Newspaper Page Text
'sATUROAY, APRILI9
Emanuel and Scriven Courts.
We learn, from a letter received yesterday, that
Judge Holt has determined not to hold the spring
term 3 of the Superior Courts of Emanuel and
Bcriven. They will be adjourned until the Courts
in course.
This has been rendered necessary in consequence
of the enfeebled health of Judge Holt, and his in
ability to obtain the services of any other Judge.
New Financial Proposition.
The Constitution of the United States provides
that “no State shall make any thing but gold and
silver coin a tender in payment of debts."
This salutary proposition has been sanctified by
time, and been approved by the experience of the
practical men of our country, from the day of its
adoption. But it seems to be too old Fogyish for
some of the fast men of this fast sge. New
schemes of making money plenty, and of reliev
ing that prevalent want of humanity, the means
of commanding the necessaries and luxuries ot
life, by processes unknown to the good old days of
onr fathers, are springing up in the minds of en
terprising reformers.
The Chronicle <£ Sentinel has recently called to
the aid of its editorial columns, a gentleman who
wields a ready and accomplished pea, in matters
of foreign politics, and European theories of gov
ernment and social order. A foreigner by birth,
it is not surprising that he should borrow from
abroad some ideas which are not exactly conso
nant with republican notions. The idea of making
money more abundant, by the use of paper issues,
is shadowed forth in the following paragraph, con
cluding an article in the Chronicle & Sentinel, cf
Thursday, entitled the power of money:
“The dawn of better times will come when money
is the useful servant instead of the master and ty
rant of man. This can never be the case while
wer are dependent on gold and silver as the sole
representatives of value. Money should repre
- sent a given portion of the general wealth of a
State, and as the wealth increases so should the
money in exact proportion. In those days, paper
money instead of being promissory notes must
be like gold and silver, bona fide money, and un
der the direct supervision of the State. Then
trade would increase ten fold; manufactories
would Sourish in our midst, and taxation would
be taken from the superabundance instead of
the necessities of man. The true powers of mo
ney hare yet been hidden from the sight of law
Jiakers.”
Whether making paper, bona fid* money, in
stead of mere promissory notes, is a task to be en
trusted to the several States of the Union, or the
Congress of the United States, is not here direct
■ ly disclosed. The experiment of the United States |
stands up in contrast with the operations of 1
sub-treasury system, and is rather a warning ;
the people against the repetition of that scheme
p|bf manufacturing bona fide money out of paper.
* Then again the pet bank system demonstrated in
1835 and 1536, some of the evils of the States un
dertaking to practice on the theory that gold and
silver was an inadequate basis for the supply of
money to the people.
We should like to see the ideas of the new edi
tor of the Chronicle d' Sentinel, as conveyed in the
paragraph quoted, elaborated to some extent.
Any feasible and constitutional plan of making
money ten times more plentiful, would be im
mensely popular, and will be hailed by a perfect ■.
avalanche of enthusiasm.
How strange it is to see this idea of making pa- I
per bona fide money, in the editorial columns of |
a paper that has kept up so pertinacious a war 1
upon the “wild cat” Banks!
Death of B. R. Gardner, Esq,, of Mil
ledgeville.
The Savannah Morning Xem, of April 16tq,
gays: u We regret to learn that B. R. Gardner,
Esq., a well known and highly respected citizen of
MilledgeviUe, was killed in Sparta, yesterday
" morning, by a man by the name of O. J. Powell.
Hr. Gardner, who was formerly a resident of
Sparta, was in that town for the purpose of tran
sacting some business in the Inferior Court. A
misunderstanding in reference to some pecuniary
matter had previously existed between him and
Powell, which is supposed to have been the cause
of the killing. Mr. G. was shot in the street. Our
informant, who left Sparta directly after the mel
• gneholy affair, is unable to give us any of the par
ticulars, except that he heard four discharges of a
pistol, which, as the deceased was an inoffensive
man, who never went armed, he supposes to have
been fired by Powell. He does not know wheth
er Powell had been arrested.
u Mr. Gardner was a wealthy and highly esteem
ed citizen, and was extensively known in the mid
dle section of the State. He leaves a wife and in
teresting family of children. His death is deeply
deplored by the community of Sparta.”
Differences in the Paris Conference.
The intelligence furnished by recent arrivals
ftom Europe in a measure confirm the previous
conjectures in relation to the differences which
prevented an earlier adjustment of the treaty
at the Paris Conference. The position of
a power which has observed a neutral
-5 the Ute war w.tu the Allies a.id U u..d
fact that Kusfu sustains the v: w» which Pr us
■k has advanced, and iu which their mutual inter-
were involved, materially marred the harmo
ny of the Conference. When matters of great im
portance to the powers of Western Europe arc to
be considered, or the relations of those Govern
ments affected, Prussia demands that her voice
ghall be heard in theJCouncil that regulates the is
sue. A representative from Berlin was according
ingly admitted into the Paris Conference, much to
the regret of some of the other contending repre
sentatives.
The following are the generally current and ac
credited points which have been determined upon
at Paris:
First—Russia consents to the neutralization of
the Black Sea. Second—Sebastopol is not again
to become a war depot. Third—Nicolaeff to be
reduced to a commercial port. Fourth—Russia
abandons the protectorate of the principalities.
Fifth—Russia renounces certain territories in Bes
sarabia, which leaves the navigation of the Danube
free. Sixth—A commission to be appointed to
trace new frontiers in this district. Seventh—
Russian soldiers passing the Pruth to be regarded
as cuius belli by the contracting powers.
The Paris Seicile and other journals regard the
above as quite authentic.
jy The Selma Reporter, of the 16th instant,
thinks there are about 4000 bales cotton that will
yet reach that market.
ST The Savannah New of the 18th inst. says:
“ The City Council of Americus has passed an
ordinance taxing Bank Agencies, Venders of Lot
tery Tickets, and Retail Dealers in liquor SIOO
each. Billiard Tables are taxed SSO, and Hotels
and Ten Pin Alleys S3O each per annum.
The Rome Advertiser states that the Rome
railroad “pays a larger dividend upon the capital
invested than any other road whatever in the
State.”
Post Office has been established at
Chapel Hill, Campbell county, Ga., and M. Smith
appointed Postmaster.
Sir Hugh Parker, commander of the naval for
ces in the East Indies, died at Davenport on the
21st ult.
Sir Henry Pottinosr died at Malta on the 18th
of March. This officer had rendered great ser
vice in hU administration of public affairs in In
dia, China and Africa.
Blackwood’s Magazine on Greeley and
Bennett.
No two men in the Union have done more harm
to the character of American journalism than
• the two whose biographies have recently appeared
and which have been reviewed in most excoria
-1 ting terms in the Msrch number of Blackwood.
One has pandere<| to the worst passions of fanati
cism and sectionalism in polities, and has fostered
all the wildest and most vicious theories of social
life. The other has stimulated and ministered to
the worst tastes of the million for scandal and
detraction.
From the latter no character was sacred, no
privacy safe. The delight seemed to be to pal!
down the elevated, and cast shadows on the pure.
To drag down the virtuous to the level
of the vicious" was a congeaial task, and
a spirit of calumnious gossip the pliant wea
pon. Honesty, morality, religion, were the favor
ite game of the scoffer of all virtue. Thus was
created a new era in American journalism, for
the vitiated appetite grew with what it fed on
and craved for more. Thus the New York Her
ald, laying its foundations in the mire, rose like
a foul exhalation and prospered on corruption. The
good feared it, but its columns exhibited an abili
ty which redeemed it from the contempt of the
intellectual, and forced it upon their attention.
Having got a foothold by tact, talent and energy,
it could not be ignored as a power in society,
though it was a power for evil.
The Tribune has become distinguished in rather
a different line, though its influence has been not
less pestiferous. It has clothed vice, and folly,
and absurd social heresies, in the garb of philoso
phic theories, which have captivated the shallow
and deluded the ignorant. It has stirred up bad
passions and fomented discord on political qnes
tions, and thus done great injury to society. But
’ philosopher Greeley has seemed to us rather as a
. crazy zealot, and a dreaming theorist than as a
■ wilfully depraved bad men. It has seemed to us
1 the misfortune of his mental composition rather
; than the depravity of his heart that has made his
; paper such a pest to good government, loyalty to
■ constitutional principles, and social propriety.
We give from Blackwood copious extracts,
1 which may convey a more'accurate idea of the
■ man. The whole article is written with ability.
It does injustice to American journalism and
American character, to judge them by these two
developments of the free press system. But that
Magazine has no sympathies with American insti
tutions, or the successful workings of the Republi
can system. We never look to its pages for any
thing justly appreciative of aught that is favorable
I to either.
| It does not surprise us that it seizes on the bi- 1
: ographies of Greelgy and Bennett as a conveni- 1
ent opportunity to make a disparaging fling at the
American press and people. ,
From Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, for March. t
Horace Greeley. 1
We are treated to a preliminary sketch of the (
history of Londonderry (not omitting the siege) f
and tlie Scoto-Irish colonv who thence emigrated 1
to New England. To the hasty reader all this may c
seem highly unnecessary, but to those who ure de- 1
sirous deeply to penetrate into a “ nature” so tin- ‘
common as that of Horace Greelv, it is supremely 1
important, as we are told that “ from his maternal s
ancestors he derived much that distinguishes him 1
1 from men in general.” Another chapter is devo- 1
ted to the paternal ancestors, regarding one of 1
whom it is interesting to learn that lie was a “cross c
. old dog,” “as cunning as Lucifer,” and that he (
j died the age of sixty-five, with “ all his teeth
'sound!” At length, at page 33, we come to the
j great fact of Horace’s birth. As has been the
j case with manv great men, it was attended with
some remarkable circumstances. To these our
biographer does full justice. His account of the
interesting scene is too fine to be omitted: —
“ The mode of his entrance upon the stage of the
world was, to say the least of it, unusual. The
• effort was almost* too much for him, and, to use
the language of one who was present, *he came
into the world as black as a chimney.’ There was
no sign of life. He uttered no cry*; he made no
f motion; he did not breathe. But the little dis
colored stranger had articles to write, and was not
permitted to escape his destiny. In this alarming
crisis of his existence, a kind-hearted and expe
. rienced aunt came to his rescue, and by arts, which
to kind-hearted and experienced aunts are well
known, but of which tne present chronicler re
mains in ignorance, the boy was brought to life.
He soon began to breathe; then he began to blush;
and by the time he had attained the age of twenty
minutes, lav on his mother’s arm, a red and smil
ing infaut.”
If the reader does not grant that to be one of
thq most graceful climaxes in biographic litera
ture, we shall not write another word. Presuming
on a general unanimity on this point, we proceed.
The red and smiling infant in due time of course
turned out a prodigy ; “he took to learning with
the promptitude and instinctive irrepressible love
with which a duck is said to take to the water,”
and was able to read “ before he had learned to
talk.” In spelling he soon became pre-eminent;
and great marvels are recorded of his orthograph
ic prowess. Unfortunately he was less distin
guished by those virtues which we usually desid
erate in boys. Though never afraid of ghosts, or
overawed by superiority of rank or knowledge, he
was eminently deficient in physical courage.—
“ When attacked, he would neither fight nor ran
away, but ‘ stand still and take it;’ ” the report of
a gun “would almost throw him into convulsions.”
Fishing and bee-hunting were the only sports he
cared for, “ but his love of fishing did not origin
ate in what the Germans call the ‘sport impulse.’
Other boys fished for sport; Horace fished for fish.”
Bee-hunting, again, “ was profitable sport, and
Horace liked it amazingly. His share of honey
generally found its way to the store.” llis passion
for books generally attributed to indolence, and it
was often predicted that Horace would never “get
on.” Superficial idea! Even in very early life,
says Mr. Parton complacently, he gave proof “that ,
the Yankee element was strong within him. In 1 1
the first place, he was always doing something;
and in the second, he had always something to
sell: 1
Notwithstanding Horace’s remarkable cleverness
we are told that lie was sometimes taken for an
idiot—a stranger Having once inquired, on his en
tering a “store” in a brown study, “what darn
fool is that V 1 Even his own father declared that
the boy would “ never know more than enough
to come in when it rains.” These pleasing anec
dotes are given on the authority of a bibulous old
wretch, whom the indefatigable Mr. Parton en
countered and cross-questioned on the highway.
He was quite drunk at the time, but “ as tne tri
bute of a sot to the champion of the Maine Law,
the old man’s harangue was highly interesting.”
Mr. Parton sets it down to the praise of his hero,
that though brought up in the bosom of New Eng
land orthodox, “ from the age of twelve he began
to doubt,” and “from the age of fourteen he was
known, wherever he lived, as the champion of
Universalism.” Here the biographer indulges in
what he considers appropriate reflections, and
points out to his reaaer3 the valuable effects of
i youthful infidelity .|“The boy,” he coolly observes,
“ seems to have shed his orthodoxy easily.”* Ho
race Greely was in a fairway of training for his
editorship. ******
His manners were entirely free from aristocratic
taint, or any weak tendency to politeness. “He
stooa on no ceremony at the table; he fell to with
out waiting to be asked or helped, devouring eve
rything right and left, stopped as suddenly as he
had begun, and vanished instantly.” Again, “when
any topic of interest was started at tne table he
joined m it with the utmost confidence, and main
tained his opinion agsinst any body.” He never
’ went to tea-parties, never joined in an excursion,
and “seldom went to church.” A most interest
ing voung man, on the whole, was Horace Greeley.
* * *• * * *
In November of that year, Mr. Greeley was elect
, ed to a seat in Congress, by a machinery, the cor
ruption of which is testified by no less a person
than himself. He was very active as a member,
t and soon made himself prominently obnoxious by
exposing various legislative jobs. Some of the
c lively scenes that occurred are described at im
mense length. Mr. Parton draws no flattering con
clusion from the reception of his hero in the House
• of Representatives. Let our American friends
i console themselves with the assurance that his tes
timony is not decisive.
1 *The North American Review thanks Mr. Parton
.. warmly for his brave—his noble book. Was the
orthodox Grannie dozing when she read it?
“An honest man in the House of Representa
tives of the United States seemed to be a foreign
element, a fly in its cup, an ingredient that would
not mix, a novelty that disturbed its peace. It
struggled hard to find a pretext for the expulsion
of the offensive person; but not finding one, the
next best thing was to endeavor to show the coun
try that Horace Greeley was, after all. no better
than members of Congress generally.”
In 184 y, the Tribune, with its habitual predilec
tion for the fanatical and revolutionary, or, as Mr.
Parton loftily phrases the thing, “ true to its in
stinct of giving hospitality to every new or revived
idea,” devoted large space to the promulgation of
Proudhon’s delightful ideas on the subject of prop
erty. Among other things, also, says our cnron
icler, it began a rejoinder to the Evening Post in
the following spirited manner—the onlv specimen
we choose to quote of Mr. Greeley’s vituperative
abilities:
“ You lie, villain! wilfully, wickedly basely
lie V* ,
This observation, placidly remarks the historian,
u called forth much remark at the time.” The per
son to whom it was addressed was William Cullen
Bryant. With the same in&tinctive hospitality to
wards every form of delusion, the Tribune opened
its accommodation columns to the Spirit-Rappers,
who, notwithstanding a few hundred cases of in
sanity, and other small evils, have, in Mr. Parton’i
opinion, done much good. About the same time
it took up the Woman’s Right humbug, acknowl
edging that the ladies are perhaps unwise in mak
ing the demand, but maintaining t’\at no sincere
republican can give any adequate reason for refus
ing them “ au equal participation with men in po
litical rights.” A whole chapter is devotee to Mr.
Greeley’s platform exhibitions, which it seems are
very frequent and edifying—Horace having, as Mr.
Parton tells us, a benevolent appreciation of the
delight it gives “to see the man whose writings
have charmed and moved and formed us.” Not
only does he lecture as often as possible, but
“At public meetings and public dinners Mr.
Greeley is a frequent speaker. His name usually
comes at the end of the report, introduced witli,
‘ Horace Greeley being loudly called for, made a
few remarks to the following* purport.’ The call
is never declined; nor does \ie ever speak without
saying something; and when he has said it, he re
sumes his scat.” T
The remarkable man!
In 1851, Horace went to sec the World’s Fair in
Hyde Park. No foolish curiosity or sentimentali
ty* instigated the philosophic editor; his main ob
ject, as announced (the American editor keeps his
readers regularly informed on all his movements)
in the Tribune, being to inspect “ the improvements
recently made, or note being made, in ike modes of
dressing Aar and hemp, and preparing them to lie
spun ana woven by steam or water power.”
The departure and passage arc carefully describ
ed ; Mr. Parton having apparently paid a steward
to note, wateh in hand, all the phenomena of Ho
race’s sea-sickness. Nothing that he saw in this
effete country seems to have in the least impressed
his great mind. The royal procession would have
faded before “ a parade of the New York Firemen
or Odd Fellows.” The Queen he patronisinglv no
ticed, and was even “glad to see,” tliough*“he
could not but feel that her vocation was behind the
intelligence of the age, and likely to go out of
fashion at no distant day;” but not, poor thing!
“through her fault.” The posts of honor nearest
her person should hare been confided, he thought,
to “ the descendants of Watt and Arkwright ;” the
foreign ambassadors should hare been “ the sons
of Fitch, Fulton, Whitney, Daguerre, and Morse,”
Ac. Hampton Court he thought “ larger than the
Astor House, but less lofty, and containing fewer
rooms.” Westminster Abbey was “ a mere bar
baric profusion of lofty ceilings, stained windows,
carving, graining, and all manner of contrivances
for absorbing labor and money;” less adapted for
public worship “ than a fifty thousand dollar
church in New York.” He gives credit to the
English for many good qualities, but thinks them
“ almost vn-i'lsal people,”—lie, the romantic Gree
ley! “ 110 liked the amiable women of England,
so excellent at the fireside, so tame in the drawing 1
room ; but he doubts whether they could so mueh i
as comprehend the ideas which underlie the wo
man’s rights movement.” <The amiable women
of England may well console themselves under a
doubt so complimentary to their common sense.)
* * * * *• * *
But does the reader wish to see the man himself
—to know his height and weight, not metaphori
cally, but actually, in British feet and inches; and
in pounds avoirdupois V So pleasant and laudable
a desire the amiable Partou is far from disappoint
ing ; for does not the great man say that “ there’s
no use in any man’s writing a biography unless he
can tell what no one else can tell.” Here, then,
reader, you have it, what no one assuredly could,
would, or should dream of telling you but the in
imitable, the inapproachable Parton :
“ Horace Greeley stands five feet ten and a half
inches, in his stockings. lie weighs one hundred
and forty-five pounds. Since his return from Eu
rope in 1851, he has increased in weight, and prom
ises to attain, in due time, something of the digni
ty which belongs to amplitude of person. He
stoops considerably, not from age, but from a con
stitutional pliancy* of the back-bone, aided by his
early habit of incessant reading. In walking, he
swings or sways from side to side. Seen from be
hind, he looks* as he walks with head depressed,
bended back, and gait, like an old man;
an illusion which is heightened if a stray lock of
white hair escapes from under his hat. But the
expression of his face is singularly and engaging
ly youthful. His complexion is extremely fair, and
a smile plays ever upon his countenance. His
head, measured round the organs of Individuality
and Philoprogenitiveness, is twenty-three and a
half inches iu circumference, which is considera
bly larger than the average. His forehead is round
and full, and rises into a high and ample dome.
The hair is white, inclining to red at the ends, and
thinly scattered over the head. Seated in compa
ny, with his hat oft*, he looks not unlike the ‘ Phi
losopher’ he is often called; no one could take him
for a common man.”
Now, then, reader, if you do not give us credi
for introducing you to the acme of modern biogra
f>hy, we pronounce you the most ungrateful and
east discriminating of human beings. “If Horace
Greeley were a flower,” says J. r., “botanists
would call hiim .ogle, and examine him with in
terest.” “He is what the Germans sometimes
style * a nature.’ ” And if J. P. also were a flow
er, botanist* would inevitably prouounce him “a
tulip.” He is what, in Scotland, we sometimes
call “a natural”—otherwise known as “ahalfling;”
or, in vernacular English, a born fool.
James Gordon Bennett*
I'hat there maybe no mistake on the matter, the
in summing up the transcendant mer
nra of Mr. Beunett near the close of the valume,
assures us that the course pursued was perfectly
deliberate:
“On the sth of May, 1885, he commenced his
work of regeneration, bv publishing the first num
ber of the New Yorlc Herald, which, till it was es
tablished, was conducted with such peculiarities
as secured it attention— peculiarities tohich seemed
to have sprung from a mind resolved to carry out
certain broad personal characteristics, which in them
selves furnish the bitterest satire upon the true na
ture of political and social life known to the liter
ature of auy age or country. The course adopted
was not based on impulse. There is nf* excuse for it
on that ground. It teas the fruit of the most careful
reflection, as is proved by Die fact that the original
prospectus has not been departed from in any point
whatever during a period of twenty years. The
original design was to establish a journal which
should be independent of all parties, and the influ
ence qf which should be grounded upon its devotion
to the popular will—a plan which has found numer
ous imitators, and which is the only one suited to
satisfy the demands of the public.”
Mr. Bennett, who of course “ endorses” these
sentiments, is thus, it is evident as much at ease
in his “ conscience” with regard to his past con
duct as ever, and would, if the thinj* were to be
done over again, do it con amore again. The pop
ular will— not Truth or Righteousness; the most
sweet voices qf the rabble, not the still small
voice of the man within the breast—that, then, is
the creed of this “regenerator” of journalism—
Apage Satana.
The best type of Scottish character is eminently
distinguished by force and earnestness; but as a
Scotchman, wlien he is good, is intensely so—a
Scotchman, when he sells himself to Clootv, is
perhaps of all human beings the most devoted ser
vant ojf that personage. Scotland, which has pro
duced such eminent examples of genius and no
bleness in this century as Thomas Chalmers and
Johu Wilson, had the misfortune to give birth also
to James Gordon Bennett. Let her not grieve, for
the same England that gave birth to John Milton,
was the mother likewise of Titus Oates.
; er- Col. J. G. Kix«, one of the oldest settlers
in Texas, and formerly ox Columbia, b. C., died
| recently in Texas.
IST Indian depredations continue to be perpe
trated in Texas.
1 ygy* The anniversafy of tbe battle of San Ja
: cinto is to be celebrated'at Galveston. Thisbattle,
. fought on the 21st of April, 1836, established the
i independence of Teias.
1 Thoughts for Southern Know Nothings
and Whigs.
! The late elections in the Northern States, and
; the issues involved in them, challenge the serious
• consideration of every Sonthern patriot. The con
test was, in every instance, between the Democratic
party on the one side, and the fusion composed of
; Black Republicans, Know Nothings and destruc
| lives of every shade and tin, on the other. The
f former were the avowed advocates of the Nebraska
' Kansas acts, and the enforcement of the fugitive
, slave law. The latter were the denouncers of those
, acts, the advocates of the restoration of the Mis
: souri restriction and the repeal of the fugitive slave
law. The former were the advocates of the prin
ciples of non-intervention and of sell-government
, by the people, of the right of the settlers in the ter
ritories to regulate for themselves their own do
-1 mestic institutions, and to enjoy the equal rights
[ guaranteed to all by the Federal Constitution. The
i latter were the advocates of Congressional inter
- ference with slavery in the territories, and the in
! troduction of unjust discriminations against the
[ South. The former were the sympathisers with
. the law-abiding citizens who moved into Kansas
i with the Bible m one hand and the Constitution in
- the other, in the peaceble advocacy of the right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, under the
; flag of their country and the aegis of ita laws. The
. other were the sympathizers of the spirit of forci
> ble propagandists and abolitionism, tinned with
’ Sharpe’s rifles. It is not surprising, therefore,
that the conservatives of the North, by thousands,
. who ltad but a few months ago been beguiled by
the specious sophistries of Know Nothingism, by
’ its artful appeals to religious prejudice, and to Na-
I live American jealousies of foreign labor and for
t eign influence, should have rallied to the Dcmo
■ cratic standard, and united their efforts with their
late opponents, to crush the spirit of faction and
, rescue the popular mind from its trance of delu
■ sion and insane passion. That they did not wholly
suoceed in some ol .the States is attributable to
1 the wide-spread and deep-rooted excitement
| which had seized and imbued the misguided mas
i ses. That they have progressed so far in the
reactionary movement as to have cut down ma
jorities of thousands and tens of thousands, to a
few paltry hundreds, in some of the most
thoroughly infected States, is an encouraging sign.
It is the cheering manifestation of the operation of
“ the second sober thought of the people." It in
spires confidence in the innate good sense of the
Anglo-American mind, and of its recuperation from
the temporary debauch of folly and passion. It is
suggestive of renewed hope in man, and of his ca
pacity to govern himself by sound judgment and
just principles, when time is allowed for reason to
resume its empire. Truth is not always swift iu 1
its march. Its progress is often slow and toilsome, '
when it has to fight its way against the passions of
the ignorant and the croft of the wicked. But with 1
the advantages of a free press and free speech, its
ultimate triumph is sure.
In despite of all appeals to sectional prejudices,
in despite of fusions, embracing every element
which Free Soilism, Black Republicanism and
Knew Nothingism could muster in opposition, the
Democratic party has moved onward steadily, and
gains gronnd with every conflict. Complete or
comparative triumphs have crowned it in ail the
recent elections in the following States: New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, imi.u.ta,
Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and M .souri.
Titough the fusionists carried the elections in some
of them, it was by greatly diminished majorities,
while in others they were ignoininiouslv ovei
thrown.
In the face, then, of the late elections, following
the wild follies of last year, it would be weak—it
would be unpatriotic—it would bo almost a crime
against humanity, to despair of the Republic, or to
fear tot* thq triumph of truth. Revolutions never
turn backward in mid career. The revolution has
hegun which is destined to overwhelm the late ju
bilant forces of free soil fanaticism. It will go on
with steady march until its triumph is complete in
the election of a President nominated on the prin
ciples of the Nebraska-Kansas acts.
Now, it behooves Southern men to survey the
Seld, to scrutinize the principles, aims and objects
of the opposing forces, and take sides accordinglv.
Can they defeat free soilism by the aid of ooy •
other party than the Democratic party ? Can thev
aid in this defeat by voting for any other candidate
than the nominee of the Cincinnati Convention ’
We ask this question calmly and seriously of the
admirers of Mr. Fillmore and the advocates of his
election. Admitting, for argument’s sake, that he
is as sound and trustworthy as the South could de
sire in a President, by whom is he presented to the
country as a candidate, and by whom supported ?
By the Convention of a party whose last official ac
tion, through their National Grand Council, was to
denounce the repeal of the Missouri restriction.
By a party thoroughly abolitionized in many States
of the Union, and clamorous for the restoration of
that restriction and the exclusion of Southern in
stitutions from all National Territories, including
Kansas—a party that is fusing with abolitionism,
and with these united forces fighting the Federal
Administration, because of its alleged Southern
proclivities. A\ ould the triumph of such a party
be a triumph for the South ?
There can be bnt two contesting parties in the
approaching contest for the Presidency. There are
but two sets of principles contending for the mas
tery : The Constitutional principles of non-inter
vention and equal rights in the territories, and the
Constitutional guarantees to slavery on the one
hand; and on the other, restoration of the Missouri
Compromise and the Wilmot Proviso, and the vir
tual abrogation of the fugitive slave law.
If Mr. Fillmore U with the former side, his
I proper place is with the National Democracy. If
on the other, it is with Black Republicanism. In
. the collision of these two mighty forces, now strug
gling for ascendency in our country, the creed and
■ policy and peculiar aims of Know Nothingism
; will be crushed out of sight. AViien vital practical
' issues are at stake, fanciful theories and prejudices
' of nativity and religion will be lost to view, or be
■ postponed to a calmer day.
When the Macedonians were marching down
. Hpon Greece, it was no time for the Athenian Sen
i ate to discuss the rivalries of factions, or the dis
- pntes of the schools.
> As a fit conclusion to these reflections, we invite
> the Southern people to the calm and sensible re
> marks that follow, from a press which puts forth
- nothing in a partizan spirit, and which is as inde
■ pendent of party obligations as it is patriotic in its
t aims:
i
from the Savannah Journal.
Late Northern Elections—The Prcsi
. dency.
i The elections which have occurred in three of
x the Northern States within the space of as many
3 weeks, suggests thoughts well worth the conaider
. ation of the southern people. The States in which
. these elections have occurred are New Hampshire
_ Connecticut and Rhode Island. Each was car
-1 ried last year by the opponents of the Nebraska
o bill—carried by overwhelming majorities. The
r coalesced forces, composed of Abolitionists, Free
soil Whigs, Freesoil Democrats and KnowNotb
ings—united by virtue of a common hostility to
slavery—were victorious almost without a strug-
R gle, over the Democratic party—though the latter
, m each Slate drew to its support a number of con
servative Whigs. The result of the recent con
tests though, not all the friends of tbe Union and
of tne South could have wished, is yet highly cn
- couraging. It gives assurance that tivo, if not
three of the States mentioned, will be found at the
presidential election of next fail on the side of
.. the Constitution and the Union.
, But, further—We should fail in our duty, as an
’ independent political journalist, were we not to
e direct the attention of our readers to some other
points in connection with the contests to which we
have referred. The battle in behalf of the Kansas-
Nebraska bill has been fonght, gallantly fonght—
and we may almost add, victoriously fought, in
two at least, of those States. Who foiight it ? It
was fought by the Democratic party—everywhere
encouraged and strengthened by a small band of
patriotic Whigs of the school of Henry Clav and
. Daniel Webster. Two of the Democratic nomi
nees far the Leg:stature of Rhode Island,
were formerly Whig United States Senators, who
are doubtless still proud of their connection with
that party.but now see no safety for some of their
most cherished principles, bnt in the success of
the Democracy. Convinced that it was, in the
New England States, the party of the Union, its
name constituted no sufficient reason why they
should not rally under its flag.
The battio was therefore fought under the J)emo
rratic name, and we hear of no other name among
the combatants for the Constitution than that of
Democracy. Moreover it was fonght on their side
with distinct reference to the Cincinnati nomina
tions and the Presidential election. Mr. Fiiimoro
seems to be scarcely mentioned in the canvass.
Why not ? Because the gallant conservative Whigs
distrusted his conservatism, or would not rejoice
at his success, were in possible * The inevitable
inference is that they sec no prospect of his being
successful.
They feel that the issue must be between the
Democratic candidate pledged to maintain the
Nebraska bill and the Fugitive Slave law, and the
nominee of the Black Republicans, pledged to nul
lify both. They have therefore determined to sup
port the former.
And should the Cincinnati Convention, as we
can hardly doubt it will, present a name command
ing their confidence, is it not reasonable that the
great body of Southern Whigs will judge in the
same manner ? However devoted to Mr. Fillmore,
it is not likely that they will throw away their
votes upon hini—when the consequence might be
a Black Republican triumph.
Indeed it would be to us no marvel should Mr.
Fillmore himself be among the snnportcrs of the
Democratic ticket. It has been repeatedly charg
ed by the Black Republicans, that his name has
only' been brought forward to create dissensions in
the North, and thus make easy a Democratic tri
umph. And no man will say that, at the present
time, Fillmore, Everett, Choate, Evans, and all the
Northern Conservative Whigs, do not hold a posi
tion much nearer Buchanan and Cass, than to
Seward and Chase.
We need hardly add that our purpose now is not
to make war upon Mr. Fillmore and his southern
friends. To the latter we concede quite as much
patriotism as we claim for ourself. And it is be
cause we can do this that we believe—when they
are convinced there is no chance for the election of
their favorite, but that every vote given to him in
the South is a vote taken from the only ticket that
can triumph over Abolition disunionism—they will
be found casting their suffrages with us for the
nominee of the Cincinnati Convention.
Population aud Wealth of the United
States.
A table of the present population and wealth of
the United States has been prepared by the Rail
road Record, which, though imperfect, is a matter
of interest and of importance as an approximation
to the truth. The table is made up from census
returns of the several States, or where they were
not to be had, from the enumeration of taxables
and the assessed value of property in the States.
In the following table the valuation of Massachu
setts, New- York, and Ohio, are very near the
truth, while those of Pennsylvania and Tennessee,
the compiler says, are not more than half the ac
tual value. Nevertheless, these assessments may
serve to show the relative advance in wealth. In
fact, we have no doubt that the true value of prop
erty in the United States exceeds ten thousand
millions of dollars, or one-fourth greater than that
in the table.
Inc’se luc’se
States. Population, per ct. Wealth, per ct.
Maine 653,325 2 $130,000,000 6
e Hampshire. 354,750 10 105,000,0*0 2
-cmioiit 325,000 3 7 3,076,63* 8
Massachusetts.. 1,133,123 14 600,000,000 4
Connecticut 400,000 8 203,732,831 SO
Rhode Island. .. 155,000 5 84,400,000 5
New York 3,470,032 12 1,402,848,504 30
New Jersev 530,000 11 170,000,000 11
Pennsylvania... 2,542,260 10 548,731,304 10
Delaware 25,000 5 25,000,000 5
Maryland 645,000 11 243,537,021 10
Virginia 1,580,000 8 465,542,189 20
N. Carolina 920,000 6 SS&OOMWO 2
8. Carolina 702,000 5 293,000,000 8
Georgia 1,120,000 22 400,000,000 20
Ohio 2.275J000 25 868,829,282 72
Indiana 1,183,000 50 220,418,148 40
Illinois .1,800,250 53 375,000,000 140
Michigan 515,008 20 1 50,000,000 150
Wisconsin 552,109 81 75,000,000 75
lowa 345,285 8 0 72,827,264 210
Kentucky 1,680,000 10 4 05,830,163 33
Tennessee 1,102,000 10 210,011,900 6
Alabama 838,266 8 25*1,000,000 10
Mississippi 720,'000 17 450,000,000 11
Louisiana 600,000 16 290,996,176 30
Florida 110,725 28 49,461,461 100
Missouri 850,000 24 175,000,(1)0 30
Arkansas 247,112 19 55,377,000
Taxas 370,000 75 110,060,000 100
California 400,000 300 06,000,000 200
Minnesota 40,000 500 3,800,000 1000
Kansas 30,000 1,000,000
Nebraska 5,000 500,000
New Mexico 63,000 2 0,000,000 20
Utah 30,000 15 2,000,000 100
Oregon 26,000 100 6,000,000 20
Washington....
Dist. Columbia. 55,000 10 18,000,000 8
Aggregate 27,868,864 13J£ $8,030,567,684 14
The entire growth of the last five years is
percent., or 3.7 each year. Tbe annual growth of
tile previous ten years was 3.6. The States from
Maine to Pennsylvania, inclusive, have increased
11 per cent, in population; the States from Dela
ware to Florida, per cent.; from Ohio to Min
nesota, 29 per cent.; and from Kentucky to Texas,
17 per cent. The North-western States have,
therefore, increased one half more than that of the
aggregate of the whole country, and this is the
section distinguished for its enterprise and num
ber of railroads, having more than one-third the
whole number of miles of railroad in America.
The increase of wealth is relatively much greater
than the increase of population, which is the best
evidence of the industry of the people and the
power of production in the country. The assessed
wealth of the country, divided among alt the popu
lation equally, each individual, man, woman, and
child, in the Uwited States, would have about three
hundred dollars.
American Council ol Georgia.
The Council met in Macon on Wednesday last,
and adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved, 1. That the State Council, now in ses
sion, abolish all obligations of secresy which have
heretofore characterized it as a secret political Or
dcr, und that it do now resolve itself into an open
Convention of the American Party of Georgia.
2. That this Convention recommend to the party,
that in lieu of the Secret Councils which have here
tofore been organized in the respective counties, an
Assocfation be established and kept up in each
county, whose object shall be to promote the inter
ests of the American Party.
Resolved, That the State Council having dis
solved, this Convention deem it inexpedient to
take any action at this time in relation to the nomi
nations made by the National Convention in Feb
uary last, but we leave it to the American party of
this State to hold a Convention at such time as may
* be deemed expedient by the Central Executive
Committee, to take such action in reference to said
nominations as may be deemed advisable.
The Council passed resolutions complimentarv
to officers of the late and present Councils, and
adjourned sine die.
It is stated by the Macon Messenger that the dele
gates were in favor of supporting Fillmore and
■ Donelsok.
There appears to be some dissatisfaction
. among the reporters of prices and buyers of land
■ warrants in Washington and Baltimore. J. M.
I Clarke & Co., of Washington, says “that if a full
’ meeting of all the dealers in land warrants in this
, city was held, a resolution would pass unanimous
f ly that the quotations of land warrants by any
single house in this or any other city has no more
* to do with regulating the market price of war-
P rants than the twisting of a pig’s tail has to do
; with tbe changes of the moon."
Washington Correspondence.
Washington, April 12th, 1856.
Senator Toombs gave a magnificent entertain
nvmt, chiefly designed as a compliment to bi«
Georgia colleagues, on Thursday evening last.
The entire Georgia delegation, with the exception
n f Gov. Cobb and Mr. Foster, who were unavoid
ably absent, was present, and the evening passed
off in genuine southern style, the ladies lending
the enchantment and influence of their presence
to the gaities of the occasion.
These social re-unions of the entire delegations
from particular States, at which the presence of
the ladies, as well as the proprieties of the occa
sion, banish every political topic, have the hap
piest'effects and exert a moral influence on Metro
politan life which is not without its proper value.
The generous spirit of liberality, which charac
terises the leading Democratic papers of the coun
try, each in most cases, having its own special fa
vorite for the Cincinnati nomination, is a theme
of universal commendation in our political circles*
The Union of this city first - set the example, the
Richmond Enquirer immediately followed, and, I
see by yesterday’s Pennsylvanian that that abVe
organ of Mr. Bcchaxan has announced its pur
pose to observe the same wholesome rule. This
is proper—any other course would be frowned upon
by the great masses of the Democracy through
out the nation. The bickering and wanton acer
bity which, during the last Presidential election,
marked the course of certain papers respectively
supporting Cass and Buchanan, nave not yet been
forgotten. They have left a wound that is
not vet cicatrised.
The mail and telegraphic despatches of this eve
pmg bring us a perfect rush of anti-Know Notb
in% victories. The municipal elections every
where, and the State elections, generally result
either positively or anti-negatitelv in favor of tbe
Democracy.
We have only to hold fast to the faith that»is m
us, and await the natural result of events to wit
ness the complete ascendancy of Democratic prin
ciples everywhere in our land, from Maine to Cali
fornia.
Mr. Dallas’ despatches received at the State
Department yesterday contain no allusion to our
Central American or Recruitment difficulties. If
our Government must take the initiative, it will do
so ere four weeks elapse. Sigma.
P* S.—The State Department is, to-day, I learn,
in receipt of important despatches. It would
seem, although the information is vet very obscure,
that the British and French squadrons have actual
ly landed forces at Punta Arenas. Should it prove
to be so, there is but one course for our Govern
ment to pursue, (and that it will probably recom
mend), to repeal our neutrality laws. Then for fil
libusterism—-qui vice —for the right, and down
with oppressors. Sigma.
Rights of Owners of Burial Vault*.
The New Y ork Evening Post, of the 12th inst.,
says: “In May, 1853. Beekman street was widen
ed from Pearl street to Park row, and the sum of
$28,000 was awarded to the brick Presbyterian
church for land taken from them for the purpose.
In -prosecuting the work, a number of vaults
erected upon this land for burial purposes were
displaced, and in order to ascertain the amount of
interest, if any, which their owners had in the sum
awarded by the commissioners, reference was or
dered by the Supreme Court to Samuel B. Rugulbb,
Esq.
The Referee awarded a certain proportion of
the sum to the vault-owners, and in an elaborate re
view of the right of property in graves and human
remains interred therein, came to the following
conclusions:
1. “ That neither a corpse, nor its burial, is le
gally subject, in any way, to ecclesiastical cogni
zance, nor to sacerdotal power of any kind.
2. “ The tbe right to bury a corpse and to pre
serve its remains, is a legal right, which the courts
of law will recognize and protect.
3. “ That such right, in the absence of any tes
tamentary disposition, belongs exclusively to the
next of kin.
4. “That the right to protect the remains in
eludes the right, to preserve them by separate bu
rial, to select the place of sepulture, and to change
it at pleasure.
5. “ That if the place of burial be taken for pub
lic use, the next of kin may claim to be indemni
fied for the expense of removing and suitably re-
the remains.”
The Great Fire at Galena, Illinois.
The Galena Advertiser, of the 2d inst., gives a
full account of the fearful conflagration in that city
on the previous day. The Advertiser says:
At 3 o’clock yesterday morning, our city was
visited by the most disastrous conflagration that
has ever yet occurred here.
The fire was tte*t discovered in a stable on Com
merce street, near Washington, owned by M. O.
Walker, of Chicago. In a tew minutes it was all
in a blaze. The portion of the block in which it,
was situated, north of the DeSoto House, was of
the most combustible materials, and iu a very
short space of time it was a single sheet of flame,
defying all hope of victory by human effort. All
the buildings ::i that block North of J. A. Packard
A Co.’s store, bounded by Main, Washington and
Commerce streets, like one mighty caudle, lit up
the whole heavens with a most terrific glare. Tbe
tire crossed Washington street in a northward di
rection, and burnt all the wooden buildings South
of L. S. Felt’s old brick store, now occupied by
J. Coatsworth & Son. It crossed Main street
westward, and burnt all that fine brick block of
heavy stores and offices North of Dr. Weirich’s
new building, and South of Bergman A Co.’s
warerooms, with the exception of the building on
the North corner of Main and Washington streets.
It then crossed Bench street and burnt the resi
dence of I). A. Barrows, the next dwelling south
ward, and lastly, in that direction, thy Catholic
Church, where it was finally subdued.
Such was the fury of the tempest rs fl.v. that
large emuers were carried a mile or more from the
scene of the immediate conflagration, so as to en
danger buildings at that distance.
The Advertiser then proceeds to give an account
of the losses occasioned by the fire. It appears
that thirty-two buildings, including St. Michael’s
Catholic Church, and the office of the Galena
Daily and Weekly Courier, were destroyed, and
many others injured. The estimated loss, as we
have already mentioned, is $300,000. The Adver
tiser says that the fire was no doubt the work of
an incendiary.
From the Tampa Penisular—EHra.
Latest Indian News.
The following gratifying intelligence was re
ceived at this place, about seven o’clock, Monday
evening:
On the afternoon of the 6tli inst., the Indians
who attacked Dr. Braden’s residence un i planta
tion, on the Manatee, (seven in number,) on the
evening of the 31st March, were overtaken by a
party ofFlorida volunteers. They were encamped
on the South bank of the Big* Charley Apopka
Creek, and appeared to be confident of safety. The
party, it would appear from the report received by
Captain Hooker, which is short and imperfect,
crossed the Creek, and covered bv a dense ham
mock, which extended along the'bank, they ap
proached so near the enemv as to overhear their
conversation, and killed tw*o Indians on the spot.
The remainder retreated to the Creek ; two were
shot while in the. act of jumpiug into it, and fell
corpses, their bodies sinkir.g immediately. The
remaining three escaped, wounded badly. They
were pursued some distance by the blood which
plainly marked their retreat, but were finally lost
in a hammock. The surprise was complete, as tbe
• enemy did not take time to fire a gun.
The Creek is said to have been entirely clear, so
: that there was no chance for hiding.' That the
two Indians who fell in it were killed, there is not
a shadow of doubt.
The negroes (eight) and the three mules were
re-captured. One Indian pony and several rifles
[ were taken.
The two Indians who were shot down at the first
. fire, were scalped. One scalp was sent to Manatee
I with the party who conveyed tbe stolen property
to its owners, and the other w'as sent to Capt
Hooker, at this place. The latter has heen exhibit
ed to all persons having the curiositv to examine
i it.
[ In our regular issue, on Saturday next, we ex
pect to be enabled to give full details of the bat
i ,le - .
, There was a fellow in York State that asked a
young lady out to ride; the young -lady agreed •
he drove around to the house at the 'appointed
time; a young lady made her appearance dressed
s m the prevailing fashion ; having got herself and
. hoops into the cutter, the young man saw there
, was no chance for him, whereupon he mounted
the horse’s back and drove o 3in triumph. Gal
lant voang man!