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SATURDAY, FEB. 16. Mr. Pickett and the Hiwassee and Bine Ridge Railroad Bill. yfe chrorfully insert a letter from Mr. Pickett, member from Gilmer, defining his position, and reporting his remarks in the House on the above bill. We do so from our respect for that gentle man, and in order that both sides may be heard. Having already presented our views in opposition to his, we will not now resume the subject. We will simplv reply one word to his enquiry. “ Union aounty has a Railroad charter. My (Gilmer) coun ty and the county below have railroad charters. Why not let us build our roads from the main trunk”? No objection in the world for all these counties to build roads to the main trunk if they wish, or any of them wish to do so. But there is mo justice in seeking to compel a county, to do so against its wish, by refusing it the privilege of building to another road chartered, by the State, which lies nearer to it than the State Road. The apprehension of loss of trade and travel over our Georgia roads, which may result by the con atruction of the Hiwassee, we consider fanciful. Even then Savannah will be forty miles nearer to Chattanooga, by the State Road, than Charleston would be by the new route. And were it not so, it still cannot be doubted that there will be busi ness enough for all the roads constructed, or likely to be, for a generation to come at least. The pro ductive power and resources of all that country, and the immense regions beyond, are but begin ning to be developed, and are beyond computation. Railroads have never yet, at the South, kept pace with the demand for facilities, and with the busi ness pressing upon them. The railroad connec tions and facilities between contiguous States of the South cannot be too great. These facilities act and re-act for the mutual benefit of all. Trade can not well go out of a State without bringing in return a reciprocal trade of equivalent value. The supply to its citizens of the nmplest railroad facilities to carry their produce out of the State, and return with what they get in return, should be a leading policy of the State, especially when the eitizens agree to furnish the money to build the road; or get their neighbors to do it for them. If «ie people of other States are willing to bring their money among us, and build roads with it, we should be much obliged to them. It is so much capital expended among us, which we would otherwise bave to furnish from our own pockets. The levy of tolls on the produce of other States, passing through our own, is not the main objectfor which railroads are or ought to be built or connte ■anced by the State. The stockholders have their account in this source of revenue, and the State of Georgia, as the sole owner of our road, gets profit from this. But it was not solely or mainly to be a rich railroad proprietor Georgia went into the Milroad business. The main object was not to taake money for her treasury, but to promote the Interest of her own citizens, and enhance the value and productiveness of their otherwise almost val ueless and unproductive lands. In the same view ahe should encourage the building of other roads by her citizens. If there were fifty railroads in the State, even if they paid stockholders but the small est modicum of dividends, or only paid expenses, they would still be immensely promotive of the prosperity, power and resources of the State, and a very great blessing to all her citizens near enough to make use of them. The State should pursue a more liberal and en larged policy than simply or mainly to legislate for the purpose of putting dividends in the pockets as railroad stockholders, or into her own treasury. It is not discrimination against existing railroads to prevent citizens having new roads by a nearer Bn," to market. It is discrimination against these •itlzens to require them to build new roads by cir cuitous routes to existing Roads. Atlantic and Gulf Railroad. The bill for tMs great enterprise, reported bv the joint committee of the Senate and House, to con struct a railroad across the Southern portion of the State to the junction of the Flint and Chattahoo chee, or Fort Gaines, or some intermediate point on the Western border, from the Little Satilla, in the Eastern portion of the State, commencing at or near the intersection of the county lines of Ap pling, Ware and Wavne counties, is meeting with much favor among the members of the Legislature. The bill is accompanied by a luminous and com- ! prehensive report from the committee—a commit- ! tee composed of ten of the most intelligent mem bers of the General Assembly. It is said to be t from the pen of Mr. Spalding, Senator from Mein- ' tosh, one of the most forcible and polished writers in the Legislature. The details of the bill we will be enabled to furnish our readers in a day or two. ( The Eastern terminus of the road will be about »eventy-five miles from Savannah, and about forty miles from Brunswick. It is directly in the line of J the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad, already Marly completed twenty miles; and it is in the direct line in which the first ten miles of the Bruns wick Railroad poinls, so that an extension of these j two lines would cause them to intersect at the Sa- ( tilla. It is true the Brunswick route deflects at or • near the last named distance, from this direction, { and turns southward, but there is not much work t done beyond the deflecting point, nnd the loss of , railroad work would not be great if the original route be abandoned for this shorter route to the j projected uiain trunk. This project would, if carried out, in effect be ( similar to the policy of the State in stopping its . great Western and Atlantic Road at Atlanta, thus , inviting Macon, Augusta, Rome, Newnan and West Point to meet at that point. It would, in one re- ' spect, be making a second Atlanta on the Satilla, though it is not to be expected that as flourishing a c city as Atlanta will spring up at that point of junc- j tion. , One of the features of the bill is that the State I should take stock in this Road to the extent of -of the whole—not quite one-haif r The private stockholders, owning more than half 5 of the stock, would control it, and thus save the 1 State from the embarrassments which the manage- 1 meat of her own great road imposes, and which c the whole State recognizes as an evil. i We merely submit the maiu outlines of this new and bold project, deferring comments to another time. We ore not yet prepared to advocate the C plan as it stands, as so important a question calls ' for deliberate consideration, and much may be said ' on both sides. It will meet with strong opposition f from mauy persons and many interests committed to and connected with the Brunswick and Florida ! Road. It is not expected that those living on and near the line of the latter enterprise, and those ! owning lands ou and near it, though non-residents, will willingly acquiesce in the abandonment of that route for the new one. But the new route would ' probably accommodate quite as large a number of citizens, and give an outlet to as extensive a terri tory as the Brunswick Road. It would probably o cr to the cities of Savannah and Brunswick as arge and lucrative a trade, and place it within the reach of both at much smaller outlay of capital an Houd be required for both of their present Georgia aDS or P ene^ra^n g to South-western . proposed road would unquestionably be of unmeuse service to a large and fertile region— •,.V greatly enhance the value of lands, and sa w-L! J* Bet tlement and profitable cultivation, wnat the Weetem and Atlantic Railroad did for Q® ro .*ee Georgia, this road would do for Southern r pa. As a financial operation it would event w >r ° V * e M ut^c ' OUB an( * successful, for the road , e /^, an am °uct of trade and travel that no *° ma *e it profitable. It would not be liable to the objections that are urged against “State Aid” projects which contemplate the in dorsement, by the State, of the bonds of chartered Companies owued solely by individuals. These are first impressions in favor of the plan of the joint committee, or of some plan embracing its main features and objects, but are liable to be re moved or weakened when the question comes up for discussion. It is one of importance, inri ting general scrutiny. Our present purpose is to invite attention to it, more than to offer an argu ment. One sentiment, however, is quite prevalent in the State, and we fully respond to it. Southern Georgia has a strong equitable claim on the State for aid in some shape her to enjoy railroad facilities, and it is the interest of the State to re cognise and respond to that claim. There is some conflict of interests in Southern and Southwestern Georgia, in relation to the route indicated in the bill, and the-ie are rights vested by the Brunswick and Florida Railroad charter, and contracts enter ed into under that charter, which detriment by the consummation of the plan of the committee. This will require some modification, in order to harmonize those interests. It is a fair subject for compromises and mutual concessions. It is essential that such harmony should be secured, and that the representatives of that section of the State should act together in a kindly spirit. It is out of the question to expect that the Legislature will do anything for that section, or any portion of it, while it is divided by conflicting councils among its own members of that body. The Legislature will be slow to confer, by a large subscription, a questionable boon upon a section of the State it aims to benefit. A former legislature deter mined to build the Western and Atlantic Railroad in defiance of the votes and protests of the mem bers from that section; but it is not to be expected that the present Legislature would repeat the ope ration for the sake of a few counties in Southwest ern Georgia, in opposition to the votes of members from other counties in that section. The true and only policy for that section, then, is for its members first to agree among themselves upon what they want, and to ask for it in a body. It is the true policy of Savannah and Brunswick, to compose their strifes and adjust their rivalries in regard to their favorite railroad projects, aud co-operate for their common good, and for the ben efit of all Southern and Southwestern Georgia. That vast and fertile region has dormant resources and an undeveloped trade sufficient to satisfy the reasonable cravings of both cities. Should the new project be carried out in con formity to these views, it will not be the end of railroad enterprises in Southern Georgia. It will be but an auspicious beginning. Shorter roads to accommodate the tiers of counties above and below the selected line, will be built, and unite with the main trunk. The Florida roads, on the South will, sooner or later, do the same, and the extension of the main line into Alabama on the West, will finally put the Atlantic cities of Georgia in communication with Mobile and Montgomery, and their connections West and North. To crown the whole, Southern Georgia will, by the Americus, Albany and Florida Railroad, be placed in connection with Cherokee Georgia. We close the subject at present, by the following extract from the Thomasville Enterprise : “The railroad from Brunswick to Albany would connect with the railroad now building from Amer icus to that point, and give one continuous railroad line from, the Mountains to Brunswick. Then, in case*of a hostile fleet visiting our coasts, our men from the mountains would rush to the sea-board, choosing for their teachers and commanders those that had been trained in military tactics at our own school. “ In reference to depredations committed by the British oil our coast, in the war of 1812 and *lßls, there are mauy now in the State of Georgia that have a feeling recollection. The British fleets en tered the ports, invited the negroes to leave their masters, and join their standard, enlisting the men in their black regimekt; abd actually carried off, several thousands of />nr slaves. “To show the utter helpless and exposed condi tion of our ,sea-board in the event of a \gme win 1 Great Britain, I take (from the Tax Books of 1855, the following—of four counties: Camden county gives in 3,481 slaves—voters 268 Glynn “ “ 3,355 “ “ 108 Mclntosh “ “ 4,350 “ “ 205 Liberty “ “ 6,293 “ “ 307 “England is far moreabolitionized now than she was then—for since that time she has abolished slavery in her West India Islands, but a four days sail of us, aud has established regiments of ne groes there. “ And now let me ask, has it occurred to our statesmen, how exposed is our condition in case of a sadden descent of a hostile fleet upon our shores?" Anderson, or £dgelield t The Knoxville Register, of Jan 81, says: “We observe a controversy is being carried on through the columns of the Augusta papers, relative to the proper terminus of the railroad projected from that city, and designed to tap the line of the Knox ville and Charleston road. The two points in ques tion are Anderson and Edgefield, S. C. If the people of this section could have a choice in the matter, they could point the citizens of Augusta to a very weighty argument iu favor of Anderson, in the fact that by making an outlet at Anderson, from the Blue Ridge road to Augusta, much of the trade that will necessarily pass over that road, would thus find an easier access to market at Au gusta and Savannah ; whereas, as it appears to us, if the Augusta road be taken down to Edgefield, all such trade will of necessity, go exclusively to Charleston. This road is one of considerable im portance to the people of this portion of the coun try, inasmach as it would shorten the route to Au gusta about one hundred miles.” Ghx. Pierce. —ln the Diary and Correspondence of the late Amos Lawrence, of Boston, is the sub joined remark in relation to General Pierce. It will be remembered that Mr. Lawrence was a presidential elector, and cast his vote for General Scott ; but in a letter to a friend in South Caroli na in 1852, he said; “My nephew by marriage, Franklin Pierce, seems to be a prominent candi date for the White House for the next four years, lie is the soul of honor, and an old fashioned Dem ocrat born and bred, and can be depended *on as such.” F urthkr prom Kansas. —The Missouri Democrat, of the sth, mentions the return of the Kansas cor respondent of that paper from Kansas, and that he reports “ all wist ” in that territory, “no further outrages being feared, at least, until the assembling of the Legislature at Topeka, on the first of March next.” The thermometer had for six weeks before his departure ranged from 27* below zero to 10° above it. “Two thousand stand of rifles and twenty breech-loading cannon had been received at Lawrence; they were brought secretly through lowa and Ne braska." Singular Fact.— No citizen of the United States was ever convicted of treason. It is quite proba ble that this is the only government in the world in which the same thing can be truly said. Our people make the government, and they will do no act that will tend to destroy their own work. Trea son can only be meditated when there is no politi cal liberty. Imprisoning Witnesses.— The Grand Jury of the U. S. Court, setting in New York, have called attention to the abuses practised in the imprison ment of witnesses, who are generally confined in Eldridge street jail. Many are imprisoned as wit nesses, while the criminals against whom they are to appear, are out on bail. 1 Col. Gsoros P. Harrison has been elected : Brigadier General, in the lower division of the ; State. “ Votes from the Slaves States.” Horace Greeley, in a recent letter, from Wash ington City, to the New York Tribune, in reference to the admission of Mr. Reeder as a Delegate from the Territory of Kansas, and of course the ex pulsion of Mr. Whitfield, counsels his Free Soil friends to take a decided stand, at an early day, for Mr. Reeder, says: “Let them take hold resolutely, and the sword of the destroying angel can yet be stayed; for there wtll be several vote* from the Slaves States in favor of the sorely oppressed set tlers whom they induced to put their trust in Squat ter Sovereignty.” Now, it is certain that Mr. Greeley cannot refer to any of those who voted for Mr. Banks, for there were no “votes from Slave States” directly in fa vor of him. He must allude to those “national Americans” who supported Mr. Cullom for Clerk. He may be right in liis conjectures, for the man who could vote for Mr. Cullom, is abundantly pre pared to vote to expel Mr. Whitfield. We shall see. Time works wonders. u It is asked by the opposition press, what north ern Know Nothing voted for Aiken on the final vote? We reply, Wheeler and Williams, of New York.— Macon Messenger , Feb. 18. And what kind of a reply is it? Williams, of New York, is, for the first time, claimed as a Know Nothing. On what authority? We imagine the. “initiated” editor will find it difficult to produce any. Williams was the gentleman who voted so long and so devotedly for Mr. Ore, of South Caro lina? He never was claimed by the Know No things, and never voted with them for Mr. Fuller, and has never been reported such in any statement exhibiting the political complexion of the House, that we have seen. Now, as to Wheeler! He is reported, by the Messenger , to be a Know Nothing, but, if he is he lias taken very good care never to vote with them, or for them, so far as it has met our observation, on any occasion of a party test. In the contest for Speaker, he generally voted tor Williams, and Williams for Orr. The record is complete, that not one Know No thing from the Free States voted for Aiken* for Speaker, and it is folly to dispute it. Politics of New Hampshire.— Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, and Mr. Weller, of California, addressed a mass meet ing of the Democracy of New Hampshire at Concord on Thursday last. Mr. Weller condemn ed Know Nothingism very strongly. Mr. Orr de fended the South against the charge of aggression upon the rights of the North; and, in turn, charged the North with continually infringing upon the constitutional rights of the South. He defended the compromise measures and the Ne braska bill. Mr. Cobb, according to the report of the Boston Post , “expressed his pleasant feelings at meeting a New England audience for the first time, and said that if the people of the different parts of the Union understood each other better many of the evils which now arise from miscon ception would be abated and the spirit of section alism be lessened. The great principle of the Re volution, which had been and should now be the animating principle of the American Republic, was self-government. The doctrine of non-inter ference between the States in the matter of slave ry was ably presented at length by the Speaker as essential to the preservation and harmony of the Union, and the errors of Nonw Nothingism were fully exposed. “The Wild Hunt*’ 9 “ H. G.” of the New York Tribune, in his jetter from Washington, of 7tli inst., says : “ There is an appalling pressure for office upon the new Clerk and Doorkeeper of the House. Everybody who once held an office and by the turn of the wheel lost It. fancies that he will be mar tyred afresh should he not now be provided for; while those who never yet were so lucky .their uoses into the public #.r. listing {hut they turn jjjrm ' some forty place* thousand persons sev|F/vj//r , **Bnft*cd itk-bc'"lima® to fill them. Os wmirPe 7*Mense'mnjvrok are doomed to certain au« sure disappointment/ Judge A# K. Cochran. The Milledgevillc correspondent of the Savan nah PepuHican, pays the following handsome com pliment to the very worthy, talented and efficient gentleman who has lately received the appoint ment of Judge of the Brunswick Circuit: “ Yesterday I informed you that the Judge of the new Brunswick Circuit is the lion. a. E. Coch- “ The Governor in his appointment of this gen tleman, has shown his anxious desire to provide for the administration of justice in the newly cre ated Brunswick Circuit, in the best possible* man ner, and to gratify a very large majority of the people of the circuit, by whom Judge Cocnran had been warmly recommended for this eminent posi tion through their representatives in the Legisla ture. This gentleman has been for many years an able practitioner in the Southern and Ocmulgee Cir cuits, and has won for himself a high position at the Bar, and is greatly esteemed by his brethren of the Bar. During the last session of the Legislature he represented the county of Wilkinson in the Senate, and to all who watched his course then, he manifested a desire by his course in that body to promote the State’s highest interests. He will no doubt prove himself entirely worthy the confidence which nas been reposed in him by the Executive —and will win new laurels as a judicial officer of Georgia.” Gen. Cass, in presenting a petition to the United State Senate, on the sth inst, made the following liberal remarks: “ Mr. President, I hare been requested by our Hebrew fellow-citizens of this district to present a petition asking for an act of incorporation to ena ble them to erect a place of worship, and to man age the temporalities connected with it. I under stand that the existing law iu this district makes provision for those purposes only in relation to Christian denominations. Such a distinction is an act of gross injustice, and, if continued after our attention is directed to it, it would be a disgrace to our jurisprudence. It would ill become us to cast reproach, by any act of ours, upon the faith of the patriarchs aiid prophets of Israel, to whose keep ing, for more than two thousand years, were com mitted the oracles of the true and living God. Considered in a historical aspect only, the rise and progress and fall of the Jewish race constitute the most interesting and remarkable, and, I may add, romantic episode in the whole annals of mankind. The incarnate Saviour himself, in his human ca pacity, was a Jew, and he came, as he declared, not to destroy the first dispensation—that of law— but to fulfil it by the second dispensation—that of mercy. His revelation is freely offered to all the world, whether Jew or Gentile; and it condemns every kind of persecution and intolerance, whether civil or ecclesiastical. I trust that that fell spirit leading to eternal conflicts between the jjower to iufiict and the power to endure, will never take possession of the American heart, nor write its cruel and unchristian decrees in the volumes of American legislation. I move the reference of this petition to the committee on the District of Columbia.” The motion was agreed to. Red River.— This river is reported as rising ra pidly at Fulton; it had risen seventeen feet and still swelling; some of its tributaries are bank full This news is important to cotton men, as appre hensions were beginning to be felt that both this and the last year’s crop would be unable to reach a market All fear, however, is now dispelled and the Red River will add her quota to the heavy re ceipts of this season. —Mobile Re/jtiter. The river has receded to six feet. The steamer . Talomicco arrived last, evening at 5 o’clock, and leaves on Saturday morning. Resigned. —The Rev. John Sets, for the last six years the efficient agent of the Maryland Coloniza tion Society, has resigned with the view of ac cepting a similar agency in Ohio. JoDGHOF THE SOUTH WESTERN CIRCUIT.— Hon. Wm. C. Perrins having resigned, Governor Johnson has apppointod A. A. Allen to fill the va cancy. Cotrespondence of the Constitutionalist. GEORGIA LEGISLATURE. Milledgbville, Feb. 14, 1856. Finding that I cannot finish my letter in time for the mail, i simply enclose to you the vote on the bill offered by Mr. Crook, of Chattooga, in lieu of the retaliatory bill, providing for Attachments and Garnishments, offered by Mr. Jones, of Muscogee. There was no debate on the bill; all parties being afraid to “tech”—as 1 interpreted the silence. The action of to-day may be reconsidered to-morrow, but I do not anticipate it. The other proceedings of the General Assembly have not been specially important. Yea*. —Messrs. Barron, Barton, Boyd, Boykin, of Scriven, Brown, of Camden, Browning, Bur nett, Connelly, Cobb, Cooper, Crook, Daniel, Dor minv, Dozier* Edenfield, Graves, Harrell, Harris, of Meriwether, Haynie, Hilliard, Hughes, Johnson, of Carroll, Johnson, of Henry, Jones, of Lowndes, Jones, of Muscogee, Kilgore, King, of Fayette, King, of Mclntosh, Kitchens, Lawton, Lewis, of Greene, Lewis, of Hancock, McClary, Mi Hedge, Owen, Phillips, Phinizy, Pruitt, Reid, Richards, Sherman, Sinquefield, Smith, of Bryan, Smith, of Tatnall, Spinks, Stamper, Taylor, Thompson, Whitworth, Wiggins.—so. Xaus. —Messrs. Anderson, Amiss, Avery, Bran ley, Butts, Cannon, Carlton, Causey, Cornwell, Da vis of Polk, Dawson, Felton, Fields, Gordon, Gra ham, Graybill, Harris of Fulton, Harrison, Headen, Hill, Hudson of Gwinnett, Hudson of Harris, Irwin, Johnson of Cass, Julian, Kirkpatrick, Lowe, Mat thew’s, Mayiior, McCants, McConnell of Gordon, ' McLean, McLennan, Murphy, Pafford, Parks, Par ris, Peterson, Pickett, Porter, Powell, Rumph, Slo cumb, Simmons, Solomon, Smith of Clinch, Smith of Union, Stephens, Swearingen, Tatom, Terhune, Walton, Ward, Watts, Williams—ss. Absent, or not voting—Messrs. Barrett, Bartlett, ' Battle, Beall, "Bird, Bradford, Brown of Burke, Brown of Talbot, Caldwell of Pike, Caldwell of Walker, Callownv, Cottle, Durden, Faulk, Guyton, Griffetli, Hale, Harris of Dougherty, Henderson, Hoyle, Johnson of Elbert, Jones of Warren, Lane, Luke, McConnel of Catoosa, Mobley, Montgomery, Moore, Myers, Rozier, Sapp, Shipp, Smith of Han cock. Tharpe, Thornton, Wood, Warthen, Wimber ly, Wynn. Explanations— On the taking of tho Ayes and Nays, several gentlemen, when their names were called, made explanations. Mr. Harris, of Ful ton, said he voted against the bill because lie con sidered it unconstitutional. Dr. Hill, of Troup, included himself in the same category. Mr. Jones, of Muscogee, voted for the bill because he believed it teas constitutional. Mr. Smith, of Union, voted against it, because it did not “ come up to the Geor gia Platform.” Mr. Tkrhune, of Floyd, voted Nay, for the same reason that actuated Mr. Smith. Mr*. Montgomery, of Newton, asked to be excused from voting, because he had been absent for sever al days, and did not feci sufficiently informed as to the merits of the bill. He was excused. A: [COMMLXICATKD.J James Gardner, Esq., Editor Constitutionalist: I cannot refrain from making public the intense gratification T feel at the course recently pursued by President Pierce. After voting for him, in the last Presidential struggle, my feelings became en tirely estranged from him on account of his ap pointing policy, and especially on account of his policy towards the Democracy in New York. In conducting the Independent Press , I felt that duty constrained me to denounce the conduct of the President, in allowing the “Softs” to sit down at the table of Democracy, as a weak and short-sight ed policy; though I always believed, and main tained, that Gen. Pierce was actuated by the purest motives of patriotism in the course which he pur sued. The soundness of the views put forth in his state papers, and his wholesome administration dehors some of his appointments, could not entirely appease the wrath and the prejudice of a Georgia “Hard.” 1 intended that if Pierce should be the nominee of the National Democracy, I would sup port him. For if I did not go w ith the Democracy, in the language of Mr. Webrtbr, “where could I go?” Isay I should have given Pierce my sup port; but my feelings or prejudices would not have gone with my judgment. I preferred the nomina tion of some other man. Now, however, “a change has come over the aDuanaf mv dream.” lam fully, unreservedly and a Pjeuck man. I had rather see eminent, and* Ins diagnosis of the negro mania, presented in Ids last message to Congress, were the John the Baptist which was the forerunner of the mightier document that cnnle afterward, in the message referring to the Kansas difficulties. When 1 read the first, my prejudices against the president were so far removed, that I became a “competent” juror to judge of hi* cast*. And when the.last doc ument came out, I said, “surely the sjarit of An drew Jackson is upon the man who has the nerve to take the posit ions assumed by President Pierce.” My dear Franklin Pierce, in his last mes sage to Congfress, occupving the position that he does to give his views force, has done more to se cure the stability of this government, than has been done by auv other statesman since the iron heart of the old Kero ceased to beat at the Hermit age. It is true, Calhoun and other men from the South, have spoken in this way before. But their dicta were regarded as the language of sectional ism and ultratun. It is true, that vour Casses, and Dickinson#, and Douglases, and Buchanans have enunciated -similar sentiments, some with more and some with less boldness. But these were rc firded as the opinions of private individuals. But ranklin Pierce, standing upon an eminence from which he is seen and heard by all the nations and kindred oT -Me earth, raises His voice, and says to the waves of fanaticism, “ Peace, be still.” When did a President thus speak before? His utterance is not looked qpon -imply -s the private opinion of an individual. But it is regarded as the mandate of one of the mightiest nations of the earth. The voice of the American Government says to Aboli tionism, you shall not lay your traitorous hand upon the fail* fabric of American greatness to raze it to the earth. For the heart, that plans the trea son shall, as certainly as the suu shines, feel the dagger of the law. ft is not the South alone that should thank Pres ident Pierce for the position assumed bv him. The whole country owes him a debt of gratitude. The South is do more interested in putting down, at the point the bayonet, if need be, the ranting hordes abolition than the North. Under aboli tion regime, this Government cannot exist. And I have yet to learn that the Northern States of this Confederacy can get along any better without our Constitution, than the Southern States. It is a gross error to look upon the contest between slave ry and the Abolitionists, as a fight waged for the South alone. It is the battle of the whine country, and every inhabitant of this wide domain is deeply interested An the result. Slavery is not sectional in the warfare waged against it' It is national. And the cause of slavery is the cause of the coun try. It i*Jn the Constitution, and no other hand but that <<wm. Southern States can pluck it from its place, without causing the whole fabric to totter to its fall. Bo tear ft from its place in the Consti tution, by Bie Federal hand, would be no less de structive to this Government, than to smite off from the coronet of the Constitution’ habeas corpus, or the right of trial by jury. Such being the case, President Pierce, in this “ war against the devils,” has— “Above the rest, In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower.” He is a tower of strength to souud constitutional principles; and the whole country should rally to his support J. A. Turner. February 11th, 1856. Hancock Manufacturing Company. The C«itral (Sparta) Georgian, of 13th ult., says: “ Mr. Monroe, of the Montour Company arrived last week, after more than a month's pas sage from New York. We understand he was de tained by sickness. The necessary arrangements not having been made, the sheriff has again taken charge 'if the properly purchased by them % from the Hancock Manuflftturing Conipaay, and adver tised a sale. It is hoped that a private arrange ment c&i) be made by a trausfer of the former sale, that be satisfactory to all parties. Material Aid. —The people of Hampshire coun ty, Virginia, have decided, by a majority of more than two-thirds of the whole vote cast, in favor of a subscription by the c-ourdy of SIOO,OOO to the Alexandria. Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad. I Edward Everett will deliver an oration in Boston I on Washington’s tyrthday. BY TELEGRAPH. Congressional. Washington, Feb. 14.— 1 n the Senate a bill was presented for an overland mail to the Pacific. In the House, notices were given that the seats of Messrs. Whitfield, of Kansas, Allen, of Illi nois, Gallegos, of New Mexico, and Eustis, of La., would be contested. Election of U. S. Senator. Baltimore, Feb. 14.—The Maryland Legislature has elected Anthony Kennedy, American, U. S. Senator. Petition to Congress. Boston, Feb. 14. —The Board of Underwriters have petitioned Congress to send a steamer to re lieve vessels on the coast. Arrival of the St. Louis. New York, Feb. 15.—The steamer St. Louis has arrived with $1,000,000 in gold. A treaty of amity and commerce had been concluded with Chili. Later from Mexico. New Orleans, Feb. 15. —The steamer Texas has arrived with Vera Cruz dates of the 11th. Tain orez had captured Puebla, and was fortifying it to resist Comonfort, who had sent troops against him. Uraga had been defeated by the Government forces. It is said that Tamorez is without money. Markets. Charleston, Feb. 15. —Sales to-day of 2400 bales Cotton at unchanged rates. Congressional. Washington, Feb. 18.—In the Senate, Mr. Wells made a speech on the Central American question, in which he advocated the abrogation of the Clat ton-Bnlwer treaty. The House ballottcd three times for Printer with out result. Washington, Feb. 13.—The House, to-day, elect ed Mr. Wendell, Printer. Washington, Feb. 13.—The Speaker to-day an nounced the committees. The committee of Ways and Means consists of Messrs. Campbell, of Ohio, Chairman, Howard; of Michigan, Cobb, of Geor gia, Davis, of Maryland, Sage, Phelps, Campbell, of Pennsylvania, and Dewitt, of Massachusetts, leaving one vacancy. A majority are in favor of a protective tariff. The committee on Foreign Re lation consists of Messrs. Pennington, Chairman; Bailey, Clingman, Aiken, Fuller, of Pennsyl vania, Mattbson, Sherman and Thurston. The committee on the Territories consists of Messrs. Gow, of Pennsylvania, Gildings, Purviance. Richardson, Houston, Granger, Zollicoffkr, Merrill and Perry. The committee on Elections consists of Messrs Washburns, of Maine, Stephens, Watson, Spinner, Oliver, of Missouri, Colfax, Smith, of Alabama, and Bingham. New York, Feb. 12. —Cotton firm. Sales of three thousand bale 9. Flour firm, except State, which is 6c. lower. Wheat $1.90. Corn dull. Washington, Feb. 14, p. m.—The Senate to-day discussed the action of the late Naval Board. The House referred the President’s message rel ative to Kansas, to the committee of the wh«de. Both Houses adjourned till Monday. Destructive Fire. Bristol, R. 1., Feb. IS.— The Pokannolct Cotton Mills at this place was destroyed by tire to-day, in volving a loss of SIIO,OOO, on which there was an insurance for $70,000. Halifax, Feb. 11.—We have, as yet, no tidings of the missing steamer Pacific. The steamer Canada, now teu days out and about due at this port, has not yet been signalled. Providence, Feb. 11.—An engine belonging to the Hartford and Providence railroad, exploded this morning in the locomotive house, Killing John Vaughan, the engineer, and partially demol ishing the building. Washington, Feb. 11. —Francis C. Treadwell, of Norfolk, yesterday caused the arrest of Albert Rust, a member of the House of .Representatives, charged with two assaults upon Jforaee Greeley, n few days since, /flris morning Mr. Rust gave se «*mtr in the sum of SSOO, for fits appearance at thp-Uriminal ‘Court. 1 ’ Erie, Pa., Feb. B.—The Hopt'liomas Sill, a dis tinguished lawyer and politician, died in this city last evening. *- Washington, Feb. 10.—The impression exists here that Mr. Crompton will shortly retire volun tarily, and not in consequence of any demand on the part of this government for his recall. Gen. Almonte has left Washington for -Mexico at the urgent solicitation of his friends. The Constitution in that country is now being remodelled, and his presence is deemed necessary for present and future contingencies. Congressional. Washington, Feb. 11.— Senate. —On motion of Mr. Fisk, the Secretary of War was requested to report whether any, and if so, what additional for titkations are necessary for the defence of the har bor of New York, and'Brooklyn Navy Yard. House.— The Standing Committees* were not an nounced to day. The House re-adopted the resolution to proceed to the election of Printer. The first vote stood— Follett 68, Wendell 66, Farham 16, Nathan Sar gent 9, “ Scattering” 14. Necessary to a choice 87. Washington, Feb. 12.— Senate. —Mr. Douglas, in presenting a petition from a Naval Officer, com plaining of the action of the Naval Board, proposed the passage of a law granting a trial by Court Mar tial, where charges have been made, to test their truth. This would be doing justice by separating the worthy from the unworthy. Mr. llale introduced u bill*to repeal the act to ■promote the efficiency of the Navy. Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. House. —The House again resumed voting for Printer as follows:—Follet 65, Wendell 69, ram ham 9, Sargent 6, Scattering 15. Nocessary to a choice 83. New York, Feb. 13.—The steamer Granada from Havana is below, with dates up to the Bth inst. News from Cuba is of no great interest. The Northern Light lias also arrived with Cali fornia dates up to 21st ult., and $248,000 in specie, principally consigned to Drexel k Co. At present the forces of Walker the intrepid adven turer number over one thousand strong adherents to his cause and plans, and all seem to promise to make him a name in history. President Rivas has with a sort of coup d’etat propensity, issued a decree suspending an official communication between Nicaragua ana the United States through th« IT. S. Minister. He has also recalled his plenipotentiary Parker A. French. By the Northern Light, we learn that the schoon er (jnkahie had arrived at San Juan on 31st from Blewfields brining in full regal state and all the splendor the schooner conld afford, his most gra cious majesty Sambo King of all the Mosquitoes! Annapolis, Feb. 18.—The Know Nothing cau cus in its efforts to effect something—nominated Anthony Kennedy, brother of John P. Kennedy, as Senator for the* election on Thursday. Baltimore, Feb. 13.—Flour, 2000 bbla., on hand of Howard street, at $8 00; sales were small; Corn at 60 to 62cte. _ Mr. Toombs’ Ledtiirc in Boston. We commence to-day the publication of Mr. Toombs’ lecture, delivered ou the 28th ult., in Bos ton. It us unnecessary for us to accompany its publication with one single line of commendation —the lecture will be read, at the present time, and be referred to in the future, as one of the ablest expositions of the constitutional powers and du ties of the Federal Government in relation to do mestic slavery that lias ever been delivered. We shall conclude the lecture to-morrow. English Banks. —The banking institutions of London show larger profits than our own. The London and Westminister Bank (the leading joint stock institution) hasTfecently declared a dividend equivalent to sixteen * per cent, per annum, viz: Five per cent, regular dividend, and bonus of five per cent, for the half year. Capital, £1,000,000; deposits, £8.744,000, loans and securities, £9,120,- 000. Thus the sums drawing interest arp pine times the amount of capital. I Fatal Affray. — A fatal rencontre occuiTcd at a log-rolling in this District on Saturday last, be tween one McMillan and a man by the name of Madison King. The latter was killed, and the for mer lodged in jail.— BarmceH Sentinel, Feb. 9. From the Montgomery (Ala.) Journal. The Sick Man’s Dream. This beautiful piece of poetry was written by the lute .Judge Robert Karmond Reed, of Georgia, af terward Governor of Florida. It has never appear ed in print before, and the lady for whom it was penned, now a resident of this city, has kindly permitted us to give it to the public through oar columns. It is one of those choice, yet unobtrusive gems, struck out from a rich mine of thought, that has only to see the light, to ha\*e its beauties ap preciated : r A SICK MAN’S DREAM. Methought that in a sacred wood, I slumbered on a bank of flowers; Soothed by a streamlet’s wandering flood That gurgled through the whispering bowers; And dreams did visit me—so bright, “ An Elysium only could beget diem. They brought me such intense delight, I never, never can forget them. It seemed that thou was present there, Thine eyes with living lustre beaming- The star of morning deck’d thy hair, And all arouud its radiance streaming Imparted to tby lip—thy cheek— The brightness of immortal glorv, 0 ! wc can ne’er such visions seek. But in some old romantic story! And near thee hung a lyre of gold. Beneath a bow of shadowing roses— Roses—like these that love enfold. When from his toils the God reposes; And when thy fingerrs touched the strings, They yielded numbers rich and swelling, As when some spirit sweetly sings At evening, from her viewless dwelling. Yet changeful was that Music’s strain. It told of Hone, and Youth , and Gladney; Os Pleasure's Wreatli, of True-Love’s chain. And then of blighted Joys and Sadness. At last an answering Voice there came, From a bright cloud that then descended. And while it spake—a quivering flame Was with the fleecy whiteness blended. I may not tel! the words so kind, By that same plaintive voice then spoken, For the dark night-storm’s rudest wind Came o’er my dream, and it was broken. But lady, tranquil be thy hours, And smooth the nnth of life before thee, For surely, from ceicstinl bowers, Some Happy spirit watches o’er thee! Death of Hon. Andrew J. Miller. Wc gave in a posteript last week in a part of our paper the sad intelligence of the death of this truly worthy and highly esteemed man. For the last twenty years he has been known almost as one* of our community. During that time lie has been a member in one branch or the other of our Leg islature. and always, with an enlarged liberality, i friend of Milledgeville. As a statesman, he was more intimately identified with our legislation t han, anv man in the State. The prime of life and the vigor of his intellect, have all been devoted to her service Uniting thorough business habit* with great practical wisdom, the impress o£ fria mind will remain through all time an imperish able monument to his worth and usefulness in oar statute books. As to his social character, the qualities of his heart, and high toned Christian principle, we dare not trust ourselves to speak. Suffice to say, he was known to us as a brother and friend, and a* such, mourned. It was around the domestic hearth his best qualities were known, and our sympathies are Keenly alive to his sorrowing household thus suddenly deprived of its honored head. We regret that in consequence of the cars not. running as usual, from extreme bud weather, that the committee from both Houses of the Legisla ture were unable to attend his funeral. But this is a small matter. The graver question is on whom will descend the fallen mantle of Andrew J. Mil ler, and who fill the void—the place made desolate in the State by his death! Milledgeville Recorder, Feb. 11. This distinguished gentleman departed this lif« at his residence, in the city of Augusta, on the 3rd inst. At the time of his decease, lie was the act ing dilator from the county of Richmond, in the Legislature of Georgia, wliich honorable position lie had filled for the last twenty years. He was a man of high order of talents, a profound lawyer, and an able statesman. He was much beloved in his neighborhood, and among his acquaintance* generally, fof.liis many amiable virtues, and hi* loss will be seVorelv felt by his family, the people of Augusta, and the citizens of the State generally. Griffin, Empire State. Action of the City Council of Millsdgkville, —The M«v«»r nod Aldenficu of Milledgeville, re calling to remembrance the steadfast friendship manifested towards this city through.a series of years, commencin'; in 1836. and continuing down to within a few days nnst, oy the late Andrew J. Miller, Senator from the county of Richmond, can not permit, this hour of public grief, occasioned by his recent death, to pass, without mingling our sorrow w ith his own Augusta, over his tomb : Resolved, That having w itnessed for near twenty years his untiring devotion to the interests of (Seorgift— his zeal in promoting the prosperity of Augusta—and having repeatedly received his aid and coithsel in inuking"this place \forthy of being the permanent Seat of’Government, he has placed this community under a debt of gratitude which made us reject and admire him whilst living, and will make us fondly cherish his memory now that he is tro more. The reported death of Mr. Miller, which we an nounced last week, proved too true. Another of Georgia’s ablest and most honored sons has passed away, at the moment of her greatest need. Few men in Georgia will receive this sad intelligence without the .most sincere regret; for Mr. Miller lias been to his native State, a public faithful and true, and “his mark” lias been made upon a record that will stand the test of ages. Tho able lawver, the prudent and sound legislator, tlm go, d men, and the fri-.nd of humanity -the inde fatigable advocate and friend of woman—has gone down to the grave-mid long, long will it be ere hi* place be filled, “all in all.” The proceedings of the Legislative last Tues day, especially iu the Senate, of which he was ss long and deservedly il»e Nestor, truly attests the extent of the public bereavement ou this occasio*. The city of Augusta will feel in every fibre of her large and diversified business interest, the loss of her best friend ami safest counsellor. In the death of Mr. Miller, Milledgeville has sustained a great loss. Here, he was the welcome stranger. Here, political friends and enemies alike honored and lOved him for his devotion to our people and their interests. Long will his memory be kept green ia our hearts.— ted. Union , Feb. 12. Andrew J. Miller, Deceased. —Months ago we heard a geutlcmau of Augusta remark of Andrew J. Miller, *‘ When that man dies, the poor of this city will lose a great friend.” We though it one of the highest eulogiums that ccolu be pronounced* and the universal testimony is, that it was entirely merited b} him upon whom it was bestow ed. Yet it is not only the poor who are sufferers by the death of their tried and faithful counsellor* but the city of Augusta mourns the departure of her chief f»ride; and the State of Georgia grieves over the oss of one of her brightest ornaments. It wa* our good fortune to know Mr. Miller personally, socially. And we can but record the impresaio* which always possessed us when in his presence: it was, that we were with one of the best and purest men. The beaming generosity of his [aornl shone above the brightness of his intellect. Yet there were moments, even in social converse, who* the tension.of powerful thought rendered rigid hi* otherwise placid feature and made every one fool that a master mind was there. Most sincerely d* we condole with the family and friends of the do ceased iu this, their irreparable breavment. Edgefield Advertiser. £3?“ Mr. Kiddoo, of Randolph county, has bee* appointed Judge of tho Pataula Circuit, by Gor. Johnson. The post office at Jones’ Creek, Liberty county, Ga., has been discontinued. BY TIIE PRESIDENT —Ry find the advice and consent of the Senate. — George P. Scarbcroh, of Virginia, to be judge of the Court of Claims, iu place of Joseph U. Lumpkin, do clined. A. C. Seaman, of the District of Columbia, t* bo Superintendent of the Public Printing. Death ok Prof. Channino. —We learn from Ac Cambridge Chronicle , that Edward Ttrrbl Chai ning, for thirty-two years Professor of Rhotori* and Oratory in Harvard College, died on Thursday night of congestion of the lungs, aged about sixty - five years.