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GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
The Commander of the Army of Oczupation.
Recent events have thrown this gentleman
so prominently before the public, that we feel
.4UpO*c<I to gratify the strong desire, expressed
by manv, by giving some of the incidents of
his life.'
Qen. Taylor entered the army in 1808, im.
mediately nfter the attack oa the Chesapeake,
Had has been in the service of his country from
.that time, to the present. Having entered the
army as a Lieutenant of Infantry ho had risen
to the command of a company, at the begin
ning of the fast tear.
For his gallant defence of Fort Harrison on
the 5th September, 1812, President Madison
conferred upon him the brevet rank of Major,
' -and ho is now die oldest brevet in the army.
In 1832, he became the Colonel ot the 6ih
infantry ; with this regiment lie went to Flor
ida in 1S36, where he was always foremost in
‘ danger.
On the 25th of December, 1836, Col. Tay
lor at the head of a detachment of about 500
men, com|Oted of parts of tlie 1st, 4th, and
6 It regiments of U. S. Infantry and some
Missouri volunteers, met about 700 Indians, un
der Alligator, Sam Jones and Coa coo-che, on
the banks of the O-ke-cho-bee. This battle
was sought by the Indians, for the day before
the engagement, Col. Taylor received a chal
lenge from Alligator, telling him where to find
him, and bantering him to come on. Col. Tay
lor desired nothing better, and immediately
pushed on at a rapid march to the expected
battle ground, fcuiful that the wily Indian
might change his purpose. The Indians had
a strong portion in a thick swamp, covered in
front by a sm ill »tream; whose quicksands
rendered it almost impussable, but Col. T.
pushed through ibe quicksands and swamps in
(lie face of a deadly lire from a concealed foe,
diiving the Indians before him. The action
was long and severe. The Indians yielding
the ground inch by inch, and then only at the
point of the bayonet. After three hours of
bloody contest, the Indians were touted and
pursued with great slaughter, until night. This
was the last stand the Indians ever made, in a
. large body, and the only instance in which they
voluntarily gave battle. Though Col. Taylor
won the day, it was at the expense of 139 killed
and wounded—more than one-fourth of his
whole force. Two colonel* (Col. Thompson
of the otlt Infantry, and Col. Gentry of the
Missouri volunteers,) fell at the head of the
troops. Capf. Van Swearingen and Lieuten-
juda Brook and Carter, also fell in the engage
ment.
, jn During the whole of the engagement, Col.
Taylor renirined on horseback, passing from
point to point, cheering his men to the conflict,
and exposed to the Indian riflo at every mo
ment. The spirit with which the commander
and all his force enleied into the conflict, was
exhibited in some veises written on the occasion,
by a soldier:
" There’* battle in yon hammock black.
There'* lightning in yon cloud,
Hark ! bark! to the music, comrade, dear.
For the Indian yell ia load ;
For the Indian yell i* load, my boy*,
And the rifle'* flash is free;
Bat ilia field of battle i« oar home.
And happy, happy men aro we ;
And happy men are we,” &c.
For this battle, Mr. Poinsett, Secretary of
War, rendered merited praise to all engaged,
in his communication to Congress. The bre
nt t nj Brigadier General was conferred on
Col. Taylor, and he was given the chief com
mand in Florida; which he resigned in 1840,
after four or five years arduous and indrfatiga-
We service in the swamps and hammocks of
Florida.
After his retirement from Florida, he was
assigned to the command of the 1st Depart
ment of the Army, including the Stales of j
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Sec., with Ji:j :
bead quarters at Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
Ilis position gave him the command of the
" Army of Occupation,” hut the usage of the
service would have justified the Government in
assigning to that command either of tho six
general officers of the Regular Army, whoso
rank is higher than his.
But it may he fairly presumed that the high
character, gallant services and great experi-
enco of Gen. T., ns'de from his geographical
position, poin'ed him out, as the appropriate
commander of an army, which was to plant our
flag upon the banks nf the Rio del Norte.
Gen. Taylor is about 56 years of age ; is a
man of much gereial information, an excellent
and tried soldier, a prudent and skilful com
mander, wlu»se traits of charnctcr ore a wise
precaution in providing for the hour of trial,
and a fi-adess, reckless courage in battle.
He is a Ivcntrckian by birth and all that that
wo'd implies. He is an American in hrart, nnd
stamped with all the elements of a hero, by
na'iirc.
Under his command the flng of the Union
will receive uo dishonor on the banks of the
Rio G rande.—Nashville Orthrpolitan.
The above particulars will be rend with inter
est by his numerous fiiends in Georgia.
We desire many—many years of health and
happiness to one who has so gallantly borne
himself in the hour of battle, first as Lieuten
ant, and now as leader of a brigade, who in the
impetuosity ofthe charge upon the enemy’j de
structive battery had no time to think of their
gallant Chief, but were borne headlong upon
the foe.
From the JV. Y. Globe.
CAPT. SAMUEL H. WALKER.
This officer is one of those rare spirits which
a state of war will bring out from our citizen
soldiers, ilis lute unequalled conflict with the
Mexicans, in which he lost nearly every mnn
under his command, and his daring heroism in
cutting his way to General Taylor’s camp,
have excited in the public mind a strong desire
to know more of him. He is the same gentle
man so frequently and honorably spoken of in
Gen. Green’s journal of the Micr expedition.—
He is a native of Washington City, from
whence he went into the Florida war, where in
several campaigns he distinguished himself by
his intrepid bravery. In 1842 he went to
Texas, nnd during the invasion of that Repub
lic by Gen. WoH, be was marked for bis bold
and daring conduct. After the Mexican Gen
eral had retreated from San Antonio, and when
he lay upon tho Rio Hondo, Walker and Capt.
McCullough crawled through his camp one
night spied out his posi'ion, nnd the next day
with the gallant Hays, led the attack upon his
position, and the next day with tho gallant
Hays, led the attack upon his mar guard. He
then joined the celebrated expedition against
Mier, and or, the morning of that sanguinary
battle, he, with three others—being the advance
scout of the Texnns—was taken prisoner and
carried with his hands lied behind him to the
head quarters of Gen. Ampudia. The Mexi
can General questioned him as to the Texan
forces, and when Walker informed him that
tho Texuns had only three hundred men, Am
pudia pompously replied: ‘ Does that auda
cious hand-full of men presume to follow mo
into this strong place and attack me ?’ ‘ Yes,’
says Walker, * make yourself content upon that
subject, General, they will follow you into hell
and attack you there.’ He was with his com
rades, then marched a prisoner to the city of
Mexico.
At Salaclo, with the lamented Capt. Came
ron and Dr. Brennen, lie led the attack upon
the guards, overpowered them, and marched
for Texas, when after eating up cql their horses
ano moles, dnd living for days upon their own
urine, surrendered to the .Mexican Generals
Mercier and Ortago. He was again marched
to Salado, where, with his comrades, he was
made to draw in the celebrated black bean lot
tery, and every tenth man was shot. Those
that remained of the Texans were marched to
the Castle of Peroie and the city of Mexico.—
Here, while working on the streets in that city,
he was struck by a Mexican corperal for not
working (aster, when with his spade he knock
ed down the corporal, which caused the guards
to beat him nearly to death. His life was a
long time despaired of, nnd upon his recovery,
he with two companions, scaled the walls of
his prison after nightfall, and made Ins way to
Texas, over a distance of more than a thousand
miles. Before, however, they got out of tho
country, they were twice more imprisoned, and
each time effected their esenpp. When he had
reached Texas again, he joined Rap'ain flays,
who, with fifteen others, armed with Colt’s re
peating pistols, fought 96 Camanches, and de
feated them, leaving 36 killed upon the ground
Here Walker was run through the body with
a Camanche spear, nnd his life again despaired
of. We now hear of lum, with 70 Texans, at
tacking 1500 Mexicans, and all perished jh
battle but himself and six others; and then, to
crown his wonderful life of daring, he cut his
way, single-handed, into Gen. Taylor’s camp
from Point Isabel.
To such men Texas is indebted for her
emancipation from Mexico. Few as they are,
they have wanted liberty, and have miraculous
ly maintained it f<>r ten years against all the
boasted power of Mexico. We tru-t that the
President of the United States, in making his
appointments, will not overlook them and fill
army with those carpet knights who never
smelt gunpowder, and whose only merit may be
a political endorsement and a reverential de
votion to ti e courtesies of the White House.
Texas has a host of heroes, who not only from
a ten years experience, understand the Mexi
can mode of wajfnre, but who know every hill
and dale, river, pass and mountain gorge in.the
enemies’ country. Such men as Generals Bur
leson, Green and McLeod, Colonels Cock and
Hays, Captains Walkor, McCollough, Gilles
pie and others, should be promptly called into
the service; und wc are decidedly of opinion
that the gallant and distinguished Commodore
Moore should have the command of the Gulf
fleet. In addition t<» his high qualifications as
a navy commander, Com. M. is better acquaitt-
ted_with this coat than any p'ot on the gulf.
his power to organize some boat expeditions,
which will aid the land troops very materially
in their operations on the Rio Grande, and at
the same time augment consideradly their for*
ces by bis marines and sailors, which latter, can
fight nearly as well on land as at sea.
Commodore Conner stands very high in the
navy as an officer of intelligence, judgement
and discretion. Although occasion has not
enabled him of late, to perform actions which
are brilliant and striking to the public eye, he
has nevertheless been invested with functions of
great delicacy, and done his duty and perform
ed Iiis part with discernment and discretion.—•
So well satisfied has the government been with
his conduct during the last two or three years,
pending our difficulties with Mexico, that they
have retained him on this station, although his
long service on it, so uninteresting and tedious
iu its nature, would long ago have entitled him
to reljef. Com. Conner served with distinc
tion in the last war, then a Lieutenant, and was
wounded in the bloody action between the
“ Hornet” and the “ Penguin.”—Neio Orleans
Bulletin.
•••./From the Savannah Georgian, iith inat.
col. McIntosh. '
It will lie extremely gratifying to the friends
of Col. McIntosh to loom that his case has as
sumed a fav< ruble aspect. The circumstan
ces of his rencontre with the enemy and his
rescue from superior numbers is almost mirac
ulous. No wonder that he wus at first report
ed among the killed.
We have seen a letter to his nearest relative
>n tins city, which states that Col. McIntosh
has suffered the severest pain since last ac
counts from h'rn. That for two days much
anxiety was felt for his situation, but ihat on the
18th inst. he was quite easy and doing much
better than was expected.
•Col. McIntosh’s wounds were received in
tiir battlo of the second day, while leading his
regiment against die enemy's battery. When
he had almost reached it, his horse, a noble an
imal was shot from under him. Six Mexicans
rnahed out of a small c!l istcrof chapparal—for
this fight was in the chapparal—three with their
bayonets pointed at his bond. Gno bruisod his
now slightly—the other went in at the mouth
knocked out most of the teeth on the leftside
CAPTAIN MAY.
The gallant conduct of this officer in the ac
tion with the Mexicans on the 9ih, has sc cured
for him the highest admiration, and everything
relating to him is regarded with much interest.
Tl>e New Orleans Tropic represents the Cap
tain as a very singular character—with a beard
extending to his breast, and hair to his hip
Itnne. which, as be cuts through the wind on
his charger, siroums. out in all directions, giving
him an imposing appearance. His gait on foot
is awkward, and ihui of his horse (which is an
immense one,) is the rack of tho CanaJiun
pony.
Capt. May was born in Washington city,
where hie father (Dr, May,) died a few months
since, leaving six or seven sons, not one of
them tinder six feet in height. The Captain,
who has so distinguished himself in the late op.
<rator.fi on tho Rio Grande, when quite a
youth aitracied the attention of Gen. Jackson
by his excellent horsemanship, and the old chief
appointed him a cornet in a regiment of dra
goons then forming. The General was n good
judge of men, nnd in the -case of young M»y.,
bis presentiment has been fully verified.
*+i
Jfst
an I passed through his neck; with<the bayonot
thus they pinned him to the ground. One put >C O M M O D O R E C O N Nt£ R.
• ic muzzle of his musket to the Colonel’s fore- Amid the rqjoicines attendant upon the sue
he >d and pulled trigger, but tho poavdor in the cess nf the g dlaut Taylor, wc must not .omit
pa;i dashed. Another put his musket to the to give credit to this .officer for his judicious
•>t of the fallen Colonel. While in tbetj movement v/ith -the wholo squadron under his
i of firing, tho Colonel pushed it aside, and |. command, from 'Vara Cruz to -Point Isabel.—
ia c
then thrust into hi« left.arm and broke it.
Had not tome one come to his resruo at the ‘
moment, his brains would have, hen beaten out
with their muskets. Tho Colonel has another •
sight wound in the leg. The wound in tho :
nr ck Ins caused hint more pa n'tlian ten thou- j
...iiiJ deaths.
In fho course of six weeks, it is believed «thr»t 1
the Co'ooel will l-e able to travel, and a change
f |O, 0 Point Jsrthel, whore there is no comfort.
>1 firing, iho Colonel pushed it aside, and I command
contents went into tho giound. A buyonut | Nothing certainly could have been more oppor
tune and nothing more encouraging to the small
band, who were daily and nightly expecting nn
attack upon that port, than the arrival of Com
modore Conner, at the nick of time, as it .were,
with a sufficient force to afford .a large supply
ol^ disciplined men and gallant officcrS'for them
—such as to placo that important place and
depot, boyond the possibility and hazard of
Capture. Although the slioalness of the waters
; in-tliat neieborhood will prevent ships of the
! class under his command, from approaching
I. very m ar the land, it will, jiOYorthcless, bo in
New Orlesi
rib til (,'olr
will he of much benefit to-the'
THE CITY OF MEXICO.
The city of Mexico is said to be the finest
built city on the American continent. In some
respects it certainly is so. In the principal
streets the houses are all constructed according
to the strictest architectural rules. The founda
tions ofthe city were laid, und tiie first buildings
were erected by Cortes, who did every thing
well which he attempted—from building a house
or writing a couplet to conquering an empire.
Many ofthe finest buildings in Mexico are still
owned by his descendant. The pubh'esquarc is
said to be unsurpassed by any in the world ; it
contains some twelve or fifteen acres paved
with stone. The cathedral coversone entire,
the palace another; the western side is occupied
by a row of very high and substantial houses,
tho second stories of which project into the
street the width of the pavement; the lower
stories arc occupied by the principal retail
merchants of the city. The most of these hou
ses were built by Cortes, who with his charac
teristic sagacity and an avarice which equally
characterized him in the latter part of his hfe,
selected the best portion of the city for himself.
The President’s Palace, formerly the palace
of the viceroys, is an immense building of three
stories high, about five hundred feet in length,
and three hundred und fifty wide; it stands on
the site of the palace of Montezuma. It is
difficult to conceive of so much stone and mortar
being put together in a less tasteful and impo
sing shape; it has much more the appearance of
a cotton factory or & penitentiary, than what it
really is; the windows are small and a_parfl-
pet wall runs the whole length ofthe build'ng,
"with nothing to relieve the monotony of its ap
pearance except some very indifferent ornamen
tal work in the centre; there ore no doors in the
front either of the second or third stories—
nothing but disproportionately small windows,
and loo many of them;-rite three doors, and
there are only three in the lower story, are
destitute of nlfarchitectural beauty or ornameut.
Only a very small part of this palace is appro
priated to the residence of the President; and
the public officers me here, including those of
the heads of the different departments; minis
ters of war, foreign relations, finance and jus-
tice, the public treasury, See., &c.
The streets of Mexico are uncommonly wide,
much more so than, is necessary, considering
that they are not obstructed, as in our cities,
by drays and wagon?. The side walks are
uncommonly narrow. The streets arc all paved
with round stone; the side-vvalks with very
rough flat ones. The houses on the principal
streets are all two and three stories high. The
elevation of the rooms, from the floor to the
ceiling, eighteen and twenty feet, gives to a
house of two stories a greater height than we
are accustomed to’secing houses of three. The
roofs are ull terraced, and have parapet walls
of three or four feet high answering all the pur
poses of a breast-work, a use too common'y
made of them in tho frequent revolutions to
which that unfortunate country socrr.s to be for
ever destined. Tho walls are built of rough
stones of all shapes and sizes, and large quanti-
ties of lime nmrtar. They are very thick, in
ordinary buildings ftom tiro to three feet, nnd
in the larger edifices of much greater massive
ness. The foundation of most of the largest
buildings are made with piles. Even these
foundations are very insecure, and it is surpri
sing that they arc not more so, with such an
immense weight of stone upon such an unsteady
foundation. The streets cross each other at
right angles, dividing the whole city into, squares.
Each oi'eof these squares is called a street, and
has n separate name; a serious inconvenience
to a stranger, iu the city. Instead of designating
the street in its whole extent, by one name, and
numbering the houses, ench side of every square
has a different name, and names which sound,
to Protestant ears very much like a violation of
the Third Article of the Decalogue; such ns
the street of Jesus, and the street of the Holy
Ghost. A gentleman will teJl you that he lives
in the Holy Ghost, or that he lives in Jesus;
certainly not always true, if taken in the sense
in whieh our preachers use tlicse words. lo
most of these streets there is a church, which
gives name to jhe street in which it stands.
In many instances these churches and convents
(that of San Augustine for example, covers
ilio whole square, not with separate building,
but one single edifice, with the usual patio or
court, an open space in tho centre.
The Cathedral occupies the site of the great
idol temple of Montezuma. It is five hundred
feet long by four hundred and twenty wide. It
would be superfluous to ndd another to the
many doscriptioi sof this famous building which
have ulrcady been published. Like all the
other churches in Mexico, it is built in the
Gothic style. The walls, of several feet thick-
jicss, are made of unhewn stone and lime.
Upon entering .it, one is n.pt to recall the wild
fictions of the Arabian Nights* it seems as if
the wealth nf empires was collected there. The
clergy in Mcxcodo not,.for obvious reasons,
desire tlutitheir wealth should ho made know.n
to its ;fuil extent; they are, therefore, not dis.
posed ,to give very full information upon (he
subject, or to exhibit the .gold and silver .ves
sels., vases precious stones and other forms of
weujth; .quite .enough is exhibited to strike
the beholder with wonder. The first object
•that presents itself on entering the cathedralis
the altnr, near tho centre of the building.; it is
made of Jiighly wrought and highly polished
silver, and covered with a profusion of oroa-
■ments of pure gqld. On each side of this altar 1
runs a balustrade, including a space vbout
eight f-et wide and eighty or a hundred i/ect
long- Thn bulustets arc pbout four feqt high,
and'four inches thick in the largest .part; -the
handrail’from six to .eight .inches wide. Upon
the top of this handrail, ut-the distance of six or
eight feet apart, arc human images, beautifully
wrough, and abouuwo feet high. AH of these,
i^e balustrade, handrail, and.images, are-made
0 f a compound of gold, silver, «nd .copper—
and replace it with another of exactly the„sam e
size and workmanship of pure silver, and to
give half a million of dollars besides. There
is much more of the same balustrade in other
parts of the church; I should think in all of
it, not less than three hundred feet. - -
As you walk through the building, on either
side there are different apartments, all filled,
from the floor to the ceiling, with paintings,
statues, vases, huge candlesticks, waiters and
a thousand other articles, made of gold or silver.
This, too is only the every day display of nr-
tides of least value; the more costly are stored
away’ in chests and closets. What must It be
when all these are brought out, with the immense
quantities of precious stones which the church
is known to possess? And this is only one of
the churches of the city of Mexico, where
there ate between sixty and eighty others, and
some of them possessing little less wealth than
the cathedral; and it must also be remembered,
that all the other large cities, such as Puebla,
Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, Duran
go, San Louis, Potosi, have each a proportion
ate number of equally gorgeous establishments.
It would be the wildest and most random con
jecture to attempt an estimate of tho amount of
the precious metals thus withdrawn from useful
purposes of the courrency of the world, and
wasted in these barbaric ornaments, as incom
patible with good taste as they aro with the'hu
mility which was the most striking feature in the
character ofthe founder of our religion, whose
chosen instruments were the lowly and humble,
and who himself regarded as the highest eve
dence of his divine mission, the fact that “to
the poor the gospel was preached.” I do not
doubt but there is enough of the precious me
tals in the different churches of Mexico to re
lievo sensibly the pressure upon the currency of
the world, which has resulted from the dimin
ished production of the mines, and the increased
quantity which has been appropriated to pur
poses of luxury, and to pay the cost of much
more tasteful decorations in architecture and
statuary, made of Mohogany nnd Marble.
But the immense weal h which is thus col
lected in the churches, is not by any means all,
of even the largest portion, of the wealth of the
Mexican churches and clergy. They own very
many of the finest houses in Mexico and other
cities (the rents of which must be enormous,)
besides valuable real estates all over the Re
public. Alra"st every person leaves a bequest
in his will for masses for his soul, which consti
tute an incumbrance upon the estate, and thus
nearly all the estates of the small proprietors
are mortgaged to the church. The property
held by the church in mortmain is eitiinated at
fifty millions.— Waddy Tompson's Journal.
SAN L CIS DTPO TO SI.
This Mexican city is the capital of the de
partment of Potosi, and is a capital place for
sacking. It lies 1G5 miles west of Tampico
in lat. 22; long. 103 west. Its population, in
cluding the suburbs, is from fifty to sixty thou
sand. Joel Poinsett, in his “Notes on Mex
ico,’’says: “If presents a fine appearance:
tho churches aro lofty and some of them very
handsome. The streets are well-built, very
clean, and intercept each other at right angles.
* * # • The market place is well sup
plied with meats, fruits, and vegetables: [Th
very things lor hungry soldiers.] There, as in
every part of Mexico, the vendors were satisfied
with one half of their asking prices, and fre
quently with one third part of what they, the
instant before, had sworn on their conscience
the article was worth.”
It is stated on good authority that the “town
abounds in hatters, tailors, Sec. Sec., nnd that
tho whole population is industrious,” The
peopic aro better dressed, and there are fewer
beggars than in almost any other part of Mexi
co. There is a flourishing college in the place:
but the mines, which formerly were so valuable
aie exhausted, and yield nothing to tempt men
in search of fortunes.
Kendall, in his Santa Fe Sketches, gives a
luscious account of this place, from winch we
make the following extract:
"San Luis is one of the best built cities of
Mexico, regularly laid out, and with an air of
cleanliness not common in a Mexican town.—
The wemen, ton, are somewhat famous for
their general beauty—they certainly have small
and perfectly formed hands and feet, large and
lustrous eyes, and hair more biuck and glossy
than any other females I saw while travelling
almost three thousand miles through the coun
try. The windows and balconies of the better
houses were filled with the fashionables, while
the girls of tho pooler classes, who seemed as
though they had run from their houses half-
dressed m their great haste to sea lot Tejunos,
were gathered on either side fbp streets it;
countless numbers,
“ The city of San Luis Potosi, with its im?
mense suburbs must contain some fifty thousand
inhabitants. Like Mexico, it is built in n wide
valley, much of which is fertile in tjic growth
of Indian Coro and Wheut, besides affording
excellent pasturage forjhnmense herds of sheep.
The city was a place of great wealth while the
adjacent gold mines were productive; but since
the working of them has ceased It lias lost much
of its former consequence. The inhabitants,
however, appear lo be engaged to no inconsid
erable extent in the manufacture of clothing,
shoes, Imts, and different articles of ware, and
a quantity of grain is raised jn the valley far
exceeding the-wants of the population.
“ The churches, convents and public institu
tions aro magnificent, aud will vie with those of
any city in Mexico^n-a country abounding with
tho grandest specimens of religious architec
ture.”
valuable than silver, -I was told that an
offer 'll®^ k cen made to take this balustrade,
We are extremely sorry that in noting the
public spirited and patriotic act of the Canal
Bank, in relieving yesterday the necessities of
the State nnd the public service, we are obliged
to contrast it with very different conduct on the
p?rt of another (and the wealthiest) monied
institution of the State. Mr. Benjamin Story,
of the Louisiana Bank has had tl\e .credit given
,to him in aeyeral of the newspapers of the
.city, and by that medium, through tfie whole
country, of having proffered .tp ,tfie State, at
the commencement of tho war, the sum of
five hundred thousand dpllars, if necessary, to
pieet the action which the State might find it
expedient to take before the General Govern?.
,tnent could be informed of .the .exigency and
.come to the relief. So fur from this offer hav
ing been made by Mr. Story, or by the Bank-
of-which he was .President, np sum nt all has
been tendered, and yesterday the paltry sum of
nine thousand dollars was absolutely refused,
ithopgh asked for to meet one of the strongest
.cases that -could appe«J"to the public spirit, the
patriotism, the pride, or the philanthropy of a
capitalist or a monied concern. But the Lou
isiana Bank seems to be no respecter of per
sons, or of .considerations such as those we
have pointed out. If with h.alf a million in its
vaults, .it refused to come,to.the relief of the
commercial.community, ppder such distress,in
money affairs as prevailed during the last fort
night, there is nothing in the exigencies of the
public service that could be expected to enlist
its sympathies.—N. O. Bulletin, 23d inst.
Fro.n the Augusta Constitutionalist.
AN AMERICAN VOICE IN- EUROPE.
Although the United States, unlike the mon
archies ofthe Old World, have no hired presses
in distant lands to trumpet their fame or defend
their principles of government; although Eu
rope and Asia choose to form their opinion of
us through channels of information controlled
by sympathisers with monarchical mummery ;
and although the influential journalists, suppor
ted by our European brethren, studiously avoid
the most reliable sources of information in this
country; yet, notwithstanding the notorious
facts; it is gratifying to learn that even tho
London Times has had the honesty to opemils
columns, however reluctantly, to the following
communication from one of our countrymen r
To the Editor of the limes.—Sir: Among
other reasons for thinking our Government
“feeble to restrain bad impulses and our popu
lation too excitable to be conscious of conse
quence,” a “ monstruck madman’s” speech,
and the manner in which it was listened to in
the United States House of Representatives,
seem with you to rank among the foremost.—
Without stopping to inquire whether it is his
“ much learning that has made him mad,” if
Mr. Quincy Adams be really mad (for learn
ing, eyen if his wits be disordered, he possesses
to a degree seldom equalled in Europe or
America) and without uttering a suspicion that
the superstructure, reared on such a professed
ly crazy foundation, may be unsound, allow me
to ask in what, and on what occasion, the gen
eral government at Washington has exhibited
feebleness, and wherein has our population be
trayed an excitability which is regardless of
consequences ?
Since we came into being, which was but as
yesterday in the history of nations, iL can be
said without a boast that there is not a quarter
of the globe that will not bear witness of the
strength and energy of otlr Executive in its f ir-
eign relations. Were ive not the first to refuse
tribute to the Algerine while Europe was lay
ing its black mail at his feet? Did we follow
or lead in declaring and making tho slave trade
subject to the penalties of piracy—which was
at least one step towards purgation from the
black plague inherited from our ancestors ? —
Was our claim upon the kingdom of Naples
for indemnification suffered to grow weak
th'ough age? Had France any repose till to
25,001),000 were paid ? And in these latter
days, was not Texas annexed in spite of for
eign interference 1
But perhaps the feeble nature of our Govern
ment devclopes itself only at home. Well,
then, at home. Did it not quell a most porten
tous insurrection in Pennsylvania, and that, too,
while its powers were in their infancy, without
shedding a single drop of blood ? Did it not
in its full strength stifle South Carolina’s nulli
fleation scheme with a menace ? Did in not
easily crush a monster bank conspiracy ? and
finally, has it not recently, in scorn of domestic
opposition, added a new territory fo its own?
Should weakness in the.att of defence ever
be charged against it, the voices front English
graves throughout the country, honored wher
ever found, would induce many not to gainsay
the slander. And if its power of offence be
doubted or forgotten, not the whole ocean
alone, but your very channels, whose waves
almost kiss the lintels of your doors, could, if
their records were not written in water, bear
witness to its reality. The smoke, too, from
many a richly laden convoy was wafted too of-
ten, with a not sweet smelling savour, to the
nostrils of their armed but too distant guardi
ans. to convict the aggressors of iuoflensiveness.
As to the excitability of a population, no part
of which corresponds to the Engl sit mob or
the French r.anaillt, and to none of whose
members the common rudim< nts of education
are strange, if is vain to speculate on jts evil
results; for intelligence goes, band in hand
with it, and tho coo* calculating spirit of my
countrymen is a sufficient guarantee that it wifi
never lead them into danger.
Tried by the Procrustean standaid of Eu
rope, I doubt not that we should often be pro
nounced out of measure, and that even upon
the floor of Congress certain scenes might be
curtailed to advantage; but that “ one branch
most important legislative assembly of the new
world should listen with interest and excite
ment,” to our “ lunatic” ex-President’s most
original exhibition, ought no more to raise your
wonder, than that the House of commons should
be amused by a ludicrous description of a no
ble lord’s coul-hele escapade, or that it should
now and then uproarously cheer on “Young
England’s” champion, to badger a man who js
to him like Jupiter to a rejected satellite.
As in common with my countrymen here, !
no longer regard the Oregon question as a war
question, with your pernfissiop, l will add a
fine or two respecting what is described by you
to be the threatening state of our relations
wjth Mexico,” Your intelligent correspendent
in that unhappy country might have told you,
that as agaipst a more powerful antagonist it is
more helpless than a wuiling child, whether for
offence of defence, because it is like a “house
divided against itself;” that it .cap cq ntoye
prevent the flood of emigration from the State
ipto California, and its consequences, be they
what they may, than cop Id tho red man close
his forests against the inundation of the whites;
und that though it may declare war till it is
‘•‘hoarse with .calling,” it can never make it,
unless perchance, which f. do not suspect, some
European nations come to its aid, and then,
without time even to see the forecast shadqw
of comfiig events, one universal howl of war,
on both sides of the Atlantic, will for many a
ye?tr be .heard, smothering ip its ecfip the
voice of peace.
Our “democratic pretences,” J sincerely be
lieve, are entirely misunderstood in Europe,
especially as they regard territory. We want
none of your possessions; and Canada we
should be much less thankful for, than your
selves would be to get honorably rid of a colo
ny, which ,is ravenous as 51 horse-leach and un
grateful as its p\vn soil.
No ! pretences, unjust pretences, if they have
an existence, tipie wdl show that they are not
on pur side. But in the .eyes of some, .be.cau^e
we aro professed Republicans, and huv.ing pow
er to choose and use j 1 as seems to us b.est, .we
therefore, nnd our claims are nriogapce itself;
and, because we will not that Kings or Nobles
should have dominion over us ; we are fox that
reason “of the earth earthly, and op the high
road to anarchy and confusion. What is most
“strange and unnpHirai” is, that it is not those
Who are divine.ly hedged pbopt and stand .in
high places,,that are.in.generai our sclt-deluded
or ma.Iicipus traducers but mere men, un-no-,
hie and untitled rpep like ourselves, who, hav
ing sucked in with their mother’s milk an over-
weening reverence .fur rank, cannot bear to see
Others, yoid of sympathy for their weakness,
asserting and maintaining the dignity of 'their
.common nature.
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A “S'
arije <&totflfa StleftniDft.
MACON. TUESDAY MORNING. JUNEVn—-
1816.
W ASHING-T O'N VOID NTE G
A large number of the-young men 0 f t |,;
city, says the National Intelligencer of T| 1Ur ,
day last, have enrolled themselves, and be«n
accepted by the Government, as voIm]. eer j
for service in the Southern army, manv o( .
whom having left their ordinary etnploy menu
must depend on the public kindness fo,.
pecuniary aid until they are mustered into se r
vice.. It is hoped that the public liberality *i||
not be backward in an appeal of this sort anil
any contributions for the-object will be thank
fully received by the Mayor, and hamlelovrr
to the officers of the corps for distribution
THE REWARD OF MERIT.
The Union of Wednesday last says, Weur
derstand that, as soon as the- President of th #
United States received the official despaicl,*,
from General Taylor, he lost no time in testify
ing the high respect in which he holds the me
itorious services of that distinguished officer
In conformity with his wishes and his duly
he yesterday nominated to the Senate ofthe'
United States, to the rank of m *jor general by
brevet, in the army of the United States, Znch
ary Taylor, now a brevet bri gadier Eenera!
for his gallant conduct and distinguished j*,
vices in the successive victories over superior
Mexican forces at “ Phto /Vito,” and “ Resac*
de la Palma,” on the 8lh and 9ih days of M.iv
1846, to take rank as such front the last men.
lioned d; y. This nomination was im neiiately
and unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
We understand, also, that the Presidentoont-
inated Captain Walker, of the Texan ranger*
who has distinguished himself os several occa-
sions, and particularly in the manoeuvre and
actions on the Rio Grande, as n captain in
now regiment of dragoons. The reader trill
perceive, from the complete list cf appointmenti
in this corps, as published in the present nua-
ber of the Union, that Captain W.’» nomination
has this day been confirmed by the Senate.
The President of the United States tri?
take some early opportunity of testifying bit
high respect for other distinguished offieerj in
the army of General Taylor,
VIRGINIA I N T HE FIELD.
The “ warrior virgin goddess of republican
ism” has never been a laggard in any limsof
trial or danger. Large and enlliu-iastic meet,
ings have been held in Portsmouth, Norfolk,
Fredt ricksburg, Peteisburg, t.nd Rxlmtond,
at which patriotic addresses were made, wiiicb
were followed by large enrolments ofvoluuteen
for tho war against Mexico,
GEN. ARISTA.
It is stated that the chief in command of tba
Mexican Army on the Rio Grande, for several
years resided in Cincinnati, and carried on the
tinning business. He subsequently returned
to the city of Mexico, wlu re he pursued kit
trade industrionsly and successfully.
'* Unde r the garb of modesty and poverty k
concealed an ,ambitious spirit, His very sim
plicity of life saved hint front the effects ofjnl
ous and domineering rivaliy; but, in (hen.
pitement of wn r , lie was called forth to take
command of the Mexican Army. He nail
to be a mau of qualities yastly superior to tb»
of his countrymen.”
While the country is rejoicing at the Lure'
which our gallant little army has won, there it
not 3 brave or chivalrous heart in the Ud« I
that wjfi not drop a tear fur the fate of tk*
brave officer^ aud men who have shed their [
blood in ropefijog inyasjpn from A nericii)toil ]
The names of Ringgold, Bro^h, Cros-'i
Inge, and their bra ye compatriots =fijl C !?P I
islied with the warmest rpcqlkctiois, t»bi!r
patriotism animates the A m, - rlc * n heart? T“ [
death of these gallant officers have 0
Warm and eloquent notices dtroagko 111 &
Union. Of Major Ringgold the Pliilatlciphif
Gazette remark’s: h
Among the dead ia Major Ringgold. Hi» l’* 5 I
deeply deplored. He had acquired ard cseJ S rt>:
in the particular arnj to yrhich he gave nirnuon. •
nearly twenty years he h*a been b r *l>S in ? t * 1At V
aomethiag like perfection, and in almo?* it>« but ^ ^
fpr its use. he is struck down. Major K» w “ 1
Maryland, of the Eastern shore, we think, and he • ■
v#t rank. He was. ye believe, a near relative®
£adwalttder, of tbit city. .
The Philadelphia North America^ haath,e M*®"^ .
Major Ringgold.—The death of ICC0 fj tl „•
otEoer is a heavy lops to the country. He had
trusted with the revision of a system of tactics!^
and devoted much time and stvdy to improvi'tS u ^ tt ,
English acd French systems. His carps ^
pne as any service conld boast. He ftav** nn ■ ^
think, a \vutk which he wjs preparing ®t* .
practicability of the flying artiilery aft? jc, lef
Major R.’s constitution was much '-0*
STATES -MAN.
major M.. s constitution was mnw »e*r—•
campaigns in Florida, but passionately atu-., • ^ I
fessien of arm-, he alill remained in the irJ1 d j
tr.Rt tyr to his country. a,, j
His death haa stricken thousands o. nf » |
under the blow, with feelings wfiich 00 ® r “ , P't , J^ i ^t I
Utyntyeofld have excited. He was p**'? t ^.**1
appreciated in this city as the Bayard oi t. * - 1 - |
of the w ar; and his career was wa
an<* hearts. That it would be glorious
but who thought that an orb so bright wou 1 |
The soul of chivalry and honor, accompli* * ^
deity as a patriot, beloved as a man, it n ‘ ^ j^jfl
ing struggle r 10 rpnonetlp us to apoh * 1
it is a ru ble ore. In the flush of his fa® 8
he lived—for h>a country. Tho offering ,i(0‘|
glad one. ' He desired no brighter fate
^te could leave no rfeiterjtenMg®^ 1 "* 0 " fetara^l
•Whi)p sye feel as if ^eatiqy b«d ’ . w* I
fame which such a nature must 0,8®®^'" . I
repine^jt^t bia carper baa.bepn ctMeo., 1 ^, _ -
this sunburst of glory. His memory 1 h |
cherished so long as honor has a votary,
or hi» country a name.
M !•: NIC a N I. 0 A N t(; . \.-|
The Mexican Government, «*- e m H
York Tribune of'(be A 2th . ,nS ’ !ua n
to Loml'ai; V’*e*?*>£*Z
One °f,'...L-ers.P'*
Joan ^
agent tp Doncipp tp twj; , »..-- firnJ 0 f.
millions dollars. Otto o. i., n l;e(*»I
ning & Mc.Intosh, of Vera Cruz- ^ ^
ed through Ne>v York a fen f . ( pofl’si
way to England, via Bo^on.fof
' JYhjlc at Washington, ho ha^ 1
Sir. Pakenham, whu was lorniet ^ t . in • ■
ister at Mexico, and, from " - t!i
says the Tribune, there is no
oan will he obtained.
h