Newspaper Page Text
JOURNAL & MESSENGER.
J VUES T. NISBET AND SIMRI ROSE,
EDITORS. _____
IW” The following melodious end loackog poe® i#
from the pen of the late lamented %\ tilis Gaylord Clark,
and was written bv h'in for an early number of the
Knickerbocker Magazine:
A Song of May.
The Spring’s scented buds all around me arc swelling,
Tht: - are song* tu the stream, there ia health in the
gale;
A sen-te of delight in each bosom it dwelling,
As do at the pure dav-beams o’er mountain and vJt;
The desolate reign of Old Winter is broken—
The verdue is fresh upon every tree;
Os Nature'* revival the charm, and a token
Os love, oh thou Spirit of Beauty 1 o thee.
The snn locketh forth from the balls of the morning,
And tiushes the clouds that begirt hi* career:
He welcomes the gladness and giory returning
To rest on the promise and hope of the year ;
lie til# with rich light all the balm-breathing Sowers —
lie mounts to the zenith, and laughs on the wave;
He wakes into niua.c -he green forest-bower*,
Aua gilds the gay plain* w hich the broad rivers lave.
The y ung bird ia out on his delicate pinion—
He timidly sails in the iufiuite sky ;
Ag: ee ing to May, and her fairy dominion.
He pours on the wvat-wind’s fragrant sigh ;
Aron id. above, Ibere are peace and pleasure—
Th : woodlands are singing—tit# heaven is bright;
The fields are unfolding their emerald treasure,
And mans genial spirit t# soaring in light.
Ala*, for my weary and care-haunted bosom 1
The soeli's of the spring-time arouse it no more;
The sang in the wild-wood—the sheen of the blossom—
The fresh-welling fountain —their magic is o’er i
When 1 list to the streams —when I lock on the flow-
Th v tel! of the Past, with so mournful a tone.
That l cull up the throngs of my long-vanished hours,
And sigh that their transports are over and gone.
From the v.de-spreading carta —from tbs limitless
heaven.
The.# have vanished an eloquent gleam ;
To Dir veil and mind no more. the influence given,
Which evloreih lite with the hue* of a dream :
The bioom-nnrpled landscape it* iovehness keepeth—
i deem that a light, as of old, gilds the wave;
But the eve of my spirit iu heaviness eleepeth,
Or sees but my youth, and the visions it gave.
Yet it is not that age on my years hath descended—
'lu uot that its snow-wreaths encircle my brow ;
But the newness and awcetn-s* of Being arc ended—
i feel not their love kiadiing witchery now 1
The shadow* of Datb o’er my path have been sweep
ing—
There are these who have loved rue, debarred from
the day:
The green tort is bright, where m peace they are sleep
ing.
And on wings of remembrance my soul is away.
It is shut to the glow of this present existence—
It hears, from the Past, a funeral strain ;
And it eagerly turns to the high-seeming distance.
Where the io*t blossoms at worth will be garnered
again ;
Where no mildew the soil, damask-rose check shall
nourish ;
Where Grief bears no longer Ihe poisonous sting;
Where pitiless Death no dark scepter can flourish, #
Or stain with his bhgln the luxuriant spring.
It is thus :hat the hopes which to others are given
Paid cold on my heart in inis month of May ;
I hear the clear authetu* that ring through the hea
ven ;
I drink The bland airs that enliven the day;
And ifgeatle Nature, her fe? ivai keeping,
Deiights nut my bosom, ah 1 do not condemn :
O'er ibe h*f and the lovely my spirit is weeping
Fur my heart’s fondest raptures are buried with
them!
The St. Nicholas and the five Points.
Yesterday I dined with a friend at the St. Nicholas ,
Hotel. I had never seen it before, and, as we ap; roach
ed it, I enuld not but admire its spacious w hite marble
front, heavy with carving, a* it n*“ over the street
aui contrasts wrh the l<>w, dark buildings one.ch
side. It is all freshne** and polish and cleanses now ;
so new, indeed, th it it looks like the p.iUce of the- genii
on the morning of the night in which it w:o built up.
h r suit* a hotel perhaps, but an over new look does
not properly become a palace. Wagnir.ce ce, to be
• ompltfc, needs a glory which comes onh with anti*
ui'v and the associations that belong to age. A block
white math!- glittering from the quarry i not so i
eautitul, —fi r boutt y lit* lr.tich in the imagination,— I
• ► the same block, af *.r the rain and the *uu of ctntu- !
r es have given to it the mellow tint that savs, ‘‘Behold, j
I have stood here >o long, and borne so much, and Lave •
gained new worth with att I have endnred.”
Any one w ho h.i* lx-enat Puts must remember an old (
marble palace on the sunny side of the river bank, just
opp< *; e the little rive r chapel of the Spire It i*
etaLi.ei’ with time, and the mysvriou* chain is rusted,
tha h-rgs over ibe entrance, from the block, b-jaring
two v ird* which no one can explain Al ir gio. / </ , and
whi-h J/y pi y grow more inexplicable as *hs time
wii a nev ware cut there becomes more and m-.tc hid
den a .he mist of tradition. Now, who would exchange
th-vt strange palace, old and worn, and no longer bril
han-, for trie same palace in all the pride of its tii> com
pletion ? And is it not finer to wonder and guess at she
itiddet. mean.ngof those words and Shat chain, than to
h ive -en them at the time when every little idle bov
on she Lung’ Arno would have looked up if you had
aske i aim what tbev meant, ar.d said. Mu Signor* <>•
• si, > c*i m f Ye*, Ait n omotn. day bv day, all
that i* truly lovoly and beamdul. grows more lovely
and b*au ifal. Even if it perishes to the sight if lives
in re.r- nbr.tuce, and memory gives to it its perfect and
ideal charm.
In *;s, too, lies the best of art and of books. Many a
brigh’ reputation has suuk before a second generation
has #en its !nsre.
But r. e are waiting at the door of the St Nklwdas.
The wide hall, with its wall* of white and gold, bring*
n* to hr broad srairease with its oaken and Italian bal
ustrade. and going up, we trend on crimson carnets
where tire foot make* no noise. We enter the drawing- ,
rooms where the light come* through invisible glam,
and bre-k* against satin curtains, where couches cover
ed wrh velvets, and Tables and chairs lavishly carved,
h-areiittle for luxury to desire. As we pass the splen
did mirror, we starte with something of surprise to find
ihw fs-oT'ar image of ourselves thrown back quite com- j
roonplace and inelegant; for it would have seemed bit
ii*t.,i-i liat tn suen splendor w* oo should be splendid, i
and we should hnve thought it only consonant with j
what was about ns, to see ourselves robed iu Tvrian j
purple, with gold chains around cur neck*, and rich
inr* upon our perfumed b.sad*
We pas*d on, and hv>k*si in vain for the Duchesses
who ought to have received ua and bade us welcome.
We ourselves bad something, I imagine, of th? air of
strangers in the place, for every one el-e looked like in
truder* ; there was no one fit for it. Inte:\d ol impe
rial and stately women, there were some elderly ladies
with spectacle* ami neat caps, who looked in vain to
find in us the princes to whom this magnificence be
longed. There were young girl* who ought to have
been equal to any surrounding, beautiful in any setting,
bat who, alas, showed too plainly by artificial manner*
and overlabored dress, iid by that fatal air of eou
sciousnos* which betrays the absence of maidenly dig
nity and simplicity, that they were not the tree Cin
derella? of ibe place, and were tryi-g in vain to fit the
glass slipper on a clumsy foot.
But ’he dinner we* worthy of the palace. Lu cull os
would have rejoiced to come o life for its sake, and
Bri’liant-Tiararin might hare been contented. Tfce
great hall overflowing with light that poured from gol
den chandeliers, the due coloring ol the gtasa aud por
celain, Ihe heavy plate ihe larih meats, and game. *nd
jellies, and fruits, the iced and sparkling wines, the
troops of servants, the obsequious and q ..<t attention,
were all fitly correapoadent in sumptuous displat.
And oiler criffes, carrying out its Oriental suggestion,
seated in luxurious chair*, a little aside in the great heii.
we smoked, and wa: cited the crowd of idlers and pas
ser* by, and moralirtd a little ou the show. We saw
men, who. not yet iu the vigor of lite, were 1.1r.H with
its pleasures; men with the poisoned youth, Vathek
like to find themselves someday. with fires, unquencha
ble and agonizing, in the place of tltos* hearts they had
silenced, pervei ted, and destroyed. We saw men of
disappointed hopes, aud, by their side, men whose
hope* had never failed. There were men with no signs
of care, ar.d others, perb.vp* not Its* happy, with cares
written ou their fore-heads. At lost it grew tin-setae,
and we went away.
We nei her of us wondered as we came oui on the
street, and looked up at the clear strip of night sky.
thut tbe same cm Is.-no Query in regard t>> what w e hud
lef', came into our minds. As I walked alone to my
lodging, 1 thought whether this was the Hues; exhibi
tion of our Airerican civilization ; whether this r.a* our
vaunted practical socialism; whether palaces lor ti t
people wera any way better than palace* lor kings;
whe her lasu-l#*? display, and lavish, reckies* waster.'l
- were ihe same with real magnificence and
thorough taste, and great expense proportioned to a
great md.
v, •<!’ , wi h another companion, I went d< s n to the
Fjvt Boiut*. Here 100 I had never been b. >e. We
wen at first io n-eo< it* worst recesses, ce c i by the
*trat>ge, humorou* node ot Ctiw Bay. A hi-fcy, arched
passtgo-way leads into the littie bay. roui.d which
wre’d.ed bouse* are crowded, as if afraid ol th- enttancc
of sun-bine and ftesb air. A drunken black woman,
wf;h s can tn her baud, came reehDg into the place be
binri us Fr m the dirty window* other womer. were
looking out and at the dirty Cow door stood three or
font u en, some wi h ihe devi'-mat-care, ai-d <ither*
wuh he [rale, exhausted look that equally b.long to
such places.
I h ivv ro lik’pg to de'ail sncti scents in vordx I
distru >t descnp'ions wbete horrer* are heaped ugether
and a u.<*i people turn away trom them as exaggera
tion.*, ihey oiten serve the bad end of blunting ihe keen
edge ff sympathy. I will not describe here.
In lac opeti part of the Five Points There were men
and women standing about the door of the giocenr
U ■( rum was sold; children were playingan ntid, ail
dirty, and tome of tlem sickly in appearance, aid ihere
wer i th- figures, amongst whom were such as might
fcari j-St *re; and out of Hogarth’* Gin Laue. Tbrcugh
out T te place there wa* an indeacrikaUe air of contobion
dirt t.na m aerr. But at the base of the trail-gulni
?pace n here ibe'Five Foiut* meet, etood a large br.ck
hun -e on which was paintrd in great letters, “Five
Toi’ t House of Induairr.” I had ofieu of lateheaid
of thi Iw-aar, and as our visit to the place was chiefly
for th ake of seeing, it, we went in. I heard it* hi*-
rory id s afitrndon ter the first time. It was a story
worth rearing and repeating. It began thus:
Yo. i know bow full of despair this Fire Points seemed
for t ears, bow nobodv had the courage tn attack i’;
bow vim increased bore with tbe ia treat inf misery;
how the gulf between this place and Broadway, grew
wider every year; how in the centre and rerv heart of
this Christian city was a shame worse than barbarism,
and an evil worse ihan adversity. There were plenty
of kindly and excellent people who meant to do their
duty, and gave away much in charity, but who only
though cf this place cs au evil not to be remedied by
anv efforts of theirs, and indeed perhaps a necessary
part of the social system of a great city. It was a dan
gerous aud detestable error; aai.gerous in an” countrv,
but more than in any other, in our own. Happily it
wa* not universal.
Three years ago some good people determined that
something must be done to better this state of things.
A voting tiergt man wa* engaged to go down and work
here, He had not been at work long befiire he found
that it was of little avail to preach, and to give away
Bible* and tract* to those, who where so destitute of the
means of comfort, as to be reckless of pood or of evil.
“Why preach virtue to u, who cannot be virtuous, un
less we"are ready to starve?” said poor forlorn. women
to him. “Why tell us to be good,” asked the children,
“when we must steal or be whipped? it i* better to be
bod tuan to be good.” buch questions were too pathe
tic, too earnest, to he disregarded. The women, driven
by want to vice aud misery, ,
“Paint o . their bee ill i lee* cheek*
And hunger and shame in their bosom*;”
the last light of loveliness quenched in their wan hard
evee, were women even in their ruin, and as such ap
pealed w ith the thought*of what they might have been
with the force of precious remembrance* and tbe pre
sent influence of all noble love, to every worthy man.
These children too, with none of the grace, the beauty,
or the divine glorv ot childhood, still, by the ur.certain
tv ot ihe future, by its double prospect, claimed every
effort for their aid. L’ndisheartetied, undismayed by the
v:ght of so much to be dene by inadequate mean*, the
missionary determined that he would get work and in
t • ruction for all that came to him, and heip them, that
’hey might learn to help themselves. In otder to do
this more effectually, he procured the indictment of one
of th vilest houses of the place, the keeper was turned
out cf it, he had it clearea and set in order, and
wei-t into it with his wife to live. An heroic act this
reems to me; U wo* a brave, faithful thing, for that hus
band and wife to go down here io live among such
ntiy'.bcrs, surrounded by such sights, exposed to all
the unwholesome influences of the place. It was a deed
tor New-York to be proud of.
‘erving one or two rooms for themselve*. tbe mtn-
Monw v ana hi* wife turned the other into school-roou.s,
work rooms, ar J bed-room* for the vagrant and home
less. Wtuk was obtained trom trades people. Old
cast-off clothe* were sought. A bakery was opened in
a lower room, where the bread was sold cheap. A
school was opencil, and the children w ho came in, were
w&.-'hed and made confortahle. Those who bad no care
elscwhcxe, were kept and clothed. Young grils and
women were sheltered and taught to labor. Place* in
tbe countrv were sought for. whore thev could be safely
established. A Sunday acliool wo* held, and all the
means which earnest, benevolent ingenuity could de
vise, were employed in this work for the vagabond, the
forsaken, the outcast. And for these two year* it has
been going on, struggling with difficulties, with want
•>t means and want of help, sighing again*’ the opposi
tion of these who were accustomed to nii.ke money out
of the sin* and poverty of otbe', against foolish preju
dice, and oguiust the thousand depressing, often recur
ring ob-trie* that arise from the verv character* ot
those w hom it was meant io serve. Still, it has gone on
steadily, and i* daily spreading is gracious influences
.Such in oriel” wait the story as i head it. It is not
often that we hear nowadays of self-devotion through
iaa this, of benevolence’ as practical or charity com
! plete.
Whan, af er going over the house, we came again out
upon the dirtv street, it was already twilight 1 looked
back at it, befiire w e turned, ar.d it seemed to me as if
it siood apart, sanctified amid ali that was unholy
around it. The loud, coarse talk of the group clustered
at the door of Crown’s grog-shop near by, was silenced
to ray ears in ihe sound which still rang through them
of the hymn I had kcaid the children .singing,
“ The Jxud is my shepherd: no want shall I know,
1 feed io greeu pastures, safe folded I rest.”
It seemed to me as if ikat house, ill-built, ill-arrang
ed, narrow, crowded as it was, might stand a worthy
opposite to the paisu-e I bad seen the night before. The
lustre and brilliancy which shone from that, wouid
serve to display the “depth of the contrast.
England vs. America.
To Mrs. Stowe, the Dutchess of Sutherland, and all
agonizing sympathizers wiih ihe “ Unde Tom ” mania,
we commend the following from Lvckitu’ }{<ru4,h~id
Wo,d
“It has been calculated tbs*, theresre in England and
Wales fi, H) 1 O persons who can ueiiber lead nor
wii<e—that is to say, about one-third of the population,
•ncludiiig. of com *e, infants; but of all ibe children
between live and tourieen, more than one-half attend
no place of public instruction. These statements —
compiled by Mr. Kav trom official and other authentic
sources, lor hss work cn the Social Condition and Edu
cation of the Poor iu England and Europe, would be
hard to believe, if w-e had not to encounter in our every
day life degrees of illiteracy which would be startling,
if we were not ‘thoroughly used to it. Wherever we
turn, ignorance, not always silted to poverty, stares us
iu the face. If we look ia the Gazette at the list of
par’nerships dissolved, not a month passes but some
unhappy man, rolling perhaps iri wealth, but wallowing
iu ignorance, is put to the ‘ rptrint-ntnm cruets ” of hi*
mark. The number of petty jurors— in rural districts
e-'-eeiallv —who ran oniv sign with a cross, is enor
mous. it ts not unusual to see parish documents of
r: eat local importance deCiced with the same humiliat
m'v symbol by persons whose office not ouly shows
them to be • men of mark,’ but men of substance. We
have printed already specimens of the partial ignorance
which’ pa sees under the pen of the post office autbori
ties, and we may venture to asset! tuat such specimens
of penmanship i-ad orthography are uot to be matched
in any other Country in Europe A housewife in humble
life r.'eed only turn'to the file of her husband’s bills to
discover hie.; qlyphica which render them so many
arithmetical ; iie*. In abort, the practical evidences
of the lew ebb to which the plainest rudiment* of
education in this couutrvbas fallen, are too common
to bear repetition. We cannot pass through the
streets—we cannot enter a place of assembly, or ramble
iu the fields, without tbe gloomy shadow of igncisnre
sweeping over u*. Tha rural population is indeed iu a
worre plight than the other classes
Taking the adult <; agricultural laborers, it is almost
impossible to exaggerate ihe igiimnce in which they
live and move, and have their beiug. As they work in
the field*, the external world ha3 some hold upon them
ih oughihe medium of their sense*; but io all the
higher exercise* of intellect, they arc perfect strangers.
V .a cannot addreas one of them without being at onco
patirfully struck with the intellectual darkness which
i r.-fircu l* him. There is in general neither specula
tion in bis eyes, nor intelligence in hi* countenance.
Tfce whole expression is more that of an animal than of
a n.uu. lie is wanting, too, in the erect and indepen
dent scaring of a man. When you accost him, if ne ts
not insolent —which he seldom is—he i* tunid aud
shrinking, his whole manner showing that he feels him
scli a; a distance from vou, greater than should sepa
rate auy two classes cf men. lie t* often doubtful
when v’ou address, sn;l suspicious when vou question
him; he is seemingly oppressed with the interview,
while it lasts, and obviously relieved when it is over.
These arc tbe trails which I can affirm them to pos
se*’ a* a class, after having come in contact with many
hundreds of farm laborers. They belong to a genera
tion for whose intellectual culture little or nothing vvaa
done. Asa class they have no amusements beyond the
indulgence of sense. In nine cases out of teu recreation
is associated ia thet r minds wnh nothing higher than
aeusualitv. I have frequently asked clergymen and
ot hers, if |thev often find the adult peasant reading for
his own or ethers amusement ? The invai iable answer
is that such a sight i seldom or never witnessed. In
the flr?i place t‘u greut butt- of them cannot rtaU. In
the next, a large j,roi*o?tion of those who car, do so
with too much difficulty to admit of the exercises being
an amusement to them. Again, few of those who can
read with comparative ease, have the taste for doing
so. *
Fanjjt Fsrk o Itaaiiu,.—“Baby carts on narrow
side-walks are awtui bores, especially to a hi Tried busi
ness man.”
Art they 1 Suppose you and a certain pair of blue
ev. *, that you would give half your patrimony to win,
were joint proprietors of that baby 1 I shouldn't dare
to stand r */-y near y/u and call it “a nuisance.” It’s
all very well “for bachelors to turn up their s style bluest i
nc*et> at these little dimuled Cupids; but just wait till
their time comer 1 See em, the minute their name is
written “ papa,” pull up their dickies, and strut off”
down street, as if the Commonwealth owed them a
pension! When they enter the office, see their old
married parmer (to whom babies have long since
censed to Lc a uovalty) laugh in his sleeves at the new
tledged dignity with’ which that babv’s advent is an
nounced 1 How perfectly astonished they feel that they
should have been so ’.nfaiuatcri s not to perceive that
a mania a p*rftrt cypher till he is at me head of a
family! How’ frequently one may see them now, look
ing in at the shop windows, with interest, at liltie hats,
coral bead* and bulls, and babv jn ipers. Now they
love to come hometo dinner, and ores* that little velvet
cheek to their bv nts* futt f Was there ever any
music *<. If so sweet to t heir ear as its first l *r-td ‘pap. f
Oh, how closely and imperceptibly, one by one, that
plant winds its tendrills round the jmrent stem 1 How
anxiously they harg over it* cradle when the check
Hushes acid the lip is fever parched; and how wide and
deep, aud long a shadow m their happy Lome its little
grace would cast!
My dwir air, depend upon if, cue’s own lafy it nsver
“ nutsartce. “ Love heraids its birth!’
Faxst Festf.
The VTaAivgUm. Cm* contains a communica
tion from Henry K. Schoolcraft, Esq., descriptive of a
section of country which is known bv the name of
Aiharra. He says it is an attractive, well timbered and
fertile area of country lying immediately west of the
Rocky Mountains, in mild, temperate latitudes, to
which, for the purpose of distinct allusion, he applies
the above aboriginal term. This ares i about SO miles
broad, and lie* t-arslle! to the Rocky Mountains fora
distance ot severel hundred mile*. It gives rise to both
cf the main and cuu.erous sub-aifluenis of the Colum
bia River. It is a high plain, winch is cut through by
thc*e affluents, of a most fertile character, bearing
tree*, and iu scute places high gras*; and while the
streams cree’e abundant w ater-power for lumber and
grain mill* and machinery, they are free, or nearly free,
From inundation of their hanks. This district probably
comprehends twenty-five thousand square miles, end if
it* capacities of production have been correctly esti
mated, would sustain a population greater than acme of
the Eastern and Atlantic State.*. According to the re
cent act orjprizing ihe Territory of Washington, it lies
chiefly, if tc>i whoilv, within the boundaries of this
new Goven ment. ft is altogether a genial country,
and seems destined to form a link of connection by or
dinary mean? of transit with the Missouri valley,
through the Yellow Stone. It mav be noticed, that
while tbe eastern foot of the Rocky Mountain presents
vast sand deserts and buflaio plains, tbe fertjJa lands
in ibia im r*Mb io rip *7 op of ita w*tn owis
>BOMi
Andrew Pickins Bntler.
This gentleman, who ia now a distinguished Senator
in Congress from South Carolina, was once a very dis
tinguished nullifier, and no less distinguished for hi*
ripe and fclirring eloouence, than for the noble qualities
of his warm, impulsive, generous heart. He was about
forty-five when we first encountered him. possessing a
fiue person, and tbe greatest flow of auimal life that
vou shall meet in this world, it vou were to sad from
india to the pole. His very look was enough to con
vulse you with laughter, that is, we mean when Butler
was in one of his “ pantaloon humors.” His face was
fine and bright with smiles—Lis eyes—they were never
where they should have been, for without being cross
eyed, he could not read a letter without holding it as if
for someone who was looking over his shoulder. In
fact, you were prepared to be amused by his conversa
tion from his quizzical look, iust as the earth is prepared
to receive the rain bv the cloud that precedes it, with
this difference, that Butler’s clouds were ail sunshine.
His manner* were the most cordial, and hi* conver
sation the most amusing of any man in the country.
His province it is, or was, “ to set the table in a roar,
with anecdotes, in which he absolutely abounded. V> e
were members of the tame mess—the suit water with
Butler, for two sessions of the South-Carolina Legis.a
ture, and well remember his irrepressible humor, and
inexpressible and inimitable style ot conversation, that
kept us all, old and young, ai the dinner tab.e, irotn
from six o'clock until ten at night, during the enure
session. What a glorious fellow ne was, to be sure! as
merry as a grig, as fluent as a t nutting brook, and as
delicious as a dumpling. The Senate of the l nited
States—that house of incurables as Lord Chesterfield
called the British House of Lords—may ‘nave ground
down his strong points; but when we knew hnu at
Columbia, “long time ago,” he wa* the prince of good
fellows in his dinner conversations, and as sweet as
Beliel in his speeches. He was a very earnest, very
rapid, and very interesting speaker. —Jtolile Tribune.
Ths CorHTRY abound NiaOara Falls.—A corres
pondent writes from Kingston, C. W., as follows: —
“ This portion of the country ha* not beeu duly repre
sented by traveler? and correspondence. The balls
have absorbed all their feeling* as ii were. But as I
have spent some eight years of tny life ca the shores of
the river wiihin the roar of the mighty cataract, and
travelled over the most of the United Jitstes, and the
Canadas, with a portion of Mexico, 1 have had achance
to contrast this wiih other part* of the continent. And
I must with candor say, that all in all, this i* tbe Italy
of America. By reference to the map, will be een tbe
cause. The country lies between the Lake* Erie and
Ontario, bv the winds of which it is tempered, so as to
bring lorth, spontaneously, all the vahtuDle fruits and
grains ot the temperate xonp, as also some tropical
fruits.
For instance, the mulberry and pepaw grew sponta
neously to as great perfection as in the Southern States
or Cuba. The country cannot be excelled for apples,
pears, plums, cherries, nectarines, apricots, Ac. There
are all kind* of soil*, from a stiff clay to a light sand,
j which is well cared for bv an independent, thriving, in
! lustrious and persevering population.
The Civilizatiou ot Africa.
There is no greater problem of this age than the civi
lization of Africa. There is no more wonderful illustiu
tion of the ways of Divine I‘rovidence, and of the pro
gress of the human race, through error, and folly, and
sin, to certain aud enduring good. The unbounded re
sources of Africa, which have slept undeveloped since
the creation, are about to yield to the touch of commerce
and civilization. The tribe* whose native and inherited
barbarism has been growing darker and apparently
more hopeless through iong ages ol ignorance and bru
tality, are slowiv preparing to take a place among the
nations. The iinte t* approaching more rapidly than
*uch revolution* are generally made, when the com
mercial nations shall compete for the trade wiih Africa,
and when the stimulus which this will give to its pro
duction shall develope the resources of the country, and
shall establish a regular industry along the coast, and
constantly pushing Io the interior, all the results of trade,
commerce, and intelligent industry will gradually fol
low. Thi*, and this alone, will be the means ot putting
an end to the slave trade. Armies cannot do it, Beets
cannot do it. Treaties and compacts are in vain to en
force it. Commerce und civilization alone can fix the
limits of this great reproach of the age. When the
Eastern coast of Africa is in the hands of civilized Chris
tian government, or within is control, the infamous
traffic will be suppressed, but not before. No more
worthy work can employ the attention of philanthropists
than the colonization of Africa. We trust that it will
receive every encouragement from our Government,
and that cn some plan, under the prolection ot tbe Go
vernment, regular steam communication may be estab
lished between litis country and Liberia. We owe
much to Africa, and it is in this way that we e*n best
discharge the debt that has been accumulating for ceu
i turies. — Providence Journal
General Hawaii's Corpse. —A most extraordinary
! account has reached us in a private letter from Vienna to
a high personage here, and bar, beer, the talk of our
talooas for the last few days. It appears that the Cir
cumstance of the death of General Hayr.au presented a
phenomenon of the most awful kind or. record. For
; many days after death the wai inth of life yet lingered in
ihe right arm and left leg of the corpse, whicL remained
jlimp Mid moist, evpn bleeding slightly when pricked.—
No delusion notwiihsianding, could be maintained as to
tbe reality of death, for the other parts of the body
were completely mortified, and interment beeume nec
essary before the two limbs above mentioned had be
come’ either stiff or cold. The writer of the letter men
tioned that this strange circumstance had produced the
greatest awe in the minds of tbose who witnessed it, and
that the emperor had bean so impressed with it that hi*
phvsicians had strictly forbidden the subject to be allu
ded to in bis presence. —Tarn Curt eepmdent <f the
Alias.
Negroes in New York.
The New York Herald gives the following risw of
the condition of the negroes in that city:
“ All persons having a share of philanthropy in their
Composition, must have that feeling excited by witness
ing the poverty and degradation in which the African
rale exist in this city. Systematically shut out front
all mechanical pursuits, and expelled from almost ail
the inferior positions they were once allowed to hold
here, they have sxen their place* filled by Germans aud
Irish; ai.d now there are not more than half a dozen
occupations in which they can engage. Eveu a* waiters
in our hotels—one of the last and best strongholds left
them—they find that ihey are constantly losing ground
bv the abler competition of immigrants from Europe,
i This expulsion of the negroes from almost every branch
i of industry, has had it* natural effect in thinning their
i numbers. And while, during tbe last teu vears they
| have increased in the Southern States at the ratio of
I thirty per oeot., tbe negro population of this State Las
| fallen ii otn fifty to forty-seven thousand.”
This is the condition to which abolitionist* invite the
!slave. This is the freedom which they give him—free
[ dom to starve and die.
“I Can’t.’*
’ Apollo! what a face! doleful a* a hearse; folded
! hand*; hoi low chest; whining voice; the vsrv picture
lot cowardly irresolution. Spring to your feet, hold up
your head, set your teeth together, drew that tine form
of yours up to the height that God made it; draw a
long breath and look about you. What do you ‘ee t
Why, all creation taking care ot number one— pushing
ahead like the car of Juggernaut over its victims.
There it goes, and you can’t stop it. Are you going to
lay down and he crushed ?
Iti all that’s manly, no! dash ahead! You’ve as
good a right to mount the triumphal car a* your neigh
bor. Snap your fingers at croakers; if you can’t get
round a stump, leap over it high and dry. Have
nerve* of steef, a wiil of iron ; never mind sideache*
or hpßrtnehes ; work away without stopping to repine,
or to notice envy or malice.
Set your target in the clouds and aim at it. If your
errow Alls short of the mark, what of that? Pick it
up and fire again. If you should never reach it, vott’ll
shoot higher than if you only aim at a bush Don’t
whine, it your friends fail off. At the first stroke of
pood luck, by Mammon! they’ll swarm round you like
a hive of bee*.
li I can't.'* Oh, pshaw 1 I throw my gloves in your
face, if I am a woman ! you are a disgrace to corduroy*.
Wbat! a min lack courage? A man want indepen
dence? A man to be discouraged at obstacles? A man
alraid to face anything save bit .Maker! Why, I’ve the
most unmitigated contempt for you! you pusillanimous
little pussy cat; there’* nothing manly about you, ex
cept your whiskers. —Fanny Flr/i.
Imfortakt Invention, or Discovert.— At a late sit
ting of the Austrian Academy of Science at Vienna,
Herr Von Auer read a paper upon a newly-discovered
process of printing, (we hardiy see how this term ap
plies,) from all sorts of objects with comparatively
plain surface®. Among the articles mentioned, which
have been copied by the new piooess, are plant*, some
of them in flower, embroidery, etched aga’e, insects,
fish-scales, <kc. The speaker call* this “ Naiurselbst
druck”—printing from Nature—and ?*y, that this dis
covery forms anew era in the pictorial illustration of
works on science and art. The objects copied were
given with singular fidelity to the original*. No hint
was given as to the process’.
Daniel Webster’s Estate. —Th# Providence Jovr
ttal say* that the attempt to raise money enough, by
subscription, to retain Mr. Webstet’s Marshfield estate
in the possession of bis family, is likely to fail, and that
the place will necessarily be Bold. The Boston Oovr er
state* that everything at Marshfie'd which the public
would desire to see preserved as a permanent memorial
ol the great statesman, will be secured for tha? ’pur
pose; but that it is not yet settled that ltis wishes, in
regard to his birthplace, in New Hampshire, can be
; carried into effect.
Invitation from the Emitror Napoleon.— Tha
Baltimore correspondent of the Mutunal Intelligencer
*ays: —“Tbe rumor is current here that a friendly in
vitation ha* been extended by Emperor Napoleon to
his relatives, the Bonapartes in this citv, to visit
France. The imperial courtesy, I ant told, ha* been
accepted by vouug Jerome, nephew of the elder
Napoleon, who purposes going over to Paris He is
now attached to the United States army, and is about
obtaining leave of absence for the purpose here men
tioned. This looks like a disposition ou the part of the
Emperor tu cultivate friendly relations Dot only with
his foreign relatives, but with our Government.’’
rw a writer in Putnam remarks that nearly half
the people in New-York diueout every day in the week
but Sunday—the gentlemen down town, and the ladies
and children at some fashionable Broadway saloon. A
gentleman who was in New-York, last week, say* he
counted one hundred and seventy-five ladiee dining at
one time in one of the fashionable Broedway saloons.
There was any quantity of livery carriages standing in
front of the door, Our New-York friends are getting
slaMt m bed u the Fmcfe in iwerfog their MMfc
MACON, GEORGIA :
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1853
~rpr The Whigs of Bibb county and all others, w ho
arc opposed to the principles of the Southern Right*
Portv, are requested to meet at the Court House in this
city, at noon, on the first Tuesday in Jnne next, to ap
point delegates to attend a Gubernatorial Convention
to be held at Milledgevillc on the fourth Wednesday in
June, and to transact other important business.
We would call the attention of our readers to
the proceeding* of the meeting, of the Whigs of Deca
tur county, which will be found in another column.—
The Whigs of Baldwin, we learn have recently held a
large and harmonious meeting, in which the distinction
of Scott or Webster Whig wa* not recognised. The
right spirit thus far, animates the masses of the party
We endorse the suggestion of the Recorder , that Ihe
Party should meet in Convention on the fourth Wed.
nesday of J tine, and urge upon our friends the proprie
ty of assembling iu primary meetings in the different
counties, aud appointing delegates to that Convention,
who may organize victory for the conservative Union
men of Georgia, over the progressive, agrarian, aud se
cession Democracy.
Macon County Superior Court. —It may be proper,
for the benefit of many persons interested, to siate that
the Superior Court of Macon county was adjourned to
the second Monday in June next.
Thomastou aud Rarnesville Railroad.
We are gratified to find that the work on this road is
progressing rapidly. The grading of it, for three miles
out of Thomaston, is completed, and it is estimated
that with the force at present engaged upon it, this
i part of the work will be finished during the present
vtar. The entire route is upon a ridge, with no water
course or other material obstruction. But one embank
ment or excavation of twenty feet is necessary, and
Ihat occurs in the portion of the road already graded.
Almost the entire stock of thi* road has been taken by
the eitixet* of Upson county, and we trust that their
enterprise will be rewarded by the early completion and
successful uperution of the road.
On the lfith inst., the branch of the South-
Western Railroad, from Fort Valley to Butler, iu Taylor
countv, will be completed, and the cars will run on
j that day with mt interruption, from this city to Colutn
’ bus. Yesterday there wa* two-miles-iuterval between
the South-Wetern and Muscogee Railroads, over which
passengers were conveyed in stages
Savannah is equal to any city in the Union in
!the enterprise Uid energy aud public spirit of her citi
zens. She has, during tbe last few years, assumed a
large debt, in giving aid to different internal improve,
menta, which w?re necessary to secure her the tiade of
the interior; aue neither her spirit or her resources tre
exhausted. Tb great object which is left her to ac
complish, is to make her port equal to the accommoda
tion of tbe increased busiues* she is enjoying, and to
that object her cititens have addressed themselves tvilh
characteristic promptness aud energy. Congress having
appropriuied P 40.000 to improve the Savannah River
and it having beu ascertained that $200,000 was neces!
; ary for thi* object, they have determined that they
I would not loose tbe appropriation of the General Gov
ernment, or conttnt themselves with a partial accom
plishment of its object, and have, in public meeting,
authorized the City Council to appropriate the sum of
$160,000, to be expended, wiih ihe appropriation of
Congress, by tbe officers of the United States, for the
improvement of the river. This exhibits a progressive
•pirit in the right direction.
; JJU John C. Calhoun, of Florida, son of the distin
'guished pro-slavery Southern Rights statesman, of S,
Carolina, it is said, has been appointed Secretary of Le
! gation at Paris, under Dix, the notorious Free-Soil leader
| jf New York, who, it is said, will be Minister to France
■ If the dead walk, will not this cause the great Southern
’ ieader to ** revisit tit# glimpses cf the moon.”
Local Items.
! The Superior Court for Bibb County, Judge
I Powers presiding, began its spring teirn ia this city on
| Monday iast. As there is much business, both civij
and criminal, before it, its session will probably con
j tinne lor five weeks.
IPj” On the u.ghj of tbe 4U the clothing store
: of H. Fitch A Cos. was entered by boring through the
door, and displacing the lock. Some clothing was
taken, but*not to any considerable value. No discovery
has yet beeu made of the thief.
sar a singular and somewhat ingenious attempt
was made, last week, by a man who called himseif
: Lewis, or Lewi* Scott, to raise the wind. He came to
Macon from Columbus by railroad, and called on Mrs
Rylander, the lady of Capt. M. E. Rylander, (who Las
recently gone to the Western States,) and iuformed
her that her husband had been badly injured tty the
: blowing up of a steam-boat, and was then at his father’s
j house, near New Orleans—that he had been sent on by
I Capt. R. lor his eldest son, who wa* requested to return
•vith him. He also stated that while on his way he had
iost bis money and therefore needed funds. Mrs. R,
gave him fifteen dollars to go after her eon, who was at
Emory College, Oxford. Lewis had several time#
offered to pass a mmterleit bill of twenty dol!nrs (
alleging ihat it was all the money he had, and succeed
| ed in doing so in Atlunta, while on his way to Oxford.
; !t was discovered, aud he was compelled to refund the
money. Before hi* return from Oxford, Mrs. R. had
; received a letter from her husband, from which it was
j evident that the story of Lewis was a tabrication, and
Untended for the purpose of raising money. He w g
arrested, tried and committed to jail, on the chatge o
| pasting counterfeit money.
I XdlT On Saturday night, the 30th ult., tha dwelling,
house and bed-room of the Hev. 3. Landrum were en-
Itered, and hi* watch stolen, and the halves of several
: iarge bills, together with fifteen dollars of other money _
i A colored gentleman, recently imported into the city iu
a gambling operation, exposed the half bills, and was
arrested. The watch and nearly all the money was
recovered, and the “'limits of t/i law ” for larceny ap
l plied to him.
IdT The nnti-sluvery agitation gathers strength every
day, and theabolitioD, bids fair to be the most important
element in the Presidential canvas* of 1356. The New
England Methodist Conference of the Church North,
which divided and separated from the Church South,
a few years ago because Bishop Andrews was a slat e
bolder, at a recent session passed a series of resolutions
uion the slavery question. The following is one of
them ;
Thai U is our deliberate and fettled opinion, that no
more jsreon* guilty if the sin of elavt-holdiog, should It
admitted as mtml-ert of our C/iurch.
Thus it is that slavery fanaticism, the last and wore’
development of Puritanism is nourished and fostered
in the Churche* cf the North, and made the prominent
hypocrisy of the religionists and philanthropists aud
humanitarian* of the North, who forget that slavery
wa* recognised in tbe theocracy of the Jews, and iu
the teachings of Christ and h s disciples. In the mean
time, w hilst the Churches of the North close their doors
aguinst the slave-holder, Mrs. Harriet Bt-ecber Stowe
with Mr*. Stowe’s husband, visit# England and is feted
and caressed, simply, because she has acquired notorie
ty by the bitterness ol her iinte of the South, and seeks
foreigu allies and foreign aid in the crusade of the North
against tbe Souib, who furnish her money to sus
tain it? Whilst thus, the public sentiment of the North
ogaiust slavery, is strengthed by Church discipline and
British sympathy, what does the South for its own
protection 1 Where doe# it look for support? The
Government fosters Free Soilers with “material aid,’’
as do the British, and politicians who claim to be par o
odience Soul hern Rights men unit# and fraternize
with them.
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad.
The Chattanooga Gcuett* of the 8d inst. say*: That
if the work is not delayed for want of iron or timber,
the track will be completed from Nashville to the bridge
on the Tenncsiee river, in about three weeks. The
most formidable obstacle to tbe shipment of produce
from Middle Tennessee will then be overcome. Tbe
splendid light draught steamer# of th# Messrs. Wil
liams, are plying every day between thi# place and the
bridge.
{3T Th# Washington Union contradicts the rumor
that General Pierce designed to visit New Hampshire
in a few days, and 9tat# that he will net probably leave
Washington City, during the summer.
Bishop of Sooth Carolina.
Chaeeston, May 6.—The Rev. Thomas F. Davis, of
Grace Church, Camden (S. C.,) was elected Bishop
of South Carolina to-day, on th# twelfth ballot, by the
Episcopal Convention new in session here. The elec
tion was mad* to fill tba vacancy oooa#;eg*d by th*
dwib of Siebcp tf*4*4*w. ‘
J3gr We attempted, last week, to show that the in
dividual opinions and committals of Franklin Pierce
did rot influence President Pierce, by contrasting bis
declarations upon the subject of removals with his
action as the chief of the present Administration -
There was nothiug in the model Democratic Adminis
tration of Andrew Jackson which Mr. Pierce did not
justify, except the policy of removal from office for
political opinion; and there is nothing in the adminis
tration of President Pierce thus far which assimilates
it to that of bis illustrious preeecessor but the jiolicy
which he has pursued of removing individuals from
office for political opinion. The President has yielded
to the exigency of his position, and has ac*od in direct
opposition to his declared opinions, and obliges us to
look to the necessities of his party rather than to its
platform, or to his individual record, for the probable
policy of his Administration. Frauklin Pierce is not
the President of the United States—his opinions do
not control the policy of his Administration, and he is
not recognised or felt as the head of that Administra
tion, shaping, influencing it, and compelling the alle
giance of a party. The policy of the Administration
npon the subject of removals illustrates this; and a
still more striking illustration of the fact is tarnished
in the appointments of the Administration. The recent
Presidential canvass is still fresh in the reinfection of
every one. Every one knows that the overwhelming
majority by which Gen. Pierce was elected was owing
to no such overwhelming strength of the- Democratic
parti- or its candidate, but to the Union sentiment of
the country, and to the deep and abiding conviction
that he had been, and would be, faithful to the Consti
tution and the UuioD, and slimly opposed to extremists
—to Free Soilers at the North, and Disunionists at the
South. So strong was his record, and so conclusive
his declarations and his act sas a Union Democrat, that
the opposition of the Whig party of the South was dis
armed, and they suffered his election, w ithout any*
general or well organized effoit to oppose it. And it
was natural to suppose, that in the significant and im
portant matter of appointments to office, he would carry
out the principles to which lip owed his success, anj
compel the factions of the discordant Democracy to
yield submission to them. But what is the result?
Union Democracy is at a discount in W ashington city
and the factions control the President, sacrificing before
him the political friends wiiu whom he sympathises in
opinion, and demanding office for the men to w hom he
is opposed. Union Democrats, with a 1 resident in the
While House, who is properly their property, have not
the tiitre, find him monopolized and possessed by Free
Soilers and Secessionists, and in utter helplessness,
turn to court the favor and submit to the terms of
these their enemies, whom a few short months ago
they would not recognize as Democrats, and with whom
they would not act.
The salient point in the record of General Pierce was
his opposition to, and overthrow of Atwood. It was h
bold, manly and decisive act, for which we gave him
credit, but which his Southern Rights supporters dared
not applaud, because it was done in his zeal for the
Union and the Compromise. Atwood wa9 the candi
date of the party —Gen. Pierce’s candidate for Gover
nor. Atwood expressed some opposition to the Com
promise, and Atwood was hurled down from his posi
tion, and defeated and humbled and scouted from the
party- by Franklin Pierce: and we said, as we say still,
it was well and nobly-, and boldly done. But alas! and
alas! Why- is not this splendid programme of political
conduct carried out at Washington ? Atwoods sit at
his council board —Atwoods are honored by him with
offices of dignity and trust and profit—and Atwoods
shape the policy of his Administration upon the subject
of appointments to office. Why is this so? Y, by is a
rule of political action, recognized and acted upon in
New Hampshire, abandoned in Washington city ? Why
but sheer policy. The New Hampshire statesman
acted from principle —the President acts from policy—
the New Hampshire statesman acted upon his own
convictions and impulses—the President acts upon
the necessities of the Democratic party. He has ap.
pointed to offices of higher dignity and greater profit
than that of Governor of his State, Northern men who
are more notorious, more prominent and more violent
Free Soilers than Mr. A’wood, aud Southern men who
went leagues beyond him in their bitter opposition
to the Compromise.
Tc-dav, the policy which the record of Gen. Pierce
authorised us to believe he would adopt, and which his
Inaugural declares, is virtually and practically aban-
Iko idminMtratinn stand* before the Country
by its acts, not upon the principles of the Inaugural
but upon the nnicen, unsupported, unmasked position
that the Democratic party must be harmonized. This
is the programme. This is the grand sum of the policy
of the Administration, and every appointment under it
is made with reference to this end, and not to the prin
ciples of the applicant. Gov. Cobb heeds the signs of
the times, and hastens to humiliate himself before men
who denounced him because he acted with Whigs
when Democrat? plotted treason The Hunkers of
New York heed them; and when Martin Van Buren
the apostate of 1848, exhumed from the grave in which
they buried him, embarks for England, they hasten to do
honor to their old and bitter foe. The ukase has gone
forth. It orders the Democracy to harmonize, and
Nashville and Buffalo unite and kiss fraternally, whilst
the Union Democracy are employed as claquert of the
ludicrous show.
General Pierce may design, by giving office to Free
Soilers and Secessionists, to nationalize them, and turn
them from the error of their way, by committing them
to the support of a sound Conservative, Union and
Compromise Administration. If he thus buys up
them and their heresies, the offices which he gives
them will be well and wisely disposed of. But he gives
them a dangerous endorsement w heu he elevates the
leaders of these factions, and in the end he may find
that he cannot control them. Davis will ultimately oj>-
pose Foote, it is said, for Senator from Mississippi-
Who doubts the result? The President may feel and
think with Foote; but he lias elevated Davis to a *eaf
in his Cabinet, and the Democracy of Mississippi would
honor the - man whom their President has endorsed-
Thus would it be everyw here. The Union Democracy,
unrecognised in the disposal of the offices of the party,
w ill succumb to the Secession Democracy, who have
the ear und the confidence and the offices of the Presi
dent; and we have) therefore, no hope to offer Union
Democrats but that in patience they may possess their
souls.
The Mesilla Valley.
Mr. Bartlett, the late commissioner of the Boundary-
Survey, on the part of the United States, has furnished
to the Providence Jourrud the following accouut of the
Territory in dispute between Chihuahua and New Mexi
co, which Governor Lane, has recently by formal proc
lamation, annexed to the United States. In au elabo
rate review of this proclamation, which appears in ano
ther issue of the Journal, Mr. Bartlett has overthrown
every position which Gov. Lane has assumed to justify
his unwarrantable seizure of Mexican Territory-; aud ox*
poses it as utterly indefensible. The Washington Uni
on, which was disposed to sustain the ambitious Go
vernor of New Mexico, has learned that the admiuis.
traiioa is not prepared to uphold him, and changes its
tone, with a facility, which certainly should recommend
it to General Pierce as the organ of his administration.
Is it possible that Gov. Lane has the impression, that
“fillibustering” will reeomraend him to the favor of the
present administration, or that like a pro-consul of Rome
at a distance from the seat of central power, he doe*
not feel its influence or control ? It is said that Presi
dent Pierce will promptly remove him. This would
be received by the country. a3 an evidence of the design
of the administration to culiivate friendly relations with
Mexico; and at the same time, as a well merited re
buke, of an official who is disposed to magnify his office
and forestall by a proclamation, the action of the proper
wt.r-makiug power.
Some surprise has naturally been expressed bv those
who leel an interest in the movements of Gov. Lane in
not findiug the uaine of Mesilla on the maps of New
Mexico, Texas, or the adjoining Mexican States. A
br.ef history of this place may therefore posses* an in
terest at this lime.
“Mesilla is the diminutive of the Spanish word nx eta,
table, i. e. table land or plateau; and is applied to a les
ser plateau in the valley of the Rio Grande, beneath
th.it of the great mesa, plateau, or table land which ex
tends for several hundred miles in all directions from
tb* Hio Grande. It means, therefore liUle plateau, or
Uttie tail* land.
“It is situated on the western side of the Rio Grande,
about fifty miles above El Paso, in latitude about 32'* 18
north; and until the year ISSQ it was without an in
habitant
“Immediately preceding, and after the w-ar with
Mexico, the Mexican population occupying the eastern
bank of the Rio Grande in Texas aud New Mexico, weie
greatly annoyed by the enrouckmenta of the Americans,
and bv their determined efforts to despoii them of their
landed property. This was dene by the latter, either
se.tliDg among them, or, in some instances, forcibly
occupying their dwellings and cultivated spots. In
most cases, however, it was done by putting ‘ Texa*
hold-right*’ on their property. These head-rights were
f rants issued by the State of Texas, generally for six
undred and forty acres, or a mile square, though they
•osurt&M toriTMl Urge ityti Tty tart
to persons who had served inter war, and resembled
our military land warrants ; or to original settlers.—
These certificates or ‘head-rights’ are still bought and
sold in that State. The owner of them may locate his
land where he pleases, unless previously occupied, or in
law ful possession of another.
“With these land certificates or ‘head rights,’ many
Americans flocked to the valley of the Rio Grande, and
located them in many instance's on property which, for
a century, had been in the quiet possession of the de
scendants of the old Spanish colonists. The latter, to
avoid litigation, and sometimes standing in fear of
their lives, abandoned their homes and sought a refuge
ou the Mexican side of the river. Dona Ana, a modern
town on the eastern bank of the Rio Grande, lb miles
above El Paso, and near the ‘initial point.’ being a
well located and desirable place, and moreover selected
by the United States for one of its military posts, be
came an attractive point among speculators, and was,
in consequence, pouuccd upon by them and was cover
ed by the ‘Texan head rights’—or land warrants. —
Whether the Mexican occupants of the town and lands
adjacent were the lawful owners or not, it is needless to
state; it is sufficient to say that they had long been in
undisturbed possession. They now became alarmed.
Litigations commenced. Some applied to the authori
ties of New Mexico, Texas, or the United States for pro
tection. Failing to obtain it, in despair, several hund
red abandoned their property and homes, determined
to seek an asylum within the Territory of Mexico, pre
ferring the very uncertain protection they could obtain
there, to remaining as citizens of the United Slates.
“With this resolution, a spot was selected on the op-
Eosite or western side of the river, eight or ten miles
elow l)onn Ana, which, it was believed, would be with
in of Mexico. In the month of May, 18f>0,
this persecuted people established themselves there,
and named the place ‘La Mesilla,’ i. e„ the little table.
To increase the colony, the government of Mexico of
fered to give lands to other actual settlers, which offer
induced large numbers of dissaiisfied Mexicans living
in New Mexico and iu the small settlements along the
Hio Grande, in Texas, to remove there. More than
half the population of Donu Ana removed to Mesilla
within a year.
“When the boundary line was agreed upon in De
cember, ISSO, and it became certain that La Mesilla
was south of it, according to the treaty map, a day was
set apart for public rejoicing, for the astronomers, had
been observing near them, and led them to doubt on
which side of the line their valley would full. The day
came, and the event was celebrated by tiring of cannon
and a ft and ball, which many from El l’aso attended.
After this, the population increased much on account of
the inducements offered, and in October, 18. r >2, the trans
fer of E! I’aso stated that the population numbered
1,90*i souls.
“Very few Americans ever settled there, iu fact none
but traders; and it is probable that there never were
twenty altogether. j
“Lust summer some Mexican speculators attempted
to practice the same impositions upon them as were
practiced w hen they were citizens of New Mexico, by
claiming their lauds. This created great dissatisfaction,
and they then threatened to abandon their lands and
again become citizens of the United States. At this
time, some mischievous persons put an idea into their
heads to deny the jurisdiction of Mexico, and thus save
their property; and this is doubtless the foundation of
Governor Lane’s assertion, that they desire to be rean
nexeu to New Mexico.”
liy Telegraph to the Savannah Rtpuldican.
Fearful llailumit Accident.
Charleston, Mav 7. —A dreadful accident occurred
to-day- on the Norfolk, Va.,* Railroad, by which fifty
two pcrsor.3 were killed and eighteen seriously injured.
Among the missing arc E. and W. Dunbar, of Mont
gomery, (Ala.) Warren S. Newall, of Georgia, had his
ancle broken. There was a large number of Physicians
in the cars returning from the New York Medical Con
vention The locomotive, baggage and two passenger
cars were plunged into the river, fifteen feet below the
surface. The accident occurred on a bridge, the draw
having been lett open for the passage of a steamer.
*There seems to be some doubt os to the locality of
this accident. Some think it was at Norwalk, ConD.,
aud others that it was at Newark, N. J.. at each of
which place iheie i a drawbridge. According to our
despatch, howcver.it was at Norfolk, Ya., that it oc
curred.—Eds. Rte. u.
Further from the Norwalk Disaster.
New Yoke, Mav ‘.—Accounts from Norwalk state
that another de.. i ■ iv has been found. Fitteen unre-i
cognized bodies <; og at the station house.
A noth * Railroad Accident.
New York, M l'he Boston train ran off the :
track near Tauni* -Jay. A passenger car was thrown!
down an embankm- t. No one killed, though two ol
the passengers w re severely injured.
Connecticut Legislature.
Harteord, May 4, 185S. j
The Legislature of this State assembled iu this city
this morning.
The Senate was organized by the appointment of;
Hon. Daniel B. Warner, of the Nineteenth district, as
president pro tem., and Julius L. Stroug as clerk _ ;
The House was organized by the ohoice of W. W.
Eaton, of Hartford, for spesfier. and Roland Hitchcock,
of Winchester, and Gilbert Phillip?, ol Vt oodstock,
clerks.
The appointments, of course, are all democratic.
Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.
Boston, May 4.
The Constitutional Convention assembled at r,dbn to
day.
The different parties held preliminary meetings for
the nomination of candidates for officers of tne Con
vention, la.,t evening. The whigs unanimously agreed
to support the Hon. George X. Briggs for President,
and Charles W. Story for Secretary. The democrats
and free soilers nominated Hon. N. P. Banks for Presi
dent, and William S. Robinson and James G Robinson
for Secretaries.
Front the Montgomery Journal.
Southern Planter’s Convention.
FIRST DAT’S PROCEEDINGS.
The delegates assembled iu the Capitol, when the
Convention was organized by Dr. W. C. Daniel, of Ga.,
in the chair.
Dr. Daniel addressed the Convention.
On motion of Dr. Cloud, Dr. Lucas, of’ Montgomery,
was appointed Secretary.
On motion of Dr. Powell, of Macon county, a com
mittee of five was appointed by the chair to nominate
officers for the permanent organization of the associa- j
tion.
On motion of Judge Bibb, a committee of fourteen 1
was appointed by the chair to piepare business for the
association.
Ou motion of Col. Young, of Mississippi, the dele-’
gates were requested to come forward and register
ibeir names by States.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet at 4 o’clock
iu Estelle Hali.
4 o’clock, p. .
The meeting met pursuant to adjournment, when the
committee ol five reported by their chairman. Dr. Pow
ell. the following officers :
Hon. G. H. Gilmer, of Ga., President.
Col. Vick, of Mis*.; Col. Young, of Miss. ; Geo. W.
Anderson, of Ga.; and Dr. W. C. Daniel, of Ga.; Vice
Presidents.
Dr. Lucas and Dr. Cloud, Secretaries.
On taking the chair, Gov. Gilmer addressed the asso
ciation.
The association was then addressed by Pi-of. Touray,
of Tuscaloosa.
The association then adjourned to 11 o’clock, Tue 3-,
day.
SECOND ifvr’s PROCEEDINGS.
It met again at the hour appointed, and the commit
tee of fourteen reported a constitution and business for j
the association. After which, the association was ad
dressed by Col. Cobb, of Mississippi, when the associa-;
tion adjourned to 4 o’clock, at which time Mr. Nelson .
will address the association.
Seuator It. Toombs, of Ga., will address the conven
tion to day, at 11 o’clock, at Estelle Hall. The ladies
nre are particularly invited ta attend. He is well known
for bis oratorical abilities.
SECOND pay’s PROCEEDINGS —AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention assembled at 4 o’clock, when Mr.
Nelson, of the Troup Hill Nursery, Georgia, delivered
an interesting and practical address on Horticulture and
Fiuit Culture at tne South. After which, Col. James
M. Chambers, of Ga, addressed the Convention. His
subject was the Agricultural Press.
The Convention then adjourned to 10 o’clock on
Wednesday.
THIRD DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.
Tbe association convenued ns per adjournment, when,
on motion of Dr. Daniel), of Ga., the constitution was
taken up and revised in some of its sections. After
which, the reports of committees (on documents aud
Agricultural institute; were received. These reports
were laid on the table temporarily, to hear the address
of the Hon. Robert Toombs, of Georgia. Col Toombs
was introduced to the association, who interested the
assemblage, consisting of a crowded hall of ladies and
gentlemen, with an address forcible and learned, set
ting forth the duties and objects of the association.
The association then proceeded to the election of offi
cers, which resulted as follows:
For President—George 1L Gilmer, of Georgia.
For Vice Presidents—H. W. Vick, of Miss; B. F.
Glover, of Va,; Dr. J. A. Whetstone, of La.; and R.
W. Withers, .of Ala.
For Secretary and Treasurer—N. B. Cloud, of Ala.
The association then adjourned to assemble in the
hall of the Mechanic's Institute at 3 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The association met as per adjournment, when, after
the appointment of various committees, Ac., the Execu
tive Council was appointed, composed of the following
named:
E. A. Holt, Dr. C. Bellinger, E. S.
Young, Miss.; Walker Anderson, Fla.; A.S. Summer,
S. C.; and James M. Chambers, Ga.
The association then fixed on Columbia, S. C., as the
place fop its next meeting in November next.
After tbe usual resolution of thanks, Ac., to the citi
zens of Montgomery for hospitalities and attentions,
the association adjourned tine die.
The results ot tbe Convention, from the comparison
and coucert of opinions and action, are calculated to be
of eminent benefit to the Planting States, and if its
meetings are continued tor a lew years in the same
spirit, it will be likely to produce a complete revolution
iu the course of trade, and in improved Southern Agri
culture. Seuator Toombs’ address on Wednesday was,
in its main features, one of the most lucid and convict
tpg arguments ever produced on the subject—close and
compact as a granite wall, clamped, layer by layer, and
built up, with bolts of steei, impenetrable and fnimava
ble. There were some slight eiTors in statistics, an 4
occasionally a want of fuller explanation in details; but
the main features were as true and irrefragible as the
everlasting hills. The spwb wiU be published Id full
is the ftapn Plant*. ,
i-ST” It has been stated in telgraphic dispatches that
the Government of the United States had received
from the Government of the Sandwitch Islands an
mgent appeal for protection against the designs of
France, and it seemed that the Administration was to
be troubled with anew question in our foreign peliev,
and anew case for the application of the Monroe doc
trine Tbo following article from the Providence Jour
nal is the foundation of the rumor, and no one, we are
assured, after reading it, will have any very serious
apprehension of a rupture between the United States
and Louis Napoleon. The Sandwitch Islands occupy
the same relative position to the United States as the
Island of Cuba. The one controls the entrance to the
Gulf of Mexico, and the other commands our Pacific
sca-coast. In view of the prospective growth of our
commerce upon the Pacific, and of the empire which
we have planted upon its shores, the future destiny of
the Sandwitch Islands is as important to the United
States as that of Cuba With regard to both countries*
the policy of tLe Government is the same, and has
been authoritatively pronounced. It is to maintain the
Island and the Archipelago in their existing relations
and present po.'itiou to foieign powers, and to oppose
at all hazard their transfer to any of the great maritime
{lowers cf Europe, by which it would obtain an undue
influence and importance upon the North American
Continent. The Sandwitch Islands, consistent with
the policy which we have adopted towards Cuba, can
not be transferred to a foreign power, neither cau w#
permit a foreign protectorate to control them. Cuba i*
an important acquisition to us, and its possession, as a
question of selfishness and iuterest, is more important
just now than that of the Sandwitch Islands. But there
are other considerations, independent of the deep in.
terest which we must ultimately have in the Sandwitch
Islands, which would compel the United States Gov
ernment to extend over them its protection against the
designs of any foreign power which sought to over,
throw their nationality. The civilization aud prosperity
and happiness of a large j rojforliou of the Archipelago
is the work of the United States. The philanthropic
efforts of her citizens, and the liberal policy of her
Government, have won these Islands from semi-bar
barism, and given to them the blessings of religion, ce
education, and of got^tament. Since they first at.
tractcd the attention ol litis Government, it has maci.
tested the liveliest interest in their welfare; and the
happiness of the people ol the Island, and their con.
tinned progress in civilization, as well as the interest of
the United States, demand that their nationality should
be preserved. General Taylor, in his first annual tne3.
sage to Congress iu 1849, took occasion to remark upon
this subject, arid to declare that w hilst desiring to pre
serve the independence of the Sandwitch Islands, “in
no event could we be indifferent to their passing under
the dominion of any other power.” The same policy
will, doubtless, govern the present Administration i
and if Louis Napoleon designs to signalize the first
years of his reign by the acquisition of the Sandwitch
Islands, there will be a beautiful casus belli between
this Government and I ranee. Unfortunately, France
will not attempt to acquire the Islands. Her ambitious,
ruler has sufficient employment to assure the existence
of his Government, and if he desired to strengthen it
bv popular enthusiasm in bold aud brilliant military
exploits, would scarcely direct his attention to the
Sandwitch Islands. Their remoteness, their compara
tive want of importance to France, and tbe jealousy of
England and the United States, effectually protect
them from Louis Napoleon : and, w e trust, indefinitely
postpone the time when we shall go to war to preservu
their nationality.
The Sandwich Islands.
APFKAL OF THF. KIXG FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE DE
SIGNS OF FRANCE.
Private letters of recent date from Peru bring very
important intelligence concerning these islands. The
independence of the young kingdom is seriously .hreat
t.ned, and urgent demauds ior assistance have beeu lot
warded to W ashington, asking protection against the
impending danger. The French government have made
demands upon that of Hawaii of an extortionate and to
tally inadmissible character, incompatible with the lib
erties of the nation. Perhaps, with a view of taking
possession of the whole Archipelago, these claims ate
to be supported by a squadron, consisting of two 80
gun ships and four other vessels of war, a fleet lully ca
pable of seizing the islands and subverting the govern
ment, as was done with the Society group a few yean
too. The infamous conduct of France tow ards the de
fenceless Queen l’omare, leads us to expect no be'ter
late lor the unfortunate King Kamehameha 111., unless
the protection now o urgently asked is extended by
our government or bv that of Great Britain. A people
so recently emerged'from barbarism, now struggling
into civilization and laboring to sustain their independ
ence should be supported and protected by all civilized
nations. To the United States, the appeal comes witn
a double foace, for to this country the Hawaian govern
ment owes us existence and its subjects their citiiiza
lion, while the possession of those islands, flanking as
tkev do the coast of California and Oregon, furnishes
the*key to our Pacific seabord. Like Cuba, so long a
ihev remain subject to their present proprietors, their
acquisition cau oniy be attended with danger to our
selves; but like Cuba again, they must never fall into
the hands of any great naval jower which cau control
them to our injury.
The designs of *France upon the Sandwhich Island!
have been pursued insidiously, but steadily, for many
y ears. Their relative importance has rendered it un
politic and impracticable for her to proceed, with the
same open disregard to the principles of justice and the
rules of international law, that stamps with opprobrium
Iter recent acquisitions in the Pacific. The society Is
lands had not the good tortune to be recognised as t
the family of nations, and something of the same
audacity which originated the idea ot “ possession by
right of discovery,’ was all that was ueeded to transfer
that title to its modern synonym—possession by right
of convenience. But the Sandwich Islands have a stron
ger claim than that of unavailing pity upon the sympa
thies of the world. They are an organized aud recog
nized government. The Hawaian kingdom is an ;uteg;
ral member of the political family. Her geegraphicaj
]>osiiion and her internal progress have made tier such,
and she cannot be extinguished without deranging, ia
some degree, the existing relations of States. Hence
the cautious manner which tne measure, now treaten
ittg a speedy consummation, has beeu approached bj
France. For rears have frivolous pretexts been fount,
for presenting exorbitant claims against the govet inner..
of tne islands, ami every concession made with, the hop l
of peace has beeu followed by yet more im-oleut de
mauds. The latest movement is one calculated to pro
duce alarm from various causes. The occupation cl
the islands by France njust be repelled, at whatever
risk, by the United States. The reasons pf this neces
sity are obvious at a glance on the map, and the pre
vailing tone of the French Emperor is not indicative of
of peace. “The nephew of his uncle” can hardly hop J
to retain a throne won by the magic of a name, without
doing something to prove himself, in the estimation of
his new found subjects, worthy of that name. That war
in some direction must shortly succeed upon his corrc
natiou seems to us inevitable; aod two powers, diamt
terically opposed iu every respect except in the degre*
with which they are disliked by the present govert ■
ment of France, apj>ear most likely, one or both, to bs
the chosen objects of the new crusade. Republican
France would rejoice once more to pour across tba
plains of Lombardy, under the banner of a Napoleon,
to re-enact a Lodi,’Mat eugo and Austerlitz, tbe ruin of
the Austrian. Imperial France would gladly make cer*
seif the champion of desjn>tism lor the chance of hue:-
bling the pride of free America. Both elements would
rush blindly to conflict with any power, thoughtless •
principles and reckless of results, under the maddeoug
shout of “ La gloire et la vtctoirt.”
At the recent marriage of the Entperor, the church
Notre Dame was gorgeously decorated in drapery n
green and gold, the colprs of Napoleon I. The rn" l - ¥t r
of decorat ions, upon receiving his orders, is seid to hi’ 6 i
intimated that purple would be the proper color for Bj* j
Imperial Majesty on that occasion. “No ; we will
till we annex a province,” was the pompous but signfj’
eant reply. Possibly the Sandwich Islands may be
tended to furnish the occasion of this imperial displ ß .’’!
and iu truth, there is not a province adjacent to r-’ aD
whose forcible annexation would lie attended vrith*-j j
suits so important to the interests of the whole wor
ks would that of the Hawaian kingdom. The con?- • J |
ination of this scheme in the mode attempted, wou ■
furnish a sufficient casus belli both to Great Britain -- J
the United States. That it is now rapidly assuming i-- *
attitude alarming to the friends of this feeble ■
State, and is made the subject of urgent diplomatic *P“ j
peal, we know from the highest sources. Tb&t I
and decided stand upon this question, assumed I’
government conjointly, it need be, with that of J
ritain, would be the means of preserving the j
peudeoce of the islands, without endangering -.e pc
of tbe world, is not improbable; but should ihe aom “
tic policy of the Imperial Court require a foreign w
an occasion is readily presented in the pending -
tion. If a war with France be the consequence, ie - -
come, but at all hazards the independence ot ‘-
Hawaian kingdom must he maintained. ,
How far the declaration made on the Ist of
by the new French Minister at Honolulu, that x „
entertains no ambitious designs against the island
calculated to allay tbefeais oi the nation, depends b
the position which that functionary may
regard to the claims he is sent to enforce La-v*
point nothing has yet been made public.
The Ericsson Engine, built for the use of
New York Evening Post printing office, it is
been sent to France, to enable Capt. E. to secureA.
tent right for that country. It appears the p ten
laws of France require an inventor to secure a f
to put his invention into operation there within a E ~ j
time; and as Capt. Ericsson has only to the 20tb t
to enable him to do so. he has, he says, been *-*—r •
to ship the engine, built for the Post.
£jP Hon. X. P. Talmadge, formerly U. S- J
from New York, writes to the. National < ri p
letter expressing his firm belief in the s P - p ‘ vs h<
Eings and other similar demonstrations. He * .
as nad frequent communications from J°”° |. o ,'tbai
houn, Daniel Webster, and Henry Clay, ‘ .wj
communications are all characteristic ot the
some of those from Calhoun being, “both to j
sentiment, worthy cf him in hia palmiest day*
S, %nX9.”