Newspaper Page Text
I'm: GEORGIA TELEGRAPH.
BY DA.1IIIKL J. BAY',
■l TV .ISO COUSTY PRINTER.
TKKMS Kit ihr paper ir. advance,per ana. Si 50
From the Philadelphia Norik American.
Southern Butiam amA M*ulhrrn Rail-rands.
On Friday, (t8lh April) we mado some notice of
tiro buiiui'fti of llio city of Charlestou, and stated
our intention to point out tlio advantages to bo de
rived to this city by the establishment of a lmo or
aleo'iiahipa of proper const ruction- to connect us
with that city, and, through' it, with the great
Southern Rail Hoads.
Frvmi information derived fronr various sources,
wo are led to ibsoouolusiuu that our business meu
aettoo fittlc in unison with each othur to obtain
unv great common- good. This is apparent from
tho tact, that they have neglected for so long- a
time to pruvidelhiwe facilities of travel and trans
portation to and front the South, which tho large
Ln.I excellent business of that section uf tho repub
lic deserves, and w liieli would bo so profitable to
thmn. The commerce of tho South has ohvays
been desirable; but since tho extension of tho Kail
lioadb of t'lii olhia and Georgia into regions further
west, it h is become much more so, as it is couuec-"
MACO N
Tl'KSDAY .1IORMK<>. .MAY !A3, I84S.
Contents of to-day's first i*aoe.—Correspon
dence between Gen. Scott and Secretary Marcy.
i'oetry—-Mother, Home and Heaven—to the op
pressed Irish-—Miscellaneous.
To Con res ro.vD ents.—"Sparlacus,” "Zac” and
••Lowndes,” are crowed out this morning by tho
great length of the Correspondence between Gen.
Scott and tho Secretary of War. They shall have
a place in oar next.
£?* We arc iuddbteil to Hon. J. C. Calhoun of
South Curolina, and Hon H. V. Johnson oftliia
State, for copics of Mr. Butler’s report, made in be
half of the Judiciary Committee, of the Senate to
whom were referred certain resolutions of the
Legislature of Kentucky in favotir of tho passage
of a law by Congress to enable citizens of slavc-
holdihgStatcs to recover slaves, wben escaping in
to non-slaveholding States.
The proceedings of tho Democratic mecl-
'* ing at Spring I’laco, Murray county, were received
£z ,o ° iat ° rorini = rtioniuu,isTbeysi, “ n
i situated. An effort, therefore,- at .this time | appear m onr next,
to obtain, or connect with, the business of tho
South, i* also au effort to retain tho \\ estern busi
ness, which i* now about to (low, over the South
ern Kail Roads, to. and through-, the port of Char
leston, and from thence to such northern cities ns
may be connected with- Charleston by reliable
steatn-packcl lines. ,
We believe that fo w of our business readers have
made themselves thoroughly acquainted with
these arterial Kail Komis of the South, and there
fore we lav a rapid sketch before them. From
Charleston there is a direct road to Augusta, Go.,
and from thence to a continuous line, through
lioorgM, to Chattanooga, in Tennessee—in all n-
liout four hundred uud fifty miles. This is the
Western aud Atlautic road, and over it pass the
uutiro productions and supplies of South Carolina
aQd Northern Goorgia. Nor is this all; for at Chat
tanooga, it reaches tho waters of the Tenuousee
river, navigable thenco by steamboats about one
hundred and fifty miles up to Kuoxville. From
Chattanooga downwards this river i t also naviga
ble to Decatur, Alabama, where begins the Decs*
tur and Tuscuiubia Rail Road. By the uso of ibis
rood tho diilicnlty of thu impassable MuscleSboals,
in tho Tennessee river, is avoided. At, the Tus-'
cumbia landing, the free navigation of the river
again commences, and continues uninterrupted
(except at very low stages of water, at the Wuter-
loo Shoals, about twenty utiles^ below Florence,)
to ilsjunctiuu with the Ohio river—a distance of
nearly six hundred miles—-which, with that to
Knoxville, makes about seven buudred and fifty
miles uf river navigation, running through one of
the most productive and well-peopled sections of
the L’uiua, and where, too, a most extensive busi
ness has hitherto been done with l'hiladelpbia.
By this route. Bast Tennessee and tho Western
district of Teuncsseo can now be reached from
New Fork by her steamships to Charleston, in a
shorter time, and at less expense, than from Phila
delphia, by any reliable modo of conveyance
which the latter city has at her command. Tho
rich central district’of Tennessee, and tho lower
oouuties of Kentucky, are soon also to-be connect
ed with this route by a Kail Road, now under pro-
uess of couutructiou, from Chattanooga to Nash
ville; the stock-in this road has been subscribed for
by the State* of Tennessee and South Carolina, ami
it is contemplated to have the road completed in
about two years. Another road has been project
ed from Tuscnmbia to Memphis, ou the Mississippi
river, a distance of about one httudrod and twenty
miles. Forty-two-miles of this latter road from
Men>|>bis to Lagrange, are graded. The whole of
this ro id will not be made at an early day, but it
will ultimately be completed. This upper Geor
gia and Carolina-road, therefore, well deserves the
name of Il'estera and Atlantic, fur- it completely
taps, at several points, tho stupendous resources of
the great Western or Mississippi valley. Nor is it
this alone that it reaches; for. m Carolina, the road
branches of!* to Columbia, frdfc which- two other
roads take their starting point, one to Charlotte, N.
C., which will ultimately be carried to tho South
ern line of Virginia; the other direct to Greenville.
S. C.. and thence to the most western portion of
North Carolina. Tho business on tho mam stem,
or Western and Atlantic, is already great; but.
when its continuations and branches are completed
it will be vast indeed.
The other great line of Rail Road begins at Sa
vannah and runs westward to Macon,—thenco to
Atlanta; where it joins tho Western and Atlantic.
At Atlftnts.it tunw oottibwnni ft— Al
abama. Tho distance of eighty miles, between
West Point and Atlanta, is all that is unfinished of
tbit "Central Kail Koad”—the name which it
takes from running through Middle Georgia It
is to be united with tho Western & Atlautic, as be
fore mentioned, at Atlanta, and also with a road
from Augusta, intersecting it a point near Horse
Greek. When the eighty miles from Atlnuta to
West Poiut shall be completed, a direct Rail Road
line will be established to the navigaole waters of
tho Alabama river, at Montgomery, from both
Charleston and Savannah, and this road is also to
be extended in a line due West from Montgomery
to Vicksburg. The means for completing tbisroad
havo boon supplied by a grant from Congress of
each alternate section of laud over which the road
pas-es. The charter for a road from Montgomery
to Mobile has been obtained, and part of the stock
subscribed. But a connection of still greater im
portance is in progress. A road starting from Ma-
con, in Georgia, is now under construction through
Fort Gaines to Pensacola; it is to be extended
northward to the Western and Atlantic, at Madi
son. The stock has all been subscribed and tho
work is going on with groat rapidity. Whcncom-
pletcd, New Orleans will be forty hours travel
from Savannah: or, branching to Madison, and
thenco by the Western and Atlantic, but forty
three hours from Charleston. If our merchants a*
vail themselves of tho liberal charter of the At
lautic Steam Navigation Company, and place upon
this route sure and safe steamships, the travel from
New Orleans to Philadelphia may bo accomplished
is ninety one hours. If they do not, Now York wiil
be only ninety-seven hours from New Orleans,
while‘.ro remain at tho old nine days—end uneer-
1a not that—unless we shall bo-willing to'render
ourselves still further tributary, and receive even
shipments from New Oilcans through tho latter
city.
The Central Georgia road, -when-complete, in-
rhtdiug its two great branches, the oue to Vicks
burg, the elites to Pensacola, will open an exteut
uf trade and travel hitherto unknown upon any
otto line. Tho-ono running -due West to Vicks-
burg, passes through the central cotton growing
rogiou of tiie-United States, and affords n means of
transiKirtation- avoiding tho difficulties and dan
gers os well os the losa of limo of the sea route a-
round the Florida Beefs and through ‘ the Bahama
channel. Thu. other terminating at Pensacola,
gives an inland transit to the trade of tho Gulf of
Mexico, which, already great iu extent, must be
still further extended by the increasing trade with
Mexico, Yucatan, Cubu, aud-other West India Isl
ands.
Brief and Condensed as our -sketch necessarily
has beeti, it cannot fail, wo fancy, to conviuce every
thinking business limn of tho absolute nexessity that
now exists for putting our city into free nml rapid
rumnr.iuicalion, by ilia aid of a lino-offirstclass
steam ships, with Charleston,—and. as soon after
wards as pussibin, with Savannah- It is useless to
wait for further developments of tho-course - of
trade and-travel; enough has already been shown,
in-tho experience of tnu lust few seasons, to es
tablish lliu fact, that much of the business which
Philadelphia once enjoyed, is leaving her,—not
from any dissatisfaction on tho part of customers
with her merchants,—not from want of tneaunof
supply,—but solely from want of transporting fa-
ciiuiri to tho Sonth. It‘is suicidal to neglect thu
difficulty longer.
No merchant or business man should be'so'de*
pendent upon the judgment of others as -to woit to
see what bis neighbor will do ; before doing him
self—or to cry lor help from that maginary. Her
cules, the ‘property iioUler,” before putting his
own shoulder to tbo-w hue). Tho moans to ac-
complish this end rest* with business mon—it is
within thomsolves. A joint effort, a-common union
in-tlie-coiiiiu<>n--CBUso, a "poll all together” wiH
enable them, at but u cntaH outluy, to establish
Steamship lines to every homo )>ort of importance
—aud toBuropealso,-if llioy will,'' But, first ofall,
let them unito in tho-colerprizo most needed—a
line of steam vessels to Charleston, of such n char
acter a« will make-them sure, »ud safe,' and rapid
vehicles for transportation of life anil cargo, under
all circumstances,—that tbey may be certain of at
tracting to our city travellers ami traders from all
Juu ts of Hie South accessible to the stupendous im
provement* now, and about to be, in existence.——
finlfer this, the only assured means of retaining tho
trade \vo (Missesa, lobe neglected for one or two
years longer, nod tbo current will set away from
US, cutting lor itself a now and deep channel—
ocean deep—from which it can novel- again be di
verted towards Philadelphia.
Ora; Scett cad Mr. Marcy.
We insert to-day according to promise, the let
ter of Gen. Scott aud the able reply of tho Secre
tary of War, lately made public by a resolution of
Congress. The long, eminent and fuilbful services
rendered the country by Gen. Scott, in tbo army—
his indomitable bravery and bis ardent and devot
ed love of country, have made us at all times since
lio took the chief command cf our artny in Mexico,
reluctant to uttera word, that coold be 'even un.
fairly construed into a disparagement of his great
merits as an officer or his character as n man.—
This has been the feeling of the whole country aid
his best friends must in candor admit, that tl«
coarse Gen. Scott has taken himself has placet
him in a worse position before tho country, than
be could bave been made to occupy by bis ene
mies, even admitting that there are those ebfiiicct-
ed with tho administration at Washington, that
stand in-that relation to him, which we deny, aud
which tlte country will be slow to believe unloss
better proof is brought forward to establish the
fact, than nuy that has yet been submitted to the
public. But it is not our purpose to remark at
length updu this correspondence. The readerwill
require uo promptings from-urlo guide hhn in his
opiuions of the merits of this controversy. The
letter of Mr. Marcy, we are sure, will be read by
every friend of the administration throughout the
couutry with the deepest iuterest. It is a full,
frank and unanswerable defence of tlie President
aud Secretary of War, against tbo thousand and
one petty attacks wbicb bare been modo from
time to time upon them by their opponents; with
respect to tho state of affairs in Mexico, and the
management of the war generally. Let every
friend of-the administration read this correspon
dence. * '
Centra! Course.
We own an apology to onr sporting friend j for
crowding out ofonr two last issues, tho following
notice of the Races over this Coarse the first or
the present month. Tbeso races afforded great
amusement, and the appointments’ in eVeiy re
spect were such, as reflected great credit ou the en
terprising aud gentlemanly proprietors: •
First Dat—Tuesday, May 2—Proprietors Purse;
$109’ nwte heats.
Lewis Lovel’s Bay Filly by Gdno, dam
-Sdl/ MeGftuv, 6 years old, 11
J. F. Dovers’ sorrel filloy Peggy Mor
gan by Traveller, dam Collier by Le
viathan, 4 years old, ' 2 2
Leroy Napiers grey gelding-Jumping*
Rabbit, 6 years old, by Emerald, dam
Sir Andrew Mftorc, 3 3 ;
Time, first heat, 1,56—second 2,02.
Second Dat—Wednesday, May 3—Proprietor’s
Purse $300—two mile beats.
I- Tavftl'ft Irnrft* U*-lg!*y. i
years old, sired by Leviathan, dam
Roivlan, 1 t ‘
J. A. Ealston’s filly Sally Eubanks, sir
ed by Couut Zauldcrer, dam Bonny
Bcfs, • 2 with’n
Sally Eubank was very yonng, not trained and
scarcely broken, and was withdrawn after the first
beat.
Third Dat—Thursday,May 4—Proprietor’s parse
$600—threo mile heats.
L. Lovell’s cb Mare by Boston, dam by
Emily, 6 years old, III-
Dr. II. K. Burroughs’ !> m Miss Chase,
5 years old, by steel, dam Sally Eu
banks, 2 2 2
Time, first heat 2,05—second 2,03—third 2,09.
Fourth Dat—Friday, May 5—best 3in 5—Pro
prietor’s purse $200, and silver cup worth $50
to second best—mile heats.
M. M. Healey’s Don Gannon, 4 yean
old by Emerald, dam Sarah Sheer-
wood, 3 3 2 2
S. Napier’s s * Putnam, 7 years old by
Emerald, out of dam by Monsieur
Touson, 1 2 w’d
L. Lovell’s mare Sally Peyton, 6 years
old by imported Peyton, dam , 2 111
Time, first beat 1,57—second 1,55—third 2,08—
fourth 2,10.
Mr'. Napier’s horse Putnam, received an iqjury
from one of his shoes in running tbo second heat
anil was withdrawn.
Firm Dat—Saturday, Mny 6—Propriotor’spurao
$150—handicap ono mile heats.
Dr. H. K. Burroughs' b in Miss Chase.
5 years old by Steel, dam Sally Eu
banks, 1 1
J. F. Dovers’ s f Peggy Morgan by Tra
veller, dam Collier by imported Le
viathan, 2 2
Time, first hent 1,56—second 2.01.
Reuse tor Yucatan.—Col King whose move
nieuta ut New-York to raiael,000vOmuleera for the
uuf ill Yucatan, wo have before noticed, states
tlir.t hi. project has met with great cncourage-
t.-ieol ; over fiOO applicants having been euro led.
He u. forced to wait the answer from Govcrti-
Ricn; .j. regard to their acceptance of volunteers.
£ Halt. Sun.
Important from Mexico—No prospect of pence.
By the arrival at New Orleans, on the 18th inst.
of the schr. Velasco, from Vera Cruz, which place
she left on tho 8th instt, the Delta learns that it was
reported at Vera Cruz, and generally believed there
that the Congress at Qticrctaro had dispersed with
out acting on tho Treaty ; and it was universally
admitted by all classes, Mexicans and Americans,
that there would be no peace, but that the Ameri
cans would have cither to occupy the whole coun
try, or to retire from - it culirely. The Velasco
brought no other news of importance.
Nash villi and Caattanooga'Bailroid.—■'We"
aro pleased to leant, says the Charleston Mercury
i of Saturday last, that the Board of Directors of the
Central Railroad Company of Georgia have agreed
to recommend to the Stockholders a subscription
of $250,000 to the stock of tho. Nashville and Chat
tanooga Railroad Company. This makes up the
j one million dollars required by the conqiaiiy from
the States of Goorgia and Sonth Carolina, and in
sures tbo-completion of tho work. Mr. Stevenson,
the-Presidenl of tbe-Road, left this city yesterday
for Nashville, and from bis known energy and per
severance, and the great interest,which he feels in
tho early completion of the road, we have every
assurance that operations upon it will bo pushed
with all practicable celerity- -
Tin Caledonia.—The steamship -Caledonia,
with seven days’later intelligence from Europe,
was Telegraphed at Boston-on Sunday-morning,
though up to- the hour of going to press, we are
without our regular Despatches. As soon as,we
receive them, l wo will forward tbo - new* to our
readers in an Extra. •
We bave also made arrangements to bare the
procccdiug*.of the Democratic Convention, asscm*
bled at Baltimore yesterday, fur the selection of a
candidate for l’resident aud Vice (’resident, for*
warded by Telegraph, aud we will lose no time iu
placing tbo-result ot iu deliberations before our
readers. Our first despatches will be due this day.
T Ye Drkalc in the desalt.
Iu onr lost we gave our readers the conclusion
! of the discussion in the Senate, touching the bill
! introduced by Senator Hale. We have purposely
omitted auy particular notice of this important
debate, that our readers might quietly digest it
for themselves, and without any suggestious from
us determine its import.
In the whole history of tho abolition movement,
the South has been obliged to feel, that it bail to
act in vincules—that we were obliged to occupy
that dubious and awfully responsible position of
defendiog ofonr lives and liberties, and of conser
vators or this Union at the same time. All along
we havo been too well convinced, that we had te
provide for an impending trouble—a great trou
ble—yet utterly perplexed as to the means. Aud
the South has had bad counsellors—whose course
has not been ono whit less baneful than outright
treason. As tho controversy would be agged on
through the verriest fools sport, we have been told
to keep cool aud hold our temper. When this
gaino sport would become too much like death to
us, to trifio with any longer, and something must
be done, we were then met by men at home with
their poor spirited remedy of "concession and com
promise.” Aud it has got to this at last, that our
best friends (because onr readiest, our boldest and
truest) havo to bear tho reproach from Southern
men,of being hot brained enthusiasts about to
ruin us, by their ultraisms. Well may tho West
ern Continent say that the South hag more now to
fear from Southern men than from the whole world
besides. Senator Douglass is a Democrat, but we
confess our blood boiled on reading his cold blood
ed taunts against the South, for our management
of this difficulty and his pseudo opposition to our
enemies. But then so' far as such disgusting levity
as we had from this worthy Scnatorcould be com
pensated for, it was done by Senator Hancgan of
Indianna. Here is a man who is not ashamed to
say he has feelings—who does not think himself
disparaged or his dignity belittled because bis
mind sometimes confesses to alarms. Thtscandid
and upright man 1ms not seen bis thrift in educat-
big all honest sympathies out of his heart
<V like the despicable Carkcr, in complacently
slewing his teeth at all times and on all occasions.
Bet it is the pride of bowo wen to torlnre them
selves body and 6dal, into a shape as little like that
Gbdgave' them as {>os6iblc. A ntan is a fool, or
worst, a Judas, who will tell us of the South, you
do wftmg to feel so ardently, or express your
self so strongly upon the subject of abolition.—
What will do lliesii gentlemanly cool and self-pos
sessed worthies! If we trust to the sense ofjustice
at the Ninth, or to this love of constitutional anion
which it (right to feel, the first thing we know our
mails are Died with all sorts of incendiary stuff)
addressed tothoseof the blacks who can be affect
ed by them; and if we meet this instant, deadly
danger in a summary way, why, some man like
Douglass criel out, from tbo high place he dis
honors, thet e, by that intemperate, crazy piece of
fanaticism, yot have made fee thousand abolition
votes. If we speak of organizing against the ma
lign spirit—why, the caution is always' ready,
take care what you are doing, tis you of the South
aud you alone, that arc giving this mad sect all
their influence, at the North wo understand them,
and no one regards them. Yet, these very men
bid high for their iuflneuco at tho Presidential
elections—tbey huld the balance of power—sucb
men as Seward and Slade fraternize with them—
such as Webster dare not attack or disarm them,
and numbers of every party, with tho entire Whig
strength at the North wish for tho manumission of
our uegroee. Though our very lives firit are at
stake—and that which ns freemen, we must re
gard asdear aslife,onr liberty, our social and po
litical equality, still these sapieut and apathetic
dead beads are eternally crying out to us, steady,
keep cool, see how calm wo are! Well may they
be calm and keep so, when they at a great dis
tance see the battle and tbo red sky; and b&ve not
(Uo gnttful ofUiiug of a little sympathy to troublo
them. For our part we do confess we feel just as
indignant at the conduct of these men from the
free States who thus address us, or at the course of
Southern men who are etcfnally harping about
"concession and comprbtnise,” os wo do at tho
diabolical hostility of abolitionists themselves.
We are managing this whole tbmg wrong aud will
forever do so/till we take counsel from ourhesrts
and from the exigency that presses upon ns. So
long as a Southern politician of any influence or a
newspaper, will speak with a lackidasical, humble
minded gratitude for the efforts (such as they are)
of Northern men iu our behalf, just so lung will we
be weak, dependant and contemptible. We ask
nothing of Northern politicians hut to stick to the
bond,to let ns alone, they and their people. How
dare they deny this! What power has surrendered
us to their keeping? Do wo ask for immunities from -
a danger or a trouble, that our compact has not
long ago provided for? And must we on our knees
thank God as some of ua bave done, that with all
the right on onr side, some one or two from the
uon-slaveholding States have not troubled us, and
bare told others they had not best'do ‘so too. For
shame, this sort of pluck wont do to trust, when
the torch of abolition shall bo brandished in our
faccs.Thcre is one way aud bat one way to kill this
reptile. We may ‘scotch’ it many ways bat never
utterly exterminate it, till we fight this devil with
fire.Tbcso men are gathering strength with the force
aud celerity of tho rolling snow boll, and union has
mado this band not once so large as a corporal’s
guard, now so strong as to shnke the very pillars of
the constitution. Indeed it is tho only faction that
has as yet, dared openly to set this matchless instro
incut at defiance. Let us too uuite iu a league of
life and death—having but oneoim—ono idea—one
strong wish to kill from this land tho wliolo breed
of political abolitionists. If corruptly and against
the constitution, they havo done so much evil—
surely for God and the conutiy and for the sake of
tho constitution, we may do much good. Let us
as a political party mako ourselves absolutely in-
dcspcusable as a pro-slavery party, to any Presiden
tial candidate for the next fifteen years. This may
seem A long timo, but no longer than since Mr.
Pinckney’s resolutions,and yetan abolition debate
has already disgraced tbo U. S. Senate. Thank
God (and not northern politicians) the stress of
political matters is now off our Shoulders—finance
and revenue havo been filially adjusted and we
may go to work to meet this greatest trouble that
affects these States. There is but one sort of man
that stands in the- way—be who is filling his own
nest so well that let what will * come he is provid
ed for. Tis hard for these sort of men to spoil for
country or anything else, their ‘ nicely concerted
plans. Tho people need not expect' to Inarch on
by their-help, not with them, but over them. Let
us the people rally, self marshalled let ns meet the
crisis, for if we wear chains they are to have no
gildmg ou them.
FBOH WASHINGTON
[CORRESPONDENCE OF THE GEORGIA. TELEGRAPH.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 15tb, 1848.
Delegates to the Baltimore Convention are al
ready pouring in upon us in considerable numbers,
More <>r less from Indianna, Illinois, Missouri.
Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Lou-
isianna, Alabama, Georgia aud North Carolina are
here or havo been here within the last three or
four days. I am most happy to be able to write,
that as far as I can perceive au excellent feeling
prevails, there being & general inclination to con
cession where matters of principle are not involv
ed; and as prevalent adisiuclinationto admit among
the subject matters to be discussed in the Conven
tion, questions likely to have a disorganizing ten
dency. It is no longer to be doubted therefore,
that ultraisms comiog from what quarter they
may, will be scouted out as they should be, if at
tempted to be introduced.
Y’ou will perceive, that a new candidate for the
favor of tne Convention, has spruug up in tho per
son of General Worth. However, in thus charac
terising him, I do tho gallaut Genorul injustice
Though his admirers would suggest his name, ho
expressly declines the honor of a canvass before tho
Convention, aud on grounds which must strike
every sensible and patriotic man as eminently pro
per. It is hardly possible that his name may be
introduced into the Convention.
There will undoubtedly bo a very large con
course at Baltimore, several thousands of our po
litical friends, not delegates, attending from the
love they bear the good old causo of Jeffersonian
Democracy. I think I may with safety write you
that no effort will be mado to conciliate tho un
sound porliun of tho party in the State of New
York. It being conceived that these pooplo wilt
bo content with nbthiug less than a sacrifice of
principle. Their threats instead of operating as
intended, have gone very far to satisfy all that their
claim to admission into tbo Couveutiou must be
slight indeed, or the effort to brow-beat tho Na
tional Democracy into affiliation with them would
hardly havo been essayed. Heretofore it was
thought that tho leaders of this faction were sus
tained by a very considerable portion of the party
in the State. They havo assuredly blustered
themselves out of the advantage, which the longer
existence of that opiuiou would have been to them.
Their plans for a general disorganizing abolition
missionary movement, immediately after the nom.
ination is mado at Baltimore aro already knawn
here, and this knowledge only goes to strengthen
the growing impression, that they should by all
means be sent forth on this errand of mischief,
shorn of tho prestige of an acknowledgement by
tho Convention, that they have any claim to be re
garded as part and parcel of thu great National
Democratic party.
The I.ouiaiauna Delegation to the Federal Con-
vention aro virtually instructed for Clay, not for
Taylor. They certainly so consider themselves.
This fact transpired here yesterday morning, and
coming on the back of tho action of tho Maryland
State Convention, worries expediency not a little
Indeed, the General’s case which began to look
up under the effect of the Allison letter, is consid
ered in Federal Congressional circles, more des
perate just now, than at auy former period. The
Baltimore Convcntion.or meeting endorsed in the
very last published letter with so mncli gusto; was
strictly a no party affair, the members thereof be
ing oue and all, either tvoru out or cast off demo
crats and federalpscuds-le-dcrs, or men who have
rarely rotedat two consccntive'gcneral elections
on the same side. Had this letter seen tho light
before the meeting of the recent federal Conven
tion at Baltimore,' there would hardly havo been
ten votes pollod for the General, 60 exceedingly
unpalatable to the Whig party proper are the
members of the gathering whoso principles (or
want of them) the General endorses with such
hearty good will.
Tho circumstance next to be inquired into by
the Court Martial in sessiou in Mexico, will prove
far more iuteresting to the conntiy, than tho
squabbles among onr officers which, so far, have
formed the subject matter of the investigations.
This relates to Gen. Scott’s offer to bribe Santa
Anna, which it has become the duty of the Govern
ment for the sake of Scott, the General officers
serving under him, and for its own security, to
bo probed to the bottom. I trust the General
may pass the ordeal unscathed; and such I know
to be the earnest desire of all oar political friends
here, who iu spite of his pre-eminent silliness in
all matters not directly connected with field opera
tions, and hit persevering efforts to detract from
the administration, by way of makiog political cap
ital for himself aro kindly disposed towards him.
Nothing of interest marked this day’s session of
the Houso. Tbo attraction was iu the Senate
Chamber, where the Yucatan question is under
discussion. SY’LVfAS.
VROmC KEtV-YORK
[CORRESPONDENCE OF THE GEORGIA TELEGRAPH.]
NEW YORK, May 15,1848.
The English Steamers arrive weekly now with
the regularity of a Hudson—river boat, and keep
us so well supplied with the European news, that
our quid uuncs have but little else to do, than dis
cuss the politics of England and France. We are
in the position of an athlete who has distanced all
his competitors in a race and having arrived at the
end of the course turns quietly round to watch the
progress of those whom he has left behind him.—
We are looking on with an eager curiosity, to see
all the nations of Europe trying to come up with us
in tlie race for republicanism. Excepting France
they aro all yet a long way behind us. The Cam
bria arrived yesterday nionting (Sunday about 6
o’clock, in season to get out Extras before all the
good people were in church, and it is not impro
bable that the thoughts ofa good many devout wor
shippers were running off during service to tho
markets of London and Havre. The Commercial
News by this arrival is regarded in a favor
able light und its tendency has been to give an
upward tendency to money stocks and mer
chandise. Notwithstanding the difficulties in
French Commerce, a new and splendid ship has
been added to the line of Havre packets. This is
tho ship St. Denis, a magnificent vessel of a thou
sand tons, belonging to Boyd &. Ilicken. She sails
to day with a few passengers, some specie, and a
very little freight. Great opportunities are afford
ed for speculators who have the courage to avail
themselves of tho present condition of affairs in
France. Tho interruptions to the Manufacture of
Cotton goods iu that country by tlie revolution, the
transhipment of Cotton from Havre, on account
of the failure of tho houses to which it was con
signed, must causo tho demand fur our staples to
be unusually active, and lead to a real advanco in
prices some two months hence, when tranquility
will he restored and the new order of things will
begin to be assimilated to the natural course of
trade. People aro not going to abandon the use
of French goods, because the nation has become a
Republic, neither are the people going to abandon
their customary trades or neglect their immense
industrial resources because they are no longer
ruled by a King. Tho recent accounts from France
show that the people of that country are just as
fond cf shows, of parades and fetes as ever. They
will continue to get up the most gorgeous specta
cles, to make tho best perfumery, the best cham
pagne, to invent the most attractive fashions, and
write the most romantic fictions of any people of
tho world in spite of their republicanism, their
Louis Blancs and their Ledru Rollins.
Mekrt England.—The Queen’s household
cost the mournful denizens uf merry England ono
$.’>,000,000 a year; each oflier children draw* ft50,-
00U, and Kins William’s widow is a pensioner to
tho fortune of ’ *
000,000, and
Port-au Piunce.—Recent accounts from' Haytj
respecting thecity of Port Au Trince as being in a
Stale of fearful insurrection and massacre, The"
contest seems to be between the black and yellow
population, and extenuation of each other appears
to be their fixed resolve. One account represents
over two hundred persons killed in ono day, an
other places it at ono hundred, The British Con
sul at Port-an Prince has called upon the Commo
dore of the’station for tho presence of a vessel of
war to protect the-lives aud interest of British
merchants and other subjects there.
Death-or an Editor.—The Rich mend Whig
of Tuesday lost, announces the death, iu that city,
the day previous, of Richard H. Toler, Esq-, late
senior Id itor of that paper. Mr. Toler was-aman
of commanding talents, and of irreproachable cha
racter. His death -will be a severe loss not only
to his party, but to his State generally'.
CP“Rev. Doctor Stevens of Athens in this State,
if a million ; the public debt is $800,-, has accepted a call to St. Andrews’ Church Phila- I Whiggery may ask what i
the yearly expenditures #-’76,000,000. j delphia, and wiil enter upon his duUcs in August. I more Republican.
Slarrrr in Kentucky.
Mr. Clay’s shameful abandonment of tho South
on the Wilmot Proviso, in his Lexington speech,
meets with much favor from the Whigs of Kentucky.
They openly avow themselves in favor of the abo
lition of slavery and for tho Wilmot Proviso. At a
meeting held by Mr. Clay’s friends on tho 25th ulL
at Louisville, to promote his nomination by the
1’liiladelphia Convention, one. of the orators, Mr.
Thruston, is reported in the Louisville Democrat to
havo uttered the following language:
"Tho slavery question, said Mr. Thruston, is to
be the question, paramount to all others, in the
November contest. Mr. Clay has laid au anchor
to windward on that subject at tlio North. He is
Kith the IVilmot proviso men, and all the eastern and
northern free States Kill go for him. He is for the
abolition of slavery; and, said Mr. Thruston, with
emphasis, I prayGod, that when our constitution
is amended, it may bo soamended ns to abolish this
curse from tho suil of Kentucky 1”
There can bo littlo doubt that Mr. Thruston lias
told tho truth. Mr. Clay “is with tho Wilmot pro
viso men,” nnd will bo supported by them in pre
ference to Gen. Taylor, or any other man sound on
that question. Tho Whigs of Cincinnati recently
nominated Mr. Clay, nnd at tlicsamo meeting pass
ed a resolution that they would support no man for
President who is not opposed to the further exten
sion of slavery, or in other words in favor of tho
principles of the Wilmot Proviso. This Clay avow
ed at Lexington, and hence the anxiety* evin
ced in the free States for his nomination. If
hois the nominee of tho Whigs, we shall witness a
spectacle degrading and disgraceful to the South.
Wesballseea Southern man and a slaveholder
sustained for President by men who would submit
To a dissolution of- this Union rather than to tho
principles of tho Proviso, and yet who qdvocato
the election of a man who has thrown himself into
the arms of Wilmot himself.—Floridian.
(From the Albany Couritr, May 19.)
Anoth er Tragedy.—Ou Friday last a fatal ren
counter took'place at Starkville, Lee county, be
tween Dr. E. V. Monroe, mid Jas A. Macon,
which resulted in thu immediate death ofthe lat-
ter.
HftVing hnd a previous difficulty, they met at a
storein the village, both armed; Dr. Monroo with
a shot gun, and Macon with a rifle. On discover
ing eacnotlier, they simultaneously; levelled their
pieces, and Dr. Monroe getting tho fire. Macon
received the charge in his breast, made a few steps
forward, fell and expired immediately. ’
Dr. Monroo has suri’eudered himself to the civil
authorities and all his case will undergone judicial
investigation, we deem it proper to refrain from
any remark. -
Early Cotton:—Mr. Dokes, haring charge of
Mr. Walker’s plantation has left at our office a cot
ton bloom and boll which he says opened on the
8lh inst.—Ibid.
ly Tbo Whig politicians, both in aud out of
Congress declare the Mexican war to be ‘‘unjust,
unrighteous, aud infunaous,” aud yet they are al
ways foremost in voting gold medals to the two or
three Whig officers who have taken part in prose
cuting that war, and many of Iheni talk of making
Taylor or Scott President for it. Now, if they
really believe in what they say of the war, consis
tency requires them to denounce their Whig Gener
als for not resigning their coraumuds in preference
to invading Mexico, aud to seek to elevate to the
Presidency that Whig wild has been loudest in
condemning that invasion! They speak of the war
as one of the greatest national crimes oil record,
and yet boast that whigs, (Taylor aud Scott,) havt
been the most successful prosecutors of that war,
and seek to heap upon them all kinds of honors!
Consistency may well ask what is Whiggery—and
is consistency—Balls-
Every European packet that leaves hero takes
out a large quantity of specie, bat this will soon bo
coming back,to pay for the Cotton and Corn which
must go forward to feed tbo operatives and keep
the mills of both France and England in motion.
The Taylor party in New York, are in high spir
its atlho prospects of the nomination of old Rough
and Ready by tho Philadelphia Convention in
June. Very little doubt is now felt that he will
bo tlie choice of tho Whigs, if not ou their first
balloting, at least oo their second. There is some
talk about the Whigs taking up Scott, and tho "Ex
press” and Tribune bave both declared that they
should prefer him to Taylor, but there is no chance
of his receiving tho vote of a single State in Con
vention. Tho avowed Taylor papers in New Y'ork
are the Courier & Enquirer, Journal of Commerce,
Evening Mirror, and Morning Star; tlie Express
and Tribuue are the ohly clay organs, bat they will
support General Taylor if he should be nominated
by the Convention; the Commercial Advertiser is
inclining to Webster, but will go lor the regular
nominee; tho True Sun is the only administration
paper in New York, it is a penny paper, has been
recently purchased by its present Editor who used
to conduct a country paper, has no great circula
tion, but little influence, and will support any man
that the Baltimore Convention may nominate. The
Evening Post and Globe are botli anti-slavery pa
pers, aud although reckoned among the admiuis-
tration journals are, in truth in the opposition, they
are the organs of the Barn-buruere and will oppose
the election of any Anti-Wilmot Proviso man. Tho
Sun is neutral, but generally supports tlie adminis
tration let who will ho in power. It is anti-Whig
without being pro-anytbing else. The Herald is
nothing in particular politically justuow it is play
ing to Scott, bat it changes front six times a
week, and is about as reliable as a weathercock,
on political opinions. It is always true to itself,
howerer, aud it readers, giving them always the
full value of their two cents iu reading. The Globe
and Post are strongly tinctured wjth Taylorism,
and will support him, as I said before, if the Balti
more Convention should nominate an Anti-Wilmot
Proviso man, as it undoubtedly will. The force of
tho press in New York is decidedly in favor of
Taylor, while the only decided opponent of him
is the Tribune. Oue of Tammany Hall leadets
told mo that it was already settled that Wolkerand
Dix would be the nomineesxif the Baltimore Con
vention. That would be a very 6trong ticket be
yond a question, but Woodbury aud Walker would
be a much stronger one. The weakest ofall the
Democratic candidates is Cass, who appears to have
tbo strongest chance fora nomination. But another
week and the long agony will bo over. Tho ques
tion of the next presidency will be settled in Balti
more, by a packed assembly. Tho people delude
themselves with the belief that they enjoy the high
privilege of electing their chief magistrate; whereas
they only have tho privilege of electing which of
two candidates they will put into power. The peo
ple of South Carolina and a majority of the South'
cm States have for nearly a quarter of a century
desired to pfaco John (L Culliouu in the presiden
tial chair, aud if they had been true to themselves
and given their votes for him their'wishes would
long since have bceu gratified. But they deferred to
a Convention, und sacrificed their wishes to expe
diency. 1 hopo that South Carolina will be consis
tent with her resolves and keep out of the Conven
tion this year. I never could understand why the
election ofa president by the House of Representa
tives should be regarded so suspiciously by the peo-
ple, to select a chief magistrate out of three or four
candidates, than to slavishly follow the dictates'of
a Convention of irresponsible men, who are elect
ed without any constitutional authority, and who
consult their own interests more than tho will of
tho people in nominating a candidate for their suf
frages.
The anniversaries have passed nnd the city is free
again from the irruption of white crarats which
visited it last week. Prominent among the socie
ties that made a demonstration «t the Tabernacle
was the American Anti-Slavery Society, with Gar
rison at tbe'bcnd. Their chairman was Frederick
Duglas, and their chief speaker Miss Lucretia Mott.
One of the chief men was a singular looking being,
from Philadelphia, who wore a light blue coat
and au immense red braid which covered his entire
chest; his hair hung in long ringlets down his hack;
his name is Charles 0. Burleigh. I believe that
ho is a quaker, and a native of Connecticut. The
oddity of these people, their violent denunciation
of church aud State, tlio singularity of their cus
toms mid tho mosaic like appearance of their au
diences, being composed about equally of blucks
and whites, used to attract a good deal ofatteulion
and cause a good deal of distinction in these meet-
But bitterly they have been suflered to come
and go without eliciting hardly a passing remark
from the crowd.
The new tragedy of Leitle by Cornelius Mat
thews, the author of Puffa Hopkins, has been with
drawn from the stago at tho Bowery Theatre,
where it failed to please the Audiences. Mr. Mat.
thews has tried his hand at all sorts ofiiterarycom
positions, poetry, novels, tragedy, comedy, farce,
and satire, and has failed iu all; he has ornament
ed nothing that be has touched, and might better
withdraw from tlio observation of the public.
Y'ours, BROADWAY’.
Reply Wf* itlnrcy
(Concluded from first page j
ButI meet the mam charge with a positive de
nial Y’ou never were rebuked for discharging the
prisoners taken ot Cerro Gordo. This issue can
be tried by the record. All that was ever ijaul on
tho subject is contained iu the following extract
from nty letter of the 31st of May:
"Your course hitherto in relation to prisoners ol
war, both men aud officers, in discharging them
on parole, bus been liberal ami kind; but whether
i.» t... at;il lommr continued, or in some
itou'dit to be still longer continued, or iu some
respects changed, lias been under tho considera
tion ofthe President, and he has directed me to
communicate his views on the subject. He is not
unaware ofthe great einbarrassmeut their deten
tion, or the sending them to the United Slates,
would occasion; but, so faras relates to the officers
he thinks they should be detained until duly ex
changed. Ill that case, it will probably be found
expedient to send them, or most of them, to the
United States. Y’ou will not, therefore, except for
special reasons iu particular cases, discharge the
officers who may bo taken prisoners, but detain
them with you, or send them to tho United States,
as you shall deem most expedient.”
If I understand tho force of terms, there is no
thing in this language which, by fair interpreta
tion, caw be made to express or imply a rebuke.
I cannot conceive that any mind, other than one of
a diseased sensitiveness, over anxious to discover
causes for complaint and accusation, could ima
gine that anything like a rebuke was contained in
this extract; yet on this uusubstantial basis alone
rests the charge, over and over again presented,
that you were rebuked by tho War Department
for discharging the prisoners captured at Gerro
Gordo. If. iu a case where it was so easy to be
right, and so difficult to get wrong, you could full
into such an obvious mistake, what may not be ex
pected from you in other matters where your per
verted feelings havo a freer and a wider range f
Before considering your complaints l’or not hav
ing been supplied with sufficient means of trans
portation for the expedition against VeraCruz, I
will notice your “four memorials” to the War De
partment, in which you demonstrated, as you
state, that “Vera Cruz was the true basis of opera
tions, aud tlmt the enemy’s capital could not pro
bably be reached from the Kio Grande."
I cannot discover the pertinency of your allusion
to theso four memorials, except it bo to put forth
a claim to the merit of originating the expedition
against Vera Cruz, and of being the first to discover
tlmt tho most practicable route to the city of Mex
ico was from that poiut ou the gulf; but your
kuowu abhorrence lor a “pruriency of fame not
earned” ought to'shield you from the suspicion of
each an infirmity.
I am sure you are not ignorant of the fact—but
if you are, it is nevertheless true—that tho expedi
tion against Vera Cruz had been for some time un
der consideration ; that great pains had been ta
ken to get information as to tho defences of that
city, the strength ofthe castle, and the ditficnlties
which would attend the debarkation uf troops; th it
maps hail been procured and carefully examined;
that persons who had'resided there, uud yllicers of
the army and navy, had- been consulted on the
subject, and the enterprise actually resolved on be
fore the date of your first memoir, aud before you
were thought of to conduct it.
As early as the 9th of July, 1846, within two
months after the declaration of war, and before
the maiu body of troops raised for its prosecution
had reached the scene of operations, considerate
attention had been given to that subject. Ou that
day, a letter from this department to General Tay
lor thus alluded to a movement from Vera Cruz in
to the interior ofthe enemy's country :
“If, from all the information which you may
communicate to the department, as well as that
derived from other sources, it should appear that
tlie difficulties and obstacles to the conducting of u
campaign from the Rio Grande, the present base
of your operations, for any considerable distance
into the interior of Mexico, will be very great, the
department will consider whether the main inva
sion should not ultimately take place from some
poiut on the coast—say Tampico, or some other
point in the vicinity of Vera Cruz. . This sugges
tion is made with a view to call your attention to
it, and toobtaiu from you such information as you
may be able to impart. Should it be determined
that the main army should invade Mexico at some
other point than the Rio Grande—say the vicinity
of Vera Cruz—a large anil sufficient number of
transport vessels could bo placed at the nioutb of
the Rio Grande by the time the healthy seasons
set in—say early in November. The main army,
with all its munitions, could be transported, leav
ing a sufficient force behind to huld aud occupy
the Rio Grande, and all the towns aud provinces
which you may have conquered befoie that time.
Iu the event of such being the plan of operations,
your opinion is desired what encreased force, if
auy, will be required to carry out with success. We
luuru.tbat (be army could be disembarked a few
miles distant from V'era Cruz, and readily invest
the town in its rear, without coming within tlie
range of the guns of Sou Juan d’Ulloa. The town
could be readily taken by land, while the fortress,
being invested by laud and sea, and all communi
cation cut off, must soon fall. From Vera Cruz
to the city of Mexico there is a fine road, upon
which the diligences or stagecoaches ruu daily.—
The distance from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico
is not more than one-third of that from the Rio
Grande to the city of Mexico."
The subject was again brought iuto view ou the
13 th of October, in the same year, nnd more par
ticularly on the 22d of October, in letters address
ed to Gen. Taylor. At the last date, the plan had
been so fat* matured that several officers of the staff
aud line were indicated for that service. This was
nearly a mouth before it was determined to em-
ploy you with the army in anv part of Mexico.
_ It was never contemplated here to strike at the
city of Mexico from the liue occupied by General
Taylor, or through any oilier except that from Ve
ra Cruz. H the war was to be pushed to that ex
tent, it required no elaboiate demonstration—uo
profound military talents—nothing more than Com
pton sagacity and very slight reflection on the sub
ject to see the propriety und the necessity of ma
king VeraCruz the base of military operations.
An alledged deficiency of means to transport the
troops in the expedition to Vera Cruz seems to
be most prominently presented, and most confi
dently relied on to sustain your charge against the
War Department for neglecting this brunch of its
duties.
I issued, it seems to be admitted, the proper or
der, so faras tho means of transportation were to
be drawn from the north; but the allegation is
that it was issued too late, and was never execu
ted. It wns issued at least four days before you
arrived at New Orleans on your way to the army.
If promptly executed, it was a reasonable calcula
tion that the “ten vessels,” alluded to iu your let
ter, would have arrived iu season to receive" the
troops as soon as you could collect them from
their remote and scattered positions in the interior
of Mexico, bring them to the scacoast, and pre
pare for their embarkation. Whether an order for
ships to be sent out iu ballast, issued the 15th of
December, was or was not iu season for the ser
vice they were designed for, depends upon the
time when the expedition could be got ready to
sail. To determine this, a regard must bo paid to
what you required to be done preparatory to the
expedition, rather than to what you may have said
on that subject.
A reference to two or three of yonr requisitions
will show that no rational hope could be entertain
ed that the expedition would set forth before the
middle or.the last of February. Y’ou required as
oue item of the' outfit',' ono hundred and forty surf-
boats—all to bo constructed after you left "Wash
ington. Though the department urged a less num
ber, you insisted on all. Y’ou estimated the ex
pense of each at $200; mid thought, by putting the
principal ship-yards on the Atlantic coast in re
quisition, they might be constructed by the 1st of
January. To show what reliance was to be placed
on your calculation. I refer to the fact that due
regard to economy was hud in procuring these
boats, each cost on an average $950—nearly five
fold your estimate. Conceding that you erred much
less as to the time within which they could have
been ready by tho 1st of January—and sooner
you did not expect they could l e made—by no
reasouablc calculation could they havo reached
the coast of Mexico by the 1st of "February. The
expedition could not go forth without them. In
your letter to me dated the 28th of February, off
Lobos, you stuto that but a small part of the trans
ports engaged at New Orleans, under your orders
of the 28th December, &c., had arrived and “not
one of the ten ordered by your (my) memorandum
of the 14 th of that month, and the whole were due on
the Brazos on the I5lh of Jauuary." Having thus
shown, by your own opinion, tlmt under my order
“the ten vessels” ought to have been at tho BTazqs
at least fifteen days before the expedition could have
been ready to sail, I have vindicated myself from
your charge of having neglected my duty by not
issuing that order ut au earlidr dale. If issued
earlier, it wuuld have involved a largely increased
expenditure for demurage, and resulted iu "no
public benefit.
But the graver part of this charge' is, that none
of these “ten vessels” ever arrived. “Relying,
(you say in tho letter now under consideration)
upon them-(the ten vessels) confidently, the em-
barcation was delayed in whole or iu part at the
Brazos and Tampico, from the loth of Jauuary to
tho 9th of March, leaving, it was feared, not half
the time needed for the reduction of Vera Cruz
and its castle before the return of tho yellow
fever.” To whomsoever the calamitous conse
quences of the 11011-arrival of these “ten vessels,”
aud your “cruel disappointment” iu relation to
them are imputable, he has certuinly involved him
self in a serious responsibility. I hope to remove
the whole of it from “the head of the War Depart
ment,” and entertain some apprehensions that it
will fall in part on tho commanding eene,-„i r ,
expedition. ° S eue ml of th e
The execution of the whole of the most ,Vn- ,
branch of duties appertaining to a milit^ fficQlt
dilton—providing for transportation—j 3
button of the business in the War Depart
lotted to the Quartermaster General. As an ’ 1 ' Sl "
dmon against Vera Cruz had been resolved , ” PC '
time belore you were assigned to take
of tt, General Jesttp had gone to
bo in the best position to make necessary nr™ ‘
tions for such an enterprise. From hi*™"
knowledge and long experience in military JjlJ!! 1
not only in his appropriate department but , ’
commander in the field, the government -t— ■*
U fortunate that you could have the adric e 3 1
sistimce of so ubie.a counsellor. u uas-
Y’our suggestion that it might be neccssarvt '
send 6liips m ballast from tho north f or trail, ' ■
was not neglected nor unheeded by me. WheST*
it would be necessary or net, depended, accord;™
to your statement to me, upon the means „r tr „,“
portatiun which could be procured at N. 0rleai' £ "
&c. My first step was to write to tlie Quartern,, 8 ’
ter General, then at that place, for information,
tlmt subject. In my letter to him of the 11 n, “c
December I said: 1 oP
“It is expected that most of the vessels in it
service of the quartermaster’s department oan
used as transports for the expedition. It ,
necessary that the department here should knoF
what portion of the transportation can be fund ’
ed by the ordinary means winch the quartermal
ter’s department has now under its couutol for P
purposes of its expedition. I have to request tl„t
information on this point should be furnished'with
out delay u '
“Another point on which the departmentdedro.
information is, what amount of means oftra nsl)01 .
tation for such an expedition cau be furnished at
New Orleans, Mobile and in that quarter
“The ex pense of procuring transports from th 0
Atlantic cities will be exorbitant. Freiriit is verv
high, nnd most of the good vessels are eu-a-cd f?-'
tlie ordinary purposes of commerce ’’ ° °
It is important to bear in min'd that you saw',
this letter ou your first arrival at New Orleans In
wnUng to me from that place, December M you
observe: “I have seen your letter (in the hands of
Lieutenant Colonel Hunt) to the Quartermaster
General, dated tlie 11th.” You could not mistake
its object, because it was clearly expressed I
asked distinctly, wbat means of transportation'for
the expedition can be furnished at New Orleans'
&c , and referred to the expense and difficulty of
procuring transports from the Atlautic cities. You
could not, therefore, but know that my coarse as
to sending ships in ballast from the north would lo'
regulated by the Quartermaster General’s reply
While waiting for this information, and iu order
to prevent delay, and be sure not to deserve tho
imputation you now cast upon me, I issued (ho
order or the 15th of December, to which you re
fer, knowing that it could be modified and conform
ed to the exigencies of the service, according to.
the answer which 1 should receive from General
J esup. His reply isdated tlie 27lh of December
and in it be says:
Transportation can be provided here for oil the
troops that may be drawn from the army under, com
mand of General Taylor, and for all tlie ord
nance, stores, and other supplies, which may
be drawn either from this depot (the Brazos) or
from New Orleans. Tho public transports—1 mean
those owned by the United States—that canid
spared for the contemplated operations, it is csli.
mated, will carry three thousand men with all their
supplies. Vessels can be chartered on favorable terms
for any additional transportation that may be requir
ed.” This letter was submitted to aud read by
you, as appears from your endorsement thercoi
After referring to some other matters iu the let
ter, you conclude your endorsement as follows:
-•‘I recommend that Brevet Major Geu. Jesup’s
suggestious be adopted.” This fact shows that
the letter received your particular attention When
this letter (which you know was forwarded to the
department) was here received—showing that your
apprehended difficulty iaobtaiuing sufficient trans
put-ration at the south was unfounded, and that it
could be provided in that quarter iu great abun
dance ou favorable terms—my order ofthe 15thof
December, so far, and only so far as it related to
sending out vessels iu ballast, was couiiteruiaiidetff
It is strange, indeed^ that, after you were made
acquainted with the object of my inquires and
Geu. J esup’s letter iu reply to them, you should
have looked fur trausport vessels iu ballast from
the Atlautic cities, mid still more strange that their
non-arrival be the proof you rely on to couvict uo
of having neglected my duty iu this instance.—
If, iu truth, you delayed the exi>edition nearly two
mouths for these transports, I am blameless. Tho
responsibility is in another quarter, it esnuot be
said that this statement as to the sufficiency of
transports to be obtained at the south bad an im
plied reference to wbat {hadordered from the At-
lanticcities, for my order was then unknown to
myself and the Quartermaster General. You first'
received a copy of it several duys after the date of
Geu. Jesup’s fetter to me.audofyoiirendorscmeut
thereon. [See your letter to me of the 12th Jan
uary.] Resisted as you were by “head winds,’’
enveloped iu "frightful northers," aud oppressed
with complicated anti perplexing duties iu arrang
ing and preparing the expeditionagaiost Vera Cruz,
some temporary bewilderment may be excused;
but, to charge the War Department with yuur own
misapprehensions and mistakes, is inexcusable.
My reply to your accusations forces me to ex
pose some of your mistatements of fact. Yon
allege that the cxpediiiou. for the waut of tbo “ten
vessels,” was delayed from the loth of Jauuary to
the 9th of March. You certainly mean tobenu-
derstoud that on the I6th of Jauuary your troops
were nearly .ready to embark, aud were delayed
for waut of these transports. But this was not so;
aud I am indebted to you for most abundant proof
to establish your inaccuracy. The great body of
your troops fur the expedition wns drawn from
Gen. Taylor’s commaud at Monterey aud in tho
interior of Mexico; and no part of them had reach
ed either the Brazos or Tampico—the points of
embarcalion—on the 15th of Jaliuary. In your
letter of the 12lh of that mouth to Gen. Brooke,
at New Orleans, you said: “I have now to state
that it is probable the troops I have called for from
Gen.Tayior’6 immediate commaud to embark here
(the Brazos) aud at Tampico, will not reach those
poiuts till late in the present mouth, (January.)
say about the 25th.” In a letter to me of. the
2Gth of January,you remark that General Butler
responded to yourcall for the troops with the ut
most prompilude, and that General Worth made
au admirable movement. “The beau of his divi
sion arrived with him at the mouth cf the Bio
Groude the day belore yesterday," (24th January.)
When the remainder came up, is not stated; yet
oue of your “naked historical facts” places tho
whole command at the poiutsofeinbarcatiou wait
ing for the teu vessels" at least niue days before
the actual arrival of any part of them. But if they
had bceu there, why should they havo been de
tained for these vessels? Iu the same letter—writ-
teu but two days after the arrival of the headoftha
first division, aud probably before the other troops
had come up—yoq say that -‘the Quartermaster
General. (Brevet Maj. Gen. J esup, at New Or
leans,) I Uud, has taken all proper measures wttT
judgment and pronJplitflde to provide everything
depending ou his department for the despatch and
success ot my expedition.” If mot o was wanted,
cumulative proof might be drawn from the saiuo
only that" this charge against me has no foundation
in truth, but tbd! you cau have no apology for '
iug preferred it.
After showing bow unfortunate you • havo been
in your specifice charges, I may- with propriety
meet those of a general and sweeping character
with a less particular detail of proofs to t- iow
their Groundlessness. ,
Though, tho “ten vessels "were not, for the
very sufficient reasons I have assigueri, sent ou
ballast from the Atlantic cities; yet a very .argo
number were sent thence with stores,^ supp t .
and troops, to co-opernto iu the expedition.
In General Jesup’s letter to roe of tlie 1. th
a copy of which is sent herewith lie states tlm ■.
threo ships, barques, brigs and schooners, w
sent from the north, and the department actus y
furnished at New Orleans, Brazos, and
for the array} before it took up the line of ,D * ’
into the interior, -one hundred and sixty-three
I have alluded to the large number of eurM' 0 *'’*,
and the great difficulty of procuring them,a*
cause of the delay in their arrival. I have a =• .
similar reason to offer in reply to your c°mp “
for not having seasonably received the siege -• i-
and ordnance supplies. The delay is to be ye
bed to tho enormously- large outfit you requ' r ^
If it was necessary, nod despatch was used in P
curing it fto oue is in fault. If too large. y pU ^
tainly should not regard as a reprehensible ® ^
the time' necessarily taken up in preparing ’ •
To show that it was, large and required g
time to procure it, I will select from in3 “' )n0
single item. You-demanded from eighty *® .
hundred thousand’ten inch shells, and lorty ot
mortars of like calibre. This enormous qoan ^ ,
of shells about four thousand tons—was most j ,
be manufactured after you left Washington-
the furnaces in the country, willing to eitgag ^
the buisness, were set to work; but, with
most diligence and despatch, the supply of ^
one article, or even two-thirds of it, having w.
manufactured and transported to the sea >
from the furnaces, (located in most installc
the interior of the country,) at a seasono ^
year when water communications were ppt ’ vlir j
ted by ice, could not be ready to be sent or \ 1B
to you in many months after your departure . r .
Washington. Had your requisitions been
ate and undoubtedly more moderate ones
have sufficed—they could bave been luruts
a much earlier period.