Newspaper Page Text
The poor inhabitants were dispersed in the
fields for several miles, in circles, some under
tents, under miserable huts and hovels, many
without a rag, or any necessary utensils, bed or
board, who from delicateness, riches, and easy
accommodations in stately houses, were now re-
dticed to extremest misery and poverty. One
might have seen two hundred thousand of all
ranks and degrees, lying along by their Leaps
of what they could save from the fire.”
Solar Mr. Evelyn—now for Mr. Pepy’s,
“and to see the churches all filling Kith goods hy
the -people, «$*c.
HthdSepiembcr. Bat going to the fire I find
that by the blowing tip of houses, and the great
help giveafby the workmen out of the King's
Yards, (Deptford and Woolwich,)_ sent tip by
Sir TV*. Penn, there is a good stop given to it,
Ac. A’c.
1th September. Mach dispute where the
Custom House shall be; thereby the growth of
the city again to bo Ibrd’seen. Mv "Lord
Treasurer, they say, and others, would have it
at the oilier end of the toum.
15ih September. Captain Cocko says lie hath
computed that the rents of houses lost this fire
come to GOO,000k per annum, that certainly
never so great a loss as this was borne so well
by citizens iu the world; he believing, that not
one merchant upon the 'change will break upon it.
NIGIIT, ON BOARD*A- SHIP OF WAR.
‘•.Night come, and no eight bells.had rung.’’
The cabin lamp lias expired. Before me is a
solitary candie, my faithful inkstand, and my
“vadc mocum” in the form of a port folio.—
The wind is fresh from the south; the ship moves
along at an easy rate—though every now and
then the bows encounter a wave, that scorns-to
jar her whole frame. It is pleasant sailing,
with the straits of Giberahar lour hundred
miles distant. Bat—hark! “eight bells."
ceive that I am perfectly calm; I have no ran.
cour, and I will do you good even in spite of
yourselves. The marshall who stands before
you, fulfils my intentions, seconds all my views,
Our neighbors all behaved well, many of us of which he is one of the most distinguished
heads and leaders in the Union.
Constellation.
Petersburg
LATE FROM TEXAS.
having smelled powder for the first time
We recaptured our papers and all our cook
ing utensils. The ammunition and clothes were j
and also watches for you welfare.” At these i all taken away. j
words the members of the deputation bowed to ; On the 18th, while the Indians were attack-, ~ ~ ~~ " ~ ~
the marshall. “Well, gentlemen,but what signi-j ing our baggage I was sent to Priest’s old place i Texas. On Sunday 1 eceinber 20 foui
lies these salutations? The first duty is to per- to reconnoitre, and had a hot chase for some schooners, the Pennsylvania, Cni/iancne, Amen,
form one’s duty, and conduct ourselves like ■ Indians who were driving up horses and cattle ca, and Santiago ariived at Velasco, lavuig on
honest men. You have, gentlemen, to choose j off the prairie, but tiiey distanced us. I had board about 220 volunteers m the cause o! Ii-
bclween two alternatives; cither to persist in j with me captains Ross, Hutcheson, and Wil- j berty, from the State of Geoigia. They mi-
vour illusions, as to an independent kingdom of. liams, and lieutenant Haddock. j mediately enlisted as a portion of the permanent
Poland, or to live tranquilly as faithful subjects j We have a hard time ahead. For two days j volunteer corps, and elected U m. U aid their
under my government. If you persist in your j past I have not eat enough to keep a mouse alive,: 1st Major, W. W adsworth Capt. of the Coluin
dreams of a distinct nationality, of the inde-J nor has any other in camp (except fifty men I bits volunteers, Uriah J. Bulloch Capt. of the
pcndcncc of Poland, and all these chimeras, you | sent down to guard Tarvers) who sent us word ; Macon volunteers and James G. W y nn Capt.
that they are in good quarters; our horses also j of toe Georg.a riflemen.
Volunteers from varions states are hourly ar
riving by the different land routes, and in a
vied beyond the Del Norte into the enemy’s gination of an enthusiast, with the chin •
country and they will be made to support Hinas- , tenderness of the philanthropist, nnr e l 1 "' 8 *'®
much as their injustice and oppression have a-j cold calculations of the philosopher 1 ,hc
lone rendered it necessary, and the tyrant Santa ; statesmen, looking at it in all its bean’a as
Anna will feel and know from blood bought jif they were satisfied in their conscien"* nnc *
experience that although his countrymen may } it was not calculated to benefit the ^ .f' Ul
submit to absolute slavery under the mask and j ought not to legislate upon it. jp „ ' lc ’ *‘ ,p y
name of centralism—as for the colonists they j would turn their minds upon this subject h fltl ° n
have adopted the motto of their ancestors and ; satisfied they would have' no hesitation !, W ' lS
their course. If he
midnight. This tells you “the watch” must be
changed—the man at the wheel relieved—the
ship pumped, and the log hove to determine I he
rate of the vessel’s motion. The second officer
has yawned; and from the sound, is turning
over; and now Jack’s sharp voice, peculiarly
modified by the wind, strikes my ear as lie cries
to tuc slumbering inhabitants of the forecastle,
“star-T-board watch, ah-o-o-o-y—eight bells—
turn out—sleepers, do you hear there?”
It seems they arc awake and moving. The
second mate has gone on deck rubbing his eyes;
and already I hear Dick giving up the wheel to
Tom, who responds to him ill a harsh tone—
‘ east.by-smith—half south—nothing off’;” the
sailor with the glass hns called out “up,” and the
pumps are going \\i:h their peculiar intonations,
throe long strokes and an interval.
Tho dock has become quiet again, except the
creaking and clanking of the chain over my
head, and the measured tread of the officer of
the watch. Coinc, suppose we go on deck n
moment: perhaps you never have been thereat
this hour. It is novel and pleasant, I assure you.
You seek the windward side of the ship, in.
stinctivcly lean on the rail,^and east the eye
intently around, above, and at the atom which
sustains you. You are impressed with awe and
sublimity.
'Tis flight, anil nrdfiing Ijulllie ifitld expanse
deep l
toe
wil! only draw down upon yourself still greater
misfortunes. I have raised this citadel, and I j fare bad, there is sometimes a plenty of corn and
declare that on the slightest insurrection, I will! no mills to grind it. Potatoes we sometimes get
cause its cannon to thunder upon the city.— jif we can get time to dig them, and beef—but
Warsaw shall be destroyed, and certainly shall ■ sometimes we are ordered one way and the
never be re built iu my time. J baggage another; hard times. I have not time
It is painful to me to speak thus to you—it is to say more. You must tell all my friends how
always painful to a sovereign to treat his sub- j matters are—if my wife is not gone off do stop
jeets thus, but I do it for your own good. It is ■ her if possible. Your friend,
for you gentlemen, to deserve an oblivion of the j W. J. MILLS,
past; it is only for your obedience to mv go-j P. S. We found six Indians dead last evening
vornment that you can obtain tiffs. I know ; —how many wounded we know not. We
that there is a correspondence abroad, and that suppose there were thirty or forty of them in the
mischievous writings are sent hero for the pur-' action.
pose of perverting the minds of the people.— ' Monday, December 21.—We are just under
The best police in the world, with such a frontier marching orders—where, we do not know.—
as yours, cannot prevent clandestine relations. The first chance I will write more.
It is for you to exercise your own police, and i '
keep the evil away. It is by bringing up your j Seminole War.—An express arrived from
children properly, by instilling them into the ! the Indian nation on Thursday, but brought no
principles of religion and fidelity to their sove-! intelligence of importance. The Indians, on
reign, that you can keep in the right path.— ; the display of force in Alachua county, had re-
Among tjie disturbances which agitate Europe, ; tired to their strong holds, within their own
and those doctrines which shake the social edi-1 limits. The frontier is in the enjoyment of
fice, Russia alone has remained strong; and be- j temporary security, but on the withdral of the
’lbs | ij cvc nic> gentlemen, that it is a real blessing to ; forces their former depredations wil! be renew-
shall be
j sufficiently strong to warrant the attempt. An
I additional battalion of mounted volunteers from
l\f ocean, deep nwi dismal now apprars
tin nilaidt'.s round; the firmament hangs full
Of stars that wiili a Hood of glory glare
tVnon the night, and make nocturnal day.
The iwlilxtru vessel sweeps along
The gracrlal rolling wave."
Enjoy this awhile, and then call thought tv
little world that floats you.
“The wind is on the beam,” and the yards
are well braced. Tho officer wrapt in a monkey-
jacket and surmounted by a “norVester,” has
ceased to walk the deck, and is at your side.
Now aad then you see his healthy American
brighten* the dense and fragrant fumes of which
as often follow in columns from his mouth and
nostrils. Ever and anon his eye is turned
“aloft” to the sails and polar star, and you arc
startled occasionally by his sudden and bold ex.
clnmatiori to tho helmsman, “near,” or “port,”
to which resounds the gruff voice of Tom, “near,
sir,” or “port sir,” with an increased creaking
at the wheel. Now let us go forward. “The
watch” is awake, except Jack, whose “corporo.
sily” is at full length behind the “cook’sgalley*.”
On tho windlass, ivs a vis, are seated Jim and
Bill leaning on “the fifcrail,” with their legs
gathered - under them. They are “spinning
long yams” about Kate and Sue, and all that
•sort of tiling.
Thus We find the night-watch employed—the
officer with an eagle eye surveying tho sails
and clouds* and seeing that the ship is kept “her
course”—tho helmsman steadfastly observing
the compass and exercising the wheel; and the
others “on the look out,” whiling away their
vigils by the narration of auto-biographies and
threadbare talcs.”
belong to this country, and enjoy its protection. ; cd, unless the war shall be carried into their
If you conduct yourselves well—if you perform j own country. This we learn, is the intention
all your duties, my paternal solicitude will be ! of general Call so soon as his force
extended oyer you, and notwithstanding what
has passed, my government will always watch
over your welfare. Remember well all that 1 j Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson counties, one
have now said to you.” ; hundred and fifty strong, left yesterday, under
j the command of major Howard. Captain Cas-
Fram the Tallahassee Floridian, 2Gth ult. j well commands the company from Gadsden,
SEMINOLE WAR-. i and colonel Augustus Alston tiie one from Leon.
An express arrived last evening from Camp j The detachment is composed mostly of youn
King. The following letter, has been handed men. They are well mounted, and made
us for publication. We learn from the bearer J fine appearance.
of the express, that the Tallahassee Volunteers j We deem it ourduty lo correct an error which
behaved with great gallantry in tho engagement, j has been widely circulated, respecting tho force
General Call has five hundred mounted volun- ! under tho command of general Clinch. It only
te.ers under his command. The regular troops ! amounts to two hundred and eighty men, rank
were expected to move next day. Tt appears and file, and at the first of tho difficulties,
by the report of the Secretary of War, that I was much smaller. He appears, by a letter
fourteen companies have been ordered to as- • from general Call, to have acted with prudence
sembie in the nation. We fear the contest will ! and discretion, and to have done all for the
only terminate with the extermination of the j safety of the frontier that his means permitted,
Indians, | without hazarding the destruction of the few
Cantonment, near Miccinopy, '( troops under his command. We learn that two
Monday morning, 8 o'clock, Dec. 21. ( ; hundred of the regulars are acting with tho
Dear Sox—We arrived at Fort Cromb on i volunteers, and as soon as the troops shall be
the day before yesterday evening, after a forced ! concentrated in the nation, tho army will act on
inarch of five days. On our arrival at this {the offensive.—Floridian, 2d instant.
place, wo received information of an attack j
having been made by the Indians on that day !
on the baggage wagons and troops of colonel j
short time there will be a force sufficient in Tex
as to carry the war if necessary even to the
walls of Mexico.
And on the morning of the present new year
the national armed vessel of Texas, ‘Liberty’
met in the river near Fort Jackson, the steam
boat Yellowstone bound for Texas, with more
than 100 volunteers on board. An interchange
of salutations, cheers and artillery took place,
which was truly animating. Since the galling
and unconstitutional oppression attempted to be
practised upon Texas has been made known,
the sympathies existing between freemen have
been developed in a degree hitherto unknown.
Volunteers are rushing into Texas from every
section of this union.—New Orleans Bee, 4th in
stant.
SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS.
Paris, NocxjnVer 11.—Mention has been
several times made by the German papers, of a
speech addressed by the Emperor Nicholas, to
tbe deputations or municipal body of Warsaw,
upon his late visit to that city, which was only
remarkable for its; extreme severity and irrita
ting character. Although these papers have
not published this document, the following is
said to be an authentic copy, which, from its
tone and spirit, we are led to wish may be
spurious:
“Gentle me i t—l know that you have wished to
address me, and am acquainted with the con
tents of your intended addresses; hut. to spare
you from delivering falsehood, I desire that it
may not be pronounced. Yes, gentlemen, it is
to save you from falsehood, for I know that Vour
ncoffmeuts ar© not such as you wish to make
me believe them to bo. How can I put faith in
them, when yon held the same language to me
on the eve of the revolution? Are you not the
same persons who talked to me five or eight
years ago of fidelity and devotedness, and made
me-thc finest protestations of attachment, and
yet, in a very few daysufier, you violated your
oaths, and committed the jmost violent actions?
Tho Emperor Alexander, who did more for
you than ao Emperor of Russia ought to have
done, who heaped benefits upon you, who favor,
ed you mttc than his own subjects, and who
rendered your nation the most flourishing and
happy—the Emperor Alexander was treated
with the blackest ingratitude.
You never could make yourselves contented
with your most advantageous position, and, in
the end, became the destroyers of your own
happiness. I thui tell you the truth, in order
to throw a true light upon our relative positions,
and that you may know upon what you have to
depend, fur I am now seeing and speaking to
you for the first time since tho disturbance.—
Gentlemen, we require actions, and not mere
words: repentance should come from the heart;
I Speak to you without arftgcr, and you must per-
A1 arming Intelligence.—It is with the most
heartfelt sorrow that we publish the following
Warren, and a company under the command of j extract from a letter received by a gentleman of
captain McLemore, the Indians wore victorious, j this city, yesterday afternoon: vve arc fearful
taking all the baggage, killing four men, and i that it is only a prelude to other and more hor.
wounding eight or ten more. We took up the j rible tragedies. Can the abolitionists, when
lino of march on yesterday morning, passing by j perusing a paragraph like the following, for a
the place of action, gathering up the remains of j moment think of persevering in their mad at-
tho iiaggage, Ac. that was not taken or destroy, j tempts?—N. O. Morning Post
ed by tho Indians, wo continued our march un- j Clinton, (La.) December 20, 1835.
til our advance guard arrived at the house of; Sir—The mail rider who has just reached
i\Ir. J logon, near this placo, where it was met ( },; s place from Jackson, was informed that a
by a party of Indians who had just set on fire w |„q G man by the name of Williams, and a ne-
the house of Mr. II., which was soon consum- i rrj-o, were summarily executed, at Jackson, La.
ed: n brisk firing commenced with the guard, | this day, l»v a mob. The reasons assigned for
when the whole force was draw n up; the Indians ; j t were, that they were detected and identified
took a tn.ck scrub surrounding a small grassy j as instigators in an attempt to induce the negroes
pond, where they were in a short time surround- j to r j se a g a j Ils t the whites. The greatest excite-
ed by our troops; we killed all the Indians that i n -, cn t prevails throughout this and the adjoining
were thus surrounded, four of which we saved, l» ar i s h, on account of the reports respecting an
and others no doubt, were left dead in tho water.j intended insurrection.
They fought well. Four of our men were |
severely wounded; viz: Captain Lancaster, j Yirgil A. Stewart.—Wo have carefully ex-
Lieutenant Johnson, Mr. Mechon, and Mr. i anfined the mass of evidence collected this fall
not dangerous. Our Middle Florida volunteers •
charged the scrub with a firmness unparalleled
in the history of Indian warfare.
There is no doubt but that the Indians w ill
make a desperate effort, and as there is no other
way to meet them other than taking the tlricks,
we must expect to lose many of our men. The
whole country in this quarter is ruined—the
houses in ashes—the women and children in
forts, and the men under arms; and strange as
it may appear, the regular troops of the United
Stales' hero, never fired a gun, nor made the
first effort to stop tho ravages of the Indians,
whilst the only victory gained over these In.
dians was by us, who have marched near two
hundred miles.
by Yirgil A. Stewart, to sustain his own charac
ter and the truth of the statements contained in
the Murel Pamphlet, and give it as our unquali
fied opinion, that he is fully sustained in every
important particular, to the satisfaction of any
court of justice in the United States.—Natchez
Courier.
The Gold Region.—It is with the liveliest
emotions, we announce to the public, the final
and complete organization of the Pigeon Roost
Mining Company. This institution, after coin-
bating for near twelve months the most in
veterate prejudices, is now in complete opera
1 tion, and is under full way in the transaction of
; the business incident to its creation. The di-
i rectors of the company convened last week at
may fall.
1 must close the letter—you need not look for
me until there is an end to this Indian disturb
ance. W. WYATT.
Our scouts are now out—Indian signs are re- j Auraria, and elected general Nicholas Howard,
ported—orders for battle are about to be given, j president, general Allen Lawhon, treasurer,
Before night many more of our brave fellows | and B. C. Demmick, secretary and cashier of
the company, and Mr. John R. Cane, super
iutendant of the mines. From the preparations
now in progress by the company, we look for
ward with much solicitude, to the tim§ as not
being very distant when we shall see our golden
country assume a flourishing condition. We
' are informed by some of the directors, that
I arrangements are now in progress to put the
institution in a position to do an extensive busi
ness. This company has issued a small amount
of treasury notes, which are already afloat, and
aro readily received in exchange for gold. The
office of the company is located at our neigh
boring village, Auraria, where we understand
The fallotting Idler ulso is from the Floridian.
Dkati Sir—In addition to the brush of the
18ih, when the baggage was captured, w*c had
another yesterday to sanctify the Sabbath. At
0 o’clock in the morning we took up the line of
march from Groin’s Fort to Miccinopy—on ar
riving at the end of the prairie, our advanced
guard sent back word to me at the head of the
Duval and Alachua men, now called the first re- 1
giment, that the Indians were burning Hogans’ j the cashier is authorised to purchase gold, to any
house, Arc. I sent the messenger to general j amount that may be offered. Based as this
Call, who was in the centre with colonels Parish ' institution is, upon a liberal charter, and con-
and Warren, and lie immediately sent colonel j ducted by the skill and energy of gentlemen,
Warren with orders to take two companies, j now at its head, of the highest standing, 1,01 h
Rossand Hutcheson, and flank on the south and ! in a pecuniary and jnoral point of view, is we
west of the hammock. Captains Summerall j consider, a sure guarantee of its final success,
and Gibbons were detached on the north and j upon which almost exclusively depends the de
cast, and I took captains Turner, Lancaster ( vclopement of the fact of whether this country
and McLemore, and covered the space between j is worthy of the attention of the capitalist.—
captains Hutcheson and Gibbons,—the advance j Recorder and Spy, 25th ult.
guard entered the hammock and were immedi- j
ately fired on—we all dismounted and entered ( The par excellence St ate Rights members of
the hammock at the chargestep, and were soon the Georgia legislature—alias, the Bank Nul-
in action—the Indians veiling, constantly firing I lifying Federal Whigs of that body*, have rc-
by platoons—they were in a thick bush pond \ commended jthat Judge White of Tennessee,
and had a great advantage, and fired on us
without our seeing them. However, after about
one hour’s sharp firing it ceased, and we came
out of the hammock and found our loss as above
stated.
Lancaster is shot in tho neck, not dangerous.
The three men belonging to tho western regi
ment. were in the advance guard.
and Judge Barbour of Virginia, be supported
for President and Vice President, by the whigs
in that State. The latter portion of the re
commendation, the Georgia President and Vice
President makers might have spared themselves
the trouble of making. Philip Pendleton Bar-
hour will never suffer his name to be used ns a
means of dividing and breaking up that party
GLORIOUS NEWS FROM TEXAS.
“Freedom’s battle once begun
Bequeathed from bleeding sire lo son,
Tho’ baffled oft is surely won."
St. Antonio, the last fortress of tho despot
Santa Anna, m Texas, has fallen.
The valor and perseverance of the colonial
troops were irresistible. This ever to be rc
membered event, took place on Thursday, De
cember 10th. On the Saturday previous (the
5th,) 300 of the colonial troops entered the town
of San Antonio, under the command of Col.
Benj. R. Milan. They could not at first get
possession of the public square owing to the
wallsand ditches across the moulhs oft he si reels,
each of which was likewise defended by two
pieces of artillery, and in consequence of this,
they occupied some buildings and tops of houses
adjacent. Here they remained battling un
ceasingly night and day, until Wednesday the
9tii, when they forced their way into the square
and drove the enemy across the river into their
fort culled the “Alamo.”
In these relative situations the battle continu
ed until Thursday 10th, when the enemy capitu
lated.
By the capitulation upwards of 1000 yielded
to less than 300. The town itself was surren
dered with 24 pieces of brass artillery, 1900
rounds of powder, ball, grnpe-and canister, with
the public stores of every description
This glorious conquest was achieved, with a
loss on the part of the conquerors of only 3
killed and 30 wounded, while the loss of the
enemy in killed is variously estimated, at from
GO to 150. '
But tho joy of triumph was sadly diminished
by the circumstance that the brave Milan, the
dauntless leader of the storm, was numbered a
mong tbe slain. He fell bv a ball through his
head while fearlessly animating his men to vic
tory. Long! long will Texas and the friends
of liberty remember and lament his fate. A-
mong the gallant hand who stormed the town
were more than 100 volunteers from the United
States, of the north. The New Orleans Grays
and Blues constituted a great majority of those,
and the remainder were from different parts of
the state of Mississippi. •The whole of them
were among the first and foremost where the
battle raged hottest; and displayed throughout
the undaunted bravery of disciplined regulars.
Texas will reward with somethng more than
gratitude and empty compliments that generous
ardour in the cause of liberty, which so prompt
]y drew thorn to her aid, and that invaluable as
sistance which they rendered her “In the hour
that tried men’s souls.”
Let us for a moment reflect upon the unpre
pared situation of the colonists when forced in
to this war—and upon what they have so sud
denly, and so astonishingly accomplished.—
When the dictator Santa Anna destroyed the
constitution and invaded Texas with a mercena-
rv army for the purpose of bringing the inhabi
tants under the yoke of centralism—they wcjp
without experienced officers—without discipiin
ed soldiers, without arms, ammunition, money,
organized government or any thing else that
was necessary in such a crisis—except dauntless
heart.
From physical inability to resist they had be
fore this long groaned and languished under the
harrassing uncertainty and unconstitutional op-
pression consequent upon the incessant revolu
tions of Mexico. They felt now that the cup
of bitterness was full to overflow, that the rod
of persecution had smitten sufficiently severe,
and they determined to teach their oppressors
that they had heads to conceive, hearts to feel
and arms to execute and avenge. At the call
of their country tiiey rallied around its standard
with an ardor never surpassed, from the hoary
headed veteran of more than GO to tho beaid-
less youth who had scarcely mustered a d'<zen
years. Each man acted upon his own re
sources and brought with him his own gun and
horse and other equipage. Thus entirely un
disciplined, hastily assembled, and inefficiently
equipped, they have in the short space of two
months, reduced by storm the only three garri
sons of the enemy in Texas—they have driven
every hostile soldier out of Texas with a loss of
only 5 in killed, and with a loss in killed on
the part of the enemy of between 2 or 300—
moreover they have taken 500 horses, 30 pieces
of brass artillery with small arms, ammunition,
provision, and other public stores amounting to
more than $50,000. Does not this say lo the
enemies of liberty, in language louder and more
impressive than the thunders of heaven,
Tyrants beware, man will not be a slave.
A convention of the representatives of the
people ol Texas have solemnly declared that
the social compact between them and Mexico is
dissolved and that Texas has a right to form
herself into an independent government. A
provisional government is now established and
on the 1st of March next a new convention will
meet to organize more fuliy and efficiently.—
There are between 1000 and 1500 volunteers
from the U. S. in Texas and they are hourly
increasing. The Commander in Chief has call
ed for 5000. They are admitted to all the
privileges ol citizenship—obtain their head rights
of land besides their rations and compensation
in money. In a short time the war will be car-
wilh one united voice, exclaim with their Henry
of immortal memory “give us liberty or give
us death.”—ib.
ffion
Texas Volunteers.—According to a letter I i « ’! ,,UiU l,, f co *»siucrri hv the
- » country as the harbinger of peace, ihe nb.i
pubksM in .lie Journal of Commerce, seme of; tll3l woslddiaipalctheel™*, an.lda k„e
the volunteers who left New \ork about a • — ua ' Kl, ess
month ago for the land of promise in Texas, in a
, , propositions he should havr
tne honor to submit to the house be acceded t
by a triumphant majority, he had no hrsdatin
m saving that it would be considered '
vessel called the Maclawaska, have commenced
their career rather unluckily, as appears by the
following extract:
Nassau, (N. P,) December 10, 1835.
Dear Sir—I write from an English prison
yard. You will laugh at tiffs, and indeed I do
myself. But so it is. Here I am, in company
with my associates in tribulation, for the crime
of piracy! Don’t stare now, and I will tell you
how it happened. After leaving New York we
had a fair wind for eight or ten days; at the end
of which time, we found ourselves among the
Bahama banks and islands. Our captain never
having sailed the route before, lost his reckon
ing, and we were carried into a dangerous and
almost unknown harbor. He then sent a boat
on shore to an island called Eleulheria, with
seventeen men on board, wfio, contrary to his
wishes, took with them a quantity of arms and
ammunition. On the island they found the in
habitants to consist principally of blacks.—
Having indulged themselves pretty freely in
spirits, and finding the inhabitants rather weak
and ignorant, they commenced hostilities upon
their effects, such as fowls, pigs, Indian meal,
&c. and so terrified the people that they would
do whatever they required. They commanded
them with drawn pistols at their heads, and
threatened lliem with instant death if they dis
obeyed. This indiscreet conduct of course oc
casioned nn excited feeling on being made
known at the English naval station at Nassau,
and two gun-sliips were immediately sent in
pursuit of us, with strict orders to board us, and
put us all to death if we made tho least resist
ance. After searching near a week, one of
them hailed us about one o’clock, P. M., with
the salutation “send a boat on board, or we shall
fire into you.” We of course complied, and
they made us their prisoners, conveyed us 10
this place; and we are now in a prison yard.”
i , -ness now
resting on the laud. Wiih these views , t i
under the operation of these feelings, | iP *' ;,
move the house to lay the original proposition
Carolina
with every
matter connected with it, so as to enable him 4
submit his propositions to llie house.-
Monday January 4, 183G'.
Mr. Adams presented the petition of sutld ..„
Citizens ol Massachusetts, residing in his c '
gressional district, praying for the abolition of
slavery and the slave trade in the Dist™ dr
Columbia Mr. A. said it was his intention to
move that the petition, without being read be
laid on the table, and was proceeding with a few
preliminary remarks, when
Mr. Patton rose to a question of order U,
desired to enquire of the speaker whether the
petition had been received?
The chair replied in the negative, and refer
red to the authorities on the subject. The f lr J
question which arose was—will the house re
ceive the petition?
Mr. Glascock moved that the petition be not
received.
Mr
that it had been
of the gentleman from South
Hammond) on the table, together
COIVCiRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATINES.
The following remarks of our representative,
Col. Owens, have been unintentionally deferred.
They were made in an early stage of the de
bates on the abolition petitions.
Mr. Owens said he would with great pleasure
accede to the wish of the gentleman from South
Carolina, if the matter itself was not a matter
of very great import. He rose for the purpose
>f endeavoring to reconcile the conflicting
opinions of gentlemen of all sides, and to sub
mit certain propositions, which, lie trusted, if the
house would accept, would put to rest this agita
ting, d elicate, and dangerous question. It was
useless for him to regret that this question had
been brought before the bouse. It was useless
to regret that this question had been a subject o
discussion. The apple of discord had been
thrown into the house. It had not been done
by the south. But it was there and the House
must meet it—the house must handle it. But
he did regret—he deeply deplored the manner
in which the debate on it had been conducted.
It was not calculated to do any good, but was
well calculated to produce anti social as well as
hostile feelings. Nor did he agree with some
gentlemen in their remarks that the south asked
no aid from the north. On the contrary, he
would say, that the south did ask aid from the
north, and the north wanted aid from the south.
Their wants were reciprocal, and it was these
wants that produced our confederacy. It was
these wants that had cemented our Union; and
it was the increase of these wants that would
give perpetuity, nay, immortality to it. The
propositions he wished to submit to the house,
he did trust, and confidently believed, the
honorable mover of the original proposition
would accept and support, and that the hous
itself would give a warm and cordial support.—
The propositions he intended to submit were
couched in language as strong, if not stronger,
than the original motion, and they were more
extended in their operation. It was not to
meet the question on this petition alone, but to
meet the question, come in what shape it might.
It was to operate upon all petitions that might
come with the same tendency or object; nay,
in one word, it was to grapple with the subject
itself. He perfectly agreed with the advocates
of the original motion, that this was a measure
that required a bold, a prompt, and a decisive
expression of opinion from that- house. The
south required it; the country required it. It
could not be blinked. It could not be evaded
r. u atton seconded the motion, stating
iis intention to make a similar
one.
Mr. Glascock said he felt it to be his duty to
make this motion, because it had been contend-
ed m the house as well ns out of it, that the mo
tion, that a petition be not received, was uncon!
stitutional. If he could believe the motion was
unconstitutional he would be one of the last to
make it. lie had endeavored to infirm himself
o» this subject and believed that he had the
right to make the motion. He recollected that
when this motion wa« made by the gentleman
trom South Carolina, (Mr. Hammond,) it seem
ed to be the understanding of the chair ihat the"
motion could not be sustained. If we were to
take the views or opinions as laid down by J e f.
ferson, this was a proper motion, and if it he a
proper motion, then this house should sustain it,
and he would take occasion hero to remark that
one petition had been laid on the table by an
overwhelming vote. Another motion was made
to reject.
Mr. Adams rose to a point of order, fie con.
tended under the 45th rule, it was incompetent
to discuss and decide a petition on the da\ of its
presentation.
The chair said t at the rule only applied to
petitions which had been received hy the house,
and that the preliminary question of reception
was debatcable and could bo decided when a
petition was first pre-ented.
Mr. Adams appealed from the decision of the
chair; and asked for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
The point of Older arising on the appeal was
discussed by Messrs. Mercer, Craig, Adams,
Sutherland. Reed, Thomas Glascock, Beards,
ley, Williams, of North Carolina, Vanderpogl,
Briggs, Bell, Patton, Mann, of New York, Un
derwood, Thomas, Hamer, Everett, Bynum,
and Vinton.
Mr. Bynum said be entered on the discussion
of this subject with a mingled sense of pain and
pleasure. He had ever been opposed to the agi
tation of this subject here, or elsewhere, arid he
denounced now and protested, against the dis
cussion of abolition in the walls of this house.
But he had said that ho rose with a sense of
mingled pain and pleasure—he was pleased to
see gentlemen show their hands on this subject.
He thereby was enabled to tell those who favor-
cd this unholy agitation which threatened so
eminently the dissolution of this blessed Union.
He had said that, he disdained to debate this
question in this place—this was not the proper
place to settle it, and lie took the occasion to
assure gentlemen who thought differently, that
that question could never be settled in the walls
of Congress Ilall. It involved rights that this
house had nothing to do with, nor would his
constituents permit him in this place to call them
in question. He repeated it, that he was not sent
here to pass on and settle the rights of his peo
ple, or constituents to their property. When
ever that was invaded it would not be settled
hero, but on the battle field,
The speaker reminded Mr. B. that he could
not debate the merits of the question on an
appeal.
Mr. Bynum said, he was aware of that. He
was going on in reply to the remarks of the
gentleman irom Massachusetts, (Mr. Adams,)
who seemed not to know the spirit and feelings
of the southern people on that subject. That
by legislative finesse. It ought not to be eluded j honorable gentleman had said, as well ns other.-',
bv technical objections. He therefore reiterated who preceeded him on the same side of the
that he confidently expected those gentlemen, | question, that it^hould and ought to be met.—
He was the last man, he hoped, in or out of the
house, that would blink this or any other ques
as lovers of their country, and well wishers of
tho peace and safety of the land, would support
his resolution with warmth. He had also no
doubt that those gentlemen whose sense of deli
cacy suggested constitutional objections to the
rejection of petitions, would support the pro
positions he should ha ve the honor to submit to
the house, because they would find that these
propositions were free from that objection. He
admitted, in the fullest latitude, the constitutional
right to petition, what was termed the sacred
right of petitioning, but he hoped lie might add,
without offence, that from the evidence he had
of its abuse*, a good man might doubt whether
the good compensated for the evil, if the evil
were not temporary, and the good permanent
and lasting. There was another class of indi
viduals to whom lie would address himself. It
was those who, in all probability, would bo for
the principles contained in the petition.
To those gentlemen lie would say, not as
suming the chaiaclerof a lecturer, but as their
associate, that, adtnittingtho constitutional right
to act upon this subject, which he denied, lie
would tell those gentlemen that right was not
an abstract position and unqualified term; that,
in tho exercise of every right, there were cor-
responding duties, and that the first duty of an
American statesman, or an American legisla-
toi, was to look to the welfare of the people and
to the integ'ity of the republic; he would say
to them that, in discussing this, or any other
question of national and political character,
they muq not examine it with the warm mia.
tion; but he had said he disdained to meet the
question here, and discuss it here, because it
was not, nor co^l not bo settled by congress,
and gentlemen who thought so, deceived them
selves most egregiously, and he was determined
that they should know it on the first and every
occasion that presented itself.
If the house had not the right to reject on the
first blush, an offensive communication on its
presentation, it was subject, at all times, to the
insults and impudent abuse of every miserable,
contemptible combination of wretches that
might choose to reflect on, and bring it intodis*
repute.
From the respect which he entertained > tJ T
the honorable gentleman, and for others of the
house, he did not wish to discuss the*characters
of those wicked, infamous, petitioners, nor would
he at that time, though there might be a time
and nn occasion, when he would speak freely ol
those wretches, that were throwing firebrands
into this house, that might light up a flame, not to
be quenched with water, but with blood; and tbe
only way in his judgment to avoid it, was to
stifle every attempt at excitement on the occa
sion, bv putting an early stop to the considera
tion of all such memorials by an immediate
rejection.
He thought it a subject of the first magnitude,
and an object of tho greatest importance, to
settle a precedent whether ibis house had the
right to reject an offensive petition, whenever