main
Plaza,” as the Mexicans insist on calling it-
1 inclose you a wood-cut of the city, sketched
and engraved bj a workman employed in the
Pacific News office. The view is, in my opin
ion, the poorest that could possibly have been
selected. It does not show a third part of the
city, and gives a very meagre idea of the num
ber of vessels in port. 1 know, of my own
knowledge, (having counted them this morning,
from the summit of Mount Washington,) that
there are, at the present time, more than three
hundred vessels, of from twenty-five to fifteen
hundred tons, (exclusive of naval vessels,) now
lying in the Port of San Francisco. Besides
the Panama line of steamers, there is the Sen
ator, Lawrence, McKim and Mint, all running
from this to Sacramento City and Stockton, and
they are all coining money.
I send you a sheet from the Alta California
office,containing all the arrivals at this port for
months.
The British bark Collooney, from Oregon via
Vancouver’s Island, with a load of lumberfrom
the former place, has been seized by the Col
lector,for a violation of the revenue laws of the
United States, in being engaged in the coasting
trade between American ports.
I have just heard of the death, a few weeks
since, at Stockton, of a former contributor to
the Delta, that fine scholar and nohle-hearted
man. Captain Tobin. Alas’ his lamp of life is
extinguished, and though the grave holds his
mortal remains, his memory will survive in
many hearts. Let that whieh was good in him
who has passed away, remain with us, and his
faults, of which nothing human is devoid, he
hurled in the past. With many others he came
to California with bright prospects and ardent
hopes, which death has blasted, and he now
lies,
“Where hundreds fallen, their labors nndonp,
Bv the vapors that curl round Nevada’s red sun.”
With regard to society here, it is “good of
the kind, being ail, or nearly all, of the mascu
line gender, and a more quiet, orderly city can
not be found in the world, than San Francisco
at this time. It is a matter of great surprise,
too, to persons when they first arrive here, that
there is so little drunkenness, where spirits are
retailed at every coiner of the street. There
are two Courts here—the Alcalde’s, Judge J.
W. Geary presiding, and the Court of First In
stance, where his Honor, W. B. Almond, deals
out justice by the yard ; or rather sends the
jury into the back-yard to do justice. I hap
pened in the other day, just as he was conclu-
a brief charge to the jury in some civil
action, which he wound up as follows, verbatim:
“Gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the
evidence, heard the pleadings of counsel; I have
just told you the law, or rather, the absence of
any law on the subject, and now you will please
retire to the back-yard, and do the ‘clean thing’
between these parties.” “Mr. Clerk, what is
the next case on the docket ?” The court-room
is about twenty.five feet square, and is occu
pied for a debtor's jail, calaboose, watch-house,
and Court of First Instance. The Alcalde’s
court-room is only about half the size of this,
and is used also as a record office. All the crim
inal cases coine before this tribunal, and if there
is not so much law, there is more justice, here
than in the States ; and, moreover, less tardi
ness in its administration.
I was greatly amused, the other day, while
attending Court at Stockton, by a remark of
Judge Belt, while a criminal case was being
tried. The counsel for the defendant was urg
ing upon the Court the consideration of some
question of law, when his Honor interrupted
him by remarking: “What the Devil is the
use, sir, for you to tell me what is the law,
when it conflicts with rny ideas of justice ”
The accommodations at the Customhouse,
here, are much better than at the Post Office.
It takes about three days after the steamer ar
rives, to get a letter from the office. For a week
after the arrival of the mail, you can see a line
formed at daylight Irora both delivery windows
of the office, stretching down the hill for a
quarter of a mile, waiting their turns. 1 have
seen a poor devil, who perhaps had not heard
from home and friends for six mouths or a year,
get “into line” in the morning, perhaps, and,
after standing there all day, without his dinner,
find himself at night, within a rod or two of the
window, when the office is closed for the night.
It is not at ail uncommon to see a man give
someone who is pretty close up, five, ten, and
even twenty-five dollars for his chance ; and
then perhaps not get a letter. It is a matter
ofspeculation with some loafers, to take a pock
et full of bread and cheese and go into the tile
early in the morning, without the most distant
idea of getting a letter, and then sell out their
chance along in the afternoon, and repeat the
same game, day after day, during the “rush.”
The office is closed on Sundays, as will also be
all the gambling houses altf'r this week, by
special ordinance of the City Council.
There are at present three churches in the
city, the Episcopal, Methodist and Baptist, which
are all well attended. It seems like niv own
New England home, to hear the sound of the
“church-going hell” every Sabbath, ami see the
people gathering to the house of prater, where
all sinful thoughts are banished and all worldly
passions hushed in holy rest. To see, in a
rough country like this, where there is such a
pushing and scrambling in the golden race—
where, it would seem to you at home, time could
not be found to attend to the affairs of the sou!—
to see devout hearts raised in prayer and praise
to God—to see eyes looking up to the bright
heavens full ot penitence and humble faith, is
indeed a Heavenly picture ! There goes the
rich speculator in city lots : see him enter the
door of the sanctuary, consecrated to the wor
ship of the Great Creator and Father of us all.
Now he kneels, and from the sacred altar of his
heart holy aspirations are rising to the Throne
of the Eternal! Listen! the voice of solemn
prayer is heard, and God is praised by the mu
sic of many voices, attuned to divine harmonies.
Ihe word of inspiration is read, and the rich
man listens with that earnest attention and de
votion that would seem to lav up every word as
a Heavenly treasure in the heart. Is his heart
filled with humble penite.nce, and heavenly love,
and holy rapture 1 Does the sweet spirit of
Christian charity brood over it 1 His eye glances
out at the window. Do you see that smile of
more than mortal pleasure that now lights tip
his countenance ? Can you read that face and
fathom that rich man’s thoughts? Are not all
sinful thoughts, all unholy desires, all mad and
revengeful passions, and grasping avarice, and
sinful pride, and worldly vanity, are they not
hushed? And is his heart not purified, warmed
and melted? What caused that pleasant smile,
think you, reader ? I will tell you, for I know
the man. He. is thinking of the auction sale of
the city lots , that takes place, in front of the Al
calde's office, in Portsmouth Square, to-morrow
forenoon ! He is a rich man. When he came
here, one year ago, he had but ten dollars in the
world. Now he is worth two hundred thousand,
and considered a good Christian, because he
helped to build the church.
Where one man is thus successful, hundreds
—yea, thousands, lose all the means they
brought with them to California, and lost health
besides. And, by the way, this reminds me that
1 saw the “telegraph man,” from Baton Hogue,
the other day. lie tells me that when he
got on shore here, about five weeks ago, he had
but twenty.five cents in the world ; and what
was worse than all—it was nearly sundown, and
the cheapest lodging in the city was tiro dollars
a night, and must be paid in advance! What
do you think he did ? I will tell you. He be
stowed a thought on home and the comforts he
had left there, and on the warm friends from
whom he had so lately separated, and this was
his supper—and the briny drops that stole scald
ing down his cheeks were his drink ; and he
lay down upon the cold ground in Portsmouth
Square, and . No; he did not sleep ! but
he wept in agony his folly in coining to Califor
nia ! He was up at break of day ; and a man
whom he never before saw, hearing him in
quire for work, that he might earn his breakfast,
asked him if he was willing to work, and upon
being answered in the affirmative, the gentle
man immediately bought a handcart, that was
for sale, close by, and told the “telegraph man”
to take it and commence making his fortune, and
when he had got the price of the cart that he
had no use for, to help the first poor fellow he
saw, who was willing to work ! ’Phis was on
Sunday morning; and in one hour he had earn
ed five dollars, which paid his expenses till Mon
day, when he commenced a regular business, as
l the handcart man, ’ earning from fifteen to thirty
dollars per day.
This, with a slight variation, would, perhaps,
be the beginning of thousands who have come
to this land of promise. I would say one word
to emigrants who land here without means—
Don’t be discouraged because you do not not
stumble upon a fortune the first day or week of
your arriv al, but go to work ! There is a digni
ty about labor here, that there is not in any oth
er county under the sun. Why, almost the first
man I met, on my arrival, was the Rev. Dr.
Farley ; under whose preaching I have sat for
years ; with a box under his arm, pedding pat
ent medicines about the streets ! He has now
got along so well in the world, as to open a eat
ing house, and tells me that he is doing well. J
also saw a few days ago, Col. Sanford, Aid to
the Governor, and Solicitor General of the State
of Georgia, engaged, at a dollar an hour, beat
mg a bass drum, to call people together at an
auction ! This is a great country ; and, mark
my words, there will be a greater emigration
here next year than ever bofore.
There has been discoveries made in the mi
ning districts, of the gold bearing quartz, that
have not only startled every body here, but will
set the whole world iit commotion. I should
not be at all supprised to see one-tenth part of
the male population of the United States here, in
the space of two years.
As there is no certainly of newspapers ever
reaching you from here, with the present mail
arrangements, I cut an article from the Pacific
News of yesterday and inclose it here. I know
that Messrs. King and Wright gave the informa
tion containing in it.
The mail is closing, so— Vale,
BOSTON.
THE SOUTHERN SENTINEL
THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 17, I*so.
Apology for our Carrier.— Those of our
city patrons who have not been regularly served
with the Sentinel, will please notify us, and the
difficulty will be remedied. We have anew
carrier who has not yet learned the route per
fectly.
Muscogee Superior Court- -The adjourn,
ed term of which commenced its session in this
city on Wednesday the 9th inst., has been ad
journed, in consequence of the indisposition of
Judge Alexander, to the regular term in May
next. This adjournment has been most reluc
tantly determined upon by the presiding Judge,
after the representation of his attending physi
cian, that an effort to continue the session of the
court during this inclement season, might in
volve serious personal consequences to himself.
A Rich Musical Treat.—Mr. and Madame
Leapi, w ith the other members of their celebra
ted Operatic Troupe, will be in our city on
Tuesday evening next. Those who have once
heard these vocalists need not be invited to at
tend ; to those w’ho have never had that pleas
ure, we give fair warning that such opportuni
ties do not occur often in a life-time.
Senator Clemexs of Alabama.—What say
our W hig triends to the Resolutions which have
been introduced ii to the Senate by this Hon.
gentleman, calling for information as to Execu
tive interference in the organization of the Cali
fornia and New Mexico territorial governments ?
Wc may have done Mr. Clemens injustice a t
the time of his election, in giving credence to.
the reports quite rife in this section, that he had
sold himself to the Whigs for the purpose of se
curing a seat in the Senate ; we hope we did.
But if it is true that the Whigs made an oper
ation of that sort, we are slightly of the impres.
sion that they have been left with the bag to
hold. His recent movements on the floor of the
Senate, indicate any thing else but an amicable
understanding with the President.
§IDmTTSO iB SO §§EDTT DEI lIL „
The Jurisdiction of Congress over the
Territories.
There is perhaps not a reader of the Sentinel
who does not understand the nature of what is
called the Wiimot Proviso. If, however, there
be one, it is a sufficient explanation to say, that
it is a law to exclude the institution of slavery
from the Territories belonging to the United
States. As to the propriety of such a law there
is but one opinion at the South ; we are all uni
ted in the belief that such a measure would be
unjust to the South, and violative of that equal
ity which ought to he maintained between the
several members of this confederacy. Upon
the right or power of Congress to enact such a
law however, there is unfortunately a diversity
of opinion even here, and at the North it is
sanctioned by the almost unanimous sentiment
of the people. This, then, is the only question
involved in the grave issue now so fearfully ag
itating the country. The question is one of
constitutional law, and as such involves points
upon which the honest minds of men may dif
fer. We are not, therefore, disposed to de.
nounce as traitors, every Southern man whose
conclusions on this subject ma\ differ with out
own. We believe they are in error, who hold
to the doctrine that Congress may rightfully
pass such a law, and we believe they maybe
cenvinced of their error. If, however, after all
the elucidation which argument may throw on
this question, it is still maintained that the pow.
er belongs to the general g< vein merit, \v can
but regret the difference, and hope that wiser
counsels may prevail.
We recognize but one source of Congrcs- j
sional authority, and that source is the consti.
tution. Whatever power that instrument dele- \
gates, Congress may properly exercise, hut it ’
is not true that Congress may do whatever that
instrument does not prohibit. No power is in
herent in the general government, because be
ing itself a creature of the individual State sov
ereignties of which it is composed, it possesses
no rights, except those with which it has been
invested. It is in this particular that the feder
al Congress differs from all other governments,
for whereas ordinarily the law making power
of a State, is invested with that ultimate sover
eignty, which knows no other limit to its au
thority than its own discretion, our Legislature
is circumscribed in its action, by the clearly as
certained barriers of the constitution. In as
certainiug. therefore, the power which belongs
to the general government, we are to look
alone to the constitution, and by that test sole
ly is to be tried the right of Congress to pass
any particular law. And here we might confi- ;
dentiy rest the defence of the South in this 1
question, and challenge those who dispute the !
correctness of the position, to point to that
clause of the constitution which authorizes the
enactment of the Wiimot Proviso. No such
expressly delegated authority is claimed, but the
right is implied from that provision of the con
stitution which gives to Congress the power to
“dispose of and make all needful rules and reg
ulations respecting the territory or other prop
erty belonging to the United States.” We do
not recollect ever to have heard the constitu
tionality ol the Wiimot Proviso, attempted to be
deduced from any other clause of that instru
ment. Let us, therefore, briefly analyze the
meaning of this passage.
We defy any dispassionate mind to examine
critically the words of the foregoing clause,
without coming to the conclusion that it has ref
erence solely to the public property of the Union,
and was intended alone as a grant of the power
necessary to its management in that sense. We
cannot understand how its meaning can be tor
tured into a delegation of any political authority
whatever. But again we remark, that in as
much as the Territory is put exactly upon the
same tooting with all other property belonging
to the United States, the inference is perfectly
legitimate, nay it is irresistible, that Congress is
by its provisions, permitted to make no law in
respect to the one, which it could not with equal
right pass, as to the other. If Congress can
therefore pass a law constituting the territory,
free soil, and by virtue thereof convert all slaves
into freemen the moment they entered within it.
limits, it may with equal authority, enact a law
by which the bonds of slavery arc loosed from
every negro the moment he treads upon the flooi
of the public Arsenals and Navy Yards within
the limits ol the slave States. For are not these,
as much as the territory, the public property of
the Union, and if in the exercise of the unlimited
sovereignty, which is claimed for it, Congress
may prohibit slavery in the one, it may with
equal right exclude it from the other. The same
argument might be applied, and, with equal
force, to the public domain now lying undisposed
ot in some of the Southern States; Alabama,
for instance. It will not do to reply to this ar
gument that the political jurisdiction over this
public property is vested in the States in which
it lies ; for if it be true that the clause before
recited, secures to Congress the right to legis
late politically over this property, then the au
thority by which the States claim that jurisdic
tion, is adverse to the constitutional rights of
Congress, and of course, null and void. And
now, w’ho supposes that the general government
may constitutionally apply the principles of the
. Wiimot Proviso to all the Arsenals and Dock
Yards, and Barracks and public lauds, lying
within the Southern States? And yet where is
! the difference between these and the Territories,
so far as any pow-or which Congress derives from
this clause, is concerned.
But again. Admit for the sake of argument
that the power conferred by this provision, is po
litical in its objects. The argument which de
duces the constitutionality of the Wiimot Proviso
from the grant of power thereiu contained, is ,
predicated of the idea that the general govern. ;
rnent is thereby invested with absolute and un
limited political supremacy over the territories, j
But we deny that Congress can possess any such j
supremacy. The general government is only
supreme within the limits prescribed by the con
stitution. The question then finally resolves it
self into this, even admitting to Congress the po- 1
litical jurisdiction of the territories under this
clause, is the. question of slavery one that legit- j
imately comes under its authority either in the j
territories or elsewhere? We think not. Can !
Congress pass an ex post facto law for Califor- j
nia? Can it pass a bill of attainder? Can it :
confer a title of nobility there ? Can it estab- j
lish a religion there ? By no means ; but why ? j
If the general government possesses this abso- ;
lute supremacy over the territories, why may it j
not rightfully exercise these natural prerogatives
of sovereignty ? The answer is ready in the
mouth of every one, because by the Constitution ,
these, arc questions which Congress cannot touch.
With equal readiness and with as much confi
dence, we place the question of slavery in the
same category. True, we can not point to equal
ly explicit prohibitions of the Constitution, but
the history of this Union ; the struggles and
concessions in the adoption of the Constitution ;
the genius of our institutions; the spirit of its
laws, all indicate with as much certainty, as a re,
iterated declaration of the letter could, that this
question was to be held sacred, and aloof from
the agitation of sectional controversy in the
Halls of Congress.
It is upon this basis that we would place the
rights of the South in this issue. We deny to
Congress the power to legislate on the ques
tion at all, not less in the States than in the
Territories. Congress may exercise the su
preme, the exclusive jurisdiction over the Dis
trict of Columbia and over the Territories, but
the institution of slavery is a question which
does not come within that jurisdiction.
The Morrissoniaii System of Grammar.
We invite the attention of our readers to the ad
vertisement of Mr. Isaiah Morris, in another col- j
until. We have had the pleasure of a conversation j
with Mr. Morris, in which he briefly acquainted |
us with the general features of the new system of
Grammar, of which he is the author. This sys- i
tein consists principally in the simplification and ;
reduction to principles of reason and common
sense, the old unmeaning divisions and classifi- j
cations of Grammar. The senseless technical- j
ities of Murray, and the classifications which
had been borrowed mainly from the Latin lan
guage w ithout the reason which sanctioned them
in that tongue, have been discarded, and in their
stead, Mr. Morris has introduced an almost en
tirely different subdivision of its parts, as well i
as a different nomenclature. His plan is origin- 1
al, and its great excellencies are its simplicity,
its reasonableness, and its adaptation to the minds
of the young. Once learned, his system is
learned forever, because its comprehension is
the work of reason and not of memory. We
have no doubt of its superiority over the old
plan, and we confidently predict that it will im
mediately supplant the old method of teaching
this important branch of an English education.
We had been accustomed to regard Grammar as j
one of the sciences which had reached its ulti- j
rnatum, and about as soon expected to see its
overthrow by anew system, as we did its old
colleague, Arithmetic; but that Mr. Morris has !
demonstrated its absurdity and will supplant it, j
w r e have not a doubt, and we think anyone who j
will examine his system will agree with us. He :
has made arrangements with all the principal |
schools about the city and vicinity, and if it is j
agreeable to the patrons, he will take a class in j
each one of them.
Mar vland Senator.— The Baltimore Sun j
announces the election of Ex-Governor Thom
as G. Pratt to fill the vacancy in the U. S.
Senate, occasioned by the resignation of the
Hon. Reverdy Johnson, and also for the full
term commencing on the 4th of March, 1851. i
Tub Legislature. —Both branches of the I
Legislature convened yesterday, in their respec
tive chambers. Several new- bills were intro
duced. The members manifest a disposition to
enter at once upon the business before them,
( ind to dispose of it as early as practicable.
. • Federal Union.
Our Book Tabic.
Graham’s Magazine. —Graham is decided- !
ly ahead of all his competitors. The January
number is the most perfect specimen of literary
and artistic beauty that we have ever seen, Ifany
of our Baders u-ant a three dollar magazine,
send the name, accompanied w ith $3, to Samuel
D. Peterson dc Cos., 93 Chestnut Street, Phila
delphia, and if they are not satisfied, we will
take the bargain off* their hands.
The Southern Literary Messenger.—
We have received the January number of this ;
popular Monthly. This is the oldest literary j
periodical in the Sotith, and certainly deserves,
as we hope it receives, a large subscription list
among Southern readers. Unlike most of its
contemporaries, the Messenger lives by its in
trinsic merit, and not by the wholesale system of,
puffing, so indiscriminately resorted to in this
day. It has among its contributors some of the
ablest intellects and most popular w riters of the
country. Its columns are well supplied with
contributions of sterling worth, and diversified
with original tales and political articles of genu
ine merit.
Congress.
Mr. Campbell, the late Whig clerk, has at
length been elected clerk of the House, receiv.
ing 112 votes. Nothing of interest in the way
of legislation has as yet transpired. Various
resolutions have been introduced, and animated
discussions have sprung up on them. Those
touching the slavery question, and our rela
tions with Austria have been of most interest. |
We shall, at an early day, present our readers
with a series of letters from the Federal City, j
fiom the pen of one of the ablest correspon
dents at the Capital.
The Nicaragua Difficulty.
The President in his recent message to Con
gress was pleased to announce that “our rela
tions with Great Britain were of the most friend,
ly character.” We confess that we are at a loss
in attempting to reconcile this declaration with
certain developements, which have recently
transpired on the Pacific coast of central Ameri
ca. It is generally known that an American
company has contracted with the Nicaragua gov
ernment for the right to construct a ship canal
across that country from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific ocean. That right has subsequently been
secured by a treaty belween the United States
and Nicaragua. This canal will enter a Bay
on the Pacific coast, called the bay of Fonseca,
which is entirely commanded by Tigre Island.
By a treaty which Mr. Squier, our charge to Nic
aragua, has recently effected with that power,
this island has been ceded to the United States,
thus securing to this government a most impor
tant advantage in the use of this inter-oceanic
communication. In the meantime the cupidity
of Great Britain has been excited by our good
fortune, and the inventive faculty of John Bull’s
grasping avarice has been taxed for a pretext for
interfering in the arrangement. The demand
was not made in vain, and that government now
comes forward with her accustomed arrogance
and in the name of the Musquito King, lays
claim to a part of the country at the Atlantic ter
minus of the Canal which was known to be in
dispensable to the completion of the work. Biq
the outrage does not stop here. This pretext
was known to be insufficient, and another obsta
cle must be thrown in the way. Accordingly,
under the instructions of that country, the British
authorities have forcibly taken possession of Ti
gre Island, notwithstanding they had been noti
tied of the cession by which it had passed into the
hands of this government. Thus matters stood
at the time the message was transmitted to Con
gress, and these are the relations which are de
scribed as of the “most friendly character.” It is
true, the letter writers at Washington city speak
of an early adjustment of the whole affair. In.
deed, the correspondent of the N. Y. Herald goes
so far as to say that it is so near a settlement
that it may be regarded as no longer trouble,
some, and this information is intended to be cor
roborated by revelation of despatches which have
recently been received by the Secretary of State.
We hope this statement may prove to be
but yet we can not see with what propriety our
relations with Great Britain can be said to be of
so amicable a nature so long as this delicate
question is the subject of negotiation.
We admire the pacific policy of Gen. Taylor’s
administration as previously indicated by all
that he has said on the subject of our foreign re
lations, and we shall never hesitate in supporting
him in carrying out that policy, so long as in do
ing so, he does not compromit the honor and the
interests of the country. But we can not, in obe
dience to that policy, lose sight of the respect
which belongs to our country. Nor do we be
lieve that a spirit of indifference to the honor o (
American prowess is by any means the sures t
guaranty of peace. The American Eagle has
never yet quailed in the vindication of the re
spect which belongs to it, and never until we re
cede from the lofty position which lias been as
signed us in the scale of national honor, will any
foreign power long persist in encroachment up
on our rights.
P. S.—Since writing the above, our attention
has been called to the following extract from the
correspondence of the N. Y. Express. We are
pleased to see that Mr. Bulwer disclaims for his
government the acts of Mr. Chatficld, the Eng
lish agent, in the seizure of Tigre Island.
Washington, Jan. 6.
Tiie Nicaragua Question. —The British
Minister has already opened negotiations with
the United States Secretary of Stale upon the
subject of his mission. The Nicaragua ques
tion will no doubt be amicably settled—the right
of way for a ship canal will be guarantied both
by the United States and Great Britain, and Sir
Henry Lytton Bulwer will disavow Mr. Chat
field’s acts on the coast of Honduras, respecting
Tigre Island, &c. There is every reason to be
lieve, that there is the best understanding be
tween the two Governments, and a determina
tion on the part of both to keep the peace.
Georgia Conference. —Just as we are go
ing to press we received the appointments of
the Preachers for 1850. We have only time
te announce those for this station and circuit.
Rev. Sam’l Anthony, P. E. s os Columbus Dis
trict ; Rev. Lovick Pierce, and Jos. S Key,
Columbus station. Mission to blacks to bp sup
plied ; Rev. Dan’l Kelsey, Muscogee Circuit.
Cotton Market.
Columbus, Jan. 17.— Our Cotton Market is very an
imated, and every tiling offered meets with ready sale.—
Quotations yesterday from 10J to 11J.
Telegraphed for the Savannah Georgian.
14 Days Later from Europe.
ARRIVAL OF THE CANADA AT HALIFAX.
Baltimore, Monday Morning, Jan. 14th.
The stea mer Canada arrived at Halifax yesterday
morning, and brings accounts to the ’29th December.
Liverpool Cotton Market.
Cotton advanced a farthing since the departure of
the Cambria. Quotations, Fair Uplands 6| ; Mobile
6J ; Orleans SJ. The week’s sales are not given
but the market closed with an upward tendency.
Political.
A formidable issurrection has broken out in Ser
via. Oiip hundred thousand men are in arms. The
troops are deserting from Austria. The English
Parliament assembles on the 3d February. There
is nothing else of moment.
Telegraphed for the Baltimore American.
Important News from California—-The Election.
New York, Jan. 10,7 P. M.
The State election is over and fifteen thousand
votes were cast. Feter H. Burnett has been elected
Governor, and John McDougald, Lieutenant Gover
nor, George W. Wright and Edward Gilbert have
been elected Representatives to the United States.—
They are all Democrate. There is nothing yet de
ceive as regards United States Senators.
George Washington La Fayette, the son
of Gen. L., and in early life an adopted son and
member of the family of Gen. Washington, died
at La Grange, in France, on the Ist of Decern,
ber.
Mike Hooter’s Bar Story.
A Yazoo Sketch —No. 11.
Showing how the Bear outwitted Ike Ilumberlin.
It’s nonuse talkin’, said Mike, ‘bout your Polar
Bar and Grisly Bar and all that sort er vannont what
you read about. They ain’t no whar, for the big
black customer that c ire urn locates down in our neck
o’ woods beats’ ’em all hollow. Pve heard of some
monsos explites kicked up by the brown Bars, sicli
as totein off a yoke o’ oxen an eaten humans raw-,
and all that kind o’ thing ; and Capon 1 airy telLs us
a yarn ’bout a bi* white bar what ’muses hlsself clw
min up the North Bole and slides dov n to keep his
hide warm ; but all that aint a circumstance to what
I’ve saw. , , . ,
Yon see, continued Mike, there s no countm on
them varmonts as I’s been usened to, for they comes
as i.etr bein’ human critters as anything l ever see
what doesn’t talk. Why, it you was to hear any
body else tell ’bout the bar-fights Ive had. v**it
wouldn't b’ieeve ’em, and it 1 wasn t a preacher an
couldn’t never lie notu*. Pd keep my fly-trap shot
’tell the day ot judgment.
I’ve heard folks say as how that Bars cant think
like other human critters, and that, they does ail the
sly tricks what they does from instink. . Golly !
wiiat a lie ! You tell me one of ’em don t know
when you’ve got a gun and an when you aint ? Just
wait a minit, an my privit ’pinion is when you’ve
hearn me through you'll talk tother side of your
mouth.
You see, one day, long time ago, fore breeches
come in fashion,! made a ’pointment with Ike llani
berlin the steam doctor, to go out next Sunday to
seek whom we couldn’t kill a Bar, tor you know ba
con was skace and so was money, a fid them fellers
down in Mechanicsburg vvould'nt sell on “tick,” so
we had had to ’pend on the varmints lor a liv in.
SSpeakin’ of Mechanicsburg, tiie peop'e down in
■ that ar mud-hole ain't to he heat no where this side
lo’ Clirismas. I’ve hearn o’ mean folks in my time,
an’ I’ve preached ’bout ’em a tew ; but, ever senso
that feller Bounel sold me a pint of red eye whiskey
—an’ half ov it hacker juice—fur a coon-skin, ’an
then guv me a brass pickayune lur change, Pve
stoped talkin’. Why, that chap was closer than the
hark cm a hickory tree ; an’ es I hadn’t hearn Parson
Dilly say so, I’d ov swor it wesn’t er lac, he was
cotch one day Mealin’ acorns from a blind hog. Did
you ever hear how that boss fly died ? Well, never
mind. It was too bad to talk ’bout, but heap too good
for him.
But that ain't what 1 was spoutin’ ‘bout. As I
was savin’ afore, we had to ’pend on the varmint as.
lur a livin’. Well. Ike Ilainberiin, you see, was al
ways sorter juboiis o’ me, kuse I kilt more bar nor he
did ; ail’, as l was sayin’, I made a ’pintment with
Ike to go out huntin’, Then, Ike, he thought he'd
he kinder smart, and beat “Old Preach,* fas them
Cole boys usen to call me ;) so, as soon as day crack
lie hollered up his puppies, an’ put! I spied what he
was ’bout, fur I hearn him laffin’ to one o’ his nig
gers ’bout it the night afore—so, I told my gal Sal to
till my privit tickler full o’ the old “.raw,” and then
fixed up an’ tramped on arter him, but didn’t take
none o’ niy dogs. Ike hadn’t got fur into the cane,
’lore the dogs they ’gin to whine an’ turn up the bat
on ther backs ; an’, bime by, they all tucked tail, an’
sorter sidled back to whar lie was stallin’. “Sick
him !” says Ike. but the cussed critters wouldn’t hunt
a lick. 1 soon diskivered what was the matter, for I
kalkilated them curs o’ liisn wasn’t worth shucks in a
bar tight—so, 1 know'd lhar was bar ’bout, if 1 didn't
see no sine.
Well, Ike he coaxed the dogs, an’ the more he
coaxed the more they wouldn’t go, an’ when he found
coaxin’ wouldn’t do, then lie scolded an’ called ’em
some o’ the hardest names ever you hearn, (sich as
“son-of-er-bitch” an’sich like,) but the tarnation cjit
ters wouldn't budge a peg. When lie tound they
wc uluii’t hunt no how lie could fix it, he begin a cus
sin’. lie ilidn’t know I was thar. If he had er sus
pici rned it. he’d no more .-wore than he’d er dar'd to
kiss my Sail on er washin’ day ; lor you see both on
us blunged to the same church, an’ Ike was class
leader. 1 thought I should er flummoxed! The
dogs they sidled back, an’ Jke he cussed; an’ I lay
down an’ rolled an’ laughed sorter easy to myself,
’til I was so full I thought I should er burst my Idler !
1 never see enny thing so funny in all my life!—
There was I lavin’dow n behind erlng, fit to split, an’
there was tiie dogs with ther tails the wrong eend
down, an’ there was Ike a rarin’ an’ er pitchin’—er
rippin an’ er tarrin’—an* er cussin’ wus n->r a steam
boat cap’ll ! I tell you it fairly made my har’ Man*
on eend ! I never see er customer .so riled afore in
all my born clays ! yes 1 did 100, once—only once.—
It was that teller Arch Coody what usen to oversee
lor old Ben Roach. Didn’t you know that ar’ boss
ily ! lie’s a few 1 well he is. Jevvhilliken, how he
could whip or'nigger! andswar!! whew! Didn’t
you ever hear him swar ! I tell you, all the srnkirs
an’ French parrots in Orleans ain’t a patchin’to him
I hearn him let hisself out one day, an’ I pledge my
word he cussed’ ’miff to send twenty preachers like
old Jo Slater an’ Parson Ilolcom an’ them kind er
Jewdases rigid kerpltimpus into hell—an’ what vyas.
wns, it was all ’bout nothin’, fur he warn’t man a
wrinkle. But all that aint neither here nor lhar.—
But, as I was er savin’ afore, the dogs they smelt
bar sine, an’ wouldn't budge a peg, air arter ike had
ahnost cussed Hie bark oITn a dogwood saplin’ hr,
he ie'nt his old Hint lock rifle up agin it, and then lie
peeled otl’his old blanket an* laid her down, too. I
diskiver tnischiel was er cumin-, fur I never seen crit
ter show w rat by like lie did. Torecly 1 see him walk
down to the creek bottom, ‘bout fifty yards Irom whar
his gun was, and then he ‘gin pickiu* up rocks an“
slingin* ‘lira at the dogs like bringer ! Cracky ! didn't
he linkit into ‘uuY? It minded me o‘ David wlialin,
Goliah, it did ! Ij you'd er seen him. an* hearn them’
holler, you’d er thought he‘d er knock'd the nigh
sites off-n every bitch's son of'em ! But that aint the
fun yet. While Ike was er lammin’ the dogs, I hearn
the alltiredest crackin’ in the cane, an* 1 lookedupg
•nd thar was one of the elernalest whollopin baset
cumin', crack, crack, through the cane an’ kersl e.-ls
over the creek,air stopped right plumb slap up anin
whar Ike's gun was. Torectly he tuk hold er or,
ole shooter, an’ I thought I see him tinkerin’ ‘bout
the lock an* kinder whislin’ an’ (dewin’ into it. I
was ‘stonished, I tell you, but I wanted to see Ike
outdone so bad that I lay low an’ kepdark, an’ in a>
bout a ininit Ike got done lickin’ the dogs an’ went to
git his gun. Jecineny, criminy!—if you'd only bin
whar I was! Ido think Ike was the madest man
that ever stuck an axe into a tree, tor his har stuck
rite strait up. and his eyes glared like two dogwood
blossoms ! But the bar didn't, si em to care shucks
for him, for lie jis sot tlm old rifle rite back agin the
saplin', and walked off on his hind legs jist like any
human. Then, yoo see, I gin to get sorter jealous,
air sez I to inyself, Mister Bar. sez I, the place whar
vow's er stallin’ aint prezacly healthy, air if you don't
wabble off from thar purty soon, Misses Bar will he a
widder, by gum ! With that. Ike grabbed up ole
Misses Rifle, and tuk most pertick'er aim at him and
by hokey, she snapped ! Now sez 1. Mister Bar, go
it. or he-ll make bacon of you ! But the varmint
didn't wink, hut stood still as a post, with the thumh
of his right paw on the pend of his smeller, and wig
lin his pother fingers thus—and Mike went through
with the gyration. All this time Ike, he stood thar
like a fool, er snappin and er snappin, an the har ho
lookin kinder rpiare like, out er the corner o’ his eye
an sorter larfin at him. Torectly I spe Ike take down
the ole shooter, and kinder kersamine the lock, an
when he done that, he laid her on his shoulder and
shuk his fist at the bar, and walk to'ard home, an
the bar he shuk his fist, and went into the cane break
aud then I cum off.
Here all the Yazoo boys expressed great anxiety
to know the reason why Ike’s gun didn’t fire ! Lot’s
licker fust, said Mike, an if yoa don’t all caterpillar,
you can shoot me. Why, you see, concluded he, the
long and short of it is this, that the bars in our neck
o’ woods has somethin uv the human in uin, an this
feller know’d as dfiuch about er gun as I do ’boat
preachin, so wheh Ike was lickin the dogs he jest
blowed all the ponder outen the pan, and to make all
safe, he tuk the fljnt out too, and that’s the why he/
warjßt skeerd whein Ike was snappin at him- j
j Delta. I