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About Weekly Georgia constitutionalist and republic. (Augusta, Ga.) 1851-185? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1854)
WW iwi t!m ® jsiyjiiL BY JAMILS GAKDNEK. FOREIGN NEWS. |, retails by tbe Pacific. THS I.OSS AT IBS BATTLE OF INKERMANN. I A 4el-s.ra;-'. d-'s-pateh trom B-rlii>. published j in the London paper*. says that the Russian in- I valide announces officially the Ri.-.sian loss <»> i Wae Sth of N >. ember to b* 42 offices and 2 969 i men killed, and 206 oflker.-, amt 5,791 men j wounded, giving the totai of 9,008 killed an I I wounded. The number of prisoners take., by I the allies is not given- The following is the official report of the total j •isua ties in the Eriti- armyon the stf. 43 officers, 3J sergeants, 1 drummers,3B6 rack i and file killed 102 offi-vr*. 121 sergeants. 17 i drummers, 1,694 rank and file wounded; 1 of-| Heer, 6 sergeants. 191 rank and life missing.— i Total, 43 officers. 32 sergeants, 4 drummers, 383 j rank and file k lied; 103 officers, 122 sergeants, j 17 drummers, 1,710 rank and file wounded; 11 officer, e sergeants. 191 rank and file missing, j Killec 46a i Wounded 1 952 ; Missing 191 1— Total 2,605 The less of the Fi*uch in killed and weuuced 1 was 1,736. Total loss ot the allies, 4 341. it appears that the Russian forces “-rgaged ir ibe battle was 60,000 or 70.000 who were op posed for three hours bv a little ovei »,000 En glish. The latter, however, were aufiseq-jently ' wined by 6,000 Franca. and thus sav-d the al- ; ties from a defeat, The battle lasted from be. tween 6 and 7 o’clock in the morning until be tweer- 3 and 4 in the atternoon. BBUTALITV CF THE RUSSIANS Ti, personal er d ict of the Russiai st r< ■ - ■ oat the battle < • inkermann was such as to cre ate terror and disappointment, and to uiuteceive ' all won had ho:>ed trot their barbarism bad been ; in gome degree m igated oy ti.e perse." which hat claused ein-e the career of Suwarroff. I hey p;er< and even tore off the !■•>:. lages ot those -vuo, af ter temporary aid had I een left fir the moment on the field; and tLrae fiendlike merely to have been the result ot drink upon the common men, but to have beer i..:?c'. y <-t:- tourage i by the officers. One oi these personages w.s capturedin the Mt of setting the example to his men, and was forthwith sent to be tued for murder, and mot -. probably hanged. Whether any meats will, suffice >o prevent these Monies for the fiitui- . may, however, be doubted, although Lor R- - lari has seat to Prince Meiiscbikoff to demau'l au explanation oi the n. Should no satisfactory •or.fesswn or reparation be made, tbe war Wi,l henceforth assume a character which, with ali his indifference to the lives ot his subjects, may be too much even for the Czar. THS OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE BATTLE. Lord Raglan, in his official report or tbe bat tle of the sth, describes the events up to tbe rail of Sir George Cathcart, and then adds: “Subsequently to this, the battle continued with unabated vigor and with no positive result, toe enemy bringing upon our line not only tire file of all "their field battaries, but those in fr- nt of the works oi the place, and tbe ship guns, till the afternoon, when the symptoms of giving way first became apparent: and snortly alter, al though the fire did not cease, the retreat became general, and heavy masse: were observed retir ing over tbe bridge ot the inkermann, and as cending the opposite heights, abandoning on the field of oattie five or six thousand dead and woun ded, multitudes of the latter naving already been carried off by them. 1 never before witnessed •ueh a spectacle as the field presented ; but upon this j will not dwell.” He lui-.c-r aWt'-j ti.:»» i’rer * ‘ and * t»i wTTu c.-to o” r iu display ng ibeir gallan try and maniiesfir.g their zeafcus devotion to duty, notwithstanding that they nad to contenu against an infinitely superior force,and were ex posed lor many hours to a most galling fire.”— And be concludes tbu-. “It is difficult to aiiive a'. iny positive con elusion a l . to the actual numbeis brought into the field by the enemy. The configuration of the ground did not a imrtof any develop nent of their force—the attack consisting of a system ot re peated assaults in heavy ma-ses of columns; but. Judging from tbe numbers that were seen m trie plainsafter they had withdrawn in retreat, I am led to suppose that there could not have Leeu leM than 60,000 men. Their loss was excessive and it is calculated that they left on the field near 5,003 dead, and that their casualties amount in the whole, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, to not less than 13.000. “ Your grace will be surprised to learn that the camOer oi British troops actually engaged little exceeded 8,000 men, wnile those of Gen. Bos quet’s division only amounted to 6,000, the re maining available French troops on the spot hav ing been kept iu reserve. 1 ought to mention that, while the enemy was attacking our right, they assailed the left of the French and actually got into two oi their brtteries; but they were quickly driven out in the most gallant man ner with considerable loss, and ho ly pursued to lire very wails ot Sebastopol.” Geo. Canrobert of tbe French army, states tua» tbe Russian army, by re-infotceme its, had been awe.led to at least lOOrXIU men, including ike garrison of Sebastopol. This they learned at the beginning o! the buttle, from a number oi. Haselau deserters. He then goes on to describe the battle; and •ays the French army three times crossed bay •nets with tt*e enemy, who only yielded ground after the thud charge, upon which he left it strewed with his dead and wounded The Rus sian heavy artillery and their field-pieces, he alleges, were very superior in number,and had a •ommandiug position. The Russian lans in killed and wounded, he Jtuuks, was <M>t loos than from e to 10,000 men da conclusion be fcey*: "Tfie battle of drikermann, and the contest maintained by .the besieging corps, ba* shed great glory on our fon'-e,and has augmented the moral strength which tJbe allied armies have always posaested. At the urarne time we have suffered lose which must be regretted. The English a.-rny > baa lost 2,600 men Allied or wounded, among j which are to be reckeued seven generals, three i of whem are killed. The French army Uassit fersd to tbe extent ot 2,736 killed or wounded. We have bitterly to regret the lost oi Gen. de Lourmel, unce chad irwr Its whounds, whose brilliant qualities promise t a grand career in lire future, ft is my pain..; duty also to acquaint you with the death of Col. de Camas, of tin- C'n regiment of the .e. .-.i.-:d at the 1.. .i lc‘ t u troops, at the very slant in v iic.. I ".i rie in contact with tui: eruuny. “sue vigor of the aiifeu troops, iTt-jer . i‘. y were to the two-told stri);',;*, eoi « * y- > cedentel difficulty and ul bittlu wh-h rs cal it** greateststf'-gglesoi military history, cot be too highly praisr d.” Having thus gla <’d at trie official rejiorl.. r the allies, let us see what tiue Russians have to say for themselves, f’mice Henscbikoff, in Xis official despatch to the Emperor, says; ‘Our first attack on the heights was very for tunate; the English fartilications were carried, sod cloven of tin ir guru 1 , keif. Uolortonately, tn tfaia first movement, the cznlvoaiid'-re tbe troops, who were tttacl ; gthe s.-itii-nchmrr.ts MMI redoubt*, were wr.un'i Wbiletheseovr'Ets •ve/e passing, the Fi>' • l'.r f arrived m- 4 the E.ighsh ' The siege attilkiy of tm-• w*» n ... ion . . It '■ field of battU*. '< d itw.,l-, for our I.rid j:cr • !o COuUl J ■. .'j r.dvt.';T/.'. AUGUST V, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, DEG EMBER 20, 1854. ' The numerical superiority of the enemy’-, in- , I‘antry, armed with rifles, occasioned great los-es 1 in horses, artillerymen and infantry officers This circumstance made it impossible lor us to ' complete, except bv a great sacrifice of tra-ips. the redoubts whicn, durir g the fighting, we had. b-gun to throw up cn points which tbe enemy’s ; position commanded, even as far as the town of Sebastopol itself. The retreat was effected in ■ good order on Sebastopol and over the bridge o. Inkermann, and the dismounted guns were car ried eff the field of battle back into the place. “ The Grand Dukes Nicholas Nicholasitch ! .Michael Micholavitch were in tbe midst of this , terrible fire, setting an example of calm cour..,-e :in the fight. Simultaneously with this sortie the ' infantry regiment of Minsk, with alight battery , | of artillery, under the command of the major- > ' general of artillery Timofeieff, executed another ; ! sortie against the French batteries, and spiked 15 . jof their guns. Our loss in dead is not yet exactly | I known, but the number of the wounded amounts ’ to 3,500 men and 109 officers.” He adds that Lieut. General Solmonoff was , ' killed, and several other higher officers wounded. ; | and thinks the lors ot the allies cannot have bee.i ' less than the Russians. | The Battle of Inkkrmann—The accounts '■ we have hitherto published of tbe battle of In- • ' kermann, on the sth, we now find, failed to con- | vey any impression ot its horrible realities. The ; correspondent of the Loudon Times, writing i > trorn tbe fi.dd of battle on the sth, says: i And now commenced the bloodiest strugg’e , j ever witnessed since war cursed the earth. It has ! I been doubted by military historians if any enemy j could stand onr charge with the bayonet; but here the bayonet was often tbe only weapon etn j ployed in conflicts of the most obstinate and | deadly character. We have been prone to be i lieve that no foe could ever withstand tbe British j soldier wielding bis favorite weapon, and that at I Maida alone did the enemy ever cross bayonets ‘ with him; but, at the battle ot Inkermann, net ' uniy dut we charge in vain—not only were des ; perate encounters between masses of men main ; tamed with tbe bayonet alone—but we were : obliged to resist bayonet to bayonet the Russian ; in .‘."try again and again, as they charged us with ! ii.credible fury and de’ermina’ion. j The battle of Inkermann admits of nodescrip- I fion. It was a series ot dreadful deeds of daring, of sanguinary hand to hand fights, of desperate j assaults—in glens and valleys, in brushword I glades and remote dells, hidden from all human ; eye--, and from which the cooqueorrs, Russian or British, issued only to engage iresb loes, till our ..•id supremacy, so rudely, assailed, was triurn piiantly asserted,and the battalions of the Czai : g ive way before our steady courage and the I chivalrous fire of France. No one, however I placed could have witnessed even a small por- • tion ot the doings of this eventful day; for tbe , vapours, fog, and drizzling mist, obscured the I ground where the struggle took place to such an I extent as to render it impossible to see what j was going on at the distance of a few yards. ' Besides this, the irregular nature of the ground, the rapid tall of the hill towards Inkermann, • where the deadliest fight took place, would have 1 prevented one, under the most favorable circum stances, seeing more than a very insignificant and detailed piece of the terrible work below. It ! was six o’clock when all tbe head-quarters camp was roused by roll after roll of musketry on the right, and by sharp report of field guns. Lord t Raglan was informed that the enemy was ad -1 vancing in force, and scon after ’even o’clock he I lode toward the scene ot action, followed by his i staff, and accompanied by Sir John Burgoyue, ; brigadier general Strangw ays, R. A , and several i aid be camps. j As they approached the volume of sound, the j steady, unceasing thunder of gun, and rille, and Imu ket told th ’ r he on..- ': —* • we . ' .. 1- ■i -. .ue -u-.-n oi the Rus’.aus, thrown with great precision, burst so tWickly among the troops that the noise resembles* the continuous dis* i charge of cannon, and tbe massive fragments in ! dieted death on every side. One of the first things the Russians did, when a break in the tog ; enabled them to see the camp of the second di ■ vision, was to open fire on the tents with round I shot and large shell, and tent alter tent was ' blown down, torn to pieces,or sent into the air, I while the men engaged in camp duties and the I unhappy hor’es tethered up in the lines Were i killed or mutilated. 1 Gambier was at once ordered to jget up two i heavy guns (18 pounders) on the rising ground, i and to reply to a fire which our light guns were utterly inadequate to meet. As he was engaged in this duty, and was exerting himself with Cap ; tain Dagmlar to urge them forward, Colonel ' Gambier was severely, but not dangerously wounded, and was obliged to retire. His place I was taken by Lieut. Colonel Dickson, and the I conduct of that officer in directing the fire ct those two pieces, which had the most marked effect in deciding the fate ot the day, was suebas to elicit the admiration ot the army, and to de serve the thanks of every man engaged in that bloody tray. But long ere these guns Lad been brought up there bad been a great slaughter of I tbe enemy, and a heavy loss of our own men. I Our generals could not see where to go. They could not tell where the enemy were—from I what side they were coming, and where going I to. In darkness, gloom and rain they had to lead oer lines through thick scrubby bushes and thorny brakes, which broke our ranks and irritated the . men, while every pace was marked by a coipse or rr.ari wounded from an enemy whose position wan only indicated by the rattleof musketry and the rush of ball and shell. Sic. George Cathcart, seeing hie men disorder led by the tire ot a large coiu ' - • Russian infan try which was outflanking them, while portions oi tbe various regiments comprising his division were maintaining an unequal struggle with an overwhelming force, rode down into the ravine in which they were engaged, to rally them. He j perceived at the same time that the Russians i had actually gained possession of a portion of the hill in rear of one flank of his division, but still his stout heart never failed him for a moment He rode at their head encouraging them, and when a cry arose that the ammunition was fail ing, be said coolly, “Have you not got your bay- I onets?” i As he led on his men it was observed that i another body of men had gained the top ot tbe bill behind them on the right, but it was impos sible to tell whether they were friends or foes. A deadly volley was poured in our scattered re giments. Sir. George cheered them and led them back up tire bill, but a flight of bullets passed where be rode, and he fell from his horse close to the Russ .n columns. Tbe men had to fight their way through a host of enemies, end lost :• aituily. They were surrounded and bayonet t< ■ ou both sides, and won their desperate way up the hill, with diminished ranks, and tbe loss of near 590 ne.'.. Sir George Catheart’a body was afterwards recovered with a bullet wound ir. the head, and three bayonet wound* in the body. In thia struggle, where the Russians fought I with tbe greatest ferocity, and bayonetted the wounded Mthey fell, Colonel Swyny, ot the 63d, a most gallant officer, Lieutenant Dowling, 20th.’ Maj. Wynne, 68th, and other oflicera, whose names will be fouad in the Gazette, met their death, and Brigadier Goldie, of tbe 37th regi ment, received the wounds of which he has since died. Tbe conflict on She right was equally uo certain, ar d equally bloody. In tho light divi sion, the 831 b got *o fay into the front that tbtjy were surrounded and put into utter euufusi' >, when lour compnuhs >f tha.- 77th, under M: j : 3’iatou-<hi;rged Ik- Ruv ian.’ J broka them :ud iiwved tbrirccerwads-s The fight had not long commenced, ere it was ' evident that the Ru-si ius had received orders to fire at all mounted ofiiceis. Sir G. Brown was struck by a shot which went through his arm and struck his side. I saw with regret his pale lifid sternly composed ace, as his body was borne by me on a litter early in the day, his white hair flickering in the breeze, for I knew that we had lost t e service ot a good soldier that day. Fur ther to the right a contest, tie like of which, perhaps, rever took place before, was going on between the Guards and dense columns of Rus sian infantry of five times their number. The Guardshad charged them und driven them back, when thuy perceived that the Russians had out flanked them. They were out of ammunition, too. They were uncertain whether there were friends or . loes in the rear. They had no support, no re serve, and they were fighting with the bayonet | against an enemy who stoutly contested every ■ inch of ground, w hen the corps of another Rus sian column appeared on their right far in their ’ rear. Then a fearful rniYrai/Ze was poured into i them.and volleys of rifle and musketry. The Guards were broken ; they had lost twelve offi i cers, who fell in the field ; they had left one-'halt ; of their number on the ground, and they retired along the lower road of the valley. They were soon reinforced, however, and speedily avenged their loss. The French advanced about ten {o’clock, and turned the flank of the enemy. The second division, in the centre of the line, ! were baldly pressed. Thedlst regiment, in par- I ticular. were exposed to a terrible fire ; and the I 95th were in the middle ol such disorganizing volley’ chat they only mustered 64 men when ’ paraded at two o’clock. In fact, the whole ot ! the division numbered only 300 men when as- | |s- milled by Major Eman in rear ot their camp • l iter tbe fight was over. Die regiments did not I lake their e;Jors into the battle, but the offi -ers | nevertheless wen? picked off wherever they 1 Went, and it did not require the color staff to in . dicate their presence. Our ambulances were i soon filled, and .ere nine o’clock they were busi > ly engaged in carrying loads of men, all covered with blood, and groaning, to the rear of the line. About hall-past nine o’clock Lord Raglan and ‘ his staff were assarabletl on a knoll, in the vain j hope of getting a glimpse of the battle which was ! raging below them. Here Genera! Strangways was mortally wounded, and I am told that he ! met his death in the following way:—A shell I earns right in among tbe staff—it exploded in 1 Captain Somerset's hoise, ripping him open ; a portion of the shell tore off the leather overells ot I Capt. Somerset’s trousers; it then struck down : Captain Gordon’s horse and killed him at once, . and then blew away General Strang way’s leg, so 1 that it hung by a shred of flesh and a bit of cloth I from the skin. Tbe poor old gentleman never I moved a muscle of his face. He said, merely, I in a gentle voice, “Will any one be kind enough Ito lift me off my horse ?” He was taken down :ii' laid on the ground, while his life blood ebbed l fast, and at last he was carried to the rear. But I the gallant old man had not sufficient strength to i undergo an operation, and in two hours he sunk ;to rest, leaving behind him a memory which , will ever be held dear by every officer and rnan ' of the army. The fight about the battery, to which I have alluded in a former part of my letter, was most sanguinary. It was found that there was no banquette to stand upon, and that the men inside could not fire upon the enemy. The Russians advanced mass after mass of infantry. As fast 1 as one column was broken and repulsed another i took its place. For three long hours about 8,500 I British infantry contended against at least four {times their number. No wonder that, at all i times, they were compelled to relire. But they ! r-yn" to the charrtn again. - > sr l< re t« Russian* cded in getting up close to tbe guns of Capt Wodehouse’s and of Capt. Turner’s batteries, in ' •» gloom of the morning. Uncertain whether *nsy were friends or foes, our artillerymen hesitated to fire. The Russians charged them sudd ul;, bore all resist i ance down before them, drove away or bayonet ed the gunners, and succeeded in spiking som: of tbe guns. Their columns gained the hill, and lor a few moments the fa’e ot the day trembled in the bal ance, but Adam’s brigade, I’ennefather’s brigade, i and the light division, made another desperate ; charge, while Dickson’s guns swept their col . urnns, and the guards, with undiminished valor I and steadiness, though with a sadly decreased ' front, pushed on again to meet then bitter ene j mies. The roaring of musketry, the clash of ■ steel, and the pounding of the guns were deafen i ing, and the Russians as they charged up tbe ! heights yelled Jike demons. They advanced, halted, advanced again, re ceived and returned a close and deadly fire, but the Minie is the king of weapons—lnkermann proved it. The regiments of the fourth division and the marines, armed with the old and much belauded Brown Bess, could do nothing with their thin line of fire against the massive multi tudes of the Muscovite infantry, but the volleys of the Minnie rifle cleft them like the hand ot tbe destroying angel, and they fell like leaves in autumn before them. i About ten o’clock, a body of French infantry i appeared on our right, a joyful sight to our I struggling regiments. The Zouaves came on at the pa*decAarge. The French artillery had al ready began to plav with deadly effect on the right wing of the Russians. Three battalions of ; the Chasseurs d’Oileans (I believe they had No. ' 6 on their buttons.) rushed by, the light of battle iin their faces. They were accompanied by a j battalion of Chasseurs Indigenes—the Arab Se poys of Algiers. Their trumpets sounded above the din of bat tle, and when we watched their eager advance right on the flank of the enemy, we knew the day was won. Assailed in (ront by our men, broken in several places by the impetuosity of our charge, renewed again and again; attacked by the French infantry on the right, and by ar tillery all along the line, the Russians began to retire, and at 12 o’clock they were driven pell mell down the hill towards the valley, where pursuit would have been madness, as the roads were all covered by their artillery. They left mounds of dead behind them. Long ere they fled the Chasseurs d’Afrique charged them most brilliantly over the ground, difficult and broken as it was, and inflicted great loss on them, while the • fleet of this rapid attack, aided by the advance of our troops, secured our gnus, which were only spiked with wood, and were soon rendered fit for service. Our own cavalry, the remnant of the light brigade, wi re moved into a position where it was hoped they might be ol service, but they were too few to attempt anything, and while they were d. iwu up they lost several horsesand some men. One officer, Cornet Cleveland, was struck by a piece of shell in the side, and hasex pired. There are now only two officers left with the fragment of the 17th Lancers—Captain Godfrey Morgan and Cornet George Wombwell At twelve o’clock the battle ot Inkermann seemesl to have been won, but the day which bad cleared up for an hour previously *o ae to enable us to lee the enemy and me „t him again became obscured. Rain and fog set in, and as we could not pursue the Russians, who were re tiring unde! the shelter ol their artillery, we had formed in front ot out lines and were holding the battlefield so stoutly conte .ted, when the enemy tah .ng advantage of our q .i.-tod, ag ul „ aJvanc-’ ad while their guns pushed forward and opentd a tremendous hie upon >«■. Gem Canroue.t, who , ew. quitted Lord Rag ■ fan for mneb ot th. early part of the day atonce direc’elthe Frenr'i to advauc .-nd outflank t*,,. euemy. Li bis efforts be.vgum. Üb7 .ecu, vJ ' ed bv Gen. Bosquet, whose devotion was noble. Nearly all his mounted escort were down beside and behind him. Gen. Canrobert was slightly wounded. His immediate attendants suffered severely. The renewed assault was so admirably repulsed that the Russians sullenly retired, still protected by their crushing artillery. The Russians, about ten, made a sortie, on the French lines, and traversed two parallels before they could be resisted. They were driven back at last with great loss, and as they retired they blew up some mines inside the Flagstaff Fort, evidently airaid that the French would enter pell-mell after them. At one o’clock the Rus sians were again retiring. At forty minutes past one Dickson’s two guns smashed their ar tillery, and they limbered up, leaving five tum brels and one gun carriage on the field. The Siege or Sevastopol Confessed to be a Failure —Hopes and Fears.—Twenty days have elapsed since we last received authentic ac counts from our army in the Crimea. Our latest news is derived from Russian sources, and we are carrying on war against an enemy who has ten days the start of us in intelligence. There does not appear, so far as we can see, any hopes of bringing the struggle in the Crimea to an im mediate termination. It is certainly not without a sigh that we feel ourselves compelled to relinquish those blight, I and, a* we thought them, reasonable hopes of completing in a few weeks tbe conquest of the Russian stronghold. Yet even this disappoint- | ment is not without its consolation. He have failed in our immediate enterprise, but | without the slighest loss—nay with a considera ble gain—of character and honor. II our army j Has been to weak too encounter the difficulties ■ opposed to it, it has only been because those dii [ liculf ies were such as transcended human power I and human endurance. I It Sevastopol does not fall at last, it will be I with a heavier ruin and more crushing effect than could have possible attended the most suc cessful enterprise. We have not snatched it from the Czar before his reinforcements arrived, but we have every hope of taking it from him after defeating aad des'roying all the force which his vast empire can bring torrs relief. We must fight this battle somewhere, and where could we desire to fight it better than on the ground of our own choosing, in the finest province ot tha Raraian empire, and under the walls oi the mighty fortress, the possession ot whicn will be the prize of the conqueror I Great Britain.— Prince Albert has sent a present o' a seal skin coat to every officer of his regiment in the Crimea. Jcn.n Gibson Lockhart, son-in-law of Sir Walter Scott, died of paralysis ou tbe 24th. Wm. Smith O’Brien denies a report that he had sanctioned an effort of his friends to induce Louis Napoleon to solicit the British Govern ment to allow him to return to Ireland. If per mitted to return, he says it must be without for eign interferrence. France.—Tbe cannon of the Invalides were fired in celebration oi the victory of Inker mann. Seventeen first class English steamers were at Toulon, embaiking troops and stores for the war. .M.-Avanhofl, Ex-Secretary of the Russian Emba y, whose presence has hitherto been tol erated in Paais, has received oiders to quit France. All other Russian, even domestic ser vants are likewise ordered to leave. Gentil, Langlois-and Montbec, political pris oners, have been liberated by the Emperor’s or ders. M.Sobrier, who figured in the revolution of 1848, died a few days since in the lunatic hos pital. A* .-■* ■ e V”ring up 80,90Qsheep-akii for meoi , . Frencl. army in ttlb East. Financial.—The advices from Europe are not especially damaging to our markets, but the state ol affairs there are such that no help is to be expected thence to us in our financial affairs Consols are not lower, but are heavy, on account o( tbe probability of the government loan being wanted. The Louden Times ol the 29th ot November states as follows : “ In consequence ct the anticipation express ed that proposals for a loan may probably be submitted to Parliament at an early date, the English lands opened this morning at a decline ot 1 per cent.; but the tall caused several pur chasers, and, as in some quarters likely to be well informed, it was contended that the idea of a creation ot stock is at present premature, there was subsequently a partial recovery. “ Consols for money, w hich left off yesterday at 91* to 92, were first quoted 91 to J, whence, after some influctuations, they advanced to 915 to i, at which they remained up to the termina tion of business. For the January account the last price was 91J to L Bank stock closed at 209 to 211 r; reduced 89| to 7J ; new three per cents, 892 to 90; long annuities 4J; and Exche quer bills, 3s. to 6s premium. The closing accounts from the Paris Bourse this evening present another decline of a half per cent., in sympathy, probably, with the movemet on this side. From Vienna tbe telegraphic quo tations seem to indicate that some political new\s considered very favorable among the financial classes, must have transpired, the rate ot Et change on London having suddenly receded near ly 4 per cent. The commercial circulars are written in gloo my spirit. Cotton was dull at Liverpool at a decline of Id since the previous advices. Fleur has also fallen 2s. to 3s per quarter. Corn 2s per quarter. Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co., November 29, write respecting American stocks : “ There has been to-day a demand for U. S. bonds, 1868, to a limited extent at 110. Some five per cent., New Yoik State stock has been sold at 95, ex-January div.; and some 6 per cent, stock of the same State at 89, dividend on from Ist October. “ A considerable sum ot bonds of the consoli dated Association ol Planters has been disposed ot at 70, dividened ou from Ist August. Vir ginia 6’«,dollar bonds offered at 84, and Sterling s’s at 89. Some Pennsylvania Central Railroad bonds have been sold at 89 ; but there is very little doing in raialroad bonds, and generally there.is more;deposition to sell than to buy Amer ican stocks. Pennsylvania s’s stock 76; do bonds 80 a 82. Massachusetts sterling s’s 101 a 102. Maryland sterling 93 a 93J. South Carolinia s’s 92. Alabama sterling s’s 83. Canada 6’a sterling 109 a 109 j.” The bank ol England continues to lose specie, though in a mercantile way. The return for the week ending 18th November shows as fol lows : The amount of notes iu circulation £19,828 - 270, being a decrease of £460,815, and tbe’stock ot bullion in both departmentsis £13,464,781, showing a decrease ol £85,011 when compared with the proceeding return. Proof that Monet is Scarce.—An Albany correspondent of the Portsmouth Journal makes the following statement as evidence that money is scacre at the West as well as in the Eastern States: “ A friend in the drygoods trade in Boston passed through this city on the return from a collecting expedition. He had 818,000 due in Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, and after visiting every place, returned with Jive hundred dollars as the utmost he could raise. He was accom panied by another merchant, who had accounts part due to the amount ol 850,000. He urged ! os creditors to the n*m.. bu' could n<.’. * ,<!:< < t m .ney enough to fayh r. expenses home I )<- perty rh«/ had, but no money gu I noi v to be talked.” VOL. 33 -NEV; SERIES- VOL.-‘J-NO II GENERAL NEWS. Inaugural Address of Gov. James H. Adams, j Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives 1 appear before you to take the oath and as sume the responsibilities ol the office to which . you have elected me. To be deemed by the j Representatives of South Carolina worthy to oc- • cupv the elevated position of Chief Magistral of the State, and to have had conferred on me so marked a manifestation of your confidence and esteem not only enhances the honor and respon sibility attached to the position, but excites with in me mingled emotions of gratitude and pride which I should in vain attemp to express. Hold- j ing no service to be so honorable as that of rny ■ native State, and seeing within her confines am ple scope lor the exercise of all my patriotism, 1 obey with cheerfulness, but unfeigned distrust, your summons to the post ot honor and of duty. I know that 1 do not possess the ability to illus trate the station, but I am sure that 1 bring to the service of tbe State a heart that nas never felt a pulsation inconsistent with her best in terest and her highest honor. That interest and that honoi yon are now ; about to commission me for a brief period to I watch over and defend. It is a high and sacred trust. I feel to the fullest extent all its respon sibility. I can only promise you, that with the aid of Providence, 1 shall laber most earnestly to 1 discharge my duty without “fear, favor, or anec | tion.” None of us are exempt from the frailties I of humanity, and no one reels more sensibly th * truth than myself. The errors 3 shall commit, 1 am sure your generosity will incline you to as- I cribe to their true origin* I shall rely with con- ; fidence on your intelligence and patriotism to sustain me in all proper efforts tc uphold tbe honor and advance the prosperity of the Com monwealth, whose destiny, lor tbe time being, has been committed to our joint care and keep ing. With these remarks, were Ito consult my own inclination. I would here close, but the usage of the occasion would seem to require something more from me. The powers with which the Constitution in vests the Executive aie lew in number, simple in their character, and apparently not difficult ot execution, in ordinary times, toe most impor tant of these, that with which the well beinn ot the Common-wealth is more deeply concert d, than with any other, is the power ot reprieve and pardon. The impossibility of framing laws to meet the endless variety of circumstances under which crime may be committed, suggest ed tbe necessity of lodging this power some where. Its legitimate application was only in tended to reach those peculiar cases,wherein -be law, by reason of its universality, might operate harshly or cruelly. Under this construction ol the Constitution, it woult be unwise to lay do a n any precise rule by which I shall be governed. 1 c.-.u only indicate in genera! terms the course I shall pursue. Our criminal code was instituted for the securi ty ol society, and I believe, if faithfully admin istered, and firmly executed, that it will be found to be fully adequate to that end. An inconsider ate exercise of the pardoning power is, in my judgment, not only a mockery of public justice, but a crime against society itself, and would, I fear, increase the number of those in onr State who are ready for the establishment ot the Peni tentiary system. I am free to confess that I have more faith in the present sanctions of our crimi nal code, and should deeply regret to see them superseded by such a system. I see nothing in the statistics of crime in the States where this novel mode of punishment has been adopted, to commend the example to our imitation. Nosys ■•»n. how-:.. ■ - were mis. ennltie*, and rig- .in enforcement, hai yet been 'revised, equal to ine legitimate end oi ail punishment—the suppres sion of crime, in one section of the Union, men stab and kill each other, in hot blood, to revenge an insult or an injury. In the other they lie in ambush on the highway, or steal under cover of night into the peaceful domicil, and murder for gain. Neither capita! punishment, nor incarceration, has been able to suppress crime. So long, tb.oh, as the PenitentiaH< . of our neighbor* are crowd ed, and, in some instances, demand enlargement, and our own jails are comparatively tenantless, let us adhere to our existing ceae, and faithiuliy execute its provisions. .\<y own observation authorizes the assertion, that juries rarely, if ever, I convict the innocent, while the guilty are too I often permitted to escape the punishment due to j their offences. 1 trust, for the peace and good order ol society, that during my administration, the application for Executive clemency may be few, for it will be only under such circumstances ■ as are demanded by the public good, that I shall leel at liberty to exercise it. The control and supervision of the military or ganization of the State are especially confined to the Executive. Our present system is the re sult of a well founded conviction of it? impor tance and necessity. I shall endeavor to foster and keepalive that degree of military pride and enthusiasm so essentia! to its preservation and efficiency, it its practical operation shall be' found to bear baldly upon that portion of ou: fel low-citizens least able to sustain the burden, it I will be your duty to remedy the defect. I fear, however, that much of the clamor recently rais ed against the system, emanates Irom that class who owe most to the Commonwealth, and should be the last to murmur at the sacrifice in volved. It is a bad omen when the owners of slaves grudge to the State the trouble and ex pense inemred it: a few days devoted to training and the use oi tbe musket. If any people on earth are deeply interested in preserving a com plete and thorough military organization, it is the people of the Southern States. Tbe Constitution imposes the further duty on the Executive, to collect and lay before you such information in relation to the condition ol the State as he may deem important. Upon you it devolves the higher duty, with a knowledge ol the wants and necessities ot the people, to pro vide the required legislation. The legislation of the State heretofore has been imbued with tbe conservative character of our people. Thus far South Carolina has been exempt from the bale ful influence of that wild spirit of progressive de mocracy. which has run riot over the North, ig noring all the lessons of experience, and setting ta defiance the clearest dictates of reason, it is tbe offspring of an impatient, restless principle at the human breast, which, unrestrained and unenlightened, is at war with man’s best inter ests, both ir. his individual and social capacity, it lies at tie bottom of those vagaries, which iu these moiforn days seek to oproot tne founda tions ot society, and to blur and destroy al! that is symmetrical and useful in well organized go vernment. Rebuked by the words of inspire tion, in madness it mocks them to scorn ; and II because there is a spot on the face of the sun, would strike it down from the heavens.” This desire for change, this restless spirit of in novation, is spreading over the country. In the Southern portion of the Confederacy it has main ly developed itself in frequeut calls ot Coven ttons to alter and remodel Constitutions, under the delusive idea that a change in government would remedy the “ills that flesh is heir to.” Our State has not,-as yet been materially injur ed by its influence. Let us shut it out as we would the “pestilence that walketh in darkness,” and the “destruction that wasteth at noon-ray.” It. is the Moloch wh-.di, asking a morsel at the cutset, will in the end demand the Constitution ol the State, that it may deveur it also It >a a mis'ake to suppose that to the extent yon arm man with untrammelled power, you contribute :o lls prosperity and buppiuesa. The possemiuu I of unchecked power by the many, is as objec i tionable and dangerous, as its absorption in th* hands of the lew. j Our ancestor? were no bunglers in the matter [of organizing government. They drew-their I lessons of liberty and constitutional law from a ' country oi checks and balances. Their devotion jto popular rights v ill hardly be questioned, and I it certainly was subjected to a severer practical .tert than that of the llhnni’nati of the present day. They thought the surest guarantee tor pop ular rights was to be found iu such a distribution and limitation of the powers of government as would disarm the lew of the power- to oppress, and at the same time curb th» licentiousness of the many. The absr lute rule of the majority I constituted no part of their political creed, and ; time has fully vindicated the faith that was in them. They sought to seenre for themselves and their posterity the blessing ol well regulated liberty, and our present sysrem of internal polity is a monument of their wisdom and sagacity. It protected them and it projects us—protects us in life, character and property. It has been found equal to cur past, and if honestly admin- i estered will prove adequate to our future wants 1 as a p-opie. i Under its stable influence, we have made sure ! and steady progress. None of our neighbors, how ever in advance of us in the march of progressive democracy, have outstripped us in the race ol true greatness and solid prosperity. In proportion to our area, in works of Public Improvement, we have accomplished as much for the development of our internal resources as any one of our South ern sisters, and this ha* been mainly dure by the individual energy and enterprise of tbe peo- I pie. Public justice is nowhere more honestly or j more ably administered, and as an organized i community, we exhibit the noble spectacle of a I law-loving uiu' la .v.abiding people. Our efforts in tbe casue o' popular education, if not com mensurate with our wants, evince a deep seated conviction of its vital importance, and it is to be hoped, that in the fullness of time they may be crowned with their legitimate fruits. Our liv ing statesmen will not suffer by comparison with those ot cur neighbors : and i! you unroll the scroll of the past, no State his inscribed on it sterner patriots, abler statesmen or more gifted orator*. Weak in numbers and small in fo-iitory, we rave always exerted a commanding influence in i tne notional councils. We owe it al! to our high ‘ ; intelligence and moral characteristir j, and these 1 | have been preserved and kept alive by the con- • ' sorvative element at the foundation of our Jn j stitutions I appeal to you, then, by the glori- ’ I ous recollections of the past and the encourag i ing hopes ot the future, to stand by oui ancient ' l landmarks Begin not the work of pulling ! down and patching up. The first si p you take 1 I in that direction may he fatal. The watchword 1 I will be reform—the *heut will be change until ‘ I you have pulled down over your beads the best 1 j balanced system of government that the world has yet looked upon. Upon the subject of cur relations with the ■ genera) government, I have but little to say. I I have no new opinions to announce, and no ■ specific remedy to propose meet the dangers ’ which are before us. The signs of the times . are as open to your vision as they are to mine. I We may interpret them differently, but to my i mind they indicate a settled purpose on tbe part -of the Northern States to assail and degi; e or • ruin the Southern States. How or when the South shall meet to redress the perils of her con- i dition,! will not venture to anticipate, lime i will demonstrate whether' our institutions tend i to lift us up as a a people, promptly to protect our > rights and perpetuate our liberties, or whether ■ they will sink us down to the level ol degraded > en.' r- 'ned >vir..:t*». i! And now with fervent pia) er that Providence may guide your deliberations and bless vour es- i forts for common good, 1 am ready to take the - oath prescribed by the constitution. South Carolina Legislature. The Blue Ruipe Railroad Rill Passed by the , House. Columbia. Dec. 15.—Senate.—Various bills passed their first reading. Mr. Allen moved to indefinitely postponemo , bill repealing ths laws against usury. The mo tion, however, was lost by a vote of 16 to 18. The bill to improve the free school system ol the State was ordered for consideration to-mor , i row. , The bill to pay the Legionaries ol Ltixernborg $27,635 passed by a vote of 23 to 12. The bill to alter the Constitution so a- 'u have but one day tor the elections was lost. The bill to aid the Charleston and Savannah Railroad passed without opposition. The Hon. P. Butler was re-elected U. S. Senator on joint ballot, having received 180 , votes. Mi. McAliley submitted a resolution to tbe effeetthat the President of the Bank of the State be requested to inform the Senate whether any | portion of the funded debt of the State has been I purchased on account ol the sinking fund, in .- obedience to the requisitions ot the Charter, and how much ot the sinking fund has been invested ; in Bonds, notes, &e., and whether the accounts oi the sinking fund are kept in such a manner as . always to show what particular bonds, notes, i &c.. belong to said fund. The resolution was | adopted. A resolution providing for the piuchase ol ■ Werner’s Iron Palmetto Tree, which is now in front o’ the Capitol, for an amount not exceeding . SSOOO, was ordered for consideration so rnor i row. Hous* of Representatives —Tt> senate s bill to relieve Ministers ot the Gospel lion.’ patrol duty was ordered lor consideration to-morrow. i I’he Committee on the Judiciary made a la i vorable report on the bill to alter tbe time of the ; sittings ot tbe Courts ol Equity on the Second ; Circuit. The usual resolution was introduced to appoint I a joint Committee, to examine the affairs ol the 1 Bank o! the State and its Branches. The debate on tbe bill to grant aid to the Blue Ridge Railroad was resumed, and continued until the House took a Recess. Evening Session,—Mi. Memmiager mad? a powerful effort in favor of the Blue Ridge Rail road. After some further discussion pro and con the bill was passed by a vote of sixty-five to filty two. The bill subscribes $1,000,060 and guar antees the same amount. “The Oldest Post-master. —Joshua S. Groover, Post-Master at Grooversvilie, iu this county, is said to be the oldest Post-Master in the United States, having held that office longer than any other individual now in uncle Sam’s service.”— Thomasville Watchman Mr. Groover must have held the office in anotbei State, if he is the oldest Post-Master in the United States. For Haywood Brookin' 1 , Esq., at Sandersville, has held it continuoiiely, longer in Georgia than any other individual now occupying toe position in the State. He was appointed at Sandersville, when a young man, just old enough to be eligible—has since married —raised a large family, the most of whom have grown up and married, and become the heads oi good-sized families—and he if still in the office., with no disposition to resign, and although a whig, has no idea of being “removed,” only by tbe hand of tbe “ grim monster.” He has been Post-Master at the same office, tor more th-'n I a widower, we ■. glit t'-llhcw white bi? t,r ; '*. bad grown e:i h” < tered Uncle Satn’s serv co
