Newspaper Page Text
SATURDAY, FEB. 6.
The Douglas Organ on the Kansas
Question.
The Stales, s Democratic paper of Washington
OUy, which is controlled by southern men and
has cordially sustained the policy of the Ad
ministration, upon Kansas Affairs, has had a new
rerelation recently and now opposes the admission
of Kansas into the Union under the Lecompton
Constitution. Upon this subject, it has an ar
ticle In its issue of the Ist inst., from which we
mbhsh the following extract, as it contains the
thole argument which is employed by its oppo
>ents to indnce Democrats in Congress to vote
gainst the Constitution which the people of Kan
•s hare presented:
“The Kansas question is drawing to a climax, be
It for good or ill to the Democratic party. It is in
the hands of the Democracy now, and completely
optional with the representatives of that party in
Congress to make the result such as will tend to
the consolidation and honor of the party, or place
it in such a position that the most energetic labor
will not be able to place it, for years to come, in
the proud attitude in which it so lately stood.
It is a serious question—one which cauuot too
anxiously or'too bouestly engage the attention of
the Democratic members of Congress—whether
they will accept the Lecompton Constitution at the
price vhich it seems inevitable they must pay
for it.
“ Is the Lecompton Constitution, which the peo
ple of Kansas discard, worth the sacrifice of the
Democratic party? It is a fool and unhealthy
thing to touch. There is weakness and dissolu
tion in it. Even those who argue for its accept
ance, do not attempt to say that it ought to be re
ceived as a right; but because the people of Kan
sas, who have already discarded it, can do so again,
when Kansas is a State.
Thus it is only advocated as an expedient, and
an expedient of the most feeble and short-sight
ed character. If anything were to be gained by it,
or even if nothing were to be lost by it, if we could
even see a guaranty that the Democratic party
could retain ita present position, there might be
some excuse for its acceptance. But the contrary
is the sure and certain fate that awaits ns, if the
Democracy adopt it.
“ The North must go against its conscience and
its faith. The Democracy of the North legitimate
ly dissolves itself by the act, and places the Le
compton Constitution like a tombstone over its
grave.
“ The South never was in such a position as it
will then be in. Its projects, its faith, its system,
its hopes, its past history, present designs, and fu
ture ambition, will be at the mercy of a violent
majority, which will lake the place of its northern
allies.
“ We look beyond the satisfaction of an hour;
we look beyond that sham victory which insures (
us a disastrous and prolonged defeat. As a south
ern advocate we do it; as a national States Rights 1
Democrat we lament the exigency, and warn our i
Democratic friends to look well before they leap ,
into the gulf.” ,
This is the whole argument, if argument it may .
be called, which the Washington organ ot Senator ,
Dooqlas can present, against the admission of (
Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution. The ,
appeal which it makes to Democratic representa- (
tives in Congress, to vote against that instrument, ,
'gaddresssd, not to their patriotism, but to their
lews—not to their love of country or of justice, ,
Vut to their love of party and of its spoils. The ,
people of Kansas, acting in strict conformity with
law of their Territorial legislature, which Con
gress, the Executive, and the Federal officers of
the Territory, have repeatedly recognised as regu
lar and of binding force, have held a convention
to frame a Constitution and State government—
have adopted a Constitution —and after submiting j
its most important feature to a popular vote, and .
obtaining for it the popular sanction, have pre
sented this Constitution to Congress, with an ap- ■
plication for admission into the Union under it.
But, the Black Republican party of the Territory, .
denied the authority of the laws under which these
proceedings were taken for the formation of a
State Constitution, and refused to participate in
them, and the Black Republican party of the Union
resists tha application of Kansas for admission
into the Union, because, as they allege, the Con
stitution it presents does not represent the will of
the people of the Territory. These are the facts
of the case. Nobody contradicts them—nobody
denies that the Lecompton Constitution is the will
of the people of Kansas, legally ascertained—no
body donbts but that the opposition to that Con
stitution is founded in the inveterate hostility of
the northern section of this Union, to the admis
sion of any new slave State. No one doubts that
such is the secret of this opposition, and yet we
are told we must not meet it, but quietly succumb
to it and yield Kansas to preserve the Democratic
party and perpetuate its leese es power! that the
Democracy of the North will be split in twain by
its admission, and the South, abandoned by them,
be left to the mercy of a hostile majority in Con
gress 1
The reply to all this, which we cannot believe
it is necessary to suggest to southern Democrats
in Congress, is, that they are placed there to pro
tect the interests—not of the Democratic party,
but of the South, of the people of Kansas, and of
the whole country—that they cannot buy northern
support by abandoning southern rights or south
ern interests, or make the great principled, for
which they are contending in this Kansas im
broglio, subordinate to the interests or necessities
of a party. The demand of the South is the un
conditional admission of Kansas under the Le
compton Constitution, and upon it must her Rep
resentatives insist, whatever may be its effect upon
the fortunes of the Democratic party. That party
is an instrumentality—not to secure power and to
retain it, but to assert principles vital to the ex
listenoe of the Union, and the equality of the South
in it, and carry out these principles in the practical
administration of the government. It becomes
worthless to southern men when it shall lose the
ability or the will to carry out these principles.
k Metallic Currency in the District ot
Columbia.
The bill reported by the select committee of the
Jennie in reference to the currency of the Disti iet
ttf Columbia, prohibits the issue of any notes by
eorporations or individuals as a currency, or the
circulation of notes issued by banks out of the
District, of a less denomination than fifty dollars.
It is thought that the bill will pass, and then when
the treasury notes with which government em
ployees are now paid, disappear, we shall have
the experiment of a hard-money currency in the
District. “Ion,” of the Baltimore Sun, estimates
that the snm of eigbf hundred thousand dollars
will be sufficient as a currency for the District,
whilst the disbursements of the government in
specie within its limits, amount to several millions
annually. ,
The Hon. Edward Everett.
The Charleston Courier, ot yesterday, states that
a private letter was received in that city, from Mr.
Evxextt, dated Boston, Jan. 29, 1858, in which
the writer says: “I look forward with great in
terest to my southern tour, but am unable as yet
to fix the time when I can be in Charleston. Im
portant business, connected with onr Public Li
brary, may compel me to return to the North, for
a few days, alter having visited Richmond—thongh
1 hope not.”
Mr. Everett’s vUit to Richmond is fixed, we
believe, to take place, on or previous, to the 22d
inst., to enable him to be present ot and take part
in the inauguration of the statue of Washington
in the capital of Virginia, on Washington’s birth
day. _
pg“ Telegraphic dispatches from St. Louis, of
the Ist instant, announce that General Caluobk,
Judge Cato, Cabr, and others, from Kansas, ar
rived there the day previous, on their way to Wash,
ington. They say the Democratic State ticket is
elected, and that the Democrats have a majority of
one on joint ballot in the legislature.
Hr*
f ■ 1 in ...yi ■■
Judges of the Superior Courts.
At the elections in January for Judges of the
Superior Courts in several of the Circuits in this
State, the following gentlemen were elected. The
Governor has issued his proclamation to that ef
fect :
In the Western District, Nathak L. Hctchexs.
In the Chattahoochee District, Bn. H. Wobbsll.
In the Cherokee District, Luxonx W. Cnoox.
In the Blue Ridge District, Gnonog D. Rice.
The term for which they were elected is four
years, or until their successors are elected and
qualified.
Congress.
When the bill increasing the compensation of
members of Congress and changing the mode of
their compensation by giving them a salary in
stead of a per-diem was passed, it was supposed that
one of the immediate and beneficial effects of the bill,
would be to shorten the sessions of Congress, and
thus to expedite the public business. It was thought
that the representatives of the people would pre
fer rather to enjoy their money at home, than to
spend it in Washington city, and that to do this,
they would address themselves to the business be
fore them—urge it on and terminate each session
as soon as its business could be accomplished.
Thus far, there is no reason to believe that these
anticipations will be realized. The thirty-fifth
Congress has now been in session for two months,
and never was there a Congress which accomplish
ed less than it has in the same length of time, or
exhibited less inclination to dispose of thej busi
ness before it and adjourn. A resolution has been
introduced in the House, to adjourn on the 7th of
June, but at the rate at which it has been pro
ceeding, it will not be ready to adjourn on that
day, or even two months from that day.
It is not desirable that Congress should legislate
much, or that it should legislate at all in a hurry, ex
cept in some extraordinary emergency; and though
there are many evils incident to long sessions, we
would be content to see it sit throogh the year,
without an interval between its sessions, if the
time was occupied in preparing, maturing and ac
complishing necessary public business. This,
however, is not the case—especially in the popular
branch of Congress. In that branch ot Congress
it is usual to crowd the business of each ses
sion into a few days immediately preceding the
adjournment, and to devote the larger portion of
the time to patient, persevering but listless listen
ing, whilst members air their vocabularies upon
the stupid common-place topics of political discus
sion, upon which, often, neither the House nor the
country feel any interest, or need any enlighten
ment. This is not the fault of the members, many
of whom are practical business men, who work
assiduously in their committees aud in the House,
and seldom speak unless they have some matter
of importance to present and to discuss; but it re
sults from the constitution of their body, in which,
at the commencement of every Congress, a large
number of new men are introduced—many of
whom are eager to acquire a position in the House,
aud seek it in exhibitions upon the floor rather than
in close attention to and familiarity with its business.
The consequence is, that at the beginning of every
new Congress there ig almost a dead-lock upon
legislation for several months, after which the
House gradually recovers from the inflictions it
has endured, and goes to work in earnest.
During the present session repeated efforts have
been made, in the House of Representatives, to cut
short all useless discussion and confine debate
strictly to the matter before the House. This, if
it could be accomplished, would be a step in the
right direction, but the evil of too much speaking
in Congress will continue, with all the evils inci
dent to long sessions, until members learn that a
speech in Congress will net give them position
before that body, or an intelligent constituency,
unless it is eloquent, original, or at least instruc
tive. Knowledge of this fact would materially les
sen the number, and materially shorten the ses
sions of Congress.
A Volunteer Regiment for Utah*
New York city is first in the field with a regi
ment of volunteers, whose services have been ten
dered to the government, if it is determined to
use a volunteer force in the prosecution of the
Mormon war, for war exists, though it has not been
declared. Ward B. Burnett (Colonel of the New
York volunteers in the Mexican war) has been
elected Colonel of this regiment, and a majority
of the officers are gentlemen who have seen service
in Mexico or elsewhere.
Crop—Quantity on Hand.
We have received the following letter from an
intelligent, experienced, and observing planter, in
Jones county, dated
“Clinton, Feb. 1, 1858.
Dear Sir: I notice in your paper that you desire
to know something about the probable quantity ot
cotton raised in the several counties. The quanti
ty raised in this county I do not know, but will
state, as my opinion, that it is the poorest we have
raised since 1824-’25. In a few places, where the
planters had timely rams, and planted rich bottom
lands, some made two-thirds, sortfe one half, and
others about one fourth of an average crop. We
have some large planters in this county who, in
ordinary years, raise, some one hundred, some two
hundred and fifty, and others from three to four
hundred bales. Not one person, that I have heard
of, will raise two hundrea bales, and very few one
hundred and twenty-five bales. 1 sincerely hope
that planters in other sections have met with bet
ter success. Much the largest portion of the crop
has gone to market, and not much remains in the
planters’ hands.”
The Weather. #
The weather at this time evinces a snappish pro
clivity. We have had, for the last twenty hours,
a gradually descending shower, or series of show
ers, not quite up to the importance of a farmers
f'season” or good rains, nor have they been
so as to be regarded as mere Scotch mists.
But we care nothing about describing it
it has left the streets muddy—rendered the
atmosphere black and humid—quarantined the
crinolines—and made men and women look dump
ish and unamiable, with however many excep
tions; and good reader be pleased to regard your
self among the latter elass.
Although the suu may occasionally peep out,
and appearances indicate a change to favorable
weather, we think we have got to strike the “hard
pan” before a satisfactory change can be realized.
We understand that heavy snow storms were
prevailing yesterday in the middle States, and ex
tended as far south as Petersburg, Va. The wind
was blowing in a southerly direction, and we may
possibly enjoy some of the fleecy and white luxu
ry in our section, if the supply :s not exhausted
on the w ay. We are expecting hard times—the
hard times of pendant icicles and sleighing diver
tisements, when exhuberant youths go out in the
bleak winds, and after reveling and laughing, re
turn home with a pleuritic attack, pneumonia, or
some other malady to give anguish and trouble
to parents.
Sight Exchange on New York.
We understand that the banks in this city are
now selling Sight Exchange on New York at two
and a half per cent, premium, for the currency.
The banks in Pittsburg, Pa., resumed
specie payments on the Ist inst.
The banks in Philadelphia, it is stated, virtually
pay specie. _ . "
JSgr* The New Orleans Opera Troupe have been
performing iu Savannah and Charleston, and we
notice that the company is announced to re-appear
in Savannah. “Will the Opera company visit
Augusta?” ia daily asked, but we bare heard no
favorable response.
HJT We find in the Charleston Courier of a late
date, the following in reference to an old song, which
is doubtless familiar to many of our readers, who
hare never seen or known, possibly hare never
heard of its author, P. 8. Thomas, Esq, who is now
in our city;
The following song will be familiar to readers
of . musical associations and practice, whose mem
ories can recall a score of years. It was written
in 183$, in Baltimore, ana was suggested by the
absence of a dearly beloved sister.
It soon afterwards appeared in print in the Cin
cinnati Evening Post, of which our former fellow
citizen, F. 8. Thomas, Esq., was then editor, and
the writer of these lines, then in opening man
hood, was occasionally afi assistant editor.
A music teacher of Cincinnati, E. Thomas, who
was an Englishman by birth, and sounded a bugle
at Waterloo, was struck by (he musical capabili
ties of the lines, and by the namo of the author,
who, however, was neither a relative or acquain
tance—and introducing himself, proposed to adapt
the lines to musical composition. This was ac
cordingly done, and the song soon after issued by
George Willig, Jr., of Baltimore, became widely
popular, and its familiar strains son e years after
wards were heard in the streets of Calcutta, by the
sister of the author, to whose sisterly aflectivq
they were tributary.
As the author is now revisiting bis native city,
and renewing the friendships and acquaintances
of bis late esteemed father, it may gratify many
readers to read again the old famihar lines, and
we accordingly reprint them.
ABSENCE.
’Tit said that at*ence conquers lore.
But oh! believe it not.
I’ve tried, alas! it* power to prove.
But thou art not furgot.
Lady, tho’ fate baa bio us part,
Yet still thou art as near.
As fixea iu this devoted heart
As when I elapsed thee here.
I plunge into the busy crowd.
And smile to hear thy name.
And yet, as if I thought aloud.
They know me still the same.
And when the wine-cup passes round.
I toast some other fair,
But when I ask my heart tho sound
Thy name is echoed there.
And when some other name I learn.
And try to whisper love.
Still will my heart to thee return.
Like the returning dove.
In rain, I never can forget,
And woild not be forgot.
For I must bear the same regret
Whate’er may be ray lot.
Even as the wounded bird will seek
Its favorite bower to die!
So, lady, I would hear thee speak.
And yield my parting sigh.
'Tia said that ahseuce conquers love.
But oh! believe It not;
I’ve tned, alas! Its power to prove.
But thou art noUforgot.
Catholic Bishop of Charleston.
The Charleston Courier of Thursday says:
“Letters received in this city from the Archbish
op of Baltimore announce that the Catholic See of
Charleston, which has been vacant since the de
cease of the late Bishop Reynolds, has been filled
by the the appointment thereto of Right Rev. P. N.
Lynch, D. D., who has been administrator of the
diocese.
“ So far as we may be permitted to utter our
opinion on such an appointment, we are enabled,
from our acquaintance with Dr. Lynch, who has
been long a resident of this city, and is widely
known throughout this his native State and beyond
his own communion, to record our decided convic
tion that the selection has been judicious and well
placed.”
£W~The Edgefield Advertiser has received a
beautiful pitcher from the factory of Farrar A
Co., at Kaolin, six miles from Hamburg. It is of
elegant shape, the outsido resembling wicker
work, smooth, white and diaphanous. This ware
is equal if not superior to any from China, and the
factory was established some time in 1857.
Seme of this ware is for sale in Augusta, and
should be purchased by all house keepers, in
preference to foreign productions, in order to
patronise and sustain so important an enterprise
in this locality. .
*3g~ The boot »nd shoe business in the manu
facturing districts of New England was never
known to be in so depressed a condition as at the
present time. And, in fine, all departments of
manufacturing industry are sadly crippled there.
IST" The Europa which left New York on the
8d inst, took out $2,250,0tX). This shipment has
been increased in consequence of the large amoiuit
paid on coupons on the Ist. inst. A large portiii
of the Pennsylvania State debt is owned in Europfi
Imports or Dav Goons at Nsw York.—The
receipts of dry goods ad New York during the
four weeks just ended are less than for any cor
responding period in eight years, the total value
having fallen below three million dollars. The
total value of the month's imports is only two
million eight hundred and sixty-six thousand one
hundred and forty-four dollars, against ten million
three hundred and eighty-six thousand four hun
dred and seventy-six dollars for the same month,
last year, showing a falling off of seven million
five hundred and twenty thousand three hundred
and thirty-two dollars. The Journal of Commerce,
however, says:
“ It must be borne in mind, in connection with
the above statement, that the value of all descrip
tions of foreign merchandise held in bond here
on the Ist of January, 1858, was twenty-six million
of dollars, against fourteen millions at the same
date of the previous vear. Os this twelve millions
excess, about five millions were in addition to |the
usual stock of dry goods, so that there will boa
supply of fabrics for the opening trade, although
the styles of those kept over may not be quite as
fresh as could be desired.
“ The total imports for the last seven months is
nine million seven hundred and fifty-five thousand
two hundred and ninety-one dollars’ less than for
the same period of the previous year, two million
four hundred and ninety-one thousand two hundred
and eighty-three dollars less than for the seven
months ending with January, 1856; but four mil
lion six hundred and ten thousand six hundred
and fourteen dollars more than for the seven
months ending with January, 1855. We look for
a still greater comparative decline in February, as
the receipts of dry goods for February last "year
were very large.”
A Vibgikian w Paris.— A letter from Paris to
the New York Times has the following :
A sale is soon to take place in Paris of the fur
niture belonging to Mr. Parke Curtis, of Virginia.
This gentleman, who lived twenty years in a mod
est apartment of the Faubourg St. Honore, in this
city, Jiad but one mania—that of collecting por
traits of Washington and Lafayette. He has col
lected, it is said, one thousand one hundred and
seventy-six portraits—engraved, lithographed, in
bronze, in plaster or in bust, on foot, on horse, in
all forms and in all shapes. Mr. Parke Curtis,
who is now a sexagenaire, is a distant relation of
George Washington, and the heir of George Wash
ington Parke Curtis, lately deceased. He has re
turned to the United States on account of this
death. Mr. Curtis intends to return here to pack
np all portraits and leave with them for his new
residence—that of his late relative—at Bridge
Creek. At the same time he has ordered from Ins
brother Dautan, as ornaments for the vestibule of
his house, two colossal statues in marble of his
two great heroes.
Tas Lkadbr ik Utah.—Hon. JsrnißsoK Davis,
in a speech in the Senate recently, paid the follow
ing high tribute to Col. Jookstok, the leader of
the Utah Expedition. He said:
I hold that the country is indebted to the Ad
ministration for having selected the man who is
at the head of the expedition; who, as a soldier,
has not his superior in the srmy or out of it: and
whose judgment, whose art, whose knowledge is
equal to this or any other emergency; a man of
such decision, such resolution, that bis country’s
honor can never be tarnished in his hands; a man
of such calmness, such kindness, that a deluded
people can never suffer by harshness from him.”
We learn with regret that the dwelling house
and furniture of Mr. Edmond O’Connor, of Hall
county, was destroyed by fire in the latter part of
last week. The conflagration took place in the
absence of the family—nothing saved.
JJahlonega Signal, Jan. it.
Spartan-boro akd Ukiok Railroad.— We regret
to learn from the Uhionville Journal that the pros
pects of the Spartanburg aDd Union railroad are
Very gloomy. President Young would probably
reaign’duriDg this month, and the whole matter be
turned*over to tha creditor*.—CfelwmWa Timm.
B?" It is stated by correspondents from the
Utah army, that Col. Jack Hays is now a prisoner
in Salt Lake city.
A business house in New York, writing to
a prompt paying, and never renewing house in
this oity, under date of Feb. Ist, says:
“We have gone through, safe, one of the hardest
seasons in business we have ever experienced, ct
we hope ever to hear of, and we never can forget
the unfaltering promptness with which you have
met all your engagements with our house, and
with all houses, within our knowledge, that you
have had business engagements with. We will
stick to our good old customers and let doubtful
ones go. Many persons will visit New York the
ensuing spring and summer who will fall to obtain
goods on credit.”
Mr. Mattrson, M. C.—The Utica Observer of
a late date, says that the statement made in the
House of Representatives, by Mr. Keitt, of South
Carolina, that Mr. Mattbson is detained at home
by illness in his family, is untrue. The family is
well, but Mr. Matteson is attending to a sick bank
in which he has some interest.
Map op thb Heavens. —We see it stated that a
magnificent and interesting work is now being
issued at Paris—a complete map of the heavens,
so far as modern astronomical knowledge extends—
prepared under the auspices of the imperial ob
servatory. It is to consist of sixty-five plates, exe
cuted in the most superb artistic style, each
one of the plates indicating the position of twen
ty-five thousand five hundred and twenty-five
stars of tha third magnitude, or one million six
hundred and fifty-nine thousand one hundred and
twenty-five in all. The eighteenth plate of this
magnificent series, now finished, was recently pre
sented to the French Academy of Sciences, where
it excited the greatest admiration.
We learn from the Memphis Bulletin , of Satnr
dey, that there are at present over three thousand
bales of cotton at the depot of tho Memphis and
Charleston railroad, all at the owners risk. The
number of bales offering for transportation over
this road at that j clot amount to one thousand or
twelve hundred bales a day.
What Next. —The bogs of Ireland, it is stated,
are being made to furnish candles of as pure para
fine as ouc American coal. There are no less than
three million acres of this peat land in Ireland, and
the yield is as good as so much coal would be ex
pected to give. The peat is from twelve to forty
feet thick. The candles are found now in this
country, and are said to be as good as wax.
Heard Frox.—lnformation has been received at
the office of the Colonisation Society, that the co
lonisation packet ship Mary Caroline Stevens,
Capt. Heai>s, which left Hampton Roads on the
13th of November last, had arrived off Cape St.
Ann Shoals, about two days sail from Monrovia,
on the 16th December, then only thirty-four davs
out. All on board the ship were well.
From the Richmond South.
Mount Vernon Association.
Mr. Editor: It was with extreme surprise that
we read your article on the 26tb on the position
of the Mount Vernon Association to Mount Ver
non, to Virginia, and to the nation.
We would puss over its inaccuracies, even as we
do its (such .') compliments, but for the effect on
the opinion of the masses, of emanations, without
reflection, as without facts. We had not supposed
that any Virginian of intellect and education
would venture such an onslaught on those who
are generously laboring to obtain money to make
Mount Vernon a gjt to Virginia; who obligate
themselves in order to bind the hearts of their
countrymen to that sacred spot, to relieve the State
from the care and expense of its protection; who
concentrate themselves to take the charge of it,
and to labor for the means to preserve and adorn
it, he, from delicacy, as well as from regard for a
reputation for the perception of a statesman, would
have applied to tjficial authority for the history of
the Mount Vernon Association, and have ascer
tained all concerning its past, as well as its pros
pects for the present and for the future.
That woman —notwithstanding the peculiar
views of Mr. Washington, which induced a course
so disastrous to her continuous and successful
operations and awakened all the prejudice and
depression arising therefrom—should have the
power, through the high and holy mission she has
taken on herself, to wring from the heart of this
whole nation an almost unanimous meed of ap
plause, and in spite of the doubt that Virginia
would accede to the requisition of Mr. Washington
that the purchase from him must be made by the
State—that she should induce the magician of the
nation to give his time, his eloquence (a mine of
<old for her holy purposes 1) nay, to consecrate
lis life to her work—that she should cause ladies
of the highest position in State after State, to de
vote their all until the end was gained; some in
their self-sacrificing patriotism undertaking the
charge of entire States, and of enlisting and arous
ing every county in them—that she should enlist
gentlemen first in standing and in intellect to vol
unteer to become her Knights, to aid in the rescue
of ilt. Vernon, and, in eniulalion of the example
of the famous Knights Templar of old vow them
selves henceforth to the charge of its future inter
est—that she should have had the power to do
this, is a tribute of which she may well be proud;
and, more than that, these signs are a guarantee
that # it needs but time tofdevelope the appreciating
love and reverence for Washington which is the
noble understratum of the American character.
Woman asks but for time to hew out of this a
pedestal for the most glorious monument to manly
worth the world has ever known.
Have you forgotten that “Rome was not built in
a day or that our glorious Republic was not
won in “two or three years?” Nay, not in five—
the time guaranteed to the Mount Vernon Associ
ation by their charter. And permit us to ask if it
would ever havs been a Republic if the patriots of
that day had refused to commence a revolution
until all the money of ite imaginable cost had been
contributed beforehand t Yet there were doubters,
then, too, who regarded the moat glorious under
'taking of man as a “vagary,”—a mistaken en
thusiasm,”—a “bubble,” mischievous, if not
“beautiful!” We hope, for the honor and credit
of the Old Dominion, that there ere none such in
the present General Assembly—guardians in this
matter of her reputation for all time. On their
decision now, in reference to the sacred ashes of
the Father of his Country, the world for all time,
wildest in judgment.
You say that the Mount Ternon Association has
“labored for two or three years under the most fa
vorable auspices, and yet without raising a tenth
part of the sum necessary for this purchase.” It
is presumed that the public will not dispute that
we are reliable authority on these points; and we
state, that the Association from the beginning un
til now, has encountered an accumulation of diffi
culties calculated to appal even— woman; not
only from causes to which we have alluded, but
from those arising from individuals not gifted
with patriot hearts or the sagacity of statesmen to
Eerceive that our enterprise was not “impraetiea
le,” or was something mors than a “vagary,”
the end of which might be a “bubble 1” The
pnblio will certainly never accuse Mr. Washington
of "amiable enthusiasm” or of acting from the
impulses of sentiment, yet we had only to place
our views before him to induce him to reconsider
his determination “Dever to give Virginia another
opportunity to purchase Mount Vernon from him.”
Such had been the effect of his letter la May,
1856, “ withdrawing the estate from sale,” that, be
tween indignatien and despair, and a wide-spread
doubt that we could ever obtain Mount Vernon,
nearly all we had gained was lost, and little of the
money collected was left unreturned by those who
had, of course, the power to do it—for ours is a
voluntary work. When, therefore, in March last,
eleven months after this letter, we announced to
the public, through the correspondence of Mr.
Ritchie and Mr. Washington, that Mount Vernon
could be obtained through Virginia, and that the
Mount Vernon Association, by paying the purchase
money, could convert it into and become its guar
dians as a national shrine, we had to commence
our work anew and to Accomplish the Herculean
task of re-kmdling extinguished fires, and at tho
most inauspicious of all seasons—summer—and
then to encounter a financial crisis under which
the world is still trembling; yet with all this to
encounter, tho Mount Vernon Association has gain
ed State after State, has drawn, and is drawing out
ardent laborers, iespired with the spiritof '76, and
gallant knights, who, in their “ amiable enthusi
asm,” are canvassing theiv States to bring tbe
cause home to the knowledge and to the heart* of
that cia-is who will not value gold when the “ sa
cred ashes ” of the Father of their Oonutry ere eow
cerned—and last, bat not least, the noble brother
hood of Masons who will come up in solid phalanx
to work for him, “ the bright, particular star” of
their firmament
We indignantly repel the imputation that tbi
Mount Vernon Association, through Its President,
has come before the legislature in “ forma pau
perisPaupers!!! We admire the amiatdhty of
conveying the insinuation in a dead language.
The lamentations of the editor of the South
over the exhausted treasury of Virginia are quite
touching, and have so enlisted our sympathies that
we rejoice to assure him, and the guardians of the
treasury of Virginia, that the ladies have not and
do hot ask for one dollar from her “ impoverished
coffersbut as Mount Vernon can only be obtain
ed for the nation through the instrumentality of
Virginia and at the time, in the form, and upon the
terms wbiph Mr. Washington inexorably requires,
thev do ask that Virginia will comply with these,
and issue those printed scraps of paper, which, if
unredeemed, may touch her treasury thirty-four
years hence, and m return for this the ladies pro
pose to give her two hundred thousand dollars,
from which she can derive a temporary benefit—
no disadvantage to an “ exhausted treasury” I One
fourth of this sum we can put at her disposal now :
and, if the greater part of this has been collected
in a few months under every disadvantage, we do
not doubt that, with our increasing and
brightening prospects, the remainder of the two
hundred thousand will be ready for her acceptance
by the 22d of Feburary, 1859.
To allay any doubts of the timid on the score of
losses by interest money duo, semi annually, we
pledge its payment in advance.
In conclusion, we can but state that our sense of
justice makes us realize that the public are, and
ever have been, unjust to Mr. Washington. If the
nation desire to have Mount Vernon as a national
shrine for its benefit and gratification, it is the na
tion’s duty to make it so, and not pauper like, to
ask it of Mr. Washington, as alms to national sen
timent. We know that Mr. Washington had an
opportunity to realize three hundred thousand dol
lars by private sale, and, therefore we feel he has
done his part by placing one hundred thousand
dollars on the altar of sentiment. We now ask
the nation to do theirs. A Southern Matron.
President of the Mount Vernon Association of the
Union.
January 27 th, 1858.
The Equestrian Statue of Washington.
In obedience to the urgent demand of public
curiosity, the equestrian statue of Washington was
yesterday uncovered, and all its beauties unveiled
to the gaze of thousands, who, for several hours,
stood around in admiring criticism of the group.
About twelve, M., the face of the great Captain
was uncovered, and three hearty cheers went up,
as the noble features were opened to view, a bright
sunshine lighting up the face. We must defer to
an early day a description of the group, which,
without one dissenting voice, so far as we could
learn, is pronounced a wonderful triumph of art.
In all its details, the statue is perfect, and seems
to move uud speak, with all the naturalness and
vividness of nature.
The statue will be again veiled this morning—so
that the tens of thousands, who will visit Rich
mond on the 2‘2d February, may eDjoy the surprise
of novelty that delighted so many yesterday. We
hare to advise all, who wish to realize the perfect
likeness of Washington, as accordant with the
face of Houdon’s statue, to look at the statue of
Washington from the East, that is, from a line
running from the western point of the City Hall
portico.
All we have to say at present is, that all our
labors and anxieties about the success of the Vir
ginia Washington Monument, are more than com
pensated by the unveiling of the Washington
group. Iu the language of a distinguished
foreigner of talent and taste, Virginia, and Rich
mond, can justly claim to have tqp finest work of
art in the world.
In conclusion, we are requested by several lead
ing citizens to suggest that a public meeting of the
citizens of Richmond be called at once, to make ar
rangements for the entertainment of the large
number of visitors who will be in Richmond, at
the great celebration, on the 22d February. We
leave to others to carry out the patriotic sugges
tion.—Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 29.
Colonel Cook’s March to Join the Utah
Army—Terrible Sufferings.
Col. Cook’s report to the adjutant general of the
Ctah army, of his march from the Missouri to the
valley of the Salt Lake, is full of uiattcr of curious
interest. He started in command of six companies
second dragoons, from Fort Leuvenwortli, on the
17th September, and his journal ends with his ar
rival at Fort Hridger on the 19th of November.
He says:
The regiment had been hastily recalled from
sSkvicc in the field, and allowed three or four days
only by my then commanding officer to prepare
for a march of eleven hundred miles, over an un
inhabited and mountain wilderness. In that time
the six companies of the regiment who were to
compose the expedition were re-organised; one
hundred and ten transfers necessarily made from
and to other companies: horses to be condemned
and many to be obtained; the companies paid, and
about titty desertions occurred; the commanders
of four of them changed.
I marched them on the 17th. Then it was to be
iroved that three or four more days were to be lost
n waiting for the quartermaster’s department to
supply the absolutely necessary transportation.
On the 18th, one hundred und seven mules were
furnished, which the same day had arrived from a
march of, perhaps two thousand miles to and from
Bridger’s Pass; above one hundred of the others
were nearly worthless from want and age, and re
quiring several hours to harness a team. On the
morning of the 19th twenty-seven teamsters were
wanting, and men were furnished utterly ignorant
of tbe business and without outfits. Half allow
ance, or six pounds a day of corn for horses and
mules, was the largest item of transportation;
three or four laundresses, with their children, were
with each company.
The regular journal of each day’s march given,
how it rained, and how the mules died, and the
rnen complained. On October the sth he arrived
at Fort Kearney; on the 15th crossed the South
Platte—the thermometer was at thirteen, and the
river full of ice.
It was discretionary with Col. Cooke to winter at
Fort Laramie or to post on to Salt Lake. He pre
ferred the laUer course. On November the 4ih
his command Was at Sweet Water Pass, in the
Rocky Mountains; next day they gained Devil’s
Gate.
On the the 6th we found the ground once more
white, and the snow falling, but then very moder
ately. I marched as usual. On a four mile hill
the North wind and drifting snow became severe;
the air seemed turned to frozen fog; nothing could
be seen; we were struggling in a freezing cloud.
The lofty wall at “ Three Crossings” was a happy
relief, but the guide, who bad lately passed there,
was relentless in pronouncing that there was no
grass ; the idea of finding and feeding upon grass
in that wintry storm, under the deep snow, was
hard to entertaio, but as he promised grass and
other shelter two miles further, we marched on,
crossing twice more the rocky stream, half choked
with snow and ice; finally he led us behind a
great granite rock, bnt all too small for the prom
ised shelter, only a part of the regiment could
huddle there, in the deep snow; while, the long
night through, the storm continued, and in fearful
eddits from above, before, behind, drove the fall
in* and drifting snow. Thus exposed, for the
hope ol grass, the poor animals were driven with
great devotion by the men once more across the
stream, and three-quarters of a mile beyond to
the base of L. granite ridge, but which almost
faced the storm; there the tarnished mules, crying
piteously, did not seek to eat, but desperately
gathered in a mass, and some horses, escaping the
guard, went back to the ford, where the lofty pre
cipice first gave us so pleasant relief and shelter.
Thus morning light had nothing cheering to re
veal, the air still filled with driven snow—the ani
mals soon came driven in and mingled in confu
sion with men, went crounching the snow in the
confined and wretched camp, trampling all things
in their way. It was not a time to dwell on the
fact that from that mountain desert there was no
retreat nor any shelter near, but a time for action.
But for six hours the frost or frozen fog fell thick
ly, like snow, and again wc marched on as in a
cloud. The deep snow drifts impeded us much,
and in crossing Sweet Water the ice broke in the
middle. Marching ten miles only, I got a better
camp, and hearded the horses on the hills; it was
a different road, where a few days before the bodies
•f three frozen men were found.
On the Bth the thermometer stood at 44 deg.
below the freezing point The snow was deep;
twenty-three mules gave out, aud five wagons
were abandoned.
Nine trooper horses were left freezing and dying
on the road, and a number of soldiers and team
sters bad _ been frostbitten. It was a desperate
ly cold night; the thermometers were broken,
but by comparison must have marked 25 degrees
below xefo. A bottle of sherry wine froze in a
trunk. Having lost about fifty mules in thirty
hours, the morning of the 11th, on the report of
the quartermaster, I felt bound to leave a wagon
‘n the bnsbea, filled with seventy-four extra rod
dies and bridles and some sabres.
Next day the corn gave oat; {he males were
dying of hanger.
They gnawed and destroyed four wagen tangoes,
a number of wagon covers, ate their ropes, ana
getting loose ate the sage fuel collected at the
tents. Some of these they also attacked. Nine
died. The fast growing company of dismounted
men were marched together as a separate com
mand by day; the morning of the 12th a number
of them were frost-bitten from not being in mo
tion, although standing by fires. That day eigh
teen miles were matched to Big Sandy, wb'ere the
guide found grass, and fuel with it; so good that
the ISth was made a day of reat; the animals
were all herded at tbe grass. Fifty horses had
been lost since leaving Laramie.
He closes tbe report of his march with the fol
lowing :
I have one hundred and forty-four horses, and
have lost one .hundred and thirty-four. Most of
the loss has occurred much this side of South Pass,
in comparatively moderate weather. It has bees
of starvation. ’ The earth is a mere lifeless,
treeless, grassless desert; it contains scarcely a
wolf to glut itself on the hundreds of dead and
frozen animals which, for thirty miles, nearly
block the road with abandoned and shattered pro
perty. They mark, perhaps, beyond example )»
history, the steps of an advancing army with ths
horrors of a disastrous retreat.
From the Baltimore Sun.
Thirty-Fifth Congress—First Session.
Washington', Feb. 2.—Senate.—Mr. Wilson pre
sented the memorial of E R. Livingston, of Mas
sachusetts, to be appointed to superintend and aid
in the preparation of a catalogue, abstract and in
dex of the original documents and papers of the
United States. He said that Mr, Livingston had
indexed the official papers of Massachusetts from
1774 to 18177 on an original plan, which had met
the coromenda'lon of the official authorities and
literary men of that Stafcy He hoped that ths
committee on the librarAltfjnld agree to the pro
posed plan, which wouldV htf immense value to
public men and historical stMCents.
, Mr. Masco, from the committee on foreign rela
tions, reported a bill to indemnify the piaster and
owners of the Spanish steamer Amistad and her
cargo, involving the payment for alleged slaves.
Mr. Seward, in behalf of Mr. Foot and himself,
submitted a minority report, being of the opinion
that the claim was not supported by the facts or
law.
The House bill, appropriating three hundred and
sixty thousand dollars for the support of the na
tional armories, was passed.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the army bill.
Mr.,Seward said he would grant this increased
force if he knew that the troops now in Kansas
would be withdrawn. He was unwilling to do it
without assurance to that effect. He could not
consent to have the army used to enforce a Consti
tution which a majority of tbe people of Kansas
reject. Such a crisis has now arrived that he
doubted whether the President would dare to use
the army for that purpose: but he wanted to be
sure about it before he would vote for the increase.
Congress must pass the bills for paviog the armv;
and he never would vote a dollar'to be used for
such a purpose in Kausas, no matter if th- wheels
of government shall come to a dead stand, as was
the case two years ago. He, however, favored ths
increase, for the purpose of putting down the re
bellion in Utah, but only to oe used so long as it
is necessary for that purpose, and then disbanded.
Mr. Hale had listened with extreme pain, disap
pointment and mortification to the Senator from
New A ork—equal to that with which ten Years ago
he had heard Ilaniel Webster put himself at ths
feet of the slave power to be spurned bv them.
Mr. Seward explained that his course was influ
enced by a regard for the interest of the whole coun
try. He knew nor cared nothing for party. Ho
thought the error of Mr. Hale and others was in
thinking the battle was not yetover, when it was ;
and whatever tbe administration might do, before
another year there would be nineteen free tofifteen
slave States.
A message was here received from the President;
which was read, (enclosing the Lecompton Consti
tution.)
[The subsequent proceedings of each house will
be found in another column.)
House— Mr. Harris, of Illinois, gave.notice that
he would, on to-morrow, move to fake up the con
tested election case of Mr. Vallandigham against
Mr. Campbell, in order to dispose of the prelimi
nary questions involved.
The House then resumed the consideration of
the printing deficiency bill.
The bill appropriated seven hundred and ninety
thousand dollars, and was amended by adding that
the joint committee on printing shall inquire into
♦he right and expediency *<f discontinuing the fur
ther publication of any reports ordered to be print
ed by the thirty-third and thirty-fourth Congresses
and which have not yet been printed in whole or
tn part; that hereafter it shall not be lawful to
order the printing of any extra copies of any re
ports or other writing until the joint committee on
printing shall first estimate and report the extent
of the work and the probable cost; and that no
extra copies shall be printed except when ordered
byjoint resolution.
The bill being put upon its passage was rejected
—yeas suty-seTen, nays one hundred and tlurtr
five.
Resumption. The banks of Georgia&re evident
y, quietly, but steadily, withdrawing their circu
lation, in response to the clamors of a portion of
the people, and we should not be surprised to hear
of their return to specie payments any day. Ths
business community will soon feel the effects of a
sudden financial stricture, and others, besides
mechanics and laborers,” may find “ rags” un
pleasantly scarce. —itoevn Messenger.
The caucus (held last night,) of tho Democratic
Senators was a full one. Mr. Douglas was present
The order of proceedings in action on the spe
cial message and the Lecompton Constitutinn'was
the subject discussed. It was determined finally
with much unanimity, we hear, to press tliedebato
on the question of the reference of the subject to
as speedy conclusion as possible, and then to pro
ceed with the further consideration of the bill to
increase the army. We presume that the Territo
ries Committee will be ready to report it back by
tbe time the last mentioned abore shall hare bee*
disposed of.— Washington Evening Star , Fib. 3.
Snow.—lt commenced snowing last evening
about seven o’clock, and kept it up, fast and fam
ous, forseveral hours. This morning the earth to
covered to the depth of an inch and a half, both to
fast disappearing. —Chattanooga Advertiser, Feb. 4.
Sales at the Court House.—The sales of rea
estate, negroes and bank stock at the Court House
yesterday were as follows:
By Wylly A Collins: Lot No. 27, Franklin Ward,
adjoining Stephen’s stables, in Congress street
brought two thousand two hundred and twenty!
hve dollars; sold by virtue of a decree in Equity
rendered by tbe Superior Court of Chatham coun
ty. A negro woman, a field hand, with two chib
dren, a boy ten y ars old and girl eight yearn,
brought fifteen hundred dollars; a negro man
brought eight hundred dollars.
By Bell Prentiss A Co.: Lot No. 24, Currytown,
corner of Montgomery and Hutingdon streets, foe
simple, with improvements, gold for six hundred
and sixty dollars; fifteen shares of tbe Bank of
Commerce, were sold at ninety-six d« u xrs ner
share.
By Minis A Johnson: Two shares of the Ken
chants & Planters’ Bank sold for eighty-three d©K
lars per share. —Savannah News, Feb. 8.
Mabine Bank. —At the annual election for seven
Directors of the Marine Bank of Georgia, Ijeld on
the Ist inst., the following gentlemen were elected,
viz. : Charles F. Mills, «George Hall, Noah B.
Knapp; Edward Paddelford, Aaron Champion,
Noble A. Hardee, and Francis T. Willis.
At a meeting of the Board held yesterday, Chas..
F. Mills, Esq., was unanimously re-elected Presi
dent. —Savannah Jiepubliean, Feb. Id.
Washington, Feb. B.— The Douglas Democrats
are in council to-night, to consider what is their
best policy or conduct oh the Kansas question.
The Republicans have held several caucuses, and
are fully agreed to resist by all parliamentary
means, the admission of Kansas under the Lecomp
ton Constitution. All parties are consolidating their
strength for the struggle.
There are now some ten or eleven separate Indi
an delegations at Washington, on business with
the government.
The in executive session, to-day con
firmed J. Madison Cutdr as second Comptroller of
the Treasury, and George Vail, ex-Coogi essman of
New Jersey, as Consul to Glasgow. W ,
Truth is in morals w hat steam is in mechanics—
nothing can resist it.
If honest men are the salt of the earth, prstty
girls may be said to be the sugar.
w ..••*> - - '-V '2 ‘ .