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Alabama (Monlgomrrv) J. ureal, ion. 30. ALABAMA LEGISLATURE. Adjourned on Saturday last sine die. The Penal Code was passed in the lump, a por tion of it without read.ng, by a vote oi 39 to l(j the Senate concurring in the amend ments. The law will take oiTect Ist oi Octo ber next. The bill to en.arge the powers oi the Directors of the State Banks was lost in the House. Also the Bdi establishing the third Chancery District failed. We have re ceived the Captions of the Acts of this session, and publish below those of general interest. CAPTTONS OF THE ACTS Passed by the General Assembly of Alabama at an annual session on November and De cember, 1840, and January, 1841. GENERAL ACTS. 1. An act making appropriations for the payment of members of the General Assem bly, and the officers of the two Houses. 2. An act in relation to bonds given by the officers of the Bank of the State of Alabama, and its Branches. Provides that the bonds of all officers shad be renewable every 12 months and valid for no longer period. 3. An act to regulate the practice in the Courts of Chancery in the State. 4. An act regulating the mode of collect ing costs accruing in the Supreme Court: Provides that sheriffs shall be liable in cer tain cases, where they fail to make returns on executions issued from the Supreme Court, and placed in their hand. 5. An ant to compel county treasurers to make a fuli exhibit of the finances of their respective counties, in each and every year. Provides that county treasurers shall make a statement of the means and liabilities of each county, and submit the same to the first commissioners’ court in each year, and that a copy of such exhibit shall be kept in the clerk’s office of the county court, free for public in spection. 6. An act to provide for the election of sheriff in certain cases. Provides that where no election of sheriff is declared, at any general election, by reason of a tie or otherwise, the acting sheriff shall advertise 30 days for anew election, and the person having the highest number of votes shall, upon executing the usual bond, be the sheriff 7. An act to explain an act entitled an act to appoint administrators in certain cases, ap proved Feb. 5, 1840. Provides that nothing in the amended act shall be so construed as to prevent the judge of the several county courts from granting administration to sheriffs or coroners, und* r the law existing before the passage of said act. 8. An act to alter and amend the law rela ting to dower. Providing that any femme covert, residing out of the State, inay relinquish dower before any notary public or judge of any court of record in any state, kingdom or territory in which she may reside, and that when dower is claimed by a non-resident, she shall claim her dower within 12 months after the death of her husband. 8. An act to establish tho General Ticket System, in elections for members to Congress from the State of Alabama. 9. An act making appropriations for the Bupport of government in the year 1841. 10. An act to establish the Penitentiary System in Alabama. 11. An act more effectually to enforce the performance of the duties of sheriffs in cer tain cases. Provides that where any rule or notice shall issue against any late or acting sheriff, and his securities, judgment may be rendered against such of the parties as service may have been perfected on. 12. An act concerning county court judges. Provides that they shall not appear in any case before an appellate court that has been tried before them; and that they shall not be absent at the time of holding any court, or on any return day. From tho Alabama (Montgomery) Journal, Jan. 20. EARLY DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. From the article quoted below, it will be seen that evidence exists in South America also, denoting the presence of the Northmen on this continent at a period prior to that of its discovery by Columbus. The investigations of the last lew years have placed almost be yond a doubt the question of their early ac quaintance with, and occupation of a portion of Eastern North America as early perhaps as the 10th century. [Translated from Le Courier des Etas Unis.] Discovery of America before Christopher Columbus. —ln the session of the Royal So ciety of Northern Archeology of our city, (Copenhagen) held last evening, the 17th of May, 1840) Mr. Widdman, one of its mem bers, read a letter, written from Rio Janeiro, by Dr. Lund, in which this learned Danish geologist announces to the Society an impor tant discovery he has just made. In an exca vation he caused to be made in the environs of Bahia, Brazil, he found a fragment of that stone, covered with runic characters, deeply engraved, but much damaged, having suc ceeded, after long research, in deciphering some words, which lie discovered to belong to the learned languages, he caused the excava tion to be extended in all directions, and soon he discovered the foundations of houses, in cut stone, which, from the architectural af finity, strongly resembled the ruins which ex ist in the north of Norway, in Ireland, and upon the western coast of Greenland. lie caused a continuation of the excavation; for several days, and finished by finding the statue of the god Thor, (God of Thunder, of the ancient Scandinavians) with all his attributes, the hammer, the gauntlets, and the magic gir dle, (megin giarder.) The Society charged the Doctor and Pro fessor Rafo, author of the celebrated work, Antiquitates Americana;, and who has first proved in an authentic manner, that relations have existed between this Island and the North of America, anterior to the discovery of that part of-the world by Christopher Co lumbus, to report upon the fetter of Mr. Lund, and to publish it in order to call the attention of the savans upon the interesting discovery of which it gives an account, and which seems to reveal that the ancient people of the North had not only pushed their maritime voyages even to the South of America, but that the}’ even there laid firm foundations. AN EARTHQUAKE AT ZANTE. Corfu, Nov. 11. An awful earthquake t< ok place at the ill fated island of Zante, on Friday the 30;h ult. Sir Howard Douglas and suite are still there, and have during the last week felt upwards of one hundred shocks, and some very smart ones. The country has suffered severely, hut providentially not more than seven lives have been lost. The inhabitants are all in the greatest state of alarm, and the damage is estimated at $1,500,000. Fortunately the weather was, up to Friday last, remarkably line, or the su tie ring’s of the poor would have been tenfold. A subscription lias been opened for the immediate relief of the poor wretches whose houses are utterly destroyed. Gentle men who have come from Zaute say, that af ter the iirst tremendous shock, the town had the appearance of a place that had beau bom barded tor a month; and only fancy what it must look like now that they have had one hundred and more shocks, which, it is said, have crumbled down those buildings which the first shock had rent. A small island in ihe harbor of Zante has disappeared. There were a few fishermen’s huts upon it, but we know not whether any poor wretches were on i. at the time. FURTHER PARTICULARS. Extract of a letter from Z r n: r , 30th Nov., in the Mediterranean off Malta: “ On the 3'bh uifi at half-past m e in tli rooming, a violent earthquake overthrew nu merous houses in this city, and eight persons were tuned in the ruins. The total nuffiber ot houses that ha\ e fallen is 240; but all the oth r.-, without exception, have been more or less injured; and in the fortress only two or three have been left standing. The damage caused to the country is immense. Some vil lages may be almost said no longer to ex:Si, as only some portions were felt to mark the spots that have been inhabited. Some have suffered less in proportion than these, but have not been free from great loss. Oi the country houses of Zaute no mention need Le made, for they are all in ruins. It is sufficient to state that Count Itouia, who was the pro prietor of so many, has only one remaining. Fortunately the day being ffue, the inhabitants of the country were out of doors, and up to the present hour it is not known that any in the country districts have been killed. The loss is enormous, and many years must elapse be fore Zaire will recover from the blow. The Lord High Commissioner, Sir Howard Doug lass, arrived in our port just-at the time ol the catastrophe.” The 101 l owing is from Sir Howard Douglass, dated on the day of the earthquake: “ I arrived off’ this island just at the moment of a terrible catastrophe—an earthquake, more violent than any which has happened since . 1775. \Ve were within three miles of the island when the engine of the steamer was agitated in a very extraordinary manner, which the captain declared to be the effect of an earthquake. His opinion was soon con firmed, by the appearance of columns of sand dust along the coast. On coming closer in with the land, we saw that enormous masses had been detached from the hills, and the islands of Trentanove and Corio Nero. On reaching the town, we discovered the ravages caused by the visitation. Very few houses remained standing, the prison was damaged, and the Resident’s house no longer habitable. Whole streets were choked up With ruins, and their inhabitants fled to other parts of the town which had suffered less. The local government is preparing a detailed report of these misfortunes, but it is already known that seven or eight lives have been lost” Another letter of the 12th says — “ We arrived here on the 30th of last month, a quarter of an hour after the great shock of. the earthquake, which we ourselves felt most sensibly on board. The effects of it ou shore are most lamentable. Whole villages have been ruined; and at this season of the year, when the rains are hourly expected, it is sad, indeed, to see the poor wretches sitting on the ruin3 of their dwellings, hundreds and hun dreds of them without a farthing to assist in rebuilding. Government has done much, and charity is exerting itself all it can to render help to tho destitute. There is not a house in the town of Zante which has not, more or less, suffered, and many to a considerable extent. Two and a half millions of dollars is the low est estimate of damage done altogether. We have had at least fifty shocks since, which keep ihe people in constant alarm.” r ARREST OF MAIL ROBBERS. The Baltimore American of Monday has the following account of the arrest of the mail robbers. W e learn from the Post Master of this city that the persons implicated in the recent rob beries ot the great western mail from New York and points east of it, have all been ar rested. The mails stolen embrace packages of leitors from Wheeling, Columbus, Cincin nati, Louisville, Nashville and St. Louis— about six packages from each. The active and enterprising agents of the Post Office Department, Messrs. Plitt and Kennedy, have been for some time past on the look out, but the ingenuity of the robbers eluded detection. Finally, however, they succeeded in disco vering the parties; and arrested a driver na med Gorman, who immediately confessed his participation in the crime, and implicated a person named Dr. Braddee, his clerk, named Purnell, and an assistant accomplice, named Trayer. All these parties reside in Union town, Pa.’ Large amounts of money, trunks and car pet bags stolen from travellers, have teen discovered, and part of the money has been identified as having been taken from the mail. This system of depredation has been carried on from the 13th November until the 20th December, at different periods, and the rob beries are the most extensive ever committed in the United States. further particulars. The Uniontown, Pa. Democrat, of Friday last, savv : “Our town is now the theatre of great excitement and commotion growing out of the arrest of Dr. John F. Braddee, of this place, and three of his supposed confederates, who are charged with robbing the mail. Sus picion fell upon Mr. Corman, the driver of the mail stage, who was arrested at the instance of Mr. Plitt, a special agent of the Post Office. Corman soon confessed the crime, and impli cated Dr. Braddee, his clerk, Purnell, and a person named Trayer, who were all arrested last night. A guard was placed overthe house and outbuildings of Braddee through the night, and in the morning a search was made, whicn resulted in finding* no less than nine mailbags, labelled “New York,” which had been con cealed in the bottom of the privy. Further search was then made, and a sum of money ex ceeding Ten Thousand Dollars was found in the hay mow—besides sundry apparatus for coining money—pistols, travelling trunks cut to pieces, &c. &c. They are all committed for want of bail, which was placed at a high amount. On the examination, Mr. Plitt gave it as his opinion that the sum extracted at^this place in cash and drafts must exceed one hun dred thousand dollars. We understand other commitments are contemplated. The Wilmington, Pa. Reporter, gives the fob owing particulars as to the method of com mitting robberies, as confessed by Corman. On reachingthe Post Office in Uniontown, where the coaches are usually changed, all the mads were discharged except the Eastern Mail above referred to; this was retained in the coach, per arrangement, until driven into ihe yard, where the accomplices oftiie driver received it, and conveyed it to the < -ffice of Dr. Braddee, when, ou being rifled of its con tents, the bags were thrown into a privy apartment to the premises. This was done on the nights of the 15th, iikn, 23d, and 30? h of November, and on the sch, 12th, and 18th of December. Good News. —The following is an extract of a letter published in the New York Express ot the 13ih mst., dated Cincinnati, Jan. 5 : Gen. Harrison, so far from making promi ses of office, or even giving to his nearest and dearest friends the least encouragement, ei mer expressed or implied, will not so much as listen to any one, no matter whom, when asking for office, cither for himself or friend ; or iii fact read a letter, knowing it to be an application h r office. In this matter lie is firm and decided; he will pay no attention to such applications until after he is installed inf o the * high office* to which the people have elected h:m ; and then such applications must come through the proper departments; and in all cases the most successful will be those who are judged the roost honest and capable. The General does not subscribe to the doc trine, “ that to the victors belong the spoils he goes iifio the presidential chair as the Pre sident of the nation and not of a party—and if any one thinks tha> there is to be a general clearing out of all minor office-holders, and their places filled by Whigs, he is wofully mistaken. All now in office who are honest and faithful, and have devoted themselves ex clusively to the performance of their duty— with an eye single to the public good—-and have in no case brought, or attempted to bring, “die influence of their office in conflict with the freed m of elections,” will doubtless be retained. Such is my ophicn, without; eak ing authoritatively, of General Harrison's views. It is said, and I presume it is true, that the College of Electors of Pennsylvania took the liberty of recommending Mr. Ste vens for Post Master General; and, notwith standing the high personal regard which Ge- j nera! Harrison is known to entertain for the 1 individuals composing that College—preclud ing any doubt of the integrity of their motive —yet it is equally true, that he did not recog n ze their right officially to recommend, and declined receiving the letter they sent him He doubtless considered, that if colleges of electors could successfully recommend can didates to be appointed by the President they had as; e.nbled to elect—it would be throwing open a wide door for corruption, intrigue, and management; lie therefore could give no coun tenance to the precedent—by which he acted up to his well known chaiacter for sterling integrity and Roman virtue. Gen. Harrison cannot knowingly do wrong. A more honest and disinterested patriot never lived. I have bad the honor of his acquaintance for nearly twenty years, and I have never known a man of more purity of heart. He has firmness and decision as well as honesty and virtue, with intellect and talents equal to any man in the nation. I also notice that some importance is attach ed to articles emanating from the Cincinnati press, in the newspapers east of the moun tains; it seems to be supposed that our editors q-eak by authority. This is a great mistake; -here is no newspaper, or individual, I pre sume, that is to speak for the Genera!, or that knows any thing more about his views and in tentions—particularly who are, or who are not to be, or who have been offered seats in he Cabinet, than you do. When the Presi dent elect speaks through a newspaper, it will be in such a way as will leave no doubt as to authority. The various speculations of all newspapers, both here and elsewhere, arc, doubtless, as far as the General is concerned, perfectly gratuitous. No authority whatever has been derived from him for the speculations they have made. MISSISSIPPI. The Legislature of this State is now in ses sion. We have glanced over the message of Gov. McNutt, and make from it the following extracts, which will be read with interest: “From the report of the State Treasurer to me it appears that the receipts into the Trea sury ‘from the first day of December 1839, to the 30ili day of November 1840 (both days inclusive) were one hundred and sixty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-one dollars and seventy-nine cents, sixty-three thousand and thirty dollars whereof, ufore in notes of the Mississippi Rail Road Company, which still remain in the Treasury, and are unavail able. The auditor’s report shows expendi tures during the same period to the amount of four hundred and ninety-one thousand, six hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifteen cts. There w as expended during that period, $275- 727 57. It thus appears that the ordinary expenses of the State Government exceeded the re ceipts into the Treasury, the sum of fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and forty-two dolls, and eighty-eight cents, and that the Treasur er was unable to pay three hundred and nine ty-three thousand, five hundred dollars .r.d thirty-six cents, of pay warrants of the Audi tor. The amount of unavailable funds in tee State Treasury are $302,965 62 1-2. This statement shows that more than three fourths of the State debt has been incurred in consequence of several of the State Banks having failed to redeem their notes, taken in payment of the public dues. The larae sums due by the Banks, may be considered lost.— Ever since May 1837, all the public officers have been paid in currency greatly deprecia ted. During the past year they have general ly been unable to get their pay warrants cash ed by the Treasury, and have usually been compelled to sell them at about thirty-five cents per dollar. In accordance with ray request, the Mar shals of the Southern and Northern Districts of this State, have politely furnished me with a copy of their census returns, and the sta tistical information collected by them. Re lieving that the information contained therein will be of great utility in facilitating you in the despatch of the public bur’ness, I have caused an abstract to be made of said returns, and herewith transmit it—this document shows that, there were in this State on the Ist day of June, 1840, Free white males, 96,886 * “ females, 81,781 178,067 Male slaves, 98,388 Female “ 97,376 165,764 Free white persons deaf and dumb, 139 “ *• “ blind “ insane, 153 Colored persons deaf, dumb and blind, 118 “ “ insane and idiots, 90 Free colored males, 722 “ females, 642: No. of Colleges, 8 “ Students, 454 1 “ Academies and grammar schools, 71 “ Scholars in said institutions, 2480 “ Primary and common schools, 390 “ Scholars in said schools, 8,273 “ White persons over 21 years ) of age who cannot read > 8,358 and write, 3 “ Horses and mules, 109,227 “ Neat cattle, 623,157 “ Swine, 1,001,676 “ Bales of cotton crop of 1839, 685,568 “ Bushels of corn, 13,161,337 “ “ “ Wheat, 196,266 “ “ “ Oats, 598,604 The cotton crop of 1839 was certainly not as large as stated—mistakes have no doubt occurred in several counties, in consequence of the Assistant Marshals having returned the number of pounds of seed cotton instead of ginned cotton. The act of Congress required a return of the number of pounds of cotton gathered—l have estimated the bale at four hundred pounds. During the last four years, all the banks in tills State have been unable io furnish ex change equal to the value of the cotton crop of a single year. The present si. nation of our banks, places it beyond then power to furnish a sound currency, or to aid the indebted por tion of the community by further loans. Jus tice to their creditors, debtors, and stockhold ers, and to the State, imperiously demand that they be placed in liquidation for the benefit of all concerned. The bank law of last Febru ary was too feeble in its provisions to com mand the regard of the bank directors. In accordance with its provisions, i iss led mv proclamation, declaring the charters of the following banks forfeited, to wit: The Tombighy Hail Road and Ranking Company; Ido Hernando Rail Road and Bank in Company; The Mississippi Rail Road and Banking Compam; The Benton and Manchester Rail Road and Banking Company; i The Grand Gulph Rail Road and Banking Company; The Aberdeen and Pontotoc Rail Road and Banking Company; The Bank of V icksburg; The Mississippi Union Bank, and one Citizen s rank ot -Mad.son County. Copies of those proclamations are submitted io \our consideration. 1 also transmit copier of my correspondence with the Mississippi Union Bank, and the Mississippi Rail Road C ompany, in relation to appointment of com missioners to make out a schedule of the as s-’s ail d liabilities ci these institutions.—! None cf the banks have appointed commis sioners to act in conjunction with those ap pointed by the Executive; and 1 believe they ! have all refused to give the State comrais ’ sioners access to their books and papers. It is believed that the following banks have ! failed to comply with the injunctions of the bank la\v‘ to wit: The Commercial Bank of Columbus; The Commercial Bank of Rodney: The Agricultural Bank; The Planter’s Bank ot Mississippi; The Bank of Lexington; The Bank of Grenada* The Vicksburg YVaier Works and Banking Company, and The Commercial and Rail Road Bank of Vick. burg. All the assets of the latter institution were assigned to trustees, by the board of directors, previous to the passage of the bank law.— The evidence required by law has not been furnished to the Executive, to enable him to issue his proclamations declaring the charters of tho-e banks forfeited. I have understqod that the Commercial Bank of Natchez, the West Feliciana Rail Road and Banking Company, the Bank of Port Gibson, and the Northern Bank of Misis sippi, complied with the provisions of the bank law during the last year. Their heaviest en gagements were to be met on the first day of the present month. The situation and affairs of the Mississippi Rail Road Company, the Planter’s Bank of this State, and oi the Missisippi Union Bank, will demand your calm consideration. Ail of those institutions are insolvent; and none of them can resume specie payments in several years, or make further loans. 1 submit bere ft ith copies of my letters to those banks, cal ling for specific information in relation to their condition, and the answers and statements furnished. The Union Bank lias four thou sand three hundred and forty-nine dollars and six cents of specie on hand. Her suspended debt in suit is, $2,698,809 26 “ “ not sued on, 1,777,337 78 “ resources, chf’ly unavailable 8,034,154 28 “ immediate liabilities, 3,034,154 28 “ capital stock, 5,000,000 00 A reference to the report of the Joint Com mittee of ihe Legislature, at the last session, will satisfy you that not more than one-third of the debts due the banks will be collected, and that the whole capital stock has already been lost. The bank has seven thousand bales of cotton in Liverpool unsold, on which it has drawn $267,116 94. An advance of sixty dollars per bale was made to the plan ters upon that cotton in 1838. They will sustain a clear less, including interest, of thir ty dollars per bale; equal, in the aggregate, to $201,000. The bank has been irretrievably ruined by making advances upon cotton, issu ing post notes, and loaning the principal por tion of her capital to insolvent individuals and companies. The situation of the Mississippi Rail Road Company, and the Planter’s Bank, is equally bad. The former, in the year 1839, issued about a million and a half of dollars in post, notes, and expended them in construct ing the rail road and building expensive de. pots. From ihe Georgia Macon Telegraph. GOV. MCDONALD’S RELIEF MESSAGE. The cry of relief has scarcely died away on th* lips of the chiefs and head-men of the Har rison party—they who lately made the welkin ring with shouts and songs of relief! relief! to the distressed and embarrassed people; and now, when their “need is the sorest,” when a scanty crop of cotton has taken away the last hope of meeting those debts that press upon them and threaten ruin—what is the course of conduct adopted by the Harrison party? Have they, in good faith, in the spirit of their pro mises, sought out means of relief for the suf fering thousands? Or have ghey even lent a listening ear to others who have proposed measures to ward ofirnin from the country, and to save the property of their fellow citizens from the ruthless hand of the sheriff ? No! The suffrages cf the people have answered! their present purposes—in securing .1 hem- ; selves and friends; and the dear people may take care of themselves, until their votes are wanted to decorate another triumph. With what supercilious sneers has the Relief Message of Gov. McDonald been met from those men, who very recently seemed to weep tears of agony over the distresses of the peo ple! It is decried as an indication of weakness by some; and as evincing the disposition of a demagogue, who wishes to make it a means of increasing his popularity, by others of them. If it indicates any weakness, it is that of a heart anxious to avert ruin from the hearths i of its fellow men; and can those who have very recently used every artef sophistry, that j will pervert truth and exaggerate wrong— who have appealed to every prejudice of hu man nature, that can be aroused by word and symbol—can ihcy have the effrontery now to impute sinister purposes to a man who sug gests to the Legislature a .plan of relief to the embarrassments of the people of Georgia? j Those who have recently organised a sys tem of agitation, equalled only by that engen dered by those clubs which precipitated France into a bloody revolution, will find themselves mistaken if they expect to allay the excited expectations of the people by further vague premises. In the desperation of debt, the people have confided in the remote and im probable premises of relief, and something more solid than words must satisfy their hopes. How far the prospect of better times will be realised, the recuperative energies of trade, aided by a general system of economy and increased industry, will slowly but surely de velope. But this process—tiie surest reliance of better times —will be too slow to answer tiie purposes of thousands, who require imme diate aid to save their property tram sacrifice, and their families from want. The Relief Message of the Governor point ed to the only means of affording that aid ; but was it not scouted and put down by a Har rison majority in the Legislature! and is it not now sneered at and reviled by the leaders of j that party at home! Now that the elections ! are past, these men may ccolly discuss ab stract points of policy, and endeavor to resume that affectation of high-toned dignity which was laid aside, with the facility of a worn gar ment, not long since. But. the individuals on ; whom the rejection of the Governor’s message j must bear—the people who are in debt—will ! not take it so coolly. The subject has awa kened the inhabitants of the Log Cabin, and ! will excite in that—now almost forgotten— edifice, perhaps as much investigation as the mysterious relations of a cider barrel reform d;d during the last summer. The presses of the Harrison party have thus far maintained the silence of delicacy on the subject, or, at most, eked out a feeble amen to this act of heir leaders of the majority in the Legisla ture. But this silence cannot be preserved, as the people will discuss it for themselves. The Relief Message of Governor McDonald , and its rejection by a majority of the Harrison early in the last Legislature, is now before the country. The people will speak of it around heir firesides, from the Chattahoochee to the Savannah; from Nickajack to the most remote island on the sea-coast! and public meetings and the presentments of grand juries will re verberate their sentiments! ’- Louisiana U. S. Senator. —Alexander Bar row (Whig) was elected on the 11th inst., on first hallo', to represent Louisiana in the U. S. Senate for six years from the 4th of March next. B ardzrupt Laic. —Resolutions instructing its Senators and requesting its Representa tives in Congress to vote for the passage c. an uniform Bankrupt Law, have passed the Legislature of Louisiana by an unanimous vote. SENTINEL & HERALD. CULL \l HI'S. JAN, -27. 1’ 11. ** Unis Institution is une of the most deadly hostility against the principles and form of our Consti tution. The nation is, at this time.so strong and united in Us sentiments, that it cannot beskaken at this mo ment. Bat suppose a aeries of untoward events should occur , sufficient to bring into doubt the compilenci) of a 11-publican Cruvernment to meet a crisis of great dan ger. or to unhinge the confidence of the people in the public functionaries; an institution like this penetrating by .ts branches every part of the union, acting by com mand and in phalanx, may in a critical moment, upset the government. I deem no government safe, which is under the vassalage of any self-constituted authorities, or any other authority than that of the naiion. or its reg ular functionaries. IVhat an obstruction could n t this Bank of the lj nited States, with all its branch bunks, be in time of war/ It might dictate to us the peace we should accept, or withdraw its aid. Ought we then to -ire further growth to an institution so powerful, so hostile ? — Thomas Jefferson. Tjie Emperor Napoleon. —On our first page will be found a full and interesting ac count of the disinterment at St. Helena, and removal to France, of the remains of Napoleon ■ Bonaparte—“the mightiest human genius known to history.” The Savannah Races and Col. Crowell liie races over the Oglethorpe Course, near Savannah, have just terminated; and the papers of that city inform us that Col. Crowell, wno resides in this neighborhood, has net with his usual success, winning three out of the five days. Great praise is due to Col. Crowell lor his efforts to improve the breed of horses; and, judging from the results, we doubt if there be, in the United States, stock more valuable than his, whether native or imported. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. The subjoined Bill has passed both branch es of Congress, and will, doubtless, receive the approval of the President. “A BILL supplementary to an act to abolish imprisonment for debt in certain cases. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives oj the United Suites of Ameri ca in Congress assembled, That, the act enti tled “An act to aboJ.sh imprisonment for debt in certain cases,” approved February twenty eight, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, shall be so construed as to abolish imprisonment for debt, on process issuing out of any court of the United States, in all cases whatever where, by the laws of any State in which the said court shall be held, the imprisonment for debt has been, or shall hereafter be abolished .” The circumstances which prompted the adoption, by Congress, of the original act, and supplemental bill, are as follows:—The Le gislature of the State of New York, three or four years since, abolished imprisonment for debt, on process issuing from any of the Slate courts, and directed against a citizen of the State. The laws regulating the proceed ings of the courts of the United States sanctioned arrests for debt, and these laws remained in their original form, as no authority inferior to that of Congress could abrogate or amend them. At the session of Congress immediately subsequent to the pas sage of the State law referred to, Mr. Tall madge, r. Senator from New York, urged and effected the enactment of a law, by Congress’ extending to citizens of the State of New York, the same privileges in the courts of the U. S., so far as arrests for debt were concern ed as had been accorded to them in the State courts. These two laws, State and General, j operated an entire release to the citizen of j New York, from arrest for debt, and to no ! other. A subsequent Legislature of that. State enlarged the provisions of the existing law enabling to embrace citizens of ail other States, who might, at any period, be found within the borders of New York, and subject, for the time being, to the requisitions of its statutes. The supplemental bill which has j just passed Congress, and is inserted in the commencment of this paragraph, is designed to second the ltu nanc provisions of the a | mended State law—thus exempting, from ar rest for debt within the limits of New York, j either in the State, or U. States courts, any of the citizens of the U. States. The law just passed, it will be perceived by perusal, is not confined in its operation to the State of New York. Where, by the Legisla tive provisions of any State, either resident cr non-resident, or both, are exempted from ar rest for debt, the U. States courts, within the j limits of such Stale, are governed by the same rules, and equally debarred from incar cerating the person. i We find in the Columbus Enquirer of this morning, in an article headed “ Removals from Office,” the following: “ These Federalists are aware, from their own experience, that more odium attaches to an administration from the removal of political opponents than from the appointment of politi cal friends; and, .acting on this idea, Mr. Van Buren {the great discarded) is now busily em ployed in crowding the Senate table with appointments of the most obnoxious Federal ists to office, U lake, effect after the 4 Lh of March next, in order that Gen. Harrison, when he i comes into the executive chair, may subject himself to tire charge of removing these men ’ for political reasons, should he see proper to appoint some o! his own political friends to office.” We have italicised the words to which we desire especially to call the attention of the Enquirer, and in reference to which we shall ask but a single interrogatory: Can the En quirer put its finger on one appointment, made by President Van Buren, before or since the election of Gen. Harrison, “ to take effect after the 4 lh of March next?” The President, in the appointments made by him since the com- mencement of the present session of Con gress, has but conformed to the imperative injunctions of the Constitution, and of his oath of office. lie has made appointments where vacancies existed, by resignation, or by the expiration of commissions, and under no other circumstances ; and is not this one of his high est duties—as binding as any of his preroga tives ? The doctrine of the Enquirer may be that, as anew Pre. bdent will come into office on the 4th of March next, the present Executive should abstain, in the interim, from the exercise of his appropriate, constitutional functions—leave important offices vacant — and produce an interregnum in the Govern ment. We are told likewise, in the same article, thattne individuals thus improperly place ! in office, are “obnoxious Federalists.” We do not profess to be acquainted with the political opinions of the several individuals who have recently received new, or been retained :n old appointments; but in glancing our eye over some of the late nominations of the President, we recognise the name of one to whom the Enquirer, by its odious designation, has done signal injustice—that is, if it do not design to stigmatise its own friends. James Miller has been reappointed by President Van Buren Col lector of the Port of Salem, in Massachusetts. This gentleman was a very gallaut officer of the U. S. Army, during the last war, and is particularly distinguished for an act of despe rate daring, and brilliant success, on the northern frontier, unsurpassed by any single achievement of the war of 1812. lie has also additional claims upon the forbearance and j kindness of llie Enquirer, and of the party to which that paper is attached. He was one ‘ among the many who, during the last year, 1 certified o tiia bravery and inilitasy skill of the President elect; and how unkind in the Enquirer to deal thus harshly with its own friends, and to attempt to fasten upon them the appellation of “ obnoxious Ft-derailsis" — an appellation which the Enquirer admits (mark it!) to be any thing but puts and patri- In conclusion, we will barely remark —and we hope the Enquirer will pardon us for look ing into its land—that, from the demoastra tions already made by Gon. Ilarrison in tr vor of “obnoxious Federalists,” (beginning with Dan iel Webster, the Prince of federalism,) the President elect will, in all probability, “ snare” enough of these offensive animals, during the succeeding four years, to answer ail the pur poses of the Enquirer, without entering our premises to hunt for them. MONROE RAIL ROAD AND BANK-1 ING COMPANY. We have noticed within the last few days, in several papers, articles touching the condi tion and prospects df this institution, and the probability of its resuming, and sustaining spe cie payments. All of them advise, and very ! properly, bill holders not to sacrifice the funds of the M. R. it. & 15. C. held by them; but to wait and see the effect of resumption on the Ist proximo. We say the same thing—by all means defer any exchange at a loss of the notes of this institution, as the period of re sumption C so near at hand. We have not the slightest knowledge of the condition of this bank, or of its ability to redeem its issues; but as the President of it is a gentleman of integrity, we arc bound to believe that all will bo right, after the repeated public declarations made by him, that the day of resumption was a period for the coming of which lie both “hun gered and “ililrsted.” We sincerely hope, both for the credit and character of the mana gers of the institution, and the interests of the public, that the M. R. R. & B. Company will meet ail its liabilities on presentation. RESUMP HON. Next Monday is the day fi>ed bv Law, for the banks lo resume specie payments. In tins City it seems to produce no stir or ex citement, and but for the fact that so much has been heretofore said throughout the coun try, about suspended banks, we have no doubt the day would piss off’ without any body’s Blinking of it. So far as the banks of lids cilv are concerned, we believe it will make no difference will) them. They have for the last two years done but lit tie business, except upon bills ot exchange, at short time, conse quently, they will no doubt be found in wood condition to meet all the demands which may be made upon them; of these, we think there will be lew or none, other than those which arise in the ordinary course of business.—Jlr gvs. SERIOUS AFFRAY. A persona! rencounter, with pistols, grow ing mil of a previous mhundeisialining he iween the parties, occurred in the bar room of Ihe Nashville inn, or M onda v evening a- j bout supper time, in which Mr. J. G. Harris, the editor oi the N tshvilie Union, Was wounded in the L east and arm, lav Mr. Rob erl C. Foster, jr. of this cilv. ‘Mae wounds are considered dangerous. We fin-beat com meet, as the circumstances of the case will undergo judicial investigation. —JVashville Whig, 13th inti. GOV. McDONALD-S RELIEF MESSAGE. The Augusta (Ga.) Constitutionalist, of the 23d hist contains the following: The Relief Message of the Governor and the proceedings of bolli branches of the le gislature upon it, must be expected to pro duce a diversity of opinion in regard to what has been done, and what has not been done. The subject, as we anticipate, will be one of most importance in the political campaign for Governor. We are prepared to meet that subject; but it would be of no avail to enter into it at the present time. Wc shall publish, however, in the interval, whatever comes to us in some official form, in order that the people may know what a portion of them selves think of the whole matter. We begin by publishing the following extract from the presentments of the Grand Jury of Twipes county, January Term: At the present critical embarrassed condi tion of our county, the State and country generally, we feel called upon, indeed it is our imperious duty, standing as we do on the direct line of our rights, to speak out boldly, the sentiments of tins body, in relation to this all absorbing and interesting subject. We noticed with surprise, pain and regret, tiie rejection of a course recommended by his Excellency the Governor, to the last Legisla ture, which we think was calculated to reme- j dy the existing pecuniary difficulties of the people, who are crying aloud tor some su h measure. It is true that the people will have to work out by manual labor the oppressive debt with which they are burdened, but this is no reason or argument why they should not be assisted, if not relieved, by some legisla tive provision. In ail matters involving the | great fund .mental principles of right and wrong vve douot not, but choose as if by in stinct; well, now, is it right, to attempt relief, or is it wrong? Taking it for granted that it is right, we did expect some positive action on the subject by our Representatives, and the credit or the Slate ought if necessary to be put in requisition for the common good. A government unwilling or too impotent to re spond to the necessities of its constituen is in fact no government at all, and is totally unworthy of support and ought not to be cheri.-uvd. We approve the measures sug gested to the Legislature by his Excellency, especially as they were the best lie could pre sent, and we believe they weio founded in the purest motives of benevolence, philan thropy, and patriotism, and they should no have been defeated by any other than some of a more judicious character. We, therefore, as a body, expressing our selves in this public manner of public things, • f eel, and have no hesitation in earnestly re commending to Governor McDonald, to call ail extra-session of the Legislature, at as ear ly a day as practicable, to adopt some mea sure or measures, calculated to aubrd a prompt and decided relief to the people. It is sob-evident that benefit, if not eut’/s relief, may be had, and if the bonds oi’ the ‘ State at one, two, three, four aid five ye u*s could not be discounted to effect so desirab e | a purpose, (and by that time these i■ :-xrai ments might be fully met and promptly <ii : - charged,) that some other mode supersede it, j but a.:, great a blessing as tJri plan could pr >- : duce would be the lessening of the great : amount of littgatioa now going cn, whicfrwiT continue to increase it something be not done Ito arrest it, and litigation is a principle al ways to be deprecated by the common mind,, and is inimical and dangerous to the prosperi ty and happiness of the country. We furthermore seriously and solemnly recommend to the graud juries throughout the S ate, to follow our example in this item of our presentments, and come up to she support . of the common cause. From the Charleston Mercury, Jan. 23. LA YER FROM ENGLAND. The packet ship Patrick Henry ariived in New York last Friday, bringing Liverpool ! dates to the 25tli ult. The paper mail failed, and we have therefore no political news to re port, except what may be taken lor granted in the improvement of the Cotton market.— We are indebted to a commercial Inend for the subjoined letter. “ Liverpool , Dec. The demand for Colton in our niaiket con tinues not only lively, but has become very brisk during the present week. Speculators | have been inspired with increased confidence and have considerably enlarged the scale of I their operations. Dealers and spinners too. have made more weighty purchases than they ! Lave usually done for some time past. As surances of a diminished growth in lhe United | States seem to be the chief, if not the only stimulus; creating as they do the expectation [of higher prices being established. Some thing probably is to be attributed to the re duction of 120,000 bales in our stock since the i beginning of last October, though this is doubtless much greater than it would have been but lor the prevalence of easterly winds. We have however to notice on'y the partial and. I inconsiderable advance since last Friday of [ 1-2 I per !h. Sellers appearing to be less san guine than buyers of witnessing any material advance, have generally met the demand at full prices. According to the reports from M mohester of the Yarn and Goods market last Tuesday, the business in them had not lieen weighty, but prices were buoyant, and in a few instances sales had been made at a small advance. In the sales of Cotton we have to particularize, are included 7500 bales of American and 4500 of Sm at, disposed of to speculators. Only 850 scrims of Carlha gena have been taken lor exportation. Upland, Orleans and Alabama have been in verv active demand, and all qualities have gone* off at the a Ivance of fully 1 2d per lb. the better qualities, from their comparative cheapness, have been much more saleable. Sea Island has been in moderate request at previous rates. Brazil and Egyptian have been in limited demand and have only obtain ed last week’s prices. Surat has been very much sought after and lias been disposed off freely at l-2d per Ih. advance for the common and middling qualities. The sales altogether from the 10th to the 2-I'h inst. inclusive, are computci I at 39,400 bags, and the import, amounts t > 8,280 bags. Sales from the 10th to the 21th Dec. 200 Sea Island at I4d to26d; 20 Stained dual 9d; 8040 Upland at 4 to 7; 1G 140 Orleans, 16,- 135 at 5 7 1-2 5 at 7 3-4; 5.510 Alabama and Mobile at 5 1 8d to 5 l-2d; 910 Pernambuco at 8 1 -4.1 to 8 7-Sd; 340 Bahia and Macao at 8 1 to 8 1-2 1; 300 Maranharn at (5 1 2d to 8 1 2 !; 530 Wes! India at 9 1 2d; 290 Egypt ian at 012 Ito 11 1 2d; G 950 Surat.at 43 4d to 51; 150 Madras at 4 3 3d to 4 3 4d.” The stock of Cotton has Hvn very much reduced, being at the dates 377,100 bales, ami of American 279 300. It is still however 160,000 bales greater than?at the same time in the preceding year. It will be seen iLat the arrivals iff Cotton in Liverpool had been exceedingly small whi'i o n own prici scurrent show that an umtMtaiiy large proportion of the present crop has been shipped In that port. It is no! at a 1 ! improbable, llui Gore. that the Liverpool market will nceive a shock when the first fair wind shall unload these t-easures al her wharves. The emly arrival of so large a part of the new crop in the market will prohahlv produce (lie same doubt in England, of the reality of the a Hedged de ficiency, that it has produced in this coun try. P. f\—The above had been written and in type when the New Voikrnnilol Saturday came to hand. The bag, if appears, bad been carried to the Rail Road and the mistake not discovered till the cats were oil their wav to A ‘gnsia. It was sent I ark by the return train. The news is but of trifling impor t a nee. Tin* Banks of Philadelphia resumed i av ments on Friday lasi. “We have not hcuul of any earthquakes in consequence thereof. 5 * Rut the Philadelphians must have suspen sions in some lorm, so they turned out and hanged a man the same day, whereupon ‘he Ledger has hung two columns of disquisition, and other papers, edifying paragraphs. The Baltimore Republican of Saturday, says: ‘lt is currently rumored that three of our banks intend resuming specie payments on Monday next. V\ e hope the rumor mav prove true, and if true, they will deserve great credit for the net, and we hope they will he sustained hv the community. The Boston Post of 1 fmrsday gives the following as the count of the votes for Gov ernor of Maine; Maine. —The committee appointed to ex amine the votes, repotted on Monday that tl e people had effected no choice of Governor, i he whole number of votes returned bv the committee was SI 170; lor Fait field, 45 507; Kent, 45,574; scattering. 93. The commit ,pe threw out 71 voles, of which 56 were for Fairfield, 15 for Kent, 23 votes were returned from the town of Springfield, in Penobscot c uinty. (or Mr. Hamlin, which it is suppi sed should have been returned for Fairfield. Ad ding these, the vote stands:, Fairfiel I, 45,563; Kent, 45:589. \V<* learn from the same paper of Fiidav, dial “Edward Kent was elected Governor of Maine, by the Legislature ol that State, on Wednesday. ‘The duty of the House was to select two of the four highest candidates voted lor by tiie people, one of whom was to be chosen bv the senate. The vote stood, in the House, Fairfield, 169; Kent. 164; Hamlin, 9; Smith, 8. In the Senate—Faiifield,B; Kent, 16.” i he late freshet spread its ravages far and wile at the North. Ihe destruction of bridges and other property on the Connecti cut river was great. Some important public works however escaped. The Baltimore JRe vtiblican save “ The Morris Canal, through its whole length, 1( 2 miles, has s- fibred m damage by the late freshets, which have bee n so destruct ive in many parts of the country.” A Whig slate. —The financial condition of Indiana is gloomv enough. Her debt is near 13 millions; and near 3 millions of this have been sold on a credit to individuals at.-d insti tutions o: doubtful solvency—two millions, for inGauce, sold to the Morris Canal and Bank ing Company!—To secure the debt, “collater als of every description (says the Columbus Stalesman)have been taken—land in the alli j gator marshes of Florida and .Alabama; water ; iots a 4 Hoboken and Jersey city; Pontiac rail road, and the Morris canal—a large and splen did candle and soap factory at Brooklyn, and another on Staten Island!”—The yearly inter est is near §800,000; arid she has” but $151,- 075, independent of taxation, to meet the de .. 1. 1 repositions are before her Legislature to tax bank stock 2 per cent—-and then all the property in the State to raise the balance. These Hosiers seem to have played their cards badly. L enny 2000 persons are said to have at tended, the ini- 1 Promenade Concur', at the Park Theatre, New York.