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JOURNAL & MESSENGER, \
S. T. CHAPMAN A S. KOSE, Editors.
COL. FREMONT AND HIS PARTY.
Authentic Particulars.
Letters have been received from Col. Fremont,cov
erin'* the two months (from the last of November to
the 2d of February) that he was not heard of, and giv
ing the terrible events of that time. They are written,
says the Intelligencer, from Taos and Santa Fv, New
Mexico, and addressed to Mrs. Fremont, at Washing
ton ; and, in her absence, (lor it was deemed probable
that she might have set off to Cafifornia by seabe
bre they could arrive,) to Senator Benton, and ;n hts
.bsence to William Carey Jones, Esq. The letters
tune from St. Louis last night, having been brought to
tuat place by Mr. St. Vrain. Mrs. Fremont fortu
nately was gone : Senator Benton had delayed his
departure for Missouri,confident that letters were on
ne way ; and in his hands we have seen the originals,
and we propose to give extracts in the order of their ,
dates. The first is dated .
“ Taos, New Mexico, January 27,1849.
“ I write to you from the house of our. good friend
Carson. This morning a cup of chocolate was brought
to me while in bed. To an overworn, overworked,
■ itigued and starving traveller, these little luxuries of the
vorld offer an interest which, in your comfortable home j
. is not possible for you to conceive.
“ I have now the unpleasant task of telling you how
[ cune here. -I had much rather speak ot the future,
vvvith plans for which lam already occupied,) for the
lind turns from the scenes 1 have witnessed and the
itferings we have endured ; but ns clear information
i due to you, and to your father still more, I will give
you the story now instead of waiting to tell it you in
California; but I write in the great hope that you will
not receive this letter. When it reaches Washington i
you may be on your way to California.
“ Former letters will have made you acquainted with j
our progress as far as Bent’s Fort, and from report you ,
will have heard the circumstances of our departure
from the Upper Pueblo, near the head of the Arkan
sas. We left that place on the 25th ot November with ’
u pwards of one hundred good mules and one huudred
and thirty bushels of shelled corn, intended to j
support our animals in the deep snows of the high
mountains, and down to the lower parts©!’ the Grand
river* tributaries, where usually the snow forms no
obstacles to winter travelling. At Pueblo I had enga- j
ged as a guide an old trapper, well known as “ Biff j
Williams,” and who had spent some twenty-five years
of his life in trapping in various parts of the Rocky
Mountains.
“ The error of our expedition was committed in en-!
gaging this man. He proved never to have known, or !
entirely to have forgotten, the whole country through
which we were to pass. We occupied (after passing
the mountatn) more than half a month in making the
progress of a tew days, blundering along a toituous
course, through a deep snow, which already began to
choke up the passes, and wasting our time in search
ing the way. The lhh of December we found our
selves at the mouth of the Rio del Norte canon, wliere ;
that river issues from the Sierra San Juan—one ot the
highest, most rugged, and impracticable ©tall the Rocky
Mountain ranges, inacc ssil.de to trappers and hunters,
even in summer. Across the point ot tins elevated
range our guide conducted us ; and having still great
confidence in this man's knowledge, we passed onwards
with fatal resolution. Even along the river bottoms
the snow was already breast deep for the mules, and
falling fieqaently in the valley and almost constantly
on the mountain. The told was extiaordinary. At
the warmest hours of the aay (between one and two)
the thermometer (Fahrenheit) stood, in the shade of a
tree trunk, at zero ; and that was a favorable day, the
sun shining and a moderate breeze. Judge of the nights
a nd the storms !
“We pressed up towards the summit, the snow deep
ening as we rose, and in four or five days of this
struggling and climbing, all on foot, we reached the
naked ridges which iie above the line of the timbered
region, and which form the dividing heights betweeen
the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Along
these naked heights it storms all winter, and the raging
winds sweep across them with remorseless fury. On
our first attempt to cross we encountered a pouderie—
(dry snow driven thick through the air by violent
wind, and in which objects are visible only at a short
distance) —and were driven back, having some u-n a
twelve mon vanoualy frn/pn —KnntU.or feet. The
guide came near being frozen to death here, and dead
t ules were already lying about the camp fires. Mean
mte it snowed steadily. Tlie next day (December —) -
we renewed the attempt to scale the summit, and were
.tore fortunate as it then seemed. Making mauls, and
beating down a road,or trench, through the deep snow,
we forced the ascent in defiance of the driving poude
rie, crossed the crest, descended a little, and encamped
immediately below in the edge of the timbered region.
The tiail showed as if a defeated party had passed by
packs, pack saddles, scattered articles of clothing,
and dead inules strewed along. We were encamped
about twelve thousand feet above the level o! the sea.
Westward the country was buried in the snow. ‘Fite
- orm continued. All movement was paralyzed. To ,
ivance with the expedition was impossible; to get
jack, impossible. Our fate stood revealed. We were
overtaken by sudden and in evitable ruin. The poor
animals w'ere to go first. The only places wliere grass
could be had v.ere the extreme summits of the Sierra, ;
where the sweeping winds kept the rocky ground bare, :
and where the men could not live.
Eelow, in the timbered region, the poor animals *
could not get about, the snow being deep enough o ‘
bury them alive It was instantly apparent that we t
should lose every one. I took my resolution immedi
ately, and determined to recross the mountain back
to the valley of the Rio del Norte, dragging or packing
the baggage by men. With great labor the baggage
was transported across the crest to the head springs of.
a little stream leading to the main river. A lew days
were sufficient to destroy that fine band of mules which
you saw me purchase last fall on the homier of Mis
souri. They generally kept huddled together ; and, as
they froze, one would be seen lo tumble down, and
disappear under the driving snow. Sometimes they
would break off, and rush down towards the timber nil
stopped by the deep snow, where they were soon hid
den by the pouderie. The courage of some of the
men begin to fail.
“ In this situation 1 determined to send in a party to i
the Spanish settiementsof New Mexico for provisions
and for mules to transport our baggage. With ecou- i
omy, and afrer we should leave the mules, we had
not two weeks’ provisions in the camp ; and these con
sisted of a reserve of maccaroni, bacon, sugar, &,c..in
tended for the last extremity. It was indispensable to
send for relief. 1 asked for volunteers for the service.
From the many that offered I chose King, Brack
enridge, Creutzfeldt, and the guide, Williams: and
placed the party under the co*mmand of King, with
directions to send me an express in case ot the’
least delay at the settlements. It was the day after’
Christmas that this little party setout for relief. That
day, like many Christmas days for years past, was •
spen jy me on the side of tlie wintry mountain, my
hear: tided with anxious thoughts and gloomy forebo- ;
dings. You may be sure we contrasted it with the;
Christmas of home, and made many warm wishes for f
your happiness. Could you have looked into Agrip
pa’s glass for a lew moments only! You remember!
the volumes of Blackstone’s Commentaries which I ‘•
took from your father’s library when we were over
looking it at our frienl Brant's? They made my
Christmas “ amusements.” I read them lo pass the
time, and to kill the consciousness of my situation.—
Certainly you inay suppose that my fit si Jaw lessons
will be well remembered.
“ The party for relief being gone, we of the camp
occupied ourselves in removing the baggage and
equipage down the side of the mountain to the river
in the valley, which we accomplished in a few days.—
Now came on the tedium of waiting for the return of
the relief party. Day after day passed, and no news
from them. Snow fell almost incessantly in the moun
tains. The spirits of the camp grew lower. Life was
losing itschann to those who liad not reasons beyond
themselves to live. Proue laid down in the trial and
iroze to death. In a sunshine day, and having with
inm the means to make a fire, he threw -his blanket
down on the trait, laid down upon it, and laid there liil
tie froze to death ‘ \V e were not then with him.
.Sixteen days passed away, and no ridings from the
party sent for relief. I became oppressed with anxiety,
weary of delay, and determined to go myself both
in search of the absent party, and in search of relief
m the Mexican settlements. I was aware that OUr
troops in New Mexico had been engaged in hostilities ‘
with the Spanish Utahs, and with the Apaches who
range in the valley of the R,o Del Norte and the’
mountains where we were and became fearful that j
*A krk of the Colorado of the Culf of California, j
they (King and nis party) had been cut ofl by these
Indians. I could imagine no other accident to them.
Leaving the camp employed with the baggage,under
the command, of Vincenthaler, with injunctions to
follow me in three days, I set off down the river with
a small party, consisiing of Godey, his young nephew,
Preuss, and Saunders, (colored servant) We carried
our arms and provisions for two or three days. In the
camp (left under the command of Vincenthaler) the
messes oulv had provisions for a few meals, and a sup
ply of five pounds of sugar to each man. If I failed to
meet King, my intention was to make the Mexican
settlement on the Colorado, a little affluent of the Rio
del Norte, about halt a degree above Taos, (you will
3ee it on my map,) and thence send hack the speediest
relief possible to the party under Vincenthaler.
“ On the second day after leaving the camp we came
upon a fresh trail of Indians—two lodges with a con
siderable number ot animals. This did not lessen our
uneasiness for our long absent people. The Indian trail,
where we fell upon it, turned and went down the river>
and we followed it. On the fifth day (after leaving
.he camp) we surprised an Indian on the ice of the riv
er. He proved to beUtah, son of a Grand River chief
whom we had formerly known, and he behaved to
wards us in * friendly manner. We encamped near
them at night. By a present of a rifle, my two blan
kets, and other promised rewards when we should get
in, 1 .prevailed on this Indian logo with us as a guide
to the Little Rio Colorado settlement,and to take with
him four of his horses to carry our little baggage. The
horses were miserably poor, and could only get along
at a slow waits Ot) the next day (the Cth of our pro
gress) we leli the Indian lodges late and travelled only
some six or seven miles. About sunset we discovered
a little smoke, in a groveef timber, off’ from the liver,
and, thinking, perhaps it might be our express party
(King and his men) on their return, we went to see.—
This was the twenty-second day since that party had j
left us, and the sixth since we had left the camp under
Vincenthaler. We found then:—three o! them ; Creutz
feldt, Brae.kenridge, and Williams—the most miserable
objects I had ever beheld. I did not recognize Creutz
feldt’s features, when Brackenridge brought him up and
told me his name. They had been starving! King
had starved to death a few days before. His remains
were some six or eight mile's above, near ihe river. By
aid of the Indian horses we carried these three with us
down to the valley, to the Pueblo on the Little Color
ado, which we reached the fourth day afterwurds, (the
tenth day after leaving the camp on the mountains,)!
having travelled through snow, and on foot, IGO miles.
“ 1 look upon the feeling which induced me to setout
from the camp as an inspiiation. Had I remained there
waitiHg the return pool King’s parly,every man of j
us must have perished.
“The morning after reaching the Little Colorado :
Puebla, (horses and supplies not being there,) Godey j
and I rode on to the Rio Hondo, and thence to Taos,
about twenty live miles, wlieie we found what we ,
needed ; and the next morning Godey, with four Mex- j
ieans, thirty hoises or mules, and provisions, sat out on :
his r turn to the relief of Vincenthaler’s pnriy. I heard
from him at the Little Colorado Puebla,w hich he reach
ed the same day he left me, and pressed on the next
morning. On the way he received an accession of eight
or ten horses, turned over to him by the orders of Ma
jor Beali,of the army, commandingofficer of this north
ern district of New Mexico. From him I received the
offer of every aid ill his power, and such actual assist
ance as he was able to render. Some horses, which he ‘
had just recovered from the Utahs, were Ibanedme.l
and he supplied me from the commissary’s department I
with provisions, which I could have had nowhere else. !
1 find myself in the midst of friends. With Carson is 1
living Owens. Maxwell is at his father-in-law’s, doing i
a prosperous business as a merchant and contractor for 1
the troops. I remain here with these old comrades’ j
while Godey goes back ; because it was not necessary j
for me to go with him, and it was necessaty tor me to [
remain, and prepare the means of resuming the expe
dition to California as soon as he returns with the men !
le ft behind. 1 expect him on Wednesday evening, the
31st inst, this being the 17th.
“Say to your father thtt these are my plans for the !
future.
“At the beginning of February (Godey having got
back at that time) I shall set out for California, taking
the southern route—the old route—by the Rio Abajo,
the Paso del Norte, the south side of the Gila, enter- :
ing California by tire Agua Caliente, thence to Los 1
Angelos, and immediately to San Francisco, expecting
t£> gPt I 1A in Mwre'U, nn/1 r> rnvn lir .
April. It is the first lime I have explored an old road, j
but cannot help it now. I shall move rapidly, taking’
with me but a part of my party. The surteyf has been ‘
uninteiTupted up to this point, and I shall carry it on
consecutively. As soon as possible after reaching Cal
ifornia I shall goon with it. I shall then be able to
draw up a map, and report of the whole country,agree
ably to our original plan. Your father knows that this
is an object < f great desire with me. All my plans
remain entirely unaltered A home in California is
the first point, and that will be ready lor you in April.
“Evening.— Mr. St. Vrain and Aubrey, who have’
just arrived from Santa Fe, called to see me. I had
the gratification to learn that St Vrain sets .out from
Santa Fe on the 15th of February for St Louis ; so that
by flint I shall have an early and sure opportunity of
sending you my letters—the one I now write, and oth
ers after the return of Godey, up to- our departure for
California on the 9th of this month. He probably car
ried on with him any letters that might have been in
his care, or at Santa Fe, for me.
“Monday, January 26.— My letter assumes a jour
nal form. No news from Godey. A great deal of fall
ing weather—rain and sleet here—snow in the moun
tains. This is to be considered a poor country, moun
tainous, with but little arable land, and infested with
hostile Indiana.
“I am anxiously waiting to hear from my party, and
pr much uneasiness as to their fate. My presence kept
them together and quiet: my absence my have had a
bad effect. When we overtook King’s party, Brack
enridge said to me, ‘ He felt himself safe.”
So far from the extracts from the first letter, and they
arc mournful enough. The next, written after the re
turn of Godey, with the survivors of the party, will be
still more so. Though written with-rapixlity, and con
fined to events—the mind recoiling from the descrip
tion of scenes and the details of wo—it is still too
much for this night's paper, and must be deferred till
our next.
Farther and Final Accounts.
We resume, says the Intelligencer of this morning,
the extracts from Col. Fremont’s Letters, prefacing
them with seme brief description of the localities made
memorable by disasters, for the information of those
who have not recent maps at hand.
It is known that the great Rocky Mountain chain,
with a general direction North and South, sends out a
branch towards the South-easf from between the heads
of the Arkansas and the Rio del Norte; and thisbrnnch
forms the dividing ridge between the upper valleys of
these two rivers, and between the head waters of the
Red River and the Del Norte ; and having accomplish
ed these purposes it subsides and disappears in the
plains of Texas. Thejiighest part of this branch chain,
and the governing object in it to travellers, are the
Spanish peaks, first made known to American geogra
phy by the then young Lieut. Ftke. These peaks are
about in North latitude 371 deg., and West longitude
from London 105 deg., and about on a line longitudi
nally with the Pueblos of the Upper Arkansas, distant
from them half a degree, and in sight. Ti.ey are seem
at a great distance, and are guiding objects to travel
lers. The road to Santa Fe passes below these peaks,
and crosses the chain about two degrees South. Col.
Fremont passed obeve them, and entered the Mexican
settlements, and above Pike’s stockade, and intended
to follow the Del Norte to its head, and cross the great
Rocky Mountain chain through some pass there to be
found. He was, therefore, so to speak, going into the
forks of the mountain—into the gorge of two moun
tains—and at a great elevation, shown by the fact of
the great rivers which issue S*>:u the opposite sides of
the Rocky Mountains at thnt part—the Arkansas and
Dt*l Norte on the East, the Grand River forks of the
Colorado of the Gulf of California on the West. It
was at this point—the head of the Del Norte—where
no traveller had ever gone before, that Col. Fremont
intended to pass, to survey his last line across the con
tinent, complete his knowledge of the country between
the Mississippi and the Pacific, and crown the labors of
long explorations by showing the country between the
great river and the to be inhabitable by a
civilized people, and practicable for a great road, and
that on several lines, and which was the best. He had
been seven years engaged in this great labor, and wish
ed to complete it. It was the beginning of December
that he crossed the chain from the Arkansas valley in
to the valley of the Del Norte ; and, although late, with
the full belief of the old hunters and traders at the Pue
blos, the guide inclusive, whom he there engaged, that
+ With a view, among other great objects, to the Mis
sissippi and Pacific highway.
he would go through. .He was provided with every
thing to carry the inert to California, anti with grain to
, carry the animals across the mountains into the valleys
of'ihe tributaiies cf the great Colorado of the West,
where the snows would be light, wood and grass suffi
cient, game abundant, and the hardships of the expe
dition all surmounted and left behind. In two necks
he expected to be in these mild valleys. Unhappily,
the guide consumed these two weeks in getting to the
head of the Del Norte—a distance which < nly required
four or five days of travel, as Col. Fremont showed in
coining back. This was the cause of the first calami
ty—the loss of the horses and mules. The same
guide consumed twenty-two cays, sent with the
party for relief, in making the distance which Col. Fre
mont, (with Godey, Preuss, and a servant,) without
a guide, on foot, in colder weather, deeper sno ‘‘s.nnd
half famished, made in six. That was the cause of
the second and irreparable calamity —the death of the
men.
The immediate scene of suffering in this great dis
aster, where the ascent of the great mountain was
forced and its summit scaled, must have been about
North latitude 334, and West longitude from London
]O7, the elevation above twelve thousand feet, and the
time, that of dead winter—Christmas! From this
point th<* noted objects, Pike’s Peak and the Three
Parks, would bear about E. N. E. and the Spanish
Peaks about E. S. E.
With this notice of localities, to which a mournful
interest must long attach, we proceed to give extracts
f om the remaining and final let'ers from Col. Fremont.
The first of these is dated
“ Taos, New Mexico, Feb. 6,1319.
“ After a long delay, which had weatied me to the
point of resolving to set out again myself, tidings have
at last readied me thorn my ill-fated party.
“Mr. Vincent Haler came in last night, having the
night before reached the Little Colorado settlement,
with three or lour others. Including Mr. King and
Mr. Proulx,* we have lost eleven of our party.
“Occurrences, since 1 left them, arc briefly these, so
far ns they came within the knowledge of Mr. Haler:
I say briefly, because I am now unwilling to force my
mind to dwell upon the details of witat has been suffer
ed. I need reprieve from terrible contemplations. 1
am absolutely astonished ot this pcrsistance of misfor
tune—this succession of calamities which no care or
vigilance of mine could foresee or prevent.
“You will remember that I had left the camp (twen
ty-throe men) when I set off with Godey, Preuss, and
my servant in search of King anJ succor, with direc
lions about the baggage, and with occupation sufficient
about it to employ them for three or four days ; after
which they were to follow me down the river. With
in that time I expected relief from King’s party, ii it
came at all. They remained seven days, and then
started, their scant provisions about exhausted, and
the dead mules on the western side of the great Sierra j
buried under snow.
“Manuel—(you will remember Manuel—a Christian
Indian of the Cosumne tribe, in the valley of the Sun j
Joaquim)—gave way to a feeling of despair after they I
had moved about two miles, and begged Vincent Ha
ler, whom I had left in command, to shoot him. Fail- *
ing to find death in that form, he turned and made his
way back to the camp, intending to die there ; which
he doubtless soon (ini.
“The party moved on, and nt ten miles Wise gave
out—threw away his gun and blanket—and, a few hun
dred ynriis farther, foil over into the snow, mid tlfoU.
Two Indian boye—countiynten of Manuel—were be
hind. They came upon him, rolled him up in his blan
ket, and buried him in the snow, on the bank of the
river.
“No other died that day. None the next.
“Carver raved during the night—his imagination
wholly occupied with images of many tilings w. ich he
fancied himself to be eating. In the morning he wan
dered off', and probably soon died. He was not seen
again.
“Sorel on this day (the fourth from the camp) laid
down to die. They built him a fire, and Morin, who
was in a dying condition, and snow blind, remained
with him. The*e two did not probably last till the next
morning. That evening (I think it was) Hubbard kill
ed a deer.
“They travelled on, getting here and there a grouse,
but nothing else, the deep snow in the valley having
driven ofi the game.
“The state of the party became desperate, and
brought Haler to the determination of breaking it up,
iil orrlpi l *• kvn f. o*> living r Bc h other.
He told them he had done all be could for them—that
they had no other hope remaining than the expected
relief —and that the best plan was to scatter, and make
the best of their way, each as be could, down the river:
that, for himself, if he was to be eaten, lie would, ni
all events, be travelling when he did die. This address
had its effect. They accordingly separated.
“With Haler continued five others—Scott, Hubbard
Martin, Bacon, one other, and the two Cosumne In
dian boys.
“Rohrer now became despondent, and stopped. II i
ler reminded him of his family, and urged him to try
and hold out for their sakes. Roused by this appeal to
his tenderest affections, unfortunate man moved
forward, but feebly, but soon began to fall behind. On
a further appeal he promised to follow, and to overtake
them at evening.
“Haler, Scott, Hubbard and Martin now agreed that
if any one of them should give out the others were not
to wait for him to die, but to push on, and try and save
themselves. Soon this mournlul covenant had to be
kept. But let me not anticipate events. Sufficient (bl
each day is the sorrow thereof.
“At night Kerne's party encamped a few hundred
yards from Haler’s, with the intention, according to
Tap lilt, to remain where they were until the relief
should come, and in the mean time to live upon those
who linn died, nnrt upon the weaker ones as they should
die. With this party were the three brothers Kerne,
Captain Cathcar’, McKie, Andrews, Stepperfeldt, and
Taplin. Ido not know that 1 have got ail the names
of this party.
“Ferguson and Beadle had remained together be.
hind. In the evening Rohrer canie up and remained in
Kerne’s party. Haler learned afterwards from some ot
the party that Rohrer and Andrews wandered off the
next morning and died. They say they saw their bo
dies.
“Haler’s party continued on. After a few hours
Hubbard gave out. According to the agreement lie
was left to die, but with such comfort as could be given
him. They built a fire and gathered him some wooJ,
and then left him—without turning their heads, as Ha
ler says, to look at hint as they went off.
“About two miles further Scott—you remember him;
he used to shoot birds for you on the frontier—lie gave
out. He was another of the four who had covenanted
against waiting for each other. The survivors did for
him as they had done for Hubbard, and passed on.
“ In the afternoon the two Indian boys went ahead—
blessed be these boys ! —ar.d before nightfall met
Godey with the relief. He had gone on with alispecd.
The boys gave him the news. He fired signal guns
to notify his approach. Haler heard the guns, and
knew the crack of our rifles, and felt that relief had
come. This night was the first of hope and joy.—
Early in the morning, with the first gray of light, Godey
was in the trail, and soon met Haler and the wreck of
his party slowly advancing. 1 heat that they ail cried
together like children—these men of iron nerves and
lion heaits, when dangers were to be faced or hard
ships to be conquered. They were all children in this
moment of melted hearts Succor was soon dealt out
to these lew first met ; and Godey with his relief, and
accompanied by Ilnier, who turned back, hurriedly
followed the,back trail, in search of the living and the
dead, scattered in the rear. They came to Scott first.
He was yet alive, and is saved 1 They came to Hub
bard next: he was dead, but still warm. These were
the only ones of Haler’s party that had been left.
“From Kerne’s party, next met, they learnt the death
of Andrews and Rohrer ; and, a little further on, met
Ferguson, who told them that Beadle had died the
night before. AH the living were found—and saved—
Manuel among them—which looked iike a resurrection
—and reduces the number of the dead to tkn —one-
third of the whole party which a few days before were
scaling the mountain with me, and battling with the
elements twelve thousand feet in the air.
“ Godey had accomplished his mission for the peo
pie; a further service Had been prescribed him, that ol
going to the camp on the river, at the base of the great
mountain to recover the most valuable of the bag
gage, secreted there. With some Mexicans and pack
mules he went on; and this is the last yet heard ol
him.
“ Vincent Haler, with Martin and Bacon, all on foot,
and bringing Scott on horseback, have just arrived at
the outside Puebloon the Littl ■ Colorada. Provisions
fir their support, and horses for their transport, were
left for the others, who preferred to remain where they
were,regaining some strength, till Godey should get
*This name was printed Prone in our last— ; t is writ
ten both ways.
back. At the latest, they would have reached the
little Pueblo last night. Haler came on to relieve my
anxieties, and did well in so doing : for I was wound
up to the point of setting out again. When Godey re
turns T shall know from him all the circumstances suf
ficiently in detail to understand clearly every thing
But it will not be necessary to tell yonanything farther
You have the results, and sorrow enough in reading
them.
“ Evening. —How rapid are the changes of life! A
few days ago, and 1 was snuggling through snow in
the savage wilds of the upper dd Norte—following the
course of the frozen river in more than Russian cold
—no food,no blanket to cover me in the long freezing
nights—(i had sold my two to the Utah for help to my
men)—uncertain at what moment of the night we
might be roused by the Indian rifle—doubtful, very
doubtful, whether I should ever see our friends again
Now lam seated by a comfortable fire, alone, pursu
ing my own thoughts, writing to you in the certainty
ot reaching you—a French volume ol Balzac on the
table,a colored print of the landing of Columbuabe
fore me, listening in safety to the raging storm with
out !
“ You will wjsh to know what effect the scenes 1
have passed through have had upon me. In person,
none. The destruction of my party, and the loss of
friends, are causes of grief; but I have not been in
jured in body or mind. Both have been strained, and
severely taxed, but neither hurt. I have seen one or
the other, and sometimes both, give way in strong
frames, strong minds, and stout hearts ; but, as here
tofore, I have come out unhurt. I believe that the re
membrance of friends sometimes gives us a power of
resistance which the desire to save our own lives could
never call up.
“ I have made my preparations to proceed. I shall
have to follow the old Gila road, and shall move rapid
ly, and expect to be in California in March, and to
find letters from home, and a supply of newspapers and
documents, more welcome perhaps, because these
things have a home look about them. The future oc
cupies me. Our home in .California, your arrival in
April,your good health in that delightful climate, the
finishing up my geographical and astronomical labors,
my farming labors and enjoyments. 1 have written
to Messrs. Mayhew &. Cos., agricultural warehouse,
New York, requesting them to ship me immediately
it threshing machine; and to Messrs. Hoe & Cos., same
city, requesting them to forward to me at San Fran
cisco two runs or sets of mill stones. The mill irons,
and ihe agricultural instruments shipped for tne last
autumn from New York, will be at San Francisco by
the time I arrive there. Your arrival in April will
complete all the plans.”
[These extracts in relation to Colonel Fremont’s in
tended pursuits are given to contradict the unfounded
supposition of gold projects attributed to him by some
newspapers. The word gold is not mentioned in his
letters front one end to :he other, nor did he take gold
mining the least into his calculation when he left Mis
souri on the 21st day of October last, although the au
thentic reports brought in by Lieut. Beale, of the navy,
were then in all the newspapers, and fully known to
him.]
February 11.—Godey lias got back. He did not
succeed in recovering any of the baggage or camp fur
niture. Every thing was lost except some few things
which 1 had brought down to the river. The depth of
the snow made it impossible for him to reach the camp
at the mountain where the men had left the baggage.—
Amidst the” wreck I had the good fortune to save my
large alforgas, or travelling trunk—the double one
which you packed—and that was about all.
“ Santa Fe February 17, 1819.—1n the midst of
hurried movements, and in tne difficult endeavor to
get a party all started together, I can only write a line
to say that lam well, and moving on to California. I
will leave Santa Fe this evening.
“ I have received here from the officers every civil
ity and attention in their power, and have been assist
ed in my outfit ns far as it was possible for Them lo do-
I dine this evening with the Governor, (Col. Washing
ton,) before l follow my party. A Spanish gentleman
lias been engaged to go t o Albuquerque and purchase
mules for me. From that place we go on my own an
imals. and expect no detention, as we follow the old
G ila route, so long known,and presenting nothing new
to stop for.”
Ingenuity of the Germans.
The following are some ot the inventions which have
originated in Germany :
A. V. A. IJ.
850 Saw Mills, 1500 Etching,
898 fcun Dials, Bolting apparatus,
999 Fulling Mills, 1527 Gun locks,
1070 Tillage ol Hops, 1535 Spinning wheels,
1100 Wind Mills, 1546 Almanacs,
Oil Painting, Stoves,
1270 Spectacles, Sealing wax,
1300 Paper of Linen Rags,ls9o Telescopes,
1312 Organs, 1616 Wooden bellows,
1318 Gunpowder, 1620 Microscopes,
Cannons, 1638 Thermometers,
1350 5V ire making, 16-13 Mezzotint engraving,
1360 Hats, 1650 Air pumps, “
1379 Pins, 1651 Electric machines,
1389 Grist Mil's, 1655 Pendulum clocks,
1423 Engravings, 1690 Clarionet,
1436 Printing, 1706 White China ware,
1439 Printing Presses, 1707 Prussian blue,
1444 Copper-plate Engra-1709 Stereotyping,
vings, 1715 Mercurial thermome
-1450 Printing ink, ter,
1452 Cast types, 1717 Piano Fortes,
1497 Chiming of bells, 1736 Solar microscope,
1500 Watches, 1753 The gamut,
Letter posts or mai15,1766 Lithography.
Besides these there are several German inventions of
which we cannot ascertain the date—such as door
latches, the modern screw auger, and gimblet, the cra
dle for harvesting, &c. Surely a nation which lias
made such contributions lo the interests of literature
and the arts must occupy a high rank in intellect and
ingenuity.
Manufacture of Gold.
We have read that Boyle once very nearly succeed
ed in making gold ; that he showed the experiment to
Sir Isaac Newton, when both became frightened and
threw away the ingredients. A gentleman communi
cates to the editor of the Mining Journal, that having
experimented some ten years ago on the stratification
of the earth and the formation of mineral deposites, he
believes with truthful results, he tamed up oue of his
old experiments accidentally a few days ago* when he
found, running in a kind ol spiral string through oue
part, a small quantity of gold. No gold was used in
the experiment, and the conclusion arrived at is, that
it had been formed from some of the other substances.
This, however, is nothing to what is asserted by an
iion-founder of this town. This gentlemen must have
discovered the true philosopher’s stone, which so many
sages of the olden time spent their lives in trying to
obtain. He declares that he has found out a process
by which he can change any quanitty of iron into gold.
Before three months are over, lie says we shall hear
more of this marvel. He promises to produce gold
in tons—in short in any quantity.— Liverpool Albion.
The American Flag.
When our flag was unfurled from its staff in Tampi
co, an aged Spaniard was heard inveighing, with lugu
brious earnestness, against the pertinacity with which
that flag had pursued his fortunes. In broken English
lie exclaimed, ‘ I was the Spanish council in the Lou
isiana, when dat flag he was raise, and I go to Pensa
cola, but soon dat flag he was over me dere. I live den
in de Taxas, but dat flag follow me dere. Says I, Igo
where dat flag never come. 1 come to Tampico, but
here is dat flag again. I befieve if Igo to the devil dat
flag will follow me dere.’
Business First, ami then Pleasure.
A man who is very rich now, was very poor when a
boy. When asked how he got his riches, he replied,
“ My father taught me never to play till all my work
lor the day was finished, and never to spend my money
till 1 had earned it. If I had but half an hour’s work
to do in a day, I must do that the fitst thing, apd in
halt an hour. After this was done, I was allowed to play;
and I could then play with much more pleasure than
if 1 had the thought of an unfinished task before my
mind. I early formed the habit of doing every thing
in its time, and it soon became perfectly easy to do so.
It is to this habit tiTat I owe my prosperity.” Let eve
ry boy who reads this, go and do likewise, and he will
meet a similar reward.— Anecdotes for Boys.
The Poet Campbell, —Campbell the poet once said,
“ I believe, when I am gone, justice will be done to me
in this way, that I was a pure writer. It is an inex
pressible comfort, at my time ot life,to be able to look
back and feel that I have not written one line against,
religion or virtue.” *
A Great Rise.—The editor of the Aurora Boreal
is. in speaking of J. 11. Prentiss, recently deceased,
says he was he was once a member of Congress, and
by force of character rose to be editor of the Coopers
town Journal,which he has conducted lor forty-.me
years.
MACON, GEORGIA.
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 25, 1849.
Correction.
The Savannah Republican of Saturday, announces
the existence of several cise3 of Small Pox in this City.
It was only one of the many blun Jers of the Telegraph
The despatch was dated Atlanta, and referred to the
existence of the disease at that p'ace. We need scarce
ly say, that there has not been n single case of Small
Pox in Macon, nor within one hnndred miles ot Ma
con, nor is there any reason to believe that the disease
is extending even at Atlanta.
Found Drowned.
J. N.'Gamble, a Drover, from Polk county, Tennes
see, who had been missing for a week, was found on
Sunday last drowned in the River opposite the city
He came here on the 20th of March, with 19 horses and
two six horse teams loaded with bacon, and entered at
once upon a career of dissipation which ended in the
destruction of his character and life.
The Heron Family.
We are requested to state that these youthful per
formers will visit Macon in a few days, for the purpose
of giving a series of their remarkable entertainments.
The Editor of the Muscogee Democrat of the 19th
says:
“We went to Concert Hall, last night, with decided
prejudices against all precocious specimens of human
ity, that have become wondrous in the show-line, by a
forced and hot-bed culture of their talents, but these
prejudices vanished like mist before the morning sun,
on witnessing the very clever representation of the
family now exhibiting in this city. The histrionic
powers of “little Agues” especially, are so far above
mediocrity as to astonish and delight the audience.
She is certainly a prodigy in her line—having taken to
the comicalities in a natural way, and not by inocula
tion. Miss Heron, too, sings prettily, and has much
sprightliness and versatility of talent. The Troupe
will remain but two nights longer.”
Col. Fremonts Letters.
We offer no apology for publishing to-day the very
instructive, and thrillingly le'ters of Col.
Fremont, giving the detailed account of the disasters
which betel his party in their attempt to cross the Rocky
Mountains, by the Northern route. The sufferings of
the party seem to have been extreme,and the narrative
,s quite as readable as any of the best romances of the
day.
By the way, our friend Mr. Boardmajj, has on his
counter a New Guide to California, containing a late
Map of the Country, which exhibits the localities re
fered to in these letters with much distinctness, and
which will be examined to with profit by all who desire
a corret t knowledge of the great Western region, now
coming into general notice.
The Crops--- 4 he Weather.
Our intelligence from all quarters, both in and out
of the State, in regard to the destruction of the crops,
fruits and vegetable, is of the most disastrous character.
The crops of small grain are almost, if not entirely, de
stroyed. Corn will have to be generally replanted, and
a similar course would be pursued in regard to cotton, j
if seed could only be procured. This however is out
oftbe question,and we are lorced to the conclusion that
the cotton crop the present year must fall materially
short of an ordinary average.
The Mails! The Malls !
We have unceasing complaints in regard to the non
arrival ol our papers at the several Post-offices in Ran
dolph, Early, Stewart and part ol Marion—in fact, at
all the offices supplied through Columbus Our Agent I
writes from Cuthbert, that the Journal 6f Messenger j
due there on Friday is invariably detained some where I
until the following Tuesday. It is not the fault of this
Office, nor of the Postmaster in Macon. Our papers
are always mailed on Tuesday night, and sent off in
Wednesday morning’s Cars. Reaching Columbus on
Thutsday before day, tl.ey ought of course to be sent
directly through. Why this is not done, we are at a j
1 oss to understand.
There is one consolation: the people of South-Wes
tern Georgia have a remedy in the Post-Office Depart
ment, if they will only use it. The construction of the
South-Western Road renders a change of the whole
Mail service for South-Western Georgia absolutely
ncccMoiy. Even now, before this work is completed,
a proper system would supply the people of the South
west with their mail matter, from twenty-tour hours to
one week sooner than by the Columbus route.
The planters of this region nearly all trade at Macon.
In a year or two more, they will send their entire crop
to market by the South-Western Road. Why, then,
should a large portion of them be compelled to receive
their lette rs and papers through Columbus I W’e have
no doubt that, if they were to circulate petitions,set
ting forth the facts of the case, ot the several Post
offices, they would be universally signed, and that the
Department would cheerfully change the wholesystein
assoonasit could be done consistently with exising
contracts.
Disastrous Fire—Serous Loss of Property.
A few m mutes past 9 o’clock on Wednesday evening
last, the kitchen attached to the premises occupied by
Mrs. Seymour, coiner of Poplarand Second streets, was
discovered to be on fire. The flames soon communica
ted to the wooden sheds in the rear formerly occupied
by Wynn & Seymour as a Warehouse, and tempora
rily used by Field & Adams for a similar purpose. In
the sheds were about 550ba!esof cotton, owned, one
half by planters, and the remainder by shippers.—
The Engines, which were after some delay, brought :
upon the ground, were found comparatively useless,
jon account of the scarcity of water. The fire, there- j
’ fore, spread without any check, con-uming the sheds
and all their contents, except about 60 bales of cotton, j
From the kitchen the flames also extended to the brick
tenements in front, occupied by Mrs. Seymour and |
Mrs. Smith. Both buildings were destroyed. Several |
small buildings on the alley were also consumed. A
wooden shed belonging to Charle- Day & Cos. con
taining some ten bales of cotton, was partially torn
down, but the flames communicated to the roof, and the
parties were compelled to desist and leave it to its fate.
All the sma 11 wooden buildings with one or two ex
ceptions, upon the entire block, were either torn down
or consumed. buildings on the opposite side of
the square, occupied by Mrs. Hollingsworth and Mr.
Tindall, were for a time, supposed to be in great dan
ger; but the parties escaped with the destruction of
their out buildings, and the usual damage incident to I
the removal of furniture on such occasions.
The entire loss by the fire is estimated at about s‘22,- |
590, less than one half ol which was covered by insu-.
ranee. |V\ e are requested by Messrs. Field &. Adams |
to state, that all cottons left with them from the 18th j
of January to the 18th of February inclusive, and not I
sold, were stored in this warehouse, and have conse
quently been destroyed. Planters, therefore, by refer-!
ring to their receipts, can ascertain the extent of their
losses. Wc would simply remark in this connection,
that so far as we have been able to ascertain, not a sin
gle planter, having cotton stored in these sheds, had
taken the precaution to while the merchants,
in most instances, were nearly if not quite protected
against losses. It is singular, where the premiums
aie so small, and the risks so great, that our country
friends should be so negligent of their best interests in
this regard. Messrs. C. Day &, Cos. were fully insured
on their cotton sheds. Mr. John D. Wynn holds a po
licy for SI,OOO on the Brick Tenements and Ware
houses on Third Street. We have not been able to as
certain that there was any insurance on the small
buildings in the rear, owned by Mr. Lunsford and
others.
The result of the fire clearly proves that the Fire De
partment is greatly in need of the immediate attention*
ol the city authorities. The Engines are too small, and
two of them are not in good working condition. Be
sides, engines are of no earthly use without water. —
No where could cisterns be more cheaply or generally
constructed than in Macon. The numerous bold springs
in ana near the city limits, would furnish an unfailing
supply of water, and the cisterns could be so constructed 1
as to be both useful and ornamental.
Another matter we have been requested to bring
prominently before the citizens, and that is, the general
want of energy manifested by the great mass who fre
quent our fires. We are assured that if every tenth
man who was at the late fire had gone seriously
to work, thre.e-fourths of the cotton which was burned
could have been saved. Delicate females were seen
carrying heavy articles of household furniture into the
street, while hale,hearty, stalwart men were walking
about with their hands in their pockets, and even refu
sing to aid them when asked. These are trmy humil
iating developments, but we are constrained to make
them, hoping that in future men may not stand idly by,
and see their neighbors rendered houseless and penni
less, without making at least a leeble effort to render
assistance.
here should the Convention be Held ?
In our paper two weeks since, we very respectfully
proposed that the approaching Whig Convention, should
assemble in Macon. Our cotemporary of the Recorder
takes us roundly to task for our temerity, and charges
us with acting for the the “adcinsemsat of local or
private interests or convenience.”
It is an old adage-that ssifish men are always prone to
charge others with their own tailings. We will not
disguise the fact that we would like to sec the Conven
tion held in Macon, and we hope that if so held it
would contribute somewhat to the interests ol the place.
Our neighbor ot the Recorder, with all his affected pu
rity, we have no doubt, is impelled by similar motives.
It has become rather notorious of late years, that how
ever little he may have done for his friends during a
canvass, he i3 always ready with an extra sized ladle
to dip into the pap.
Admitting then that he is equally seif-interested with
ourselves in regard to the place of holding the Conven
tion, we beg hitn to point out a single good reason why
it should be held in Miiledgeville, in preference to Ma
con. We mean a reason which will influence the hon
est, disinterested people.
Lei us look at the question on the score of ‘economy.
Suppose the Convention to consist of 175 members. At
least 129 of these will have to pass through the city of
Macon, on their way to the Capitol. It takes the great
er part of two days to go and come, and the expense of
travelling to each inan will be from $5,59 to $7,00.
Delegates-from Western and South Western Georgia
generally conae as far as Macon on horseback, or in
private conveyances, and thence take the Cars. Each
one of these delegates will be compelled to spend about
$2, extra for feed and attendance upon their horses
To this-we must add two days extra board, say $2.
To say nothing, then, about loss of time or the diffi
culties of getting to Miiledgeville, each Delegate,of
the 129 who concentrate at Macon, would be com
pelled to pay from $7 00 to sll 00 tor the indescribable
pleasure of going to Miiledgeville, and contributing to
the “ local or private interests or convenience” of our
very complacent and disinterested friends of the Re
corder.
Now, why should the people of Georgia annually
incur such a contribution for the benefit of our neigh
bor at the Capitol ? One thousand dollars by each
Gubernatorial Convention, is a considerable item, and
we think that our friends of the Recorder ought to be
satisfied, especially, as they have enjoyed this, among
many other Capitoline favors, lor the last quarter of a
century.
But-the Editor declares, with due solemnity and dis
tinctiveness, that “ innovations of the kind contem
plated” £yc. , “ must be discountenanced /” and his as
tute correspondent gravely tells us that the holding of
the Convention in Macon, will identify the removal
question with party politics, and place the Whigs in a
minority in the next Legislature! We are af a loss
which most to admire, the cool dictation of the Re
corder, or the palpable softness of its correspondent.—
We tell both these gentlemen, that we care not a fig
about the removal of the State House. Macon offer
ed ten times as much two years since, as the Capitol is
worth. She will hardly be guilty of like foily in fu
ture. She has seen, and weighed the influence of the
State House, in making Miiledgeville a great place,
and is satisfied. But this is no reason why the Con
ventions of the several parlies should continue to con
tribute hundreds and thousands for the support of our
dieinterebted coteiupor&tieaot the Recorder, and their
equally disinterested friends.
The Monroe Meeting.
The Chairman of the Committee of 21 which report
ed the Resolutions at the late meeting in Monroe, trav
els very greatly out of his way to cnarge the Journal
i? Messenger with a lack of courtesy to the meeting,
because we did not publish the proceedings. We need
only state, in reply, that no copy of the proceedings
was ever received at this office. If any one has a
right to complain, it is the Edit< rs, and not the Chair
man, who it seems was only the feeble instrument used
on the occasion to present 10 the meeting a set ot bor
rowed resolutions, one of which admits the right of
Congress to abolish Slavery in the District of Colum
bia !
We congratulate our Whig friends ot Monroe on
the prospect which they seem to have, of getting rid of
the said Chairman, as we feel assuied that he is about
the only member of the party it: the county whe holds
doctrines so adverse to common sense, and the well
known sentiments of Southern men generally.
More about Removals.
Home of our lOemocratic contemporaries affect to
believe that Gen. Taylor is violating his pledges, be
cause he is dismiss’ng some ol their political associates
from office. They say that be promised to be “ the
President of the country, and not of a pat ty,” and that
he declared that he “ had no friends to reward—no
enemies to punish,” See.
True, Gen. Taylor has said this,and perhaps, much
more of a similar character, but why should that pre
clude him from dividing the offices fairly between the
people of the country. To be President of the country,
it is not necessary that Gen. Taylor should become the
patron and protector of the Democratic office holders,
who have for the last twelve years, been rioting in the
Government spoils. Nine-tenths of the office holders
ol the country are now Democrats. Even in the City
of Washington, where capacity is so much more im
portant than political bias, five out ot every six ot the
offices are held by Democrats. The National Whig
gives the following statement of the Whigs and Dem
ocrats in office there:
Ist Comptroller’s office 2 W’higs 19 Democrats.
2d do do 2 do 11 do
Ist Aud. do 3 do 15 do
2d do do 4 do 42 do
3d do do 7 do 25 do
4th do do 3 do 15 do
sth do do 5 do 6 do
6th do do 8 do 61 do
Treasurer’s do 5 do 12 do
Register’s do 8 do 20 do
Solicitor’s do 2 do 8 do
Comm’r of G’l L’d do 10 do 52 do
59 do 286 do
About nineteen out ofevery twenty of the sixteen thou
sand Post Masters now holding office, are Democrats,
and yet, every time that one ot these men is displaced
fora W’hig, Father Ritchie “ rolls his eyes” anu pro
claims the return of the “ reign of terror A cotem
porary whose judgment on such matters, is generally
very clear, speaking on this subject, has *iie following
sensible reflection:
“ Suppose it be assumed that the public offices ought
to be equally enjoyed, by honest, faithful and capable
men of all parties. In that case the Whigs have much
to receive, before they are placed on a footing of equali
ty for the future, and more still, if reclamation be in
sisted upon for the past. Those who groan loudest,
and are the boldest in denunciation, are tiie very men
who have participated in the monopoly the longest,
and most fear that if simple justice is done, they will
be among the first discharged! Many of these are
also conscious that on the score of honesty, capacity,
and a faithful discharge of official duty, they have no
just claim to he retained in the public service. Reform
has been called for by the people, and reform is exoeci
ed, whether the unjust cry of proscription be kept up,
or suffered to subside.” %
W’e are no advocates of proscription, but we are
greatly mistaken if Gen. Taylor or his Cabinet will be
guilty of the absurdity of keeping their avowed ene
mies in their employment. In the Dapartments at
W asliington, and in the Post Offices, particularly, re
liable, honest, confidential agents are wanted. Change
is not only necessary in the leading offices, and those
W pecuniary importance, hut also in the inferior offi
ces. During the last Presidential campaign, it was al
most impossible to get Whig papers and documents to
their proper destination. They were allowed to accu
mulate.in the. offices, and in many cases, were sold as
waste paper ! Now, we ask no retaliation of this kind
upon our opponents. All we desire, is, that the Gov
ernment should select honest men who will deal fairly
by all parties.
The T tlegraph and lite Press.
The disposition on the part of the Press to abandon
the use ol the M agnetic Telegraph entirely, is becom
ing more and more apparent daily. The Columbia
Daily Telegraph has the following :
“The treatment of jhe Press by the Directors of the
Magnetic Telegraph is beginning to produce its legit
imate effects. The wires cannot forestall the types in
the dissemination of tiie news, byany restrictions how
ever stringent and oppressive—but the conductors of
the Press may be driven universally to adopt the sys
tem of “Non Intercourse” recommended below.
In the N. O. Delta we find the lollowing paragraphs
on this subject.
“The newspapers of Syracuse, N. Y. have abandon
ed the publication of telegraphic reports in consequence
of the great expense at which they are obtained,
“In doing this the newspapers at Syracuse showed
their good sense. Apart from the expense and irreg
ularity of these reports, they are little better than enig
mas, an most cates- when they do come.”
Washington Correspondency
Washin*ton, April m
Messrs. Editors ; You wish to know wi
here—lo be furnished with glimpses from i
curtain, for the gratification of your own cm* !
that of your readers. As to what is btino * 1
telegraph will inform you from day to day
all I can tell you, so that what Imay
j nothing but a thrice told tale. As to ]
the curtain, to any but those in high stati j
few and far between, and so brief tha< one , s
in doubt what they really saw. Stils,
who are here upon the spot, may not be m a , i
pared to the occupant of the pit in a theatre k
curtain rises; they can occasionally see so I
hear the note of preparation behind the curtain
therefore guess with more certainty what ‘■■■<’
1 We daily see signs and hear rumors whichtr’
not be tiue, but which, if true, as they sov
j to be, shadow forth coming events and a
Occupying this position myself, and bein-...
: observant of passing events, I shall occas; ‘
| you such information as may be in my i ewer
such remarks and conm ents upon the “ g,..
doings” here as suggest themselves to nty n
Judging from the constant outcries of the t
such papers as echo whatever it utters,you w j
that the Administration is doing nothing f, a .
removals and appointments—punishing e ne
rewarding friends; and yet, were you tohe.v ‘
plaints of those who think they ought to be i:
rewarded for their patriotic % exertions to wrest
try from the misrule of Locofocism, of the ta
the Administration in removing bad men f
you would be strongly inclined to cast sever
upon those who have been selected to carry,
measures and cleanse the Augean stable of
tion which has so long defiled it. That one
so long sang peans to the practice of turning
from office, whenever and wherever the.
found, and, Richard-like, crying “off with
as the venerable political hack,Thomas Rite I
now, all at once, become so extremely hu;
commiserative as to shed tears and cry aloud .
one of his own party is made to undergo then I
process, is not a littie amusing.
For myself, I look upon the election of a \\
dent and the defeat of a Democratic can..., \
verdict of the people against those who Im
ruled the destinies of the country, and fan
what they have been pleased to consider ‘
of office ” —a verdict not merely against the n j
for President, but against all who have either j
that time to politics which they were paid for ;
to the duties of their offices, or who are inco:;.
discharge those duties; and I therefore look
be the duty of the President to enforce the ver
believe the greater the speed with which it is ? J
the more satisfactory it will be to the people,; |
time enough is taken to select good and com; !
to fill the places of the bad and incompetent. >
to supjiose the great Whig party of the Union
so vigorous an effort as was made last year.; 1
effect a change in the offices of President, E 1
Departments and a few minor ones, is to ini-;, j
“ Old ocean into tempest tost,
To waft a feather or to drown a fly.”
I trust that neither Gen. Taylor nor any me:,
Cabinet entertain any such notions, though i
some reason to fear that tiie idea bad found a.
in the heads of one or two members of the C. - ’
their first appointment.
That the President came here fully detenu,
administer the government as to allay, as far a.-
be in his power, party animosity, and to ei:
amalgamate parties, I have no doubt: that n< s ,l
be most happy now to bring this about, I air. * sj
persuaded ; but that he begins to see the im;,,- ‘
of accomplishing so patriotic and praise-wor ik*
object—to percieve that, however pure his mo: if
unexceptionable his measures, the one is to bes
resented and the other condemned by the L ■
press—is pretty plain. What effect such nn-cnJ|
condemnation and misrepresentation is like t ;
upon his mind, it requires no prophet to prec m
illustrative of this I cannot refrain from repei;. m
following anecdote, not yet generally knowc §1
said that while the Cabinet were in session,*:. ||
ago,and discussing the proprietv of removing"®
office-holders resident in the city, a member ret. f
that he held in his hand a paper containing the; ;
ings of a Locofoco meeting, held in this city
mer, at which some of these men figured cm
eminence; whereupon the reading was t,
as resolution after resolution, offered by different
holders and abusive of Gen. Taylor, was rea ,t
ter, surprised and indignant at having been ti,.
famed, would exclaim, “ Let him go!” At 5
after passing sentence upon several in this it.
came the resolution denouncing him for into,
the blood-hounds into the Florida war ; upon
which he most indignantly exclaimed, “ Let :..
go—let them all go, the calumniating icliow.-
pend upon it that all who have thus made tiie:
conspicuous will go —and the sooner the better
It is represented by the Locofoco press that the
of the office-seekers who come here is legior
have the means of knowing that the number c
cations for office under the present Administra:
not equal those made in the same length of turn
Polk four years ago. The number is cert*::
large, as compared with 1829,1841 and 1845, an
upon it as a favorable omen that it is so, indicau
disposition to look to office as a means of liv.
was manifested during those years That the
be a large number of applicants is not surpri.r
it is consideted that the Whigs have been f
from all participation in the offices of the Feiie
ernment for the last twenty years, with the f
of a month or two in 1841—absolutely ptosc:
treated as aliens, and worse than aliens, wi:ht
contumely. There is a steady stream of a.
coming and going, but as few of them remain : -P
the number present is by no means large—lar -
the hotel-keepers would be glad to see.
Your fellow-citizen, Mr. Crawford, who ei
comparatively unknown to Northern and V
men, has made a favorable impression upon
have come in contact with him, and is generc
liked. His influence iu the Cabinet will by i
be inconsiderable, and Georgia may well be
him. I have no doubt he will prove himself wo
name he bears and the State he represents.
The members of the Board of Mexican Cl
Messrs. George Evans, C. B. Smith and C<
ore now here aud prepared to proceed to bu?.
You are probably aware that anew Whig
to be commenced i.ere by Messrs. Win. Bu.
O. Sargeant and George Gideon ; the two fir
tors, and the latter as financier and publisher
be an able and spirited journal, advocate and
of Whig principles and Whig men.
It is currently reported that anew banking
about to be established here by Samuel Jnude:
sively and favorably known as an able fiuar.c:
most courteous gentleman. Mr. Biatchlord,
Street, New York, will probably be conne
him. Messrs. Corcoran &. Riggs having nu
hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, as
the Government, no wonder others are attrac
locality.
Hand, the robber of the Government jewi
Patent Office, has been convicted.
The weather has been extremely cold for : •
past—a dry, piercing N. W. wind having
which has destroyed the peach crop, if not
kindsol fruit. Many trees look as if fire had ra;
them, so completely are they killed by the co
ter froze, same nights, half an inch in thiekne*
Mr. Anderson, late Chief Assistant Cler*
House of Representative, has accepted the
Chief Clerk ol the War De parlment, a p!*‘ <
more laborious than hi3 former position, and k : A
five. lie yielded, however, to the solicit*tier--
Secretary of War.
It should be noted that about one-half, per
than half, ot the Postmasters appointed by
master Genera!, have been to fill vacancies £
resignations.
Mr. Ewing and Mr. Preston are both no*
having gone to their respective homes for their .a .
Yours truly, OGLETHf |
COKMC.MCATED.
Messrs. Editors :—You will confer a favor
families residing in the neighborhood of ‘•
Wagon Yard, in the South-western part ol
if you will inform tiie Boys, both great amis l2
out any exception, that tiie Ordinance in f
Firing Guns, &,c., within the city limits, will
force if there is any more hunting in that
city, regardless of the fate of women and cht*
to the eminent risk of life and limb, to on
net hke to be a ‘**