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SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1850.
| THE MORNING NEWS.
BY JOiSn M. COOPER.
| WILLIA~MTijrHOMPSON, EDITOR
TERMS!
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Decision of the Executive Council
IN THE CASE OF
Prof. John W. Webster!
COMMUTATION REFUSED !
Friday, August Ituth, fixed as the Day of Exe
cution !
REPORT OFTHE COMMITTEE!
AD~IMtESS~Oy~OOV. BRIOGB.
Tile Committee on Pardons, composed of Lieuten
ant Governor John Reed, Chairman, of Yarmouth ;
Dr. Luther V. Bell, Superintendent of the McLano
Asylum tor tho Insane; lion. Samuel Wood, of
Grafton ; lion. John Tenney, of Methuen, and Hon.
Churles M. Owen, ot Stockbridge, met at Hi o'clock
this morning, and submitted their final repurt in the
caso of John W. Webster, to thu Governor and
Council.
The Council met in their chamber, and held tho
session with closed doors. After assembling, and
being called to order, the following Report was pre
sented by Liout. Gov. Reed, Chairman of the Conn
mittee on Pardons :
REPORT.
The Committee on Pardons, to whom was referr
ed the petition of John W. Webster, a convict un
der sentence of Deuth, praying, in behalf of himself
and Ills wife and children, tho Governor and Coun
cil to extend to tho petitioner n commutation of the
punishment awarded to him ; also, a copy of the re
cords of tho Court, containing the trial and sentence
of sntd Webster, and also sundry other petitions ami
arguments referring to, or in support of, tho petition
of said Webster,—now report,
That, by said record, it appears that said Webster
was regularly indicted for tho criino of the murder
of Dr. George Purkmau, and sc't to tho bar of the
Supreme Court at tho March Term thereof. A. D.
1850—and there having been enquired of how he
would acquit himself concerning tho premises, for
answer said he was not guilty, and thereof put him
self upou the country.
Counsel was thereupon assigned for the pr isoner.
On tho nineteenth day of March following, said
Webster was again set to tho bar to be tried. A ju
ry was erapannclled and sworn, and alter full hear
ing, on thior oaths declared that tho said John W.
Webster was guilty. And tbereafterwards, viz., on
the 1st day of April, in said Court, said Webster be
ing placed at the bar for sentence, it was demanded
ot him by said Court if ho had anything to say
whereloro sentence should not bo declared upon the
premises and verdict aforesuid. To which said Web
ster nothing further answered.
Thereupon it was considered by the Court, thnt
the said John W. Webster be taken to the Jail
whence he came, and thence* to the placu of execu
tion, and there be bunged by the neck until he he
dead.
Since the pasBingsaid sentence by said Court, nu
merous petitions and arguments have been present
ed to the Executive for the full pnrdon of said Web
ster, luunded upon the belief anil presumption that
he never coxnmitted even a homicide. Recent events,
however, relievo the Committee in a great measure,
from the consideration of all such arguments anil
petitions.
On the 2d of July, A. D. 1850, the Rev. Pr. Put
nam, by appointment, oppeared in behalf of said
Webster, before the Committee on Pardons, and
rood a confession made,by said Webster, acknowl
edging that he committed tho homicide, and declar
ing the manner and circumstance* thereof,—and at
the same time proseuted said Webster’s petition for
a commutation of llio sentence aforesaid. Tho
petition and confession were supported by an able
argument by Dr. Putnam.
To this confession and araumant, and all arguments
and evidence supporting ISf-We have given our most
serious and anxious attention, and wo nave proceeded
to consider the same’with hearts and minds desirous
to know the truth, and our duty, and with a firm pur
pose to do what both should require.
It aeeras to your committee that the sentence in the
case of said Webster, having been passed by the Court,
after a full and fair trial, in the course ot which, all
the facts and circumstances which could then be
brought to light, were patiently and thoroughly
investigated and weighed by the Jury,—and having
been fully affirmed, alter a careful revision of the law
upon trial, since had by the full Court, on solemn
argument tff both sides, there appears to be no ground
for Executive interposition, except it may be found
in subsequent confession ol'the prisoner.
In this view, the only questions, as it seems to us>
are, whether the statements which said Webster now
makes in his obtifession, of the manner and circum-
stances of the homicide, arc so oonfirmed by other
evidence, or so intrinsically probable, that they ought
to be received aa true ; and if true, whether they
justify the Executive in a commutation of the pun
ishment.
To these questions, the minds of the Committee
hsve been most carefully directed, and, as they trust
with no unwillingness on their part to come to an af
firmative conclusion, if they could do bo consistently
I with a supreme regard to truth nnd justice. But af
ter all the^ansideration which they have been able to
bestow uaHMua confession, and under the light oi
all the evidence and the comments with which it has
been accompanied and supported, they feel constrain
ed to say, that tho effebt has not been such ns to s at
isfy their minds, that the position of the case is mate-
tonally changed. In other words, the pallinting facte
and circumstances set forth in the confession have
not been so confirmed by other evidence and circum
stances, as to form a proper and sufficient basis for
Executive interference.
To this painful conclusion the committee have unan
Smously come.
The Committee therefore respectfully report that
they cannot consistently with what they conceive
eir duty, recommend a commutation of the sen-
, then _ _
tehee, in'thecaafeof John W. Webster, as praycd'for
in* hts.podtihn
lung now remains for tho Committee, in the
discharge of this painful duty, but to advise your
Excellency In' determining upon n time for the
Execution, and they name FRIDAY, THE THIRTI
ETH DAY OF WJGOST NEXT, as the day ; and
recommend to your Excellency to decide upon that
day as the time for the execution'of John W. Web-
JOHN REED, Chairman
Council Chamber, July 19,1850.
After Uie conclusion oi the reading of the Report
Hia Excellency, Gov. Briggs, read to the Council the
following
ADDRESS.
To the Hon. Council: —
The Council having considered and acted on the
case ot John W. Webster, n convict under sentence
of death, it becomes my duty as the Chief Execu
tive Magistrate of the Commonwealth to make a
final deciaion on a question involving the life of the
prisoner- I feel tho weiaht of its responsibility.—
f “fit ise responsibility found in the path of official
duty, and I am not disposed to evade it, or to shrink
irorn it. For eight months past tins extraor
dinary case has created a deep and painful interest
among the people of Massachusetts, and of the whole
Union. Its history is as brief as it is terrible and in
structive ; every new development in its progress
has been mure strange, and lias increased that iutcr-
cst
On the 03rd day of Nooenibor, 1849, Dr. George
Tankman, a well known and highly respectable citi
zen of Boston, left liis house ami family on business
as was usuul for Him, and never returned to them.
His unexpected absence alarmed his family and exci
ted tho attention of the people hi and around Boston.
la tho course of u day or two, it was understood
that the prisoner had suid that Dr. Tarkinau met him
at his rooms in the Medical College, in the west part
of- the city, not fiir Yrom halt-post 1 o’clock on the
day of his disappearance, and that he then and there
paid him a sum of money,, which he, Dr. ParkmaD,
took Into Ills hands and hastily rushed towards the
outer door.
Dr. Turkman was also sretr by other persons about
the same timo of day within tony feet of the door
of* the College, and walking quickly towards it.—
These, with other circumstances, directed tlie publio
mind towards the College-buildings. The next Fri-
day, one week after the disappearance of Dr Park-
mun, the dismembered parts of n hainnn body were
found in different places in and under the rooms oc
cupied by the prisoner in that C’dllege, some of them
in a furnace nearly destroyed by lire, some ol them
packed in a tea chest, aud other purls in the vault of
a privy attached to his laboratory.
Suspicions were strongly fixed on him and he wav
arrested and committed to Lcvcreti street juii. A
coroner’s inquest was called, nnd nfter long exami- I
nation into the facts of the case, conducted in secret, I
the jury reported that|the remains found were pnrte
of the body of the late Dr. George Parkman, that
he came to his death by violence in the Medical Col
lege in Boston, on Friday, the 23d day of November,
and that he was killed by John W. Webster. The ev
idence taken before the inquest was not given to the
public. In January, 1850, the case was laid before
iho Grand Jury for the County of Suffolk, and the
investigation before that body resulted in flndiug an
indictment against the prisoner for tho murder of
Dr. Parkman.
He was arraigned on }he indictment and plead not
guilty. Two of the most able and distinguished
lawyers of the Commonwealth were, upon his own
selection, assigned to him as counsel by the Supreme
Court, and his trial before the lull bench of that
Court, fixed on the 19th day of March. Some time be
fore the day oftrialtheAttomey General furnished the
counsel of the prisoner, not only with a list of the
iiameB of tho witnesses to bo called against him,
which Is required to be done in all capita] cases in
this Commonwealth, but also with a copy of tho tes
timony taken before the Coroner'a inqueat, nnd which
iiail been produced against him before the Grand
Jury. •
The time appointed for the trial arrived, when
four Judges of the Supreme Court were present,
nnd sat during the trial. In pursuance of tho provi
sions of law, sixty Jurors had been drawn from the
Jury box in the County of Suffolk. By law, the
prisoner had a right peremptorily, without giving
any reason, to ehallenge twenty Jurors, and for good
rensons to object to any others whose names might
he called. In empannelllng the Jury who tried hjm,
tile prisoner exercised his peremptory right of
challenge in only fourteen instances.
The trial was one of surpassing interest and solem
nity, and lasted eleven days. On the part of the pris
oner, the case was argued with great earnestness, can
dor nnd ability, by Uie Hon. Pliny Merrick, his senior
counsel. After denying that the evidence on the part
of tho Government was sufficient to prove that tho
prisoner killed Dr. Parkman at all, the counsel took
the ground that if iu any event the jury should come
to the conclusion that he did kill him, then the circum
stances of tho case were such as to satisfy them that
the killing could not have been premeditated, hut was
the result of an unexpected conflict between the par
ties and of sudden passion.
This position lie endeavored to maintain by an iu
gonious and powerful appeal to tho jury. The case
was closed On the partot the Commonwealth by the
Attorney General, oy an address of singular point and
effect. After tho Attorney General had finished his
argument, the Court informed the . prisoner that he
liad the right, which he might exercise or not, as he
pleased, to make such remarks to the jury as lie saw fit.
Tho prisoner rose and for some time addressed the
jury in his own behalf. An elaborate, clear and com
prehensive charge was given by the Chief Justice af
ter conversation with the other members of the Court
who sat with him at the trial.
The jury retired to their room, nnd after nn ab
sence ct three hours late on Saturday evening, re
turned into Court with a verdict of guilty. The
next Monday morning the prisoner was again brought
into Court, and received from the Chief Justice the
sentence of tliq law, which doomed him to suffer
death by hanging, at such timo as the Executive of
thu Commonwealth should appoint.
In a few days a copy of tho record of his convic
tion was (transmitted to the Governor and Council,
by the Sheritt of tho county of Suffolk, accordiug to
the direction of the Statute.
On theyith of April, the prisoner sent by the hand
of his friend to the Governor and Council, a petition
for pardon, under his own hand, on the ground of
his entire innocence of the crime of which he had
been convicted, and for which he was under sentence
of death. All proceedings on this petition before the
Executive were suspended, in consequence of haring
received notice from the counsel of the prisoner that
they were about to make application to the Supreme
.Court for a writ of error to be issued in his case,
on account of certain alleged irregularities, which
had been discovered in the course of the proceedings
against him. That application was heard before the
lull Court apd overruled.
In the opinion of the Court upon that application
pronounced by the Chief Justice, all the proceedings
in the case are declared to be accordiug to estuD-
lished judicial forms aud the laws of tire Common
weHltli.
On the — day of and before the question on
the writ of error had been settled by the Court, the
Rev. Dr. Putnam, for the prisoner, asked to be per
mitted to withdraw the petition which had been pre
sented to the Governor and Council, for further con
sideration. This request was complied with by the
Governor and Council, and the petition, in a day or
two, wua handed to Dr. Putnam.
On tile first dHy of July, Dr. Putnam placed in tho
hands of tho Governor another petition, signed by
the prisoner, asking for a commutation of'his sen
tence.
On the second dny of July this petition was refer
red to the Committee on Pardons, and on the same
duy Dr. Putnatn appeared before them and made a
statement which he said was authorised by the Pris
oner, in which the prisoner admitted that lie killed
Dr, Parkman at the time and place charged against
him, but denied that the act was premeditated. He
narrated what the prisoner declared to he the man
ner of killing, and described minutely the mode nnd
process in which the body of Dr. Parkman w us dis
poBed of after death.
The prisoner alleges that the “single blow with a
stick of wood two feet long and two inches thick ” by
which Dr. Parkman was killed, was given by him in
a moment when “ he was excited to the highest degree
oi passion, ’’ aud “while Dr. Parkman wns speaking
and gesticulating iu the most violent nnd menacing
manner, tli rusting the letter and his tistin his face; that
in his tury he seized whatever thing was handiest, and
that was a stick of wood, ahd dealt to him an instanta
neous blow, with all the force lliatpassion could give,
and that he did not kuow, nor think, nor ore where
he hitliim, nor how bard, nor what tho effect would
be."
Upon this statement, and upon the other facts
proved upon the trial, Dr. Putnam nddresed the
Committee at length, in an able and impressive ar
gument, >n favor of commuting the sentence of the
Court. A petition from the family of the prisoner
was before the Committee, and a large number of
other petitions, some for a full pardon, and others
for a commutation, were in the hands of the com
mittee. Most of these petitions were from the peo
ple, men and women, in other States, aud generally
placed their petition for a remission or mitigutiou of
the sentence, on the ground of the great doubts of
the prisoner’s guilt. The committee gave three
hearings alter the meetiug at which Dr. Putnam ad
dressed them, and lfstened to those who desired to
be hoard in aid of the prisoner’s petition, aud in sup
port of Dr. Putnam's views.
The Committee on Pardons, consisting of the Lt.
Governor nnd four Councillors, after a full, careful
and patient hearing of all that could be offered by
the triends of the prisoner and by others who were
pleased to be heard in his behalf, came to the unani
mous opinion that there were no sufficient reasons to
justify them in recommending the interposition of
executive clemency.
They recommended thnt the Governor be advised
to have the sentence of the law us pronounced by
the Court carried into effect on the 30th duy of Au
gust next.
The Council, with but one exception, concurred
with the report cif the Committee, and advised the
Governor to carry out the sentence of the Court as
recommended by them.
lncaretully and anxiously examining and conoid-
ertng the case, I do not feel authorized by any con
siderations which have been presented to my nund
to set aside the deliberate verdict of the .jury, arrest
the solemn decree of the law as pronounced by the
highest judicial trihunal of the Common wealth, and
disregard the opinion nnd advice of the Council. If
the circumstances of the killing as stated by the
prisoner, are taken to be true, it may well be ques
tioned, whether the Executive Council could inter
fere with the sentence without violating tho settled
laws of the land, in his charge to the Jury in this
case, the Chief Justice says, “ It is a settled rule that
no provocation with words only, will justify a mortal
olow. Then if upon proroking language, the party
intentionally revenge himself with a mortal blow, it is
unquestionably murder.
Till- only new fact brought to light as to the kill*
T * 1 ' 18 “P ,m the word of the prisoner. It will
hardly be pretended by any one that the declaration
ot a person under sentence of death ehoul d be per
mitted to outweigh the doings of the Court anil
jury, ami rescue him from the consequences which
uie to follow their proceedings. It is candidly eta-
ted.by Dr. Putnam, in his aide argument, and by
several of the petitions presented in favor of com-
mutation, received since the confession, that stan
ding as he does, the word ot the prisoner is entitled
to no credit
If the circumstances disclosed on the trial are reli.
ed on to Support his statement, the reply is, that
those circumstances were urged in his tavor before
the Jury aud they have decided against him. The
facts ot this appalling case are before the world ; they
will hereafter fill one of the gloomiest pages iu the
record of crime amongst civilized men.
lt is undisputed, that on the 23d day of November.
1849, John White Webster, a profqsscr iq Harvard
University, and in the Medical College in Boston, did
at mid-day in his room, in that college, within a few
feet of the place where he daily stood and delivered
scientific lectures to a large clasB of young men. with
unlawful violence take the life of Dr. George Park-
man, a respectable citizen of Boston, who had come
to that room at the repeated requesta of the said pris
oner ; and that alter taking bis life, he eviscerated
aud in a manner most shocking to humsnity, mutila
ted the body of his victim, burning parts of it in a
furnace, and depositing other parts of it in different
places in the building, where they were found by
persons who were seeking after Dr. Parkman; that
after killing him, he robbed his lifeless creditor, by
taking from him two notes of hand, signed by him
self, to which, he had no right, and committed etill
another crime, by making false marks upon those
notes ; and that a Jury of his country, empannclied
according to law, under the direction of four of the
five eminent Judges constituting the Supreme Court
of Massachusetts, after a long, patient and impartial
trial, and nfter hearing in his defence the arguments
of learned and eloquent counsel, upon their oaths,
found him guilty of murder. 4
Upon the verdict, the Court pronounced the aw
ful sentence of death. In such a ease there should
be obvious and conclusive reasons to authorize the
pardoning power to interpose and arrest the sword
of Justice. I do not see these reasons. The Com
bined circumstances of the case force mo to the con
clusion, that tho safety of the community, the in
violability of law, and the principle of impartial
justice demand execution of the sentence.
I hope it is not necessary for me to say that it
would have given me unspeakable pleasure to come
to a different result, and that I would do anything
on earth in my power, short of violating duty, to
alleviate the sufferings of a crushed aud broken
hearted family. GEO. N. BRIGGS.
Council Chamber, 19 July, 1850.
We learn that the member of the Council who
voted in thenegative was Mr. Copeland, of Roxbury.
Thursday Mottling, July ‘JS, 1S50.
The Sclir. Fanny, Ashore.
The steamship Osprey, Capt. Dickinson, arrived
at Charleston on Friday last, from Philadelphia, re
ported, tliaton Sunday, the 21st, saw sehr. Fanny
Capt. Vance, from Savannah, bound to Philadelphia,
ashore 15 miles north of Cape Hatteras. Capt.
Dickinson sent his boat as close to the beach as she
could get with safety, and hailed them; understood
ehe went ashore on Wednesday ; all hands saved nnd
wanted nothing. Capt. Vance was landing cargo on
the beach ; tlie schooner lay head to the north,
broad side on, sea breaking heavy on her deck,
site being listed off' shore.
It will be remembered that the Fanny is a new
schooner lately built in Philadelphia, and partly
owned in this city, and was intended as a regular
packet in the Savannah and Philadelphia line. She
was a beautiful vessel, and left our port on the 13th
inst. with a corgo of 572 bales cotton, 70 bales yarns
5,000 feet Lumber, &c. &c.
Tlie Gas.
We had the satisfaction last night of lighting our
Reading Room nnd Offices with Gas. Thej burners
introduced afford the most ample light for all pur
poses, and a steadier, pleasanter or more brilliant
light could not have been produced by nny illumina
ting process yet achieved by human ingenuity—not
excepting the Paineful light of which we have heard
so much of late.
Our printers bade adieu to their old, greasy, smo
ky lamps, with much satisfaction, nnd say that if er
rors appear in our columns in future it will not be
for the WRnt of light on the subject matter.
Our fixtures were put up by Mr. Cranston, o.
this city, in a very superior manner, and were found,
on testing them, to be free from leak or flaw.
We think our citizens hRvc a right to be proud of
their gas-works, toad that the Company is entitled to
great credit for the expeditious and successful man
ner in which the work has been pushed forward
since its commencement, some four months since, to
its satisfactory completion. They are now prepared
to light the city with Gas, equal, if not superior, to
that manufactured by nny other works in the coun
try; and we are pleased to learn that our citizens are
very generally introducing it into their stores and
residences.
Wenotieedlastnight in the drug store of our friends
Turner &. Oden, two handsome chsndaliers, which
gave a brilliant light to their establishment, while
they were in themselves highly ornamental fixtures.
We understand that similar chandaliors are being in
troduced into the hulls and parlors of several private
residences.
Already our city begins to wear a more cheery as
pect at night, aud when the gas has been generally
introduced, we shall be able to boast of be'ng as
thoroughly enlightened ns any community in the
Union. But we will stop for feur our readers sus
pect us of being gassy.
I Tile Baltimore Sun of Monday confirms the
Cabinet appointments last telegraphed, and adds that
it is understood that Mr. Webster will not accept
tlie Secretary of Stateship, nor retire from the Sen
ate until the vote is taken on the Compromise Bill.
Tito Fate of Professor Webster.
in our paper to-day will be found the report of the
Executive Council and Governor of Massachusetts, In
the cose of Professor Webster, by which it will be
neon that the doom of that miserable man is irrevo
cably fixed, and that he is to expiate hia crime on the
scaff old on the 30th of August. Our readers will pe-
ruse these documents with interest, and we doubt
not that they will agree with us in pronouncing the
decision just, and in commending the firmness and
integrity of the executive body, who have maintain
ed the supremacy of the law despite the extraordin
ary appeals and influences that have been pressed iu
behalf of the prisoner. We do no* hesitate to say
that the example of the Massachusetts Jury, Court
and Executive, in the disposition of this extraordin
ary case, is worthy of imitation by the judicial and
executive authorities of the Union. From the first
publication of the testimony we believed Professor
Webster guilty of the death of Dr. Parkman ; and
the development of facts since the trial has. in our
mind, only had the effect to give a deeper shade to
hts guilt, aud to remove the little sympathy we had
endeavored to entertain for him until his confession,
(which made its appearance in the same paper with
his petition for pardon, in. which lie called God to
bear witness to his innocence,) sunk him, as u mnn,
below the reach of commiseration. While the Press
of the country- has teemed with appeals-to the popu-
lar sympathy and passions, for and against him, we
have refrained from extended comment, giving only
the facts to our readers, and leaving them to form
their own conclusions. We have never endeavored
to prejudice the cause ofthe unhappy man, nor have
we outraged justice nnd moral propriety by volun
teering iu hia defence.
While we deplore the crime which hasbroughtliim
to his melancholy fate, weeannotsay that we feel any
great degree of pity for one who has shone himself
so utterly calous to every human sentiment, and to"
whom, we feel, undei present circumstances, tho ex
treme penalty of tlie law will be a mercy. With his
afilicted family wo most sincerely condole, and we
earnestly hope that they may find in the tender nnd
respectful sympathies and kind offices of a humane
and Christian community, tlie support and solace
which thfiy so greatly need, in their widowhood aud
orphanage,
May tho unhappy culprit, now that his doom is
irrevocaly fixed, so far as human purpose can fix it,
employ the remnant of hia days iu making his
peace with his Maker, that he muy receive that mer
cy at Ills hands which he has forfeited from his fel
low men.
General Taylor is said to have expressed the
wish to be buried wherever he should die, and his
widow we learn has therefore given orders thnt his
remains shall not be removed from Washington.
Public Meeting—The Nashville Convention.
In pursuance of a call- made by many citizens,
inviting all persons approving of tlie proceedings
of the late Nashville Convention, to meet at the Ex
change Long Room on Tuesday evening, the 23d inst.,
at 8} o’clock, a Jarge number oi the citizens ot Sa
vannah convened at the appointed hour nnd place,
when, on motion, Dr. James P. Screven was called
to the Chair, and Montgomery Cumming appointed
Secretary. The Chairman ot the meeting having
stated its object, on motion ot John Bilbo, Esq., the
Chair appointed a Commitee of ten, to report suita
ble resolutions for the consideration of the meeting.
The f- blowing named gentlemen were nppointed
said Committee : John Bilbo, John Boston, An
drew Low, Dr. R. D. Arnold, R. G. Guerbabd,
Octavus Cohen, E. J. Harden, Joseph I.ippman.
M. J. Buckner, C. A. Lamar. The Committee
retired, and during its absence, tlie meeting was ad
dressed by S. Y. Levy and John M. Millen,
Esqrg., in reference to the great subject now agitat
ing the country—the rights of the South, and its du
ty in this crisis, in appropriate and patriotic speech
es.
The committee having returned, reported through
their Chairman the following preamble and resolu
tions :
Both the crisis and the consequently excited state
of public feeling throughout the South, demand eve-
ry where a full aud free expression of public opinion.
Hitherto the voice of submission, or of compro
mise equal to submission, has been ever loudest in
our midst, deluding the North as to the state of pub
lic sentiment in the South, nnd strengthening the arm
of the oppressor to acts of further aggression. The
occasion now calls for a more decisive stand, audit
behooves all who believe submission has ceased to be
a virtue, nnd a further surrender of their rights to ben
disgrace to themselves and a crime against posterity,
calmly, yet firmly, to speak in the clearest accents of
warning to the ear oi the aggressor.
We believe the prevalent opinion now throughout
the South to be that the Senate’s Compromise, is no
compromise at all. It takes from us the whole of
California with its almost illimitable boundaries, and
leaves New Mexico aud Utah to be the subjects of a
like fradulent admission to State sovereignty, during
tlie next session of Congress. It seeks to bribe Tex
as to a surrender ofa vast portion of her slave Territory
for the purpose of annexing it to a jurisdiction where
it will inevitably become free soil. It abolishes the
slave trade in the District of Columbia, a district
wh ich as trust property is common to the Union,
and finally tends to practice a deception upon the
South by making a matter of Compromise of tlie
clear Constitutional right which we have to the aid
of Congress in recovering our fugitiveelavctt.
Feeling therefore that the Senate’s adjustment in
stead of closing, will widen the breach between the
North nnd South.
It is therefore Resolved, That we fully endorse the
positions assumed in the resolutions passed by the
patriotic assembly lately convened at Nashville, and
tender to the members thereuf our warmest grati
tude for the dignity, firmness and ability with which
they discharged the duties that devolved upon them.
Resolved, That iu agreeing totaketheMissouriCom-
promise, we do so only because such a basis has
been heretofore acquiesced in as a means of preserv-
ing the Union.
Resolved, That any Compromise that yields more
on the part of tlie South than the Missouri Compro
mise, or of which that Compromise is not tlie basis,
is oppressive nnd degrading to the slaveholding
States as equals with the North in the Confederacy,
and ns binding one portion of the Confederacy to a
state ol abject dependence upon the other.
Resolved, That under the present circumstances
of the country and the known want of a proper re
presentative population within its borders, the ad
mission of New Mexico, ns a.State, would justity the
most extreme measures on the part of the South.
Resolved, That the course pursued in Congress
by our Senntors atid several of the Representatives
lrom this State, upon the slavery question, and espe
cially by the Hon. John McPherson Berrien, and
the Hon. Joseph W. Jackson, prove them warm
and devoted patriots, worthy the confidence of the
whole South and the esteem and approbation of their
immediate constituents.
The f.Chnirinan then announced the Preamble
and Resolutions as reported, to be before the meet
ing and open for discussion. The resolutions as
reported by the Committee, were then udvoented
by John Bilbo Esq, Dr. R. D. Arnold, and Ed
ward J. Harden Esq., in eloquent and appro
priate addresses, fully sustaining and supporting
laid resolutions. Alter which the preamble and
resolutions, were unanimously adopted by the meet
ing.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
published in the papers ofthe city, and that a copy of
the same be transmitted to tlie lion. John McPherson
Berrien and William C. Dawson, our Senators in
Congress, nnd to tlie lion. Joseph W. Jackson, our
Representative, to be laid before the Senate nnd House
id Representat v.;s.
Resolved, That the thanks of this meoting be ten-
d, r , „. to tlle Chairman ami Secretary for the able
and efficient manner in which they have discharireil
their several duties.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
JAMES P. SCREVEN, Chairman.
Montgomery Cumming, Secretary. *
Storm at the North.
The storm of which we gave an account in yester
day’s paper, and which wns so destructive of life
and property in Philadelphia, extended farther north.
In the New York papers of Saturday, we have ac
counts of its ravages in that city and vicinity. Rools
of houses, chimneys, awnings, telegraph posts, and
trees were blown down, and much damage done
to buildings in the city. Walls of new buildings
were prostrated in New York and Brooklyn, and the
shipping in the harbor sustained considerable injury.
Several vessels outside of the Hook were blown
ashore, nnd the corn and other crops on Long Island
were destroyed, It is feared that the gale which
prevailed during Thursdny night and extended over
n broad area of country, bus caused sad disasters at
Sea.
At Newark, N. J,, tlie distinction of property was
very great, and accounts from the river towns as far
up as Albany speak of serious damages from the
storm. It is probable that it extended as far as Bos
ton.
Invading Yankee Land.—Cotton goods manufac
tured 111 Alabama have been recently sold in the Bos-
ton market, right next to Lowell. This competition
with the North is much more sensible than threaten
ing disunion.—Newark (N. J.) Adv.
it the Yankees will let us alone, they willhearno
threats ol disunion, and we will supply them with
cotton goods in the bargain. ,
The Steamers?—There are two steamers now
due, and hourly expected, with later advices from
Europe—the Atlantic, with dates to the 10th, and the
Asia to the 13th inst. We learn that the telegraphic
wires between this city and Augusta were down yes
terday, which probably wus the cause of the non-re
ceipt in this city of advices by the above steamers.
t^-A letter in the New Orleans True Delta, dated
Helena, Arkansas, July 14, says:
“ The cotton crop of this State is unusually back-
ward tor the season. With one exception, I hnve
not seen a good patch in this (Phillips) County.”
A Canadian Priest, who has recently been making a
tour oi the States, estimates tlie number ot Canadians
now in the States, ntnot less than 200,000; nnd he
supposes that unless measures are adopted to check
hU emigration, there will be, in ten years, double
tins number in the U. S. ’
t3T Rev. Dr. C.of Boston, said, recently, in nuewer
•4>r/J lt n Cr P t, r, ^°'iu g §f5 lcman who “'ked Min
ium ( ' rtercnce between the pussy-
ism they talk so much about aud puppyism ?“ ‘-Pup.
lathi’ catechism n " ded ° n dogm otism -' «“<> P“<*»yism
We think both of them owe their origin to a dog-
Is Advance of the Telegraph!
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER ATLANTIC I
FOUR DAYS EATER FROM EUROPE!
ADV ANCE IN COT TON.
Attempted ANNiiNMiimtion of the President
of France!
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE <
[By mail last night, we received tlie Baltimore Sun
of Monday, from which we extract the following tel-
egraphic account of the news brought by the steam
er Atlantic.]
New-York, July, 21—P. M.
The new and splendid American etenmer Atlantic,
of the Collins line, arrived here this morning, with
four days later advices from Europe. She made toe
run from dock to dock, leaving Liverpool on tho 10th
instant, in the very short period of ten days and (if-
teen hours.
Tho royal mail steamer Canada arrived at Liver
pool ou the 7th inst., (Sunday) ut 6 A. M. Her advi
ces caused an advance of j per lb in cotton and au
active trade.
Tho duke of Cambridge, the paternal undo of
Qneen Victoria died recently. This sad occurrence
together with the death of Sir Robert Peel, has not
only Jeriously effected her Majesty, but all England.
France.—A man named George Alfred Wulker, re.
ceutly made an attempt to assassinate tile President
of France. He was, however, foiled in the attempt,
and failed in producing any injury. The presump-'
tion is that he wus laboring under partial mental a-
lienatlon.
The Duchies and Denmark. It is now looked upon
as.highiy probable that hostilities will arise between
the army of tlie Duchies and that of Denmark. A
number of tlie surrounding villages nreulready filled
with troops, and warlike preparations ure every where
apparent.
The Markets—Liverpool July 10IA.—Tho advices
brought by tlie Canada have caused a further advance
of jifper lb. iu all descriptions of Cottbn, nnd pro
duced quite an active market. The snles during the
four past days amount to 54,000 bales, ot whienthe
trade took 25,000 and speculators 29,000 bales. The
importations since Thursday are 14,797 American
5,341 Egyptian, 34 Westlndiee, and 6,567 East Indies',
tnuking in all 26,739 bales.
London Money Market, July 9.—Tho money mar
ket is considered easier. Consols closed to-day at
95} for money, and 97 for account.
American Securities.—Tho demand for American
securities is not so active, nnd they now rule dull
without any special change in quotations.
Correspondence of the Daily Morning Newt,
New-York, July 19, 1850.
We were not quite sure that we should not have
been blown out of our beds last niglit; for such
a hurricane as visited our city about midnight, play
ing its fantastic tricks with window panes, trees, aw
nings, &c., I scarcely ever remember. The city, this
morning, presents a curious appearance. The beau
tiful trees that adorned the streets, and agrconbly
shaded tlie houses, were either prostrated or entirely
stripped of ihe*'- branches. Large trees in the Park
were snapped in the thickest part of tlie trunk. Even*
awning posts, unable to bear the strain of canvass
broke like so many sticks, and thee unvass was flap-
ping in strips on the sidewalks. Houses were blown
down ; indeed such a scene of devastation is rarely
witnessed. I much fear that the moat melancholy
accounts will reach us from the coast. Several ves
sels are ashore outside of Sandy Hook ; and, as the
hurricane extended over a large space, the conse
quences will be proportionately calamitous.
The funeral pageantin honor of Gen. Taylor wasto
hnve taken place to-day in Brooklyn, and great pre
parations have beeu made; but the roughness of the
weather will, I presume, cause a postponement until
Monday, which, being the dHy before our pageant,
will probably render that of our neighbors less im
posing.
There wasno little sensation to-day at the announce
ment of the sale by the Sheriff of St. Peter’s (Catho
lic) Church, in Barclay street. It is decidedly the ar
istocratic church of that persuasion, and will doubt
less be bought in. The building originally cost about
$90,000, and is mortgaged for some 70, or $80,000.
A libel suit Is on trial to-day in the Court of Com
mon Pleas. George Wilkes, of the Police Gazette, it
the plaintiff, and James Gordon Bennett, of the her
ald, defendant. Damages are laid at $1.0,000, Ben-
net, in his article about the Drury affair, connected
the name of Wilkes with it in such a way as to lead
to the impression that he was one of the same char
acter, and intimately connected with Drury, Bristol
Bill, nnd others of the gang.
A statement of the number of emigrants that hate
arrived at this port yearly for the last fourteen yeari,
shows that in 1835 it was only 35,303; in 1846,115,-
290; in 1847, 166.H0; in 1848,191,909; and in 1849.
221,799. The number for the first half of 1850 wsi
97,575; and this month we have hud already about
20,000.
i have just heard that two ships were driven on
shore at Quarantine last night, and one on Bedlow'i
Island, in tlie liny, where they now remain.
We lately cam e near having a practical illustratioa j
of the incident forming the subject of that popular
song, “ The Mistletoe Bough,” in which a lady disap- j
peered on thb night ol her marriage, while playinj j
hide and seek :—the skeleton wus found many ye&n I
afterward in achest that closed with a spring. 8omi |
boys were pluying the same guinBihere, a*fewd»Ji|
since, when one ot them jumped into a chest that F
closed in the some way, and when happily discover-j
ed was nearly dead.
A very excellent site for a theatre has been fixed 5
upon in Broadway, close to Broome Street, on tbs |
fashionable or promenading side, and the work 91
commenced, lt is to be built for Brougham, audio I
be completed in October next, it Is said. . We bare!
more theatres now than are wanted. Museums ar<|
the best property, for some people who have a hoi)I
horror sit a theatre will go to a museum and wituoki
the same performances, and by a regular theatric j
company, too. “ What's in a name?” I guess Bu f
a uni knows as well ns most people.
CHARLE.MAC.
A Mammoth Printing Press.—Messrs Hoe St Co,djL
New York city, are constructing a printing mscliiMji
for the "Sun" newspiiper, of that city, capable of thru*!
tng out from fifteen to twenty thousand copies p^T
hour. It will be thirty-three feet long, with eif :: jf
printing cylinders, and its cost will be not far fro»fl
$21,000.
The Delegates from Desere*.—'The Housed
'Representatives Oil Saturday refused by a large #*|
jority to admit Almon W. Babbitt as a delegate!]
Congress from the “State of Deseret.”
: 5P™ Mr. Custis was one of the twenty grey -"’'-a
*d pall bearers at Gen. Taylor’s funeral, and " f
an epaulette once Gen. Washington's, which lie
worn on several previous occasions, for the last
yen rs.
EF- Col. Taylor walked at the head ofthe ninu r, |
ers at Gen. Taylor’s funeral, and Richard, the Pi*
dent s son followed. Col Bliss was also in that R
of the procession, but none of the ladies were thf
IF* The Rochester Advertiser says that about te
hundred United Stutes troops passed through t
city a day or two since, on their way- to Santa Fe.'
Mexico.
JF* A rascal, on trial imLexington, Ky-
picked hia lawyer’s pocket of * silver watch wb*!
was making a speecli to the jury in his favor.
EF* Mr. W. L. Garrison, in a lecture <® '
hobby, at Providence, the other evening, took
siou to speak very kindly of Genera) Taylor. TtM
more than he has done of Gen. Washington- I
Fash:o -is of Japanese. It is said that if J
islands ot Japun a change in the fashion of ^ rc !'j
not occurred during a period of two thousand
hundred years. •
R3F FcmSJo Medical Education Socistf
boon organized at Roston, under an act of sncotT
tion granted by the Massachusetts Legislature (
have already established a medical school forJ
ucation of frmuies