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SATURDAY, FEB. 20. The Charleston Mercury. The Edgefield Advertiser, io publishing the re cently issued prospectus of the Charleston Mercu ry, says with much truth, that “ The Mercury is a paper of many proud associations. For years it has occupied the position of a leading southern journal; and by its devotion to southern rights and interests, has well sustained itself in that en. viable attitude. Boasting, in its long and brilliant career, a succession of talented and spirited edi tors, its very name has come to be thought of as inseparably connected with the intelligence and chivalry of the sunny South. Under its present efficient management, it cannot well fall below its established popularity, or do discredit to its histori cal antecedents. Its proprietors and conductors have onr best wishes for a continued increase of the weal and prosperity of their old and favorite press.” The Mercury is published daily at ten dollars per annum; tri-weekly at five dollars, and weekly at two dollars. The editors and publishers are Messrs. Hkaht A Rhett. Large flocks of wild pigeons were recently seen in the neighborhood or above Columbia. Gen. Lamar, at last accounts, was at Grey town, and expected shortly to reach Managua. The Macon Messenger announces the death j of Rev. Daniel F. Wade, an old and wealthy citi zen of Houston county. He died recently while on a visit to Alabama. The same paper states that Orin D. Tucker, a highly respected-citizen of Houston, died on the 20th of January. In & letter to the editor of the New Orleans Picayune , from Aspinwall, dated Feb. 3d, the writer says: “ A gentleman from Greytown tells me that it will be impossible for any company to open a line to California, across that Isthmus, in less than four months, even if the different claim ants stop quarreling. He says all the boats are nearly destroyed, the machinery having rusted and been broken, and the vessels being rotten. It will also take some considerable time to repair the transit route.” _ War between Brazil and Paraguay is now j considered very probable. In view of this distur bance, Paraguay will be in rather bad condition to resist the demands of the United States for the outrage to the Water Witch, and the offenses com mitted against our countrymen. The Recorder of Memphis recently fined the fire companies of that city for running their engines on the side walks, while the streets were so very muddy and boggy as to preclude the pos sibility of moving forward the engines by the force usually employed. The tine by the Recorder has justly excited the indignation of the firemen, and some trouble is anticipated. The companies met last week and determined to remain inactive until their appeal to the public sentiment shall have relieved them} from the odious infliction of the injustice done them. workshop of Mr. Wm. M. Watkins, ] two houses belonging to Dr. McGaughey, and the ] still house of Mr. Ki;ssel Shepherd, in Walton 1 county, have recently been destroyed by fire, and j is supposed to have been the work of incendiaries. , 3ST The Charleston Courier, of Thursday morn- i ing, says: “ The morning train which left Augus ta yesterday, on the South Carolina railroad, did not reach this city until midnight. The detention was occasioned by the burning of several cars of a cotton freight train, which occurred a short dis tance below Kidgeville. The fire reached the stringers of the road, and consumed them for some distance; and, in consequence of this and the ob. struction by the burnt cars, the passenger train from Augusta was detained as above stated.” J3gf” A lady by the name of Mrs. Johnson, residing in Forsyth county, according to a statement by j Dr. Maxey, recently gave birth to a boy child,j which weighed fifteen pounds. The child was, and continues, in good health. The New Orleans LeUa, the Vicksburg Southron, and Memphis AcaUn,.ohe, have bein scoring Manager Crisp with editorial hashes. Kansas. —The" Territorial legislature of Kansas has passed a bill through both branches providing for an election of delegates to a new Constitution al convention. The election of the delegates is to take place on the second Tuesday in March. A Significant Attitude. —The members of the Virginia legislature are said to object to the posi tion of the new statue of Washington, in Ihut the eyes are turned-to the House of Delegates, while the index finger of the right hand points signifi cantly, in the direction of the Penilentiiry ! Ex-President Filllmore’s marriage took place quite privately in Albany, only his son, Judge Hale, and a few other friends being present. The bride is the widow of the late Ezekiel C. Mcln tosh, and she has foi; some time occupied the “ Schuyler Mansion,” formerly the residence of Alexander Hamilton, (where he married his wife,) and subsequently occupied by the celebra ted Col. Schuyler. The bride will accompany her husband to Buffalo to reside. The venerable widow of President Harrison has been for a considerable time confined to her bed at the residence of her son, J. Scott Harrison, near North Bend. Old age, rather than any par ticular disease, has asserted its influence upon a naturally robu.- organization. The venerable iady is now eighty years of age. Interesting from Central America. —Advices from Nicaragua announce that the treaty nego tiated between Mr. Y risaeri and our government had been ratified, and also that the treatv betw en Costa Rica and Nicaragua had been rejected by the first named Republic. These events would, it was thought, lead to the renewal of hostilities. There were great rejoicings in Granada on the re ceipt of the news of the capture of Gen. Walker by the United States naval forces. At the suggestion of several southern gentlemen the Secretary of the Interior has requested Gen. Luther Blake, of Georgia, to join Col. Rector and Major Garrett, Indian Agents at Tampa Bay, to aid in effecting the peaceable removal of the Semi noles from Florida. The General’s influence with Billy Bowlegs and his tribe, now occupying the Everglades ofFjorida, warrants the belief that ere long they will consentto join their brethren West of the Mississippi; The les Crop.— All speculations in regard to the ice crop, at the North at least, may now be set aside. We have accounts from Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, Albany, and along the North river, which state that the ice from eight to eigh teen inches in thickness is now baing harvested, with a fair prospect of the quantity increasing. Serenade op the Ex-President.— A large num ber of citizens paid ex-President Fillmore and lady the compliment of a serenade at the Schuyler Man sion, in Albany, on Wednesday night l(nh inst. Mr. Fillmore did not make his appearance, but he. ap preciated the compliment. Judge Harris ad dress ail the concourse on his behalf. St. Louis, Feb. 15.—George Smizer, late collect or of St. Louis county, is a defaulter in the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Annapolis, Feb. 15.—The Saint Anne’s Episco pal church was destroyed by fire to-day. (The Kansas Question in Congress. Gen. Calhoun, the President of the late consti tutional convention of Kansas, to whom, accord- < ing to the schedule, adopted by that convention, 1 the returns of the first election under the Constitu- i tion, for a Governor, members of the legislature, < and State officers, were made, has determined, it ] is stated, to withhold the result of that election, i until the Kansas question, as now presented in 1 Congress, is disposed of. The result of that elec tion gives the State organization to the Black Re- \ publicans or to the Democrats—makes Kansas a j free or a slave State—and the reason, we imagine, \ which induces Gen. Calhoun to withhold it is that < the question of the admission of the State under ' .the Lecompton Constitution may not be affected by it, but may be determined upon its own merits. Os the admission of Kansas into the Union under that Constitution, we have now scarcely a doubt. The action of the special committee of the House, at its first meeting on Wednesday, in refusing to go, in their investigations, into the facts connected with the formation and adoption of that Constitution, beyond the Executive department, indicates the de termination of a majority of the committee to make an early and favorable report. Even if this is not done, the Senate will pass the bill which, the telegraph announces, the majority of the com mittee on territories reported yesterday, to admit Kansas under the Constitution she has present ed, and the Democratic party will be strong enough to carry that bill through the House. This at least, is the confident anticipation of the friends of the Lecompton Constitution. We make this statement m relation to the pre sent position and prospects of the Kansas question in Congress, because we observe that some of our American contemporaries, assuming that it has been determined against the administration and the South, are commenting upon the fact, as an ev idence that the Democratic party has forfeited the great claim to southern support it has always urged, i. e. ability to protect the rights and interests of the South. The question has not been determined against the administration and the South, and as we honestly believe, never will be. The first skir mish in the House resulted in the discomfiture and defeat of the friends of the Lecompton Constitution, not by the defection of northern Democrats, but by the treachery of an American Representative from a slaveholding State , and if our American contemporaries must vent their spleen, let it be upon this southern American who voted with the North, rather than upon the northern Democrats who failed to vote with the South. New York Tribune and Mr. Stephens. 1 The New York Tribune of the 15th inst., con- 1 tains three editorials, devoted almost exclusively ’ to our immediate Representative, the Hon. A. H. < Stephens, and his prominent connection with the 1 leading Administration measure of the session— 1 the admission of Kansas into the Union under the * Lecompton Constitution. The first is an article 1 upon the Democratic caucus held in the Represen tatives’ Hall on Saturday evening, from which we * make the following extracts: “ Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, an old fillibustering 1 Whig, essays to be leader of the Democracy in the c House at Washington, a task which he seems to find very difficult. We learu by telegraph that he held a caucus of his hosts on Saturday night in the ( Representatives’ Hall, the object of which he de- < dared to be to take some measures by which liis 1 party would not be subjected to the mortification \ of being so often outvoted by the Black Republi cans, who, he declared, were constantly defeating ( them.” ' ° J “ * * * Mr. Stephens proposes that a com- 1 mittee of half a dozen, more or less, shall be \ chosen to block out work, and enlighten members of the party as to how they should vote, so as to J exhibit some show of having a majority on the Administration side.” ******** “We feel for Mr. Stephens in his efforts to keep up a pro-slavery majority in the House, becau*w? we know the job to be a tough one. To insure it, it is necessary to be constantly buying up mem bers, and watching them after they are bought up.” The next is an article upon the same subject, from which the subjoined extract is taken : j “The administration members of the House held , • a caucus in the hall on Saturday evening to dense the ways and means of putting through the Le compton Constitution. The object was not avowed in so many words, but there was no mistaking it. To give him the most Haman-like elevation possi- i ble, Mr. John Cochrane, the eminent free-soil can- i vmsser and resolution-writer of 1848, was called to the chair, with Mr. Reagan of Texas as Secretary. * Mr. A. H. Stephens of course officiated as driver. ‘ The Herald's correspondent thus sums up his speech: ' Mr. Stephens of Georgia, stated the object of the meeting to be to effect if possible a concert of action iu the Democratic party relative to the bu siness before Congress. It frequently happened, he said, that the Republicans were in a majority, aud the reason why it was so was that they were , always on the ground when the roll was called: whereas the Democrats often absented themselves from the liall after a certain hour in the day. He '■ desired to remedy this in some manner. He 5 moved that a committee of five be appointed, with . power to call meetings and attend to business gen erally.’ “VVe thank Mr. Stephens for this emphatic attes tation of the fidelity and energy of the Republican ' members of the House, which we are happy m : diffusing among their constituehts, adding our own . assertion that we believe it to be well deserved. The fact that the Republicans and Douglas men absolutely drove their opponents to a vote on the reference of Lecompton, and beat them on that * reference, every Republican but one being present i and votiDg, is but one of many evidences of this. We trust the Republican members will continue to deserve Mr. Stephens’ undesigned commendations. “But Mr. S. deals unreasonably withhis own fol lowers, at least so far as those from the free States are concerned. He must know that the work to 1 which he lashes them is most distasteful and un l welcome—that they loathe and revolt at it, while , the repugnance to it of their constituents |is still more emphatic. Those members are doing what their own consciences condemn, what their better k natqre revolts at, with a moral certainty that most r of them will be discarded by their constituents in consequence. It isn’t fair to put men on fatigue duty, and expect them to work on empty stomachs, 3 in such a cause. If the energetic aud capable . leader can keep them up to the work till three P. t M., he ought rather to praise them for standing the service so well, and let them off with thanks. 1 J l an complain that they are not willing to do more.’ As d the last is the paragraph which follows, in 1 relation to the special committee appointed by the • Speaker, under the resolution f Mr. Harris, of ’ Illinois: 1 “The House of Representatives,‘on a remarkably full vote, directed a thorough and searching inves tigation of the origin, legitimacy and validity of Q the Lecompton Constitution, preliminary to*any i. decisive action thereon; the minority resisting d such investigation and insisting that the bill be 0 sent to the standing committee on Territories, whereof Mr. A. H. Stephens is Chairman. Mr. l " Speaker Orr, in appointing the select committee h ordered by the House, gives a majority oo it to Mr. e A. H. Stephens, and makes Col. Harris, who made e the successful motion to commit and investigate, though nominal Chairman, the head of a minority 1 only of the committee; In other words—the House ordered a reference to Col. Harris and a committee like him; but the Speaker overruled e the House, and sent the measure to Mr. Stephens t and a committee of those whom the House had exi !# pressly refused to intrust with it.” li These extracts show that oar distinguished Rep _ resentative is regarded by the opposition as the leader of the national Democracy in the House, aud feared by them, as the member whose ability and influence are most to be dreaded. The charge • which they contain, that a majority of the House 7 must be bought up to secure the passage of a bill * admiting Kansas into the Union, our readers, . will simply regard as a fresh proof of the unblush * ing mendacity of the Tribune. The New Steam Sloops of War.—The five steam sloops of war now being built have been named by the President as follows: The one build r ing at Pensacola, “ Pensacola;” the one at Norfolk, “ Richmond;” the one at Philadelphia, “ Lancas ter ;” the one at New York, “ Brooklyn;” and the one at Boston, “ Hartford.” The Acquisition of Cuba. We published some time since, a memorial ad dressed to the Senate, by citizens of Wisconsin, . urging that the government of the United States i should in some way, and at once, secure the island I of Cuba. The Providence (R. I.) PM, in the fol- I lowing paragraph, gives us another indication of i the strong feeling which exists at the North in i favor of the acquisition of the island: i “Cuba is wanted. Our commercial, our manu- ' factoring, our mechanical, and our agricultural interests, call for its purchase. We want it for its market; we want it for its productions; we want it for its immense wealth; we want it because it is ours by the law of nature; and we want it because it needs a better government.” Acquisition ol Territory. The Hon. Lewis D. Campbell, of Ohio, in the House of Representatives on Monday last, asked unanimous consent to introduce a joint resolution providing for the acquisition of foreign territorv. Mr. Keitt, of South Carolina, objected, and Mr. Campbell, having moved that the rules be sus pended and called the yeas any nays on that ques tion, it was taker, and was decided in the negative, —only ten members of the House voting with Mr. Campbell, all of whom were northern men. This vote is easily explained by the resolution itself, the purport of which is as follows: “ The resolution requests the President of the United States to negotiate through the department of State with the respective governments possess ing or claiming the Canadas, Nova Scotia, and other portions of North America, and Cuba, and other islands adjacent thereto, with a view of an nexing the same to the United States on terms compatible with the peace and honor of the na tions negotiating; provided, however, that in the event of any annexation, no portion of the territo ry should be admitted as a State into the Union until there should be therein a sufficient popula tion to entitle it to one member of the House of Representatives, and until the bona fide residents of the same, being citizens of the United States by treaty stipulation or otherwise, should have had a fair opportunity of rotiug on their Constitution, and of regulating their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the Constitution of the United States.” A most unprovoked murder took place on Saturday night last, in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Gig. H. Simonson, said to be a well known and worthy citizen, was the victim. The outrage was com mitted by rowdies, without provocation. The community of Brooklyn were so incensed*at the event, that a public meeting was held on Sunday afternoon, over which Ex-Mayor George Hall presided, and who .stated, on taking the Chair, that the time had come when it was incumbent on the citizens to adopt some measures with reference to the assassination of Mr. Simonson, and with a 1 view to the protection of the lives and property of citizens generally—it was time the public should take an active part in the matter, as the streets of the city were filled with young men who were brutal in their passions, and who committed crime with impunity. A committee was appointed to “watch the trial of the prisoners,” and to see that the laws are rigidly enforced. Subsequently a Vigilance Committee was about to be organised, something like that at San Fran cisco, but was abandoned for the present. This affair should be a warning to young men in other localities besides Brooklyn, to avoid scenes of dissipation, and all dissolute associates. Pub lic opinion is being aroused in all sections against the numberless idle boys and young men who, in disregard of all law and order, congregate together and commit acts of violence and outrages of all kind. Committees of Vigilance “to watch the trials” may be sprung upon the first occurrence of an outrage, and young men should see to it in time that their trials are not made the first objects of a Committee’s attention. Severe Weather.— According to the “weather- . reports,” Vermont takes the palm for coli weath er. At St. Jolinsbnry, on Friday morning, the mercury was thirty-one degrees below zero; at ' Woodstock twenty-eighth below; at White River Junction twenty-four below; at Montpelier twenty * oelow. The ice crop will no doubt be good in ‘ that region. Among the arrivals at New York on the 13th 5 inst., by the North Star, from Southampton, 27th * ult., anticipated as to news, we find the names of 1 J. M. Locke, bearer of dispatches, and J. Marten Spanish Consul at Savannah. A party of gentlemen are now engaged in ex- a ploring a recently discovered cave in Ohio county, ] Kentucky, whiefi bids fair to prove as extensive as ! the great Mammoth. News items from the Calhoun (Ga.) Plat form, Feb. 18 th: On Saturday last the trestle work of the bridge across Oothcaloga creek, near Adairsville, gave way so that an engine could not pass over. But little delay is made, as the cars are pushed over by hand, and an engine waiting for the' purpose, car ries them directly on. The injury will be repaired so soon as the water falls. After the 18th instant the evening passenger train will take supper at Calhoun, and up evening passenger train at Ringgold. The down morning passenger train will take breakfast at Cartersville, and the up morning passenger tram at Dalton. Conventional Interest. The following, upon rates of interest, is from the able pen of Freeman Hunt, editor of the Mer chants' Magazine : “ There are few propositions respecting which mercantile men are more unanimously agreed than that which affirms the inexpediency ana folly of what are called the usury laws ; and the tenacity with which our different legislatures adhere to their interdict of the freedom of trade in this article of money, is a striking instance of the propensity of our legislators to trammel trade with laws winch it must either violate or sink under. “ The argument against the propriety of legisla tive interference to regulate the rate of interest ap- Cears to us so conclusive and unanswerable, and as been so repeatedly and clearly set forth, not by money-lenders so much as by monev-borrowers, who may be presumed to have understood what the interests of trade demand, that we are amazed that the whole system of usury laws has not long since been blotted from the statute books of every State iu the Union. “It has been justly urged, that it is plainly in no respect more desirable to limit the rate of in terest than it would be to limit the rate of insur ance, or the prices of commodities. And though it were desirable, it cannot be accomplished. The real effect of all legislative enactments having such an object in view, is to increase, not diminish, the rate of interest. When the rate fixed by law is less than the customary or market rate, lenders and borrowers are obliged to resort to circuitous devices to evade the law; and as these devices are always attended with more or less trouble and risk, the rate of interest is proportionably en hanced. “Fixed rates of interest are absurd, because the value of money is constantly varying, being sub ject to the same law that regulates other articles. Everybody who notices the daily newspaper re ports can see for himself that no market is more i fluctuating than the money market. At one period and in one state of things money is worth twice as much as at another time and in another state of things. Unless the legislature can stay all the fluctuations of trade, it is idle to think of singling out the article of money, and insisting that that shall command a uniform price. “Other considerations euter into the contract be , tween the borrower and the lender affecting the just premium for the use of money. The rate will of course depend, in a measure, upon the security giveb. In proportion as that is doubtful, should the premium rise. The lender must be compensa ted tor the risk he incurs, as well as for the use of his funds, and it is right and reasonable that he sbould be. “In short, the laws to which we are objecting are destitute of all sound basis. They are unreason ble, impracticable, oppressive to those whom thev profess to protect, embarrassing to legitimate trade, and an unwarrantable restriction upon every man's freedom. For these aiai other reasons they ought to be abolished.” Letter from Hon. Hiram Warner. We publish this morning a letter addressed by c Judge Warner, to his Excellency the Governor, j upon the Kansas question, which, on account of its y length and the pressure upen our columns, has £ been withheld for several days. It is unnecessary i to accompany its publication with any comments, J as the reputation of the writer and the importance ( of the subject discussed, will attract to it the at- \ tention of our readers. t s Dinner to Joseph P. Carr, Esq. f The Charleston Courier , of Friday, contains an j account of the proceedings at the complimentary dinner given in that city, on Thursday last, to the , Hon. Joseph P. Carr, the recently elected mem- i her from Kansas, in anticipation of the J admission of that Territory into the Union as a ] State. ( The assembly was presided over by C?ol. I. W. Hayne assisted by S. G. Courtenay, Esq., and 1 Capt. Joseph Johnson, Jr., as Vice Presidents. During the evening addresses and sentiments were delivered by Col. I. W. Hayne, Hon. J. P. Carr, Hon. Jambs Simons, Richard Yeadon, Esq., Capt. Joseph Johnson, Col. John Cunningham, Col. R. B. Rhktt, Jr., Capt. R. D. DeTreville, and others, and the occasion is reported to have been one of the heartiest and most successful festivities of the season. We have only room to copy the following por tion of the address of Mr. Carr, and would im press the importance of its thorough considera tion upon the mind of every southern man. The future of Kansas is involved in the results embo died in the annexed paragraph: “ In conclusion, he paid a tribute to the effortsof those by whom the designs of the so-called free State party,** whose only purpose has been to create dissention and rebellion against the laws of the land, have been frustrated. A brighter day seems to be dawning in the Territory. Kansas will be a slave State. It can be kept so, if the people of the South desire it. They have only to go in there. It is utterly impossible for the party now in power to maintain themselves unless they have assis tance. The Democratic party has done all they can do. In two years the next elections will take place. Before that time, the Black Republicans will send forward their recruits, and it is for the South to say whether those who have thus far fought the battle, shall be left without assistance to continue the contest.” We had the pleaasure last evening, through the kindness of a friend, of seeing a beautiful oil painting, representing the scene at our city cemetery, upon the occasion of the recent visit of the Oglethorpe Infantry to the tomb of their late Captain, Andrew J. Miller. The design and ex ecution of the painting reflect great credit upon the accomplished artist, Mr. A. V. Sharpe, who, we may add, is not only a denizen, but a native of our city. Sight Exchange ou New York, in Charles ton, is quoted at one to one and a half per cent, premium. 25F"The Charleston Courier, of yesterday, 19th inst., reports the sale, at fourteen cents, in that city, of fifty-six bales of Jethro Cotton, from the plantation of Mr. Wilds Kolb, of Morgan county, Georgia. Kansas and the United States Senate. —lt is stated that thi Democratic Senators in caucus on Saturday last, determined that when the bill for the admission of Kansas was reported to the Sen ate it should be taken up and considered until finally disposed of, without any postponement. They also, it is said, concluded to recognise the right of the people of Kansas to amend their Con stitution whenever they see proper, and nothing contained m the Constitution shall be permitted to interfere with this right. Seizure or the Collins Steamers.— The steam ers of the Collins line are in the hands of the Sheriff of New York. Messrs. Brown Brothers, it is staled in the Tribune, have sued out a writ ofexecution for six hundred and thirty-six thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars, against the New York and Xiverpoo! Mail Steamship Company, and the steamers of the line have been attached to satisfy the claim. Sixty days from the 28th of January, the date of the execution, have been al lowed the Company to raise the amount. News items from the Chattanooga Adcer- \ tiser of the 18th inst: Much Produce. —The ? tearaer Jefferson arrived at her landing yesterda/, from above, with the largest freights of produce, consisting of wheat, flour and bacon, that has been brought down the river in a number of years—and we understand the spring freights will be very large. To our south ern people who want the coarse provisions, we can say corne along and we can supply you. Any Quantity of Them. —The immense flocks of pigeons daily flying over our citv are wonder fully astonishing the natives. The woods all around here are chuck full of them, and they af ford fine chances for trying the steady nerve and sure eye of the sportsman. The abundance of acorns in the forests attracts them to these locali ties. Protectorate over Mexico and Central America* The following is the resolution introduced in the Senate on Tuesday last, by Mr. Houston, of Texas: Whereas, the events connected with the numer ous efforts of the people of Mexico and the Cen tral American States of this continent to estabish and maintain order and good government, since their separation from the mother country, have so far resulted in failure and consequent anarchy, and demonstrated to the world the inability of said people to effect an object alike so desirable*and so indispensable to their welfare and prosperity: Therefore, Resolved, That the committee on Foreign Rela-’ tions be instructed to inquire into and report to the Senate upon the expediency of the government of the United States declaring and maintaining an efficient protectorate over the States of Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, aud Sau Salvador, in such form and to such an extent as shall be necessary to secure to the people of said States the blessings of good and stable repub lican government. From the Savannah Georgian, 1 Gth inst. Hon* John E. Ward and the llank Veto Meetings. In the proceedings of the meeting held in Clinch county, we find the following resolution, which is similar in language and intent to others passed by meetings in other sections: Resolved, That the conduot of the Hon. John E. Ward, President of the Senate, in leaving the Chair, making his defense of the bill, and then calling the previous question, thereby depriving others of au opportunity of reply, calls for the unqualified condemnation of this meeting. Its publication in our issue of Sunday furnishes U 3 with an opportunity, which we have desired, of correcting the impressions which may have been made upon the minds of tho&e who passed these resolutions, by designing persons and for a specific purpose, and to enter our protest against this un fair attempt to strike down one who, though differ ing with ourselves and others in his views on the banking question, did only what he honestly con ceived to be his duty to his constituents. In the first place, then, Mr. Ward did not leave the chair, ana make a defense of the bill and call the previous question—and thus deprive others of an opportunity to reply. When the Governor’s veto message was sent to the Senate, that body was within four hours of its adjournment and un der the five minutes rule—which would have pre cluded the possibility of debate had it been neces sary. Mr. Ward was at the time on the floor in the discharge of his duties as the presiding officer of the Senate, signing bills, Ac. He took the chair as was his right—and to facilitate and expedite the business of the country, he called for the pre vious question, and the bill was passed. We see nothing in this to call for “ unqualified condemna tion.”—nor can we see cause for it, in the fact that he delivered upon the floor of the Senate, sach an able defense of the banks, as elicited the warmest admiration of friend and foe. It must be remem bered that Mr. Ward represented a constituency more deeply interested in the bank question than P any other gentleman upon that floor. It was his right as a Senator, to discuss all questions which came before the body of which he was a member, and it was his duty, as the member from Chatham, to defend the banks and to endea vor to allay unnecessary excitemeut and prejudice ' and to guide the minds of his fellow Senators to i what he considered a wise and just conclusion upon this subject. It is true that Mr. Ward is in- , terested in a bank himself and is the legal adviser of others, and on this account his motives have Leen questioned and impugned. This attack can easily be met and successfully rebutted by the simple statement, that Mr. Ward, as the Attorney for the banks would have been greatly benefitteii in a pecuniary way, if the veto of Gov. Brown had been sustained. Thus it would seem that his vote and speech were directly adverse to his pecuniary interest, and any man can easily afford to bear all the condem nation which would follow such*an act under such circumstances. Our sense of justice, which has been outraged by these attacks upon Mr. Ward, calls for this fair and simple defense in his behalf. We have differed with nim in times past, and differ with him now upon this bank question, but we do not claim the right for ourselves or admit it to others—to denounce and condemn all who differ in opinion from them, or to single out one to bear the burden which should be shared by many. We see no objection to the holding of these bank meet ings throughout the country, for the purpose cf eliciting a fair expression of the sentiments of the people, but if they are to be made the engines for producing divisions in our own ranks, separations amongst our friends, and to crush down prominent men in our party, then they are entitled to our own and the “ unqualified condemnation” of every hon est and right thinking man. The question of fi nance ana currency, is one of the most difficult and perplexing with which any people are called to deal. Time alone can reconcile the differences of opinion which exist upon this subject, and demon strate the strength and wisdom of the positions assumed by parties on either side. It should not be dragged as an issue into the political arena—nor should it be used as a shield from behind which to launch a dart at one, who, if he has committed an error, has a goodly company to share its responsibility with him, “ Fiat justilia ruat oalum.” From the Baltimore Sun, teh. 17. Thirty-Filth Congress—First Session. Washington, Feb. 16.— Senate. —Mr. Houston offered a resolution instructing the committee on foreign relations to inquire into the expediency of the government establishing a protectorate over Central America. Laid over. Mr. Hale offered a resolution instructing the post office committee to inqaire whether the trans mission of the mails between Washington and Boston cannot be expedited so as to prevent twelve hours detention in York, as at present; which was adopted. Mr. Tnompson reported a bill to establish a port of entry on Tom’s river, New Jersey. Mr. Chandler reported bills making appropria tions for deepening the channels of St. Mary’s river and St. Clair’s flats, Michigan. Mr. Mason called up the joint resolution for the reception of the Turkish Vice-Admiral. Mr. Clay objected to the expenditure of money for such purposes. There was no limit to the amount, and no benefit accruing from it. Mr. Mason replied, instancing the case of the restoration of the ship Resolute to Engtand, as doing much towards encouraging friendly rela tions with that country. Mr. Seward corrected an erroneous impression that Amin Bey was an impostor. Acts of kind ness and courtesy, he said, although not compen sated by money, never go unrewarded. Messrs. Hunter and Briggs opposed the resolu tion. Mr. Clay referred to previous expenditures for the reception of Turkish impostors; also to the expenditures for wines, cigars, etc., for Kossuth. He thought we ought to be warned by past expe rience. Mr. Pugh said he thought that the gentleman who sold serfs to the Turkish Government ought to pay the expenses of entertaining their officers. We, said he, do not allow officials abroad to take bribes—why should we offer them to others? He should vote against the resolution. Mr. Trumbull said he endorsed every word Mr. Pugh had uttered on the subject. Messrs. Stuart and Coliamer advocated the reso lution. Mr. Briggs offered an amendment limiting the amount to five thousand dollars, which was re jected, and the resolution as reported was then adopted—yeas 31, nays 14. The Senate then resumed the consideration of the Indiana contested election case. By a vote of yeas 16, nays 26, a proposition to decide the ques tion immediately was rejected. The original resolution pending for the taking of testimony was then passed, and the Senate ad journed. * House. —Mr. Letcher, from the committee of ways aud means, reported the deficiency appro priation bill. Mr. Boyce called up the Maryland contested election case of Mr. Brooks, who contests the seat of Mr. Davis, on the ground that the election was carried by fraud aud violence. Mr. Boyce argued against the prayer of Mr. Brooks, who asked exemption from the operation of the law of 1851, and moved that the committee on elections proceed to take testimony. Mr. Phillips, argued in favor of the committee on elections having power to send for persons and papers. Messrs. Maynard and Wilson spoke against de parting from the course prescribed by the law of 1851 for taking of evidence. Mr. Hatch, while declaring that Mr. Davis’ seat ought to be declared vacant, took occasion to condemn the American party. Other gentlemen also addressed the House, including Mr. Bowie. Without coming to any action, the House ad journed. Thirty-fifth Congress—First Session. Washington, Feb. 17.— Senate.— The follow ing resolution, submitted yesterday by Mr. Hous ton, was taken up for consideration : Whereas, the events connected with the numer ous efforts of the people of Mexico and the Central America of this continent to establish and main tain order and good government, since their sepa ration from the mother country, have so far result ed in failure and consequent anarchy, aud demon strated to the world the inability of said people to effect an object alike so desirable and so indispen sable to their welfare and prosperity: Therefore, Resolved, That the committee on foreign rela tions be instructed to inquire into and report upon the expediency of the Government of the United States, declaring and maintaining au efficient pro j tectorate over the States of Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and San Salva dor, in such form and to such extent, as shall be necessary to secure to the people of said States the blessings of good and stable republican gov ernment. Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, attacked the re solution as one calculated to disgrace us in the eyes of the world. Mr. Houston controverted Mr. Wilson’s state ments. He was opposed to fillibusterism, but thought the subject worthy of consideration, inas much as other powers had designs on the same country. Mr. Mason objected to referring the resolution to the committee; on the ground that the Central ! American States would regard such an interference as an indignity. He also doubted the policy of ex tending protectorates anywhere. Mr. Hale moved an amendment, as follows: Whereas, a state of colonial independence is not . calculated to illustrate in theory or practice a pop ; ular sovereignty and perfect freedom, therefore, Resolved, That the committee on foreign rela . tions be instructed to inquire with regard to ex p tending a protectorate over Canada and other l Brituh possessions on the American continent. , Mr. Toombs advocated the resolution. He said ; the time for action was not far distant, and it was [ better that the question should be considered now. On motion of Mr. Mason, the resolution was laid [ on the table. 1 The Army bill was debated, but no action taken. House. —The House refused to grant the prayer » of Mr. Brooks, contestant for the seat of Mr. H. \ Winter Davis, from the Fourth Congressional Dis f trict of Maryland, asking for a special commission j to take testimony. r The House resolved itself into committee of the . whole, and resumed the consideration of the In dian appropriation bill. Kansas affairs were discossed, but no action was j taken. r Planters’Convention. —This body met in our r on Tuesday, the 16th inst., aud organised bv i calling Gen. B. H. Rutherford to the Chair, anti requesting Gen. James W. Armstrong to act as i Secretary. A Constitution was adopted, and reso lutions passed, requesting papers friendly to the t objects of the meeting to announce that a general * convention of the planters of the State will be t held in Macon on the second Tuesday in June - next, and inviting planters generally to be present. 7 We have not been furnished with a copy of the i proceedings, but will try to publish them in full in our next issue.— Mason State Press, 16 th inst. Unpublished Song by Burns. ' The following, addressed by Robert Borkb te Miss Jane Jefpebt, daughter of the parish paster of Lockmahon, Scotland, is said to hare been in no published collection of the poet’s works. It m very pretty, and, whether authentic or not, has the appearance of being so : When first I saw my Jeannic-’i face I could na think what ailed nie • ’ My heart went fluttering pit-a-nat •My een had nearly failed me ’ She s ae sac neat, and trim, and'tight. All grace does round her borer • Ae iook deprived me o* my heart. And I became her lover, She's ae * Bae UUlw and pay. She s ae sae blithe and checiy— She a ae sae bonny, blithe and gay 0, gin I were her dearie I # O, had I Dundaa’ whole estate. Or Hoptoun’s pride to ahine in, *■"’ Did warlike honors crown my fate. Or softer bays entwine In, I’d lay them a’ at Jeannie’s feet. Could I but hope to move her. And prouder than a peer or knight. I’d be my Jeannkfs lover. She’s ae, ae, sae blithe and gay, Ac. But sair I doubt some happier swain Has gaiaed my Jeannie’s favor; If sle, inay ev’ry bliss be hers. Though I can never have her! But gang she East or gang she West, ’Twixt Nith and Tweed, all over, W c h , lle .,^ e . n have ears, #r eyes, or taste, She 11 always find a lover. She’s ae, ae, sae blithe and gay, Ac. Four Solemn Lines. Four lines more beautiful than these are rarely written. The figure which it involves is exquisite: “A solemn murmur In the soul Tells oT this world to be. As travellers hear the billows roll. Before they reach the sea.” BttJTalo Express. !• our worse lines than these are rarely written. The figure which involves is awful: “ A solemn murmur ’irongst the throng. Tell how impatiently The boarders listen for the gong. To call them in to tea.” Zanesville Aurora. Four lines more truthful than these are rarely written. The figure which “ it” involves is abso lutely painful: “ A solemn buzzing In your ear. When you retire to bod. Tells you that swilling lager beer Is dreadful for the head. Louisville Tims*, SIIAKSPEAREAN INVERSION AND PERVERSION.—The Boston Post is responsible for the following atro city : A cart-before-horse blunder, to my mind. Was Shakespeare’s writing “cabined, cribbed, confined A something in my cabin lately happened That makes me road “confined,’’ then “cribbed” and “cabined.’ Bank Bills Under Five Dollars. The Southern Recorder , in publishing some re marks which appeared in this paper on the policy of suppressing the issue of the banks under five dollars, says: We fully agree with the Constitutionalist in the views expressed above, as to the injurious effect* of the stoppage in the circulation of small bills. This effect would not be confined alone to editors, but all classes of society would suffer. We well remember the great inconvenience experienced be fore the banks were authorised to issue them, and wish not to feel the like again. The country, for the want of such a circulating medium, was flood ed with private change bills, whose value was con fined to their own locality, and beyond that point were mere trash. Unfortunately, we still some of them in our possession. So much do we give the preference to small bank bills over specie, that even at the present time, although the banks are in suspension, we prefer them to handling the specie. This subject was agitated in the last legislature, and we felt happy in seeing the effort- to suppress them defeated. We cannot conceive what evils have as yet resulted to the country from the use of small bankable bills, that it should have been made the subject of legislation at all, aud we imagine it must have arisen from some latent spirit of retalia tion towards the bunks, because they had been driven into a state of suspension. “ Titfor tat ” if you wont redem over five dollars, we wont let yon issue any under. To all such we would say, remember the old adage, “ don’t cut off vour nose to spite your face.” Wasting Time.—There is what is called a “per sonal liberty bill” before the legislature of the little seveu-by-nine State of Rhode Island and Providence plantations, which is thus spoken of by the Providence Journal , the leading Black Re publican paper of the State: “The doctrine of the bill is right; the only things in the way are the Constitution and laws of the ■United States. If any method is found of getting around these, we hope the General Assembly will immedialy turn its attention to the admission of Kansas under the Constitution which the people have adopted. This is also a very jest, measure, and we are certain that our General Assembly has as much power over one subject as the other. From the New York Journal of Commerce. American Sweet Oil. A few days since we received a letter from Mr. Holt, Commissioner of Patents, in reference to the cultivation of the Beue Plant, and he referred us ta the Patent Office Report of 1654, which he sent ns for information, saying that the statements on ibe subjects contained in that Report requtred greater publicity. Several years ago, when the house of Suydam and Wycoff were In business in New York, they received from a correspondent in the State of Georgia a consignment of bene seed, which they sent to an oil mi!! for pressing out the oil. One cask of oil was produced by cold pressure, and several casks by hot pressure. The cold pressed oil was colorless aud flavorless, a most beautiful article for table use; the hot pressed was a little colored by heat, and had the flavor of nut oil. We purchased the whole lot, and sold it to Messrs. Clark, then extensively engaged in the druggist trade in Maiden Lane. They paid us either two or three dollars per gallon for the cold pressed oil, and about two-thirds that price for the hot press ed, as near as we can recollect—for it was about thirty years ago. This oil did not congeal by cold, nor become Tancid by age. The information contained in the Patent Office Report of 1854, is as follows: “Statement of H. M. Bry, of Monroe, Washita parish, Louisiana: “ In 1843, I sent six teen bushels of seed of the “bene” plant (Seiamutn Oritn'a'e ) to a mill in Cin cinnati to be manufactured into oil. It yielded thirty-nine gallons of clear oil, and about five quarts of refuse oil, or about two and a half gal lons to the bushel. “ In consequence of the mill imparting the fla vor of flaxseed, I could not use it as a salad oil, for which purpose I am confident it would be superior, when pure, to the adulterated imported olive-oil. I used it, however, as a substitute for castor-oil, and gave 'a considerable quantity away for that purpose. All who used it, praised it high ly, both for its gentle purgative effect and from being free from the nauseous taste peculiar to castor-oil. “I cannot state with certainty how much seed this plant will produce to the acre, but believe that twenty bushels is a moderate estimate.* “The leaf of the plant is an excellent remedy for bowel complaints in children, and also in adults. For this purpose, two or three leaves are put in a tumbler of water, which they immediately render mucilaginous, but impart no disagreeable taste. The negroes c uitivate it for food, using the parch ed seeds with their meats. “ I consider it so useful that a few stalks at least should be raised in every garden. And I believe it will soon be extensively cultivated for manufacturing oil, yielding as it does, about a gallon to a bushel more than flaxseed. “I doubt whether it will mature well North of latitude thirty-six degrees. It should be planted as soon as the frost is oat of the ground. Poor land is best suited to its production, as it branches too much in rich soil, because the pods are more liable to shatter from the branches than from a single upright stem. The seeds should be planted in drils three feet apart, aud six inches distant along the drills.” There is no doubt tSfe bene plant can be cultivat ed to great advantage at the South, and the manufacture of oil from the seed would be attended with profit to the producer and advantage to the public. The seed was first brought here from Africa, where it is extensively used. I have thought this notice, thus early in the season, would enable those who may be desirous of cultivating the plant to obtain seed in time for spring sowing. E. M. Brooklyn Heights, Feb. 11, ISSB. Mrs. Julia Dean Hayne brings with her from . California, as nett proceeds of thirteen months act , ng, the snug sum of twenty thousand dollars. * The maiden name of the present Mrs. Fillmore i was Miss Van Loon, daughter of the late Peter Van Loon, of Albany, N. Y.