Newspaper Page Text
Tbe article below, appeared in the N. York
Sunday Times, one of the ablest, and decidedly
the most Southern paper, published at the North.
We commend the aiticle to the attention of some
of our Southern editors, and the worthy Journal
from which it is extracted, to the patronage of
all our readers.
The Only Question.
To suppose that legislation in Congress will
flow through its regular and safe channels while
the slavery question remains unsettled, is to sup.
pose what is not probable or even possible.
The wheels of government are stopped, and
nothing is talked of in Washington but the sla
very question—the north insisting upon agitation
and tho south bent on resistance. Mr. Calhoun
indulges in no hope ; and yet this question most
be definitely settled—not patched up. There
must be no legislation on the subject in Congress, i
No Wilmot proviso must be passed—the very >
name must not be whispered within the walls of
Congress. And why ? Because it is interdict- ‘
ed by the compromise >f the constitution, and [
Congress has no right to meddle with it at all. :
‘“But,” say the incendiary presses of the north,
“the south threatens to separate and to divide
the Union. The south are the agitators.” Not
so. What motive can the south have to desire
a separation, having always been the most devo
ted in all that pertained to the honor, the safety,
and the prosperity of the Union ? But if we
grossly violate her rights, wc drive her to any !
and every extremity which may follow. The j
question is not whether the south shall be per- j
initted to separate, but wheiher the north shall !
be allowed to goad, annoy, distress, and distract
the south on the question of slavery. If the
north will not protect the. south, but will permit
fanatics and political knaves to assail her, who is
in fault if a southern convention leads to this j
fearful result? We —we of the north—are alone j
to blame. We raise the incendiary torch. Is j
it to be tolerated that, amidst the glorious na- i
tional prosperity by which we are surrounded,
this accursed question should be permitted to di
vide and distract us ? Mho opinions and feelings
of the south on this question have always been
what they now ate. They assume no new
ground—it has always been the same. They
have always expressed themselves in the same
language as they do now in relation to this in
vasion of their rights. Twenty-four years ago,
when John Quincy Adams was anxious to send
ministers to the congress at Panama, to setttle,
among other measures, the position of Hayti,
Gen. Hayne, a senator from South Carolina,
and as pure and patriotic a man as any in that
body, used the following language in reference
to the slavery question which might grow out of
that mission. After referring to the cordial co
operation of tho south in suppressing the African
slave trade, he continued :
“On the slave question my opinion is this : I
consider our rights in that species of property as
not being open to discussion either here or else,
where ; and in respect to our duties (imposed by
our situation,) we are not to be taught them by
fanatics, religious or political. To call into
question our rights is grossly to violate them.
To attempt to instruct us on this subject is to in
sult us. M'o dare to assail our institutions is
wantonly to invade our peace. Let me solemn
ly declare, once for all, that the southern States
will never permit, and never can permit, any in
terference whatever in their domestic concerns ;
and that the very day on which the unhallowed
attempt shall be made by the authorities of the
federal government, we will consider ourselves
as driven from the Union.”
Tnis was said by a senator devoted to the
Union—not in anger, not in passion, not in a
spirit of defiance, but in a solemn, decided, and
impressive manner. Equally eloquent, firm, and
decisive was the language of another senator on
that very question—one who, alas ! has fallen
from his high estate on this very exciting topic.
Col. Benton said, in relation to that congress at
Panama and the Hayti question :
“Our policy, Mr. President, towards Hayti
has been fixed for three-and.thirty years. YVe
trade with her, but no diplomatic relations have
been established between us. YY’e receive no
mulatto consuls or black ambassadors from her.
And why? Because the peace of eleven states
in the Union will not permit the fruits of a suc
cessful negro insurrection to be exhibited
amongst them. It will not permit the fact to be
•ecn and told, that for the murder of their mas.
tors and mistresses they are to find friends
among the white people of the United States.
No, Mr. President, this is a question which has
been determined iikre for three.and-thirty years
—one which has never been open for discus
•on at home or abroad. I would not debate
whether my slave was my property, and 1 would
not go to Panama to ‘ determine the rights of
Hayti and of Africans .’ The intentions of the
agitators are wholly immaterial. The conse
quences will he the same to ns whether their de
signs be wicked or charitable. Knaves can
do nothing without dupes. The wicked w'mld
be harnilesss were it not for good men who
become their associates and instruments.”
After referring to the massacre at St. Domin
go and its dreadful results, Coi. Benton contin
ued :
“Are not the slaveholding states filled with
emissaries preaching doctrines which lead to
the same result? Has not a second Atiachasis
Clootz appeared in Pration, sent his petiou here,
and found a person in the speaker’s chair to pre
sent it to the House of Representatives, in which
the total destruction of all the slaveholding states
is recommended as a ‘ sublime measure ?’ ”
Thus spoke Col. Benton in the days of his
purity and patriotism. His arguments are
equally sound at this day. What, then, is the
remedy ? \\ hat is the compromise ? YY’hat
is the compromise f YY’hat does justice and in
tegrity, as well as humanity, require to settle
forever this most unfortunate and uncalled for
struggle and difficulty 7 It is, in the first in
stance, to pass the law now before the House
to enforce that provision in the constitution so
grossly and shamefully violated by the north in
relation to fugitive slaves. It was that protec.
tion in the constitution which induced the south
to come into the Union, and its violation is a di
rect invitation for the south to secede from that
Union. Again, Congress having no right, ex
pressed or implied, by the constitution to legis
late on slavery, the subject must be banished
from the councils of the nation. Again we say,
no AY i Imot proviso, no territorial restrictions, no
interference in relatii n to that institution, should
crer be permitted in Congress. the sub
ject alone—let the south alone—let slavery
alone. ‘Phis must be the cry by the yeomanry
of the north and by the friends of the Union ev
erywltere ; and the agitators and incendiaries,
wherever they may lie found—political or reli!
gious, social or fanatical—must be made to un
derstand that this is the will of the people. Ag
itation will then cease and thre Union will be j
preserved.
YY’ar to the Knife against the Free
SoiLf.rs— Expulsion from Tammany. —The
Loco Foco General Committee, at their meet
ing at Tammany Hall, adopted unanimously tbe
j foiloffing significant resolutions :
“Resolved, That the individuals in this com- ;
mittee who voted against Cass and Butler, at the
; last Presidential election, viz., Uynders, Purser,!
j Downing, Kell)-, and -Miller, be expelled from
this committee, inasmuch 83 at the last meeting j
a resolution was passed by the committee, de
claring ineligible, as members thereof, any per
sons who voted against Cass and Butler.
“Resolved, That we deem the union of the
American States the primary political object of
all true democrats.
“Resolved, That we continue to regard Mar
tin Van Buren as a traitor and an ingrate, and to
detest those who supported the infamous coalition
formed at Buffalo by whigs, negroes, and the so
called leaders of the Van Buren (action.
“Resolved, That we are opposed to the YVil
inot Proviso, as the expression of a political
heresy, in violation of the constitution, and dan
gerous to the perpetuity of our Union.
“Resolved, That a meeting of the democratic
republican party be called at Tammany Hall, at
an early day, to express the voice of the democ
racy of the great city of New York, in favor of
the preservation of our glorious Union.”
THE SOUTHERN SENTINEL
COLUMBUS, BEORCIA, FEB. 21, 1850.
OCT Being about to remove our office, we
offer for rent, the Room which we have here
tofoie occupied. Apply at this Office.
YVe have again to request our exchanges
to observe the change which has taken place in
the name of this paper. Many of their favors
still come directed to the “Muscogee Democrat.”
Felt Section, No. 2, of the Cadets of
Temperance, will celebrate their anniversary on
the 251 h of February, at Concert Hall.
Compromise.
In the great speech recently delivered in the
Senate by Mr. Clay, he dwells upon the necessi
ty of adjusting, once for all, the distracting is
sues between the North and the South. A set
tlement of one, he very properly argues, will not
insure domestic tranquility, while the body poli
tic is left the subject of ceaseless agitation from
the various other matters in controversy. To
accomplish this very desirable end, he hasdedi
icated his exclusive attention since the com
mencement of the session, and tho fruit of his
| labors is presented in the scries of resolutions
introduced by him into the Senate. These res
olutions in the concrete, lie denominates, a com
promise, and he urges their adoption as the only
hopo ol restoring quiet, and preserving the Un
ion. If this be tbe only hope, then “ZcZ discord
reign forever upon these terms, the South can
not longer submit to the Union.
On the subject of Southern rights, our opin
ion has already been indicated in the previous
numbers of the Sentinel, but that our position
may not be misunderstood by any of our readers,
we here declare our unequivocal and unqualified
opposition to any and every compromise of this
question. Nor is this position assumed in a spir
it of indifference to tho Union of these States ;
we are devoted to that Union, and stand prepar
ed to sacrifice for is perpetuity, whatever an
honorable appreciation of our rights under its
guaranties, may demand. \\ 7 e believe that the
proud pre-eminence of the American States can
j only be maintained by the Union of those States ;
j w e believe that the honor of the whole, and the
interest of each, demand a continuation of the
bonds of Union, and for these reasons, not less
than the recollection of the circumstances atten
i ding its formation, and the prosperity which has
distinguished its history, we love the Union.
So far then from assuming this position in a spir
it of reckless indifference, we do so, because we
religiously believe that it is thu3 alone that the
I Union can be maintained.
YY hat has the Union, or the South, to hope
from a compromise of the question ? Does not
the history of compromises warn us of their in
sufficiency to determine the controversy? Gan
any contract, we may now make, impose more
binding obligations upon the parties, than were
implied in the settlement of the Missouri ques
tion ? YVe stood then upon the verge of disso
lution, and the friends of the Union, trembling in
view of its peril, made the same eloquent ap.
peals in its behalf which we now hear. Con
ciliatory counsels prevailed, and to avert the evil
which was threatened, all parties embraced the
hope that by a compromise, the integrity of the
Union might be preserved. And how have the
expectations then so eagerly encouraged, been
realized ? The compromise has been regarded,
so long as it enured solely to the benefit of a
grasping majority, but its obligations are scouted,
so soon us they are claimed by tho weaker sec
tion. In this brief history, we may unerringly
read the fate of all compromises. They mav
delay, but they can not defeat, the evil hour.
Sooner or later, under such a policy, it must
come, and its postponement only renders it more
inevitable. Case legislation never determines
anything, for while it may furnish a precedent,
it docs not bind the discretion of subsequent
legislatures. The very next emergency will
re-open the discussion, and again tho unmean
ing aid of compromise, more exacting in its de
inands, upon each recurring appeal, must bo in
voked.
Il the south would maintain its honor in the
present contest, and protect itself against future
encroachment, let it plant its claims upon the
constitution, and, asking nothing more, and ac
cepting nothing Jess, than it secures, “sink or
swim” with lire issue. Let it be proclaimed to
the North in terms which may not be misun
derstood, that we do not ask the general govern
ment to legislate for us, and it shall not legislate
against us. Let the question of our peculiar in
stitutions rest, where the constitution has placed
it, beyond the jurisdiction of Congress, and let it
be understood that we deny to the federal gov-!
ernment, any authority, even to compromise it in
§ © iir so 11 on iiEnraragt.
any way. But we arc told that unless Congress
does legislate on the question, that the South is
just as effectually excluded from the Territories,
i as she would be under the operation of the YViU
! mot Proviso ; that slavery can not exist without
some positive law authorizing it, and that there
j fore in the absence of such municipal provisions,
the South can never participate in the Territo
! rics. YVe deny all this, but even if it were true,
we are not the less decided in our conviction of
the truth of the former position. If the South
can only share in California by the permission
of Congress, we hope she will never share in
it. YVe would, with equal reason, oppose
an act of Congress authorizing slavery to exist
in California, as we do, the YY’ilmot Proviso, ex
cluding it. Hence we are opposed to the Mis
souri compromise. With what show of reason,
can Southern men record their votes in favor of
that measure, when in their speeches they de
nounce the attempt on the part of Congress td
legislate on the subject of slavery in the Territo
ries. YY r e look upon this pretended compromise,
as at the best, but the waif which the thief
abandons, in his flight, to elude and deceive his
pursuers.
No, the only position of safety for the South, is
to stand by tbe constitution ; to resist Northern
encroachment, in limine ; to prescribe, once for
all, the entire abandonment of the assumed juris
diction of the general government over the ques
tion of slavery, as the only terms upon which the
Union shall be maintained.
Columbus Cotton Market.
Feb. 20. — The market during the past week displayed
I uniform, regular and steady rates, and may be quo
ted at 11 cents for good middling, and for middling
fair. There has been but a moderate quantity offering at
the warehouses, which met with a ready sale.
The supplies coming in are very light, and it is believed
that the quantity yet to come in is but a fragment of the
crop, say not over 25,00 bales for the balance of the
season.
People I Have Met;
Or, Pictures of Society and People of Mark.
Such is the title of a beautiful volume by N.
P. YY’iilis, just laid on our table by Mr. John
YV. Pease, bookseller in this city. The title
itself is attractive, and the character of the
author gives promise of an exquisite treat in its
contents. By the way, the lovers of choice
reading can be supplied with a great variety of
miscellaneous works at Mr. Pease’s Book-stoic.
Among those just received, we see the following
highly entertaining books : Los Gringos:
Evenings at Wondlawn; Headley’s Sacred
scenes ; and others which will be found enu
merated in the advertisement in another col
umn.
The Southern Quarterly Review.— The
January No. is on our table. Os the many pe
riodical publications of the day, this presents
pre-eminent claims to the patronage of South
ern readers. It is the only literary quarterly
publication at the South, and this circumstance,
in connection with its exalted merit, entitles it
to a place upon the table of every Southerner
who has any fondness for this style of literature.
It is at present under the editorial conduct of
William Gilmore Simms, who justly ranks
among the best writers of America, and its pa
ges are well filled with productions from the
pens of our ablest reviewers and essayists. This
number commences the eighth year of its exist
ence, a circumstance that warrants the hope
that it is now permanently and successfully es
tablished. The South should certainly see to
it, that it is well sustained. If there were no
pride involved in its success, its columns will
prove one of the most efficient bulwarks of
Southern interests. The Southern Quarterly
Review, the Southern Literary Messenger and
Deßow’s Commercial Review, are beyond all
comparison the best periodicals of the South
and are not behind any published in America.
The Quarterly is published, as its name indi
cates, four times during the year, at Charleston,
S. C. for $5 per annum. The Messenger is
published monthly, at Richmond, Va. for $5, and
Deßow’s Journal, at New Orleans, monthly, at
the same price. YVe commend the three to our
readers, with the request that if they are not
subscribers to one or all of these, that they be
come so immediately. Certainly it is the duty ot
a Southern reader to patronize these, before he
goes farther from home and fares worse. YVith
out being authorized to act as agent for either .of!
these works, we will take pleasure in sending ■
on the subscriptions of any person who wishes
to become a subscriber.
DR. YVEST.
YVe notice in the city papers of Tuesday, that,
this man is preparing a defence of himself, which is
promised next week. YY’e caution his friends , that
unless they keep pretty constant vigils over their
precious favorite, next week will find them without
a pastor. If the Dr. will remain in charge of his
flock, and clear his ministerial skirts of their unininis*
terial filth, we will pay all the tithes of his church,
and beg his pardon for what we have done ; hut if af
ter all, his fold should agree with us that lie is a vil
lainous impostor, we hope his license, (which we un
derstand was conferred on Saturday Evening.) will
be taken from him, and that they will repair tho in
jury they have done us. Again we put them on their
guard, that the scamp does not escape.
“New Triumphs of American Art.”
The lovers of the tine arts in this city are promised
a treat in the magnificent paintings of Rossiter.
which are to be in Columbus in a short time. Our
Exchanges speak in the very highest terms of their
merit. The N. Y. Tribune says, in speaking of
them :
“The conception is simple and sublime, the com
position classic and correct, and the action forcible,
yet unexaggerated. The artist’s deliberate and sin
cere conviction of right is traceable in every line.
The most striking portions of the picture are the
delicacy and sweetness of the female forms and faces,
and the dazzling effects of light playing upon the
marbled and statuesque shoulder and neck of Ja
phet’s wife, in the right foreground. Here Mr.
Rosister is always beautiful—often unrivalled. The
Sea, and the wide space of the sky behind Noah, are
powerfully rendered. YY’e can safely promise our.
fellow-citizens a pleasure of uo ordinary kind.” ‘
The Girard and Mobile Railroad*
W e lake pleasure in calling the attention of
our readers to the following from the editorial of
the Mobile Daily Advertiser of the 16th inst.
The prospect of the early building of the road
in question, and the early completion of our own
; road, now destined to meet with the South West
ern Railroad at or near Fort Valley, is indeed
most cheering to all concerned. We hesitate
not to say, independent of all the advantages to
I result to both the States of Alabama and Georgia,
1 from these great enterprises, that a better and
! safer investment for capital is not offered in the
| Union. We have heard cooler, and more cal
culating heads than ours, estimating the value of
j stock in either road, upon the completion of both,
1 at 23 per cent, per annum,
j This may seem to be something extravagant.
: It is certainly true, however, that the two roads,
running over a space of2GO miles, will costless
| by 25 to 50 per cent, than any other in the
j world ; and that the prospect of travel and
j freight conveyance over them, promises as large
an amount of business, indeed larger, than any
| Other, to say the least of it, in all the South.
How then can stock in either fail to be a good
investment ?
There is another argument, and with us an
all-powerful one, and that is, they are both being
constructed upon the cash principle. When
completed, the very first day’s running of the
cars will give a dividend to the stockholders.
We wish the Girard and Mobile Railroad all
the success which it merits, and to our worthy
| and enterprising fellow citizen, Major R. A.
j Hardaway, and to those associated with him in
its direction, the proud distinction of witnessing
I its early progress and completion.
Girard and Mosile Railroad.— Our renders will
j perceive, by reference to another column, a notice that
the Books for the Subscription of the Stock of this Road,
j are opened at the office of William A. Hardaway, Esq.
This road, if completed, will prove one of the greatest
thoroughfares in the south-west, and traverses a country
which needs railroad facilities in as high a degree as any
portion of the State. We are informed by the gentle
manly agent, Hon. Roberta. Hardaway, that the pros
| pects for the completion of the road are most cheering. •
. The pln adopted for taking the stock we think is an ex- j
ccllent one, and ie well calculated to insure success. It
is to receive subscriptions payable in labor—the subscriber j
obligating himself to grade and lay down the superstruc
ture on a half mile, one mile or three miles, or more, as he
may fee! able, agreeing to receive payment therefor in :
certificates of stock upon the estimate of the work by the I
engineer, after it is completed. Mr. H. says that an ad- !
mirable feeling prevails along the line among the plant- j
ers ; that the counties of Russell, Macon, Pike and Moot- j
gomery have subscribed a sufficient amount to carry the j
grading and superstructure through these counties, and !
that Butler and Conecuh have nearly taken enough to ;
cofnplete the same work through these counties, and that j
the other counties on the route had given the very j
strongest assurances of being able in a short time to :
make up their portions. This certainly looks like going i
through witli “a rush.” Air. 11. has only been some j
three weeks on the route.
‘Phe road is not yet surveyed or located. The general ;
course, however, is indicated by nature. It is intended
to connect at Columbus, Ga., with a road running from
that point to the Georgia Railroad, now in process of com
pletion. W hen built, these roads will become, necessari
ly, the great travelling route from New York to New Or
leans.
The plan adopted by the company of getting the plant
ers to take the stock, promises well. They can build it
if they will, and never feel that any money has been paid
• out. We understand also, that nothing is to he done tin- |
til a sufficient amount is subscribed to secure the final
success of the enterprise. This is prudent. We com
mend this road to the consideration ol the citizens of Mo
bile.
The Pacific Rail Road.— We perceive
from the St. Louis papers that a company has
been organized in that city under the name of
the “Pacific Rail Road,” by virtue of a charter
obtained at the last session of the Missouri Leg
islature. The company is authorized to con
struct a road from St. Louis to Jefferson City,
and thence to some point on the western line of
the State, “with a view that the same may be
continued hereafter, westwardiy to the Pacific
Ocean.” At a meeting of the Board on the 31st
of January, Col. John O’Fallon was elected
President; Thomas Allen, Secretary, and Dan
iel D. Page, Treasurer. Every enterprise must
have a beginning, and though compared with
the immensity of the undertaking, the St. Louis
project seems almost insignificant, stiff it is a
necessary step towards the completion of this
mammoth work. That it will be completed, we
have not a doubt ; nor is its success to be left a
problem to be solved by posterity. The gigan
tic growth of California is without a parallel in
the world’s history. The immense mineral re.
sources of that country may have hastened the
flood tide of emigration to her shores, but when
those elements ol attraction shall have been ex
hausted, w* do not believe that the star of empire
will less certainly or less rapidly, pursue its west
ern course. In a halt century, the commerce
of the Pacific will as much exceed the commerce
of the Atlantic, as that of the latter now ex.
ceeds the former. There will, from the nature !
ol things, be a greater diversity, and consequent
ly a greater interchange of productions, be
tween Asia and America, than there is between
Europe and America. San Francisco is des
tined to become the most magnificent commer
cial emporium of the world ; the centre of dis
trißution for the commerce of the Pacific. This
grand Railroad must furnish one of the outlets
of this commerce to the Atlantic States, and
hence its necessity will be felt and its blessings
realized, long before the intermediate country
has been settled.
O’ Our attention lias been called to a surgical
operation performed by Dr. A. C. Philips, of Auburn,
Alabama. The patient, a son of Mr. John G. Brown,
was afflicted with cross eyes, and by the operation,
the defect has been entirely remedied. Dr. Philips
promises to become worthy of his preceptor, Dr.
Wildman, of this city.
(X/ The Santa Fc papers speak in compli
mentary terms of Col. James S. Calhoun, our
former fellow citizen, now Indian Agent at that
place.
(fcy” Fbe YY higs of the Georgia Legislature
have held a meeting at Brown’s Hotel, to deter
mine upon carrying out their dishonorable in
tentions to defeat further legislation this session, i
The course they have adopted is unworthy any j i
respectable party, and at best is hut the lame j j
subterfuge ol tactionists. Wo hope the people ]
will put their mark upon every one of them. j
By Telegraph for the Southern Sentinel.
GREAT FIRE IN MACON !
Macon, 4J o’clock, r. m., Feb. 20, 1850.
Fire Tuesday morning, discovered on Cotton Ave
nue, at one o’clock, consuming the following stores :
Taylor and Son’s Cabinet Warehouse, Capt.
Shelton’s Tailor Shop, J. J. &• S. P. Richards, Book
Store, W. G. Little, Druggist, Horace Fitch & Co.’s
Clothing Store, Win. 11. Bragg & Cos. Hardware
Merchants, M. D. Barnes, Jeweler, Jackson Barnes’
Book Store, Airs. Sullivan s Fruiter}’, J. 11. &• \Y r .
S. Ellis, Druggists, Alasonic Lodge, second story ov
er Mess. Ellis, J. &. S. S. V irgin, Jewelers, Thom
as F. Newton. Merchant Tailor, Doctor C. B. Cot
tingham’s office, George Jones, Crockery Merchant.
Gresham & Jones’ Law Office, J. W. Babcock's
Carriage Warehouse on the opposite side of the Ave
nue, Alorris &. Mix, Saddlers, J. C. Demsey, Grocer,
Freeman & Roberts, Carriage Warehouse, Logan &
Atkinson’s Dry Goods Store, Sons of Temperance
Hall and Odd Fellows Lodge, second story over Lo
gan & Atkinson's, and Engles clothing store.
Total loss, buildings and property, estimated at
one hundred thousand dollars ; entire insurance,
thirty-five thousand.
Dreadful Conflagration. —The New Orleans
papers which reach us this morning, bring the intel
ligence of an extensive fire which occurred in that
city on Saturday last. At the time of going to press,
twenty houses had b-'en burned down, and the fire
was raging terribly. The principal burning was on
Camp street. The Picayune printing establishment
had been consumed.
Father Matiikw. —This great man readi
ed our city on Friday last, and remained in our
midst until yesterday morning, when he left for
Montgomery. During his stay he administered
the pledge to five hundred persons. His von
crable person and agreeable manners prepos
sess one immediately in his favor, and an ac
quaintance with him heightens the esteem in
spired by his appearance. Below we publish
a correspondence between him and the Row
Mr. Bermingham, of this city, from which it
appears that his brief sojourn in Columbus lias
been as agreeable to him, as it was to the
friends he leaves behind him. We have also
been furnished with copies of the addresses de
livered by Air. John 11. Madden, in extending,
and Father Mathew in accepting, the hospi a",
ties of his friends in this city, but regret that xvc
are compelled, from want of room, to exclude
them.
Columbus, Ga., Feb. TO, 1853.
Very Rev. and dear Father Malkc.tr : You
will please consider yourself, during your slay
in Columbus, as the welcome guest of my hum
ble self and beloved congregation. The en
closed amount, uhich will be handed you ffy
John 11. Madden, Esq., will defray your ex
penses. If any surplus remains, please apply
it to the erection of your Church in Cork.
Alay your life be long and happy ! and your
cause prosper and spread to the limits of the
world, and to Ihe end of time !
YVe are, very Reverend, and dear friend, most
sincerely and
Respect.Vly yours, in Christ,
T. BERMINGHAM, Pastor.
John H. M add ex, )
Patrick Adams, / Collectors.
Patrick Foe a.-, ;
Columbus, Ga., Feb. 19, 1850.
My Dear Father Bermingham : On the eve of
my departure from Columbus, allow me to re
turn you, my sincere and heartfelt thanks for
your very great attention, kindness and hospital
ity. To the pious and exemplary members of
your congregation, I beg also to present my most
grateful acknowledgments, for their cordial
we lccme, and spontaneous and unexpected gen
erosity in presenting me with sixty dollars.—
Their zeal in the sacred cause of Religion, and
the magnanimity with which they came forward
to take the Total Abstinence Pledge, has edified
me exceedingly, has made an impression on
my mind that shall never be effaced.
To the highminded, most respected gentle
men in connection with the Total Abstinence
Society, who did me the honor of a visit after
my arrival, tendering their warm congratulations,
and hearty co-operation, and extending to me
the hospitalities of the city, I want words to
express the intense feelings of gratitude, and re
pect, I owe them.
It pained me exceedingly, to be obliged in
consequence of infirm health, and my necessa
rily limited sojourn in Columbus, to respectfully
decline their intended compliments.
I hey will, I trust, through you, Reverend Sir,
accept my apology for not being able to return
in person, their visits, which is alone to Le at
tributed to my delicate state of health, and to
incessant occupation in that great sacred cause,
in which we are all deeply interested.
Excuse haste, and believe me with ardent
gratitude, dear Rev. Mr. Bermingham,
Yours devotedly and affectionately,
THEOBALD MATHEYV.
fcy” Col. Jos.YV. Jackson, Democrat, lias been
elected to till the vacancy in the Ist Congression
al District. The Georgia delegation now stands
5 Democrats and 3 Whigs.
Cs”'lhe Georgia Legislature Las passed a
Bill for the appointment of Masters of Equity
for the counties of Muscogee, Talbot and Stewart.
I his is one of the best Bills passed at this ses
sion.
The Tennessee Legislature has appro
’ printed 53.i0.000 to the East Tennessee and
Georgia Railroad, running from Knoxville in the
: former, to Dalton, in the latter State.
OCT” I’ho entire amount of Stock, being
81,000,000, has been taken, in the contem
plated road connecting the N. C. and S. Caro
lina Railroads.
A Bill has passed the Georgia Legisla
ture, changing the time of meeting of the Gen
eral Assembly from Ist Monday in November
to 1 hursday after 3J Monday in October.
Franz Coenen, who, it will be recollect
cd, was with llerz when he passed through our
city on his way to Mexico, and who, it was re
ported, had died in that country, is still alive, and
has been named Royal Professor at the Hague
in Polaud. “ ,
Correspondence of the Southern Sentinel.
MILLEDGEVILLE, February 12, 1850.
Df.ar C.:
In the House, this morning, the Congression*
al District Bill was called up, and the Whigs
finding it would be passed, left the Hall, which
left the House without a quorum. The Demo
crats are in their seats, as the House can not
adjourn for want of a quorum. How far their
| course may be justifiable I leave to the people.
As it is more than probable there will have to
be a called session to reorganize the Districts
after the census, I thought it best to have laid
the Bill on the table, presuming it was creating
an excitement and wasting time, with very little
prospect of doing good.
I just learn that the Bill has been passed, a
quorum having voted. I will write you further
to-morrow. lours, dec. TANARUS
February 13, 185 J.
At 3 o’clock yesterday, both parties met and
| transacted business harmoniously, and again last
night. This morning the \Y ; higs made a motion
to reconsider the Congressional Bill and failed,
whereupon, they again withdrew. The other
party remained until dinner, lacking one of a
quorum. After dinner they met and were de
bating what to do, when a scene occurred, I
hope I shall not again witness—a quarrel and a
i blow or two between two of our own party. I
was reading at the opposite side of the Hall and
did not hear the cause of the difficulty. After
trying in vain to get a quorum, the House ad
journed until to-morrow nine o’clock. I hope
by that time some compromise may be effected.
The Whigs have had a meeting, I learn, to
night, and passed a resolution binding them
| selves to adhere to their course. _ How far this
may comport with their oaths to vote on all ques
tions that come before them, I leave to casuists
j and their constituents to determine. My own
opinion is, that they are bound to remain and
vote. Establish the precedent that a minority
can retire whenever the Legislation does not
| suit them, and there is an end of government.
The Senate has been most of the day on the
| ‘l'ax Bill. Mr. Cochran offered a substitute for
the House Bill ; the substitute was the ad valo.
. rein system, but unfortunately, as I think, voted
down. It is the old storv over again, of the
man that carried a pumpkin in one end of his
bag and a rock to balance it, instead of another
pumpkin. “II is father had always done it.”
i Some oppose it from interest, some from igno
rance, and some for fear it will be unpopular.
No one pretends that the present plan is just. I
have not kept the run of the various charters for
i Banks, Rail Roads, Flank Roads, &c. One
\ thing I noticed, all the Road charters have the
privilege of taking private property for private
uses. YY’ere Ia younger man I would go to
some country where there was no power to in
corporate people. I sometimes think, the beet
use I could put my remaining days to, would bo
|togo to some new country and try to establish a
; government without corporations, custom-houses
|or tax gatherers. YY’hat a glorious country it
! would be. I would rank higher than all the db
| coverers that ever lived. 1 should throw in the
I “hade Sane ho Panza’s man that invented
I sleep.
I omitted at the time, to say that a law has
j Ijcon passed changing the time of electing morn
| bers of Congress. It will come off’on the same
day of the election for Governor. Before that
time we will have anew apportionment, and
probably another member ; if so, all the dis.
| graceful scenes we have witnessed here hare
■ been for nothing. I blame both parties, one
| for urging a useless measure, and the other for
| resisting it. YVhen this Biff for changing tl.o
| time for the election was before the House, a
democratic member, remarked that if that Biff
passed, that there would be no necessity for act.
ing on the District Biff. The Whigs defend
themselves for leaving the House by saying that
| they considered the Democrat.! pledged by the
above remark not to urge the Bill. Now, ifany
Whigs were induced to leave here by this ha.
| P lied pledge, by which the party were left in a
! minority, it might form an excuse, but they wero
| in a minority when the statement was made,
and it in nowise, as I learn, affected the result.
A few may have gone off', but not enough to
have defeated the Bill, provided the Democrats
all voted for it. The impression prevails, that if
the YY’l.igs had remained in their seats the Dis.
trict Bill would have been defeated, as several
Democrats did not wish to oppose it. I sincere,
ly hope they will meet in a better humor to-mor.
row; but it is doubtful, as there are more
tors than Nestors in the House, and one Paris
like him of old. eminently qualified to set better
men by the cars. j-
T iiursda y, 9| a. m. — Ihe whigs still remain
without the House, and the Democrats geem
equally determined not to yield. God knows
how it will terminate. It only requires a few
men of high moral courage to settle it. T*.
l
February 16, 1850..
j Our folks are still in confusion ; the Whigs re
fuse to attend. Messengers have been sent for
| two absent Democrats; there are 64 here and 66
| are necessary to proceed. The whigs agree to
| c°me in and suspend the order of the day, (the
Congressional District Bill,) and transact the
; ot hcr business,per milting them to leave or remain
as they thought proper. The Democrats say if
I Bwy come in they must remain and do the busi
ness of the Houie.
Ii the two Democrats do not return, it is un
certain whether any farther business will be
done. If the appropriation and Tax Bills were
passed it would not make much difference. By
ordering an election to fill the vacancy in Baker
county, the Democrats can insure a quorum, and
allow fo.* on© absentee, This course would