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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 ‘ .