Newspaper Page Text
~he Position of Kentucky.
"Preamble and Resolutions Embodying the
> imbursing other eitizeus for losses sustain-
[ ad by the casualties of war.
He has permitted his officers and sol-
. j t ft I v WHO uuiumicu MiO ^ — —
Opinions »f the Democratic Members of , jj ers i mpun ity to murder peaceable
the Legislature.—Arraignment of the ’ - ■
Federal Administration.— The Congres
sional Delegation from the State called
upon to oppose an if further aid in the
prosecution of this War.
The following preamble and resolutions,
embodying the opinions of the democratic
members of the Kentucky Legislature,
were introduced in the Senate by IIou. A.
1*. Grover, from the county of Owen, and
into the House by W. P. D. Bush, Esq.,
of the county of Hancock, on the 19th
nit., and ordered to be printed, and infer
red to the Committee on Federal Rela
tions :
In times of war, as in peace, the Con
stitution of the United States is the su
preme law of the land. It prescribes the
powers of the government in its executive
no less than its other departments, and it
is the only legal bond of union between
the States.
The Federal government, so defined by
the constitution, when exercising the pow
citizens.
lie has given his asseut and approval to
acts of Congress appropriating and propos-
ing to appropriate enormous sums of the
public money to purchase the freedom of
slaves and their deportatiou to some for
eign country, and has invited the border
slaves.States (including Kentucky) to lib
erate their slaves, with promises of com-'
pensation from the Federal treasury.
He has set aside the Constitution of the
United States by giving bis official sanc
tion to an act of Congress creating a new
State within the territory of Virginia,
without her consent.
He ha ■, without constitutional authori
ty aided in freeing the slaves in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
He lias, in violation of the Constitution,
by proclamation declared free ail the
slaves in many of the States, invited them
to vindicate their freedom by force, and
sought an alliance with them in a war
waged against their masters—a monstrous
into certificates of “call loans. llrat
premium cannot be far distant, ror already
Confederate eight percents are selling in
this market at lUUo and interest, and, ot
course, Treasury notes, fundable in *ne
same bonds, will also soon command a
premium.—Rich. Whig.
[Correspondence ol’the Houston News ]
Frora €«alvc»fo*a.
ers granted to it, is entitled to the allegi- \ and iniquitous act. sanctioned by no law,
anc« of the people: but loyalty to the gov-j human or divine, finding no parallel in
eminent does not impose upon the citizen ! atrocity in the history of barbarous na
nny obligation to support an administra- j tions.
tion in the enforcement of a policy unau- ; He is spending large sums of money ap-
tnorized by the constitution or forbidden ; propriated by Congress for the support of
by its provision; but it is the duty of all the army, in feeding and clothing negroes
good citizens to resist encroachments upon I stolen from their masters,
their rights, and to defend the constitution In view of the foregoing facts, the truth
of their country from violence, lie who of which cannot be denied, we do firmly
upholds the executive or any other depart
ment of the government, in the violation
last. The Steamer communicating with I stantly by tho semi-official orgausof the
a small boat below Augustine Creek too \ French government as regards the position
late in the day, she was taken to Fort
Pulaski, and yesterday brought back
to the Confederate States Steamer Ida,
which was awaiting her return,
i All the women who have husbands,
■ brothers or sons in the Confederates ser
vice any or employment under the govern-
! ment, were forced to leave St. Augustine
I without a sufficient time allowed them to
Galveston, Jan. 13, 1863.—Last even- j ^i S p 0S0 0 f any portion of tlicir property
ing the enemy’s vessels lay in position to ant ] on ]y permitted to take with them
the South of Tremont street, and this their clothing.
morning we were on the tiptoe of anxiety
clothing.
The negroes there were far more insolent
expecting an attack at day-breik. Bustle i t | ian t j ie so l,]i crs> an d took great pleasure
and commotion everywhere prevailed, j u jnsultingthe whites; cursing the “d—n
people moved about in mysterious Haste, j ve \j e | sece&li women and. men”, and laugh-
impressed with the idea that something j n « ; u their faces. Their insults dare not
monstrous was about to happen, women j b e resented.
with children trotting at their heels, were | r) r . Weems and His son, and F. B.
seen directing their stops towards the j pjsina, w l) 0 refused to take the’ oath of
beach convent for safety, the look-outs j a u e gi ance t0 the United States Govern-
were filled with spectators, and every one ment when the Federals took St. Augustine,
was momentarily waiting to see and hear are st iU incarcerated at Fort Marion in that
the guns belch forth flame and thunder; j rjtv. They will doubtless be taken to
of our administration; their desire that
i ranee should meditate, all, of course,
with a view to the severance of the Union
are persisted in with a bad grace, knowing,
as they do, how offensive to loyal Ameri
cans would be any foreign intervention
or meddling. • We fear that any abrupt
or incautious policy at this moment might
result badly for the enlincte cot dials be
tween our government and that of the
Emperor Napoleon. Ilis alliance with
shut our eyes to it. The success of the
defence ot the cities of South Carolina
and Georgia depends upon the alacrity
with which Gen. Beauregard is furnished
with men and the numbers which respond
to his call. Are the men of Goorgia, the
men of Augusta willing to devote a few
days to the repulse of the enemy, who
now threaten their homes?
- We must have some organized action at
once, and therefore we would suggest that
our Mayor, who is always ready in cveiy
good work, issue a call for a meeting of
England is on its last legs, and as he is ! the citizens of Augusta, as soon as possi -
ambitions to elevate the Latin race at the j b!e, to fix on some plan of operations, and
FfcOM THE NORTH AND EB
ROPE.
Richmond, Feb. IS—Northern dat» 0
ot the ISth lias been received 1 8
Sir Robert Peel had been speakin.
on the American question. He J
pressed a hope that the States would
become separated from each 0 th» r
He condemned the odious and abomf
nable proclamation of Lincoln which
emancipated the slaves in the R e h P
Staffs nnlv. LUL1
hut still they continued silent.
As the morning advanced it
dis- !
Hilton Head.
Gasper N. Pap}', who many of our rea-
covered that the enemy had other busi- j flers remember as the keeper of the Florida
ness on hand ; the three propellers, which j House in St. Augustine, after acting
revious evening were within range : treacherously to the people of St. Augus-
i't Point, were making ali speed to j {j n( , j n giving information to the enemy,
the prev
of Fort
meeting ,
States only.
Rumors of contingent recotmitio
expense of our power and prestige, be i to ascertain how many men and arms can !' 0 y Napoleon are ventilated by fh!
' lit gladly seize upon any occasion to j be procured to answer the call of Gen. London Press. 3 e
J " > 1 ' ' The Manchester Guardian hears of
Wharton’s Cavalry Brigade in the late : difficulty between the British Cover
Attack oh Fort Donelson.—The following nient and the Cabinet at Washing *
interesting account is an extract Lorn a relative to the seizure of a British*v- 0 ”’
private letter which has been furnished I[ K| ,] j fl t | u , .Bahamas. “ * es -
thc Atlanta Confederacy by Lieut. W. T.
Mead, the enrolling officer of conscripts
for that district:
In the late attack on Fort Donelson, on ■
the evening of the 3d inst., Wharton’s
rend asunder even the samblance of good | Beauregard
leeling which exists between us, and thus
have done altogether with the Anglo-
Saxons. Wo would warm our authorities
at Washington to exercise the greatest
caution and delicacy in handling M. Mer
rier, and the most untiring expedition in
building irou-clads and arming them heavi
ly : for if we must have a foreign war let
us by all means be prepared for it.
Mr. Seward’s straight forward .letters
in connection with the correspondence
between Mr. Dayton and Alt. Drouyn.de
Llittys, which we publish to day, put him
before the people in tho best light. As
the eastward, while tho Brooklyn, with j c ] a i me( l t 0 be a Uuion man, and changed j regards the charges made against him by
one of the gunboats, steamed out to in- | the. name of his boardinghouse to that of' " ’ ’
tercept a large transport coming up from j rpj, e ..TJnioti House,”—finding himself
the west, and which continued on hei | i a j 8 trusted by his now friends, ho now
voyage. : claims to be a Spanish subject. We be-
The enemy had probably heard of what ]j eve i, e ; s a na ti ve of St. Augustine, born
believe and solemnly declare that any as
sistance furnished the Executive in the j
of its provisions, is disloyal to the consti- further prosecution of the war now on the
tntion, and an enemy to the freedom of his basis of his present policy, tend immedi-
country. atelv and directly to the overthrow of
The Federal government, deriving all bothfbe Federal and State governments;
its legitimate powers from the constitution, ' wherefore.
is. therefore, tlie creature «>t the constitu- J. llesolred by the General Assembly oj
tion. and has no plnver in any department (he Commonwealth of Kentucky. That Ken-
or throw tucky will, by all constitutional means in
pretence her power, protect her citizens in the en
joyment of the elective franchise; the ben-
The maxim that ‘‘Governments derive efits of the writ of habeas corpur, the secu-
ibeir just powers from the consent of the rity of their persons and property against
governed,” is one which we ought never to the unconstitutional edicts of the Federal
forget. It involves a fundamental princi- j Executive, and their enforcement by the
pie of freedom—one asserted by our an- ; army under his control,
eestors, and for which they fought and! 2. Resolved. That by the constitution of
won our independence of the British j the State of Kentucky, “the rfoht of the
had taken place at Sabine, and was de
ous to re-establish the blockade of that
port. Such news, it was believed, would
under the F. S. Hag and this dodge, we
i trust, will avail him nothing. lie is a poor
| subject for any flag to adopt
to suspend any of its provisions
off its restrictions under any
whatever.
crown, and which we never can surrender.
It should also he home in mind that gov-
owner of tl,
increase is
Um s
s the
slave to such slave and its
same and as inviolable
ernments were instituted for the protection ! the right of the owner to any property
of life, liberty, and property, and that j whatever;” that Kentucky understands
such as fail to perform tiiis duty will, soon- her own interests too well to be thankful
cr or later, be overthrown by an intclli
gent, virtuous, and courageous people.
The history of the present administra
tion of the Federal government is a his
tory of repeated injuries anti usurpations,
tending directly to the overthrow of State
authorit}’ and State institutions, and a con
solidation in the Federal government of
all political power, and the erection upon
: for gratuitous advice as to the mode in
i which she should manage them, and, when
I she wants the assistance of any outside
administration of her affairs, sh§ claims the
privilege of originating tho suggestion;”
consequently, the proposition made by
Abraham Lincoln for the emancipation, of
her slaves, is hereby rejected.
3. Resolved. That the object and pur
bo likely to disarrange bis plans, and j qq ie 22c j Febuary is fixed upon as the day
thus save us from the contemplated bom-j for the attack 0I j Charleston—that being.
their ruins of a great military despotism pose of the war having been perverted by
as tyranical and despotic as the worst the party now in control of tho govern-
governuieuts of Europe, to prove which j ment in violation of its oft repeated and
we refer to the following facts.
most solemn pledges, our Senators in con-
Tbe President has without authority of gress are instructed, and our Representa
Congress, suspended the writ of habeas ; tives arc requested, to oppose any further
corpus—thus striking a deadly blow at the
liberties of the people.
He has caused citizens to be arrested,
transported to distant States, and iucarce-
aid in its prosecution by furnishing either
men or money.
4. Resolved. That the proclamation of
the President, dated September 2, 1SG2.
rated in loathsome prisons, without charge and January 1st, 1863, purporting to
or accusation against them.
He has denied to citizens thus arrested
and imprisoned a trial by jury, or indeed
any trial, and bas withheld from them all
knowledge or information as to their accu
sers or the cause of their arrest.
He has subjected bis prisoners thus held,
to barbarous and inhuman treatment, en
dangering both life and health, and has
required hundreds of them so held, as a
condition upon which they might he te-
Jeased, to take illegal oaths arbitrarily
prescribed by himself or his agents.
He Las attempted to destroy the free
dom of tho press by the forcible suppres
sion of' newspapers, because they saw
proper to criticise the measures of the ad
ministration: and such a* have escaped
suppression have been subject to a censor
ship wholly incompatible with freedom ol
thought or expression of opinion.
He lias attempted to destroy the free
dom of speech, by arresting citiznns who
animadverted upon the measures of his
administration.
H e has caused to be arrested persons en
gaged in circulating petitions for the sig
natures of the people -thus interfering
with the lights of petit'
emancipate tne slaves in certain States, set
forth therein, are unwarranted by any
code, either civil or military, and of such
character and tendency as not to ho sub
mitted to by a people jealous of their lib
erties.
5. Resolved. That the act of Congress,
approved by the President, admitting
Western Virginia as a State, without the
consent of the State of Virginia, is such a
palpable violation of the constitution as to
warrant Kentucky in refusing to recog
nize the validity of such proceedings.
Rcsoleed. That Kentucky will cordial-
i ly unite with the democracy of the north-
i ern States in an earnest endeavor to bring
j about a speedy termination of the existing
I war; and to this end we insist upon a sus-
' pension of hostilities and an armistice, to
j enable the bellgerents to agree upon terms
j of peace.
| Resolved. That—Commissioners from
this State be appointed, whose duty it
shall be to visit the Federal and Confed
erate governments, at Washington and
Richmond, and urge them respectively to
agree upon an armistice for the purposes
herein contemplated.
Resolved, That the Governor of Ken-
He has wholly disregarded the right of tucky is requested to forward a copy of the
the people to be “secure iq^heir persons, | foregoing preamble and resolutions to the
houses, papers and effects, against nnrea- , President of the United States, and to
sonable searches and seizures.
He has interfered with the administ.a- i in Congress.
each of our Senators aud Representatives
tion <>ffju siice in the State courts by vi
lentiv forcing the judges to adjourn, and
disparaging their g.and jur'es, and by
breaking open jails and releasing prison
ers confined un iei' regular judicial process
for felonies and other crimes.
He has in some ot the States (among
which is Kentucky) forcibly wrested from
the citizen hi* right to be a candidate, for !
office within the gift of the people, thus j
striking down the elective Iranclii-e ; and j
eminent citizens of this Slate are now in
confinement beyond its borders for no j
other known reason than that they presen- |
ted themselves as candidates lor oliice be- I
fore the people.
He has quartered soldiers in the bouses
of citizens against their will, and not in
tlie manner prescribed by law.
Helms permitted bis tioops to overrun
this State, destroying houses and fencing
of farms and lots, 'i hey have sacked the
houses of peaceful citizens, destroying
T\hat the Yankees got- by the Capture of
Arkansas Post.—The Yankees seein to
have made very little by the capture of
Arkansas Post, of which they boasted so
much. A correspondent of the New York
Herald writes:
“’Those who supposed the Union army
which captured the Post of Arkansas would
! march on and possess I ittle Rock, were
| doomed to disappointment ; for after re
maining there four or live days, during
I which the fort was destroyed, every house
j burned and the rifle pits closed, our forces
j set sail for Napoleon, and long ere this are
] moored at some safe point, where they
| will co-operate with the grand movement
against Vicksburg. General Gorman’s ex-
| pedition up the White River—owing to
the timely evacuation of the places on the
i river—was an unavoidable failure. He
! got to each place just after the rebels had
left. Two guns, captured at Duval’s
bardment. Time is most precious to us
at this particular period. Major Kelers- -
berg is said to be indefatigable In hurry- |
ing forward the defenses of the city ; to- j
morrow soin%more new guns will be in)
position, and our means of resistance in- j
creased in like proportion. General Ma- I
gruder’s dispatch to Col. DeBray, now j
the commandant of this city, has filled i
our hearts with joy; such repeated acts,
of heroism and patriotism will tend to !
elevate our character among the nations !
ot the earth, and give the Federals a
wholesome dread of Texas prowess and j
invincibility. The mark of esteem lately |
paid by the good people of Houston aud j
Galveston, now residing there, to General !
Magruder, has afforded the greatest satis
faction here. May the day’ not be far
distant when, with a return of peace and
prosperity, we shall be able to give him a
warm reception in this our fair island.
Jan. 2-kh.—The Lucy Guilt arrived this
morning from up the bay, where she has
lately been cmyloyed upon an important
engineering survey’.
The Brooklyn has been out to speak
with a steamer from the N. E., and has
since returned to her anchorage.
The Federals evidently feel uneasy
since the recapture of Sabine—they are
constantly shifting their positions, and keep
up steam on board their vessels, as if ap
prehensive of danger.
We have had a heavy and copious rain
during the greater part of the day, the
ground is now in excellent condition for
gardening purposes, and we may expect to
realize fine crops generally’ during the
approaching season.
The English sloop-of-war Rinaldo is off
the liar. She has just sent in Lieutenant
Turtan under flag of truce, to communi
cate with Mr. Lynn, the English consul
who has returned with the officer on board
the vessel. The Rinaldo is commanded
by Capt. Hewitt, and carries seventeen
guns, besides a pivot Aimstrong gun
(forty pounder,) which will strike a tar
get at a distance of five and a half miles.
The Currency*
Whither arc ice Drifting.
Tho Macon Telegraph, a few days
since, reported a sale made at auction of
three notes drawn hv the firm of Carhart <x
Curd, of that city, in favor of Joseph E.
Wells, as follows.
1st note for $3,402 46, due the 20th
of February, 1863, brought §4.760.
2d note for $3,563 20, due the 20th of
August, 1863, brought $4,800.
3d note for $3,670 06, due the 20th
of February, 1863, brought $4,890.
This is a most extraordinary premium
paid fertile notes of this firm, reliable as it
is known to be, and is indietive of alarm
on the part of the purchasers in regard to
Confederate currency, which we regret to
see exhibited in any quat ter. 'The notes we
presume did not, upon their face, call for
payment in specie. Nor can it be supposed
by the purchacers thereof that the drawers
will fail to tender in payment, when they’
fall due, Confederate currency for them.
It may, however, be the intention of the
purchasing party, or parties, to demand in
payment of the notes, gold or silver, winch
if refused, may be sued for, and through
as the Federal officers were overheard
to say when speaking among themselves
of their purpose, the anniversary of the
inauguration of Jeff Davis.
Mra. S. learned from conversation she
overheard while at Hilton Head among
these officers that there were upwards of
50,000 troops on Hilton Head, and the
islands adjacent, and another fleet of
forty’, vessels were looked for from Bos
ton. f Savannah Republicani.
Diplomatic Correspondence Brltrreu U2r.
Steward, Mr. Dayton and the French ’3i:i-
iatrr.
The Henld of the 13th, contains
some highly important State papers
which were communicated to the
United States Senate on the 12ih:
Some highly important State papers
were communicated to the Senate yes
terday, and are published in our col
umns to-day: They comprise a corres
pondence between Mr. Seward and
Mr. Dayton, concerning the proposi
tion of mediation by the French Em
peror and the comunications which
passed between onr Minister at Paris
and M. Dronyn deL’huys. We regret
that our want of space compels us to
defer its publication. Commenting up
on this correspondence the Herald says
editorially:
Baron de Mercier’s letter and Mr.
Seward’s vigorous answer to it, pub
lished in the Herald, must have caus
ed a great sensation in diplomatic cir
cles at Washington. In this city consid
erable excitement was caused by the
correspondence in question, as from
its tone it, is easy’ to foresee that future
relations between our Minister of
Foreign Allans and the Emperor
Napoleon’s Minister will he extremely
unpleasant. We are at a loss to under
stand what course M.Mercier can pur
sue, save that of demanding his pass
port. He made on assertion compris
ing our Secretary of State, who, in
the most distinct manner, contradicts
his statement. “Between gentleman,”
as the Czar Nicholas would
Baron Mercier, lie makes no deviations
nor explanations, but uncompromisingly
denies them. This places M. iVIercier in a
most unpleasant predicament, and will
most likely' lead to his recall, as he can no
longer Continue his relations with Mr.
Seward. It remains to be seen how the
Emperor will look upon the matter; and,
as we said above, as long as a doubt exists
let. us prepare for tlie worst. The Emperor
of the french, should lie be inceined to
take advantage of this incident, will find
that his calculations as to the demonstra
tion of our power are sadly at variance
with the real state of the case. A foreign
war thrust upon us at such a moment
would rouse the people of the Worth to a
display of their real power, and the world
would then find out. what twenty-two
millions of people, moved by a single pur
pose, can accomplish. It is useless for us
to add how greatly . any trouble with
France is to be deprecated ; but we must
insist upon the maintainance of our
national dignity and a firm demeanour
towards those who would take advantage
of our troubles to deeply' wrong as.
’s’.'jr iAttack on the Co»*t Cities.
sci in the Baburr
The Loudon Times
. , ... sa - va that per
haps at no tunc during the war has
fortune declared so decidedly d n- a j (mt
the North over the whole area of mil
cavalry brigade greatly distinguished itary operations,
itself. They drove a superior force of the j Northern war news is unimportant
enemy before them for a long distance, ; a.q order has been issued prohibitin
and at night occupied the south e«.d of . the circulation of newspapers in th!
Army of’the Potomac.
...... - Vullandigham, in a speech at Netv-
Lieut. Cols Malone and Cates evinced iirt G sa ’ ( l tnat seventy-five out of ev-
the utmost intrepidity and daring. The ery one hundred men of the North-
batteries of Lieuts. Pur. and Graves push- west are in favor of a cessation of hos
ed their forces within two hundred yards tilities and commencing the experi-
nf flin onnmv’c riflo nits mirl t’P.ll witll , ^ 4-... iL,. 1 T ‘ i .
Dover, Night and want of ammunition
alone, prevented complete success. Cols.
Crews, Harrison, Smith and Cox, and
of the enemy’s ritle pits, and fired with inent 0 f restoring the Union bv Con-
ra «nntnAA/if until tlinii* <1 m n. r. ni t i:in \V tl C PV- !*. .• 1 » r i «
Proclamation of General Beauregard
private life, the course to pursue would
be clear; between persons occupying
the high positions which Mr. Seward
and Baron Mercier respectively fill, it
becomes a matter hard to deside. At
this stage of our affairs it is to he hop-
CtiAULESTOX, Feb. 17.—The fol
lowing proclamation from Gen. Beau
regard will appear in the papers to
morrow:
Head Qr’s Department of South Ca
rolina, Georgia and Florida,
Charleston, S. C., Feb, 13, 18G3.
It becomes my solemn duty to in
form the authorities and citizens of
Charleston and Savannah, that the
movements of the enemy’s fleet in
dicate an early land and naval attack
on one or both the cities, and to urge
that all persons unable to take an
active part in the struggle shall re
tire.
It. is hoped, however, that this tem
porary' separation of some of you from
y’our homes will be made without al
arm or undue haste, thus showing that
the only feeling which animates you
in this hour of supreme trial is the
result of being unable to participate
in the defence of your homes, your
altars and the graves of your kin
dred.
Carolinians and Georgians, the hour
is at hand to prove your country’s
cause. Let all able-bodied men, from
say, hi j the seaboard to the mountains, rush
tery. greatly distinguished themselves.
The horses of one of the enemy's pieces
had been killed within a hundred and fif- <
tv yards of their rifle pits. Col. Crews
was endeavoring to have it hauled away
by band. Gen. Wharton rode up and
told them they should have the piece if
they removed it from under the enemy’s
guns. With a shout every man sprang
| forward and brought it away under all
the concentrated fire of the enemy. It is
a rifle piece, six pounder, weighing 900
lUs—the very best for cavalry. They al
so captured eight horses and harness com
plete. Private il/averick, of Texas, a
member of Wharton’s scout company,
o-n-n.ni the Cumberland, freezing as it was,
and burnt a laden boat. It is understood
that Gen. Wharton has recommended him
for promotion. He is a young man of
education, the son of the most wealthy
gentleman in the State of Texas—the
grandson of that Maverick of South Caro
lina that first exported cotton to England. :
The trip was one of great hardship—
rain, snow and intense cold prevailing all :
the time, which was manfully borne. We
captured about one hundred negroes and j
a number of prisoners, estimated from ,
fifty to a hundred.
to arms. Be not too exacting in the
choice of weapons. Pikes and scythes
will do for exterminating your ene
mies—spades and shovels for protec
ting your friends.
To arms, fellow-citizens. Come to
ed that all unpleasant complications j share with us our dangers—our
may be avoided; but we feel assured J brilliant success or our glorious death,
that the letters which have just been
made public by the French Minister
battle field?” [Overwhelming cries of
‘No! never!”
Gold in New York closed at 155$.
TJtc f.aai Silrer Dollar.
A PARODY ON THE LAST ROSE OF SVKMER.
“Tis thi last silver dollar,
Left shining alone;
Ali iis laughing companions
Have melted and gone.
Not a coin ot its kiudred,
No specie is nigh.
To echo hack softly
Its silvery sigh.
You must leave me, bright dollar,
The last of my few.
Since thy males have departed,
Skedaddle thou too.
Thus, kindly, I send thee,
To wander afar
In the sky of shinpiasters,
A glimmering star.
So soon may I follow,
When thou art no more,
And I wreck of starvation
_ On shinplaster shore
When (tie purse never jiugles.
And shiners have flown.
Old who could feel wealthy
On pictures alone H.
FOREIGN NEWS.
and Mr. Seward, added to the Empe
ror Napoleon’s missive to Gene:;;
Forey upon the Mexican question, to
say nothing of the intrigues of th
French Consular against Texas, will
cause ill feeling between the people of
this country and France.
From the commencement of the
rebellion we were iucliuded to look
upon France as a friend, fcshe was not
making an illicit commerce with the
rebels. She made no endeavors to
[Signed,] G. T. Beauregard.
Official: J. M. Otky, A. A. G.
Final preparations for the expect-
d attack are being rapidly perfected
, I Troops and people arc calm and eon-
I (idem.
the slow process of the courts, may not be ! break our blockade, and sold no ships
their furniture, family pictures, carnets, j (3j tl because the railroad cars could not
clothing, and other articles of household
goods, and robbed them ot tbeir silver | 0 £- arl eX p e Jiti 0 n costiug tliousa.uds of dol-
ware, stoek aud provisions.
Ho lias petmitted his wagon-tnasters
and others, with armed soldiers, to seize
;et them on in time, constituted the spoils
if an expediti
lars per day.”
Confederate Bonds.—The Act of Con-
tbe corn, oats, and hay, &c., of our citi- ; gress, passed at the last session, Reducing
zens for the use of the armies, without the rate of interest on Confederate bonds
their consent, and without just discrimin issued after 22d April next, ic now develop-
ation as to whether the farmer could spare ing the effect it was intended to produce,
the. article or not—fixing their own price j By the terms of that Act the Treasury
upon them, and making their own esti- j notes issued prior to the 1st of December
mate as to the value and quantity taken, last are fundable in eight per cent, bonds
and giving no receipt or name whereby the until the 23d of April, thereafter they are
owner could successfully seek his pay ; only fundable like those issued since 1st
and often, when vouchers were given, they December, in seven per cent, bonds. For
were so informal that no money could bo I some time past the demand for Coufcder-
drawn upon them.
ate eights lias been remarkably active
He has permitted his officers and sold- j Orders have literally “poured in” at the
iers to entice slaves in great numbers to : Treasury, and those now received remain
leave their masters, and owners, and to unfilled from the pressure of business for
take them within their camps, and there, two or three weeks. In the meantime
•with bayonets, to protect them from re- the new Treasury notes (fundable only in
clamation, and, when civil suits have been seven per cent bonds) are coming rapidly
brought for their recovery, in many in- into circulation, and displacing the old
stances the process of the court lias been issues, which are convertible, until 22d
resisted by armed forces, and tho owner J April, in 8 per cent, bonds. In fact, the
of the slaves maltreated and imprisoned j latter have nearly disappeared in this lat-
for no known cause other than his at- j itude, although the amount extant in the
tempt thus to recover and protect his pro- i Confederacy on tho 1st of January was
perty. j about two hundred and fifty millions of
He has permitted his officers and sold- ! dollars. The banks have ceased to pay
Iers. without authority of law. to levy j them out, and everybody keen enough to
collected until peace shall come, when
such currency may be demanded for dues
as the courts may determine to be a legal
tender, without reproach to parties who
may insist upon receiving it as a constitu
tional privilege and right.
We lo >k. however, upon the transaction
refered to—upon the auction sale of notes
of responsible parties—at this critical pe
riod in our common currency as a deleteri
ous, if not vicious movement, and we do
most earnestly protest against it. We
cannot agree with out cotemporaiv, the
Columbus Enquirer, who thinks that there
is in it no dishust of Confederate Treasury
notes, but “rather of the apprehension that
Congress will soon pass a fending bill that
will in a short time retire a large portion
of the Confederate currency from circula
tion.” That, in onr judgment, such a
measure would be a wise one, and greariy
enhanced the value of what should remain
out as the circulating medium of the Con
federacy, we have no doubt. But we can
conceive no more mischievous practice than
the one resorted to in Macon, in the in
stance referred to, of auctioneering off the
notes of solvent individuals for Confeder
ate currency. Nothing can tend more to
create alarm among the people and to still
further depreciate the currency than such
public sales. If holders of the notes of
individuals desire to sell them, and if mon
ey holders desire to invest, let neither of
them use the auction block for such trans
actions.
Inleligcncer.
large contributions of money upon unof
fending citizens under the pretence of re
discern a premium for them, in the future,
is either receiving them or converting them
By Flag of Trace.
The flag of truce boat came up with Mrs.
Jas. Sanchez and three children yesterday
afternoon. We have been enabled to
glean the following information by the
arrival.
Mrs. Sanchez and family were taken
from St. Aug.istine to llilton Head,
thence to Beaufort, and not allowed to
leave the steamer. She was then sent
by flag of true* for this city on Monday
to the insurgents; nor ditl she construct
and fit out pirate vessels to prey upon
our commerce. So we felt annoyed at
England, who did all this, and we
were friendly disposed towards France
who did not.—But now it is forced
upon onr conviction from till sides
that France is really inimical to us.
We have the assertion from the Empe
ror himself, who says that France
must stay our progress on this conti
nent, and who chivalrously under
takes the task at a moment when we
are hampered by a gigantic rebellion.
M. Mercier states that he went to
Richmond at the instigation of Mr.
Seward. The latter flatly contradicts
this assertion. Singularly enough, at
this juncture of affairs we find In the
oolumns of a French periodical an ar
ticle which goes to prove that M. Mer
cier went to Richmond with other
motives than those lie acknowledges.
Mr. Cucheval Clarigrty, a writer in
the service of the French Government,
states in the Annuaire des Deux AIond.es
that it was French influence that de
termined the Confederates to defend
Richmond. It must he borne in tnirid
that at the date of M. Mercier’s visit
to Richmond the rebels were inclined
to abandon that place, and that they
had determined upon removing the
seat of government to some other city.
They, after M. Mercier’s visit, conclu
ded to remain, and did so successfully;
and now we find a prominent French
writer assuring us that Richmond
held out at the instigation of France.
It is clear that Mr. Cucheval Clarigny
would uot have hazarded this state
ment in Paris had he not been fully
informed upon th« subject.
The unfavorable rtateraeat made »o con-
13efrnce of the Seaport*.
Gen. Beauregard bas throughout his
career shown himself to be a man not
needlessly alarmed or prone to exag
gerate dangers. His proclamation, though
full of the spirit of patriotism, indicates
that lie suffers from one want which ou<jbt
to bo supplied.
'i here are so many points to be guard
ed by our armies that the number of men
which could he supplied for the defence
of Charleston and Savannah is inadequate
lor the purpose, and it is evident front
Gen. Beauregard’s call for a general rally
of the population, that he feels the want
of men. and is conscious that if either of
those cities fall it will be for lack of de
fenders. It is hard to imagine a disaster
so grievous as the loss of either of our
seaports; but if they should fall, the peo
ple of Georgia and South Carolina will
have to regret that they did not answer
the cull ior men made by Gen, Beauregard
for to no.other cause will their disaster be
ascribed.
I he defences of both are ample; we
will not say “impregnable,” for the word
has acquired a sinister meaning, but they
are us near impregnable as industry. 31-
reeted by military science, can make
them. r i he most perfect fortifications are
useless unless men can bo had to defend
them; and the question is directly pre
sented to the people of Georgia and South
Carolina—will you suffer the gates to your
States to be forced open by the invader
through unwillingness to supply the force
to keep them closed? Men must be had
iorthe purpose, and there are thousands
capable of bearing arms, whose all de
pends upon the successful defence of those
ports, who might take lip arms for a few
days, until the danger is past.
Augusta is peculiarly interested in the
successful defence of the seaports. If
Charleston or Savannah falls, Augusta is
the next victim to be devoured, before
the enemy overruns the territory of Geor
gia and Bouth Carolina. The whole effort
ot the invader will be directed to tho
the capture of our city. It i s easier to
uefend Augusta at Charleston or Savan-
nan than at any spot between those cities
and here. Shall A defence he made?
W e are careful always to avoid giving
grounds for alarm or even unnecessary
sensation, but it is our duty to warn our
citizens of their danger, it i 9 useless* to
Severe but jemt.
Referring to the remarks of some of the
members of the Confederate Congress, -1
who have declared “that newspapers are
doing more harm than good,” the Mobile
I ribune says:
That man is a fool, or has some special
personal grievance against the craft, who
cannot see that they are of almost indis
pensable use—that is, when they are hon
estly performing tiie duties of their voca
tion; and we are glad to say that we know
of few exceptions to this high virtue with
in the Confederate States.
We venture also to assert that even the
least of them may be considered of as
much value to the general cause as any
one of half the members of the Confeder
ate Congress. Their enemies are those
who lack the ability to achieve the im
portance which their ambition craves;
those who are envious of the merit which
has its due applause through their columns;
those whose mercenary purposes are ex
posed and thus checked. The officer who
lias crawled to a place by servility or
fraud, and whose value is tested in battle,
detests a newspaper, and would, also, if
his power were equal to his desires “back”
or hang all those who have mastered the
recondite arts of reading and writing.—
The hangers on of these officers—the
pickers up of the crumbs which fall from
official tables, and there are many of them
everywhere, they are indignant when
their masters are mentioned in print, unless
it lie in disgusting hyper bole.
Politicians who have girded on their
sword and are using it as an instrument
to exhume and recreate their dread repu
tation, these and scores of others believe
that a free press is a great evil, and ought
to be subjected to military surveillance.
The patriot on tho contrary sees in the
newspaper an instrument which unites the
different parts of the country in a brother
hood of sympathy; sees in it a means of
appealing to and arousing and encouraging
the general patriotism; sec how it keeps
the charitable feeling of our people alive;
sees how it gives heart to desert; sees how
it pricks reputation which, without it
might be blown up to so great proportions
as to bring ruin on the country; sees how
it is constantly on hand to intercede for
the wronged and to sustain the right; sees
how welcome it is to the thousands of
households that would be in the suspense
of ignorance without it. Insliort, its good
uses arc manifold, and could only be prop
erly appreciated if it were stricken out of
existence. But these characteristics are
obvious and used no display. 1 hey wh
Efforts of France for Peace
Richmond, Feb. 16.—The Enquirer
has Northern dates of the 14th. The
iEtna has arrived, The French Em
peror is endeavoring to perfect a new
plan of mediation or intervention be
tween the North and South.
M. Drouyn do L’Huys has directed
a circular to the French Ministers ar
London, Berlin, Viena and St. Peters
burg, directing them to sound the
feelings of the Cabinets of those coun
tries on the propriety of tendering
their counsels.
Articles published almost simulta
neously in La Nation, La France, Op in-
ionc Xationalc, newspaper organs of the
Emperor, the Empress and Prince Na
poleon, show that France is exceed
ingly anxious to bring about peace in
America,
The new Archbishop of Paris, in a
pastoral letter, attacks Russia and
England for refusing to joiu Napoleon
in his first effort of mediation.
The steamer Georgiana, a tender of
the Alabama, was in the harbor of
Holly head. England, and went to sea
on the 24th ult. for Nassau with a for
midable crew.
The Russian conscription in Poland
resulted in a general uprising against,
the authority of the Czar in that an
cient kingdom. The latest dispatch
dated at Vienna the 2Sth, says that
sanguinary conflicts continue to take
place in Poland.
The Liverpool cotton market closed
irregular on the 29th at a decline of a
half penny.
The Bank of England has advanced
the minimum rate of discount from
four to five per cent.
Sen-nrd’i Rc^’ionw to French TOcifialion.
Richmond, Feb. 17—Seward in a
despatch to Dayton, the Lincoln Min
ister at the court of France, dated the
Gth inst says:
“What M. Drouyn De L’Huys sug
gests is that this Government shall ap
point Commissioners to meet on neu
tral ground, Commissioners of the in
surgents. If it were possible for this
Government to compromise the na
tional authority so far as to enter
. . . , . ^ in-
“® D Y may very justly be suspected j to such debates, it is not easy to per-
of holding positions which they are con
scious they are not fitted for. The sooner
such men find their level—are reduced to
the ranks of military or civil life—the bet
ter it will be for all of us who are working
ceive that good results could be ob-
1 tained by them. The Commissioners
must agree in recommending either
, that the Union shall stand or bevoi-
in dead earnest to achieve the emaiicipa- untarily dissolved, or else they must
tion of the country from the sordid toils | leave the vital question unsettled.”
of Yankee despotism.
F ram Tennessee.
Parties who left Nashville ten days
ago state that Rosencranz had not j
been reinforced at that time.
A gentleman direct from Louisville I
says that Rosencrauz’s troops are de-!
serting by hundreds. The whole conn- j
try from Louisville to Cumberland riv- !
er is full of Abolition stragglers and i
deserters.
Seward closes by remarking and
enforcing the idea that the Congress
of the United States furnishes the
Constitutional forum for disputes be
tween the alienated parties.
From the A'01-ch—Ui-rai Fire In Norfolk.
Richmond, Feb. 16.—The .Missouri
Legislature was unable to elect a United
States Senator, and adjourned its joint
session until November.
A great portion of tbe business part of
A refugee from Nashville says that j Norfolk, Virginia, has been destroyed by
the Federals are committing all sorts
of depredations and have burned ev
ery farm house, from Nashville to
Murfreesboro—turning ladies out of
their houses and forbidding them to
take out any clothing before the dwel
lings are burned.
fire. The entire ioss is upwards of three
hundred thousand dollars.
Gold in New York 254. Exchange
169 to 171.
G«u. TV. n. T. Walker.
The announcement which we find m
w tho Augusta Chronicle, that this officer
It is said that the residents of Nash- has been appointed Brigadier General in
ville, who are suspected of favoring
the South, arc oppressed in every pos
sible manner.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston is at pres
ent in Knoxville. He will remain
there a few days,
the Confederate Army, and ordered to
Savannah, will be hailed with delight, not
only by our citizens, but the people of tbs
State generally. Walker is eminently*
man for the field, and the very sort ot »
leader to do the particular kind of figbtiflf
• that w« n««d at Sttvaanah.
