Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

r. DeWOLF R. J Y YRINQTON....T. GILBERT THOS. GILBERT & CO., liiditors and. Proprietors. SUBSCRIPTIONS. Kr one year, payablein advance $2 00 Fornix mouths, payablein advance 1 25 ADVERTISEMENTS. Advertisement* will be inserted in tlie Weekly Sun at one dollar per square (ten lilies nr les* in uonpareil typo,) for the first insertion, and (ifty cents for each subsequent insertion of the -aine Professional and other card* not exp< edinjr five linos, inserted six months for eight dollar*, or for twelve months at fourteen dollar*. AnDOuncementsof candidate* for a time not ex ceeding three months, five dollars; for all time over three months, at the rate of two dollars per mouth —pay required in advance. Thursday December 27, 1859. The number of slaves in Kentucky in 1840 was 104,817 ; in 1853, 207,555; in 1859, 208.634. Increase during last year, 1,076. +. The New York Journal of Commerce states that the old anil highly respectable house of Van Brant & Watrous, engaged in the provision and pork-packing busi ness, has been obliged to suspend. Senator Hammond. This gentleman, who has been detained from Washington by indisposition, is re ported to have expressed the intention to resign at the close of the present session of Congress. , , High Priee for IVegroes. The Wilmington (N. O.) Datty .jfowraal of the 17th says a negro man 23 years old, 6 feet 2 inches in height, weighing 221 pounds, well muscled and a good cooper and field hand, was sold fur $1,650. ♦ Imports of Dry Goods. The imports of foreign dry goods %t New York for the current week amount to $2,842,229, making $107,724,992 since the Ist of January last. They have been larger than for any previous week since the middle of August. Montgomery Officers—Salaries. The salary annexed to Mayor of Mont gomery is $1500; City Clerk, $1200; Marshal, $1000; Deputy Marshal S9OO ; Treasurer, $400; Captain of Police, $800; Keeper of Hospital and Magazine, $500; Wharfingersl2oo; Hospital Phy sician, SSOO. Land Warrants. The New York letter of the Savannah Republican of the 17th, says land war rants continue depressed and difficult to sell; under the impression that the lloin stead bill will become a law. The nomi nal quotations for IGO’s are G 8 to 72, 120’s 70 to 75, 80’s 88 to 92, and 40’s 105 to 110. Steamboat Explosion. The Louisville Courier chronicles the total loss of the steamer Michigan by the explosion < f all her boilers, at New Mad rid, on the Mississippi river, on Friday last. By the disaster, the engineer was killed, and six or seven others fatally wounded. The explosion was so terrific that the boat was ‘ literally blown to pieces, and sunk almost immediately. A Duel oil tlie Tapis. By the Overland Mail which arrived at St. Louis the 17th, we learn there was considerable excitement in political cir cles in tlie State, because of a challenge which had passed between Judge Miller of Shasta county, and James Gallagher, District Attorney of Trinity county. The preliminaries of the meeting were being arranged when the mail left. Negro Stealing. The Savannah Republican of Wednes day says : “A man giving his name as Allen W. Davis, was arrested yesterday by Special Policeman M. Peyton, on the charge of stealing two negroes, tlie prop erty of T. Ilookcr, of Wayne county. lie was carried before Justice Felt, wboeant mitted liim, and also the negroes to jail, for futher examination.” State of Alabama vs. State of Georgia- Supreme Court. U. S. This case, involving the Western bound ary of Alabama, was argued in the Su preme Court on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of this month by Mr. Phillips, for the complainant, and Gov. McDonald and 0. C. Gibson for the defendant. Judge Dar gun submitted a pointed argument for Alabama. % We clip the foregoing from the Mont gomery Confederation of yesterday. It will be remembered by our readers, that Gov. McDonald and his associate counsel were recently in Washington and were admitted into the Supreme Court of the United States. ♦- Air. Ashmore’s Statement. In a late debate in the House of Rep resentatives at Washington, Mr. Ash more, representative from one of the Dis tricts of South Carolina, made a state ment concerning the detection and arrest of an abolition agent in his District, aud the discovery of papers connecting seve- | ral other persons with the object of his i ngency, which is said to be the circula tion of Helper’s “Impending Crisis of the South.” The Richmond Dispatch says Mr. Ashmore’s denunciation of this criminal was received with “derisive laugh ter” by the Republicans of the House, and •‘hisses” from fbe galleries. — —- A Practical Resolve. The Richmond Dispatch of Thursday says the citizens of Alexandria assembled in large numbers, on Thursday night, and among other resolutions adopted one pledging themselves to use aud wear no article of apparel not manufactured iu Virginia; and to buj’ all their hats, caps, boots, shoes, and clothing, at home, nud of home manufacture, aud induce their wives aud daughters to do the same ; aud requesting the d.rectors of the several rail road companies to pursue the same policy with reference to all articles re quired by their respective roads. This is what may be called bringing the mat ter to a practical issue, anJ we hope the Alexandrians will adhere to their resolu tion. The New York Journal of Commerce of Thursday P. M., says: The demand for money has increased, and the banks are a little cautious about discounting, but we notice some heavy lines of prime endorsed paper due in Jan uary which have been taken at 6 per cent., which would not indicate any very great stringency. For the most part, however, the rate of interest for business paper is from 6J to 7i for prime, aud 8 to 10 for good signatures. Some idea may be formed of the trade of Buffalo, New Y’ork, when we look at the returns of grain importations. In 1858, up to the Ist of December, there were received of all kinds of grain, iu round numbers, 27,600,000 bushels. This year, same time, 21,000,000 bushels. Mike B- Woods, Esq., of Montgomery, has been nominated as a candidate to fill the vacancy iu the Legislature created by the resignation of M. J. Saffold, Chan cellor elect for the Southern Division of Alabama. VOLUME III.} Tile Aldermen’s Supper. We do not know whether the festivities of the Supper given by the Board of Ald j ermen Tuesday night were in pursuance ! of an established cu.-tom, or a determi j uatiuii to establish the precedent. Were joice, however, that it has been inaugu rated, and know no sufficient reason why it should not pass into the authority pf a common custom, and become a settled rule at the expiration of every successive Municipal year. V Among others we had the honor and the pleasure of participating in the fes tivities of the occasion. It was one of interest and will be long remembered by all present, for there were none who did not manifestly appreciate the refreshing relaxation from the sober realities of ev ery day life. There were preseut the Ex-Mayor, Hon. F. G. Wilkins, and the Mayor elect, the Hon. S. Holstead; the retired Board of Aldermen and their suc cessors in ofiice; the oldest as well as perhaps the youngest inhabitant; there were also representatives of the Bar (in the legal aeceptat on of and the commercial and manufacturing inter ests of the city. Many were the toasts given and re sponded to, prominent among which was those to the Ex Mayor and the present incumbent, all of which were acknowl edged in excellent spirit and style. In response to a sentiment from Alderman Croft the former was especially felicit ous. It would be an unpardonable omission, not to mention the elegant and recherche supper prepared by “mine host” of Cook’s Hotel, for the refection of the company. No one was so unjust to himself as to slight it. Towards the “wee sma’ hours, ayont the twal,” there was a gradual adjourn ment, and we went away with the hope that ill who were present would live to enjoy similar reunions for many years to come. Mobile and Girard Kail Road. The Enquirer of the 21st alluding to the article from the Union Springs Ga zette on the above Road says : We are satisfied tha the misfortunes of the road, and not the -neglect of the Pres ident, are the cause of the inefficiency complained of. The accidents which have disabled the engines of the road could not have been torseen. We learn that another engine was last week dis abled, after the appearance of the Gaz ette’s article; but we heard at the same time a report (which we presume to be the truth) that Maj. Howard was making an effort to borrow temporarily an engine or two from the Muscogee Road. We hope that he has been successful, and that very soou the road will bo enabled to do all its business with dispatch. We published the Gazette’s article on Monday, and injustice to Maj. Howard as well as ourselves will state that we did not construe the remarks of the Gazette into any reflection upon his efficiency, without taking issue with the Enquirer. We take ,the occasion to endorse all said in his defence—if any is needed—by our cotemporary. Bishop Pierce. A correspondent of the Charleston Courier, writing from New Orleans the 14th instant, says tho excellent Bishop Pierce, of the Methodist Church, had ar rived there from Texas, where he return ed, not long since, from California, via the overland route. He has been gone about a year. The Bishop, accompanied by two or three young clergymen, went to California last spring, taking Gid ding’s stages at San Antonio, and having a regular rough and tumble trip of it to San Francisco. He enjoyed it much, however, and entered into all the trials, disagreeabilities, oddities, and pleasures of tlie journey with characteristic vivacity and good nature. His rec ption in Cali fornia was most cordial, though brief, and he came back by the same route. An Omission. As our paper has a general circulation in Barbour county, Alabama, we are re quested by one of the committee (01, whom we inquired why the names of the members of the Legislature did not ap pear in the list of delegates to the State Convention.) to state that they were duly appointed, and recognized as delegates. The omission of their names in the pub lished proceedings is due altogether to the Secretary in making them out, or the printer in setting them up. Resignation of Legislators. The Federal Uniou says: Messes. Fan nin, of Troup, and Cook, of Early, on the last night of the session, tendered to His Excellency, the Governor, their res ignations as members of the General As sembly of Georgia. When information of the fact was known, resolutions highly complimentary to them both were passed unanimously by the House, to which Messrs. F. and C. responded in handsome feeling, and appropriate speeches. Mr. Fannin resigns because of his de terminuiion to remove to Alabama. Mr. Cook has been laboring under an effection of the lungs, and resigns in consequence of ill health. + The Troy Daily Arena records the death of James A. Zander, at the age of eighty years, who has beeu a prominent Whig politician and citizen of that, place. He was known as “Total Depravity Zander,” having once given the following toast at a Whig 4th of July dinner: “Gene al Andrew Jackson —His first election proved the downward tendency of the American people; his second elec tion their total depravity.” Bourcicault’a Sew Play. “The Ocroroon,” the new drama lately produced aud brought out by Dion Boui cicault, is said to conceal an insidious tbru.-t at the institutions of the South. The New York correspondent of the Charleston Courier says it draws im mensely well, aud during the first seven nights of its performance, Bourcicault was paid $1,365, or nearly S2OO a night. More Africans Coining. The Sea Coast (Miss ) Democrat learns from good authority that a cargo of Afri can slaves is expecied in Ship Island Harbor the latter part of the present month. They will be landed without se crecy, the consignees trusting to the pre dominant sentiment of Mississippi for an acquittal, in the event of a government prosecution. A man has just been put upon the pen sion list in Belgium, says the Moniteur Beige, who was born at Chirnay of the 9th of November, 1709, and he ha3 conse ! quently attained the age of 150 years on the 9 h of last month. He entered the Belgian service in 1830, and remained in the service until put on the pension list ! in September, wheu he attained the rank ’ of captain. THE WEEKLY SUN. Sandy Cotton. That excellent and important Journal, the Boston Commercial Bulletin, has an article on the above subject, which—first e-tab ishing as a fact that thousands of bales of cotton are delivered at Liverpool that contain considerable quantities of sand, and then asserting that the best explanations yet given cannot possibly satisfy the purchtfders that this mixture is not an intentional fraud on the part of some parties handling the bales —makes the following remarks:—JV. O Picayune. So far as we understand the matter, there is certain proof of fraud on the part of some cotton factors, or of fraud on the part of some cotton planters who have interests conjoined with those of their factors. We might give some statements from Sou'hern papers corroborative of this view. Yet it cannot possibly be believed that there is, as a general thing, any con nivance on the part of cotton growers to accomplish a fraud, by sanding their cot ton. We resent, as Americans, as citi zens of our common Uuion, any such imputation upon the Southern planters, of whom we know that they are generally as jealous of their personal and collective integrity os any interest on the earth. However, we will say that we have been assured that there is at present, (and has been for the last few years,) a carelessness (not to say a wilful and sys tematic purpose.) among some planters in neglecting in their ginning operations the action of “the beater” of the gin, which, when properly operated, separ ates from cotton the sand that may natu rally have collected in it. It seems to us that the proper means to insure just transactions on a bale of cot ton, (no matter how many hands it goes through—whe her it be five or one hun dred,) is to establish a complete system of branding, (every one owning or deal ing in the bale, affixing thereto his brand,) so that if a case requires it, any bale may be traced back through each holder to its producer ; in this way it is evident that no fraud could go unpun ished. Apart from its intrinsic merits, this subject is of much importance. Our cot ton exports constitute about one-third of our whole national exports, and every circumstance that occurs to bring this staple into discredit, inflicts a serious injury both upon our national exchequer and our national character. Important from Mexico. New Orleans, Dec. 20.—The United States frigate Brooklyn arrived to-day, bringing Minister McLane and family; also 11. R. de la Reintrie, Mr. McLane’s Secretary of Legation, who bears the ratified treaty with Juarez and the United States government. The treaty was rati fled on the 14th December. It provides for a perpetual right of way across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, from the Rio Grande to Mazatlau and from Guaymas to Arizona, with warehouses at the termini of each transit. All goods between the At lantic and Pacific States are to pass free of duty, and all the goods shipped from the transit warehouses to foreign coun tries, are to be free of duty Our troops, military stores, and munitions of war are to pass through Tehuantepec and So nora the same as the Mexican. The neu trality of the transit is guarantied by both governments. The United States, with or without the consent of Mexico, proposes the right to protect the transit and property by force. Perfect religious freedom admitted, and no forced loan allowed. The Bearer of the Treaty. New Orleans, Dec. 20.—H. R. de la Reiutrie, Mr. McLane’s Secretary of Le gation, and bearer of the ralified treaty, left to-day for Washington City. Congressional. Washington, Dec. 19.— Seriate. —Hon. Benj Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, was elec ted President pro. tem. of the Senate, on the first ballot. The resolution of Mr. Pugh, of Ohio, to consolidate the territorial government of New Mexico and Utah was debated. House. —ln the House to-day, there were three ballots for Speaker—Sherman being four short of au election. After the first ballot, Mr. Bocock withdrew his name from the contest, and the Democrats voted for a dozen different candidates. Washington, Dec. 20.— Senate. —The Senate homestead bill was introduced. House. —There were three ballots for Speaker of the House to-day ; on the la t 112 were necessary to a choice. The vote stood as follows : Sherman 109 Boteler 38 McClernand 28 Remainder scattering. New Political Movement, Washington, Dec. 20.—A movement was initiated here last night, the object of which is to unite the leading men of all the principal points of the United States, who are not connected with the Demo cratic and Republican parties, in forming anew party, on the basis of the Union, the Constitution, and tho execution of the laws. Senator Crittenden, of Ken tucky, was chairman of the meeting.— Another meeting will be held to-night. Extensive Robbery. New York, Dec. 16.—The extensive jewelry store of Messrs. Demprey & Far go, of this city, was robbed of nearly all its oontenls last uight. Four lads, to gether with the clerk, were arrested. Goods to the amount of SIO,OOO were sub sequently recovered. Fatal Shooting Affray. Columbus, Miss., Dec. 16.—A street fight, occurred here last night between James Blair and Dr. Wm. M. Shepherd, us Texas, formerly Secretary of the Navy of that Repnblic. Shepherd was shot and almost instantly killed. America’s Mail. Boston. Dec. 19. The mails by the steamship America leave for the South in the morning. Savannah Ship Newt. Savannah, Dec. 20.—The ship Boadis cea. from Malta, and the brig Rebecca and Frances, arrived at this port to-day. -———♦ Special Dispatch to the Charleston Courier. Camden Races. Camden, Dec. 16.—There were three entries for to-day’s race, viz: Congiree, Mr. Moored filly, by Red Eye; Mr Can tey’s Albion, by Jeff Davis. The race was won by Congaree, in two heats, the tidSe being 3:53 —3:58. For the second race there were four entires, viz : Mr. Puryear’s Macou ; Mr. Cantey’s Florida mare ; Mr. Moore’s colt Delphini; and Messrs. Manning and Richardson’s colt Wanderer. The race was won by Macon. ♦ The Charleston Courier chronicles the death of Capt. Soubiates, in Boston, the 14th instant. He was well known in the former city, having been engaged in the trade with the West Indies for years. A marriage was celebrated at Walling ford, Connecticut, lately, at the residence of the bridegroom’s father, in the pres ence of a great-great-grandmother, great grandfather, great-grandmotber, grand father, grandmother, father, mother, and children—in all forty-one of one family. COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 27,. 1859. The Central Rail Road. From the report of the President and Directors of the Central Rail Road and Banking Company of Georgia to the stock holders, the sth inst., we learn that the cash received from the Road has been $1,645,554 09; from Bank, SBI,OBO 72. The same has been disposed of as fol lows : Paid road expenditures...s79-1.343 46 Paid Bank expenses 14.651 92 Paid interest on Bonds 11,994 70 Dividends declared 600,000 00 Appropriated to Depot Buildings 120,000 00 Carried to Reserve 185,644 83 The reserve fund is now $702,720 15, but subject to the payment of $28,000 annual rent of the line from Gordon to Eatonton. The balance uncollected of earnings for year ending 30ih November, 1858, as shown in tbe last report, was $99,166 95 Tl.erehas beencollected of the same.. 99,087 98 Leaving balance due S7B 97 There has been collec'ed from earn ings of year ending 30th Novem ber, ultimo, the sum of $1,546,466 21 leaving uncollected the sum of sß7r -581 59. Os 6,930 shares of stock in the New York and Savannah Steamship Company, the Central Rail Road and Banking Com pany own 4,420 shares. It has, to a very large extent, assisted other Companies, and helped, more than any other Rail Road Company, to build up the present system of roads. It paid near half a mil lion towards the building of the South Western Road—it paid SIOO,OOO towards the Augusta and Savannah Road*—thirty thousand dollars to bring the Montgomery and West Point Road into Georgia—it subscribed the whole iron for the line from Gordon to Eatonton—it has paid, for the most part, for the valuable lines of steamships between this port and New York; lines established by Georgia Char ters; and it has granted aid by endorse ment to the South Western Road, the Mus cogee Road and the Mobile and Girard Road to the extent of over $400,000. The Accident near Tuskcgce. For years there have been two stage or omnibus lines between Tuskegee and Cbehaw, on the Montgomery and West Point Rail Road. The opposition between them has not only been a source of an noyance, but of danger to the traveling community. The accident which has lately occurred, causing the death of Campbell, one of tbe drivers, was caused by a race between the two coaches. A passenger in Campbell’s coach informed us yesterday that one of his traveling companions was severely, if not danger ously wounded, while he himself made a narrow escape. It is hoped that for the future, passengers to and from Tuskeget will be free from the annoyances to which the rivalry between tbe stage lines to Chehaw has subjected'them. Vigilance Movements. The citizens of Burke county, in this State, have formed a Committee of Vigi lance. In Chester, S. C., the Town Council have appointed a similar committee. At Lowrysville, in the same State, two individuals named Hailey were ordered to lease the State, having avowed themselves abolitionists ; and at Yorkville one James McFarland, who confessed himself one, was required to leave the District. A meeting of the citizens of Montgome ry was held Tuesday to form a Vigilance Committee, and adjourned to meet again last night. Horrible Death. The Eufaula Express says a Miss Glass, residing a few miles from that place, was suddenly killed on Friday last, under the following circumstances : She had gone under a gin-house during the rain to milk a cow, when the house fell, crushing her to death instantly. A large beam fell di rectly across her, which had to be cut away before the body could be extricated. New Orleans and Direct Trade. The New Orleans Crescent states that sixty-seven ships are loading there for Liverpool, sixteen for Havre, and sixteen for other foreign ports. Sixty-four of the principal brokers and cotton buyers of that city have acquiesced in the reso lution published in the Price. Current of November 16th, which went into effect Monday, the 12th inst. The Georgia Depository. The Book Committee of the Georgia Conference, in session at Rome, made a report the 16th, with regard to the busi ness of the Book Depository, which we find in the Banner and Baptist extra. Within the post eleven months over S2O, 000 worth of books have been sold, the net profits on the year’s business being about $3,500. Patriotic Movemeut. The ladies of Isle of Wight County, Va., have pledged themselves not to use or buy any commodity of merchandize which shall, after a certain period, be obtained north of Mason and Dixon’s line. The ladies of Mecklenburg county, N. C., are about to adopt the same resolution. At a meeting of the stockholders of the Central Rail Road and Banking Com pany, held in Savannah the 20th, a reso lution was adopted authorizing the Presi dent to cause to be erected on a part of the depot grounds, or elsewhere if more agreeable to the family of the deceased, a marble monument to the memory of the Hon. W. W. Gordon, the first President of the Road. Burglary. We learn from the Montgomery Mail of Monday that the house of Attorney General Baldwin was burglariously en tered Sunday night. The burglar snatched his “unmentionables” &c., and ran, but dropped them as the Col. awoke. Messrs. James M. Taylor & Son, pop ular Richmond auctioneers, sold at the Fulls plantation, Chesterfield, a few days since, forty five negroes, consisting of men, women and children, for $44,935 —being an average of $991 80. The Central Alabamian published at Elyton states that work has been com menced on the N. E. and S. W, Rail Road in Jefferson County. The N. E. terminus of this Road is at Chattanooga. ♦- During the fiscal year ending last JuDe, and the quarter ending with September, there were 4.970.093 acres of public lands sold, bringing $2,107,476. The cash re ceipts were less than last year, but more acres were disposed of, owing to the ope ration of the graduation act of 1854. In addition to the quantity sold, 6,318,203 acres were certified to certain States for rail road purposes ; 3.617,440 acres were located in bounty land warrants, and 1,712,040 acres approved under swamp grant acts. The Southern Field and Fireside. From all indications this enterprise seems to be rapidly establishing itself upon a firm basis, and we are gratified to believe that its success will soon be reduced to a certainty. Ihe proprietor, acting upon the aphorism of Richelieu, tvidentlv knows “no such word as fail.” The several departments are efficiently edited, and the corps of literary contrib utors rank with the first writers in point of ability and attainments. It is a shame and foul blot upon the escutcheon of the South, that when an enterprise of this kind is originated at home, the first pre dictions of failure emenate from the same source. The Southern Field and Fire : side has been rendered worthy of pat ! ronage, and is the only enterprise of the kind that appeals to Southern support. It rests with the South to decide whether it shall be sustained. we have no home literature, is due entirely to the in excusable indifference and neglect of our own people. That of the North has been nourished in a great measure by the South. We do not ask that the South should imitate the example of Dana, who ignored Southern poets and poetry, for talent is cosmopolitan in its nature, and should meet the same homage every where, though its productions are indi genous even to the soil-of the North, provided they be not poisoned with aboli tionism and conceal no insidious thrust at our domestic institutions; but we do protest igainst the suicidal policy of ag grandizing Northern at the expense of Southern literature. Though every simi lar enterprise has heretofore ended in failure, we sincerely hope for the honor of the South, that the Southern Field and Fireside will be made oue exception to the general rule. Union meetings at tlie Nortli. The great demonstration for the Union came off at the Academy of Music, New York, on Monday night. The Journal of Commerce says there were 20,000 signa tures to the call for the meeting. At Hartford and New Haven, the night of the 14th, there were also large Union Meetings held. Upwards of 1,000 per sons attended the former, and preceding the latter 33 guns were fired, one for each State in the Union. We think the pocket nerve of our Union saving friends is beginning to be touched. If the South had submitted passively to the recent outrage on her soil, we should never have heard of Union Mass Meet ings in the North ; but after the indig nity has been offered, a sudden reaction of feeling manifests itself. The misfortune of the South is that such expressions of sentiment always come too late. Insult and outrage come and sympathy always lags behind. When the staple of Northern love for the Union amounts to something more than ill-timed resolutions, and her Rep resentatives know no law higher than the Constitution and the Bible, then we may repose some confidence in, and derive consolation from their demonstrations. Anti-Lecompton Congressmen. In the House of Representatives there are eight Douglas or Anti-Lecompton Democrats, all of whom are Representa tives from Northern States. A recapitu lation of the vote for Speaker, shows that three, and probably more, have gone over to the Black Republicans and support Sherman for Speaker. Mr. Douglas may be with the South in the contest, but his followers are in very suspicious compa ny. As three have their hand,” we may not be surprised if the remain ing five should follow their example and merge with the Black Republicans. Their votes are very scattering. A Learned Bull. At the Alhambra Palace, London, an educated bull, who has received the dis tinguished appellative of “Don Juan,” nightly displays some extraordinary feats. At the bidding of his master, Mr. Dan Castello, he leaps through hoops and over hurdels, rubs his nose upon the floor, kneels down, or limps about on three legs to imitate lameness, stands up on a pedestal in the most picturesque of attitudes, and finally permits himself to be hoisted on a shutter and so carried around the circus on the shoulders of a number of men whom he views the while with an air of conscious dignity worthy of a county member on the day of his “chairing.” How the House Looks. The members of the last Congress, at the close of the session, ordered the re moval of the desks in the House. There has been some difference of opinion as to the utility of this change. “Ion,” the correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, says the appearance of the House on Mon day was very interesting. The galleries were thronged by an orderly and good looking crowd. The members while the roll was called, kept their seats, and looked more like a grave, calm and de liberative body than they ever did before under the old arrangement. The scats will if tried long enough, he says, never be exchanged for the old plan of chairs and desks. —. The jewel box of an Egyptian Queen, which was found in one of the King’s tombs in Egypt, has been taken to Paris, and has excited considerable attention. The workmanship is spoken of as most elaborate and exquisite in design and ex ecution, and cannot be surpassed by the artists of the present day. A small gold crown is particularly well made, as also a thick gold chain six feet in length. A beautiful chiseled gold plate contains a male portrait, evidently that of the King ♦ The Philadelphia Ledger mentions a singular fact in connection with the recent coal oil discoveries in Pennsylvania. In many places in the valley of Oil Creek, the ground is covered with pits, hundreds and. thousands of them, evidently dug for the purpose of gathering oil, and at a pe riod so remote that trees 250 years old are growing over them. The query is, by whom were these pits dug, and for what purpose was the oil gathered? Daring Burglary. The confectionary of Mr. Burrus was entered on Monday night last, the iron chest taken out, carried into an alley near by, forced open, and some S2OO in cash extracted from it. There was a box con taining watches belonging to another gentleman in the chest, only two of which were taken. From the manner in which the thing was done, we judge the perpe trators were adepts in the business.— Eufaula Express, 22d. ♦ There are, on an average, nine thou sand pianos, manufactured in the United States, per year, their production giving employment constantly to one thousand nine hundred persons, and costing over two millions of dollars. We ought to be a musical people. It makes a great difference whether glasses are used over or under the nose If the former, the person can see and go straight ahead—if the latter, the head is rather apt to go where it can’t see at all. A glass before the eyes, is apt to make a man a philosopher—one before the mouth will most likely make him a fool. The Culture of Cotton in Africa. Mr. Henry Venn, long a resident of Africa, furnishes, in a letter to the Lon don Times, the following succinct history of the cultivation of cotton on the West coast. More than twenty years ago, a mer chant of Manchester incurred a conside rable outlay in the cultivation of cotton upon the Gold Coast, and in preparing it for the English market, but the attempt failed. In 1850, Mr. Clegg, of Manches ter, through the Church Missionary So ciety, sent out cotton seed, cotton clean ing machines, and funds for native farm ers. At Sierra Leone, where there was 1 ttle land suitable for cotton cultivation, tne experiment has not been successful, although some cotton has been received from thence, and an impulse has been given which may create a trade. But in the Bight of Benin, and in the cotton growing Yoruba country, which extends from the coast to the neighborhood of the Niger, and contains a population of not less than 3,000,000, famous for enter prise and trading skill, with well supplied home markets and abundant water car riage, there has been more success. The first consignment of 500 pounds wa# sold in Manchester in 1852 at 4Jd. per pound ; and other lots followed, which realized higher prices. The slave mart of Lagos, which threat ened the trade, being abolished, and La gos converted into an open port for legit imate commerce, communication was ob tained by water with the native town of Abbeokuta, 60 miles inwards, with a pop ulation of 100,000. Here missionaries were settled and an industrial institution was established, at which any native might have his cotton cleaned, packed, and sent to Lagos for shipment to Europe, upon fixed and moderate charges. Na tive chiefs and small farmers equally availed themselves of this benefit and committed their cotton to the care of the institution, being content to wait till the cotton should be sold in Manchester, and the goods they might choose to order could be transmitted to them. In the six years, 1852-7 inclusive, the quantities have been—l,Blo, 4,617, 1,588, 1,651 11,492 and 35,510 pounds. After 1857 the cotton was sent to England through several channels, though principally by the Abbeokuta institution, which for the last two years has transmitted monthly more than 100 bales, or 150,000 pounds annually. The Abbeokuta institution is conduct ed by native agency, superintended by two young negroes educated in England —one by Mr. Clegg, who has supplied capital to the amount of more than i>2,000, for experiments in machinery, and boating conveyance over a heavy surf; but not money aid has been given to native traders, the business being done on mercantile terms, commission charged on sales and purchases, and interest cal culated on outlay. In quality the cotton is similar to Middling Orleans, sometimes fetching a higher price; and an average fractional difference of price in favor of New Orleans, in 1857, is to be attributed to superior cleaning. Native farmers have purchased at £5 each and upwards a large number of cleaning machines to clean their cotton, sending It to the in stitution to be pressed, packed and shipped. A few have purchased screw presses, costing from £6O to £BO, and thus prepare their own bales for the Manchester market. Numerous chiefs in the Interior are inviting the traders to establish cotton factories or industrial in stitutions in their towns. Touching Glasses iu Drinking. A writer iu the Historical Magazine for November, thus attempts to explain the origin of the habit of touching glasses in drinking: One branch of my ancestry was Scotch, and devoted adherents to Charles Stuart. While a boy my father possessed a heavy cut-and-thrust basket hiked sword, which one of the Richardson family, tuy father’s maternal ancestor, had used at Culloden. From him this tradition descended to the family as to touching glasses indiinking. When, after the failure of the expedi tion of the so called Pretender, Prince Charles, in 1715, that Prince crossed to France, his supporters were beset with spies on every hand; and it frequently happened that they were placed in situa tions when, they could not with safety re fuse to respond to the common toast. —“The health of the King.” It was un derstood between the faithful, that when the “King was drunk, it was “the king o’er the water,” and to express this, sym bolically, one glass was then passed over another. This, in time, was modified to the salient touching of the glasses. In the lower part of South Carolina and in Virginia, generally settled with cavaliers, the habit has prevailed and spread wher ever their descendants have gone in the South and West. It is the habit of men to-day, in drinking, to touch glasses inva riably—but I have never known the cus tom explained by any one else. You may rely upon this being its true exposition. A Ball Swindle. We are on the progressive road in Montgomery. Burglaries are as common as blackberries in season, and other little rascalities are numerous. So far, we had escaped confidence games, and “thimble rigging.” But yesterday we had a speci men of the ball game. A couple of scamps got into a bet in the street on a ball, one offering a large wager that the ball was not hollow ; but having no money, pulled out two checks on New Orleans lor three thousand dollars each, and induced a by stander to advance him $3,000 on them, the amount of the wager with the ball holder. The money was lost, of course— the scamps ran off together, of course— and the New Orleans checks were not “worth a continental,” of course. We did not learn the name of the victim, but he was a stranger in our city. Every ex ertion was being made last evening to catch the scoundrels, and we hope they were or will be overhauled. Since penning the above we learn the old gentleman who lost the money was moving to Louisiana; that the money was if not entirely in gold; that he transferred to the rogues a bag, containing not only the whole amount of his own money, but also about S6OO belonging to another par ty who had given it to him for safe keep ing. The victim lost every cent of cash he bad, and was heard to say he would have to sell a negro to obtain funds to continue his journey.— Montg. Confedera tion, 22 and. Harriage of Hr. Coyne. Henry F. Coyne Esq , one of our junior associates in the Mail, was yesterdtfy married, by the Rev. I. T. Tichenor, to Mrs. Louisa C. Macon, of this city, and with his bride departed, on a short pleas ure trip, to Mobile, New Orleans, etc., on. the fine steamer St. Charles, which left yesterday afternoon. We are usually opposed to very young men’s rushing into matrimony, but when as in the case of our associate, an old “head sits on young shoulders,” we feel sure that the happiness of individuals and the interests of society will both be promoted by the act of annexation. We therefore bid the happy couple “God speed” on the ocean of married life—may their bark find only favoring gales and safe harbors; and may the issue of Coyne prove of the right metal, and fully equal to all the demands of the country.— Montgomery Mail, 21 st. Brown Sympathy Meeting In New York. New York, Dec. IG. —The anti-slavery fanatics and abolitionists held a Brown sympathy meeting here last evening.— The proceedings were very noisy and riotous. At one time it was feared there would be bloodshed, but the polite inter fered and quelled the disturbance. {NUMBER 37. The Management of the Voice. I am only relating the simple fact when I say that almost every error in the use of my poor lungs, throat, palate, tongue, teeth, stomach and nasal organ had their day with me; and rarely do 1 hear a clergyman read but I recognize one or more of the same blunders. A common fault in reading is the monotone; ams when, as I sometimes hear, there is this drowsiness of tone added to a “drift, or see saw of measured cadences, at the same time, why then even the whole tune of “lullaby, baby,” itself cannot be com pared to such soothing sounds for rock ing the cradle of the hearer’s brains Now, reading in a church wants so much breath, you cannot afford to waste any. The labor is so great to the vocal organs you cannot afford to tire them needless ly. The voice required is loud ; you can not afford to lose any of the aids of into uation, articulation, or reverberation. — Iu one word, your lungs, throat and mouth form one complicated machine. — In reading in a church these organs are applied to anew purpose, almost as dif ferent as singing is from talking; and the wisest thing a young curate can do is to take a course of lessons from a good elocution master. Nor could any benevo leut Churchman spend his money better than in maintaining a clerical reading master for the benefit of the diocese. — Many a clergyman, for want of knowing the benefit he could derive from a course of reading, inflicts a cruel drawl on his congregation, and unnecessary labor on himself. As to the clerical sore throat, the barrister and the speaker are alike free from it. The dissenting preacher is also free. It is strictly an orthodox com plaint. It comes not from talking, but from reading, and no doubt chiefly from reading badly. Though I would impress that any man may sustain injury if he reads when he has a sore throat. —Twenty years in the Church. To the Cotton Planters and tlieir Factors. Columbus, Dec., 23, 1859. There has been some complaint on ac count of the delay in transporting the cotton from the Stations. This delay was unavoidable after tlie collision of our two best engines; there was no remedy, but time to repair. It has been said that we should have procured other engines. We could have obtained one from the kindness of the President of the Musco gee Road, but upon consultation we thought it doubtful whether we could pass it over the river bridge with safety, moreover it was believed, that we could repair one of our own, as soon as we could get the Muscogee engine over and place it in running order. We have abun dance of motive power of our own and but for this accident should have bad no trouble. We are isolated, and have no ad vantage from a connection with other Roads. Had our connection with the Muscogee been completed we should not have been delayed an hour. We have now two of our freight engiues fully re paired and in perfect order, and will re lieve the Stations of all the cotton by the last of next week. J. 11. HOWARD, Pres’t M. & G. R. R. 1 Turpentine Lands. Mr. M. A. Williams, the capable and efficient Laud Agent of the Florida Rail Road Company, informed us in a recent conversation that he had sold and leased thirty thousand acres of land belonging to the alcove Company during the last three months, for turpentine purposes. These lands, from their cheapness, accessibility and adaptibility for making turpentine, are now attracting the special attention of those engaged in this business. Al most every boat brings out parties who visit the State for the purpose of examin ing these lands. Those who have made purchases are in sanguine spirits, and express greas satisfaction with regard to their future prospects. The early springs and late falls with which we are here blessed, enable the turpentine men to de vote a considerable portion of the year to the prosecution of their business than they enjoy in more Northern latitudes. — The receipt and shipment of naval stores will, next season, constitute no inconsid erable portion of the business transacted by our commission merchants. — Fernan dina Floridian, Dec., 15. In a late number of the Electic Journal, the Editor remarks that young babies of ten cry from actual thirst. Their natu ral supply is intended as food, not as drink, and makes them thirsty without quenching the thirst as a cool liquid would. They cry, he thinks, for cold wa ter. Many a mother is anxious to know what ails the little sufferer that it should cry so loudly, and, imagining it to be suffering from pain, administers some unnecessary opiate, or pain killer, when all the child needs is a few tea spoons ful of good, pure, sparkling cold water. As the experiment is a very simple and easy one, let all mothers try it first, before having recourse -to medicine. In warm weather, particularly, children may be suffering from thirst instead of pain, and a small quantity of cold water may give them immediate relief. The Caloric Engine sent us out by Messrs. Conner & Son, from the estab lishment of the Newark Machine Compa ny, has been placed in running order by Mr. John H. Taylor, Agent of the Works, and son of Mr. A. B. Taylor, the celebra ted Press Builder of New York. .Mr. Taylor will remain in this place a day or two longer and will take any orders that may offer, for Caloric Engines of the Newark Machine Company. We take pleasure in recommending him to the public. His New York address is “J. 11. Taylor, care A. B. Taylor & Cos., New York.”— Mont. Mail. The St. Louis Bulletin gives an account of a remarkable mathematical genius now in that city. He is 2G years of age and has attended school but two months in his life. He is a dull looking young man and cannot be taught anything, yet he can answer questions in arithmetic, ge ometry and trigonometry, which would puzzle the brains of scholars to work out. What he knows seems to be of intuition. Many persons have offered him large sums of money to explain his wonderful method of calculation, but he cannot do it, and thinks it a power given him espe cially by the Almighty. Shakespeare and Insanity. Dr. Brigham, the late eminent physi cian to the insane, said that Shakespeare was in himself, as great a psychological curiosity as any case of insanity he bad ever met: and he declared that the Asylum at Utica be had seen all of Shakespeare’s insane characters. “We confess, almost with shame, he says, “that although nearly two centuries and a half have passed since Shakespeare wrote King Lear, we have very little to add to his method of treating the insane as there pointed out.” Mr. J. B. Green, who was often men tioned, a few years since, in connection with his attempts to recover the safe con taining $36,000 from ‘he lost steamer Atlantic, in Lake Erie, has become a cripple and an invalid. His terrible la bors and exposures underwater resulted in a paralysis, which has reduced a strong man to an almost useless being. In or der to obtain a livelihood, he is selling a small pamphlet giving a history of his life and adventures. N. P. Willis says: The wife of John Morrissey, the prize fighter, has presen ted her husband with a little fisticuff ling—said to be a whip-stev of great promise. from the New \orfc EveuiDg Express, Texas Land Conspiracies—Judge atrwtis’ Impeachment. Supreme Court—Ciia ii>i,us-—Da vies J- —Aoeemlur 11 —Simon Mussina and another against Charles Stillman and others. The plaintiff in this case, S. Mussina, is the party who has so perseveritigly sought the impeachment of Judge Wa trous, of Texas, for his alleged combina tion with some of the defendants herein, iu the ccleb-ated Cavazos case, to betray the plaintifts and destroy their rights. Ibis action is against the parties to tho conspiracy referred,.to, with the excep tion of the Judge, who is to be proceeded against by the constitutional process of impeachment, and is brought to recover damages for the fraud of the defendants in divesting plaintiffs of their title totlie Brownsville, (Texas) town land.--and other property, involving some millions of dol lars, and for attempting to destroy the rights of said plaintiffs by a false and j fraudulent conveyance if the lands in j question to the defendants, Basse , v c Herd, j and fox- obtaining a decree iu the United States District Court for the District of Texas, in tho ease of Cavazos and wife against Stillman and others, in favor of plaintiffs, by collusion and other fraudu lent acts and contrivances. The defend ant, Charles Stillman, who is a citizen of New York, was subpoenaed as a witness at the plaintiff’s instance, under the pro visions of the code, allowing the exami nation of a party before trial; but on his examination refused to answer numerous questions, two hundred or thereabout, and pending the settlement of these in terrogatories by the Judge, he (defendant) applied for leave to go to Brownsville to attend to his interests there in the pres ent troubles and excitement on thu Texas border. This application was made on affidavits stating these troubles, &e , and was opposed by plaiutifi's, who interposed a long affidavit setting out the diligence with which they had prosecuted this ex amination, and the difficulties which had been encountered in its progress. The matter was argued at Chambers by Mr. Bradley for defendants, and Mr. Jerne gan for tdaintiffs, on whose part it was insisted that tho witness should not be allowed to leave the jurisdiction of the Court, until he had answered the ques tions to which he had refused to respond, and which might be considered as tho most material part of this examination. It appeared from the statements of counsel that the deposition, so far as it had proceeded, was filed in the Clerk’s office about tho middle of October last; and the exceptions which the witness bad refused to answer remained undisposed of, until this application was made.for the witness to absent himself until the spring term of the Court. It was stated in the plaintiff’s affidavit that he had been anx ious and ready to have these exceptions disposed of, and the examination to pro ceed, and had urged the matter both through his counsel and the attorney who had conducted the examination ou their behalf. On the 7th iiugt. an order was made for the resumption of the examina tion, and directing that, it proceed forth with, in consequence of which the plain tiff's counsel addressed the following note to the defendant’s counsel, desiring to proceed at once, and offering to lake the testimony of the witness under any cir cumstances as to place, hour of the day, &c.: SurfiEME Court — Simon Mussina and oth ers against Charles Stillman and others: Lot C. Clark, Esq —Dear Sir: We are rebuy to proceed with the examination of Mr. Stillman, according to tlie order of tho Court made this day, and Mr. Pollard is fully authorized to act for me in the examination and in making all the ar rangements as to time, place, and other wise in relation thereto. Wo will now proceed before Judge Davies, and con tinue the examination ; or, if you prefer, we will take it in one of the court rooms or at your office. But we desire to pro ceed at once. If you can not proceed now, will you have the goodness to fix an hour to-day, or to-morrow, when you can proceed? We fix the j lace in the room of the Supreme Court Chambers, but you can change it to a room in your office if you please. Yours, &c., Nov. 7th, 1859. J. L Jernegan. This offer was not accepted by defend ant’s counsel, but on obtaining this notice he applied for a re hearing of the appli cation to postpone the examination, which was set down for yesterday. The de fendant’s counsel insisted that the wit ness should not be compelled to answer the interrogatories referred to, unless, they were settled one by one by the Court, as otherwise, though the witness might answer subject to exceptions, the benefit of which he might have upon the trial, he might make exposures which would prove disastrous to his case. The plain tiffs again insisted that in a siDgle case of so much importance, involving, as was conceded, a quarter of a million of dol lars, the witness should not be permitted tovlepart from the jurisdiction, leaving his examination unfinished, and before the pith of his testimony was extracted, as in case of his death great and irrepar able damage would be inflicted since this witness had given the information and statements on which the answer hall been made and verified, and had facts within bis knowledge which could be obtained from no other source. It was also charged that this application to postpone proceed ed from the unwillingness of Stillman to answer, since it was stated that the in terrogatoriesobjected to might be allowed, and so disposed of in the course of a day. After argument and the reading of affi davits, occupying considerable time, the Judge decided, in consequence of the jeopardy of the witness’ property in Brownsville, to permit him to leave the jurisdiction, under an order suspending the examination until the first Monday in March next, and requiring that he attend on that day. “Be Yc Also Ready.” After chronicling the marriage of the Junior editors of the Mail and Confedera tion, the Senior editor of the former, give3 the above injunction to brother Martin, of the Enquirer. Hear the lat ter in response : “We are ‘ready’ and have our ‘lamp trimmed.” Indeed it is rather surpris ing, when bachelor editors are falling so fast—when runs are making on the Banks for Coyne, and Confederations with Mails appear to be the order of tire day amoDg the ladies—that we should ourself have had a very unhappy escape. I>ut we have cut the ring , and as leap year is at hand, there may be hope for us yet. We tender to our more fortunate brethren at Mont gemery our heartiest wishes that their fondest hopes may be realized. ’ After thi3 let no one say Martin is entirely incorrigible. We may yet see him “ sighing like a furnace. “ Affairs In Washington. Washington, Dec., 20, 8 P. M.—No progress has been made towards an or ganization of the House. The vote of the Democrats is more scattering, and that of the Republicans does not increase. A meeting of the Southern Ameiicans and Whigs has been held, with Mr. Crit tenden in the Chair. Their object is to effect a union of the Opposition. A com mittee of seven was appointed to propose some measures pertinent to the accom plishment of that object. They will prob ably unite upon General Scott as their choice for the next Presidency. Washington, Dec. 21.—Mr. Millson, of Virginia, got 96 votes on the last bal lot for Speaker to-day. The Democrats, South Americans and Anti Lecompton ites, signify a disposition to unite their forces upon him, and may probably suc ceed in electing him Speaker. Later from Havana. New York, Dec. 20.—The steamship De Sgto has arrived from Havana, whence she sailed December 15. Sne reports the sugar market dull, and the stocA of old crop 30,000 hhds. Holders were demand ing rates above the views of buyers. There was nothing doing in Molasses. Among the list of new patents we notice the following: Joseph 11. Swift, of New Or leans, La , for an improvement in railroad car couplings.