Newspaper Page Text
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1F9H77M
ISmUCKAC E.
| cond ca k exploded and lifted the roof up
| several feet, but fortunately without any m-
f jury to Capt. D. who is at this moment
.standing n< ar us iu good health. Col. S.
I was then taken out, but life was e/tinct. It
From the Charleston Courirr. 30/h ult.
GREAT FIRE.
ONE-THIRD OK CHARLkSTON IN RUIN'S.
About 9 o’clock on Friday evening last, j is believed that he was killed by the second
the citizens of Charleston were alarmed ! explosion, as some say he was heard to make
lv lined, from Tradd to Boundary-st. on j «J? lhe I'O'^e at the corner of Liberty and
each side, with here and there a b rick ; ^ a!so employed a lce^f powder,
, , u • i ! in the same manner as Co!. Steedman. Af-
hottsr.and occasionally one intended to j u . p the , louse |(J „ the Illost s . renuoUi C xer-
,v ; se tm-hre-pr.x)l -was always consider- ! tiong wcre made tu get hiln outf and it was
ed ln bp ,h " dangerous place tor a cffcc!c( , in a shor t time, and while he was
conflagration tocominence,and w here,too, ^Jive, but most terribly burned and mutila-
was stored a large portion of the most val- f,, d j] e spoke collectedly to those who
uabie dry goods in the city. ■ took hold of him, was carried home, and
When we artived at the place wltere | jj v ,>d ;0 ;ne half hour after lie reached there;
the fire commenced, the flames had just j his afflicted family having the melancholy
made their appearance in the rear of a ! consolation of hearing him converse before
small shed or building, ndjoininglhe house, he. breathed his last. He died in his per-
noTih-west< orner of Bercsford and King- feet senses, conscious ftom the first moment
si. an ! hut a lew minutes elapsed before | that his life could not be preserved. His
the three or lour other houses, and the \ lo-s will be severely felt, and deeply regret-
house on the south-west corner of Beres-, tt’d. At the same explosion that depth ed
ibrd-sl. w ere also in flames. The fire then | - Nir - - ot ' Il!e > Mr * John Peart, a!so
commenced roaring and leaping from dif- j struck dead, probably by being thrown a-
ferent points, as well in a horizontal direc- ; c 3 ”*' 4 ^ something, and mwaioly mjuico, us
turn ns in the air, with a vigor and viru . ; t!>r re did not appear to be any wounds ex-
ternaliy that would have proved fatal. lie
breathed but a few moments after being ta
ken up. A colored man was also killed at
the same time.
Mr. Robert Munroc, who kept a si ed-
s'.ore, in King st. was found dead on Satur
day morning; having either been burned up
in his store, or some p:ut of the ruins falling
on him. II e was mast dreadfully lacerated
and dismembered.
One white man, we learn, fell down, and
wes taken up and carried into a house in
Market-st. dead, having it is believed, died
from mere fright, or perhaps from apoplexy.
We did not learn his name.
Mr. John D. Brown was so severely
hurt, at the corner of Market and Church-
sts. that liis life is despaired of; we could
not ascertain how the accident occurred.
These are all the fatal, or probably fatal
cases, thalhave yet come to our knowledge.
Several persons have received wounds, some
of them pretty severe, and there may possi
bly by some other lives lost, not yet ascer
tained, but we hope not.
Capt. Southwick, of the sclir. Empire,
arrived on Saturday evening, states, that lie
saw ihe light of the lire at three o’clock on
that morning, when twenty-five miles south
of Savannah, being in a direct line, about
eighty miles from this city. We have in our
possession, a cinder, apparently the remains
of a piece of burnt litjcn or silk, which was
picked upon the morning of the fire, by a
planter, 15 miles distant from Charleston,
where the light was distinctly seen, and the
noise of blowing up of houses heard.
We omitted to mention in the p'oper
place, that the new stores on the old burnt
district, escaped with hardly any damage,
and in the course of a very short period will
without doubt, he completed and occupied.
The splendid store of Messrs. Ripley Miller
& Co. at the c.rner of King and Society-st.
will also again he re-built, and that with the
utmost expedition.
lence, which was truly appalling, and it
Being known to all that there was unusual
scarcity of water, it was apparent to any
observer that the apparatus of the engi
neer, blowing up of houses, and the ap-
plication of nre hooks, were the principal
means to he depended on for battling with
the destructive and devouring element.
Fire hooks, we believe; were used in but
few if any instances, and we are under
lhe impression that there is not a suffi-
cie .t number of them, or that their use
fulness, particularly in pulling down small
buildings is undervalued. The principal
engineer was absent, but his assistant,
Mr. Frederick Schnierle, was promptly 7
on the ground with the apparatus, and,
with a courage, coolness and efficiency,
not to be surpassed, and seldom equalled,
commenced operations, and continued un-
icmittiuglyeuiploycd, until his life became
the sacrifice.
The fire now i apidly extended up lving-
sl. on both sides, and down Market-st. to
Meeiiug-st. with the most uncontrollable
rapidity. The engines were literally pow
erless, except in a few instances—that of
saving the Theatre, perhaps, as prominent
as any other. After passing down Mar
ket-st. (both sides of which, as far as
Church-st. markets included, were des
troyed.) it took a north-easterly direction,
■the wind blowing from the south-west,
but blowing only moderately, and exten
ded in that direction to the sugar refine
ry on Anson-st. thence down Anson to
Hasell-st., thrnce due east to the water,
leaving hut a few buildings between Ha-
sell and Societv-sts. except Mr. Stoney’s
residence on Hasell-st. and Mr. Hey
ward’s house on the corner of East Bay
and Society-st. and ihe large steam mill
of Mr. Bennett. Liberty-st. was the
boundary above King-st. on the northern
'line, ami * s t. Philip to the west, a row of
l'rout buildings being left on the west side
<xjf that and Arcbdalerst.including at least
one-fourth of the centre of our beautiful
and flourishing city, and destroying our
very splendid new Hotel, the pride of the
citizens and nearly ready 7 for the recep
tion of boarders, the new Muionio Hall,
at the west end of the market, the brick
work of which was nearly 7 finished, and
somewhat injuring the new Theatre.
The loss of property is variously esti
mated, but from what we can ascertain, it
will be in the vicinity of THREE MIL
LIONS OF DOLLARS, of which about
one halt is probably insured.
M e wire largely out of the way (in an
*>xtra issued on Saturday last) in our esti-
ainte that the insurance offices would pay
’but 50 per cent of their losses. This es
timate was made at a time of confusion,
when it was impossible to obtain a. cor
rect information. We now learn that the
Charleston Insurance and Trust Compa
ny will pay in full, the Union Insurance
Company, nearly, if not quite all, and the
Fire and Marine 75 per cent, if not more.
The two agencies of Georgia companies,
in this city, are interested, as we under-
-Pland, to the amount of about eighty-five
rthmasaml dollars; their losses of course,
vwili all be paid. An advertisement of the
trust company announces lhatjelaims will
he paid as soon as presented.
It affords us sincere gratification to
-state that the Hotel was insured to the
amount of one hundred thousand dollars,
20,000 each in five different offices, and,
tt here fore this splendid edifice will surely
rise, Phoenix-like from its ashes, to orna
ment Charleston, or wc mistake the spirit
that animates our people.
During the course of the conflagration,
u. building used as a store house, on Ker’s
wharf, foot of Lauren’s street, (formerly
Norton’s rice Mill) took fire from some
cause not exactly known, and burnt to
the ground—loss So,000, no insurance.
The steam packet Njitune, lying at that
wharf, was in imminent danger, but for
tunately, was extricated from her perilous
situation, and anchored in safety in the
sires m.
Gn at loss of life has been sustained,
which has p’,urged many ofour most worthy
and respectable families in the deepest dis-
tiess.
We c immence with that of Col. Charles
John Sicc h nan, naval officer of the port,
a gentleman long known ns one of our most
active auu public spirited citizens, and who,
<>n this calamitous occasion distinguished
himself previous to his death, by his cool,
energetic and fearless conduct—having as
sisted in h! iwing up a number of buildings,
and making hhnself prominently useful in
numerous instances. Tiie powder, in cas-
foons, pi epared for use, gave out early in
the night, and after that powder in kegs was
employed, which i- always a dangerous pro
cess Col. Steedman entered a house on
the east side of East Bay, near Hasell-st.
in company with Mr. M. F. Turley, a mu-
Utto hov, and s veral oilier persons, with
tin kegs of powder, for the purpose of blow
ing it up. Placing one in each room, one
of them exploded and hi vv up the building
while, tlie three above mentioned persons
RED A.ND TWENTY-FIVE! Oh! tale
of wo.
The accident unquestionably occurred
through sheer imprudence and carelessness.
Airful Steamboat Disaster!!—By the arrival
last evening of the Steamer Independence.
Capt. Wheeler, the following heart rending in
telligence has been received:—The steamboat
OroF.oko Crawford master, hence on her pas.
sage to Louisville, elapsed one of her boiler
flues on Saturday morning last at 5 o’clock,
while taking in same passengers at Princelo :,
and oni of nearly 70 deck passengers, only 1
escaped being sea d d to death or dangerously
wounded. Many jumped overboard nfterthey
were scalded thinking, no doubt to obtain relief
and were drowned. Several were left at Pi ince-
ton, (at least 15) dead or humbly mangled.
Only one cabin passenger, a Mr. Brown, was
lost. Mrs Myers and child, from Vicksburg,
were scalded: the latter died immediately, and
little iiope was entertained of the mother. Out
of 33 who were left on hoard the O. nine di' d
before she returned to Vicksburg, and probably
but five or six of those remaining would survive
tucntv.four hours. Among the dead is one of
the engineers, Mr. Powers, who during Ins la =t
moments asserted tint the fault V,us not on his
par*, as there was a sufficient supply of wale*' Ir!
the boilers at the time of ihe accident.—.V. O.
Bulletin, April 24.
From the Cincinnati Whig, Extra.
Cincinnati, April, 25, 1S3S.
MOST AWFUL STEAMBOAT AC
CIDENT.
L >ss f 125 Lucs.—It becomes again our
painful duty to record one of the most aw
ful and destructive occurrences known in
the terrible and iatal catalogue ol steam
boat. accidents.
This afternoon about six o’clock, the
new and elegant steamboat Moselle, Capt.
Perin, left the wharf of this city, (full of
passengers) ibr Louisville and St. Louis,
and, with a. view of taking a family on
hoard at Fulton, about a mile and a half
above the quay, proceeded up lhe river,
and made fast to a lumber raft ibr that pur
pose. Here the family were taken on
hoard, and during the whole lime of the
detention, the Captain was holding on to
all the steam he could create, with an in
tention of showing off to the best advan
tage the great speed of the boat as she
passed down llie whole length of the city.
The Moselle was a new brag boat, and
had recently made several exceedingly
quick trips to and from this place.
Soon as the family were taken on board
from the raft, the boat shoved off; and at
the very moment her wheels made the first
evolution, her boilers burst with a most
awful and astounding noise, equal to the
most violent clap ol thunder. The explo
sion was destructive and heart-rending in
the extreme, as we are assured by a gen
tleman who was silting on his horse on the
shore, waiting to see the boat start.
Heads, limbs, bodies and blood, were seen
flying through the air in every direction,
attended by the most horrible shrieks and
groans from the wounded and the dying.
The boat, at the moment of the accident,
was about thirty 7 feet from the shore, and
was rendered a perfect wreck. She seem
ed to be torn all to flinders as far back as
the gentlemen’s cabin, and her hurricane
deck (the whole length) was entire 1 -
swept away. The boat immed : irtre j, T | >e ~_
gan to sink rapidly,and f l0al) wi qj a s f rong
current, dowq, ine r ivcr, at the same time
Selling farther from the shore
The Captain was thrown bv the explo
sion entirely into the street, and was pick
ed up dead and dreadfully mangled. An
other man was thrown entirely through the
roof of one of the neighboring houses, and
limbs and fragments of bodies scattered
about the river and shore in heart-rending
profusion. Soon as the boat was discov
ered to be rapidly sinking, the passengers
who remained unhurt, in the gentlemen’s
and ladies’ cabins, became panic struck,
and with a fatuity unaccountable, jumped
intij the river. Being above lhe ordinary
business parts of the city, there were no
boats at band except a few large and un
manageable wood flats, which were car
ried to the relief of the sufferers as soon as
possible, by fhc few persons on tne shore.
Many were drowned, however, before they
could be lescued from a watery grave,
and many sunk who were not seen after
wards.
The boat sunk in about fifieen minutes
after the accident, leaving nothing to be
seen but her chimneys and a small portion
DREADFUL FIRE.
A dreadful fire broke out tSlits niorning
between two and three o’clock, on the block
bounded by St. Louis, St. Joakim, St.,Anthony
and Conception slrcois. It originated in a kitch
en occupied by negroes, and belonging to Mr.
Samuel Hopkins, unJ completely destroyed the
whole square. Among the buildings lost were
’ the large s able ofWm. R. Hailr.it, occupied by
Mr. Martin, and the dwellings of Jahn S. Rem-
sen, James loneraritv, Mr. Irwin, of the firmoi
Talcott and Irwin, Isaac B. Ceilings, George
H. Byard, and others whose names we could
not learn. In all there were ten bouses burned,
exclusive of the stables. There was no insu
rance.
It was nppreiv tided at one time, that tlie
square north of the fire would be lost. If Col.
Walton’s large dwelling bad caugh', there is no
doubt that lhe whole of the upper portion of the
city would have been swept into complete ruin.
Happily, however, by constant effort, it was pre
scind. We have ne'er seen fire spread with
such fearful rapidity, and, ever, and anon, a
blast of wind drove before it vast volumes of
flames and smoke and cinders, blinding the spec
tators and inducing comprehension for the whole
of that beautiful poilion of the city.
There was no water to be obtained nearer
than the river, and the delay attend nt on con
veying it so far precluded the possibility of sub-
duing the flames. The firemen, as usual, wore
extremely vigilant, but their most strenuous ef
forts were not very effectual to prevent the
loss of property.
In the early part of the conflagration, Alder
man Remsen freely offered bis dwelling to be
torn down, if it w ould be of any benefit.
We observed that several individuals, who
refused to render assistance at the order of the
fire wardens, were sent off immediately to the
calaboose.—Mobile Examiner, of the 41'l.
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
FROM UPPER CANADA.
Our private advices from Toronto are to
Wednesday Inst. At nine o’clock on that day
General Sutherland was BANISHED FOR
LIFE, to New-Sontb Wales.
It was the prevailing opinion at Toronto on
Wednesday Inst, that there would be no faither
executions, except perhaps of General Theller,
and opinions were about equally divided, as to
the fate of that individual between death and
banishment.
Mr. John G. Parker had pleaded guilty and
thrown .himself upon the court for mercy; it is
feared by bis friends, that be will be among those
who will be banished to New.South Wales.
On the 11th the court v'as occupied with the
trial ofDr. Hunter, who was finally acquitted.
Samuel Lount, who was executed a! To>onto
on the 12th, was upwards of six fet in height,
and aged a ; out 17 years, and is said to have
been a very good looking man. He was a nn
five of Pennsylvania, and had been m Canada
since 1812. He married a daughter of Mr.
Soles, a wealthy farmer, who resales a few
miles north of Toronto; be ha3 left a wife and so
wn children. We are informed that since the
execution a daughter of Lount has died of grief.
She visitrd her father in prison, a slu rt time be
fore his execution, since which her grief has
been extreme. We understand that when Sir
George Arthur was waited on with intreaties
that the life of Lount might he spared, lie said
that he had given that consideration which the
distressing case required, but that he could not,
consistently with his views of justice, extend the
royal clemency to the cases of the two individ
unis, Lount and Mathews. In consideration < f
his family, however, the property of Loom
should not be confiscated, but given to M^s. L.
for the support of hciself and children.
were within. Mr. Turley was im : ediate-, of her u PPer wrrks. Most of the suffer-
Iv picked no, very much'injured, but it is j e / s are nmong the hands of the boat and
li'dievcd will eventually recover, though
probably much crippled. Persons* immeei-
a’ely ran to the wreck to extricate Col. S.
the steerage passengers.
If is supposed that there were about
TWO HUNDRED PERSONS onboard,
and the h *v; while so engaged, Capt. Duff, I of which number only from fifty to seventy-
of the vltip II< raid, reported in the ere ring five, are believed to have escaped, making the
paper as k iled, being on the roof; the se- J estinuit d less of lives about ONE HUND-
FromtheN• O. Merchant's Transcript, 28 ull.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.-
THE PORTS OF MEXICO BROCK*RED.
Tho schooner Snrali Ann, Captain Bontcmps-
hence for Tampico returned last evening in con
sequence of that port being blockaded by the
French brig of war La Pey rouse, on the 22d nit.
Lieut. Henry of the La Pey rouse, who endorsed
the papers of the Sarah Ann, informed Captain
Bontempts that the port of Vera Cruz and other
Mexican ports, was declared under the block
ade on the15th instant by the French fleet, m,
consequence of the Mexican Governm<y llt | snv .
ing refused to pay indemnity.
I he United States s' tIl p Natehes, sailed from
Tampico to p r nsaco!a, to convey the intelli
gence {0 Commodore Dallas.
Texas.—By the steam packet Columbia we
have been put in possession of the following im
portant information. Congress had met and re-
solved that President Houston immediately have
the petition of the United States, relative to the
annexation of Texas, withdrawn, in consequence
of the receipt of a letter from the Minister in
England, staling that a treaty of Commerce had
been entered into between England and Texas.
Land Ho!—Yesterday was a proud day for
New York. It witnessed the restoration of spe
cie payments in less than twelve months from
the time of suspension, and after one of the most
fatal mercantile revulsions which ever happened.
Such a recovery IVoin such a wreck, the world
never saw. It is attributable, unde.r the blessing
of Heaven, to the energy, the sound intelligent
good sense, and moral intergity of our citizens.
The banks have resumed in the fullest sense of
the term. They have also returned to the use of
their own notes, which they now pay out as for.
merly. The hearts of our citizens were filled
with joy at this as well they might be.
'The arrival of two steam ships, also, from Eu
rope, in such a manner as to remove all doubt
about the entire feasibility of navigating the At-
lantic in that manner, was a most ii portant and
most gratifying event. It hiings us within ten or
fifteen days of Europe and gives us such increas.
ed certainty, as well ns quickness, that a new
era opens upon ns. Take it all in all, we think
a commercial community were seldom more
happier than ours yesterday.—N.Y. Journal
of Commerce, 24 ull.
COL. TOLETTER.
w —
Washington, 16th April, 1833.
To the Editor of the Constitutionalist—
Dear Fir—I h ve the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your lelter of 29:li March, for
which allow me to return you my thanks. The
kind terms in which you have been pleased to
allude to me, and the humble part I have borne
in sustaining the principles to which we are at
tached, tl ma (1 of me a prompt avowal of my
opinions, and the course it is my inteniion to pur
sue on the absorbing and deeply interesting ques
tion oi the currency, which of Into has engaged
public attention to the exclusion of almost every
thing else. I feel Ihe more willing to comply
wiih your request, not only from a sense of re
gard to you personally, but as a tribute of res
pect, to the elevated, independent and consis
tent course you have pursued as the conductor
of a public Journal in times the most trying. I
wjll not affect to conceal from \ou or iho pub
lic, that 1 have received communications of late,
that would have justified the same answer I now
make yours. I have, however, for reasons,
whether well :ak'*n or not, l will not pretend to
say, chosen to remain silent, until art opportuni
ty, free from all objections in my own judgement,
should ha afforded me, to present mv views lo
the people ol Georgia, ?o whom I am so much in
debted for past favors. Your letter has reiiev-
ed me fro,'ll all embarrassment. 1 now fe*d that
I am addressing one, and through him my constit
uents, than whom mJ man can be morn attach
ed by every fcciiog that unites the head and
heart in one untiringCh-sire t? advance their wel
fare. If I could bring myself to believe a pub
lic servant “should, under ordinary* c.'rcutn-
stances, complain of suspicions unjustly founded,
1 might here pause, and ask those who hold the
language of censure to point to the ac of mv
political life, when I have deserted your nrinci-
ples or betrayed your interest.
That I have pursued, and shall continue lo
pursue, an independent course in the discharge
of my official duty, I openly avow. I recog
nise no law, no usage, nor custom, lo regulate
pay coin, is what the advocates for receiving the
notes of local Banks must come to, beibru they
can sh<*w the autnuritv for receiving local pa
per in the payment of Government dues. Since
this view of the question was first presented to
my mind, I am free to admit, that, with all my
sympathies and attachment for State institutions,
I have felt that the question, so far ns I was
concerned, was settled.
But ngain: J denv the power in Congress to
raise money from the people, either by direct
taxes, or duties on foreign merchandise, to con
stitute a Banking fund for private corporations.
If the State Banks are again to become the fis
cal agents of the Government, their promises to
pay in the shape of Bank notes are not only
treated as money, and virtually heroine money
by the very act of the Government, but these
very promises to pay, instantly returns to the
Bank in the shape of a deposile, and in that
character, like a hot bed, breeds a new* swarm
of promises, at least three, and often five or six
for each one deposited. And all this is the ne
cessary, or rather the unavoidable consequence,
of treating ns money the original promise.
There are two objections arising under the
Constitution in this aspect ol tiie case; 1st, mon
ey taken from the pdfkets oi the people should
he faithfully applied lo the wants of lhe Gov
ernment. and when applied to any other pur-
purpose it is- against law; 2nd, money cannot be
taken from the Treasury unless appropriated by
law. This system does, in effect, appropriate
money to the use of Banks without law.
But the connection between the Government
and State Banks is liable to many oilier objec
tions, even in reference t<> the true interests of
the hanks themselves, as all experience has de
monstrated. I: there was no other objection,
the ^mple fact of selecting twenty-five out of
eight hunu r "d. or otic hundred out of eight hun
dred, is sLifliciont to derange the whole local
currency of the country. Money is power, and
if you deposile with one barlk, you weaken all
the other banks of her neighborhood. As you
give strength to one, you weaken the others, un
til eventually rivalry springs up, runs are made
ultimately, and if suspensions do not take place,
State Rights ntid United States’ Rights. \ and thus reported? Heretl
ho v are pre S e nl .
year, with ull »| :e
sup.
1 ed in words and
tr, with ull
cv of the ta!
lar form. The
‘"Tis thestar-span**led banner, oh, long may it wave,
O’er the Rind of the free and the home ofthe brave,”
FEDERAL UNION.
MILLEDGEVILLE, MAY 8, 1838.
53^ The letter of Col. Towns to Mr.
Guieu will be found in today’s paper.
presses the name?, hot exhibits the nnm
her, of the members of Congress who a'
tamed loans ofthe bank, and the nrno^
obtained, from 1S2S to 1804. Now ^
let the Senate and the nation b-ar’it^
mind, that it was in his message -,r .h*
opening of ihe session of 1S29--30 tl
Fresident Jackson announced his oh‘ **
lion to the renewal of the charter.
that moment, the renewal 1 ’ r0W
bec ame tfor
my course in the discharge of my public duty,
hut the known will of my constituents, and the I whereby the bill-holders are greatly injured,
approbation of my own judgement. Iftbeseare the regular channels of business become de
Specie payments.—We unders’nr d that se
veral of our city banks have redeemed their
snmJ hills with specie during the past week.
This looks well. Confidence will soon bo res
tored.—Boston Gazette.
not the principles to which you and the parry to
which we are both attached have been strug
gling to maintain, then my public life, short as it
may he, has been already too mrig to command
my own respect, *nd I will seek retirement as
I lie only refuge from a staffer) replete with
danger to my honor, my conscience and my pa
triotism.
5ou will, I am su e, pardon something lo a
wounded sensibility. ^ ou are not ignorant of
some ol the efforts m»de to prejudice me in the
estimation o! a constituency to whom l am in
debted for all I ftm, and whose honor and wel.
faro have ever been my constant care and high-
esi ambition. Thus much I felt bound to say in
vindication of myself, from a gratuitous attack
made upon me and one of my colleagues, through
the columns of the Seattnel and Herald, by a
le'ter written from Washington city, under date
of 8th Fe 1 *. last. So far as my colleague is
concerned, he has answered for himself, and
therefore requires no advocacy from me. The
objectionable article is as follows:
“But we had every reason lo hope that the U-
niori members, who had been elected by the ad-
minis'ration party of Georgia, would fairly and
truly represent the principles and opinions of
their political friends who placed them in their
seats. But I fear we shall be disappointed.—
Mr. Grantland, it is said, will vote with the
wings, and Col. Towns’ course is considered
doubtful. lie voted with the administration at
the extra session; but it is feared and believed
that he will vote agamst the. bill at the present
session. 1 arn certain that you, and every sin.
cere friend of the administration, will regret with
me, that so important a measure, and upon which
depends, in a great degree theexistecce or down
fall ol the democratic parry, should be lost hy
lic rotes of any portion of our own delegation,
who were elected by the cheerful and confiding
voice of the Union party.”
Solar as 1 am concerned, I forbear comment
upon the above extract. I leave the author to
reap nil “the glory” of anticipating and misre
presenting my course, and the gr itifiralion he
will Jowb’le.ss feel when he shall know his appre
hensions were without foundation.
! will now proceed, in as brief a manner as I
can, to give you my ©pinions on the main point
referred to in your letter.
1st. I am opposed on Constitutional ground as
well as expediency to the re-chnrter of the Bank
of the United States, or anv other Bank, based
upon the same principles ofthe old United States
Bank.
2d. I shall vote fl.r a di vorce between the fis
cal operation ofthe Government and the Banks,
or, in other words, against the renewal of the
connection between tiie Government and tiie
Banks. I presume you do not expect of me an
argument at length in support of the course i
shall pursue. I would gladly give all the rea
sons that have led me to the conclusions ] have
arrived at, it time and space would permit. But
as I hope to have a wider field before the close
of the session to present my views to my constit
uents, I must content rnvself at present with say
ing no more than is necessary to a corrwcf un
derstanding of my position in reference to this
great question.
First, then, why do I support the divorce?—
Not that I believe the policy of the system the
very best that could bo devised. No, 8ir; far
from it. Not that I beffevc it will equalize rj*
once, if ever, the dornesric exchanof the
country. Not that I b-lieve it w, f ] have an im
mediate remedial influence over the local cur
rency ol the w' <l0 ; 0 country; or that it will better
the people from extreme points to can-
c; I and discharge outsnnding balances. No,
Sir; I have no such sanguine expectations. The
good the system will do, will come hereafter;
hut in what shape, or at what period 1 leave to
'. me to disclose. But I vote for tiie system,
first, because I believe it to be the wish of mv
constituents: secondly, because I am satisfied
there is no power vested in Congress under the
Constitution to receive the notes of local Banks
in payment of pu‘ lie dues. The power of Con
gross by the Constitution is, 11 To coin money,
r-gulate lhe value thereof, and of Foreign coins,
and fix the standard of weights an t measures."
This is the only power that Congress can exer-
dsc over the currency of the country. And
can any man, who believes in the doctrine of
a strict construction of the Constitut on, or ad
heres to the old school of the State Rights party,
for a moment suppose, that this clause of the
Constitution authorizes Congress to bargain mid
stipulate with State institutions to receive their
notes as money? Remember, Sir, there is not
a Bank m the Union that is not of State origin.
They are the creatures of the States; made for
local purposes, over which Congress has no
control. The Congress has no power over the
internal |>olieeof the State Banks; there can be
no in vest iga ion of their affairs as a matter of
legal right by Congress. Yet the very idea of
receiving the bills of local Banks pre supposes j j gr tJls(
the existing right of “regulating the value there, j
of." If Congress has the power to receive the
notes of local Banks m payment of public dues,
it must at the same time therefore be conceded,
that the power to regulate those institutions be
longs also to Congress. Grant this, and how
long will there be a vestige of State sovereign,
ty worth preserving? The Constitution, as re-
gards the currency, does appear to wear a hard
aspect, but hard as it is wo should adhere to it,
or amend it. But again; what is a Banknote?
Certainly not money in the terms of the Consli.
tmion, but a promise, a mere nuked promise to
pay the header on demand the very identical
thing tl o Constitution • designate as money,
and has piven tlr * power to Congress,
and regu'ate the value thereof.’
ranged, to the great detriment of all. But I
need not detain you longer on this head; I am
perfectly aware that every financier connected
with the local institutions of the country, except
at a few points, where the revenue is collected
will shortly perceive, if they do not already, that
the banking interest of this country can eoly
he preserved from titter ruin, bv a to ! ;vl so pa ra
tion of their ufl’ufts from the fiscal operations of
this government. It is said, however, that the
po'icy of the d vorce, is a death blow aimed at
the credit system of this country. This cannot
he true, unless it can be shown that it is also a
death blow to the banks, and the banking system.
It is universally admitted that our credit system
is basid upon the bunking system, and if a di
vorce would improve tiie banking system it must
necessarily follow that our credit system would
also be improved. If, on the other hand, both
the banking and credit system is so frail in their
structure as to depend upon an unlawful connec
tion with the Government for existence, either
they or your Government must go down. But
such is not the fact. Leave the enterprize and
energies of the pcop'e to themselves; excite no
fears nor false hopes, and n few short months will
wipe away the gloom and sadness of the day,
to bring forth a morning of joyous prosperity.—
All that we want is confidence, and that we
never can have until every man is taught to re-
ly on himself, his best agent, for the success of
his efforts. So long as the gre it concerns of
private life are regarded as identified with the
poitc.y of government, we are apt t> relax in our
efforts, as the storm approaches, to take shelter
under an imaginary governmental power until
hope vanishes and ruin ensues. I am satisfied,
the only hope we have, under existing circum
stances, of restoring confidence and the resump
tion of business ofevery description, is for the go
vernment promptly to assert, by a system of le
gislation, the important truth, that should be
every where known, that there is no power
under the Constitution in Congress to regu'ate
exchanges or currency, only so fir as * to coin
mosey, regulate the value thereof, and of fo
reign coin.” That all beyond this is the work
of the Slates, and the people, and they must look
to themselves for success. Can any one doubt
that much of the derangement, every where ex
perienced, in the exchange of the country, is to
be attributed to the efforts of the government to
regu'Hle that, over which it has no power, on the
one hand, and the false security reposed by the
whole banking and credit system of the country,
in this supposed power of Congress, on the other?
As the Constitution now stands, with the great di
versity of opinion as to the power as well as du
ty of Congress over the subject of the currency
and exchanges, I c-in perceive no security to
either but by the Federal Govenrment falling
back upon its undisputed constitutional ground,
leaving the disease tocure itself, or exhaust tiip
patient, rather than run the risk of applying
medicines, that will certainly kill.
If experience should demonstrate, as I am
frpo to admit I fear it will, the necessity of en
larging the powers of Congress, and restricting
those of the States over the question ofeurrenev
so as to give to the former a ch*ar right of cre
ating a mixed currency, and inhabiting the lat
ter in the extravagant exercise of that right,
it will then be time enough for the Federal Go
vernment to do what I am satisfied she has no
power to do nt present.
As I think I have already said enough, no* to
be misunderstood. I wili conclude by answer
ing so much ol your lelter as rela’es to my name
being brought before the Convention that will as
semble in May next, at Milledgeville, for the
purpose ol organizing a Congressional Ticket
i'or the Union Party of Georgia. 1 do not d
sire a nomination; and, if nominated, I do not
at present believe it would be in my power to
serve, ifelected. In addition to this, extraordi-
dinaty efforts have been made, as I apprehend
front what I have seen in the public prints, and
from other sources of information, to fix public
attention upon an entirely new ticket. All of
my colleagues, as I understand have made
known their inteniion to decline the honor of
ha\ ing their names put in nomination for re-elec
tion. For myself, I have been content to be a
silent observer of passing events, and will most
cheerfully acquiesce in the decision of the Con
vention.
With great respect, I have the honor to be,
your obedient servant.
GEORGE W. TOWNS.
Mr. P. C. Guieu, Avgusta, Ga.
fHE t’MOS CONVENTION.
The Delegates lront the several counties,
for the purpose of nominating a ticket for
Congr'--s to he supported by the Union Par
ty of this Flute, met ystertlay, ami vre no
tice with grta: pleasure, the magnitude of
this body, and :h<* tak :tt> and respectability
of its members.
Thomas Spaldinc, Esq. of McIntosh
County, was unanimously called tothe Chair,
and John T. Lamar, Esq. appointed Sec
retary, with F. H. Sanford, Esq. as his as
sistant.
More than two hundred Delegates were
present, and we think a reasonable certain
ty exists that the feelings, wishes and inter,
ests of the party will be duly regarded in the
nominations made.
We will not disguise our anxiety in the cri
sis we have arrived at. Every o* e knows
that the Union Party contains within itself a
great majority of the people of Georgia; and
yet, who has not witnessed its defeats? The
Convention, we trust, has met for the pur
pose of securing harmony and uneinimi’y.
They have a delicate anil difficult task to
perform. The triumph of one faction but
engenders another; and nothing is so easy
as to defeat a party filled with unmanagea
ble materials. We trust a week will not
pass by before we shall have it in our power
to announce to our readers that the Union
Party has shaken off these fetters, and that
a ticket worthy of their undivided support
is before them.
We are unable from the shortness of the
time allowed us before going to press, to
give a detailed statement of the ptoceedings
ofthe Convention of yesterday. The Chair
man on taking his seat, delivered an anima
ted and eloquent address to the Convention,
which was received with the warmest dem
onstrations of feeling. Several propositions
were submi'ted, but that finally received, a
mended and adopted, by the body, was offer
ed by Dr. David Kendali., of Upson coun
ty. It was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That a committee to be com
posed of three from each judicial circuit,
be a [pointed by the chair lo make out a
list of the names of gentlemen who have
been or may be proposed as suitbale per-
ons to be placed upon a Congressional
ticket, and who are known to be willing
to accept a nomination, and that said com
mittee have 200 copies of such list print
ed, and placed upon the table for the use
of the members of this Convention, at
their meeting on to-morrow morning.
And the following offered by Dr. Mc
Whorter, was adopted, to wit:
Resolved, That a committee of one from
each Judicial Circuit, be appointed by the
Chair to draft a Preamble and Resolutions
expressive of the principles and views of
the Union Party of Georgia, which our
candidates for Congress shall be expect
ed to express their approbation.
The meeting adjourned till three o’clock
P. M.
Noble Liberality.—His Honor the Mayor re
ceivt-d yesterday, from the Mayor of Wilming
ton, N. C., the sum of $1,100, the contribution
of that city for the relief of sufferers by our re
cent conflagration. An act of such prompt and
spontaneous benevolence awakes our liveliest
and most heartfelt gratitude.—Charleston Cour
Generous Contribution.—Messrs. Fort, Towns
end and Mendenhall have handed the Mayor a
check for $5U0, to be appropriated for the relief
of the sufferers by tbe late fire.—ib.
per, nttd b> regulate tbe value of a promise to j
“We unders'and that instructions were recei
ved this morning, authorizing the collector of
Customs in this city to receive all the notes of
the city bunks, of those who do not issue paper
of a less denomination than five dollars. The
filth section of a recent law prevents the receipt
of such notes. Tire banks in this city which
have not availed themselves of the late law of
to coin tfi c State, are the Manhattan. Bank of America,
To coin pa- Rn J Bank of tire State of New York.”
[.V«p York Advertiser, 90tk uft.
We acknowledge our thanks to the hon
orable Wilson Lumpkin, Gen. Thomas
Glascock, lhe honorable H. Holsey and
Jesse F. Cleveland, our Senator and Rep
resentatives in Congress, and tool her dis
tinguished gentlemen of that bodv, for
the various important and interesting pub
lic documents furnished us by them. We
regret that ous paper is at present neces
sarily taken up in the publication of the
Bank reports to their exclusion. At a fu
ture day, when they will not. he uninler-
resting to our readers, we shall lay before
them the entire speech of Mr. Allen, of
Ohio, on the bill to separate the Govern
ment from the banks; and the speech of
tbe honorable Mr. Duncan, on another im
portant subject.
Mr. Allen’s speech, we suppose, lias
been furnished to many of our friends in
Georgia, bv 7 our representatives in Con
gress. We would earnestly, though res
pectfully, solicit Ibr it an attentive peru
sal by those who have received it. We
have read it with great satisfaction. The
reader will find it worthy of his time and
study. It is a fine specimen of eloquence,
and cannot fail to interest every one with
many (acts highly important to be under
stood and considered at the present mo
ment, in relation to the corruptions of the
United States Bank, while it existed—
and with much important instruction on
the subject of the Sub-Treasury system,
proposed in Congress, during this session.*
This speech makes some astounding ex
posures contained in the reported proceed
ings, in relation tothe United States Bank,
that are unanswered by the bank cham
pions, and which should awaken the fears
of every freeman in the Union, against the
unconstitutional, dangerous and detesta
ble control of such an institution, over tbe
Government and liberties of the people,
and the morals and honesty of their rep
resentatives. Tbe following extract from
it shows some of the many outrageous,
corrupt and unprecedented efforts ol this
monster, to control the people, when its
re-charter was under consideration by
their representatives in Congress, and
which are well worthy ofthe observation
of every republican and anti-Bank, Aris
tocrat, Federalist, Whig and Abolitionist.
Who can look upon this statement with
out knowing the effect such things must
have upon the country, or without en
tertaining an utter abhorrence for the es
tablishment of another such institution
and the reinstatement of its Nick, to rule
over them.
In 1834, (it was the panic session) a
majority of this body being in favor of the
bank, instructed the Committee on Fi
nance, which was also favorable, “to in
vestigate the affairs and conduct” of that
institution; and that committee made,
through Mr. Tyler of Virginia, a report
upon facts furnished by the bank itself.
What then, are the facts thus furnished
subject of political strife; and let it n™.*
be forgotten, that it was through Con^Z
the bank was to pas, or die. Few, jfZT
of the members were merchants’
business required large advances of mon -
ey. But tl such advances were necessa
ry, why were they not obtained from tl,,
stx or eight hundred local banks, some of
winch were standing in the State, the dig
tnct, and even at the very door of almost
every member? Why did members pa , 3
all these, and apply lor loans lo the !,ni v
bank upon whose life or death thev were
required to decide? But is this the fact?
Can it be possible that public men could
*sk private favors from an institution which,
nt the same moment, was asking public
favors of them? And will it be believed
that both parties, regardless alike of their
obligations to the countrv and ofthe opin
ions of the world, gratified the desires of '
each other in every particular, and to the
full limit of their mutual powers? Yes, this-
table answers these questions; and, if I
mistake not, the answer will astound this
nation. It shows, that in the very first
ycarof the* bank contest—the yearof 1S30,
the bank loaned one hundred and ninety-
two thousand one hundred and sixtv-one
dollars to fifty-two members of Congress,
that, in 1831, it loaned three hundred
& twenty-two thousand one hundred and
ninety-nine dollars to fifty nine members;
that, in 1S32, it loaned four hundred and
seventy-eight thousand and sixty-nina
dollars to forty-four members; that, in.
1833, it loaned three hundred and seventy-
four thousand seven hundred and sixty--
six dollars to fifty-eight members; and
that, in 1S34, it loaned two hundred and
thirty-eight thousand five hundred atul
eightv-six dollars to fifty-two members.
“Thus it was, that during the five years
of the contest, ending with the panic ses
sion of 1S34, the Bank of the United
States, struggling for a renewalofits char
ter, distributed in loans, one million six
hundred and five thousand seven hundred
and eighty 'one dollars, to two hundred
and sixtv-five members of Congress.
This enormous sum, greater than the ag
gregate salaries ofall tho members of both
Houses of Congress during the same pe
riod of five years—a sum equal to one-
fifteenth part of the whole annual reve
nues and expenditures of the Federal
Government—this sum was thus bestow
ed, as accommodations, by the bank, at a
time of pretended pressure, upon the very
men of whom it was asking a charter—a.
charter, which, if granted, would enable
the bank to levy millions in tribute, year
af ter year, upon their constituents.
“Sir, these things may have all been in
nocent. It may be that the additional
half million of dollars thrown, as facilities,.,
into the two Houses of Congress by the
bank, in 1832—the very time when its
re-chaiter was pending and passed—it
may be that the large amount, still in ad
dition, thrown in whilst the question of re
storing the deposits was pending, in 1834
—it may be,that these great and well-tim
ed favors, bestowed by the bank upon
men whilst sitting in judgment upon its
life and its claim to the public revenue—
it may be, that these things had no other
effect than to make the recipient member
belter patriots, more devoted tothe public
interests, less intent upon their own, and
more impartial actors iu the contest be
tween the people and the bank. These
loans may have been harmless, these men
unco.Tupted. I know not one, byname,,
who received these moneys, for their
names are suppressed in the report ofthe
committee. I speak not, therefore, to
criminate or wound the feelings of any
one. But, sir, I know the nature of man;
I know that coming to Congress changes
him not for the better; I know that grati
tude for favors is a principle of that na
ture; I know that obligations are thus cre
ated which the human heart jS bound to
acknowledge, and tbe human mind find*
it hard to disobey. These things Iknow;
and I know, too, that public liberty can
never be safe whilst public men are ex
posed to such temptations. It is for these
reasons, sir,-that I stand up this day. not
only as an American Senator, but in the
still prouder attitude of an American citi
zen, to warn my countrymen of a danger
which I most solemnly believe now threat
ens the purity and safety of their Gov
ernment.
“But, sir, is this all? Were there no
other influences but the facilities ol that
bank exerted upon the members ot Con
gress during the contest? Were there no
other relations subsisting between tbe
members and the bank, but those of bor
rower and lender? How many of its law
yers and stockholders occupied seals in
this Capitol? How many men sat here
who were the lawyers, stockholders and
borrowers of the numerous local banks
which had petitioned Ibr the recharter of
the Bank of the United States, because
interested as part of the same system.
How many such men were to be found m
the several legislatures, bending the influ
ence of whole States to bear upon tin*
cardinal object? And now, sir, 1 put the
question, if that institution, alone, had,
pending the struggle, such a number of
its attorneys, stockholders and borrowers,
in the two Houses of Congress, how many
of such agents and dependants may th ,s ’
with its league of eight hundred local
banks, be supposed now to have under
this roof—now when all these corpora
tions are making a united effort to grasp
the public revenues?
“Sir, I again say, that members stand
ing in such relations to the banks, even at
at a time like this, may still be innocent;
they may be uninfluenced by bank emol
uments in deciding the question ol reward
ing banks with the profitable use of the
public money. xAll this is possible; hut
•lead us not into temptation,’ is, neverthe
less, a part of that prayer which is the in
heritance of our race. .
“If, in the administration of justice, t