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THE CONSTITUTIONILIST.
PUBLISHED BY
JAMES GARDNER.
JAMES T. HlSßET—Editor.
OFFICE ON McENTOSH STREET.
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AUGUSTA, GrA.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1858.
Another Letter from Gov. Wise.
A meeting of the Democrats of Philadelphia,
“ inexorably opposed to all attempts to force the
Lecompton Constitution upon the protesting peo
ple of Kansas, in violation of the will of the ma
jority”—that is, opposed to the Administration upon
the Kansas question—was held at the National
Hail in that city, on Monday evening, the Bth in
stant. At that meeting Col. Fornet presided;
Mr. Stastox, late Secretary of the Territory of
Kansas, made a long speech, and a long letter was
read from the Governor of Virginia, in which he
reiterates the opinions expressed by him in his
Tammany letter, and reviews the late special mes
sage of the President upon Kansas affairs. The
following is a telegraphic synopsis of this letter,
which is published in the New York Tribune of
the 9th instant:
“Got. Wise says that a careful review of the Pres
ident’s Message constrains him to differ with the
President of his choice. He protests against the
mode in which the Lecompton Constitution was
pretended to be submitted, as anti-republican
and oppressive, and as offensive to the self-respect
and moral sense of a free people. He admits that
the conduct of the Topekaites was violent and un
lawful, and that their opponents acted under law
ful authority up to the submission of the Constitu
tion to the people. But that has nothing to do
with the issue. Is the Constitution the act and
deed of the people, and is the schedule republican?
The wrong of the Topekaites will not justify the
wrong of the Lecompton convention, nor cure the
defects of the Lecompton schedule, which, though
providing for its ratification or rejection, was sub
mitted for approval alone, without allowing a
vote upon its rejection. He contends that there
was obviously a sinister and anti-republican
purpose in thus giving an unfair election
as to part of the Constitution, with no election
as to the whole. He denies the assertion of the
President that no people could have proceeded
with more regularity in the formation of a Consti
tution than the people of Kansas have done. The
people were not allowed a fair election at all. A
fair election could not be held under the schedule,
as appears from its face. He combats the Presi
dent s idea that the admission of Kansas would
speedily end the agitation in Congress and localize
it in Kansas. He declares that it never can be lo
cal. Again, ’tis all essential -that the settlement
shall be just, right and equal, and if not so, it is
sure to be mischievous to that party snatching pow
er without right, and doing wrong that good may
come. The ulterior effect of adopting the Le
compton Constitution will be worse than refering
back the question for territorial decision. It win
arraign the Democracy and the South for demand
ing more than is right, it will return the chalice to
our own lips, when the Kansas question again and
again arises in our boundless domain of unsettled
Territories. It will drive away thousands of hon
est Democrats to raise the Black Republican flag
over the Capitol in the next struggle for power,
and then raise the last dread issue of disunion.
“He concludes by addressing the committee as
thp friends of Mr. Buchanan and the administra
tion, who have his best wishes and warmest friend
ship, and whom he would save both from danger
and defeat. He trusts in their pure and patriotic
motives, but he regards much more the Democra
cy of the South and the Union, and professes anx
iety for their fate. For himself lie fears nothing
—nrralv standing on the right, in spite of friends
and foes.”
This last letter of the letter-writing Governor of
Virginia is only remarkable because written by 1
the Governor of a southern State, to an assemblage
of Black Republicans and apostate northern Dem
ocrats—for such was the meeting in Philadelphia. 1
It contains nothing which is new—nothing which
will influence southern opinion or shake the con- t
elusive argument of the President upon the obli- t
gation of Congress, as a matter of right and of ex-pe- j
diency, to receive Kansas into the Union under t
the Constitution which her people have presented, a
By it Governor Wise Identifies himself completely o
' with those northern Democrats who have leagued p
with the Black Republicans to embarrass the ad
ministration and defeat the Lecompton Constitu
tion ; and places himself in opposition to the ad
ministration and to the South, on a question upon
which the South is more united in feeling and '
opinion, than it has been upon any other in the c
last twenty years. We publish this synopsis of 8
his letter as part of his record and of the political 1
history of the times. How much irritation it may ’
occasion at the South, or how much support it may ’
secure him at the North, are questions which time 1
must determine. _
Gov. Wise’s Original and Present Rela
tions to the Kansas Act.
Under this caption, the Washington Union, of
the 12th inst., contains an article in which, after
quoting Gov. Wise’s declaration in 1854, that “the
objections to the Nebraska-Kansas act were unan
swerable, bat never insuperable,” it remarks:
is Gov. Wise was indiflferent to the enactment
of the measure, at a time of great effort and strug
gle to its friends, it has simply followed, as a mat
ter of course, that now, in the decisive struggle
for the consummation of the measure in its appli
cation to Kansas, he is found in conflict with the
Democratic organization, esteeming his individual
opinions superior to those of the great body of the
party on a test measure. Considering his antece
dents on this subject, it has very naturally come
to pass that letters are now solicited with eager
ness from him by opposition meetings in the
northern cities, and that assaults by him upon the
policy of the party and administration, in regard
to this measure, are received with gusto by the
coalition through all the length and breadth of the
-northern States.
Whatever political relations, therefore, between
Gov. Wise and the friends of the administration
may be impaired by present differences of senti
ment on the Lecompton Constitution, it is not pro
bable that any great affection or solicitude for the
Kansas-Nebraska act itself has had to be com
batted by Gov. Wise in throwing himself full
length against the consummation of the measure
in its application to Kansas, according to the poli
cy resolved upon by its original and true friends—
the national Democracy of the Union.
Crinoline Misused. —The gigantic crinoline
petticoats which are still the fashion, have, it is
known, been several times employed to defraud
the octroi at Paris. At Toulouse, a few days ago,
the octroi men, struck by the crinolines of a wo
man and her daughter, named Peguillan, had them
searched by a female, and it turned out that under
one crinoline not fewer than twelve partridges,
and under the other a hare and three rabbits were
secreted; Madame Peguillan was on the lGth for
this fraud fined one hundred francs by the Tribu
nal of Correctional Police of Toulouse; her daugh
ter, being under age, was not proceeded against.
A telegraphic dispatch from Mrs. Le Vert, of
Mobile, to Richmond, Va., states that she has col
lected the sum of one thousand dollars for the
Mount Vernon Association. Mrs. Fogg, of Ten
nesse, has collected over two thousand; and Mrs.
McWillib, of Mississippi, nearly four hundred dol
lars for the same fund.
The Slave Trade. —ln the Louisiana Senate,
notice has been given of the introduction of a bill
to import five thousand negroes from the coast of
Africa.
The Army BUI m the Senate.
The following was the vote in the Senate on
Thursday last, upon Mr. Toombs' motion to strike
out the first section of the bill to increase the mili
tary establishment of the Dnited States, reported
by the committee on military affairs:
Teas— Messrs. Bell, Chandler, Collamer, Critten
den, Dixon, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenden, Foot,
Foster, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, Houston,
Johnson of Tennessee, King, Pearce, Pugh, Sim
mons, Sumner, Toombs, Trumbull, Wade, and
Wilson—2s.
Nays —Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Biggs, Bigler
Bright, Broderick, Brown, Cameron, CTav, Davis
Evans, Fitch, Hammond, Hunter, Iverson, Jones’
Mallory, Mason, Polk, Sebastian, Seward, Slidell’
Stuart, Thomson of New Jersey, Wright, and Yu
lee—26.
The section thus retained, is as follows :
11 That there shall be added to each of the regi
ments of dragoons, cavalry, infantry, and of mount
ed riflemen, two companies, to be organised in the
same manner as the companies now composing
these arms respectively, and to receive the same
pay and allowances, and to be entitled to the same
provisions and benefits in every respect, as are au
thorised by the existing laws; they shall be subject
to the rules and articles of war, and the enlisted
men are to be recruited in the same manner as
other troops, with the same conditions and limita
tions.”
The second section of the bill authorising an in
crease of the number of privates in each company
of the army, serving in the field, or at remote and
frontier stations, to any number not exceeding
ninety-six, was subsequently stricken from the
bill—the committee or military affairs having
announced their determination to withdraw it
before the vote on the first section was taken.
Important Decision.
The Washington Safes, of the 11th inst., con
tains the following notice of an important decis
ion lately pronounced in the Supreme Court of the
United States:
“The Supreme Court yesterday confirmed the
. decision of the circuit court of the District, in the
. case of Ann C. Smoot vs. the Corporation of
. Washington. The action was a claim for damage
i to property resulting from a change of the grade
, of K street. The circuit court decided that the
> corporation had the right to change the grade of
any street, to secure the interest and health of the
city without liability for damages to private prop
. erty, and the Supreme Court affirmed the decision.
This is a broad law, affecting, not only our own
, property-owners, but those of every other munici
pality in the country. This decision will of course
settle the question of several hundred embryo
. claims against the corporation, based on similar
. grounds.
Fine Cotton and a Fine Price.
A lot of one huudred and six bales of cotton was
sold in this city on Thursday at twelve and a half
cents per pound. It was from the plantation of
Mr. Gebexe Moore, of Greene county.
This cotton was of the variety usually planted
by our farmers, but in consequence of careful pick
ing, handling, and packing, it commanded, from
one-fourth to three-eights of a cent over the high
est prices current on that day in this market.
There was no inferiorcotton in the crop, to reduce
the intrinsic value of Mr. Moore’s cotton; all of
it was fine. Being a desirable lot, buyers readily
gave one-fourth ofa cent a pound over the highest
prices to obtain it.
From the quantity of carelessly handled, badly
ginned, dirty and almost worthless cotton brought
to market, it would appear that planters really
thought they were selling it to some advantage or
profit. Very inferior cotton is seldom, or never
sold. Such cotton may be placed in a lot of good
cotton and the whole may be sold, but the buyer
knows generally, what he is about, with the infe
rior thrown in for nothing. The planter pays
freight, insurance, costs for storage and selling
of his poor stuff, and gives it away.
When our planting friends clearly understand,
and practice upon that understanding, that an in
ferior article of cotton, invariably commands only
an inferior price, or a price corresponding with
the quality or condition of the cotton, they will
perhaps see that more attention should be bestow
ed upon the preparation of their crops for market.
Poor sugar, or poor flour, bacon, or any commo
dity of an inferior character, will only sell for a
price bearing a proper relation to the condition of
the commodity—and the same rule applies to
cotton.
I3F° The Havana correspondent of the Charles
ton Standard, after noticing the very elegant recep
tion and entertainment given to Commodore Pauld
ing by the Captain General and deputations of
the civil and military, including French, Spanish,
and English officials, states that the Commodore’s
own countrymen made no demonstration whatever
in his favor.
We see it stated in Northern papers that (
there are so many domestics out of employment at (
the present time, in all the large cities, that the ,
value of their labor has fallen off nearly fifty per ■
cent, from the scale of prices that obtained a year ,
ago. It is said that servants, both male and fe- ,
male, are so plenty in New York that many are |
willing and anxious to work for their board. Three j
dollars a month is the highest wages that the wo
men are able to secure. Wages are now lower
than they have been for fifty years.
Mr. Edmund M. BuTLEn, of Monroe county,
in a letter to the editor of the Georgia Citizen,
states that for all dysenteric affections he has the
utmost confidence in the curative effect of rye
whisky and poplar bark. The propoitions given
are: to a pint of whisky add the shavings of about
four ounces of poplar bark root. Take a table
spoonful three times a day until relief is afforded.
If the tincture gets too bitter,'dilute with whisky.
HT" Gov. Joseph E. Brown has appointed
Clarence V. Walker, of this city, (of the first
brigade, of the second division of Georgia Militia,)
Aid-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief with the
rank of Colonel.
3F" The slave trade to the Island of Cuba .2
principally carried on by northern men, in north
ern vessels, with northern crews. The two cargoes,
landed in Cuba within the present month, and al
most under the eyes of Commodore Paulding, it
is stated, were carried there in vessels fitted out
in the United States and owned by citizens of the
State where Commodore Paulding resides. Bat
that military gentleman did not feel disposed to
interfere with the interests of his friends and neigh
bors.
No More Madeira. —A Funchal correspondent
of the Philadelphia Ledger Bays that it is not an
open question whether any more Madeira wine will
_ ever be produced. None has been made since
' 1851, and there are|now only some seven or eight
j thousand pipes upon the entire island. All re
cent attempts to manufacture this wine have utter
’ ly failed, and pumpkin vines now adorn the old
grape arbors, once covered with abundant clusters
r of rich grapes.
V Russian Railwats. —The ironmasters of Bel-
gium held a meeting at Brussels lately to come to
r an understanding on the subject of an order for a
- considerable supply of rails for the Russian lines
- which had been offered to Belgium. The quanti
ty would amount to about one hundred and seven
ty-six thousand tons, to be delivered in four years.
Belgium may now be considered as one of the
’ largest manufacturing countries of rails in Europe;
it was agreed that the orders might be undertaken.
The Masons Rallying to the Mount Vernon
. Association.— The Grand Lodge of Virginia has
tendered to the “Southern Matron,” at Richmond,
the co-operation of the Lodge with the Ladies’
Association, for the purchase of Mount Vernon.
They request all the subordinate' Lodges to con
j. tribute the sum of one dollar for each member,
i and will invite the co-operation of each Grand
Lodge of the United States.— Charlaton JSewi.
Bank Veto Meeting in Clinch.
We find in the Savannah Georgian, of the 14th
inst., the proceedings of a meeting held at Mag
nolia, in Clinch county, on Saturday, the 6th inst.,
to give expression to the opinions of a portion of
the people ot that county, in reference to Governor
Brown’s veto of the bank act. The following is
the preamble, with the resolutions adopted "by the
meetiDg:
W hereas. The legislature has unwisely legalised
the suspension of the several banks in this State,
thereby causing a ruinous loss and distress to the
people, their bill-holders, while the purse proud
aristocracy roll in the wealth ground out of the
people by a system of fraud, which the legislature
of ttie State have legalised. Therefore be it
Resolved, That Governor Brown in vetoeing a
bill as unjust and immoral as the bill providing
against tne forfeiture of the charters of the several
banks in this State, has endeared himself to the
people of Georgia generally as a noble, generous
and high-minded man, and an honest friend to her
citizens’ rights, irrespective of party.
Reiolved, That the members who supported the
Governor, have in our opinion the welfare of the
people at heart, and are deserving of, and do here
by receive our thanks.
Resolved, That though there may be some exten
uation for the members who voted for the said
bill, when it was first put upon its final passage,
but after hearing the clear and explicit arrnmeut
of the Governor, and then voting forthe bill; have
by so doing, betrayed the trust reposed in them by
their constituents, and are not deserving their
trust a second time.
Resolved, That 'the Savannah Republican and
the Augusta Chronicle & Sentinel, have resorted to
means to prejudice the people against the Gover
nor, which any respectable public journal would
scorn to do.
Resolved , That the conduct of the Hon. John E.
Ward, President of the Senate, in leaving the
Chair, making his defense of the bill, and then call
ing the previous question, thereby depriving others
of an opportunity of reply, calls for the unqualified
condemnation of this meeting.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting,
Governor Brown should call an extra session of
the legislature, and try and repeal this obnoxious
law.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting the
collection laws of this State should be suspended
until the banks resume specie payments.
Resolved, That the members who should be call
ed in case of an extra session, he required to pay
their own expenses, instead of the State as heretofore. 1
We would publish these resolutions, as we have
published those adopted by anti-bank meetings in j
other counties of the State, without comment, if
they were simply an expression of opinion upon 1
Gov. Brown’s veto of the bank act. But they are 1
something more than this, for whilst they contain 1
an unqualified approval of that veto, they contain ,
at the same time a condemnation equally unquali- 1
fied of all those members of the legislature who *
opposed it and passed the bank act over it. They j
suggest that ignorance was some extenuation i
for the conduct of these gentlemen, in voftng for <
the bill when first passed, by stating that there j
was none for their conduct in voting for it, after ,
they had been enlightened by the veto message of ]
the Governor; and they especially arraign and 1
condemn the Hon. John E. Ward for his agency ]
in passing the bill over the Governor’s veto* as if J
he alone was responsible for its passage, and as if, <
admiting that fact, he had no right to follow his (
own convictions of duty, if they happened to dif
fer from those of the Governor of the State. <
This is not the first time that the attempt has
been made, by direct attacks upon them, in the
resolutions of anti-bank meetings, to excite a popu
lar prejudice against those members of the legisla
ture who dared to exercise an unquestioned right,
and differ with the Governor upon the policy proper
to be pursued towards the suspended banks of this
State. The publication of these resolutions of the
Clinch county meeting, furnish us the occasion to
protest against this mode of warfare, and to sug
gest to Democrats some considerations, which may
influence them at least, to abandon it, if inded any
of them may think it necessaryjto participate in
the meetings whmh may hereafter be held, to sus
tain the veto of (fov. Baowjr.
The act of the legislature, postponing for a time,
the enforcement of the penalty which out sus
pended banks have incurred, is beyond the reach
of those to whom it is obnoxious, and will expire
by its own limitation, (so far as it legalises suspen
sion) before any result cau follow any expres
sion of popular opinion upon it. It is, in those
features at least for which it is condemned and
denounced, a piece of temporary legislation, which
will expire in a few months with all the discussion
it has originated, and all the- excitement it has
produced. Indeed, the banks which have sus
pended specie payments may resume before the
date fixed by the act, and in that event the act,
short-lived as it is, in its most important features,
will outlive the excitement it has produced. In
the meantime, the Democratic party, whilst respon
sible for the act, is hopelessly and irrutoaeilably
divided upon it. There are members of the party
who condemn it and sustain the veto of Governor
Brown. There are others who unqualifiedly con
demn that veto; and there are others still, who,
whilst they applaud the act, disapprove the reasons
by which the Governor justified it and the language
in which he conveyed those reasons to tke General
Assembly. An approval of the act never can be
made a test of Democratic orthodoxy, an approval
of the veto never will be. These facts should
make Democrats, who sustain the veto of Governor
Brown, tolerant towards those members of the
party who oppose it, and cautious in the expres
sion of opinions in reference to them, which will
outlive the occasion which produced them. They
have not provoked attack, but if it is made, they
will repel it with the same spirit with which it is
made, and thus, upon a question of policy, of tem
porary interest and importance, an issue will be
be made within the Democratic party which,
though it involves no principle, will threaten the
integ-ity of the party, by the jealousies and ani
mosities it will produce, and the personal interests
it will involve.
Herrings’ Fire Proof Safes*
We invite attention to the advertisement headed
“Herrings* Patent Champion Fire Proof Safes,”
which appears in another column.
[communicated.]
Waynesboro’, February 12th, 1858.
Mr. Editor: You will please allow me a small
space in your paper for the purpose of calling the
attention of those in power, on the Augusta and
Savannah railroad, to the fact that there is
great discontent among planters shipping cotton
from this depot, either to Savannah or Augusta, in
r consequence of the great and almost universal
, falling off of the weights of cotton sent herefrom.
[ Last November I shipped twenty-four bales to
. Savannah. I saw it weighed at the depot, and
t must say it was weighed fairly on the scales. It
. was sold in less than ten days. It lost twenty-two
and a half pounds per bale. I then shipped one
[ hundred and fifty-one bales to Augusta. Thevlost
j fifteen hundred and ninety-six pounds. I shipped
twelve bales to Augusta, to a different factor.
They lost ten and a half pounds per bale. Some
planters believe they are swindled out of the
) weight in Savannah or Augusta ; but I am con
i vinced that the difficulty lies in the scales at this
J depot, for it is presumable that out of so many
factors whom cotton is shipped to from this
depot, some, at least, are honest. Ido not desire,
• either, to convey the idea that the railroad authori
-5 ties are dishonest; for I know them to be honora
: ble men. The scales may have been perfectly cor
• rect when they were first used, but may have be
• come untrue by their constant exposure to the
i weather and the action of oxygen gas—the great
» destroyer both of organic and inorganic substances.
I would most respectfully request the President ol
! the road, with whom lam personally acquainted,
, to look into this matter and see if the difficulty
1 does not lie where I think it does.
Burke Planter.
'From. the New Orleans Picayune, Feb. 11., P. M
i Overthrow ot Comonfort’s Government--
Zuloaga Provisional President.
The steamship Tennessee, Capt. Forbes, arrived
’ at the bar at eight o’clock yesterday morning, and
f at her moorings opposite the city last night, from
p Vera Cruz, which she left on the 7th inst.
Capt. Forbes reports the bark Wildfire at Vera
Cruz to sail for New York on the 10th, the Mary
3 Clinton to sail for this port on the 9th, and the
schooner C. B. Knudsen discharging. The British
I steamer Solent left Vera Cruz on the sth.
Mr. DaCosta. the purser of the Tennessee, favors
I us with the following summary of intelligence :
j “On the morning of the 21st January, President
» Comonfort, abandoned by his troops, left the city
J of Mexico, upon which the Pronunciados entered
the palace, and named a ‘Consejo de Notables,’
i who elected Zuloaga Provisional President. Puebla,
j Toluca, and other points within their distance
[ from the city, acknowledge the government which
. has thus been organized.
, “The new* government has nominated its minis
• ters, but up to the 7th not a single port had de
clared in its favor, and it was depending on the
, clergy fer support. Juares, as President of the
t Supreme Court, should be President of the Re
, public under the Constitution, and he has called
the Congress together at Guanajuato, the great
point of union of the Liberal party; whilst Parrd
ai, Doblado, Arteaga aud Degollado at several
points, are preparing to unite and march upon the
city of Mexico. La Llave holds Orizaba; and the
castle of Perote is in the hands of the Liberals.
D. Juan Alvarez, it is stated, has his forces al
ready under arms, in the State of Guerrero.”
Our files of papers from the capital comprise the
Siglo XIX, to the 2d instant inclusive, the Extraor
dinary of the 30th, the Qourrier Francois, ci-devant
the Trait <T Union , the first number of the JJiario
Oficial of the new Government, published on the
23d ult., and the number of the Diario de Avisos of
the same date. From Vera Cruz we have ‘.he Pro
greso to the 7th instant, and the Roletin Oomercial
to the sth.
The Extraordinary states that the representa
tives of the foreign powers had acknowledged the
new Government, and argues that such was their
duty. “ Within the last seven weeks,” it says,
“ we have had four distinct governments—under
the Constitution, the plan of Tacubaya, the Consti
tution again, and now we have the plan of Tacu
baya, as reformed m Mexico. There could be no
greater objection made to the present Government,
than to the second or third in the catalogue. All
the others were recognised.” The same paper
states all the principal acts of the late Government,
under the plan of Ayutla, had been overthrown.
“ The Law-Lerdo, for the disamortization of church
and corporation properties,” it says, “ has been
annulled and the properties of the church restored;
the Law-Juarez, for the abolition of the ecclesiasti
cal and military tribunals has been annulled, and
the fueros re-established.”
The Extraordinary also says: the celebration of
the new laws took place on Thursday afternoon,
January 23th. The military passed in review
through our principal streets ; the balconies were
crowded with people, and from some balconies
garlands were flung upon Gen. Osollo, the hero of
the Acordada. Tne usual crowd of dirty and
ragged people filled the streets. As for popular
enthusiasm there was none, (we regret to say there
is little or none in the country), the soldiers seemed
well pleased, and the representatives of religious
societies manifested the utmost satisfaction. The
laws have been solemnized and put on record. Re
ports dre current on the streets that already the
new government has filled the coffers of the*trea
sury department, which have long been in the
most desolate condition. It is understood that the
clergy have loaned the government over one million
dollars.”
From Queretaro the Extraordinary publishes
correspondence, dated January 20, stating that
Gen. Doblado was there with three thousand men,
with whom, and three hundred more under Ar
teaga, he intended to march against the capital.
Gen. Parrodi is reported to have left Guadalajara
to j#in Doblado, but to have subsequently retraced
his steps, although he had a very large and supe
rior force under him. Rumor, however, alleges
disaffection among his followers as the cause of
his returning. The Constitutionalists, under Jua
rez, elsewhere noticed, are resolved to stand their
ground there, and await an attack from the Zu
loaga government.
Correspondence from Puebla, dated January 25,
states that there had beeu numerous arrests there,
among them that of Mr. John Vesche, formerly
Prussian Consul there.
Toluca had been entered by Gen. Miramon with
out resistance, and Geu Benito Haro had been ap-
I pointed Comandanto. Gen. BUncarte is reported
to have gone to Jalisco to operate against the Con
stitutionalists or Juarez party, iu which Senor Ruiz
is Secretary of the Interior.
From the Ectraordinary, also, we learn that D.
Bernardo Couto had been elected President of the
new Council of Stale; Sres. Joaquin Pesado and
the Bishop of Tenagra, Vice Presidents; and Sres.
Jose Maria Andrade and Juan N. Vertiz have been
appointed Secretaries to the body, which consists
of one principal Representative, called eonsejaro
proprietary , and one substitute called suplerde ,
from each State and Territory of the Republic, ■
named by the President of the Republic, and re
movable at will. It is divided into six sections or
committees, one for each ministerial department
of the Government, and each having a President.
The President of the .Republic has authority to
preside at the Council when he may deem tit.
Our readers will recollect that our last intelli
gence from Mexico reported a truce agreed upon.
The works of the belligerents were to remain in
data quo under it. Trenches and breastworks
were nevertheless made. Many propositionswere
made during the time, but none adopted. At the
close of the armistice—seven P. M. of the 18th—
firing in every direction recommenced. At eight,
on the 19th, another truce of three hours was agreed
on, and fresh efforts were made for a pacification,
but in vain. The firing was resumed with great
vigor on both sides af*eleven o’clock, and contin
ued till night, without having caused any great
loss of life or effected any result for either party.
During the night the fire was light, but both par
ties were active in improving their works, and
continued so till eleven o’clock on the 20th. Then
the tiring was resumed with greatly increased vio
lence. After some time the Zuioaga forces attack
ed and carried the Acordada and Hospicio, si
lencing the government batteries.
A column of about five hundred men advanced
to the relief of the Acordada, but it was broken
up by the fire of the captors; some were killed
and wounded, many passed over, and about one
hundred retreated in the greatest disorder. The
Zuioaga pronunciadoß then directed a heavy fire
against the convent of San Francisco, about one
P. M.; disaffection to the government began to be
manifested; at half-past two, General Comonfort
went thither to endeavor to repress it, but in vain;
by night, he was left alone with a few followers;
one of the strongest points in the city was aban
doned. Imbecility in the government leaders,
fianic in some, bad payment of the troops, are al
eged to have chiefly contributed to this result.
Senor Comonfort left the Convent of San Fran
cisco at eight o’clock at night, and went to the
palace. Light firing continued during the night,
and between six and seven o’clock on the morning
of the 21st, Senor Comonfort, with a few faithful
friends, retired from the palace, and Gen. Zuioaga
and forces took possession. Only one house, that
of Juan Jose Baz, is reported to have been sacked
bv the rabble, the»n>nH;*cwk&*prohibiting excesses.
Not more than fifty lives are believed to have been
lost on both sides ; the wounded amounted to one
hundred and twenty. Buildings, however, suffer
ed greatly from the firing. On the 22d a council
of twenty-eight electors was formed, one from each
State; twenty-six voted for Zuioaga as President
ad interim; one for Echeagaray and one for Santa
Anna. General Zuioaga took an oath to support
the plan proclaimed m Tacubaya December 17,
and reformed m Mexico January 11. The election
and installment of the President were duly solemn
ised and celebrated by a Te Deum, and by the cus
tomary flourish of trumpets and roar of cannon.
The formation of a cabinet, says the Extraor
dinary, the second important step in Mexican gov
ernment making, did not prove an easy task. The
ambition of those holding the power seems to
have been to select the very best men—men whose
social positions and wide-spread reputation would
atjonce give respectability to their Government. The
parties first hit upon could not be induced to ac
cept the positions tendered them,for various causes.
The principal cause has been the easy circum
stances in which most of our first men are found.
They do no not wish to take' upon themselves the
responsibilities and hard labors that must devolve
upon the cabinet member at this time.
Senor Don Miguel Maria Azarate was appointed
Governor of the District. The Lie. Don Francisco
Tavera has been named Secretary of the Govern
ment of the District.
Immediately on his acceptance of office, Gov.
Azarate issued an order for those who had arms
or munitions of any kind in their possession to
surrender them wi thin eight days to the Govern
ment of the District, on pain of tine and punish
ment.
Senor Don Luis G. Osollo was appointed to the
position of Commander-General of the forces.
The Traid d? Union , having its office near the
Acordada, in line of the fire, it became impossible
to continue it. The office was so much damaged
that the publication could not be resumed for
some days, and just as thev were prepared for
this, they received, on the 23d, an order from the
new Government prohibiting its re-appearance.
On the 26th, it re-appeared as the Courrler Fran
cois.
In the Progreso, of the 7th, we find an address
from Gen. Comonfort to the nation. It appears
from a glance at this that he attributes to Gen.
T™ B “ e vnnecessary and unfaithful abandonment
of the Convent of San Francisco, and the falsely
spreading ° f the alarm that all was lost, which
led to that result. .
Further particulars will be found in the "corres
pondence which we elsewhere publish.
Special Correspondence to the New Orleans Picayune.
.. „ v Cruz, Jan. 29,1653.
.tHZTe reigns in Warsaw,"
after a fashion. After eleven days of terrible fight
ing at the capital, the pronunciados finally pre
vailed. Comonfort fled mgloriously, if not igno
mmiousW; and Gen. Zuloaga, the fatierofthe
/jtaaof Tacuhaya now warms the venerable seat
of Montezuma. Meanwhile the row is increasing
throughout the country, and they are banging away
at each other in scores of places the press"
(such portion of it as isn’t sup-pressed ) slang
whangingin a manner worthy of—of-say some of
your cotemporaries. The new government has
formed a ministry which will “ bust up,” in about
a week. Next the victorious Generals will get to -r
gether by the ears, and in all probability com pro
mise by inviting Gen. Santa Anna back once more.
Straightway upon the abdication of Comonfort
Senor Juarez proceeded to Guanajuato, and has
established a puro, or liberal government there
as the present headquarters of the nation. The
liberal Governors of the great Central States are
marching upon Mexico; but on the other hand a
column of five thousand men under Ossllo and
Miramon has sallied lorth to meet them, aud warm
work is anticipated. Last week the pronunciados
received a terrible thrashing from the National
Guard at Oaxaca; in fact, were effectually “cleaned
out ” of that place.
We are under martial law here, and are threat
ened w;th a column from the centre if the plan of
Tacubaya be not subscribed to and the new gov
ernment thereby recognised. Well, that were
easily done. Our authorities have already turned
a double summersault, why not try a triple flip-flap?
There’ll be no bones broken, and they don’t mind
such things in this country of Dios r Libebtad.
. Vera Crdz, Jan. 30, 1858.
Editors Picayune The struggle is over in the
capital. The comercadores have won the day.
Comonfort has fled, and Gen. Zuloaga is provision
al President of the Republic. After eleven days’
hard fighting, the city of Mexico is at length paci
fied. Not so the country. The struggle continues,
and will continue, as long as there shall be place
and plunder worth having. Don Benito Juarez,
President of the Supreme Court of Justice, and the
depository of Executive power, has proceeded to
Guanajuato, established a government there, and
put forth a manifesto to the nation. Bodies of
troops are marching in all directions in the interi
or. Osollo and Miramon have been despatched,
at the head of a strong column to meet and give
battle to the puro Governors of the Central States
who are moving upon the capital.
Comonfort is expected here this evening, to em
bark for Havana. Perhaps he mav meet Santa
Anna there on his way hither! 'Who knows?
There is nothing too improbable for the politico of
this country. It would lie merely a simple cm de
ilejico. The writer, having become naturalized, is
now too good a Mexican to worship the setting
sun ; wherefore, he savs, “Mr. Comonfort, yoii
can travel,” and Viva La AUesa Herenitimsiririma !
01 course, we’ll treat poor Mr. Compromise
Comonfort politely while he shall be our guest
here, but the moment his back shall be lairlv
turned, we’ll shake our fists at him, call him uglv
names, and vow what we’d do if we only had him
in our power again. Then we’ll pronounce in fa
vor of Zuloaga and the plan of Tacubava, (’twill
be only the third change iu a month,) and, finally,
obedient to the command of our masters at the
capital, consent to let that virtuous and much
abused patriot, S. A. S., in just once more—pro
vided he’ll promise to be a good boy; for, you
see, what’s the use of fighting and spilling la
satiure precis,sa Mejicana ? Caramba !
The new Cabinet is composed of the following
persons:
Foreign Relations, Luis G. Cuevas.
Government, Hiilario Elguero.
J ustice, Manuel Larrainzar, (once Envoy at Wash
ington.)
War, Gen. Jose de !a^*arra.
Fomento, (Public Works), the Licentiate Juan
liierra Maldonado, the same being also tempora
rily charged with the fiscal department.
It is presumed the representatives of foreign
powers will all acknowledge the new government.
Those from Catholic States will hasten to do so, of
course. The American Minister will follow suit
on the de facto principle, and John Bull will growl
his assent simply because he don’t care a curse.
Besides, it is, and will be as long as it lasts, as bona
fide and de jure a concern as they generally have
in this country. For that matter, ’tis as good a
fovernment as Rome had in those palmy davs,
uring which the army turned its attention to the
manufacture of Emperors.
But where is all this sort of thing to end ? There
could be advanced several plausible theories, such
as a reestablishmeut of the empire : a grand “bust
up” and segregation into some half dozen smaller
sovereignties; a servile war; i. e., an insurrec
tion of the natives, (or full-blooded Indians,) and
a regular “ wiping out” of the lew white folks-.
But, Messrs. Editors, I don’t think we’ll see either
event in our day. All the world (excepting only
herself) sees Mexico's real destinv as plain as the
hand-writing on the wall. And should either of
the above possibilities occur, that wouldn’t put an
end to civil dudgeon. No, Mexico is Mexico, and
will continue to lie Mexico as long as she is ruled
i•) by Mexicaus. Besides, thiDgs are not so very
bad after all. Mexico is free from election riots
Kansas, U tah, high-pressure steamboats, strveh
nine whisky, and banks, and it would be a grea
hardship, indeed, if we were not to be permitted
to indulge ourselves in a hit of a tamilv fight oc
casionally ! So, long live the cartridge-box, and
down with your patent ballot-box! K pluribue
unum : biosy Libertad!
Alabama Items.
The Camden Republic of the 4th inst., says ■ Mr
Gorell, charged with killing Mr. Cullen Bat-field
recently, in the vicinity of Prairie Bluff, was
brought before Justices Burford and Lewis on
the 20th ult., and a fair investigation of the case
was had, which resulted in the accused being held
to answer the offense of “manslaughter in the first
degree.” Mr. Gorel was required to give bond in
the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars for
his appearance at the next term of our Circuit
Court, which was given.
A lad about eighteen years old stole a horse
from a Mr. Simmons, of Choctaw county, a few
days ago. He was pursued, overtaken and brought
hack and lodged in jail. He gives his name as
Daniel Greer, lately of Pike county.
IVe learn, says the Clarke county Democrat, that
a man named JohnsoD, charged with the murder
of a negro last fall at Gay's landing in Marengo
county, broke out of the Linden jail last Thursday
night and is now at large.
From the report of the State Prison Inspectors
we learn that the number of convicts in the peni
tentiary on the Ist of October, 1857, was two hun
dred and nineteen. Os these sixty-nine were ad
mitted since the Ist of October, 1856. The num
ber of white males is two hundred and five; white
females, five ; colored free males, two. 4
The Grove Hill Democrat says that the saw mill
of John Catnmack, near that place, was burned on
the 18th ult.
AVe learn from the Linden Jefereonian that a
negro woman, the property of Mr. William Brown
ing, of Marengo county, was instantly killed bv
the falling of a tree, a few days ago.
The Demopolis (Ala.) Gazette, "of the 4th inst
■ says: “From what we can learn from planters
i surrounding our town, the preparation of the lands
I for the coming crop is universally backward on
I account of the unusual quantities of rain that have
: fallen during the last two months. Amostunusual
■ Winter have we had up to the present time—a
mid almost as spring. We have heard of ice be
ing seen but once or twice during the winter • and
• we have had repeated deluges of rain, so tha’t the
nyer has been at a high stage for a month or more.
W e don t know what this can portend, unless it be
a dry summer season—a good cotton season and a
tad corn crop.”
We learn (says the Montgomery Advet'tiser ) in a
private letter to a gentlemen in this city, that a sad
occurrence took place in Coffee county, near Elba,
on Sunday, the 17th inst. One James Duncan,
and one Ellis, killed one Gideon Morris. Particu
lars not known. They have both' been lodged in
the jail of at county.
Yoltair used to paste all the seals of his corres
pondents in a blank book, with the name under
each. Upon receiving a letter he would refer to
his book, and from a person he didn’t like, would
return it unopened.
BY TELEGRAPH.
ARRIVAL
OF THE STEAMSHIP
NIAGARA.
Later from .Europe.
COTTON MARKET BUOYANT
Bank or England Rales of Discount Reduced to Fonr
per cent.
COMMERCIAL AND GENERAL INTELLI
GENCE INTERESTING.
Halifax, Feb. H.— I The British and North Amer
ican steamship Niagara, has arrived tvith Lirerpool
dates to Saturday, Jan. SO.
General News.
_ A week’s later intelligence had been received
irom India. Gen. Oitham had defeated the insur
gents in India, and captured four of their guns at
Alambagh.
Letters received from China state that the Amer
ican Commissioner, Mr. Reed, had sought an in
terview with Yeh, and met with a sarcastic rebuff
Lord Elgin’s demand had also been rejected in
the same strain. A speedy attack on Canton was
anticipated.
The mammoth iron steamship, the Leviathan
was expected to be afloat on the day the Niagara
There was a growing ease in the money market,
and a further reduction in the rates of the Bank of
England was anticipated.
A decree has been issued to divide the French
army into fire divisions under Marshals Castel
laine, Bosquet, Pellissier and Vaillant.
The congratulatory addresses by the army to the
Emperor are growing offensive to the English.
Lablache, the great Italian basso, is dead.
A conspiracy against the King of Naples had
been discovered.
Commercial Intelligence.
Liverpool Colton Muriel.— The sales of Cotton for
the week ending Thursday, January 28th, were
65,000 bales; of which speculators took 11,500,
and exporters 2,500 bales, leaving to the trade
51,000 bales. The advance during the week was
caused principally by the favorable news from
the United States brought by the steamship Baltic,
which left New York on the 16th of January. The
business of the week closed buoyant. The follow
ing are the authorised quotations:
Fair Orleans.... j Mid. Orl’ns.,6 15-15 d.
Mobile.... 7-Xd. “ Mobile.... 6Xd.
Uplands 7d. |*< Upl’ds.,6 13-16 d.
On Friday the sales reached 7,000 bales; of
which 4,000 were taken by speculators and export
ers, and the market closed steady.
The stock of cotton in Liverpool was 860,000
bales, including 136,000 American.
Liverpool General Market. —Flour was very dull
and almost unsaleable. Wheat was quite inactive
and had declined.2d. since Tuesday. Sugar dull
at 6d. decline. Coffee quiet. Rice dull, and quo
tations barely maintained. Rosin steady at 4s. a
4s. Sd. Turpentine firm at 87s. on the spot, and
at 85s. a 87s. to arrive.
I/mdon Trade. —The tea trade in London was
steady. Breadstuffs were dull and declining, and
Corn steady.
Mandutler Trade.— Advices from the manufac
turing districts continue favorable, as there are
more buyers than sellers.
London Money Market. —Money continues easier.
The Bank of England has reduced its rates of dis
count to four per cent. Consols for money and
account 95X.
APDITIONAL NEWS BV THE NIAGARA.
Halifax, Feb. 15.—The Directors of the East
India Company have presented their protest
•gainst th» Queen’s government assuming control
in India.
Parliament has been summoned to meet on the
4th of February.
Commissioner Reed asked for an interview with
Yeh, who replied that he would meet the United
States Commissioner at the outside of the city, but
no barbarian could be allowed to enter Canton.
The house of the Rothschilds is reported to be
negotiating a loan for the Pope of Rome.
Naples is afHcted with divers conspirators.
There is a prospect of Great Britain’s purch&s
ing the Island of Perem, situated in the Gulf of
Cambay, Hindustan, and commanding the entrance
to the Red Sea, without asking the mediation of
other powers.
Alabama 5 per cent, bonds are quoted at 78.
Washington Afluirs.
ashingtox, Feb. 15.—1 n the Senate to*day Mr.
Seward, of New York, gave notice of a bill to re
organise the Supreme and Circuit Courts. The
Indiana contested election debate was continued.
In the House, Mr. Walcott, the contumacious
witness, was brought before the bar. He was re
manded to jail on a resolution offered by Mr. Sr.vx-
TON.
Congressional.
A\ ashingtox, Feb. 16.—1 n the Seuate to-dav
Mr. Houston, of Texas, introduced a resolution to
assume a protectorate over Central America. The
consideration of the resolution was laid over for
the present. The army increase bill was under
consideration, and Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts,
oflered an amendment to employ volunteers instead
of regulars in any increase of the army.
In the House, the committee of wavs and means
reported a deficiency bill. TheMarvl'and contested
election case was debated.
Cold Weather and Snow.
Washington, Feb. 14.—1 t has been snowing
here all day, and throughout Virginia, as well as
>iorth of us.
Market Reports.
Charleston, Feb. 10.-Salcs of Cotton to-day
600 bales. The market is depressed.
New Yoke, Feb, 13,-Sales of Cotton to-dav
1,000 bales, and for the past two days 4,500 bales.
Hour buoyant, and slightly advancing, with sales
of 9,000 barrels. Wheat dull-sales of 1,000
bushels ; Red *1 15 a *1 Corn dull-sales
of -1,000 bushels; White 66 a69 cents. Turpen
tine firm, at 47 cents. Rosin buoyant, at il 45.
New \ork, Feb. 15.—Sales of Cotton to-day
2,000 bales. Middling Uplands cents. The
steamer’s news caused no change. Flour dull,
sales 7,000 barrels. Wheat dull, with sales of
5,000 bushels. N. O. Molasses 2S a29 cents. Tur
pentine and Rosin firm. Rice quiet. Freights on
cotton to Liverpool 3-16 d.
New \ ork, Feb. 16.—Sales of cotton to-day
1,000 bales, at a decline of one-eighth to one-four A
cent, Middling Uplands 12>£, and Middling Or
leans 1 cents. Flour heavy, with sales of 8,500
barrels. Wheat very dull. Corn unsettled, sales
12,000 bushels; White 67 a 6Sjȣ ceuts. Turpen
tine firm at 47 a4B cents. Rosin firm at $1 45 a
#1 46. Rice buoyant at from 3to 3% cents.
Charleston, Feb. 18.—Sales of cotton 500 bales
at a decline of one-fourth to one-half cent from
highest point.
New York Exchange.
The banks in this city are now selling sight ex
change on New York at one per cent, premium.
To Correspondents.
Anonymous communications cannot and will not
be considered. Correspondents are reminded that
this proper and necessary rule is enforced without
regard to the subject matter and purport of com
munications.