Newspaper Page Text
About four years ago, my attention was arrest
e,l with an article iu the National Intelligencer,
headed “Charles Malett’s Shirtings & Sheet
i„gs, manufactured at Roekfish. near Fayette.
Mile, N. V.” The editors stated the article was
incomparably superior to any thing they had
seen, tor the price. About twelve months after
this, my family wanted a couple of bundles of
tarn to make domestic carpeting, and a lot of
sheeting. I went to two or three places, and
found the. yarns at SI l2j a package, and the
sheetings at 124 to 14 cents. A stranger tap
ped me on the shoulder, and said, “you can get
the yarn for 87), and the sheeting at 10, twice
ir',„.d as any here, if you will take the trouble
i.i Mr. Woodruff's.” I found it was man- ,
•utnciuivd by Malett, and was as the stranger j
hail represented. In a few moments Dr. \V ill- i
lams, of Stewart county, came in, nnd called ,
for the same article. “ Here,” said I. “1 have .
just bought a bolt.” He examined it, very mi- j
nutelv, and whispered to me, after leurning the ;
price., that “it was 4 cents cheaper and *1 cents
better than any thing of the hind he had ever
seen.” He stepped to the clerk, and asked him
if he would lake any thing less by tbe quantity.
Niue cents was agreed on, and 050 yards mea
sured ofl'for him. On carrying mine home, my
family made the sffvne remark as to its quality
and cheapness, and could not til first believe it
was the product of old Rip Nan W inkle. A
short time after a Dr. Baker, ol Raleigh, N. C.
was passing through to Florida, where he has a
large establishment. I called his attention to
this fact, and he requested to be shown the goods
as he wished to lay in a stock for his negroes.
On inquiry we were informed by the clerk that
he had not a yard of the sheetings, shirtings or
yarns—shat he wished he had a hundred bales,
as he believed he could sell them in one week.
It so happened that .Mr. Malett himself passed
on through this city very shortly after, and while
here gave me the following account:
In 1830 he purchased n sito for manufactur
ing on Roekfish creek, 14 miles south of Fay.
etteville, N. C. There was then but one build
ing and a small tub-mill for grinding grist. It
now contains a population of half tho size of Fay
etteville, with seven or eight large manufactur
ing establishments, (the amount of capital 1 can
not now recollect,) with fine churches, school
houses and academies. He stated to me ho
could not supply the demands at that time, and
orders had to lay over to take the miller’s turn.
Mr. M. further stated that Fayetteville received
only six or seven thousand bugs of cotton, and
most of that was consumed in the neighborhood,
or bought for the interior factories, and that he
purchased his supply, through agents, in the city
of New York ! It was shipped to Wilmington,
thence to Fayetteville, then hauled in wagons
14 miles to Roekfish, there manufactured into
sheetings, shirtings, &c. then forwarded back
to Fayetteville, to Wilmington, and thence to
his agents in New York to he sold ! 00“ Now
mark! Mr. Woodruff is a close buyer ; he goes
on and purchases these very goods, paying his
expenses from this place to New York and back.
The good* are shipped to Apalachicola, incur
ring freight and insurance, then like expenses
450 miles up our river, and here sold four cents
cheaper than any goods of the kind then to bo
found in this market! Anil yet Mr. Malett told
me that ho was making money as fast as he
wished. To use his own language, “he could
give the yankee three in the deal and then beat
him, for his water power, provisions, building,
and labor were cheaper than in the North.” J
understand labor is dog-cheap here, therefore
comments upon the facts would bo superfluous.
1 leave that for others.
Again, Mr. Jabez Smith, of Petersburg, Va.
who hits a more extensive experience than any
other man in the South in erecting and putting
in successful operation manufactories of almost
every kind, passed through this city Ist Fall and
examined this water power, thoroughly. lie
said that it was unsurpassed, and that Columbus
could not fail to become the “ Lowell of the
South,” if capitalists would only invest their
money here.
Why is it that John Bull is the Banker of the
world 1 Whence all this wealth that astounds
the civilized nations of tho earth ? It takes no
Argus with his hundred eyes to penetrate the
secret. In one word, it is her manufacturers,
her mechanics and her artificers that have ac
complished it, and made that little island the
wonder of the world. And why, I ask, cannot
the daughter go and do likewise, and become a
manufacturing nation ? Is it because our cli
mate less congenial ? No. Is it because we
have not tho raw material ? No. The country,
both upon its surface and in its caverns, abounds
in ali that we could ask of Providence, bestow
ed upon us with the most lavish profusion, at
‘our very doors. Then what is it that keeps us
from advancing our individual wealth and na
tional greatness? I will tell you in plain ver
hacular English—it is a sheer want of energy,
and nothing else; or to be still plainer, it is
downright laziness that makes us dependant up
on any people who live on Cod's footstool. At
least such is the opinion of an
OBSERVER.
[From the Sew Orleans Delta.]
LATER FROM VERA CRUZ.
The steamship Massachusetts, Capt. Wood,
arrived here last night from Vera Cruz, having
left that place on the evening of the 11th inst.
The Massachusetts brought no mail. The mail
for this city was put on board the steam propel
ler Washington, which left Vera Cruz on the
10th inst., one day before the Massachusetts.
To Mr. Jewell, editor of the Vera Cruz Eagle,
we are indebted for tiles of the Eagle, forwarded
to us by a passenger, up to the oth inst.
The most important intelligence brought by
this arrival, is the attack of the Mexicans on the
large wagon train which left Vera Cruz on the
4th inst. tor Jalapa. Te attack was made on
Sunday, the 6th inst., between Santa IV and the
■National Bridge. The Eagle of the !)th inst.
says:
“ Our city was again thrown into some excite
ment on Monday morning hist, by the arrival of
a courier, stating that tlie train which left here
on Friday night last, had been attacked on Sun
day, at noon. The accounts are still of a vague
nature in regard to the manner, loss, <Vc., hut
all agree as to the fact of the attack. It appears
that when about fifteen miles beyond Sauta Fe,
St was attacked at both ends and in the, centre
simultaneously, producing considerable alarm
amongst the teamsters, but we learn the troops
received the charge in the coolest possible man
ner, and returned it with the greatest promptitude
—seeing which, the enemy soon disappeared
towards Puente WacionaL, where, it is presumed
they will make another trial of their effective
taode of warfare. We have heard the number
of our loss variously estimated —some say, none j
—others, four to twenty ; xve therefore abstain
from giving credit to either, and choose rather to j
wait patiently the result of the investigation of
time. Some say that our friend Dr. Harney has j
been wounded, and others say no. Our troops !
have entrenched themselves behind their wagons j
and will wait for reinforcements, which were ‘
despatched and accompanied by Brig. Gen. Cad- !
walader, on Monday evening. Gen. C. took j
with him a force of nearly 500 men and several .
pieces of Cannon —mountain howitzers—and
will be able to cut his way through ten times his
force, therefore we may hope to hear of some j
fun if the enemy should attempt a stand.”
From an intelligent passenger with whom we j
conversed, we learn that a letter w as received in j
Vera Cruz from Major Bennett, Paymaster, who.;
was in charge of the specie in the tiain, staling
that the Americans lost in the attack was 32 j
men and 200 pack mules, besides 28 wagons.
Great dissatisfaction appears to exist in Vera
Cruz, among the American residents, at the im
pithily vviih which the Mexicans are permitted
to pursue their wonted games of plunder and as
sassination. The. Eagle says: “The game of
| stealing horses seems to be almost as well un
derstood ns monte, by the lower orders of the
I Mexicans. It has been played with spirit and
| profit for some lime past outside the walls, but
; we hope fflrtMlfmpfc will be made of all who are
! detected. Vigilance will do it, and the musket
| ball (if properly aimed) will stop it.”
There had been no communication between
Jalapa and Vera Cruz for several days previous
to the sailing of the Massachusetts. The roads
were said to he so infested with strong guerrilla
parties, that it was next to impossible for intelli
gence to be transmitted between those places
with any degree of safety.
The yellow fever was said to be rather on the
increase at Vera Cruz. Judge Bos worth, from
this State, recently appointed U. S. Paymaster,
died of black vomit. His remains were brought
over in the Massachusetts.
[from the New Orleans Delta, Jun* 20.]
HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM MEXICO.
A. scries of fights with the, Guerrillas—One hun
dred Mexicans killed and wounded, and forty
or fifty Americans.
The following highly important intelligence
was communicated to us by Lieuts. Floyd and
McWilliams, of the 2d Pennsylvania Volunteers,
who catne over on tho steamer Galveston, this
morning at 0 o’clock. On the Bth a small re
cruiting party, together with some citizens and
| disbanded soldiers, in number about 150, with
75 armed men, and thirty mounted, loft Puebla
i for Vera Cruz. This party was under command
of Capt. Bainbridge, of 3d Artillery. On leav
ing Jalapa and getting near Cerro Gordo, this
party was informed that it would not be prudent
to go through the pass, as there were about 4000
Mexicans in the chaparral along the pass. Pre
vious to this two officers who had gone to the
rear of the train were fired at from the. chapar
ral. At the mouth of the pass the party was or
ganized and marched through without meeting
an enemy- Arrived at the Bridge that evening.
Whilst they were bivouacked on the other side
of the bridge, being so fatigued that they were
unable t* furnish a guard, they were informed
that some persons were barricading the bridge.
A guard was then stationed between the bridge
and tbe encampment, to prevent the party being
surprised. At this time signal lights on the ridg
es and cliffs were distinctly seen.
Before daylight the sick and wounded of this
little party were removed to Santa Anna’s haci
enda-—a quarter of a mile from tho bridge. A
scouting part)’ was then sent out, and also a par
ty to clear the bridge ; which was done without
any opposition. The main body of the party
then passed over the bridge. Every thing ap
pearing then to be, safe, and all danger being
passed, Lieut. McWilliams and Mr. Frazer were
sent back to bring on the train on the other side
of the bridge. Just as they were entering the
bridge, a party of about twenty-five Mexicans
appeared on the ridge, and fired several vollies
on them. The wagon-master, and four others,
who were passing the bridge, were fired on and
the whole five were killed, and a wagon cap
tured, of no great value.
Alter the fire had ceased, a party of lancers
appeared on the bridge and seemed to be pre
paring to charge, but seeing that Capt. Bain
bridge’s party were preparing to receive, them,
J they wheeled their horses and gallopped off.
Capt. Bainbridge resumed his march in good
order, followed by 400 or 500 of the Lancers,
who hung upon his rear and flanks for lour or
five miles, but at a respectable distance. Thus
hemmed in this little party pursued its way until
it arrived at the Pass of La Voilta, where Col.
Mclntosh had encamped with his large train.
Tho Mexicans who had attacked Bainbridge’s
party were the same xvho had compelled Col.
.Mclntosh to halt find wait for reinforcements.
Tho party remained that night in Mclntosh’s
camp, and during the whole time the Mexicans
kept a continual lire on the camp, approaching, i
with the greatest boldness, very near to our sen- j
tineis.
On the next day Capt. Bainbridge’s party re
sumed its march to Vera Cruz, being joined by ;
Capt. Dupcrus’ Dragoons, who were sent, back
to get their horses. This company, with its gal- 1
lant Captain, had behaved very handsomely in
tho attack on Mclntosh’s camp. Its gallantry i
was the theme of universal praiso and admiration ,
in the army. Indeed it was generally admitted
that Col. Mclntosh’s command was saved by the
gallantry of Depends party. Bainbridge’s party
continued their march to Vera Cruz, where they
arrived in safety. In the meantime Duperu’s
party, having a long return train to guard, and
being threatened by a large body of lancers,
halted at Santa Fe, where they were charged by
a greatly superior force, which they gallantly i
repulsed, killing many of the enemy and suffer
ing no loss themselves. It was said, however,
that some, of our wagons were cut oil’ and the
drivers taken prisoners. Capt. Duperu arrived
safely at Vera Cruz, having lost three killed and
three wounded.
On the day Capt. Bainbridge’s party left Me-,
Intosh’s camp Gen. Cadxvallader had arrived,
with a force of 800 men and two howitzers.
The txvo commands were then joined, making, i
in all, about ItiOO men, with two howitzers, un
der command of Gen. Cadxvallader, and pushed
on towards the National Bridge.
On approaching the bridge Gen. Cadxvallader
occupied the heights commanding the bridge,
from which tho enemy had fired on Capt. Bain
bridge’s party, where ho xvas attacked by a large
force of the Mexicans, posted in the ridges and j
chaparral, and some hard fighting xvas carried I
on for several hours, the Mexicans losing more :
than a hundred men, and Gen. Cadwallader lo- j
sing some 15 killed and some 30 or 40 xx oundod. ’
Mg.®Mil iIMSMITo
The Mexicans were repulsed; the bridge was ■
successfully passed by Gen. Cadwallader, who;
was on his way to Jalapa.
The estimated loss of Col. Mclntosh’s party
is about $40,000. For miles the road is strewed
with empty boxes sides, which had
been captured by threnemy. There is a great
deal of dissatisfactidWh the army, respecting the 1
conduct of the command which had charge of
this train. There will he a court of inquiry into
the subject.
The garrison at Jalapa has been broken up,
by order of Gen. Scott, and all the sick and Gov
ernment stores have been sent to I’erote Castle,
so that this line of communication has been
completely closed. Gen. Scott has had a road
opened from l’crote to Tuxpan, from which, in
future, all our stores and men will be sent, in
preference to the old road. The Engineer corps
have completed a fine road from Tuxpan to Pc-
Tote, the distance being less than one half that
from Vera Cruz to Perote, and Tuxpan being a
healthier place.
The success of the attack on Mclntosh’s com
mand has gtven great confidence to the guerril
las, who are swarming in great numbers through
the country, and attacking all our parties, large
and small.
It was chiefly owing to the gallantry of Major
Bennett, the Paymaster, that the specie wagons
I it; Mclntosh’s party were saved. He xvasnin
I one of them himself, when the wagon was attack-’
! ed, and fought like a tiger.
\V e are pained to hear that the fine charger
sent out by the citizens of New Orleans to Co 1 .
Harney was captured by the Mexicans. Their
daring was so great that they even lariated a
woman who was in the wagon, but she was res
cued by our men after some hard lighting.
There are about 1000 men in camp at Vera
Cruz.
Gen. Shields was at Jalapa, and was about to
leave for the United States, when he received an
order from Gen. Scott to join him at Puebla.
There are no preparations to defend any point
between Puebla and the Capital. All the odds
and ends of the army aie collected in the city,
about 20,000 in number, but poorly armed, and
of miserable material. There was a small pro
! nunciamienfo at the City of Mexico, which was
• easily put down by Gen. Bustainente. It was
got up by factions of the peace party and of Go
mex Farias’ parly. Their cry was “down with
Santa Anna ! ” but the President ad interim still
maintains his power and influence. Congress
has refused to accept his resignation.
We have about 0000 men at Puebla, under
command of Worth and Quitman.
’ Gen. Scott will remain at Puebla until he is
reinforced. Gen. Bravo is in command of the
army at the Capital.
Santa Anna has published quite a flaming
account of the a flair between him nnd Gen.
Worth, at Amozoque. The truth is that lie
had a large force of cavalry, which was attack
ed by Col. Duncan’s battery and Maj. Bonne
ville of 6th Infantry. lie did not wait to re
cieve more than one volley, from which, how.
ever, lie sustained a heavy loss, and then fled
in the wildest disorder towards the Capital.
Since the above was written we have learn
ed that, in the affair between Gen. Cndwal-
Inderand the Mevicans, at tho National bridge
the company of Lieut. Blakely, of tho newly
raised voitiguers, with two howitzers, charged !
the barricades and swept them .. :u. _c. ;
charges from the howitzers. In passing through
however, Lieut. Blakey received a heavy fire
from the enemy on the ridge which commands
the bridge by which he sustained a loss of one
killed and four wounded, the Lieutenant himself
himself being wounded in the leg. They also
lost, several horses. The heights were then
charged on the right and left of the road and
gallantly carried, the enemy flying from before
them in great confusion. When Gen. Cad
wallader had passed the bridge, he was attack
ed by a large party of guerrillas, who kept up
a continual tire on his men for a long distance.
At Cerro Gordo it was thought, from the re
ports of heavy firing, that the enemy had made
a stand in great numbers, though no apprehen
sion was entertained for the safety ofGen. Cad
walladcr’s command, who was moving in a
bold and steady manner, the only way to deal
with the Mexicans. Capt. Gates’ company of
3d Dragoons being sent by Gen. Cadwallader
to the rear, to reinforce (ho guards of tho train,
were attacked by a large force of Lancers,
whom they attacked and repulsed with consid.
erablo loss.
There is much sickness at Vera Cruz, but
very little in the Castle. Col. Wilson publish
a card iti the Eagle pronouncing the statement
of Col. Mala, that La Vega had been confined
in the guard house ofllie Cnsllc, to be false.
Gen. Cadwallader is much praised for the
energy and promptness of his movements to the
rescue of Mclntosh, and for the bravery and
skill with which he scattered the swarms of
guerrillas, grown confident by the success of
their previous enterprises.
Gen. Scott was at Puebla at the last ac
counts. The editors of El Area Iris had recei
ved dates from the Capital up to the 2d oi June.
Santa Anna had again sent in his resigna
tion of the Presidency. Congress had not, how
ever, up to that time, accepted it- He had al
so made a formal renunciation of his office as
Commander-in-Chief of the army : which like
the resignation ol the Presidency, remained in
abeyance—Congress not having acted upon ei
ther.
Rejon, and five other good generals, whose
| names are not given, had been arrested and
sent to the different states for confinement.
‘1 he gallant Capt. Walker has commenced
his work of retaliation on tbe guerrillas. On
the morning of the Bth inst., ho started with his
command from Peroto on an expedition some
distance into the interior. During the expedi
tion he succeeded in capturing nineteen guer
rillas and an Alcalde—he has employed them
in cleaning the streets and sinks.
A letter has been received in Vera Crnz on
the 15th inst., previous to the sailing of the Gal
veston direct from tho head quarters of Gen.
Scott, stated that Gen. Scott had issued orders
fortlie removal of the government from Vera
Cruz to Tuxpan. This change was said to be,
in part, owing to the sickness in Vera Cruz,
and because communications could bo more
easily kept up between Tuxpan and Puebla
than between the latter place and Vera Cruz
All the public stores in Vera Cruz would, in
that case, be removed to Tuxpan, and troops,
only sufficient to garrison the place, left at Ve
ra Cruz. The activity displayed among the
different vessels in the harbor of Vera Cruz in
shifting the cargoes from vessels having but
small portions of government property on
board, iuto others nearly full, with the evident
intention of a move, would go far to confirm
the rumor of a change in the base of opera,
tions.
MUSCOGEE DEMOCRAT,
BV U, F. W. ANDREWS.
‘As little government as possible ; that little emanating
from and controlled by the People, and uniform
in its application to all.”
Columbus, Thursday, Jmte 24, 1847.
News from Mexico.—See another column
for the latest news from the seat of war, which
reached us by last night’s mail. It is becoming
quite interesting again.
Foreign News.—The steamer Cambria ar
rived at Boston on the 17th inst. with Liverpool
dates to the 4th. The corn market has suffered
a decline of 20 shillings per quarter, from the
highest point. Flour is quoted at 43 shillings
for best Western. The cotton market has mate
rially improved. Sales of the week ending 28th
May, amounted to 39,000 bales, from sjj to 7£.
The supply of provisions generally, fair.
Mr. Polk, Charge at Naples, and Rev. I)r.
Power, Bishop of Toronto, are among the pas
sengers by the Cambria.
Incendiary. —The new Livery Stable of
Messrs. Hatcher <sf Pills , which has just been
erected on the site of the old burnt stable in
Oglethorpe street, was set on fire, on Tuesday
night last, about 12 o’clock, by one of the ne
groes employed about the establishment. For
tunately, but a few feet of the roof of the build
ing wore consumed, before the flames were got
under. The circumstance of the lire breaking
out at the eave of the roof, on the inside of the
building, led to the suspicion of the negroes who
lodge in the stable, who on being drawn up and
questioned, revealed the truth that it was the
work of one of their number, wh subsequently
confessed the fact. He was committed to jail
for trial.
Deaths of Distinguished Men. Rev’d
Dr. Chalmers, the great Divine of Scotland, and
Hon. Daniel O’Connell, the great Political Agi
tator of Ireland, arc both dead ! The news was
brought by the steamer Cambria.
Whig Nomination.— R ev. Rick’d. T. Marks
of Harris county, was on Monday last nominat
ed as the Whig candidate for the. State Senate,
from the Senatorial district of Harris and Mus
cogee.
Mustered into Service. —Capt. .4. Canid■
mg's company of Infantry from Stewart county,
whose arrival we have before noticed, was mus
tered into service a few days since, and lack
but about a dozen men to be entirely full. In a
recent interview we have had with Capt. G. he
has fully exonerated himself from all imputation
of “ dishonorable ” conduct, arising out of his
reception of the squad of 23 men from Randolph
county, who were on the march to this place, to
j-*-~ xcfr>Qror Ulnoij ” ( ‘apt ( * uMI n4£.
was absent in Lee connty at the time, and on
his return to Lumpkin found these men in bar
racks, with his own recruits, under such cir
cumstances and pledges from his friends, as
rendered it impossible for him to discharge them,
though in retaining them he was compelled to
disappoint a detachment of thirty volunteers from
Lee county, who had engaged to join his stand
ard, forthwith. We take pleasure in thus doing
justice to a gallant gentleman, whom we may
have placed in an unfavorable light, in our no
tice of the transaction, in the “Democrat” of
the lOtli inst. and desire to say, that the expla
nation so courteously made by him, is not only
entirely satisfactory, so far as he is concerned,
to Capt. Barber and the friends of the latter,
but leaves his own fair fame unsullied by even
the semblance of dishonor.
Toadyism. —At a political meeting lately held
in the “ Kingdom of Marion ,” the following re
solution, among others, was adopted :
Resulted, That thus far we heartily approve the ad
ministration of President Polk, that he lias done more
for the establishment of sound republican principles
than any Executive since the days of Jefferson, ami
that we hail him as an able, energetic and patriotic
statesman of whom every true citizen of his country
: has reason to be proud.
These wise men of the gopher hill region have
never heard, yet, of one Andrew Jackson, of
Tennessee, we presume, or else they would
hardly have resolved that Mr. Polk had “done
more for the establishment of sound republican
principles than any Executive since the days of
Jefferson.” The truth is, that any soit of “fan
cy” resolutions can bo palmed off'upon a public
meeting, by an artful demagogue who may so
incline. All that he has to do is to get a string
of words “ cut and dry ” before hand, full of sound
and fury and patriotism, and it is all swallowed
by the crowd— item, con. —as a matter of course.
But we think it base political ingratitude for
democrats so to slander the departed Hero of the
“ hermitage ” as to place him below Mr. Polk
in services rendered to republicanism ! It is a
preferer.ee given to the living ass over the dead
lion !
Girard Gin Factory. —We were much
gratified with a visit paid, a few days since, to
the Cotton Gin Manufactory of E. T. Taylor
& Cos. on the west bank of the Chattahoochee,
opposite this city. Through the politeness of Dr.
Taylor and Israel F. Brown, Esq. the latter the
skillful machinist and manager of the concern,
of which lie is part owner, we were conducted
through the various departments of the workshop
and witnessed the operation going on, from the
incipient stages of Gin work to the finishing of
the machines. About 25 hands are now con- J
stantly employed at this establishment, who, with ■
the improved labor-saving machinery lately in
troduced, are able to turn out 18 or 20 Gins per
week. The company has a capital of some
$30,000 invented in the business, and will sell
the present year from 450 to 500 Gins. A pla
ning machine is in operation—also two pair of
circular saws so arranged as to cut perpendicu
dicularly and horizontally, and used, (alternately)
for sawing tenons. Also a mortising machine,
the boring for which is done by water power.
We noticed also a small and very useful machine
—the invention of Dwight Brown of Macon, 8
years ago—for giving exact circular shape to the
saw-plate preparatory to the cutting of the teeth,
by another machine for that purpose. The ope
ration of both these machines is accurate and
speedy. The work of the shop, from that of ma
king brushes to the painting and varnishing of
the finished machines, is conducted on the prin
ciple of division of labor —every workman hav
ing his appropriate business, and all carried on
like clock-work. We wish all possible success
to the enterprising proprietors, for xve are sure
that from the superior character of their manu
facture, and from their own upright and gentle
manly deportment, they are deserving of the rich
harvest which they are receiving from the en
lightened planting interest of the surrounding
country.
> Another Boundary Question. —We under
stand that Messrs. Howard, Echols & Cos. have
brought suit against E. T. Taylor At Cos. for the
rent of the factory building occupied by the lat
ter on the west bank of our river, on the ground
that the land on which said factory is situated, be
longs to Georgia and is part of the property ceded
to Howard <Sz Cos. by the city Corporation, it be
ing occasionally overflowed at high-tide of the
river ! The State of Alabama will defend the
case, as it involves her jurisdiction to all the
lands on the west bank of the Chattahoochee,
which may, at any time, have been overflowed
with water, including some of the finest farms on
the river below this place. It is well known that
Georgia claims the western line of the river as
her boundary, and the question now to be decided,
is, whether the line of low- water mark, ordinary
stage, or lngh-tide is the true boundary line be
tween the two Sovereignties. It strikes us that
in fliis case, as in most others, that a middle
course is the safest and most correct. “ In medio
lutissimus ” is the true maxim, which we hope
will prevail, despite the interest of a few individ
uals. Otherwise much evil will arise from the
conflicting jurisdictions of the two States, calcu
lated to endanger the pence and disturb the har
mony o(*the citizens.
Street Fracas. —A small affair, in the shape
of a street row, came off, on Tuesday last, be
tween one of our citizens and a gentleman of Al
abama, in which fists and brickbats were said to
have been the weapons of warfare used, but
which resulted in no special harm to any one,
save in the penalty of a V r and costs to each of
the parties, before, his honor the Mayor. Our
“ Ariel ” not being present, we are unable to
give particulars of the melee. Boys “ keep cool,”
until the dog days are come and gone, especially
in spots where brickbats are so plenty as in
some parts of our streets !
Capt. Marshall’s Speech.—The Hon. T.
F. Marshall (late Captain) delivered a speech,
a few days since, before a large assembly in
1 rXrVV XJrtVnus, 111 rrhi-A. 1.. -a, ,1,,- c.\pe
| diency or necessity of the United States taking
j possession of the whole of Mexico. Marshall
| abused President Polk considerably, and his
j opinion on the subject of (lie war cannot be
■ considered any part of the policy of the Admin
istration. He tlius speaks of the doom or des
tiny of Mexico :
“lie would not discuss the question whether the
war could have been avoided or not, nor would he say
whether the ordering of the army to the Rio Grande
was right or wrong, but he believed that in this war
the country was carrying out a destiny no human
power could control. It was now too late; it was
useless to discuss the righteousness of the war. The
destiny of the Republic—and he had from boyhood up
pictured to himself such a destiny for his country—
was to extend itself from ocean to ocean, and from the
arctic regions to the isthmus dividing the continent.
There were those who were opposed to the acquisi
tion of territory, but what was to be done ? Victory on
victory bad been achieved by our armies, and yet
Mexico refused to treat for peace. Wore we to with
t draw our troops from every quarter of .Mexico ? Were
| we to yield back California and New Mexico ? Were
| xve to leave for Mexican corn-fields the soil that has
j been fertilized by the blood of our heroic soldiers ?
| For his part, he saw no other course but the total sub-
I jugation of the country. Mexico, in refusing to come
| to terms, was blindly rushing upon her ruin, and her
j fate was inevitable.”
| That inland Ska.—Col. Benton, in a late
i speech, in Missouri, thus shows up the beauties
of Senator Calhoun’s famous doctrine of the
| Mississippi river being an “inland sea,” and
I therefore subject to improvement by the Gene
ral Government:—
“ Col. B. had long been an advocate for the improve- ‘
| meat of our great Western rivers. Above twenty .
I years ago, and when fresher from the classics and
j from his Roman reading than at present, he had char- ;
j acterized the Mississippi, in the Senate, as the Ro- \
mans did their Mediterranean sea. Mare nostrum was
the term he applied to it, in allusion to the sea which
divided the earth in the middle, and saw one flag i
■ wave over it all. The Mississippi, like the sea, di-
I vided our land in the middle, ffttd with the help of
i steam and its tributaries, afforded as much naviga
i tion as the Mediterranean, and collected all its xva
i ters and rolled all its floods under the single flag of!
the American Union. He called it onr Sea, but with- 1
out the slightest suspicion that he was making it into j
a sea, or altering a clause in the constitution of the
United States. A short time ago a convention—he
believed it was called a river convention—assembled
at Memphis; it made the discovery that mare nostrum ‘
was not a mere figure of spcach, but a reality—that
what were formerly only rivers had expanded into |
seas—inland seas—and that the constitution, accom
; modating instrument, like the miraculous tent in the
| Arabian Nights, so compressible that it might be j
; squeezed into the grasp of one shut hand, and so ex
pansible that it could spread over the whole encamp- j
ment of an oriental army, had expanded also to cover
the length and breadth of the new sea, and that now j
these improvements were perfectly constitutional in
the same river, under the name of “ inland sc of
which were perfectly unconstitutional under its own !
name, or under the classic embellishment of marc nos
trum, or the equally classic or still more appropriate |
title bestowed upon” it of “ rex jluviorumf King of (
Rivers. The constitutional difficulty was solved; j
but there was a practical difficulty. There were ma
ny rivers in the United States, and of many sizes, and j
all could not be seas. The pinch was to assort them; j
and the genius of the convention was equal to the j
difficulty of the task. A general rule was given— ;
nothing like generalization. It was laid down and j
accepted, that where a. river washed three States or i
more it became a sea—an inland sea—and entitled to
the benefits of the constitution; and where not, not.
This was the rule—and now for the application. Ap
plied to the little States in New England, and a river
three hundred miles long became a sea, and received
constitutional improvement —applied to the Great
West, and a river three thousand miles long (the
Missouri) remained only a river. It was no sea, by
the rule, for it had but one State upon it, and conse
quently could have no constitutional improvement.”
Amende Honorable !”—We hasten to cor
rect an error or two, which occurred in the re.
port we gave last week of the law case between
the widow Murphy and Mr. Backer. It was
not in Chambers county, but in Clarke county,
Ala. that the “ Gentile widow ” resided. The
note sued on was not given, as the defendant al
leges, for “chicken fixins” and “meat and
greens,” but for a horse purchased of the widow
by the partner of the defendant, and endorsed
by him. The said widow Murphy, Mr. B. fur
ther says, owes the firm $315, for goods pur
chased for herself and her “butterfly” daugh
ters, which defence to the note sued would have
been made, had the book of accounts not been
in the possession of Mr. Allenst, the partner,
now in Montgomery. The defendant was there
fore forced to “ throw- himself upon the plea of
infancy ” because of his disappointment in pro
curing the necessary testimony in time for trial!
He also declares, in a statement prepared by
one of his counsel, Judge Thomas, that this plea
is a true one, “ notwithstanding the Gentile may
not be inclined to believe the Jew,'” and that the
“said Jews area bye-word and reproach to
those who are indebted to them for their Bible
and fiiith and Christianity.” See Mr. B’s ‘Card’
in the advertising column.
On the other hand, it is said that the plea of
in fancy was made at the first court, sax .mouths
ago, by Mr. Levison, the original counsel of
Mr. Backer, and that the widow’s attorney, in
this city, has had sent him, for collection, an
open account against the defendant, for board .
inq, &c.! And further, it is alleged that no
other plea was offered, in defence, but that of
“ infant in law-,” and that if Backer had not rest
ed on that, according to the advice ot Mr. Levi,
son, he would have had ample time to procure
the other testimony on which he now relies to
resist the claim.
Again : If the [dea now set up, that to the
Jews we are indebted for the Bible and Chris
tianity, be a valid one for Mr. Backer, ought he
not also to claim all the benefit which attaches
to that tribe of people for endeavoring to de
stroy the latter, by killing the author thereof,
Jesus of Nazareth? While we have no pre
judices against the Jews, foe fulfilling their des
tiny, we do not think with Mr. B.’s counsel—
a ruling elder of a Christian Church—that
Christianity owes any thing to the good wishes
of the ancient Israelites 1 As this however may
only be introduced as a legal quibble, and not
as a settled theological opinion of the learned
gentleman, xve shall not take the trouble to re
fute so absurd a theory.
Having tints given both sides of the case, in a
revised and corrected edition, we submit the
matter to the impartial tribunal of public opinion.
Boston Politeness. —A rabid Editor of Bos
ton, “ Corporal Streeter,” of the Star, is out
against the Common Council of that city for ma
king suitable preparations to receive the Presi
dent, on his anticipated visit to that place, in the
following style :
“ If our city fathers, as a body, feel themselves call*
ed upon to do up a job of lip-service, for the glorifica
tion of a personage whom in their souls they hcartilv
detest—and for the gratification of a horde of slavish
partizans, whose love for him is gauged by the mens
urt; td tu wliioh lie given llicm accoctt —:wo trust,
in all reason, that they will give him an honest as well
us a respectful reception—that they will give him
distinctly to understand, that while they civilly greet
the President <j the United Stales, they entertain tho
profoundest contempt for Janies K. Polk —that it is
the chair of the 1 Chief Magistrate.’ and not its present
incumbent, which is the object of their complaisance.”
1 he Editor of the Charleston Patriot suggests
the subjoined as the style of the address of wel
come which the aforesaid Editor would probably
have the Mayor of Boston make to Mr. Polk, on
his arrival there :
j “ Illustrious Mr. President, and detestable Mr.
j ! in the former capacity we owe vou the most
: profound respect; in the latter, we leel ‘for you the
; most sovereign contempt. As the Chief Magistrate
; of the Nation we bid you welcome to the classic
I shores ot the Athens of America; as an individual
we wish you a thousand miles oil'. Having thus giv
j on you ‘ distinctly to understand ’ the rattier doubtful
; and double position in which you are placed, if Mr.
Polk will stay away we shall be happy if the Prcsi
j dent will dine with the corporation at Faneuil Ilall.”
j The malignity of (he aforesaid Boston Editor
towards the constitutional Executive of these
I L lilted States is only equalled by his ignorance
of the common rules of politeness and decency!
Such a fellow ought to be kicked out of the pale
,of the honorable fraternity of Editors. What
would have been said of our manners if some
. southern Editor had proposed such treatment to
| Mr. Webster, on his late visit to the South—to
receive him politely as a Senator, but “give him
ito understand that as a man and politician we
; look upon him with the “ profbundest contempt?”
i It would have been quoted, from Dan to Beer
sheba, as another instance of the brutal tenden
j eies and demoralizing influences of our social
organization, and furnished food for scandal
I against us to the whole tribe of northern fana.
tics, for years to come. The gentlemen of the
Boston Press should forthwith dispatch the Star
man to “ Coventry,” or their credit will sadly
; suffer from liis rudeness and boorishness.
Something Refreshing. lion. Abhott
Lawrence, of Boston, has given 850,000 to old
Harvard for the purpose of founding a School of
| practical Science and Mechanic Arts, in conncx-
I ion with that Institution. Would we had a thous
and such schools in lieu of such monuments of
learned folly and extravagance as the Girard Col
lege has been made, or as the Smithsonian In
stitute is likely to become, if the Managers of the
latter go on as they have begun, in expending
8500 for a useless copy of the Bible ! One liv
ing Lawrence is worth a host of dead Girards
and Smithsons, at that rate.
Vi iiat Next ’ —A clergyman of the German
Reformed Presbyterian Church of the Pittsburgh,
Pa., Synod, has lately been suspended from his
ministerial functions, for kissing his wife’s sister !
The kissing was perhaps of too empassioned a
character, such as the lady Poetaster described
having received from her lover:—
In one long kiss, my whole soul through
My lips, as sunlight drinketh dew.”
Apart from this, we think the penalty inflicted
upon his Reverence a little too severe. Tho
next movement will probably bo to revive the
ancient law of puritan bigotry which forbade a
man kissing his own wife on Sunday !