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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 !