Newspaper Page Text
Weekly constitutionalist.
BY JAMES GARDNER.
From the X. V. Herald , Dec. IT.
True View of the Centra! American
Movement—'The Mom! it Involves.
Our advices from Washington to-day show that
there is a curious imbroglio there in regard to
Central American affairs, and that the return of
Walker to Nicaragua has not only checkmated the
schemes of half a dozen diplomatists, but has set
them all by the ears.
Such a result is a very natural consequence
where different schemes are being pursued with
vigor, and soma one of the parties suddenly makes
u break and gets a start of the whole quarry.
The administration, contemplating the whole Cen
tral American question from a national stand
point, was steadily taking its measures in view .»r
the coming future, and preparing to remove such
obstacles as the Clay ton-liu! aer treaty, and sun-]
dry others, that stood in the path of wur drogw
Lad Napier and 6ir Win. Gore Ouseley v.vre
striving to prevent this; the Count de Sartig s
was working to give France a hand in tne estab
lishing of a balance of power on this continent ;
* the C >sta Itie.m Ministers were endeavoring I »‘se
cure their new line of boundary on the San Juan;
Sen r Yrisarri was laboring to se ure the position
of Xi-ar.tguaby a treaty with our government;
and Walter and ilenntngsen were looked upou
merely as brave fellows, who had been utterly de
feated*, and upon whom a little personal sympathy
might therefore be safely expended.
It is these conflicting positions that are leading
to such wide and varied comment on the part of
the journals, and to the suspicions that are mutu
ally entertained of each other by the varieH inter
ests. In their ire at Walker for geting the start
of them. they pour upon his head all kinds of ac
cusations of bad faith and deceit, and enlarge par
ticularly upon the absence of all mural right in
his proceedings. All this is mere fudge. With
out entering upon the evident right of Castillon to
invite him to undertake his first, or Martinez his
second expedition to Nicaragua—just as Gandara
invited hitn, and Pesqueira invited Crubbe to So
nora, the Cubans Lontz to Cuba, and Carvaja! the
Texas filibusters to Tatuaulipas, which mav be de
fended on high moral grounds, and all of which
expeditions would have been prouounc d morally
right had they succeeded—we take a more enlarged
view ot the whole subject, aud look upon it as an
indication of a great movement on the part of the
people of this eoutiueut, entirely similar in char
acter to many that mark the periods of European
history, and others that are now going on in the
Old W rid.
Walxer is simply a forerunner in the march of
races that is going oo here, and this march in
volves all the moral right that exists iu the pre
sent march of France in northern Africa, England
iu India, and Russia in Central und northern
Asia. It stands upon precisely the same ground
with the advent of the Normans, and before them
of the Saxons, into England ; of the Romans into
Gaul and fq>ain; and t>t all the millions of men
that have descended from the high plateau of
Asia, and extended themselves throughout the
East. Between the Astatic and the modern Euro
pean and American inarch of races there is one
great difference. The latter a*e carrying with
them the lights of a superior civilization, and a
more perfect political, social and industrial de
velopment. England is substituting a civilized
for a barbarous rule in India; Fiance is restoring
northern Africa to the domain of civilization; Rus
sia is giving to northern Asia an organization far
superior to the former nomadic habits of its popu
lation, and we in America are carrying moral and
material well being to the disintegrating conunu
nities and decaying races of Spanish America.
This is the greater movement, before which all
minor moral rights disappear. Who in England
talks of the moral rights of the Sepoys ? What
Frenchtuun defends the moral rights of the Ka
byles? Where in Europe are the defenders of the
inpral righis ft the Tartars? Not that we would
heterogeneous races of Central Amen
do they show this superiority more, than in the
fact that they invite the advent among them of the
race that is exhibiting such wonderful progress in
this country. This is the movement that throbs
in the mind of the people, and whiel\ nothing can
root out or destroy. We have almost fouud otir
western limit. The shores of the Pacific and the
great central desert of North America already
bouud our dcvelopemeut westward, und it must
turn southward, where decaying nations and races
invite our coming. Small philosophers may harp
upon moral rights here, as they do in Europe, but
it will produce no more eff et upon the march of
races in America, Europe, Africa or Asia, than
whistling has upon the wind.
Report ol the Secretary of War.
The report of the Secretary of War is an able
document. It show’s the necessity for an imme
diate increase in the army, which at present con
sists of nineteen regiments, divided into ten of in .
fantry, four of artillery, two of dragoons, two of
cavalry, and one of mounted riflemen, the whole
strength of the army as posted, consisting of about
Diueiecn thousand six hundred and eighty-four
men, the actual strengih on the first of July last
being fifteen thousand seven hundred and sixty
four. In addition to the movements which the
troops have been called on to make this year, this
force is culled upon to garrison sixty-eight forts of
a large and permanent character, so fir as it is
possible to supply men for the purpose; and to
occupy seventy posts, less permanently establish
ed, where ihe presence of a force is absolutely re
quired. The area over which these forts and posts
are spread, embraces a circuit of about three mil
lion square miles. lor the proper occupation ul
these posts, the military supervision of the exter
nal boundary of our country, the protection of the
double line of Indian frontier, extending from the*
Lake of ihe Woods to the banks ol the Rio
Grande, in the East side of the Rocky Mountains
and from beyond the river Oregon, on the British
frontier, to The head of the Gulf of California, on
the western slope of these mountains, and the pro
tection of the great lines of intercemmunicati .n
between the valley of the Mississippi and the Pa
cific Ocean, the Secretary recommends the raising
of live additional regiments.
The army has been actively and constantly en
gaged in the performance of arduous and impor
tant duties. The Indian war in Florida claimed
the attention of a strong force, composed mainly
of the filth infantry and fourth artillery, during the
Bpring and early part of the summer. This war
has been prosecuted with all the vigor which the
character of the country and that of the enemy
would admit of. The country is a perpetual suc
cession of swamps and morasses, almost impene
trable, and the Indians partake rather of the na
ture of beasts of the chase than of men capable of
resisting iu fight a military power. Their only
strength lies in a capacity to elude pursuit.
Exigent affairs in the West demanded the remov
al of those two regiments from Florida to the Ter
ritory of Kansas ; but they have been replaced by
volunteers, and the pursuit of the ludians has
been continued by the latter troops up to the pre
sent time. The services rendered by these volun
teer troops have been spoken of in terms of men- j
ted commendation in the reports of officers in j
command. . j
The Secretary says: Two very important and |
snonir ntous subjects forced themselves upon the
attention of tins department at an early period of
my incumbency. These were the complications
growing out of the trouble* in the Territory of
Kansas, and the still more involved and difficult
relations borne by the Territory of Utah towards
this The latter has recently assumed
a very hr aiening attitude, of which I will pre
sently speak.
The very anxions and earnest representations of
danger to the public peace which Were made by
the Governor of Kansas, growing out ot exits- ;
derations between the different political parties j
there, and his earnest call for a large body of
troops, required the transfer of the tenth regiment
of infantry and fourth regiment of artillery to Fort
Leavenworth, and also the recall of Gol. Sumners
command, then in the field, and that engaged iu
making the southern boundary of Kansas, under
the command of Lieuteaaut Colonel Johnson, of
the first cavalry. From other quarters, likewise,
troops were moved to Kansas, until a foice was
concentrated there sufficient, in the opinion of the
Governor, to suppress all insurbordination, and to
insure the peace of the Territory. The result has
fully answered the expectations of that distin
guished functionary. The peace of Kansas has j
been undisturbed.
The requisite provision, however, for this de- j
sirable object, agreeably to the wishes of the Gov
ernor, necessitated a very important modification '
1 of the plans then already determined upou with !
1 regard to the movemeutof troops to Utah. A large :
‘ portion of both horses and foot, intended for this j
■ distant service, was detached and remained behind, '
leaving the expedition to proceed with the fifth !
and tenth infantry, the batteries of Captain Phelps !
and Renno, with a part of the second dragoons, j
which followed long after the head of the column j
had set out on the march.
UTAH AND THE EXPEDITION TTIITITER.
This subject has very recently assumed so ex- *
traordinarv and imporiaut an attitude, that I deem
it proper to dwell upon it somewhat more at length
than, under other circumstances, would have been :
j required.
i The Territory of Utah is peopled almost ejclu- j
j sively by the religious sect known ns Mormons. !
j From the time their numbers reached a point suf- j
; tieient to constitute a community capable of any- !
thing iiK» ind pendent action, this ptople hive '
claimed the right to detach themselves from the *
binding obligations of the laws which governed the j
communities where they chanced to live. They \
j have Substi*uted for the laws of the land, a there- ;
j racy, having tor its head an individual whom they
J profess to believe a prophet of Mi d. This prophet
demands obedience, and receipts it implicitly from
1 his people, in virtue of what he assures them to
, be authority derived from revelaiions received by i
I him from heaven. Whenever he finds it conve- !
I nient to exercise any special command, these o;;-
] portune revelat oas of a higher law come to his aid. j
i From his decrees there is no appeal; against his
will there ts no resistance. The general plan
by which this system is perpetuated consists in
calling in active play the very worst trails of the
human character. Religious fanaticism, support
ed by imposture and fraud, is relied ou to enslave
the dull and ignorant; whilst the more crafty and
less honest are held together by stimulating their
selfishness and licensing their appetites and lusts.
Running counter, as their tenets and practices do,
UHhe cherished truths of Christian morality, it is
not to be wondered at that, wherever these people
have resided, discord and conflict with the legal
authorities have steadily characterized their his
tory.
From the first hour they fixed themselves m that
■ remote and inaccessible region of our territories,
from which they are now sending defiance to the
sovereign power, their whole plan has been to pre
pare for a successful secession from the authority
' of the United States and a permanent establish
■ ment of their own. They have practised an ex
clusiveness unlike anything ever before known in
1 a Christian country, and have inculcated a jealous
1 distrust of all whose religious faith differed from
their own—whom they characterized under the
k general denomination of Gentiles. They have
* tilled their ranks and harems chiefly from the low
> est classes of foreigners, although some parts of
f the United States have likewi?,e contributed to
* their numbers. They are now formidable from
* their strength, and much more so from the re
! muteness of their position and -the difficulty of
1 traversing the country between our frontiers ‘and
1 Great Salt Lake. The Mormon brotherhood has
* scarcely preserved the semblance of obedience to
l the authority of the United States for some years
I past; not at all, indeed, except as it might confer
* some direct benefit upon themselves, or contribute
r to circulate money in their community. When
* event suited their temper or caprice, they have
‘ set the United States authority at defiance. Os
late years, a well grounded belief has prevailed
that the Mormons were instigating the Indians to
■ hostilities against our citizens, and were exciting
1 amongst the Indian tribes a feeling of insubordi
[ nation and discontent.
I need not recite here the many instances in their
* conduct and history on which these general alle
-1 gallons are founded, expecially the conduct they
■ hive adopted within the last twelve mouths to-
of thejjnitd States*
always been ih\prl *
desire of the Federalgovernment to term'd eolnsion
with this Mormon community. It has borne with
the insubordination they have exhibited under cir
cumstances when respect for their own authority
has frequently’ couuselle 1 harsh measures of dis
cipline. And this forbearance might still be pro
longed, and the evils rife amongst them be allowed
to work out their own cure, it this community oc
cupied any oilier theatre, isolated and remote from
the seats of civilization, than the one they now
possess.
But, unfortunately for their views, their settle
ments lie in the great pathway which leads from
the Atlantic States to the new and flourishing com
munities growing up on our Pacific seaboard.
Theyjstand a lion in the path ; not only them
selves defying the military and civil authorities of
the government, but encouraging, if not exciting,
the nomad savages who roam over the vast unoc
cupied regions of the continent to the pillage and
'massacre of peaceful and helpless emigrant fami
lies traversing the solitudes of the wilderness. The
rapid settlements of our Pacific possessions; the;
rights in those regions of emigrants unable to af
ford the heavy expenses of transit by water and
the isthmus; the facility and safety of military,
commercial, political and social intercommunica
tion between our eastern and western populations
and States, all depend upou the prompt, absolute,
and thorough removal of a hostile power beseting
this path midway of its route, at a point where
succor and provisions should always be found,
rather than an obstruction, privation and outrage.
However anxiously the government might desire
to avoid a collision with this or any other com
munity of people under its jurisdiction, yet it is
not possible for it to postpone the duty of reduc
ing to subordination a rebellious fraternity beset
ing one of the most important avenues of commu
nication traversing its domain, and not only them
selves defying its authority, but stimulating the
irresponsible savages hovering along the high
ways to acts of violence indiscriminately upon all
ages, sexes, und conditions of wayfarers.
From all the circumstances surrounding this
subject at thetime, it was thought expedient during
the past summer to send a body of troops to Utah,
with the civil officers recently appointed to that
Teiritory. As the intention then was merely to
establish these functionaries in the offices to
which they had been commissioned, and to erest
Utah into a geographical military department, the
force then despatched and now en route to the Ter
ritory was thought to be amply sufficient for those
purposes. Supplies were übundant there d the
position was favorable for holding the I in
check throughout the whole circumjacen r gion
of country. It was hardly within the line of rea
sonable probability that these people would put
themselves beyond the pale of reconciliation with
the government by acts of unprovoked open, and
wanton rebellion. It will be seen, however, from
the documents accompanying this report, that fla
grant acts of rebellion have been committed by
them, in the face of positive assurance given them
that the intention of the government in sending
troops into the military department of Utah was
entirely pacific.
Great care has been taken, in preparing for the
! march to Utah, that nothing should seem to excite
j apprehension of any action on the part of the army
j in the least conflicting with the fixed principles ot
j our institutions, by which the military is strictly
subordinate to the civil authority. The instructions
to the commanding officer were deliberately con
sidered and carefully drawn ; and he was charged
not to allow any conflict to take place between the
troops and the people of the Territory, except only
in case he should be called on by the Governor
! for soldiers to act as a posse comitatus in enforc
ing obedience to the laws.
In conformity with tins sentiment, and to assure
these people of the real intention of the move
ment, an active, discreet officer was sent in ad
vance of the army to Utah for the purpose of pur
chasing provisions for it,and of assuring the people
of the Territory of the peaceful intention of the
govern ment. This duty was faithfully performed ;
the chief men of the fraternity were assured that
no violence was intended toward them or any one,
and that nothing could be further from the inten
tion ot the government or the army than to molest
anv one for their religious opinions, however üb
horent they might be to the principles of Christian
morality. This officer found, upon entering the
Territory, that these deluded people had already,
in advance of his arrival, or of any information,
• ccept as to the march of the column, determined
| to resist their approach and prevent, if possible,
| and by force, the entrance of ther army into the
jgft T --
YHI (GUSTY, GA. S WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 1857
valley of Salt Lake. Supplies of every kind were
refused him. The day after his departure from
the city, on his way back, Brigham Young issued
! his proclamation* substantially declaring war
I against the United States, and, at the same time,
i putting the Territory under martial law. The facts
' connected with this mission of Captain Van Yliet
! will appear more in detail from his reports, here
-1 with transmitted.
! In view of the menacing attitude of affairs in
| Utah and of the importance of a prompt and
; thorough suppression of the spirit of rebellion
reigning there, I must repeat my recommendation
1 of five new regiments, which I am persuaded is
the very smallest addition to the army which the
j exigencies of the service will allow.
A number of defects in Ihe organization of the
i armv are pointed out and improvements suggested/
j The route from El Paso to the Colorado is desig-
S nated as the most eligible route for the railroad to
j ihe Pacific, it bring the shortest of all yet survey
ed and possessing advantages over the others of
' gr ade, climate, distance across the deserts and a;
; sufficient abundance of water; but the consumma—
i turn of this project, freed from all other difficulties,
l would require immense sums of money aud a greairl
length of time.
Meanwhile, it is recommended that at least two.
other routes for the passage of emigrants und t%
transportation of military stores, which, if the rail
road were built, these routes would still be need*
i sarv to make accessible vast regions of our cotter
! try) be at once opened and maintained, and a line
! of stockade posts established along them, to insure
I the safe and rapid transportation of the mails and
perfect protection to a telegraphic line from oov
ocean to the other, which latter object would iti-L
--self be worth far more to the country than the cost
of the posts and the expense of maintaining them/
The military explorations and surveys ate pro
gressing satisfactorily, and every day is ad dim:
new and important facts to our present stores qI
knowledge of the geography and general charac
ter of the country lying between the valley of the
Mississippi and the Pacific ocean. Two expedi
tions have been fitted out expressly to explore
tracts of country hitherto wholly unknown. The
first was sent to the North-west, bcjotid the waters
of the upper Missouri, toward the “Black Ililla/’
and will, no doubt, bring valuable information?
and the other is engaged in exploring the Colora
do of the West, of which, to this time, nothing
scarcely Ims been accurately known. The Secre
tary hopes that this exploration will result in dis
covering the best means by which the transporta
tion of army stores can be effected to the iutvrior
of New Mexico and Utah.
The importance to ihe public service of .»Rib-
Hshing a national foundry is again impressed up
on Congress.
The secretary says on this subject: A well-man
aged national foundary would very speedily d%>
velope and establish facts which would add iinf
mensely to our national wealth. It is scarcely tty
be credited that, with the infinite variety of ;rou
ores and their boundless extent in the Ht/ted
States, we should not have yet discovered a mine
capable of making the very best gun, or if such
be discovered, that there ace no means by which
the public service can be benefitted by it; but
such is the fact.
A national foundry would serve as a great la
boratory at which the qualities and value of metals
throughout the whole confederacy would be
and fixed. Every variety of iron, with its especial
adaptation to particular uses, would, in a few years’,
be familiarly known to the country, and
ual enterprise would be saved in expcrimeij iouuy
times the amount which the works wofr -cost,
whilst a great national branch of ln du s Jjight,-
by this means, receive a legitimate uu.iyfficTtfi;
encouragement.
There is but little doubt that maty.: Ar isflo.u
iron ores are equal at least to those qjfrj»or*
yet the national armories are drwefife
to purchase from abroad the
\ • r
iBB
would sop , , ' - • ttiEunictfiVl
of iron, a ifdwe vvrti ilfl nUt&ve a the mfwq
of bringing iron from abroad, and the mofey* t**,
we have to pay for it.
The cost of heavy guns would presently be di
minished, and their quality would be, undoubtedly,
. very materially improved.
i It therefore appears to me that every considera
tion of sound policy and economy demands the
establishment of a national foundry, which I ac
cordingly respectfully recommend.
The sea coast defences are gradually but certain
ly advancing towards completion, and when finish
ed will constitute a system of maritime defences
formidable in extent and of great magnitude. It
‘ is considered that the harbor of New York will
be impregnable from any attack from the sea
when the fortifications now in progress are
finished.
The remainder of the report is devoted to the
result of experiments on arms, Ac. The Secreta
ry accounts for the very heavy expenditure iu the
Qti irtermaster-General’s Bureau by the extent and
character of the country over which the operations
of the army have extended.
From ihe Jacksonville (Fat.) Republican, Dec. l')M,
Latest Indian News.
By the arrival of the mail from the South this
morning we are placed in possession of the fol
lowing important news from the indiun nation.
It is contained iu a letter to a gentlejnan nf this
place, from his brother, who is in the
can be relied upon as correct in every parucumu
Cape Homan, Flu., Dec. 2, 1837.
I wrote you a few dayß since, and alluded to a
scout then in contemplation after Indians—the re
sult of which is not as satisfactory as we desired.
On the 24th ultimo, a command of seventy-five
men, consisting of detachments from Brady’s,' Har
dee’s and Parkhill’s companies, started out from
Chocksikei Key ou Puchohatchee river—Captain
Parkhill in command, for a seven days’ scout on
foot, carrying their provisions on their backs. On
the 28th they met a party of Indians in ambush
across a very deep creek, Capt. Parkhill, with
eighteen men in advance. Upon approaching the
creek the Indians fired upon them, killing Captain
Parkhill almost instantly, and wounding four of
his men and one o*'Hardee’s—a Mr. O’Nlell, of your
county. The number of Indians killed is suppos
ed to be three. The men b< haved hundsomely
one of them (Wilkerson, of Savannah) killed the
Indian who first fired and shot Capt. Jlrkhitl.
After destroying several of their fields which
were abundantly supplied with pumtkins, corn,
peas, potatoes, Ac., the scout returnel. Another
will start out in a few days in which Col. Rogers
will participate. He would have d<>>e so in the
first, but was prevented on account of sickness.
The foregoing intelligence was issied m an ex
tra from this office on Saturday lastj Since that
time we have received a highly interesting letter
from Col. L. A. Hardee, which contains important
news in detail from the seat of wait We have
only room for the following extracts from this en
tertaining document:
Ou or about the 19th ult., Capt. Cone, with a
portion of Capt. Whitehead’s Com [Any, and his
own, numbering sixty-three rank audfjle, struck
a plain trail leading South direct tfr the “ Cy
press” This trail be it known to firmer com
manders of the Florida war, was fcn or fifteen
years old. A well beaten track abouteight miles
from Fort Done, and uve from Fort iLies. Eight
miles on the trail he found an Indian vs .g e , consist
ing of forty-five huts, recently ereck il This village
was not known by the war depart mint. Finding
afresh trail of some sixty or a hunefed warriors,
it was thought advisable to send fur reinforce
ments. Captains Stephens, Stewart and Harring
ton, with a portion of their respect: [c companies
soou reported themselves to Capt. Done, wlia ini|
command of the "whole, begun the ravel on
trail in earnest.
After following the trail some so • or five d;d)H
through mud and water, fhey heui the Indian!!
beating rice. It becoming noV tmji bstblc to col- ’
trol the men, “ the hoi blood coursin their veins,”
at the recollection of their savage < teds, Captain
Cone ordered a general charge, him elf in compa
ny with the gallant. Dr. Hilton ues led—on
they rushed until in twenty paces if their wig
wams, when they were discovered y the squaws
who gave the alarm with deafening ells. At that
time two of the warriors were try ig to escape.
Lieut. Stephens with his unerring aim, caused
them to “kiss the soil” so dearly 1 red. The re
maining nineteen were easily cap’tui d. The pris-
oners were then ordered to march under a strong
guard, when a number of warriors began firing on |
t «tt,rear; then Dr. Hilton Jones charged back on
t >epn, which made them show how nimble they
were iu their limbs.
The warriors continued in pursuit and occasion
ally firing, but doiug no damage save injuring a
pumpkin which one of the boys had on his back to
roast f>r dinner, and in that only made two holes,
die'ball landing safe under his shirt. The warri
ors, anxious for revenge, proceeded near their en
campment, found thirty-eight ot their horses gra
zing, and succeeded in capturing and cuwing their
throats. This party of warriors was no doubt
;cqmo*auded by Gen. Bowlegs in person, as his
ifkeuvss and full regalia were a portion of the tro
phies obtained.
It u now late at night. Express just arrived,
*.ad reports another bloody engagement in the Cy
press, and with deep regret, we learn that Cant.
* ark' jil of Talahasse was killed while leading his
men i-n a charge. Thirty-five of the Duval cow
, >ys were engaged in this action. The Indian
' rVoi rior who shot down Capt. Park hill now made
* h-s e -pcarunce on a stamp and waiving his rifle
, x»er his head, now sounded tne war-hoop, when a
ball from the rtflo ot John Wilkeraon changed his
tune and he fell a lifeless corpse on his nativesoiE
lam now preparing to receive the wounded who
* are sow coming up in a small schooner. I learn
with much regret that llenry O’Neil is shot through
the lung and his recovery doubtful. It may be
ue&tssary to state that the above was a detachment
of Col. Rogers’ command.
I should like to give youa more full account, but
*1 titr..■ is short and the steamer leaves in a few
hou. s. I may give you a more minute account of
the prospects of the war closing in my next. I
leave here at early dawn with twenty-five men for
the Cypress, should the wounded admit of cny doing
so. the men arc all in high spirits, anxious for an
engagement. Lieut. John G. Haddock lias re
turned from Fort Center, declares he will never
return to old Duval until he hushes the war-hoop
of every savage in Florida. My friend l)r. West
is sow acting as an assistant surgeon of the regi
ment. lam Sir, your obedient servant.
L. A. Hari ke, Comd’g.
Fla. Mt. Volunteers.
Bill Concerning the Bunks.
Yesterday, the Senate, in committee of the
whole, adopted, by twenty to nineteen, the bill
from the House, with amendments numbers two,
three and nine of Mr. Mazyck’s bill.
It provides that the act of 1840 be suspended
; until Ist January, 1850, on the condition that no
execution, issued upon judgment already obtained
or hereafter to be obtained by any non-specie pay
ing bank, shall be enforced until such bank re
j <ume —and that each debtor, under execution,
iball pay to the bank interest every sixty days, on
t|?e amount of the judgment, at the rate of‘seven
per cent, per annum, or be deprived of the benefit
of the act.
That the fifth section of the act of 1853, charter
ing and re-chartering bauks, be also suspended for
Ujt? same time. That a commission of seven be
appointed 'by the Governor to examine the books
of the eutipended banks, and to report to the next
General Assembly results and suggestions for a
general banking system. From the Ist January,
1860, no amount of notes issued by any bunk is to
exceed three times the amount of its specie, actually
Hr. property in its banking house, more than fifteen
4 Gucceasive days—under a penalty of SSOO for each
' and every day of such issue—the Cashier of every
hank to transmit, on eveiw Monday, to the Comp
troller General, reports of the amount of its notes
l in circulation on each and every day during the
ending on Saturday—also an account of its
o’cl and silver, its property ou baud in its bank
t Ag house—«uch accouuts to be verified on oath by
/||dent or Cashier, before a Magistrate—
jrfjjrj/ to collate and publish monthly
rs • Aliy bank fai ling
• In*
UO.’.WWtY- -vv ul
*T-*t has i* lurlt it
through the Attorney General or Solh’i
toV a* its Circuit—it he have any suspicion of false
reports be shall have authority to make a personal
examination of the books, and any officer refusing
to submit the books of any bank for examination,
to be subject to fine and imprisonment That after
Ist Jauuury, 1660, no note under ten dollurs to be
issued by any bank, under a penalty of one hun
dred dollars for every such uote issued.
Columbia Carolinian , Dec. 17.
The Carolinian of the 18th inst. contains the fol
lowing :
Bank Bill of tiik Senate.— The Senate last
night, passed and sent tc the House, a bill concern
ing banks. The following are the provisions :
1. Tire collection of the penalties of the act of
IS4O is suspended until the 4th Monday of Novem
ber next.
2. Tiie act of 1852, prohibiting the paying out
of bills of other banks, is suspended to the same
period.
3. After January 1, 1860, notes issued by any
bank are not to exceed three times the specie in
possession of the bank.
4. After January 1, 1860, no bill under ten dol
lars to be issued by any bank.
5. No bank shall discount any note, bill of ex
change or other negotiable paper, in or out of the
I State, by any oflicer or agent, for a greater sum
titan six per cent, per annum, one percent, for six
ty days, under the penalty of fine or imprisonment
of its officers.
i From, the Baltimore Patriot.
Congressional.
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS—FIRST SESSION.
; Washington, Dec. 17.— House. —Mr. Lundy an
. nouuced the dea’h of Hon. Win. Montgomery, of
j Pennsylvania, and pronounced an eulogy on the
, deceased.
, Mr. Florence also paid a tribute to his memory.
, After the passage of the usual resolutions of re
, spect the House adjourdtd.
k Senate. —Mr. Grow presented the memorial of
. a large number of citizens of California and New
i Me: ico, pray ing for the establishment of Territorial
f government in Arizona, and subsequently he in
troduced a bill for that purpose.
Ou motion of Mr. Gwin, a select committee of
nine was ordered to consider so much of the Pres
» ident's message as ryfers to the subject of the Pa
cific railroad. Subsequently he introduced a bill
for its construction.
on motion ot Mr. Slidell, a select committee of
fire was appointed to examine into the condition
of the banking institutions of the District of Co
lumbia, and ihe authority by which such corpora
tions assume and transact the business of bauking.
Also, what further legislation is necessary to regu
lat* and control such banks.
Ou motion of Mr. Seward, a resolution was
adopted, calling on the President for copies of any
correspondence which may have taken place be
tween the Departments and British and French
residents on the subject of claims for uiieged loss
es in the bombardment of Greytown.
On motion of Mr. Trumbull, the credentials of
Me>srs. Bright and Fitch, together with the pro
tests against their right to hold their seats, was
referred to the committee on the judiciary.
Mr. Wilson gave uotice of an m ention to intro
duce a bill granting to the cities of Washington
and Georgetown one million acres of the public
lands for the support of public schools.
Mr Pugh introduced a toll to improve the navi
gation at the Falls of the Ohio river.
Mr. Clay m roduced a bill to repeal all the laws
allowing h-ibing counties.
Mr. Hunter, from the Committee on Finances,
reported a bill for tin* issuing of treasury notes.
Casualitibs and Death.—We regret to learn
B|at Col Tic tier, Deputy Sheriff of this c< untv,
return ng from Nashville tin Tuesday, was
Hirnivn from the cars and instantly killed. The
Catastrophe occurred within a short distance of the
place where happened the collision the day before
where so many were seriously if not fatally injured,’
and the engines knocked into fragments. The fa
ted train upon which Col. Teener was a passenger
at the time of the calamity, was running back
wards and ran over a cow, which Knocked the
hindmost cars off the track, shivering them to
pieces. A lady from Virginia, we learn, was also
seriously injured. Mr To ner leaves a large fam
ily to mourn his sudden and melancholy death.
Chattanooga Adotr titer, Dec. 17.
From correspondence of the Xtio York Herald.
The Landing of Walker’s Fillibusters.
United States Sun* Saratoga, i
San Juan Del Norte, or Greytown, >
Nicaragua, November 30,1857. )
We have some excitement at last, notwithstand
ing our anticipations to the contrary, and no less
a personage than the “gray eyed man of destiny”
is within the range of our guns.
On the 24th a steamer's smoke was discovered
outside, which directed itself toward the harbor,
and the ship herself appeared about one P. M*.
She came within about seven miles of the point,
and then bore away down the coast. This unusual
circumstance excited every one, and rumor ran
high m town that the filibusters were coming
back.
We had exercised our crew in the morning at
general quarters, and the captain thought he would
try the crew at night, t» test their activity and dis
cipline. So at eleven P. M., when they were ail
snugly rolled up in their hammocks, we beat to
quarters and fired eighteen blank cartridges. The
men were at their stations iu a very short time,
and enjoyed the thing with a good deal of zest.
Early on the morning of the 25th, the steamer
Fashion catne in and ran up alongside the hulk at
Mr. Scott’s. Tiie town was instantly on the </>;i
vice, creating u hubbub not known here for many a
long day.
I understand the immortal hero, as soon as he
landed, claimed the land iu the name of the Re
public of Nicaragua. He also laid claim to a
small schooner, under the charge of Mr. Scott,
which induced this gentleman to come ou board
and ask protection. The steamer was then along
side, putting provisions on board. We sent orders
for the steamer to immediately haul oft* which she
did. Gen. Walker was'then notified to vacate the
property under the charge of Mr. Scott, unless
some arrangement could be made between the two.
This not proving agreeable, the force was divided,
one part taking the extreme point of Punta Arenas,
the other above, having rented some houses from
the citizens. Gen. Walker having expressed a de
sire to come on board, a boat was sent for him, iu
charge of an officer.
As he was about to leave the ship, he remarked
to our captain that he seldom requested favors, but
in this case he would request him not to a
prejudiced opinion until he knew him better. -He
mentioned, also, that he would not have started < n
this expedition had he not been aware that the
government was not inclined to prevent him.
The steamer landed some forty-six men last
night at Colorado river in five boats, for the pur
pose, it is supposed, of surprising the steamers at
Castillo, and bringing them here.
The Fashion’s papers were examined and found
correct, having as passengers one hundred and
ninety-six on her list.
On the 27th the Nicaraguan flag was displayed
on the Point, which was the first act in the drama.
From Correspondence of the X. Y. Tribune.
San Juan, Nov. 80.
I have just heard that Lieut. Cilley, of the Uni
ted States ship Saratoga, went ashore at Punta
Arenas this morning, and that Walker sent to him
and ordered him to leave immediately. Mr. Cil
ley replied that he was uot only an American citi
zen, but an officer of the United States Navy, and
had as much right to land on Punta Arenas as any
other person. This was reported to Walker, who
sent again to Mr. Cilley that he must leave or he
would compel him to, remarking that Mr. Cilley
had but three men, and Walker upwards of a hun
dred, and that the folly of resistance must be ap
parent.
Nearly one-third of the men now with Walker
are said to be discontented, and ready to return in
the same steamer that brought them here, could
they get away. The Navy Department ought to
be getting ships ready to take these worthy indi
viduals back to their homes, as wus done a f«w
months ago.
j Late. Hews .from Kaunas,
i V nmffitf. jhg WeaS. to?o qflt us
r 14tw 11 hiuteint.• I!ige ftce
■ of Acting Governor Stantofi’s message to the f»*m
- tonal legislature. That body met ou the 7th, bn*,
I no quorum being present, it was not organized
’ until tiie following day, when eleven members of
the Council and twenty-one members of the House
appeared.
The message is quite a loug document, embrac
ing a history of the calling of the convention, an
argument upon its character as representing the
sovereignty of the people, and a discussion upon
the extent of its authority. It recommends “the
passage of a law directing ati election to be held,
either under existing regulations or in pursuance
of other suitable provisions to be expressed ih the
act, in which the people shall be authorized to
vote for the Constitution in either of the forms
presented by the convention, and also against that
Constitution iu both forms. As any law attempt
ing to control the officers of the convention and
those acting under them would be of more than
doubtful validity, and might be wholly disregard
ed by them, it would be prudent to provide for a
iepurate proceeding under difUerent officers, but
t might be of great convenience to the people, and
of some efficiency for the objects in view, to hold
this election at the same time and at the same
places provided for in tbo proclamation of the
President of the late convention.”
Washington Union, Dec. 17.
Suspension op tiie Bank of France.— lt seems
that after all the flourishes we have read in the
French papers about the recovery in the financial
world, and the ability of the bank to reduce the
rate of discount, the*Bank of France has been for
some time in a state of suspension. They have
paid gold in small quantities, just as our bunks
did during their suspension when merchants want
ed gold for duties, or, the holder of a few hundred
dollars in notes wished the specie for them. But
when a man went to the Bank of France for anv
large amount of specie, he has been told that he
cannot be uccomodated that day. The fact has
been kept secret, of course.
The policy of the government and Bank of
France in relation to finanre lias been for years iu
diametrical antagonism to the laws of trade) When
ever a pinch comes tn such countries as the United
States or England, the financial institutions of the
take in sail, contract, and protect themselves
in the best way they can ; the course pursued in
France has been precisely the reverse. Whenever <
» panic or embarrassment arose, the bank has re- r
ceived orders to counteract it by unusual exten- <
srons, and expansions of credit. The expedient 1
has answered thus far. The bank has, whenever r
bard times came, bought specie at a loss, and lent i
freely to all who wanted; thus piling inflation I
upon inflation,andprotractingthe day of reckoning t
at a fearful cost. This tecent suspension is one of t
tiie shifts to which the bank hits been driven ; and ]
the decrease in the rate of interest is a stage trick ■
to hide it.—jV! ¥. Ileruhl. ,
Loss by Fire.—We learn that the residence ol
Col. Jaimes E. Brown, near Fort Gaines, was en
tirely consumed by lire, on Thursday evening last
together with the entire contents, consisting of
furniture, bedding, clothes, papers, Ac., and about
hhy dollars in cash. The circumstances as we
learn them, are about these : The women and chil
dren of the family were in a room up stairs, whip
ping cotton to make mattresses, and when the
floor was entirely covered with cotton, a spark
popped from the fire into the centre, and kindled
into u Hume before it was discovered. The women
and children escaped wnh difficulty—some of them
being scorched, but not injured. No men being
on the premises, little or nothing was saved. The
Colonel’s loss, independent of papers, (the value
of which cannot well be estimated i is supposed to
be about three thousand dollars.
Cuthhert foporUr, Dec. loth.
Cincinnati, Dec. 14.—The banks of this city
have thrown out all Pennsylvania bunk paper, in
cluding that of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and
one to one and a-half per cent, discount isenurged
on such paper. The rates of exchange are unul
tered. Money continues tight and m demand at
two per cent, 'a month.
Buffalo, Dec. 15.—The Superior Court of Buf
falo recently decided ihat drafts purchased here
and payable in New York were usurious, and gave
judgment f.»r the defense in certain suits. Judge
Davis, of the Supreme Court, now in session, bus
reversed the judgment.
VOL. 36—3SfO. 5‘2.
From the Augusta Dispatch, Dec. 19.
Oeorgia Annual Conference—Appoint
ments of l'reachers lor 1858.
( The Georgia Annual Conference of the M. K.
Church, South, closed its session at Washington
yesterday. Below we give a correct list of the ap
po'ntments of the preachers for the ensuing year,
reported expressly for this paper:
Avgusta District.— J. B. Payne, P. E.; Augusta
Station, St. John’s Church, J. S. Key ; Tr-inity
Colored Mission, J. 11. Reese ; St. James’ Church,
h. W. Spear; Savannah, Trinity, W. 11. Potter;
Andrew Chapel, W. P. Pledger; Weslev Chapel
IJ. R. WJgguia; Capers Colored Mission to be
> vJ e ot ll"pv, J. M. Armstrong ; Spi irg-
P. C. Rams ; Syivuma 1). \V. Calhoun, cue
co be supplied; Scriven Colored Mission, W. B.
McHan; Waynesboro’, W. J. Cotter and G. tl.
Smith; Burke Colored Mission, R. J. Harwell*
L iUiSriHe, T. F. Pierce and J. D. Junkin ; Rich
mond, Thos. i.'oiing; Warren ton, J. Lewis : Spar
ta, J. II Caldwell; Hancock, F. F. Reynolds*
Hancock Colored Mission, J. Jones; Columbia, .1 ’
11. Grogan.
Athens Die!i'ict —A. T. Mann, P. E.; Athens, H.
H. Parks; Athens colored mission, J. C. Neeee •
W-Aihinsville, W. 11. C. Cone and A. T. Williams,’
Factory mission, 11. Cranford; Madison, W. R.
Foote, and Josenh H. Echols superintendent; Mrr
-C*-L N. B. O isley ; Morgan colored mission, M.
H. Hebhard ; Gr. ensbonuigh, G. C. Clarke ; Lex- *
iugton, li. Lane and J. W. Reynolds; Washing
ton, J. 0. A. Clarke; Wilke3, J. S. Dunn: L«n«
colnton, W. P. Arnold ; Elberton, John W. Knight
and W. H. Moss; Broad River colored n,
A. J. Dearors; J. L. Pierce, President Madison
Female College; W. J. Parks, Agent Einorv Col
lege.
Deihhntga District. —D. D. Cox, P. E.; Dab
lonega, T. T. Christian and J. P. Haile; Clarkes
ville. N.H. Palmer and R. II Waters ; Carnesvilie,
W. T. Norman and W. A. Parks; Gainesville, W.
Brewer; Cunt<m, W. G. Allen; Elijay, W. P.
Llonts; Plairsville, J. W. Brady; Murphy, W. B.
Bailey; II iivassee and Clayton mission, J. Cham
bers and J. V. p. Morris. *
A'Uinta District -W. R. Branham, P. E.; Wes
ley Chaple and colored charge, C. W. Key; Trini
ty und Evans Chaple mission, It. |B. Lester ; At
lanta circm*, S. C. QuilUan ; DeVaiur, M. F. Mal.-br;
Lawrenceville, J. W. Yarbrough; Monioe, It. \V.
Lovett; Oxford, J. W. Talley and C. A. Mitchell
A. Means, supplied; Covington, 11. J. Adinis;
McDonough, Albert Gray; Powder Springs, A.
rmau ; Marietta, T. 11. Jordan; Roswell, I. N.
Craven; W. J. Sasnett, Professor Emory College;
G. J. Pearce, Agent American Bible Society.
Home District —J. C. Simmons, P. E.; Rome, W.
M. Crumley; Cave Spring, W. Anthony and AV.
T. Me Michael: Etowah mission to be* supplied;
Cedar Town, J. W. Traywick: Alatoona mission,
J. Strickland: Cassvillc, L. J. Davies; Calhoun,
J. H. Mashburn: Spring Place, H. P. Pitcbford;
Dalton station, J. M. Dickey; Dalton circuit, (I.
Hughes; LaFavette, A. W. Rowland and S. A.
C’larke; Dade, to be supplied ; Lookout mission to
be supplied; Summerville, W. M. D. Bond ; R.
F. Jones, Principal Cherokee Wesleyan Institute;
D. Kelsey, Professor Cassville Female College.
LaGra*ge District. —S. Anthony, I’. K.; La-
Grange, J. E. Evans; Troup, W. A. Florence;
West Point, J. W. McGe »ee ; Greenville, L. Rush
and R. W. Dixon; Zebulon, J. R. Littlejohn;
Griffin, C. R. Jewett; Fayetteville, H. H. McHan;
Xewnan, E. P. Birch ; Palmetto and Colored Mis
sion, J. W. Tin ner, one to be supplied jCurroiton,
J. T. Ainsworth; Villa Rica, M. W. Arnold •
Jonesboro’, G. H. Patillo ; Franklin, J. P. Howell;
llarralson Mission, W. J. Wardlaw ; C. W. Thom
as, Chaplin United States Navy ; W. FI. Evuns,
Agent LaGrange Female College ; W. G. Conner,
President LaGrange Female College.'
AJacon Distnct. —J. W. Glenn, P E.; Macon,
v'ineviile and city mission, J. Boring, T. H. Stew
;i't; colored mission, W. S. Turner ; Clinton, P.
M. Ryburn ; Monticello, J. B. McGehee ; Jasper
colored mission, to be supplied ; Eatonton, Mil
i ai*d Bethel, Leviok Pierce and J. T.
' • 1 -*•' -t;A
, TCnoxi ille, W. F. Cook; Cuiloden <*«>l*VC
1 to be supplied; Forsyth. M. A. Chintz, Forsyth col
s ored ini>si<>n to be supplied ; Jackson, I). *R. Mc
} •"t illiums; E. 11. Myers, Editor Southern Chrldaiu
Adcocatc ; 0. 1.. Smith, President Wesleyan Female
■ College ; F. X. Foster, Professor Wesleyan Female
i College; J. Blakely Smith, agent Wesleyan Female
• College; John W. Burke, agent Tract Society,
i t/jlumbus /district. —J. W. Hinton, P. E.; Colum
bus, A. M. Wynn, J. M. Austin ; G rard and col
ored charge, W. D. Shea; Factory mission, W. W.
: Tidwell, C. L. Hays, superintendent; Cusseta and
colored mission, T. H. Whitby, M. Hamby; Buena
Vista and colored mission. G. Bright, J. M. Bright;
Flint River colored mission, W. Brooks; Talbct
t*>. , J. Harris; Butler, J. M. Marshall, E. W. Rey
nolds, superintendent; Talbot and colored mi.-siou,
S. J. B. Freeman; Thoinaston, W. G.
Parks ; Hamilton and colored mission, L. L. Led
better, W. W. Watts; Whiteville, R. A. Conner,
J. Rush, superintendent; Upson and colored mis
sion, D. O. Driscoll, M. Bellah.
Americus Dbctrlct. —J. B. Jackson, P. E.; Anier
icus, W. J. Scott; Americas Circuit, D. Crenshaw '
Sumter colored mission, A. H. Ogletree; Terrel/
D. Williamston; Fort Uu' nes j '>• U. Wardlaw-
Cuthburl nud Eihuiaus, J. 11. Ha.? - '**». Stewart, J.
T. Turner, and G. W. A’arbrough ; Cm? tla^ooc hec
doored mission, E. N. Boland ; LumpK.T? and
Green Hill. G. G. N. McDonnell ; Starkville anu
mission, A. J. Dean ; Oglethorpe, John P. Dun
can ; Vienna. J. E. Sentell ; Hawkinsville, T. W.
Hays : Isabella mission, E. J. Rantz ; Hawkins
vilfe colored mission, to be supplied.
Sunder set Lit District —W. Knox, P. E.; Sanders
vi lie, D. J. M\rick und L. L. Strange; Irwinton,
W. S. Baker ; Jeffersonville, A. M. Thigpen ; Dut/
lin, I). L. Stair; Jacksonville, W. (J. Rowland •
Reidsville, W. F. Couley; Hinesville, T. S. l!
Harwell; Darien, L. B. Payne ; Mclntosh mission,
R. N. Cotter; Bryan and Bulhick, B.F. Breedlove
..uiauuo! mission, J. G. Worley.
Next Conference to be held at Columbus, Ga.
troiii the J idltilgevilie Htcorder.
The Banks.
The first section legalizes the bank suspensions
until the l.'Mh of November, 1858. The second sec
tion gives bill holders ten percent, damages for the
failures of a bank to redeem their bills in specie
when demanded. The third authorizes the Gov
ernor to withhold judicial proceedings against the
suspended banks till 15th of November, 1858 ex
cept in cases of insolvency. The fourtii authorizes
the Governor to have the charters of such forfeited
as shall not resume; and also, that in the event
there is a general resumption of specie payments
bv the banks out of the State before the tune refer
red to, the Governor shall require by proclamation
the banks of this State to resume in thirtv davs.
t-lfih.should specie payments be required un*deroath
(during the timeofsuspension'l to meet the demand
on execution, the bank is required to pay the same.
S xth, the banks are required to receive their own
bills. no»es, or certificates of deposit, in the pay
ment of debts due them. Seventh—No bank to
b »° n emitleti to the benefit of this act, which
shall send any portion of its capital out ottheState
tor the purpose of buying notes of any kind.
Liglith —No bunk allowed to loan moner. in any
manner, at a greater rate of interest tlian seven
per cent, per annum—and contracts for over that
rate void. Niutb—No back, agent, or other officer,
is ullowed to discount or purchase notes or other
evidences of debt at a greater discount than the
rate of seven percent. Tenth—Banks are prohib
ited from selling exchange, except sight exchange.
at a greater premium than one per centum—when
the bills of said bank arc tendered (if not intended
to resell,) excepting foreign exchange. Kleveu'ih
—The affidavits ot bank officers, in their suni-an
nual reports, shall s'ato that the provisions of'this
act have not been violated. Twelfth—Perjury may
be established on bank officers, on affidavits to
their reports. Thirteenth—No suspended hank al
lowed to declare a greater dividend than at the rate
of seven per centum while it is suspended.
Bridgeport, Dec. 18.—Iranistan, the country
scat of I’. T. Banumi, tn this place, was discover
ed to he on lire last night, about a quarter to eleven
o’clock, and was soon burnt to the ground. M*
Barnaul had just begun to refurnish the house!
iinu already bad must of the rooms of ihe tir«{
11-*or tilted up. The amount of loss has not been
ascertained. The cause of the tire is uuknowu
but undoubtedly it was the work of an incen
diary.
