Tri-weekly chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 1838-1877, December 12, 1851, Image 1

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TRI-WHIT CHROME & ffllHL --■- - - : ■ WILLIAM s. JONES. I [From the Baltimore Sun.) iual Report of the Secretary of th. Nary, annual report of the Hon. Wm. A. Gra iecretary of the Navy, occupies nearly live ns of the Republic, and gives an interesting t of the condition of the public service un super vision. report commences by noting the move of our several naval squadrons during the compliments Com. Platt, of the Albany, energy he displayed at Havana, during ? invasion of Cuba—refers to the trip of ssissippi to the coast of Turkey, to take d Gen. Kossuth, and her return to the U. -and announces that the Independence, y U. S. vessel in the Mediterranean, has I dered home, being unsuited for winter [ in that sea. African squadron, under Com. Lavalette. n assiduously and successfully engaged, y the English squadron, in suppressing re trade, but as Brazil has abolished the ade among her subjects, it is proposed to Great Britain of our determination to iw our squadron altogether from the Afri st, and increase it on the coast of Brazil, the Home Squadron to guard the use of ; for the slave trade with the Spanish West Such an arrangement, it is believed, more cortainly conduce to the suppression slave trade, and at the same time promote Ith of the officersand crews of our vessels. xnc Bainbridge, of the Brazil squadron, has been ordered to relieve the Perry on the African Coas*-, the latter being ordered home. The Brazil squadron is under the command of I Commodore McKeever, and its efficiency is duly | commended, as are also the Mediterranean squad ron, Corn. Morgan; the Home squadron, Com. Parker; Pacific Auadron, Com. McCauley; and the East India sAqrdron, Com. Aulick, who is on ins way out in the Susquehanna. The Marion will be relieved on the arrival out of the Susque hanna and Plymouth, and return home by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, bringing, it is expected, valuable varieties of the seed or root of the sugar cane, and also of the teaplant, collected under the orders of the Department for distribu tion in the sections of our country adapted to their cultivation. In all quarters of the globe our vessels have jbeen cordially received, and the officers well treated. The interests of commerce, internation al peace and friendship are, it is believed, prompt ed by the visits of our armed vessels, and the dis play of our flag on foreign shores. It is recommended that the officers and men of the late Grinnell expedition be allowed the same pay and emoluments that were granted to those in like positions in the late exploring expedition to the South Seas. Mr. Grinnell has offered his vessels again, should Congress see fit to authorise a second expedition in search of Sir John Frank lin. The brig Dolphin, Lieut. Lee, has been des patched to test new routes on the ocean, pointed out by the superintendent of the observatory, and favorable results are anticipated. During the year, ninety officers have been enfiployied on the ‘coast survey, the supervision of which it is re commended should be referred to the Navy De partment. The coast of the large stone dock at Brooklyn, has been $2,146,255 36. It was so far complet ed in August as to be delivered to the comman dant of the yard. The floating sectional dock S basin and railway at Philadelphia, is reported } ready for delivery, and the one at Porsmouth, N. ! H.. nearly ready. The balance dock, at Pensa- I cola, will not be ready before the ensuing sum [ mer. The floating sectional dock on San Fran- I cisco Bay has been contracted for at $610,000, j and will be competed in two years from May | last. Its location cannot be determined until the I site for a navy yard is selected. The dock, it is suggested, when not in use for the repair of naval | vessels, may be used by merchant vessels. Ade -1 quate appropriations are urged for the San Fran cisco navy yard. 1 Messrs Wells & Gowan, ofßoston, have con j tracted to remove the wreck of the steamer Mis [ souri from the Bay of Gibraltar, for the sum of i $59,000, and are now performing the duty, with no doubt of success. The report next discusses the propriety of the gradual increase of our navy, and the necessity of availing ourselves of all the improvements and discoveries of the age in gunnery, ordnance, na val architecture, and all the appliances of steam. As an instance of the improvement of the age, it is stated that the boilers of the Mississippi, planned fifteen years ago, can now be reduced nearly one half in their dimensions and weight, and at the same time made to double the present power of the vessel with about the same quanti ty of fuel now required. It is recommended that authority be given to build, every year, two new vessels, one sail and the other steam, upon such models as shall be ap proved; and as old vessels may be found unservi ceable, from fault of model or other cause, they i may be sold or broken up. The recommendation of the Chief of the Bu reau of Yards and Docks, that machinery be erected, in one or more of the navy yards of the country, for the building of steam engines, and construction of war steamers complete, is recom mended to the attention of Congress. A class of small vessels is much wanted to give employment in command to senior lieuten ants, many of whom are kept in long and te dious inaction before their promotion to com manders, and would be highly useful to cruisers, especially topelled by steam, by reason of their ability to'penetrate into harbors and rivers inaccesible to ships of larger class. The previous recommendation to reduce the number of officers in the grades of captain, com mander and lieutenant of the navy, is renewed, at the same time that the number of masters be increased to fifty, and the grade of second lieu tenant established. It is also urged again that the ranks of commodore and two rear admirals be legalized, to be conferred on surviving veterans who, more than a third of a century ago, illustrat ed our arms in conflicts on the ocean. It would he a stimulant to others to emulate their exam ples. The establishment of a retired list is once more pressed upon the attention of Congress, as are also the disputed questions of rank between the sea officers and civil officers of the navy, and be tween the several grades of officers of the army and navy. The laws for the government of the navy, passed more than fifty years ago, have been re vised by a board of officers, and will be submit ted for the action of Congress. The great defect in the old laws is the failure to provide any pun ishment as a substitute for corporal chastise ment, which has lately been abolished, to the detriment of the service. A remedy must be provided, or the consequences will become serious. (Nearly one hundred trials of enlisted men, by ■courts martial, have taken place since the passage |of the law in question. This law cannot be ef fectually tried until Congress shall prescribe some substitute. Whether this shall be by the adop tion of the system recommended by the board of officers above referred to, proviiing that courts martial may be ordered by each officer in com mand of a ship, and summarily held to determine guilt, and then graduating punishments as there in stated, as well as holding out rewards, or by some other and more approved method, is refer red to the determination of Congress. The buildings at the Annapolis Naval School are in progress of erection, and the sloop-of-war Treble has been attached to the academy sa practice ship for instruction in practical seaman ship. An important change has been made in the plan of education, so as to require a continued course of study of four years at the academy, without going to sea, except that the vacation of three months in each year is spent in a cruise in the practice ship, the former course requiring two years at the academy, three at sea, and then two more at the academy. A class of fifty acting midshipmen was admitted in October last, and will constitute the first class to which this new system will apply. It is now believed that for all the purposes of nayaledueaUon, the academy affords advantage equal to those for military education at WjiSt Point; and under the efficient command of th« present (Superintendent, Com- Stribling, it is hoped that these advanta- The expediency of appointing ten midship men, to be is again urged. The Naval Observatory and Hydrographical Office have been nractfte operation during the year. A second volume of Astronomical Obser vations has been published. The wind and cur rent charts planned by Lieutenant Maury, the Superintendent of the Observatory, are being extended to the Pacific and Indian oceans. This work has materially shortened the passage along the highways by which our commerce passes in to and through the southern hemisphere, bring ing the ports of those distant parts of the world— some ten days, and some several weeks nearer to us than before. A letter from the Superinten dent of the Observatory states the important fact that vessels sailing from the Atlantic to the Pacific ports of the United States, with the in structions afforded by these charts, make the voyage in forty days less, upon the average, than those sailing without them; and that there is rea son to hope the time may be still further re duced. The reports of St. Gillis, the Nautical Almanac ofLt. Davis, and the experiments of Professor* Page and Espy, are referred to, as well as the success and condition of our numerous mail steamers. The sum required for the support of the Navy and Marine corps for the year ending June 30, 1853. is estimated at $8,540,693 08, of which $2,684,220 89 is for special objects. The sum estimated for the Navy and Marine corps last year was $5,900,621, and for special objects $2,- 210,980. There is an excess, therefore, in the present estimates of $473,240 89, which is occa sioned by the addition of pay for increased ser vice to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, di rected by the act of the last session of Congress, the completion of the dry dock in California, and some additions underithe head of improvements in navy yards, buildings and machinery. The total expenditures of the Department, during the year, have been $9,044,597 11, of which $3,158, Sl7 91 was for special objects. The establishment of a Bakery in New York, for the use of the Navy, is recommended, as is also the repeal of the law prohibiting commuta tion in money for stopped rations. The recommendation of the Chief of the Bu reau of Medicine and Surgery lor the investment in productive stocks of the navy hospital fund, and foe retiring from the list of effective surgeons all the officers of that corps who are permanent ly unfitted for duty, and supplying their places by new appointments, a provision required in every grade of the service, are commended to early action, and an appropriation asked to re build barracks at the various stations Tor the Marine corps. SF*"**^ The Secretary closes his report, by recom mending the establishment of an ad litional Bu reau, to be termed the Bureau of Orders and Discipline, to which shall be assigned the com munication of orders and instructions touching naval service and the receipt and preservation or distributon of returns and reports pertaining to the same, in anology to the duties required of the Adjutant General’s Office in the Department of War. Mr. Thrasher’s Last Address to his Countrymen. In a Dungeon of the Punta Castle, ) Havana, Nov. 21 tt, 1851. ) To the Government of the United. States of Amer ica, and to my Fellow Countrynmi: An Ameri can citizen, deprived of liberty and denied jus tice, respectfully begs leave to lay before you the following facts and appeal. Upon leaving the Steamer Georgia, on the 16th of October last, I was suddenly, and without previous accusation, arrested, atnl taken to the office of the police. On searching my person, and that of a gentleman who accompanied me, no papers or letters of any kind were found upon either of us. We were then taken to the hotel, where I boarded, acommpanied by the Chief of Police, who de manded to be shown my room. On ascertaining that I had no room there, we were taken to my residence, and all my papers seized. The gen tleman who accompanied me, was then put at liberty. Myself and all my books and papers were taken to the residence of one of the police commissaries, where four days were occupied by two government interpreters in reading my letters. On the 21st October, I was thrown into a dungeon of the city prison, and all communi cation of my friends strictly prohibited. On the 25th, I was removed to my presen dungeon, and the Fiscal of the Military Tribune made his appearance and began a judicial exam ination. On the 26th this was continued, and then I saw no one until the 4th instant, when the questioning was proceeded with; and on.the 6th, I was again questioned,and finally informed that I was accused of treason. At the same time I was required to select one iiom a list of officers that was presented to me, who should conduct my detence. Not knowing any of them, 1 chose one at random, supposing he would con sult with me and my legal advisers, as is usual in such cases, in regard to my defence. On the 7th instant, I was, for the first time, allow ed to see my friends, and to consult with them as to the best course to pursue. I conferred with our Consul, and he passed several communications in my behalf to the government here, all of which have been utterly disregarded, and net replied to. On the 11th, I was informed that I was to be brought up the next day lor sentence. I immediately wrote to my nominal defender to come at once to consult with me, and to bring with him the proceedings which were in writ ing. He replied, verbablly, that he would come in the afternoon. He did not come, and I enter ed at once a protest against the proceedings al leging that I had not been heard, and that neith er myself nor my legal advisers had been con sumed for a proper defence. I sent this to the President of the Military Commission that night who refused to receive it, saying that it couid only be admitted by the Coptain General. The American Consul, Mr. Owen, as soon as informed of this, proceeded to the place and pro tested against sentence being pronounced,as I had not been heard in defence, lu the morning, my nominal defender came to my prison to inlorm me that he had been allowed by the court only twenty-tour hours to prepare my defence; that he had been occupied till that moment examin ing the proceedings, which were voluminous, and that within an hour he must return them to the Fiscal. On the 12th, I was taken before a court martial, composed of a brigadier general and six officers of the army. The testimony and proceedings were read before 1 was brought into court, which was contrary to law and to custom; and when brought in I was asked what I had to say to the charges against me! I replied that I had not been furnished with a copy of the char ges—that I had been denied access to the pro- AUGUSTA, GA-, FRIDAY MORNING DECEMBER 12, 1851. ceedings and testimony—that my nominal de fender had neither consulted with me nor- with my counsel—and that I now asked that my prefe test and petition for stay of proceedings should be admitted. I was told by the President of tha ! court that it should be considered. I was reman ded to my dungeon, and heard nothing more of the proceedings until to-day, when I have been formally notified that I have been sentenced to eight years labor, in chains, at Ceuta, in Africa with payment of costs. It is unnecessary forme to enlarge upon the impropriety of bringing me before a court mar tial in a time of profound peace; on the injustice of sentencing me without a hearing; on the utter contempt of international law, civil rights, and treaty stipulations, in my trial, or upon the wil ful disregard, in the manner of proceeding, of the constitution and rules of the very court which has assumed a jurisdiction over me without right, has tried me without a crime, and sentenced me without defence. The government that has the power and the wiil to commit these acts, is be yond the reach of reason, and my only resource is, to appeal to the physical power of our own government for that protection which its moral power has not been able to extend over me, and to ask trom my fellow countrymen such coun tenance as will encourage the executive in the manifestation of firmness, and carry some ap preciation of national rights and national duties to the hearts of the unscrupulous rulers of Cuba. I solemnly affirm that I have never had any connection with the parties who invaded this island, and that the only grounds for hatred to me, on the part of the government and Spanish portion ofthe population here, are, that I am an an American; that I refused to abjure my nation ality one year since, when required by this gov ernment to do so, or to abandon the business I was then engaged in; that I succored, so far as I was able, those of my unfortunate countrymen who were captives here; and that, in the court, I had the independent spirit (they call it audaci ty) to rely upon my innocence and my rights as an American citizen. Having been denied jus tice, I now ask at the hands of the American Government, and the American people, that liberty of which lam so iniquitously deprived. All the horrors of the Spanish galleys are before me, and my only hopes are in the sympathies of my countrymeq, and the prompt action of our nation! goveriqpaent. J. S. Thrasher. [ Telegraphed for the Baltinwre Sun.] Further per Steamer Pacific. Nf.w York, Dec. 7. The steamer Pacific arrived at 10 o’clock to night, with 60 passengers, a fair freight, and three days later from Europe. On December 3d, at 1 P. M., in lat. 48 50, lon. 41 46, she exchang ed signals with the steamer Cambria, bound east. Among the passengers of the Pacific is the Hon. Wm. C. Rives, Minister to France. Markets.— -American descriptions of cotton have advanced id. Sales of the three days, 24,000 bales, of which speculators and exporters took 5,000 bales. The London money market was easy; consols closed at 97f for money, and 98 Jon account; rail way shares were lower. England. —The steamer Pioneer sailed for N . York on Saturday. A serious collision had occurred on the North western Railway, by which many persons were injured. The cotton factory of Messrs. Dujaid, McPhail & Co., at Greenhead, was destroyed by fire on the 25th. It employed 300 hands. Loss $20,000. The Sunderland Bank had suspended payment. France. —lntelligence from Paris announces that M. Casabianca had been appointed Minis ter of Commerce. Numerous arrests continued to be made. The Minister ofthe interior has declined be ing a candidate for the department of the Senate. The Bourse was unsettled, at a decline. Owing to the probability of further differen ces between the President and the Assembly, an article in the Constitutionelle, charging the heads of the party of order with a conspiracy against the President, had caused a great sensation. The Minister of the Interior had denied the existence of such a conspiracy. A bill had been proposed in the assembly for regulating the responsibility of the President and his Ministers. It is stated that there is a pros pect of Louis Najioleon again presenting the electoral bill recently defeated in the Assembly. Hanover. —A new Ministry, under the Presi dency of the Schaale, had been formed, which will pursue an entirely new course of policy. The new King had issued a proclamation pledg ing himself to the most sacred observance of the Constitution ot the country. Austria. —The state of Hungary was most unsatisfatory, and the Government organs admit that it is much agitated. The system of expul sion was still carried on on a grand scale. Italy. —The Neapolitan Government intends increasing the export duties on sulphur and oil. Turkey. —Constantinople accounts announce another ministerial crisis as at an end, and that Ali Pasha had been induced to resume his duties as foreign minister. Spain. —News from this country is unimpor tant. Two vessels had arrived at Cadiz with an other portion of the Lopez expedition on board. Prussia. —The renewal of the Commercial treaty between Prussia and Belgium had failed. The Prince of Prussia was to leave Berlin on the 23d, to take command of the army on the Rhine. Latest Intelligence, [by electric telegraph.] Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 26. —After post-hour on Wednesday, the Minister of the Interior said, in his reply to Mr. Creton, in an article of the Constitutionelle, “I will reply categorically.— Had we obtained proof ofthe existence of such a conspiracy, you may be well assured that who ever were the men who participated in it, how ever high their rank, we would not have hesita ted to perform our duty.” The Assembly then adjourned. London , Nov. 26.—Letters from Liverpool state the suspension of two firms connected with American trading—Vice, Pride & Jones, and Hamden & Co. The liabilities of the firms are not mentioned, but are supposed to be large. Those of the latter are supposed to amount to about £60,000 0r£90.000. Paris, Nov. 25. —Bourse srs5 r s closed at 91; 3’s 56 10; Exchange between England and America nominally 6 a 7, leaving a small profit on the importation of gold for the United States. Liverpool, Nov. 26. —The cotton market is ad vancing, and is *d higher since Friday. The Manchester market is active, with small stocks. Prices are higher. England. —The steamer City of Glasgow, from Philadelphia, arrived at Liverpool on the 23d, in 17 days. The Europa made the passage out from Bos ton in 10 days and 3 hours. (From the N- O. Picayune, sth ins/.) Later from California, the Isthmus, and Havana. The steamship Philadelphia, Capt. W. H. Brown, arrived here last night from Chagres and Havana, with the California mails up to the Ist of November. This is, however, only three days later than papers received from San Francisco by the steamship Alabama a few days ago. She brings 435 passengers, and about $50,000 in gold dust on freight, besides a considerable amount in the hands of passengers. Affairs upon the Isthmus remain in a quiet state. There is, however, a deep feeling exist ing, which a slight occasion would provoke into another collision between the whites and the foreign black population. S»Tne accounts of the late affray at Chagres, published in the papers throughout the United States, are greatly exaggerated, ami but little re liance can be placed upon them. We have only space this morning for a brief summary of the news. The Southern Conven tion for the division ol the State of California, which met at Santa Barbara on the 20th of Octo ber, did not effect anything. Only a few coun ties were represented, and these were not by any means harmonious. They adopted a set of reso lutions declaring their grievances, but disagreed about the boundary of the proposed territory, and adjourned without taking any action. The news from the mines is very favorable.— Gold is still found in great abundance. The San Francisco Morning Post ofthe Ist inst. says that no serious disturbance exists among the Indians on the frontier. The discovery of gold on Queen Charlotte’s Island, off the coast of British Oregon, in latitude 53, in considerable quantities, is announced in the late news irom Oregon, in a shape we see no reason to ques ion. The Post sppaks of an expedition to the Sand wich Islands, which had excited much specula tion in San Francisco. It appears that two or three vessels bad left with a considerable num ber of passengers. The steamship Tennessee arrived at Panama from San Francisco on the 16th ult., with $2,- 500,000 in gold. The contract for conveying the U. S. mails across Ihe Isthmus was sold at Panama on the 13th ult. It was awarded to a Mr. Parades, who made the lowest bid—sll 75 per hundred pounds. We did not receive our papers or letters from Havana last night, but learn from passengers, who arrived in the Philadelphia, that Mr. Thrasher was to be sent to Spain in a day or two after they left. They speak of a silly rumor which created considerable excitement in Ha vana. m lt was to the effect that 2,000 Ameri cans were ready to embark at Key West to in vade the Island. AUGUSTA, GA. THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 11, “It seems to be our misfortune, that Provi dence has been too bountiful; we make too much. Our climate is genial, our soil prolific, and not diversifying our labor as we should, cot ton being the planter’s main object, the produc tion is greatly augmented, by which the mar* kets are glutted and the price thereby depressed, while the comforts and substantial of life are neglected. By pursuing this ruinous policy, the country is in great destitution. Many of the wealthy planters of Alabama, have not a mid dling of bacon on their plantations of their own raising, and some have been forced to sell their cotton at six and a quarter cents, to pay for ba con at iifteen’cents, and corn at one dollar per bushel. And this state of things exists in as good a corn country as can be found in the U. States, for much of our slough land in Alabama will produce from forty to fifty bushels per acre, and stock can be raised as successfully as any where else. The smallest change in our system of agriculture, would bring about the happiest results and make us independent. Suppose, Mr. President, the Southern planters would reso.-re to live at homo; or in other words, to make their own supplies, to raise their meat, their mules, their horses, and manufacture, to soqae extent, their own clothing. What would be the result ? To do this, the cotton crop would necessarily be curtailed one-third, which would bring it under two millions of bales, and ensure a remunerating price to the grower, and prevent those ruinous fluctuations, when the cry of a three million crop is set on foot, as at the present time. If the planters, instead of appropriating two*thirds of their best land to .cotton, would adopt a more rational and ju dicious policy, and plant two-thirds of their land in grain, they soon would find their situation greatly ameliorated. Their cribs would be full; they would soon have fat stock in abundance ; and instead of being buyers, they would be sel lers. The correctness of this system is fully demonstrated by my own experience, and I can assure my planting brothers, it is lhe true policy, and none will fail who adopt it.” The above exttract from a speech delivered by Dr. N. B. Powell, of Alabama, in the late Cot ton Planters Convention, held at Macon, con tains more common sense, practical suggestions, than any thing we have seen from that body of intelligent men. The Dr., we should judge, was a very practical and successful planter, if he car ries into practice what he so well preaches* One of the greatest errors of southern planters is the cultivation, or attempted cultivation of too much land. The consequence of which is the continued and rapid impoverishment of the soil. Few seem to estimate themselves richer by en riching their lands. Another very great errorl and one which contributes greatly to their embarrassment in monetary affairs, and to retard their success in the accumulation of wealth and the securing to themselves and families of great er domestic comforts, is the application of all their powers and energies te the production of a single great staple, neglecting quite too much the culture of corn, and other grain crops, stock, fruits, &c. To be eminently successful, their labor should be diversified. This would afford a much greater opportunity for the improvement of the soil by a judicious system of culture and the application of fertilizers—it would be the means of adding greatly to their domestic com forts, by supplying on their own farms most of the necessaries of life, and certainly secure the production of smaller crops ol Cotton, which would as certainly enhance the value of that great staple. Every intelligent man knows that a small crop, say two millons of bales, yields more money than three millions. What folly then, to bend all our energies to make three millions of bales, and neglect the production of corn, grain, stock, &c.—thus rendering ourselves dependant upon others for a supply of the absolute necessaries of life. Is it not plain to every intelligent mind that it is better, if wealth or comfort either be the object ofthe planter’s ambition, to make all the provisions necessary for our support, and thus get a higher price for our cotton ? Will not such a policy add annually more to our aggregate wealth, and supply a gieater amount of domestic comfort ? Ol this, we think there can be no doubt. Yet if there be any who doubt its truth, we ask him to look around and observe the pro gress of those planters who adopt this policy, and compare their success, and the comforts of their household, with those who neglect the produc ion of provisions and make cotton the great ob ject. Every neighborhood has some such man and the comparison is easy—and let it be fairly and honestly made for a series of years. Again, is it sound policy, or a wise political economy, for the southern people to send off their raw material, and pay to Europeans and New Englanders, an amount greater than the original cost of the raw r material for converting it into yarn and cloth ? Why not appropriate our surplus capital to the erection of machinery for converting it into these fabrics? We have the labor—thousands of the poor would rejoice to obtain labor at prices that would so well re munerate them, and we can certainly as well afibrd to manufacture our own staple, as New England and Europe can, after incuring all the expense of transportation. Besides, as consum ers, to that extent, we actually pay the expense of transporting twice across the Atlantic, and manufacturing our own raw material. So that we not only lose the profits ofthe manufacture, if not done at home, but to the extent that we con sume, we pay for the manufacture and transpor tation with the profit added. This cannot be a sound policy for intelligent men to pursue. Nor is this all, by manufacturing our own cotton, we withdraw no inconsiderable labor from its pro duction, and convert them into consumers of our surplus breadstuffs and provisions, for which they are made abundantly able to because they can sell their labor at fair and re munerating prices. This, itself, is a very impor tant consideration, to say nothing of the facili ties such a system would afford for the education of the poor, by bringing them together in villa ges and manufacturing towns. If every neighborhood would erect its factory from its surplus capital, and only spin whatever amount it could of the cotton cultivated in it the effect would be seen and felt from one ex tent of the cotton growing region to the other. Instead of sending abroad to the markets of the world, cotton in its raw state, we should en hance its value by the very simple and easy process of spinning, and thus pocket the profit, both of production and manufacture. Why not do it 1 The answer •is easy, our people, with few exceptions, are constantly applying all their surplus to the purchase of more negroes and land to make more cotton —and in their efforts to scratch over the greatest amount of land, the soil is daily and annually impoverished. Let us then strike at the root, and correct the evil. Q 3?“ A private despatch, from Savannah dated Dec. 10, 8.30, P. M., says: “ Sales to-day reach 2,400 bale 9. No advance.” Oregon papers contain further accounts of the discovery of gold, in large quantities, in Queen Charlotte’s Island. The gold is found on the surface of the ground near the beach, and is dug by the natives in great quantities, without any thing like a pick or shovel; having nothing but such tools as they can make themselves, they manage to get from two to eight ounces per day to one hand. They are friendly to the whites, and are anxious to have them come and trade and dig with them. Queen Charlotte’s Island is in the North Pacific Ocean, and can be reached in about seven days’ sail from Oregon city. The prizes of the Lottery of gold ingots were drawn in Paris on the 16th ult., in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. A journey man hair dresser obtained the prize of 200,000 francs, and an engine driver on a rail way the first prize of 400,000 francs. Four persons were killed, and some twenty or thirty more or less injured, on the night of the 4th inst., in consequence ot a collision hav ing taken place on the Hudson River Railroad, near Pe?kskill between two passenger trains.— Several of the cars were much damaged. Another General gone. —We learn from N. Orleans Delta, that Gen. Belknap recently died on the Brazos in Texas. This is the tenth Gene ral who has died since the Mexican war. Gen. Belknap was in the principal battles, under Gen. Taylor, ip the Mexican war. At the battle of Buena Vista he was Adjutant-General, and com manded the advance. The Bank of the State of North Carolina ha s declared a Semi-annual Dividend of Five per cent —making an Annual Dividend of Ten and a quarter per certs, that this institution has declared for the year 1851. OCP” At the election for Directors of the Au gusta Insurance & Banking Company, on Mon day last, the following gentlemen were elected, viz : Wm. M. D’Antignac, Hays Bowdre, Lewis Cress, Lambeth Hopkins, James Hope. At a subsequent meeting of the Board, Wm. M. D’An tignac was re-elected F resident. For the Chronicle and Sentinel. Mr. Editor :—ln a late issue of your paper, I saw an announcement to this effect, “Mr. Gibbs, the great Almanac maker, says there will be six Eclipses next year, three of the Sun, and three of the Moon.” Now, Mr. Gibbs must be a great Ass in that particular branch of Almanac Making, if he does not know that there can be but two Eclipse of the Moon in a year. Senex. Who has been cheated. —We wish our friends throughout the State to remember that Mr. Toombs did not vote for the Democratic candidate for Speaker or Clerk of Congress, as it was promised he would do, when he was elec ted Senator. We wish them also to notice the important fact, that neither of the Union men from this State voted for the National Democra tic candidate for Speaker, whilst Mr. Jackson and Mr. Bailey the two Southern Rights Demo crats did vote for him. .It can now be seen very plainly which is the real Democratic party in the State, and which acts with the National Demo cracy.—Federal Union , 9th inst. Arrival of the Florida. —This splendid steamer arrived at her wharf yesterday morning at an early hour, In sixty-six hours from New York. She brought one hundred and one cabin and eighty-three steerage passengers, and a full freight. On the 7th inst., 10 P. M.. off Hatter as exchanged signals with steamship Marion, Capt. Berry, from Charleston, for New York.— On the Bth inst., at 1 $ o’clock, 30 miles South west of Hatteras, exchanged signal with the steamship Alabama, Capt. Ludlow, hence forN. York.— Sav. Republican , 9th inst. VOL. XV—NO. 145 (Correspondence for the Baltimore Sun.) Thirty-Second Oongress—First Session. Saturday, Dec. 6, 1851. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. After the reading of the Journals, several members attended, and were sworn in by the Speaker. The Treasurer’s accounts were laid before the House, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Evans, of Maryland, called the attention of the House, to the report of the Coast Survey, and moved that it be laid on the t-ible and prin ted, to the extent of 10,000 copies—one-half for the use of the Coast Survey, and the other for that of the Bureau. The present document, he said, is one of unusual.importance, and ap plications . would be made for it by com mercial men from all parts of the globe. The coast survey had never been able to fulfil the orders that had been hitherto received. He went on to show the increased importance of the present document, by which upwards of two thousand new geographical positions of the high est importance to commerce and navigation, had been determined. It was highly desirable, there fore, that it should be extensively circulated among commercial men everywhere. He con cluded by again adverting to the valuable details of the report, which it was usual to move should be printed. Mr. Bayly. ofVirginia, admitted that the im portance of the report could not be over-rated, but the demand, he said, could not be met by the department or the coast survey; but must be sup plied by the chart makers. Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, contended that the report ought; to be referred to the Committee on Printing; and this being the opinion of the Speak er, Mr. Evans agreed that his motion should lie over for that purpose, having in view the num ber of copies and the disposal of them, as he had proposed. The report was therefore laid on the table, there being no objection, to its being referred to the committee on printing when it shall be ap pointed. Mr. Stevens, of Pa., moved that the House ad journ till Tuesday, which was carried by a vote of 113 in the affirmative, and the House stands adjourned accordingly. There was no meeting of the Senate to-day. (Telegraphed for the Charleston Courier. Baltimore, Dec. 9,7.16 P. M. In the New-York market to-day, Cotton was firm, and the sales were light^ Kossuth openly expresses his dissatisfaction at the course of Congress towards him, and talks of returning to Europe. In the U. S. Senate, to-day, Mr. Foote de clared his intention of returning to the Senate a year hence. He closed his speech on the com promise, and was replied to by Judge Butler, of South Carolina, who emphatically protested against the introduction of any resolution calcu lated to widen breaches, or open fresh fountains of agitation, and denounced most earnestly the compromise measures. Mr. Foote rejoined with great asperity, and expressed his joy at the tri umph of the measures. In the House, the Speaker appointed Mr. Houston, of Alabama, Chairman of the Commit tee of Ways and Means, and Mr. Armistead Burt, of South Carolina, Chairman of the Com mittee on Military Affairs. Columbia, Dec. 5, 6.35 P. M. Legislative Proceedings. The Bill Assembling the Convention, passed its third reading in the House to-day, by a vote of 67 to 35. Mr. Hunt’s Bill, to extend the charter of the Bank of the State, has been laid on the table by a majority of 13. The Charleston Delegation have recommend ed Messrs G. W. Egleston, Thos. O. Elliott, H. W. Schroecker, L. F. Robertson, J. A. Gyles, C. H. Uhett, George W. Cooper, and Charles H. Ax:;on, as Magistiates, for Charleston District for the ensuing year. An Error Corrected.— -Before the meeting of the Legislature, from all the information we could then obtain, we believed there was a majority of de mocrats elected. But since the meeting of that body, from tho information obtained of the members them selves, and from every other quarter, wo are con vinced that thero is a majority of Whigs in both Houses.— Fed. Union, 9th inst. Municipal Election. —On Saturday last,Dr. George D. Case was elected Mayor of this City, and the following gentlemen were elected Al dermen: Messrs. W. A. Harris, W. T. Wright, C. C. Carr, N. Hawkins, M. D. McComb and Peter Fair.— lb. Washington, Dec. 7. A dispatch from Jackson, Miss., announces that Harris, secession whig, has been appointed U. S. Senator. The Legislature meets in about three weeks to elect a Senator for the full term, and one for the unexpired term of Hon, Jefferson Davis. Sine Die.— ln a neighboring county, the Demo crats had for twenty years been in the habit of hold ing their county nominations at the house of a staunch old Democrat, Mr. G . Ho happened, on a recent occasion, for the first time, to be in when they had finished their busi ness, and heard a little delegate from B more that “ this convention do now adjourn situ die." “ Sine die,” said Mr. G ,to a person standing v- ar him, “ Where’s that?” '' Why, that’s way up in the northern part of the county,” said his neighbor. “ Hold on, if you ploase, Mr. Cheerman ,” said G , with groat earnestness and emphasis, “hold on, sir. I’d like to bo heard on that question. I have kept a public house now for more’n twenty years. I’m a poor man. I’ve always been a Demo crat, and never split my ticket in my life. This is the most central location in tho county, and its where wo’ve alters held our eauousses. I’ve neTer had or asked an office, and have worked night and day for tho party, and now I think, sir, it’s mean, it s contemptible to go to adjourning this conven tion way up to situ die.—Spirit of the Titties. MARRIED, On Tuesday, the 2d inst., by the Rev. W. P. Steed Mr. Reuben T. Blanchard, of Warren county, hni Miss Francis Watson, daughter of the Hon. laa. Wat son, of Columbia county. * DIED. In Greensboro, on the 30th ultimo, at the residence of lion. Win. O. Dawson, Mrs. Sidney Winoeield, wife of the late Djr. Thomas Wingfield, in the 74th yaar of her age. „ WINES AND LIQUORS. Q £v ÜBLS. Rosa und Anchor Gin, & 20 do. Luther Felton’s Rum. 20 do. Eagle Monongahola Whisky, 25 Quarter and Eigth Casks’ Wine. „ 5 Pipes Fine French Brandy. 1 Puncheon Irish Whisky. Fine Holland Gin and Jamaica Rum, for sale by n3O-wtf cas ESTES A RICHMOND. GREEN HOUSE PLANTS— PLOWERsT&C BESSMAN begs leave to an nounce to his frionds and the public, 5 that ho has at his Garden, on Green Street a most splendid collection of ’ GREEN HOUSE PLANTS * ROSES, FLOWERS, and _ . . SHADE TREES, Comprising several of the most choice and snterb articles over offered in this market, to which ho invites the attention of all admirers of the chaste and beautiful in nature. OS'” Orders from the country promptly filled, «a the most accommodating terms, d7 cig