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BANKRUPT LAW. City of Washington, January 18, 1811. Dear Sir: Vo ir favor has been received, inquiring of me whether I am in iavor ot a general bankrupt law*. On this, as on oth r subjects of national policy, l am free to express my sentiniema. While it is necessary for the general prosperity that each State should regulate its own affairs, as regards its own local policy, and the special interests ot its citizens, there are matters in which their relations are so interwoven, and their inter- ests so identified, that a uniform system is os- 1 eontial to their harmonious action and welfare. In the formation of our Federal Constitution, it was intended that these points should he specified, and their regulation confided to l ie . General Government. Among these is tno , subject of bankruptcy. In the first article, eighth section, fourth clause, ot tlic Gonstitu- , tion, it provides that Congress shall have power to establish a uniform rule ol naturali zation, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies, throughout the United Stales. It was seen by the framers of that instrument that the relations between the citizens ot dif ferent States, and especially between the tra ding communities of the different towns and cities, would render a uniform system ot bank ruptcy highly important to their interests. In this grant of power, the patriarchs of our inde pendence evidently considered itthedischaigc of a sacred duty; and it is difficult for me to j assign any good cause why this provision has not been carried into effect, unless it has been prevented by clashing sentiments upon its de tail, as it cannot be controverted by any that bankrupts—innocent, unfortunate bankrupts, have always existed, upon which such a law would operate; and, in my opinion, the law should be permanent, and not temporary. We are a commercial, an agricultural and a manufacturing nation, extending from the cold regions of the North to the Capes of Florida, near the torrid zone; and from the Atlantic ocean to the sources of the waters of the Pa cific. Through this vast domain, and with their various pursuits, bankruptcies must al ways exist; and it is the duty of the Govern ment to make such provision as will be calcu lated to givs the greatest possible relief that can be given consistently with the principles of justice. Congress alone has the power to do this, and on them the work devolves, not only as a constitutional right, but as a solemn duty. Both in private and public life I have ever regarded it as a paramount duty to relieve the distressed from every burden, as far as possible, and especially to break that yoke by which none can be benefitted, and to sooth, rather than break, t lie heart already rent with the anguish of misfortune. It is” repugnant to every principle of justice to regard bankruptcy as a presumption of guilt. In the fluctuations of trade, the most honorable men are often its victims; and to hold the per son of the debtor subject to his creditor, and to put his future liberty or acquisitions beyond his own control when he has surrendered all, is to inflict a punishment where there is no crime, nor criminal tribunal to investigate a crime, or to prescribe punishment. Credit in trade is based upon confidence in the success of him who obta'ns it, and ought not in any degree to depend upon a contin gent right which the creditor may claim on the liberty or future independence of the debtor. If he chance to be ui successful, all that they can claim is af i'hful surrenderor his remain ing effects Let him give this, and begin the world again. What is the effect of subject ing his future acquisitions to the seizure of his creditors? It is to stifle in him all spirit of enterprise, and to bind him and his family down to perpetual poverty, without the re motest prospect ot benefit to Ins cretitors or iu ow<w.j. * lit-o this, without the conviction of guilt, is too revolting to my feelings to give it my sanction; and it never ought to exist in a free and civilised country. It is said that dishonest persons will some times avail themselves of the benefit of a bank rupt law. So unfaithful men may sometimes be elected to legislative bodies, and crimes may sometimes be perpetrated under the cloak of religion. But 1 would not refuse relief to the unfortunate, nor destroy legislative bodies, nor strive to abolish Christian churches, on ac count of abuses to which they are all subject; lor the principle is equally applicable to all. This power in the Constitution is joined with that of naturalization, and with the same benevolent object. Upon that of naturaliza tion, Congress has acted, and in doing so, has provided for the oppressed ot all nations, in this land of refuge, the blessings of liberty and safety, the protection of our laws; and it was justly expected that a bankrupt law would also be passed, extending protection from op pression to the unfortunate of our own citi zens, and to those of all other nations who might choose to come and reside among us. This l wish to see done. My opinion is that it will redound to the h >nor of our country. It will relieve the bankrupt, and by leaving him unshackled in his enterprise, he will often accumulate the means both of providing for himself and of liquidating his debts, which honest men frequently do under the influence of moral obligations. The interest of the debtor, the interest of the creditor, the interest of society, and the glory of our country, all conspire to sanction the measure. The object of government ought always to be the mitigation of human misery, and the advancement of human happiness, as far as possible. If I can light up the smile of gladness,even in one solitary bosom,where the fear of sorrow was flowing, I enjoy in tho act a gratification my feeble language cannot describe. With these sentiments, I have ever been the advocate for relief to the war worn soldier, and to the widows and orphans of those who suffered or perished in their country’s defence; and with the views which I have expressed upon this subject, I have ex erted all my feeble powers for the abolition of imprisonment for debt. When lam satisfied that the object of a constitutional measure is good, I can never abandon it on account of difficulties which present themselves in mak ing- it perfect in ail its details. Similar diffi culties may be urged with equal plausibility against free government; against universal suffrage; against popular elections; and in deed against all of our institutions. It is not good to be impracticable. No man ought to put, himself up as a standard to which all must come—however great he may be, he will be disappointed in tiie end, and perhaps his use fulness iu some measure lost. We should provide a uniform system of bankruptcy upon as liberal principles as justice will warrant; and as experience shall show its imperfections, we should give it such consideration ami amendment as will be found equitable. I should expect its provisions to be extended to all classes of every profession, involuntary as to merchants, and voluntary as to others. The law should embrace all cases existing at the passage of the law, as well as all which may happen in future. Such are my views upon tins subject. Ido not set up myself as a standard for others; organised as I am, 1 could not act otherwise without a violation ol conscience and the obligations of solemn du- j ty. For 1 have no doubt that should the sys-1 tem be established, its beneficial effects would be felt in every part of our country, and espe ctally throughout our whole trading commu nity. If is a system which I believe prevails in every commercial country of Europe, and in \ every civilised nation on the globe. Indeed, from the earliest antiquity, the Jews, though j an agricultural nation, had their septennial years of release, and their general jubilees. It is the same measure in a different form; the same great conservative principle for the same •Teat'"object. In this country, all power is j based on the will of the people. We have no legal or constitutional classes; hut rich and ill; poor, the fortunate and the un'ortu nete, are all ejual. I here is a perpetual j Devolution cf property—-the poor becoming | rich, and the rich becoming poor; at dto suiici j ‘any unnecessary impediments to enterj rse, | I is to interruot the prosperity ot the nation. j : , then, the relief which a bankrupt law, ! gives, extending ail its provisions to ail who j desire it, is proper for any other country, it is . much more due to this great Republic. Most respectfully, Your fellow citizen, RIG M. JOHNSON. From the New York Times, Jn. 22. ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER COLUMBIA, The steamer Colombia arrived at her whaif at Boston at half past 7 o clock, yes terday morning, in 15 1-2 days from Liver pool, which place she left on the s:h instant, ai 10 o’clock, P. M. She arrived at Halifax, | at l P. M., on the I9;h, and sailed thence for Boston at 6 P. M. On the passage, she lost a boy overboard. The Columbia left Liver pool with 85 passengers, for Boston and Hali fax. The news brought by her is highly impor (ant and interesting. It is eleven days later than that heretofore received, being from Liv erpool to the stli, from London to the 4ih, and front Paris to the 3d instant. All the papers speak of the continued se verity of the weather in almost every part of E irope. In the South of France it had been colder than ever before known, and fears were entertained of the effect upon (lie vine j yards. The Chartists Ireld a meeting at Newport, for the purpose of getting up an address to 1 e Queen, pravingfor the resto ation of Frost, Will wins and Jones from banishment. There was no disturbance of the public peace, and the concourse, which consisted of some thou sands, separated quietly. The latest French journals are filled with New Year addie.-s.s to the King, and his answers. Louis Phillippe, in his reply to the speeches made to him by the diplomatic corps, on the preservation of peace, said: You know the value which I have never ceased to attach to the duration of the politi cal repose enjoyed by Europe, and to the maintenance of the general peace. Convinc ed as I am that this stifle of alike the interest of France and of all other states, no thing ‘•hall relax my efforts to c > operate with all the sovereigns for the preservation of this great blessing to our nation; and I hope with you that in tiie year which has just opened to us us the wisdom of the Cabinets will ef fect its consolidation. I feel very sensibly the solicitations of the corps diplomatique, and the good wishes which you offer in its name for France, my family and myself. The addresses of the Chambers of Peers and Deputies have no distinctive marks of political sentiment—but the answers of the King to both prove that he is determined to preserve peace under all circumstances. A madman who hung himself at Rheims, was found suspended but still alive; from a superstition that it was unlucky to cut the rope of a gentleman in such a position he was allowed to remain till life was extinct, when the police cut him down. The Nile has risen to 22 1-2 feet this year, and the inundation is so great that incalcula ble mischief has been done to the country. A manuscript relative to the military and naval position of Corsica entirely written in Napoleon’s own hand, has been found in a li brary at Toulon. A woman named Jones, died last week at Dudley, r-hove ninety years old, leaving be hind her 138 grandchildren! A meeting for the promotion of Irish man ufactures was held in Dublin theatre on Thurs day. The boxes were occupied bv ladies, the pit and gallery held the male part of the audi ence, and the speakers were on me siam„ — Mr. O’Connell and Professor Butt were the piincipai performers. Though Ihe meeting was held in the day time, the theatre was brilliantly lighted. The commercial city of Leghorn is in the most melancholy condition, owing to the fail ure of several first rate houses. A lamentable accident occurred at Dublin, on the 25;h ult. at.llie Roman Catholic chapel in Francis st. One of the timbers of tliegal lery, which was thronged with people, was heard to crack—a cry was raised that the building was falling, and a rush ensued, in which three persons were trampled to death and several were dangerously injured. Mr. Charles Kemble’s health is somewhat improved—his disease is inflamation of the kidneys. The Queen and infant Princess still enjoy (rood health. T 1 e Christmas entertainments at the dif ferent London theatres have been highly suc cesslul. The Hon. T. C. Robertson has succeeded Lord Auckland to the Governor-Generalship of India, pro tem. Repeal meetings, with O'Connell to open them, continued to be heald in various parts of Ireland. A person named Bora I lias been arrested in Switzerland, charged with being an acces sory to the attempt bv Darmes on the life of Louis Philippe on the 15th October I :st. Some uneasiness is said to exist in Paris on tbe subject of another “Death to ihe English and dealli to Guizot demonstration” of the students, on Sunday S I, when these credita ble youths, “the elite of the most civilized na tion on earth” proposed to repair in full force to repeat their condolence to the Abbe de Lamenneais, on his conviction for sedition. Plte government was however aware of the intention; and taking into consideration the possibility that the working classes might to a certain extent concur in the demonstration, made adequate preparations for insuring the maintenance of ti e public peace. Further plots against Louis Philippe’s life are again spoken of as having been found ini the pocket of ti e driver of a Paris omnibus,’ who committed suii ide, a paper is said to have been found, setting forth that being a j member of a secret society, his turn had come by lot to kill the King; hut, finding himself unable to commit the crime, he had determin ed to hang himself. The King lias remitted that part of Ma dame Lalfarge’s sentence which condemns here to exposition pubUque. It appears that the French Government I are determined on demanding satisfaction of! I Morocco, for an insult offered the Consul Ge neral at Tangiers The Belle Poule is shortly to sail to the China seas, under the command of the Prince de Joinville. The Paris journals are indulging in a no . tion, says the Spectator of the 2d instant, that j Russia may he induced loenter into a separ , ate alliance with France against England and ! tiie other two Powers, parties to thequadru ! pie treal v. Prince Albert is said to be studying the constitutional law of England under the able j j tuition of Mr. S elvvyn the Queen’s counsel! The Royal Babv has been vaccinated, and will be christened on the 10th inst. Ainsworth and Marrvait are engaged as j regular contributors to the Sunday Times j ; and Era. The former has commenced anew i romance called Old St. Pauls, of which we shall publish the first part tomorrow. There were a great many fires in London during the Christmas festivities, General Bugeaud has been appointed by the French Government, Governor Geueral of Algiers vice Marshal Vallee. Mrs. Fanny Kemble Butler is in London \ with her father. Nearly 1,000,000 persons are said to have visited the Church of Invallides, Paris, during the spare of ten days. The Lon lon Atlas says, “New Tear meets ,us with a fair and fortunate aspect. It finds us quiet Sn<! prosperfius at home and success ful abioad.” From France we have no news of anv ! particular interest, if we except a rumcrtK c ange of ministry by which the GiiliWfr Ministry is to he superceded hy Count flwfe* :n conjunction with M. Thiers as Miuisferrif the Interior. The basis of the Cabinet in peUo, is said to be a complete rupture with England, and a close alliance with Russia, for purposes of mutual aggrandizement, but the conjunction and the policy are so preposter ous, and so opposed to the well known wishes of the King, and all reasonable Frenchmen, that the report is probably wholly undeserv ing of credit. The report that the British forces were in possession of Pekin, the capital of the Chi nese,empire, has been repeated. The occu- Ipation of Ctiusan lias evidently been magni ; fied by Madam Rumor into the seizure of the j capital. The origin of the report has been traced fi a letter fiom St. Petersburgh of the 12jh : December, of which the following is an ec tract: Accounts have been received from Kiafca of the 15th of September, stating that a re- Eort was veiy current there, and general!” elieved, that the Brit sh forces were in pos session of Pekin. Kiatka is 933 English miles from Pekin, and the only chanml by which intelligence from China could !>e re c ived. Now, as accounts from Pekin could be re ceived at Kiatka to a much later date than that of the last advices via Bombay and Al ex: n Iria, there appeared some ground whire on to rest (he belief that was generally enter tained in St. Petersburgh. On Monday last, however, the same house that had received the tetter to which we have just referred, had further accounts from its agent in the capital of Russia; hy that time the news from Kiat ka had become more accurate, and yet more vague. Pekin it was found, had not fallen, but some place on the coast had positively been taken by the English. It is very clear, therefore, that the “some place” was no other than the celebrated Chusan, which the Kiat ka correspondent of the Petersburgh agent had mistaken for Pekin. It seems that the Governor of Canton is highly enraged at the capture and detention of the salt junks, and begins to leel the incon venience of the blockade Some ten or twelve grain and salt junks have been taken under the guns of the Bogue forts, and car ried into Capsing Moon. One Mandarin boat that would not attend to the warning shots, was sunk. The Chinese frigate Ches apeake, late the Cambridge, has been ordered up the river from the second bar, where she was considered as dangerously near the for eign devils. The blockading squadron suf fers fishing boats and opium boats to pass. All the foreigners in Canton, viz: two Amer icans, two Swiss, one Dutch, and one Portu guese, had been ordered to quit the city, and all Ihe the factories were deserted. The only intelligence from China on which any reliance is to be placed, is an account which Cape of Good Hope papers contain, brought by a vessel from the Mauritius, to the effect that a division of the Briiish fleet had gone up the Yellow River, and would proceed to within eighty miles of Pekin.— The troops would march along the banks, in order to secure the passage, which is repre sented as very circuitous. The Canton river is effectually blockaded. A dreadful storm happened at Constantino, p'e on the first December. A letter of the Slh gives the following account: — “We had a dreadful gale here on the Ist instant: —Among the known losses are the hark Emma, Captain Hudson loaded at O dessa, with linseed and tallow, capt. and all l nnrla perished: the schr. Robert Svmms, of Plymouth at Odessa, with tallow, captain and three men saved, four list; the Aus ran com mercial steamer Neva, oi Emperor Nicholas, Capt Rogers, from Odessa, with passengers and cargo, thirteen of the crew, with 4 male and two female passengers saved—these went on shore to the west and last of the Boghaz. From the London Times of the sth. The JYew York Packet Ship President. — The Hnmbur Union Company steam packet Water Witch, Capt. Gibson, arrived at the St. Kaiharine’s steam packet wharf, Sf. Kath arine’s, on Sunday afternoon, from Hull, bring ing information [which was received from a “salvage man ’] that a large American ship, name unknown, was on shore on the Nore Sand, and not 1 kel.v to be got off. This inte’li gence rapidly spread and created considi Ta ble alarm, as the vessel must have experienc ed the gale and thunderstorm eatly on Sunday morning, when she was on that dangerous Sand. Yesterday afternoon it was ascertained that the vessel on shore was the American line of packet ship President, from New York. She got upon the Nore Sand late on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning, whilst in tow of the General Steam Navigation Com pany’s steam packet Royal Sovereign, and remained in that perilous situation until Sun day niglit, when, with the assistance of sev eral wreckers, and others, and the lightening of the vessel, she floated off without having received much apparent damage, although at one time she had sunk two or three feet in the sand. She was expected to arrive late last night or eaily this morning, in the St. Katharine’s dock, where her cargo will be discharged with all possible expedition, Sir John Hall, the active Secretary to the Dock Company, having, we understand, given di rections to that effect. Since our foreign news was in type, we have learned that letters have been re ceived in this city, by the Columbia, announc ing that the packet ship President was safely got off the Nore Sand, and carried into dock in London. From the Savannah Republican, Jan. 2P. IMPORTANT NEWS FROM FLORIDA. We are indebted to Captain Nock of Ihe steamer Florida, arrived yesterday, from Ca rey’s Ferry, for the St. Augustine “News” and “Herald” of the 22d inst., from which we annex extracts. We always are satisfied to give good news from Florida, and considering the almost hopeless nature of the warfare, it has been in our power to communicate more refreshing intelligence lately than could reasonably have been anticipated, li the news continues to come in as it has done, we shall be convinced that either through fighting or treaty-making, the war will soon end. The recapitulation of our information is, that since our last advices, eleven Indians have been killed, forty Indians and six negroes taken prisoners, making a to tal of fifty-seven. “Now by St. Paul, the work goes bravely an.’’ From the St. Augustine News. MORE GLORIOUS NEWS. The schr. Frances, Capt. Copper, arrived j this morning, brings the glorious news of ad ditional success in the capture and destruc- I tion of the enemy South. On the B.h, Col. : Harney captured and killed, in the Everglades, jl2 Indians. On the 10th, at Indian Rivet, i the command uuder Major Childs, Lieutenants , Taylor, Steptoe, Van Yliet and Dr. Simmons, j captured 34 Indians and negroes, killing 4. j On the 11th, on the St. Johns, Lieuts. Taylor ! and Van Yliet captured 5 Indians, killing 1. ■ Col. Harney had to return for additional force, j and is again in pursuit of the enemy. The news from the South is truly cheering; j j the successors of Col. Ilarnev, and the prompt ! 1 mid gallant conduct of Major Childs, and uffi- j cers of 3d Artillery, are entitled to all praise. ; Major Childs is a brave officer, and already i distinguished for some conduct at Fort Drane. We say God speed such men as are operating South—they Irave large claims upon the grat itude of the country. From the St. Augustine Herald. Tolie politeness of Lieut. Col. Gates, 3d lArtillrw we are indebted for the following jimpofant report. Major Childs will be re- Unemered in Florida for the perseverance and ‘euerg which happily resulted in the capture of Inians that we announce to-day. Fort Pierce, Fla. > January 5,1841. Sit: I have the honor to report that 1 ar rive* at this post with a reinforcement for A. and F. companies of the 3d Artillery, on the 20tl ult. learning that Indians had been seen at Gfllert’s Bar, I immediately fitted out six loats with thirty-five men, and on the 23d, at light, left for Gilbert’s Bar, and from thence to Jupiter Inlet, searching the shores during the night for Indian fires, and laying concealed during the (lav at certain points where it was most probable Indians would pass. Having failed in discovering Indians by scouting at night, and being satisfied by a stay of near two days in the water near Jupiter, thatlndians no longer even visited the vicinity, I closely examined the coast and main land on my return, and am confident that the In dians seen at Gilbert’s Bar came from the Saint Lucie. On my regaining this post, I forthwith made preparations for a more extended scout to the North for the purpose of routing the Indians supposed to be in the vicinity of Cape Cana veral and Merritt’s Island, and on the 4th in stant, started with 42 men in seven boats, ac companied by Lieuts. Taylor, Steptoe, and Van Vliet, together with Assistant Surgeon Simons, who promptly volunteered tor duty in the line, as well as to act in his official ca pacity, piloted by Messrs. Ashlock and Bay ard, both of whom were of essential service. On the 2d day, discovered a large field on the coast side, and opposite the southern end of Merrilt’s Island, cultivated last year, and preparation made for another crop the coming spring. Here I took the passage between the coast and ihe Island, wholly unknown to any one on board, examining the shore where a landing could be effected without discovering any signs of Indians until the 4th day, when we came upon a camp of several palmetto houses and one board house situated in a hammock, several miles to the North of the cape and fields, under cultivation to the amount of seven acres, a large crib of several hun dred pumpkins, signs of a horse, and evident ly an inhabited camp within a week, and the residence of a large party for many years. I burned the buildings, destroyed the vegetables, and proceeded up the coast about. 9 miles, when I came to another lately inhabited camp, and signs of cultivation, and the same liorse track, seen the day. before, and the signs judged to be from five to six days old. On the sth morning, soon after starling, rowing with muffled oars and in a fog close to the shore, discovered two canoes in a creek lead ing into an Island at the head of Meritt’s Isl and, landed, and finding a trail pursued it for half a mile, when we surprised a camp cap turing an Indian woman and child, a negro by the name of Friday, his wife and two children; he says he belongs to Maxy Dell, Esq. and was taken with his family some four years since between Black Creek and Newnans ville. From the negro I learned that I was on the trail of the party whose village I had destroy ed the day before—that they had been gone five or six days, part of them by land and part of them by water, on a fishing excursion to Mosquito Lagoon or to the Countie Ground and Orange Groves in the Big Swamp. Hav ing destroyed a quantity of corn and vegeta bles at, this place, I proceeded on and arrived at, the Haulover at 10 o’clock at night, discov ermg no signs of Indians until 2 o’clock in the morning, when the horse whose signs we had seen for the last 3 days came to the place where we lay concealed. Having secured him, I took his trail at day light with a party of thirty-one soldiers, leaving Lieut. Van Vliet and eleven men to guard the prisoners and boats. At 9 o’clock we came upon a camp of 31 men, women and children, just embarking to return to their late residence. They took to the wa'er with as many of their boats as ihey could easily reach. We followed, some wading, oil ers in canoes which had left, and finally succeeded in capturing all their boats hut one, not, however, without a stout resis tance by one boat pursued by Lieut Taylor, and two soldiers; one warrior keeping up a steady fire, while the other, with the women propelled the brat; the warriors were at last slot, and in the course of two hours we found ourselves in possession of seven boats, twen ty-four j risoriers, two dead warriors, and one w< man and child accidenta ly killed. The prisoners were three warriors, two boys, twelve and fifteen years of age, seven women, and twelve children. Learning from negro Friday, that at a creek leading into the St. Johns, about 10 miles from Indian River and seven from Fort Mc- Neil, resided three warriors, two women and two children, I determined to visit, them, and on the 7th day dropped down about 7 miles from the Haulover and to the Southern ter mination of the Big Swamp, and at 12 M. des patched Lieuts. Taylor and Van Vliet with2o men, and Friday for a guide. At 2 o’clock A. M, Lieut. Taylor returned with two women and children prisoners, leaving one dead war rior on Ihe field destroying two splendid ca noes, and burning their camp—having march ed through swamps and ponds upwards of twenty miles. I could learn of no other party of Indians and my boats being encumbered with prisoners, and the men exhausted from excessive labor, I determined to return, and arrived at this pest last evening, after an ab sence of ten days—having rowed upwards of 250 miles, and scouted on land 50 more. To attempt to speak of individual officers and soldiers, when all lent the ent ire energies of their minds and bodies to the successful ac complishment of of the object in view, would be invidious. Each and every individual en dured privations and fatigue without a mur-j mur, worthy of a more glorious cause and more lasting honor. RECAPITULATION. w amors. Women. Children. Total. Killed, 3 1 15 Prisoners, 3 10 17 30 Negro men, 11 2 4 Aggregate, 39 Captured, two fouroared boats and eight canoes. Amongst the prisoners I find a wife and I child of a brother of Co-a-coo-chee, and a boy 12 years old who is his brother-in-law, they were on a party of pleasure to the camp of these Indians. The husband of the above named woman was badly wounded in the back, but escaped in the bushes. Two warriors belonging to the Cape party, and one negro belonging to Mr. Forrester of St. Augustine, escaped in a canoe. I have, however, as prisoners, the father of one, and the wife of the other warrior. Respectfully, Your most ob't. serv’t. THOMAS CHILDS, Major U. S. A., Commanding. To Col. Wm. Gates, CommdV. Atlantic District, St. Augustine, Florida. On tiie 7th inst. Gen. Read captured three squaws, one Indian lad, and a warrior, and two negio joys, near the Suwanee. The warrior, though chained, and his hands tied, escaped in the night, while his guard was | asleep, and by giving alarm to the neighboring i camps has, we fear, frustrated the object of ! the expedition. Col. Harney possesses the only “patent right” for securing the does not tie them by the leg, but by the neck. Col. Dancy was at Fort Frank Brooke on ‘he 13sli with his command—all well and in good spirits. It was intended to direct their course homewards in about ten days-—scout ing the country as they return. SENTINEL & HERALD. COLUMBUS, FEB. 3, 1841. “ This Institution is one of the moat deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Consti tution. The nation is, at this time, so strong and united in its sentiments, that it cannot beshaken at this mo ment. But suppose a, series of untoward events should occur, sufficient to bring into doubt the competency of a Republican Government to meet a crisis of great dan ger. or to unhinge the confidence of the people in the public functionaries ; an institution likeihis penetrating by Us 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 nation, or its reg ular functionaries. What an obstruction could not this Bank of the United States, with oil its branch banks, be in time of war ? It might dictate to us the peace we should accept, or withdraw its aid. Ought we then to give further growth to an institution so powerful, so hostile ?— Thomas Jefferson. Very True. —A Harrison paper says, that Mr. Webster remarked recently in Philadel phia, that the “ Conservatives did little to elect Gen. Harrison—their force is contempti ble—in fact, in point of numbers, they would only fill a good-sized New York omnibus.” Resumption in Virginia and Maryland. —The Baltimore American of the 25;h ult. states that, by mutual agreement, the banks of Balti more and Richmond will resume specie pay ments on the first day of February next, (Monday last,) and that this “measure of resumption will, without doubt, be adopted by all the remaining banks both in Maryland and Virginia, and thus the resumption will be com plete in both States.” On our first page will be found uvo articles which will be read with interest—one, a nar rative, from an eye-witness, of the battle of New Orleans, on the Bth of Jan. 1815, —and tl e other, notes of the passage across the E/eiglades of Florida, bv an officer of the expedition. A former Surveyor General ol Florida stated, several years since, to the writer of this article, the existence of Islands in the Everglades, concealed by water and tall grass, and in the centre of which, almost inaccessible to human lootsteps, were high and dry spots, affording a secure hiding place to the savage—and until these were exploredi the Seminole war would continue. This has been done by the expedition under Col. Har ney. The Savannah Georgian of the 30th ult., received this morning, contains later intelli gence from Florida; but the time of its re ceipt, and the crowded state of our columns, prevent its insertion in this paper. Col. lli ley surprised a camp of Indians in the Ever glades of the Ocklawaha—and, at the mo ment of their capture, received by a runner, an order from Gen. Armistead, which is thus spoken of in the letter of the correspondent of the Georgian: Upon counting noses, the prisoners num bered 100! and before a deposition was made of them, a runner who had but a few hours previous joined their camp, made his appear ance with an order signed bv General Armis lead, directing that no one should interfere with said Indians, as (hey had promised logo in at Tampa. The Colonel turned to his officers—“ Ge n he, “I would not have regarded a White Flag, but loan order in hla'k and white , I must submit.” “Guide!” (addressing his negro) “draw a bee-line for home, and see that you fake us there by the shortest possi ble route.” In silent and the most perfect disgust, the command wended their homeward path. U. STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN. Many, if not all of our readers recollect, doubtless, the tone held by a great majority of the papers in the country, opposed to the Ad ministration of Mr. Van Buren, some twelve or eighteen months back, respecting the course of that Administration upon the North Eas tern Boundary question. It was urged by them that Mr. Van Buren. and the Secretary of State, Mr. Forsyth, were acting with greet rashness, and determined to precipitate the United States into a war with the most pow erful Nation on the earth, without the smallest preparation, or the slightest justifiable cause— that, ns a last and desperate resort, the Presi dent, to secure his re-election, was willing to bring us into hostile collision with “ our natu ral ally”'—our “best friend”—“who enter tained for us feelings of the greatest kindness, and of the purest good will:” and this, too, in violation of the wishes of the people, and to the utter destruction of all the great interests of the country. It was necessary, said they, to avert the evils which Mr. Van Buren, and his havglity Secretary of State, were madly urging, to deprive them of the power to do harm, and to place in their stead pure Repub licans—men who loved their country, and would sacrifice on the altar of peace all ambi tious views and unholy aspirations. To what extent, and with how much pertinacity, these views were sought to be inculcated upon the people, all must be aware who perused, at the period referred to, the leading whig papers.^ Are the same sentiments entertained now, and equal solicitude manifested for the pre servation of peace, and the establishment of permanent concord, between Nations, “united by the ties of a common origin, and zealously engaged in the same great work of ameliora tion and reform”! Or have they, like the thousand phantoms conjured up, previous to the election of Gen. Harrison, to arouse the feelings and alarm the prejudices of the people, been consigned to the tomb, and numbered among the things that were—or if remem bered at all, remembered only as monuments of the patience with which Americans will suffer themselves to be ensnared, in moments of excitement, by the electioneering tricks of a party; cajoled into the support of measures in direct hostility to their own rights; and in fluenced to elevate to high official station, political foes to those genuine principles of freedom, which gave birth to the independence of these States, and were re-established in the political revolution of 1900. Look now at many of the leading Harrison prints, and see how changed their tone —how altered their views upon questions of exterior policy. In stead of haste and rashness on the part of the President, and a determination to involve the country in war—the Administration is dis gracing and degrading the Nation—pusillani mouslv submitting to the most outrageous assaults upon its honor, and the integrity of its territory—and unresistingly yielding to the arbitrary encroachments of the most grasping and avaricious Nation on the earth. If we look through the correspondence be tween the two countries with respect to the points upon which they are at issue, front its Commencement; to its close in the recent let ters of Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Fox, we shall find, on the part of the American Government* the same views expressed—the same spirit exhibited —and equal determination manifest ed, throughout the whole of it, to compromit, in nowise, the honor or the interests ot the United States. The letters of the Secretary of State addressed, the other day, to the Brit ish Minister, Mr. Fox, relative to the arrest of M’Leod, and which met with such especial favor and commendation from the W hig side of Congress, are but a repetition of the views uniformly held and maintained by the present administration, upon the subject ot our differ ences with Great Britain. As, however, the great object has been accomplished —the po litical prostration of Mr. Van Burcn■ thcicis now no motive for the misrepresentation of facts, or the suppression of truth; and the sentiments which, a twelve-month ago, were to embroil the country, most unjustly and un necessarily, in a war with a great Nation, are now tame and disreputable; beneath the digni ty of the American Government, and humilia ting to the pride of every patriot. In the language of the Pennsylvanian, quoted by us a week or two since, “the successor of Air. Forsyth, be he whom he may, will be a fortu nate patriot if he can contribute to expand the reputation, exalt the dignity, preserve the peace, and maintain the rights of the United States, to the same proportion that these ob jects have been attained by the labors of Mr. Forsyth.” APALACHICOLA AND ST. JOSEPHS. In the early part of last month, vve commu nicated to the Public information of the fact, that, by an arrangement then just concluded, file trade and business of these cities would he hereafter concentrated at Apalachicola; and vve expressed our gratification that conflicting interests, which had heretofore been the occa sion of embittered feeling, and great pecuniary sacrifices, had been reconciled, on terms mu tually satisfactory; and that this reeonciliation would be of immediate and permanent ad vantage to the citizens of St. Josephs as well as of Apalachicola. We remarked farther, that, in accomplishing an object of so much public importance, but little individual injury, comparatively, had been inflicted. It was unreasonable to suppose that, in ad justing a matter which had given rise to so much acrimony of feeling—had excited such strong opposing efforts—and in which so large a number of persons, of dissimilar views, and of unequal degrees of prejudice, were directly interested —-an arrangement could be made, equally acceptable to every individual, whose interests were identified with the one place or the other. As, however, all had seen, and to a greater or less extent felt, the injurious in fluences resulting from the existence of two towns in immediate contact —each contending for supremacy, and both dependent for suc cess and prosperity on the same sources; and as all must have become thoroughly convinced that, under the existing condition of things, there could he no stability in the value of property, nor any certainty and regularity in the transaction of business—hopes were en tertained that the terms of the compromise would he favorably received, and cordially ac- i ccpted, although they might operate less liberally upon some than upon others. Inef lecting an arrangement of such magnitude, in which so many interests were involved—and where some individual loss must necessarily accrue—it must have been foreseen by all concerned, that temporary sacrifices were to be made on the one hand, and additional expenses incurred on the other—-which time, and the union of the two cities, would fully repair. We are not apprised that any deep and j wide-spread dissatisfaction exists, or that the j arrangement will not be carried out in good faith, by all interested. Wo have been led to recur to the subject, and to make the fore going comments, from observing in the Apala chicola Journal, of the 271 h ult., the subjoined spicy notice. ADVERTISEMENT. CITIZENS OF APALACHICOLA! A subject of deep interest demands your attention at Lewis’ Exchange Hotel, on Fri day evening next, at half past 7 o’clock, to decide whether the citizens of this city are to be further taxed in the annual sum of S3OOO to purchase anonentity--ihe city of StJosepb, and a few identified with its interests. A CITIZEN. gov. McDonald— THE ARGUS—RECORDER AND JEFFERSONIAN. In previous numbers of this paper, we have endeavored, in our desultory mariner, to up hold the relief Message of the Executive, and to specify some of the advantages to result from the adoption of the recommendations of His Excellency. We thought their rejection by the Legislature improper and unwise-—and we believed that the people, or a large ma jority of them, on examination and reflection, would approve the course of the Governor— at this particular juncture—and, as a conse quence, testify their disapprobation of the hasty and inconsiderate action of the Legis-! lature. We were not mistaken in this opin-j ion. Our information on this subject, gathered i from different journals, and from various pri- j vate sources, authorises us to state, that the ! feeling is deep and general in favor of the i lan 1 proposed by the Executive, and so uncererno-! niously discarded by the Legislature—and ! that its adoption will be strenuously urged by the people. The Argus of this City, the Recorder of Milledgeville, and the Jeffersonian of West Point, are arrayed against the plan, and de nounce it as wlio'ly unwise, and utterly im practicable. We shall hereafter examine in detail the various objections urged by these j journals, and endeavor to show wherein they err in the deductions they have drawn, and ; the conclusions to whifft they have arrived, j In the mean-while, it may not be amiss to sub-: mit the following queries : We should be glad to learn from the Argus whether there is no distress, caused other wise than by expensive living—distress which was unexpected, and that no prudence could have averted —produced by an unpropi tious season, and by the derangements in every branch of business—whether cases may not arise, and have not arisen, in which temporary aid has evolved permanent relief, without risk to any—whether it is fair rea- j soiling to view the creditor* the debtor, and 1 the individual who is neither, as entirely dis- 1 tinct, and independent of each other—wheth er these three are not in daily connection, and derangement or disaster in the affairs of one, does not necessarily cause inconvenience or positive injury to the other—and the success ! and prosperity of one do not give corresponding J relief to all—whether there is any rational [ground for supposing that the Public, other | than those who borrow the money, will be called on to reimburse the StateWgand vvliat ’ necessity will exist to tax the large,, iif the money be paid by the to whom it is loaned—what proportion of the wlk>l© sum discounted by the Central Bank has been lost, and even if the new loan he [made, and the same proportion lost in ita i collection, and this deficiency be supplied by taxation, what will he the burden on each ir- I dividual—and finally, what are the appropriate objects and powers of the Stat e Governments ? The Recorder has placed the question in a nut-shell—the “ utter impracticability” of the plan—this impracticability consisting in two things—first, the inability to sell the bonds— secondly, if sold, at such ruinous rates as to deter individuals from borrowing of the Cen tral Bank on the same terms, without the cer tainty of absolute ruin. If bonds based on such securities as were proposed to be affixed in this case cannot be sold, why did a distin guished member of the Legislature, and of the party to which the Recorder is attached, frame, | and effect the passage of a Bill, authorising the sale of bonds, to be issued in the same man [ ner, and founded on precisely the same secu | ritif s—to relieve the existing liabilities of the ! Central Bank! Is it reasonable to suppose that a gentleman of such acknowledged abili ty and judgment would do so senseless a tiling, j as to pass an act utterly inefficient and useless! ; Has the Recorder heard of State bonds placed j in market, carrying with them available means for their redemption ? Does not the Recorder j know that no euch bonds have been offered any where—and that capitalists, prior to pur- chasing, examine carefully into the character of bonds—the amount of them—the periods of payment, and the means contemplated for their redemption! In short, why did not the Legis lature sanction the issue of State bonds as proposed by the Governor, prescribing the terms upon whit h they might be sold—and leave it to time to determine their fate! If this had been done, there would be no ground of complaint; and if the bonds had re mained unsold, the Legislature would have been faultless in the matter. If application be made for aid to Legislature or individual, is it liberal or just to say, my credit will avail you nothing—if I give it, it will be useless in your hands. I low do you know this] At any rate, if I am disposed to risk it, ought you to withhold it on the ground of its insufficiency? ! The Jeffersonian thinks the plan beneficial to the debtor class only, and, as a corollary, prejudicial to the creditor class. We would bo pleased to see his reasoning on this point. It would certainly be something new under the sun, to see proof made that furnishing means to the debtor to pay the creditor is pre judicial to the latter. The Jeffersonian, too, dislikes the project, as presenting an unsafe precedent, to be used When the emergency | is not as pressing as he admits it to be just i now. This, it seems to us, is running counter j to one of the cardinal doctrines of the Jeflcr i soilian, and Argus also, that the people are capable of self-government in its broadest acceptation; and must, of course, be endowed with some discretion—■enough certainly to determine when the same measure is right, and when wrong, which is one of the com monest occurrences under the sun—especially in a free government—as a measure may be very proper to-day that, is very improper to morrow. We have given some of the heads upon which we shall, probably, hereafter argue this question, as it promises to occupy, during the present year, a large share of public atten tion. The following are extracts from the Wash ington correspondence of the Charleston Courier, under date of Jan. 2.>lh and 2Gth. Rumor says Mr. Preston will be offered the mission to Fiance. Mr. Waddv Thompson is spoken of as Secretary of the Navy, or as Minister to Spain. Mr. Ogden II ifl’man has been offered the District Attorneyship, of New Yoik, the most profits be office under t lie government. Hut there is a provision in the General appro priation bill, as reported by Mr. Jones, limit ing the compensation of this end other offices to a reasonable amount. The members of Congress from your Stale waited on the President of the United States en masse , and solicited the appointment of Purser lor the son of the late Commodore T. Stevens, as a vacancy had occurred in the navy. Mr. Van Buren, under the circum stances, immediately granted the petition, ami it has given much satisfaction to the friends of the Commodore, who are very numerous. Booth attempted to play Richard last night to a fashionable audience, but, alas! he was in suffi a state as to incapacitate him from performing, and nothing but the high esti mation in which the manageress (Miss Mo nier) is held by all classes, prevented a row. The play was suffered to proceed, however, amid shouts of laughter, particularly at the conclusion, when Richmond and a host of soldiers vainly endeavored to kill the crooked j hack tyrant. He would not die, notwith standing all their efforts, and the curtain fell | while the supernumeraries seized him boldly, j and carried him off the stage. Mr. Calhoun presented a memorial fronr I the Chamber of Commerce of New Orleans,, in favor of a general bankrupt law. Mr.. C. took occasion to remark that fie consider ed a voluntary bankrupt law and a compulsory one inexpedient The special session has been settled in. a caucus of whig members. The- whigs are I almost unanimous in favor of it, and the othr ler party do not deprecate it. It with, they [say probably take place by the middle of May. It is insisted upon one side, perhaps justly, that the people are burning with impatience to overthrow the sub-treasury system; and that the States are determined not to wait any longer for the distribution of the pro ceeds of the public lands. These two measures are the first which are to he secured. The tariff, funded debt, bank, &.c. wilt follow in due time. The Charleston Courier remarks:-—We have it from the most unquestionable authori ty, that Mr. Preston has no intention of ac cepting a seat in the Cabinet, (as has been confidently reported) hut will remain in the Senate for the purpose of giving his aid to the m w administration in earrvitg out its measures. Wood vs. Water. —A scientific go t'’email, of the literary emporium, asserts tint a cord of green wood contains, exactly one hogshead of water.