American Democrat. (Macon, Ga.) 1843-1844, June 07, 1843, Image 2
The (iror:i:i Journal, 30th ultimo,
After speaking’ liberally of ihc Dcmocraiic Frcsa,
our own humble la’xrrs included, proceed* in the
fu'knrinjr strain of j;:ticion? rema k, «nd genernm
nml manly •euliincnt, *•> . < v£,-;.;al to our own foel
in«r», wc shall at ai ail , jo iappy iu reciproca
ting it.
11l this State, the democratic press are
generally out ip favor of .Mr. Calhoun.
And, within a week or two past, anew
ally in the shape of the “ American Dem
ocrathas been added to the list of his
supporters. This press is edited by Dr.
Green, and published in Macon, by W.
A. <fc C. r rhompson. In its late number,
\ve find the following high toned senti
ments, which we extract for the benefit of
all interested, or who expect to take part
m the ensuing presidential contest.
Mn.pAi.noux andMr. Clay. With
these distinguished statemen as the lead
ers of the two great political parties of the
country in the next Presidential contest,
the friends of each, and the country at
large, will gain much in the elevation
of the tone of public opinion the max
ims of the nation—- the science of poli
tics itself, will be liberated and enlarged
with these men. The contest will indeed
Ire a noble one. The great questions be
fore the people of the country will be
principles frankly and openly avowed by
the champion of each party. Such a
contest will be a rational one. Such as
we desire.
In Mr. Clay the Whigs will have a
great leader, and our party a bold and
dashing enemy to contend with. Let us
meet them with a fearless and gallant
captain, one on whom we can depend,
one every way worthy of our cause and
country. Such a leader is Mr. Calhoun ;
he is the man of all others host calculated
to inspire with new life, the Republican
party of the country and to invigorate
with manly resolution and energy, all its
members —in the event that he is the
chosen standard bearer of the party, to
say that the democracy of the country
would not rush-nobly and gallantly to
the fray, were to reflect on their spirit, it
were to charge them with a coldness
which they cannot feel —a tameness that
would not resist wrong. But we have no
such fears; the Democracy arc true as
steel, and with “Old Table Hock,” fora
leader, the of Austerlitz will shine
on every field.” Am. Democrat.
Now, these arc noble sentiments, and
how different they are too, from ordinary
editorials of violent party presses. If wc
have to contend against an enemy, let ns
not attempt to detract from his merits,
but rather let us do justice to them. In
Mr. Calhoun, wc recognise an individ
al, of whom the whole Union should
should he proud, and particularly the
Southern portion of it. No man has
done more to elevate Southern character,
than John O'. Calhoun. No man has
done more to give reputation to the char
acter of American Statesmen than he.
Clay, Webster, Calhoun, form a class of
statesmen among themselves. No other
individual of this day, can rank with this
trio of American Statesmen. The West,
and the East, and the South, have each
to boast t of their favorite, and to the whole
Union, they are common property. We
like, then, when wo sec a political oppo
nent, doing justice to his adversary. It
is rare that this is done now-a-days.
Hut \vc feel satisfied that the press
■which pursues such a course, cannot fail
to exercise more influence, than those
who pursue the contrary one. lie who
sees no merit in an opponent, when that
opponent is such a man as Clay, Web
ster, or Call loun, had better- retire from
the Chair Editorial, for there, his light
is all darkness. No ray darts from his
pen, but what will be intercepted by a
cloud, ere it reaches the object it was de
signed to illuminate. Prejudice it is said,
results from ignorance; but if political
bitterness, such as we have been speak
ing of, springs not from the same source,
it certainly cannot claim a more enviable
origin.
Siiould wc then have to battle against
Mr. Calhoun for the Presidency, we shall
do that gentleman ample justice. We
cannot wage that warfare against him,
tiiat we are compelled to wage against
Martin Van Huron. The character of the
two, is essentially different. The one, in
politics, is emphatically the Fox the
other, the Lion. The one practised in
deception —the other, mistaken some
times, but always honorable. The one
is like the Frenchman’s flea place your
iinger upon him, and when you raise it,
“he is not there” the other, takes a po
sition, contends for it manfully trium
phantly, very often —and ho who mea
sures lances with him, in Senatorial de
flate, can best say whether, in argument,
lie mot not an adversary of “iron mind:'
Mr. Van Buren belongs to a different
class of politicians altogether, to that in
which Mr. Calhoun may be ranged. In
fact, Mr. Van Buren’s political life par
takes more of the character of an Eng
lish or French politician, than that of an
American Statesman. Skilled in intrigue,
he has exercised an influence, and attain
ed public distinctions, which more honest,
and abler men, should long ago have en
joyed. And even now, notwithstanding
the ability and popularity of Mr. Calhoun,
this '■■weasel' in politics, is destined to de
stroy the hopes of the Southern States
man. It was said of Harrison, and histo
ry attests its truth, that "he never lost a
baHlc-" and it may also lie said, of Mar
tin Van Huron, that he never was defea
ted in party caucus, in any desire of his
life, since he has attained to any eminence
in the country. The result, too, of the
May Convention, we think, will bo an
other evidence of his great cunning and
successful management.
Had we the power to determine who
should lie the democratic candidate for
the presidency, we would at once name
Mr. Calhoun. We would do so for two
reasons — first, because we prefer, when
wa have to wage political warfare, an en
emy in whom wee in recognise some no
ble mn'ifios: imd he who displays the
most of these, we would desire our cham
pion to contend against. And, secondly,
wc would name Mr. Calhoun, localise
should we, by any possibility be defeated,
the government would, notwithstanding,
be in the hands of ; n able statesman, and
an undoubted patriot. But, if success
alone , is to be taken into consideration,
we would prefer that Mr. Vail Buren
should be the nominee of the Democratic
Party. Not a doubt do we have upon
our minds, that Martin Van Buren will
ever again lc the President of the United
States, by the people’s suffrages lie may
he schemed into ofiicc, but the people
have not that respect for his political char
acter, which would secure to him a ma
jority' of their votes. And, succeed, as
we feel he will, in getting a nomination,
his success will have to be attributed
more to his knowledge, management of,
and intrigue with the politicians of the
day—the otlice holders, and the office
seekers the ambitious, and the unprin
cipled —than to any other cause.
But, if the result should be otherwise ,
if merit prevails for once in an assembly
of politicians; if Mr. Calhoun should be
the nominee ; we are determined to treat
his pretensions to the high station of
Chief Magistrate with all the courtesy
and justice they demand at the hands of
an independent press. We shall he the
last to shrink from pursuing the course
laid down by the “American Democrat.”
Wc do respect his pretensions, and such
being the case, we shall take care in act
ing out our part in the warfare, to mete
out to him even handed justice.
From tlic Charleston Courier
of Mu* X;iti>):nl Masonic Cos vcr.tion.
We have received a pamphlet contain
ing the minutes of the proceedings of this
body, at its session in Baltimore, ALL,
which commenced on Monday, tlie Bth
May, and closed on the 17th.
The following is a list of the officers
and members :
Dr. John Dovr, of Va., President.
Rev. Albert Cask, of S. <Secretary.
Rev. Dr. W. E. Wyatt, of Aid., Chap’n.
Chart.us W. Moore, of Mass.
Thomas Chapman, of N. 11.
William Fii i.d, of R. 1.
Ebeni-.x.er Wadsworth, of N. Y.
Daniel A. Piper, of Md.
Nathaniel Stevens, of D. Columbia.
John 11. Wheeler, of No. Carolina.
Lemuel Dweli.k, of Georgia.
Edward lleundon, of Alabama.
Thomas Hayward, of Florida.
John Delafield, Jr., of Mississippi.
John Blarney, of Ohio.
S. W. B. Carnkgy, / ...
JoSDFII FOSTER, )
The pamph'et contains forty-eight
close! y printed pages, and yet much of
the doings of the body were not inclu
ded. We are informed by the Delegate
from this State, that the business was con
ducted in perfect harmony', and the mem
bers separated from each other under the
kindly influence of Masonic principles.
It is expected to meet at Winchester, Va.,
in May, 581!).
The following letter, addressed by the
Convention to the fraternity throughout
the United States, was written by our
delegate —the liev. Albert Case.
To the Masonic Draternity of the U. S.
Uiiktiirks The venerable institu
tion of Masonry was planned in wisdom,
and established on the firm and unsha
ken foundations of hove and Friendship ,
in ages long since rolled away. These
foundations were laid broad and deep by
those master spirits of yore, who we trust
are now conversant with other scenes in
that blissful and immortal Lodge which
no time can remove. They constructed
the Temple of the choicest materials of
past ages, and it is ours to embellish it
with the finest ornaments of modern
times. Masonry is therefore venerable
with age. It nobly lived in the hearts of
those worthy spirits of ancient days be
fore even science had thrown her beams
over the world, or put forth the embodied
expression of her glory in the combina
tion of letters into words.
This fair Fabric of Masonic splendor
was planned and reared and finished for
durability.
It has withstood the shocks of time, the
revolution of ages, the concussion of em
pires, and the convulsions of hostile con
tending nations.
When they have rolled garments in
blood on fields of war, and shaken
thrones to the dust, she has stood in her
retiring and solitary grandeur, retaining
all her ancient glory, and continually
gathering around her brow fresh wreaths
and new accessions of majesty and splen
dor.
Regardless of nation, kindred, tribe, or
tongue, she speaks a language understood
and felt by all, and has united the hearts
of her votaries in the same mystic tic of
enduring Love and Friendship ; and by
t! ic ini Id glance of her eye has melted
even the rough Indian into tenderness,
and turned away the tomahawk and
scalping knife from the victim at which
they were aimed.
While every thing unsolid in nature
falls, and even Kings and Kingdoms are
lost in the vortex of revolutions, and
thrones crumble into ruin, and totter and
fall from their basis, Masonry towers above
all that is awful and ruinablc in nature’s
realm, stands unmoved as the mountain
rock, and undismayed listens to revolu
tion’s stormy voice. She lias passed
safely through the dark ages of supersti
tion and bigotry, when wars and com
motions convulsed the world to its centre,
and when change seemed to sway a scep
tre of universal empire.
We, in this happy land of the brave
and the free, have raised our eyes, and i
gazed upon her venerated splendor.
Thousands became entranced, entered
the sanctuary of her consecrated Temple,
and the tide of popularity, rather than
principle, has swept some of the unwor
thy, unhallowed and profane into herhole,,
of Jioli
A hand stained with crime has been ,
raised against her principles, a night of
darkness has gathered around her brow,
and an army led on by unprincipled re
creants has assailed her fortress in more
than the horrors of war. Convolving
clouds of stormy darkness have gathered
round her. The lightnings of vengeance
have shot their fires of death, and the
rolling thunders of human wrath and in
dignation have been heard in reverbera
ting peals. The storm lias spent its vio
lence. Her enemies in despair have re
tired from the field of conflict. The un
principled have been cast out of her sanc
tuary, and many of those who were nei
ther cold or hot, have been spewed out of
her mouth.
Having thus’passed the fiery ordeal of
public scrutiny, opposition and rage, she
has come forth from the furnace, purified
from evil men, and from those stains
which the conduct of the time-serving
and unworthy had fixed upon the bright
escutcheon of her character,; she has put
on her beautiful garment, and, shining
with renewed accessions of splendor, she
stands among us in the firm majesty of
war-worn grandeur, like some lofty Ap
penmincs sublimely towering to Heaven,
while the very' earth rocks at her feet.
On her venerable head which pierces
the cloud, we see the beams of tho Omnis
cient eve resting, and around her, the j
Light ol Eternity playi.’.g; while on her j
stainless vesture, Faith, Hope and Chari
ty arc written. There she stands, and
will stand till the last vibrating pendulum j
of time till the pillars of Wisdom,
Strength and Beauty, tiiat support and
adorn the Fabric of nature shall fall.
It now remains for us to add, that the
system involving the Work, Lectures and
Ceremonies as agreed upon after mature
deliberation by this Convention, will be
laid before you by your respective dele
ga»es. To that which maybe emphati
ically termed a National System, believ
ing it to be in accordance with the an
cient 1 .and Marks and usages of the craft,
we invite and urge a strict and unswer- j
ving adherence.
It being tho solemn duty of all who
wear the Badge of a Mason to square
their actions and to keep themselves
within the bounds of morality, a strict
watchfulness is necessary on the part of
all faithful Masons, and in those instan
ces ([where a departure from duty, after
repeated admonition,is wilfully persisted
in, the Lodges shall exercise their pow
ers and cleanse the sanctuary. To all
faithful Brothers, we say stand like
men to your posts of duty and imitate
those worthy Masons of yore.
Be true to y'our principles, and the great
moral edifice will stand beautiful and
complete.
Together Brethren, be true and faith
ful.
Albert Case,
C. W. Moore,
Nath’l Stevens,
J. Delafield, Jr.
rorrc.«poi»«!ence of the Baltimore Patriot.
Washington, May 22, 1813.
Mr. Lcgare returned to the city this
morning from Baltimore. He labors with
assiduity and zeal in the duties of the De
partment over which he now presides.
It is confidently said here that lie will be
formally appointed Secretary of State, ns
soon as the President returns from Vir
ginia. The great advantage this post
has over all the other Departments is that
the Secretary, if he be a man of writing
power, can make a decided hit by every
document be puts forth. Every import
taiit State paper immediately attracts the
attention, and becomes for a time the top
ic of the whole country, mid in a great
degree, also of the civilized world. Mr.
1 1 gare is a most nervous, as well as pol
ished writer, and will fall below none of
his recent predecessors in the ability of
his State papers.
The rumor is received that Secretary
Upshur will have the mission to France.
A LOOKER ON.
Nature shows us why the slumber of
death has a place in her kingdom of
changes. It is that beneficent stupor that
surrounds a being, while the organic
powers are striving for new perfection,
'l’he creature itself, with its higher or
lower grade of knowledge, is not strong
enough to oversee and direct the struggle,
it falls asleep, and awakes only when it
is re-created. So the sleep of death is a
fatherly benign dispensation; it is a
wholesome opiate, during the operation
of which nature collects her powers, and
restores her stupified invalid.
Air. Webster.
The Baltimoreans were disappointed
in Daniel’s speech —he said nothing
about party politics, and his position is os
dubious as ever. How unkind —but
they can speculate and guess and set him
up and knock him down in all conceiva
ble positions —let them be thankful rath
er, that he has left them something to
scold about.
Speak to Him.
Speak to that young man. He has just
passed the tliresholdof virtue, <fc thought
lessly committed one crime—speak to him
and tell him the consequences, before he
takes another step. Do not censure him;
do not speak harshly, but as a friend,
as a brother, plead with him, and you
will have him. His heart is not hardened
to the voice of kindness; the tear of af
fection will not fall upon him in vain.
Speak to him —and the influence of that
kind word maybe felt through along life, !
and liecome tiie instrument of saving a j
soul from the depths of vice, and adding
a-train to the =oiig of the redeemed•
Cumiaercial Exchanges,
So much misapprehension has been and perhaps
still is entertained on this important subject, even
by intelligent anti well informed persons, we insert
from the New York Herald, the following article
which sets the business of Exchange in its true light.
The necessity of a National Bank or any other ex
traneous contrivances to regulate exchange between
the different parts of the same country, or between
one country and another is a mischievous delusion,
sedulously palmed upon the people by the disciples
of Biddle, the monied interest generally, and by
corrupt demagogues to advance their own selfish
purposes, regardless of the calamities they entail
upon their country.
The truth is, that excharge every branch of
ttadc and commerce, possess an essential inherent
principle of self-regulation.
The disturbance and confusion in the exchanges, iii
the trade, commerce, and all the monetary concerns
of our country, have been produced by the presunip
tuous"mcddling ignorance, or shameless corruption
of State and Congressional Legislation. Exchanges,
to be sure, like ail other human concerns, are sub
ject to accident il derangements, from the failure of
crops and other natural causes the deficiency J<>
Cotton and tobacco, Ac., in the South, during the
summer, and early fall months, to he the medium of
trade with Europe and the North. These accidents,
however, are speedily rectified by the inherent prin
ciples of trade, when left to itself, and the exchanges
resume their wonted regularity.
The exchanges have regulated them
selves in a remarkable manner, in the
face of all the predictions to the contrary,
which have emanated from politicians.
The uniform currency of this country,
as regulated by the constitution, renders
exchange operations the simplest that
can be. No possible derangement can
take place until the constitutional coin is
supplanted by the myriads of paper cur
rencies furnished by a thousand issuing
banks. When that takes place, exchange
from being simply the cost of sending
1000 silver dollars from one point to
another, becomes complicated with the
comparative value of paper, credit of the
banks that issue it, and the supply which
they furnish. When the several legisla
tures, I lave created this confusion, they
seek to remedy it by granting a monopo
ly of the business to some large bank.
The exchanges of Europe are con
ducted with the greatest regularity, pre
cision and cheapness, in the hands of pri
vate bankers, although the operations ex
tend over many different nations, the cur
rencies of which are entirely different.
For instance, if the French merchant
buys a quantity of wool in Spain, the
sum to be paid is in pistoles of the king
dom, but he has only francs and centimes
wherewith to buy a bill or order of a
banker upon his correspondent in Spain
for the pistoles. The francs are to be
transferred to Spain in the shape of pis
toles. Accordingly the price of the bill,
or the cost of the transfer is regulated by
the relative value of the two moneys, the
relative values of gold and silver, and
the actual state of the exchanges or bal
ances between the countries. The Span
ish pistole is about equal to 15 francs.
If, therefore, a person in Paris has to
pay 100 pistoles in Spain, he would have
to buy the pistoles and transmit them,
which would cost probably 40 francs.
Instead of that, he goes to the broker, and
finds that be can buy for 1505 francs, a
bill which will ensure him 100 pistoles
m Bilboa in 30 days. He thereby saves
35 francs. The business between the
two countries running nearly equal in
imports and exports, the supply of bills
is generally about equal to the demand,
and the individual houses buy and sell at
a fraction of one per cent, and do a good
business. The stead incss of the exchanges
is greatly facilitated by the vast and reg
ular correspondence of the houses, ena
bling them to arbitrate on any third point
when the direct rates run too high. For
instance, between Paris and Amsterdam
the quotation is always 53 to 48 pennies
de gros for 3 francs. If now a remittance
| is to be made from Paris to Amsterdam
; a of 000 florins, and in consequence of
great scarcity of bills the rate falls to 48
pennies de gros for francs —then
1 florin equals 40 grotes.
48 grotes “ 3 francs.
GOO florins “ 1500 francs.
Hence it would cost 1500 francs to re
mit direct; but it appears that the rate on
London at the same time is 25 francs per
£, and that London on Amsterdam is 35
per £ —then
1 florin equals 40 grotes.
12 grotes “ 1 schilling de gros.
35 schillings gros 1 ,£.
*99 1-2 £ 100 ,£.
1 £ 20 fr.
600 florins fr. 1,435,74
•This is 1-2 per cent due the London
banker for drawing.
To remit direct then,
costs 1,500 00 francs.
And indirect at cer
tain rates, 1,435 75
Saving 64 45
This operation makes the balance due
from one section pay the deficit due to
another.
These complicated exchanges embrace
all sections of the continent, running to
each great money centre with the great
est uniformity and steadiness. There is
no National Bank, no paper system, and
no monopoly of any sort; every thing is
free trade and fair competition. No idea
of “ regulation” is ever ventured upon.
In the United States, on the other hand,
embracing 18,000,0000f people instead of
250,000,000, with a gold and silver cur
rency, fixed by the constitution, of the
same value and denomination through
out its whole extent, it is gravely con
tended by statesmen and politicians, and
echoe l by the unthinking, that a mer
chant in New York who has 1000 silver
dollars due him in New Orleans or Cin
cinnati, or any other point, cannot collect
it unless Congress charters a great cor
poration with a capital of 30 to $50,000,-
000, which shall build 100 marble pala
ces in all sections of the country, and
employ, say 1000 officers at large salaries .
tocollcct for him. Businessmen incline
to believe such an absurd chimera, a!-I
though Jacob Little stands behind his
counter at no expense, ready to collect
their debts for them at par to !-4 premi
um, with the same regularity and prompt
ness, and far greater skill than Rothschild
of Paris, facilitates merchants of that
city.
Tho Steamship Missouri.
The Journal of Commerce publishes
the following extract from a letter, from
an officer on board the Missouri
It is said this ship will proceed to Eng
land and France, as scon .as these stupid
Engineers are satisfied with experiment
ing upon her. The present experiment
consists in cutting off the main smoke
pipe even with the hurricane deck, and
throwing two lateral pipes into the
wheel-houses. The result is, as might
have been foreseen, a perfect failure from
(he want of draft. lam in hopes it will
end this week by throwing the whole
concern overboard. It is surprising that
the Government will permit such a waste
of money, directly under their noses. I
much fear that Hunter’s steam vessel, now
gone to Boston, will prove to be a simi
lar experiment.
Savannah, May 30.
Destructive I’ire in Tallahassee.
It is with feelings of pain, we announce
this morning the destruction of another
city by fire. It is but a short time since
we recorded the serious conflagration, by
which a large portion of Wilmington
was destroyed. By the following letter
received last evening by Mr. Schley, from
the Post Master at Tallahassee, it will be
seen that that city has also been laid in
ashes:
Post Office, Tallahassee, Fla. }
Thursday Evening, May2sth, 1813. \
Sir A conflagration commenced in
this place at about 4 o’clock this evening,
and at this present writing, (9 o’clock,)
the greater part of the town is in ruins.
Every business house in the place has
been destroyed, and with them the Post
Office. I succeeded in saving the con
tents of the office, but every thing is in
such a state of confusion, that it is im
possible to assort the mail that should
leave on to-morrow morning. The fire
is now apparently subdued, or rather has
exhausted itself by tho destruction of ev
ery 7 thing it could reach, and no danger
of its spreading further is apprehended.
If suitable accommodations can be ob
tained, a mail will be despatched on Sun
day morning.
Your obedient servant,
MILES NASH, P. M.
From the New Haven Register.
The “ Liberty party” held their State
Convention, in Hartford, last week, and
re-nominated their old ticket for State
Officer-. In addition to maintaining
their identity as a political party, in mat
ters State and National, the Convention
recommended to their friends in the sev
eral towns, a local organization, to secure
the election of Abolition Town Officers.
This will compel the avhigs, in many
places to fall in with them, or lose their
supremacy—and it will serve them right,
for they have courted mid flattered this
“tribe of faction,” for selfish purposes,
and made them of more importance than
their own unaided exertions could have
produced. The Palladium calls them
the “dog in the manger party” from
the fact, we presume, that they will not
allow the whigs to do all the eating,
while they do all the barking. We wish
the whigs much joy of their old associ
ates and quondam friends.
The wings, knowing they are power
less in every State in New England, when
the Abolitionists are not with them, re
gard their movements towards separate
action with sentiments akin to those of
the negro, who standing at the top of a
ladder, found his situation a very ticklish
one on discovering a swine rubbing his
shoulder most assiduously against the
foot of it. “ G’vvay ! g’way dar !” cried
he, in tones of fear and anger, as lie
clutched the ladder strongly, “ G’way
dar! you’m makin mischief 1” The whigs
have the advantage of Cuffec in one im
portant particular, however if the Ab
olitionists should shake their ladderdoyvn,
they won’t have a great distance to fall.
A Terrific Hailstorm.
The Reflector, of Madison county, X.
Y., says that the town of Hamilton has
been visited by a hailstorm unparalleled
iu extent and severity. One of the apol
ogies of the editor for issuing but half a
sheet, is, his inability to procure a supply"
of glass of a suitable size to repair Ins
shattered windows. The storm occur
red on Sunday the 7th instant, and is
thus described in the language of the Re
flector :
“ Its course was from west to east, and
in width about three miles. Its south
ern range was about three fourths of a
mile below this village. It came upon
us so sudden and unexpected, that no
time was allowed to make the least prep
aration to avert the damage consequent
from such a terrible storm. The hail
presented a peculiar pearl white and
transparent appearance, and was exceed
ingly hard. Many, of which there was
a full proportion, were full four inches
in circumference, while others, by actual
measurement, reached six inches, or
about the size of alien's egg. The force
with which they came down, where the
ground had not been dry, would bury
them on a level with the earth. Another
singular feature was presented among the
hail. A large quantity were in scales as
large as a Spanish two shilling piece, and
in thickness about three eighths of an
inch. The damage to dwellings and
buildings in which are glass, is very
great. More than half of every light of
glass on the west and north side of build
ings was broken.
“A large number of lambs were killed,
among the flocks of the farmers. Take 1
it all in all. no adequate description can
be given of it, and it doubtless will long
be remembered by those who have been
in the least touched by Millerism. The
congregations assembled in the several
churches were broken up, and such con
sternation and fright as was depicted on
the countenances of many, is seldom wit
nessed. Some fainting, some rubbing
and clasping their nands in terror —some
praying and exclaiming ‘judgment day
has come’ —some trembling—some
screeching and screaming children
clinging to their mothers in despair
while others stood statue-like, pale and
ghastly as death, apparently waiting for
the final and last convulsions of expiring
nature- For such a scene as this, the
public mind, for a few months past, has
lieen well prepared, and we venture that
Miller, had he been here to have witness
ed it, would have seen some premon
otory symptoms in confirmation of his
theory. We have no doubt that he would
mathematically have demonstrated in
connection with his views of the prophe
cies, that the destruction of the world was
to commence with hail. Certain are we,
that many of our good old ladies, (and
some young ones.) from their actions
and appearance were full in the faith,
‘ that time would be no more.’ ”
From the Star of Florid*.
Tallahassee, May 27th, 1843.
At an adjourned meeting of the citi
zens of Leon county, held in the Court
House at Tallahassee, on the 27th May,
1843, Mr. Eppes, the Mayor of the city,
being in the chair, the following resolu
tion was unanimously adopted:
Resolved , That the committee of re
lief be authorized to prepare and to sub
mit to the Chairman of the general meet
ing, for his approbation, an address to
the people of the United States on the
subject of the recent fire, and that he be
empowered to subscribe and to forward
copies of the address, if approved, to the
editors of the principal newspapers in
the city of Washington, and elsewhere,
for publication, and to address to tho May
ors, Intend nts, or the chief Magistrates
of the principal cities of the U. States,
copies of the same.
The Committee appointed the day pre
ceding, consisting of the following gen
tlemen, to-wit : Gen. Mercer; Chairman,
L. A. Thompson, W. H. Brockenbrough,
T. 11. Ilagncr, IT. L. Rutgers, Gen. T.
Brown, G. W. Cull, John Parkhill, J. B.
Gainbie, J. E. Broome, met immediately
after the .adjournment of the General
Meeting, and agreed upon the following
address to the people of the U. States.
To the People of Vie United Stales of America:
It has pleased an inscrutable Provi
dence to alllict, by an awful calamity, the
inhabitants of a City on the frontier of
the Union. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon
of Thursday, the 25th of May, the City
of Tallahassee numbered, with a popula
tion not exceeding two thousand souls,
eighty-nine stores and houses, the thea
tre of active mercantile and manufactur
ing industry. In three hours, by a de
rusting fire, which no exertion could
stay, not a solitary store, shop, or theatre
of business remained. A property in buil
dings, which many estimated at not much
less than half a million, had r lien a prey
to the flames, and with it, goods, furni
ture and moveable effects of the value of
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
more.
‘The extent of this overwhelming ca
lamity may be measured, by the fact,
that from the ports of Tallahassee, at the
mouth of the River St. Marks, there has
been exported in the current year, or col
lected for exportation, chiefly on account
of the Merchants and Traders of Tallas
scc 32,000 bales of cotton, the only staple
export of the Territory of Florida, a
quantity worth, in ordinary years, 1,200,-
000 dollars, and at its present reduced
price, a moiety of that sum.
In return for this exportation, a full
equivalent lias hitherto been imported,
comprehending not merely nor chiefly
the comforts or luxuries, but the necessi
ties of life ; its staple commodity, having,
until lately, employed the productive in
dustry of the country, to the exclusion
of every other pursuit. The merchants
and agents of a commerce that has ex
ceeded two and a half millions in the
year, are by a sudden blow, deprived of
their stores, warehouses, and their unsold
stock of goods. The artizans of their
shops, and of their very tools of trade.
And of the property so lost less than
twenty thousand dollars, is covered by
insurance.
Such a calamity cannot but make a
powerful appeal to the sympathy of a
generous public, and in their reliance on
that appeal, the citizens of Tallahassee
consult the feelings which they have
themselves manifested on like occasions,
towards the calamities of their more for
tunate fellow-citizens of the U. States.
Having just escaped from the ravages
of an Indian war, they had begun to
cherish the hope of returning prosperity,
though struggling with those embarrass
ments of the currency and commerce of
the United States, which have been felt,
more or less in every portion of the Un
ion, but in the South with peculiar force.
It is, at such a period, and under such
circumstances, that they arc reluctantly
induced to look beyond the limits of their
own Territory, for consolation and aid.
The far greater part of those who have
most heavily suffered by the late destruc
tive fire, will seek through a different
channel to repair their heavy loss. That
portion of its victims, to whom relief may
come, need that it should be promptly ad
ministered.
F. Eppes, Mayor of Tallahassee,
Chairman of General Meeting of Citizens
Th cause of the present hard times is
owing to the fact that 1 third of this na
tion have lived on the labor of the other
2 tbirils, by means of credit, lor the lust
20 years.