Newspaper Page Text
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COLUMBUS, GEORGIA,
WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEB. 21,
Veto of the French spoliation Bill.
As will be seen by a dispatch in another column, the j
President hae vetoed the French Spoliation Bill. Thus
again has this measure of justice been defeated. The facts,
we believe, are briefly these: During the French Directory,
and afterwards during the consulate of Napoleon, immense
depredations were committed on our commerce (neutral)
by French privateers and government armed vessels. The
complaints and claims of those who suffered by this viola
tion of the laws of nations, were assumed by our govern
ment, and for years was the subject of negociation. During
Gen. Jackson’s administration, the matter was settled as far
as France was concerned — that nation paying a large sum
of money to our government, which, by agreement,assum
ed the payment of the claims of our citizens. This the
claimants have been laboring for years to receive, and bills
for that purpose have several times passed Congress, and
have been vetoed on grounds not deemed sufficient by a
majority of the representatives of the people.
it is centended on the part of some that a portion of the
claims are perhaps fraudulent, and some have passed from
the heirs into the hands of speculators, On the other hand,
it is contended that our Government has received the mo
ney, and ought to pay it out to those to whom it belongs.—
Daily Alabama Journul, Feb. 171 h.
We have never, in the course of our editorial career,
found, in a respectable journal, so gross a misconcep
tion and perversion of the facts of history as is contained
in the foregoing article, which we clip from an editorial
in the Alabama Journal. It is true that the Charles
ton Courier has asserted that our Goverment assumed
the payment of the claims of our citizens upon the
french Government for spoliations committed upon our
commerce pcior to 1800 by the treaty of that date; and
that this false assertion has been reiterated by most of
the papers, Democratic and Whig, published at the
commercial cities of the South. But the Alabama
Journal enjoys the signal felicity of standing “solitary
and alone” in the declaration that France paid a large
sum of money to our Government during General
Jaokson s administration in liquidation of these claims
and that the United States, in consideration thereof, as
sumed the payment of the claims of our citizens.
would not expose the lamentable ignorance of
the Alabama Journal if that paper had not taken oc
casion to found accusation against the President upon
this formidable battery of misconception. We hold that
no man is culpable for want of information if he has
used hie means and opportunities to the best advantage
to acquire it; and this, we suppose, the conductors of
the Journal have done. But when this lamentable
ignorance is made the ground of condemnation of the
the conduct of the President of the United States, it is
Ho less our duty than our pleasure to lift the lion’s skin
from those who wear it, without regard to the painful
exposure it may occasion.
Every person at all familiar with American history
knows that the claims embraced in the French Spolia
tion bill originated in depredations upon our commerce
oommitted by French armed vessels prior to 1800:
That in the treaty of that year France steadfastly de
nied her liability ; that the second article of the treaty
contained astipulation that in as much as the Ministers
plenipotentiary of two governments could not agree
“upon the indemnities mutually due or claimed, the
parties will negotiate further upon these subjects at a
convenient time; ’ that when the treaty was sent to
the Senate for ratification, the said second article was
stricken out; and that the treaty as retrenched was
ratified by Bonaparte upon the express condition that
the two States renounce the respective pretensions
which are the object of the said article.”
Wo refer the Journal to Benton's Thirty Year’s
\ ievv, page 489, where the facts above set forth are
given in the speeohes of Senators Wright and Webster.
Also Webster’s Works, vol. 4, page 157. It is, there
fore, apparent that instead of the Government
“paying a large sum of money to our Government” in
satisfaction of these claims, the two Governments respec
tively “renounced’’ them.
But the most singular error of the Journal is that
these claims “were settled as far as France was con
cerned, ’ during General Jackson’s administration. It
is hardly neoessary to say in reply that the claims paid
by France during General Jackson’s administration all
arose subsequent to 1800, and that the money received
has long since been paid to the claimants.
The misapprehension that exists in reference to the
French Spoliation bill is most glaring; and to this fact
we attribute the favor it has met with iu the publio press.
“Y\ e have heretofore fully disoussed its merits. If these
claims are paid by the Government, then ought it to
redeem the old continental money and make good the
losses sustained by the men of the revolution in negroes
stolen, houses burnt, crops destroyed, corn and meal
eaten by the British in the revolutionary war. The
one claim is as good as the other.
We hope the Alabama Journal and other papers
who favor this bill will review the history of the French
Spoliation bill before they allow themselves to denounce
the President for doing what was done time and again,
but In a different form, by our fathers.
A Chance lor a Printer.
James M. Smythe, Esq., the Editor of the Southern
Eclectic £ Home Gazette, published at Augusta, Ga.,
offers for sale a half interest in the paper to “a business,
managing partner,” aud guaranties “to the purchaser a
material, certain advantage of thirty-five per cent upon
the capital invested, whieh may be increased to more
than fifty.” The Eclectic ts- Gazette has 4500 sub
scribers “with every prospect of going upward instead
of falling back.” The objects of the Editor in puhlish
ing the Eclectic Home Gazette are very noble and
praiseworthy, and are thus forcibly put in a late num
ber of the paper:
We would arouse the Southern mind ; we would, as far
as prwsihla, inspire Southern genius and effort. Abroad we
are viewed as cattle who follow the tinkling of distant bells,
and labor to fill the pockets of distant and foreign intellec
tual masters. Shame upon the people of the South that
they themselves should so act as to give colouring to this
disgraceful pretension! Here in the South, where the sun
is so resplendent, and the stars are so bright, and the skie*
so blue—where nature exceeds art in the richness of its col
ouring—where music should be as soft as our summer
zephyrs ; where genius should climb to heaveu in its flights
here, we say, the home—thß empire of intellect—should be
brighter, richer, than in any other clime. It is a despicable
state to eink down into gloomy ignorance, and abject de
pendence upon other lands and climes, when there is an
echo of glory in every breeze which fans us, and there are
a thousand mines of mental wealth scattered over our love-’
ly land.
Accident on the Muscogee Railroad. —Oo Mon
day, 19th inst., the freight train from Macon ran off
the track of this road about three miles from Columbus.
Several cars were smashed by the accident, but no
oao was injured. The obstrro'.ion was removed from
the track Tuesday and all damage to tin t ack repaired.
S nee the foregoing was put in type, we learn from
President Gaiffin that the train consisted of 27 errgty
freight ears. The boxes of 3 of the cars were totally
and sttoved ; of one other badiy broken, but can be re
paired ;of 9 others slightly injured. The engine howse
was broken off by a car which split the tender in two
and rau over the engine ; otherwise the damage to tie
tßgine is slight. The total damage by the aecide it i
estimated at £2OOO. The engine was thrown off of the
track by a snake head just before the cars reached a
trestle bridge, and the smash up occurred on the bridge.
Georgia Magazine Literature.
Blister & Critic. —This is a Medical Journal pub
lished at Atlanta, Ga., at $1 a year, and Edited by
11. A. Ramsay, M. D. and W. T. Grant, M. D. We
are better pleased with the selections and communica
tions than with the editorial matter of the Blister cj-
Critic. It may be a prejudice, but in a scientific work
we do not like to see so much personality.
Southern School Journal. —This monthly is the
organ of the Georgia State Teacher's Association :
published at Madison, Ga., at $1 a year ; and very ably
conducted by Jno. G. Clark, and a corps of assistants,
among whom are some of the first Teachers in the
State.
Georgia University Magazine. —This periodical is
edited by Messrs. Bozeman, Scott, McGougb, Stanley
and Walsh, members of the Senior Class of Franklin
College, and published at Athens, Ga., at $2 a year.—
Contents February No: The Debutante ;
phy of an Actress ; The Bitter Night; The Mother
less ; Musings in the Temple of Nature ; The Golden
Day a Night of Gloom ; Twilight; Editorial Bureau.
Oglethorpe University Magazine is edited by
Messrs. Smith, Patterson, Harvey, Slaughter and Caa
sels, of the Senior Class of Oglethorpe University, and
published at Talmage, Ga., at $1 per annum. Con
tents of the January No : Thomas Moore ; Americans •,
B'ort Wilkinson ; Existence of God proved by the light
of Nature; Study of Latin and Greek ; Tallulah Falls ;
A Modern Child •, There is a Tear •, The Oracle, or
a Southern Fireside ; Editorial.
We feel a lively interest in the success of these too
last mentioned periodicals, and, therefore, venture to
make a suggestion or two in reference to them. If the
Editors rely entirely upon under graduates for contribu
tions, they cannot expect to obtain a very large circulation,
nor to exert a very powerful influence upon the publio
mind. However sprightly a boy may be, he lacks that
maturity of thought and scope of observation which
are essential to successful authorship. But if they can
enlist their Presidents, Professors and Alumni in their
enterprises and rely upon them principally for contri
butions, we think these University Magazines may be
made valuable co-hborers in the field of letters.
In the Times gone by, has not the entire Northern body
politic been cons gned to indiscriminate condemnation, as
cheese eating, onion smelling reprobates and conspirators
against the rights of the Somh, with whom as Southern
men we could in no wise affiliate on the basis of national
organization ?— Enquirer.
Very clear of it. In the darkest hour of our destiny,
the South had no stauncher friends than Paulding, of
New York,-Brown, of Pennsylvania, Birdsall, of New
York, Pierce, cf New Hampshire, Cushing, of Mas
sachusetts, and a host of others, of whom the world is
not worthy. And by reference to our files it will be
seen that they stood in the iminent and deadly brush at
the dark hour to which our cotemporary refers, while
he aud his firiends were patching up the compromise
finality.* We never failed on any occasion, nor did our
predecessors to recognise Democrats as
worthy co laborers in the cause of constitutional free
dom.
ig>
Chattahooche River. —The recent raids raised the
river some three feet, and on Saturday, 17th inst., the
6teamer D. J. Day , Capt. Van Veighten, arrived at our
wharf with a cargo of 2000 barrels, mostly wet freight,
part of which was on board a barge which the enter
prising Captain had built in anticipation of a continu
ance of dry weather. In the evening of the same day
the Ben Franklin , Capt. Berry, arrived. Both boats
unloaded at once and left next morning. The river ha ’
commenced falling, and we fear that navigation will be
again obstructed.
Washington’s Birth Day.— lt is the intention of
our spirited volunteer companies to celebrate the anni
versary of the B'ather of his country with appropriate
military ceremonies. In the evening the Columbus
Guards, Capt. Semmes, will give a military ball in
Temperance Hall. While we celebrate the day which
gave birth to the Hero and Patriot, let us not forget to
imitate his virtues.
The Opelika Branch Road. —We are pleased to
learn that by the timely aid of the Central, South
western, and Muscogee Railroad Companies, the Mont
gomery and West Point Railroad Company will be able
to avail itself rs the city subscription of $50,000 to the
Opelika Branch Road, and that the construction of the
bridge across the Chattahooche river will be commenced
immediately. It is believed that the cars will cross the
river by Fall.
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Columbus Building and Loan Association.
At the last monthly meeting of this Association
$2,650 were sold for $5,600 at the following particulars :
S6OO at 55, SI,OOO at 53, $2,000 at 52 1-2 and $2,000
at 52 per cent premium. The fall from 68 to 52 per
cent indicates a very healthy reaction in our money
market.
Chatham Superior Court, January Term, 1855.
Sentence Day. —The following sentences were pro
nonneed by Judge Fleming,
State vs. Samuel Wright.—Larceny from the 1 house.—
Plea, not guilty. Verdict, guilty, and recommended to
mercy. Sentence: three years at hard labor in the Peni
tentiary.
State vs. James W. Johnson —High misdemeanor. Plea,
not guilty. Verdict, guilty. Sentence: two years at hard
labor in the Penitentiary.
State vs. James Shea—Assault with intent to murder.—
Plea, not guilty. Verdict, guilty. Sentence: seven years
at hard labor in the Penitentiary.
State vs. Patrick McMahon—Assault with intent to
murder. Plea, not guilty. Verdict, guilty. Sentence: seven
years at hard labor in the Penitentiary.
State vs. Wm. Bradley—Assault and Battjry. Plea, guil
ty. Sentence: fined ten dollars.
State vs. John Fagin—Cheating and Swindling. Plea,
not guilty. Verdict, guilty. Sentence: thirty days impris
onment in the county jail.
State vs. George Clark —Assault and Battery. Plea, not
guilty. Verdict, guilty, and recommended to mercy. Sen
tence: fined $25 and costs.
State vs. Amos Henderson—Assault and battery. Plea
guilty. Sentence: fined SSO and costs.
State vs. Charles Griffith—Murder. Plea, not guilty.
Verdict guilty. Sentence: to be hanged by the neck, on
the 13th day of April, between the hours of four and seven
in the forenoon.
State vs. Ishmael Hover —Stabbing, not in his own de
fence. Plea, guilty. Sentence: ninety da vs imprisonment
in the county jail.— Savannah. News, 18/A inst.
Sad Affair in Charlestown.—The arrest of a den
tist, Dr. Wetherbee, and fhis aiiedged paramour, on crim
con. charge, on Wednesday evening, caused a great ex
citement in Charlestown. He has been a resident of that
Place for perhaps 15 years, was first a minister of the Free
will Baptist Church, and has continued to be a sort of
preacher, temperance lecturer, anti-slavery orator, and is
now a dentist. His wife is an estimable lady; but fora
long lime he aud Al -s Healey, the person arrested, have
been intimate. She has been an occupant of his house,and
whm arrested was corning from his room. The complaint
was made by the friends of the injured wife. The parties
a rested were taken to Cambridge jail. Miss Healey ob
tained bail, but last evening Dr. Weatherbee remained in
jail. —Boston Post .
Great Britain to Chicago!— The Chicago Press savs:
“Our enterprising fellow citizen, Mr. W. Kernaghan,’of
No. 18i Water street, has made arrangements to bring
freight from Europe direct to Chicago the coming season,
by means of propellers, at such a promised rate of cheap
ness as in some degree to tax our credulity. Bor instance
—in sailing vessels, without transhipment, the price is only
seventy five cents per hundred pounds—twenty live cents
less than the usual charge between New York and Chica
go! What wonders are we to have next in the way ot
bringing the remote corners of the world together’”
. [From the Columbus BJnquirer.J
Messrs. Editors: I hope you will allow 7 me space in
your columns for the following explanation, in reply to the
enquiry of a “Stockholder,” seen in the columns of the
Enquirer of the morning of the 17th iri3t., and another
from James W. Warren, Esq., seconding the first, aud
seen in the Times & Sentinel of the following evening.
1 consider that the circumstances, as understood by the
writers, fuhy justify and even demand the inquiry. I
learn also that they are generally so understood through
town; and, discovsring in both communications a tern*
perate spirit, which indicates an honest desire to arrive at
truth, I answer by your first succeeding publication as
follows:
On the Bth inst., I met in Macon the Presidents of the
Central and South-Western Railroads and the Engineer
of the Montgomery Railroad, and while joiutly engaged on
the subject of through freights from Savannah to Mont
gomery, the portage by drays through Columbus was d:s •
cussed, and it was there agreed to adjust the price at a
fair value, which was decided to be, for weight goods,
$1 50 per ton , or 7 cts. per hundred —and for measure
ment goods, one cent per cubic foot. Aud I was author
ized by the other parties to make tiie contract, with prop
er stipulations and guards.
As the price was fixed, of course there was to be
uo bidding, although I and others had previously expec
ted there would be. Therefore, I did not advertise, on my
return home, but offered the refusal of the contract to
the parties who wagoned the through freights to Ope
lika last year, without annoyance or loss to the Railroad
interests ; although there were some heavy reclamations
for lost goods at Montgomery, which were deducted from
the wagon contract, without complaint from the con
tractors.
My course in selecting these parties has given offence
to other dray interests, and a bid has been offered at a
meeting of the Board of Directors, and sent forward by
me to Macon, Savannah, and Montgomery, for the con
sideration of the other Railroad Presidents ; said bid is
the one referred to in the communications I am now an
swering—namely 75 cts. per ton for weight goods, and
5 cts. per cubic foot for measurement goods—the first
being half the price we adopted in Macon, and the other
five times as much The proportion of measurement
goods going through to Montgomery is usually so largt
that this bid is really much higher than the adopted
price.
I have replies from the Presidents interested, approving
my course ; yet, as one*of them suggests that it may be
best, under present circumstances, to avail ourselves of ali
the competition this place can offer —and this course now
meets my own approval—l shall cause notice to be given
by placard at the City Post Office, that Proposals for this
service are invited to be received at the Office of our Su
perintendent, until sunset of Thursday next, and the con
tract declared to the best bidder on Saturday morning
following—when I now anticipate its being let much low
er than the condemned contract, although it is decidedly
lower than the proposal with which it lias been com
pared.
DANIEL GRIFFIN.
[for tiie [times and sentinel.]
Dray Portage at Coluntbas.
Afier the explanation on the subject of through dray ser
vice between the Columbus and Montgomery Railroads,
(which appeared in the Enquirer of yesterday) was in press,
and too late for further notice to be given in that paper, I
was served with formal notice .by Messrs. Gammel &
Brinsfield, that they had gone to much expense in prepar
ing for the dray service, and that theyjwould hold the rail
road companies responsible for the contract. I have refer
red their notice to Col. Hines Holt, who holds their claim
to be good. 1 have, consequently, suspended action on the
proposed letting, and referred the whole subject to Messrs.
Cuyler & Reynolds again.
DANIEL GRIFFIN, President.
Congressional.
Wasiiingnon, Feb. 17.
Mr. Jones, oi Tennessee, embodied resolutions declaring
that Congress has not the power to regulate the Naturaliza
tion laws, but that it is guaranteed to the States. The res
lutions were laid over.
The bill to give three years credit for duties on rail road
iron was discussed.
The President has approved the bill granting the rank oi
j Lieutenant General to (Jen. Scott.
The Mails. —The House passed the bill making appro
priations for the transportation oi the U. S. mail by ocean
steamers and otherwise during the fiscal year, ending the
30th of June, 1856. The bill appropriates for the transpor
tation of the mails from New York to Liverpool and back
$858,000. The bill also appropriates for the transportation
of the mails from New York to New Orleans, Charleston,
Savannah, Havana, and Chagres, and back, $261,000; for
transportation of the mails from Manama to California and
Oregon, and back, $328,350, and for carrying out the con
tract entered into by the Post Office Department, under the
provisions of the act approved on the 30th of August,lßs2,
establishing a tri-monthly mail by steam vessels between
New Orleans and Vera Cruz, via Tampico, $69,750; —
and it further appropriates for transportation of the mails in
two steamships from New York, via Cowes to Havre, and
back, at $75,000 for each ship, under the contract with the
Ocean Steam Navigation Company of New York, $350,-
000; for transportation of the mails between Charleston and
Havana, a sum not exceeding $50,000, and for transporta
tion of the mails across the Isthmus ot JPanama, $150,000.
The Veto. —The President sent jiinto the House his veto
on the B'rench Spoliation Bill. He says that the Coastitn
tion does not compel him to sign any bill which he cannot
approve conscientiously. The bill does not pay the claims,
but only compounds them. If the claims are just at all, it
is disgraceful to the Government to compound with clai
mants for $5,00© ,000. Such a law would be a perpetual bar
to justice. Moreover these claims were never deemed by
any President worthy of recommendation.
** The veto message caused considerable excitement, but
the House adjourned without having taken any action
thereon.
From Washington.
“Washington, Feb. 16.
Mr. Appleton, of Maine, has been nominated Secretary
of Legatioa to London.
Ia the Senate Mr. Mason reported the House bill re
modeling the consular system.
The House has been engaged in debating the amend
ment to the Ocean Mail Steamer bill, giving Mr. Coliius’
line half a million of dollars.
Washington, B'eb, 17.
The President sent in his veto of the French Spolia
tion Bill to-day. It is very long.
Tiie President approves the Bill conferring the title of
Brevet Lieutenant General upon Major General Scott.
Rejection of Judge Loring,
Boston, Feb. 16. —Judge Loring has been rejected as
Law Professor of Harvard University by a voteof 20 to
10; supposed to be owing to bis rendition of the fugitive
Burns.
The Sunbury and Erie Railroad.
Philadelphia, Feb. 12.
A meeting of the stockholders of the Sun bury and Etie
Railroad Company is being held at this place this morning,
Hon. James Cooper has lesigned the Presidency of the
Sunbury and Erie Railroad, and ex‘Governor Bigler ap
pointed in his place. This appointment cannot but give
satisfaction to ail interested in the road.
Connecticut Democratic State Convention.
New Haven, Feb. 14, 1b551*-
The Democratic State Convention for the noniina'ion
of Siate officers was held to-day. Hon. R I. Imrersoll
was elected President. The ticket of last year was re
nominated, with the exception of Julius Hotchkiss o
H ateroury, vvho was dropped for Comptroller, and Th s.
Cowles, ot Framington, nominated instead. Hon. Sain'i.
Ingham, ofSuvbrook, is the candidate for Governor. The
convention denounced the Know Nothings and the Maine
3 V,
Anti-Nebraska Convention in New Hampshire.
Manchester, N. 11., Feb. 14, 1855.
A convention of the opponents of the Nebraska bill met
at Manchester yesterday, to nominate a candidate for re
presentative to* Congress from that district. William G.
Means, presided, Mason W. Tappan, who had been pre
viously nominated by the free soil party, was nominated
by acclamation.
Ex-Gov. Morton, of Massachusetts,^ was received to the
communion of the Episcopal church, in Inunton, on the
4th inst., the sacrament was administered by his son-in
law, Bishop Lee
Extra Compensation to Cotnmodorc Perry. The
Committee on Foreign Relations reported a bill appropria
ting $25,000 to Commodore Perry, cn account ol his
diplomatic services at Japan.
Later from Havana—Great Excitement
At the time the steamer (Empire City) sailed the in
habitants cf Havana were in a state of much excitement
in consequence of reports of a revolt at different points
of the Islabd, and the alarming intelligence, officially
communicated through the columus of the Gazeta, that
a formidable expedition was arming in this country and
about to sail from different ports sot tlie purpose of at
tacking the Island. A great number of suspeeUd indi
viduals, generally of respectability and high standing,
had been arrested, and the Captain General had issued
a proclamation, announcing that the severest measures
will be adopted to prevent invasion from abroad and in
surrection at home. He threatens any expedition that
may effect a landing upon the shores of Cuba with im
mediate extirmmation, and holds up the terrors of the
law to those of his own people who may be inclined to
break the peace. The following is the official account
f the expedition, published by order of Gen. Concha :
“The advices received yesterday by the steamer from
New Orleans to the sth inst., in regard to the projected ex
pedition against this island, are as follows:
“The expedition is to be composed of from two thousand
three hundred to two thousand six hundred men. The
points of embarkation and the proportion of men are as
follows: Galveston, Texas, from six to seven hundred men
in the steamship Pampero ; Savannah, the same number on
the Daniel Webster or the Prometheus, and the rest ironi
New York k in the Massachusetts, of which wo shall speak
further on, and a steamship which we cannot name.
“in order to secure their departure from these points with
out the interference with the Federal Government, the ru
mor has been circulated that the destination of the expedi
tion is Costa Rica, and it is the general opinion that the
levelations to the contrary effect are due to one of the prin
cipal chieis, who,in consequence of disagreements with the
others, has completly separated himself from them.
“The first interruption in New York has been the seizure
of the steamship iViassachusetts, on board of which have
been found arms and munitions of war to a considerable
amount, and perfectly concealed. On this point we shall
receive further details by the steamship which ought to arrive
to-day, but on the departure of the last steamer from New’
Orleans the Courier des Elats Unis had been received
there, referring to the ahair as one which had been consu
inated, that is, the seizure.
“The Pampero, that was running between Pensacola,
Key West and New Orleans, left Key West on the last of
January, not to return to New Orleans, but for some other
unknown point—without doubt, in connection with the ex
pedition.
“The force is to be commanded by Colonel Kinney as
commander-in-chief, who was lately in Washington, but
the true chiefs and directors are the same that managed the
Lopez affair: that is, Quitman and Henderson, who reside,
with the directing commission of the entire enterprise, at
Natchez, some eighty or one hundred leagues Horn New
Orleans.
“Men are being continually recruited at all points in the
United States, seven hundred acres of land being offered to
each soldier, and in proportion to the officers.
“At the latest moment it was confidently asserted in New
Orleans, in consequence of telegraphic despatches reeieved,
that the President of the United States would issue a pro
clamation against the expedition, as its military
had become manifest.”
The following British vessels of war were in port when
the Empire city sailed:
Brig of war Espeigle, Commander Hancock; the 70 gun
ship of the hne Boscawan, William B. Glanville, Comman
der, with Rear Admiral Sir Arthur Fanshawe, C. 8., in
command of the North American and West India squad
ron, and 650 men: also the screw propeller, 400 horse pow
er, Colossus, of 80 guns, and 750 complement, Comman
der R. S. Robinson, Esq.
On the morning of the sth inst. a negro ran out of his
master’s premises, near the Plazo del Vapor, having chains
on his legs for punishment, with an old razor in his hand,
with which he killed three persons and wounded severely
more than twenty others.— N. O. Cresent, 16th
Later from Cuba.
New York, Feb. 17, 1855.
The Steamship Cahawba, has arrived this morning from
New Orleans, with Havana dates up to the 12th inst. She
reports that arrests of parties implicated in revolutionaiy
movements continued to be made on the Island, but brings
no further intelligence in relation to the Filibusters.
—a®—
California News.
The New Orleans papers of the 14th brought us the Cali- j
fornia news by the steamer Prometheus. Her advices are j
from San Francisco to the 24th ult.
The news is oi little moment.
The Legislature was in session at Sacramento, and the
contest for U. S. Senator was going on. The twenty-first
ballot, which was taken just previous to the hour of adjourn
ment on the23d ult,. stood as follows: Boderick, 12;Gwin,
27; Edwards, 36; McCorkle, 13; McDougall, 5; M. S.
Latham, 4; Burnet, 1; number ot votes cast, 108.
The Sacramento Union thinks it a settled fact that Dr.
Gwin canuot be elected, and it says that the prospect of any
election at all was by no means bright, as each party ap
peared determined to adhere to its own candidate.
Mr. Joseph Heslep, Treasurer of Tuolumne county, was
murdered iu his office and the safe robbed on the evening of
the 19th ult. A man named E. C. Griffiths was suspected
and arrested, and the money was found in hfe carpet bag at
his boarding house. He confessed the whole affair, saying
he was with Mr. Heslep, and asked to borrow some money
which the latter refused. Griffiths said he took hold of a
bag of money in a joking way, when Heslep struck him
His blood being up, he seized an axe and continued to strike
Mr. H. until he was dead. He (Griffiths) then took all the
money he could find, but said he had no idea of dome so
five minutes before. 3
, New York, Feb. 15.
Ihe steamship Northern Light, from California, has ar
rived.
Death of Francis Kinlock Huger. —We announce with
deep regret the death ot this venerable patriot and citizen,
} who expired at his residence in this city, in the 32d year of
his age, at i o’clock, yesterday afternoon.
Col. Huger was the sou of Col. Benjaman Huger, of the
revolution, who was killed before the lines of Charleston,
and was the pupil of the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, and
, fellow student of Dr. Physick, ©f Philadelphia. When a
youn man and fully inspired with the ardor of American
republicanism, he joined Dr. Ericßollman, ol Philadelphia,
in hi3 attempt to liberate La Fayette from the Dungeons of
Oimutz; an enterprise which led to the long incarceration
■ of the young patriots.
The first landing of the Marquis De LaFayette on Amer
’ ican soil was on the plantation of the father of Col. F. K.
Huger, in 1777. The .attempt of the young Huger and
Bollman to rescue LaFayette was, therefore, a ignoble re
cognition of hereditary and paternal hospitality.
On his liberation and return to his native laud, the sub
ject of this sketch was appointed a Captain in the United
States Army of 1798. He resigned and retired soon after
wards; but on the breaking out oftthewar of 1812, was
called again from his beloved retirement and appointed to
office, and soon received the command of a regiment of
artillery attached to the Southern Division.
Col. Huger served his native State in both branches ol !
the Legislature, and was aiwaysjready to serve her- in any f
capacity, civil or military.
He was a genuine Carolina gentleman of the old school
endowed with high intelligence, chivalrous in character’ j
replete with social and manly virtues, and fail of years he
has been gathered to his fathers, leaving numerous rela- ;
lives and iiiends and a sympathising community to mourn j
his loss and pay the last sail tribute to departed worth.
C heir. Courier , 15 ih inst.
Avery green prig from the Emerald Isle entered a
bo r a m shoe shop to purchase himselfa pair of “bregans. 1
After over hat ling h:s stock in trade w ithout being able
to suit his eu tomer, the s’ opke; p r hinted that he would
mako him a pair to order. ‘x\nd what will yer ax to
make a good pair iv ’em ?” was the query. The price
vvs named ; the Irishman demurred, but, after a “bating
down, 5 the thing vs a trade. Paddy was about leaving
the shop, when the other called after’ him, asking. “Hat •
what sire shall [ make them, sir ?” “Och,” cried Pa idy, i
niver mind about the size, at ail —make them, as large !
as you conveniently can for the money.”
The Press.
DY EBENEZER ELT.ICOTT.
God said—“ Let there be light!”
Grim darkness felt his might,
And fled away;
Then startled seas and mountains cold,
Ehoue forth, ali bright in blue and gold,
And cried—“ ’Tis day 1 ‘tis day !”
“Hail, holy light!” exclaimed
The thunderous cloud, that flamed
O’er daisies white;
And lo! the rose, in crimson dressed,
Leaned sweetly on the lily’s bieatt,
And blushing, murmur’d—“Light!”
Then was the sky-lark born.
Then rose the embattled corn ;
Then floods of praise
Flowed o’er the sunny hills of noon ;
And then, in siient night, the moon
Poured forth her pensive rays.
Lo, Heaven’s bright bow is glad ;
Lo, trees and floweisare clad
In glory, bloom;
And shall the immortal sous of God
Be senseless as the trodden clod,
And darker than the tomb!
No, by the mind of man .’
By the busy artisan !
By God, our Sire !
Our souls have holy light within ;
And every form ot grief and sin,
Shall see and feel its lire.
By earth, and hell, and heaven,
The shr< ud of soul is risen!
Mind, mind alone
Is light, and hope, and life, and power!
Earth’s deepest night, from this blest hour,
The light of mind is gone.
“The Press!” all hands shall sing;
“Tne Press, the Press, we bring,
All hands to bless;
O, pallid want! O labor stark !
Behold, we bring the second Ark !
The Press ! the Pi ess! the Press!”
Mr. Wise oa Know Nothingism—lts Origin and
Workings.
“What is it? Where did it come from ? What can it
be ? Did it fail from the sky ? Did it rise from the
sea ?” ‘ n
I tell you that there is no wonder about it. I ted you
that I know it from A. to Z. I know where it came from,
I know where it was engendered. 1 know what it has
done, and I can exchange with you, my 4 friend, every sign,
every grip,every pass. (Laughter.) 1 know its whits
triangles and its red triangles its red
tops, and its white arrowtops. I know your odd
numerals and your even numerals. I know )our ocus
from A to M inclusive, and I know yu'ir evens from N
to Z inclusive. (Laughter.) Now where did it come
from? It is no new thing. It is no strange thing. Al
though it is a wender here, it has been operating for years
in old England. You that will go to a book store and
buy Dickens’ novel of “Hard Times” will see a portrait
ure of the tiling, and how it has operated in a country
with an aristocracy and a Queen, with lord proprietors of
factories and of lands,which they rent to middle men who
grind down the operatives. There, in England, the se
cret association oi the operatives against grinding capital,
I grant you, has done much good. There, there is some
necessity for it ; there, where men’s nos vs are held to
the grindstone by oppression ; there, where all the luxu*
rics are free, and ail the a necessaries of life are taxed ;
there, where the operative is made to bear all the burdens
of society ; there, where there is a crowned head and an
aristocracy—there, dark-lantern, secret association, test
oaths have brought forth some leforms. Well, seeing its
effect in that country— Exeter Hall—-the abolitionists of
England sent it over to the preachers of “Christian poli
tics” in Boston and New Yoik to apply its machinery to
the North and the non-slaveholding Stales. (Cheers and
hisses.)They brought it over. They have tried it, and they
i had it organized as early as June 4th, 1854. r lhey knew
| its potency. They knew its effect. Therefore, it was,
that Mr. Freeman Clarke could tell you that he knew that
Ohio was wheeling into line. This thing was all planned
all organized—and it did sweep Massachusetts and N.
York, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and Delaware
and Ohio, and Indiana and Illinois, and Michigan and
lowa. It has swept them with tiie besom of destruction.
(Cheers and Laughter.) Go now to Massachusetts and
you find but on friend of the Constitution left. 62 of
these preachers of “Christian politics” have been return
ed to sit in seats once filled by such men as John Han
cock. There, in the neighborhood of Faneuil Hall, in the
land of steady habits—in the Sand of the Puritans —The®
odore Parker, but the other day received 122 votes to be
a chaplain. A man anti-Christ, so much devil incarnate
that he can hide neither tail nor hoofs, receives iu
a Massachusetts Legislature 122 votes to be a chaplain.
Massachusetts ! Massachusetts ! the elder sister of Vir
ginia, who in tiie night of the revolution gave her pass
word for password, sign for sign, cheer for cheer, in the
midst of our gloom? Massachusetts has thrown aside
j her Puritanism, her Christian religion, her constitution,
j and has given herself up to Know Nothingism and anti
i slavery. (Tremendous cheering.) Let us see the work
ing of Know Nothingism in Massachusetts. 1 hold in my
hand, the official address of his Excellency Henry J.
Gardner to the two branches of the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts. You see lure upon one page of it, not
“through a glass darkly,” but plainly, an intimation of
of amalgamation itself. “It is a great problem,” he says,
“in statesmanship, wisely to control the mingling of races
into one nationality.” Can you give that the grip ? (Roars
of laughter.) Another specimen of Know Nothingism is
a recommendation in this message that the right of suf
frage shall be limited to those who can read and write.
Do the Know Nothings of Virginia give that grip too ?
The only illustrious painting that this country lias given
to the fine arts has beer the picture of the Saviour ot
mankind healing the sick. This message recommends
that the sick foreigner shall be tumbled cut of the hospi
tal bed into the Calcutta hole of the emigrant ship, and
sent baek again to Liverpool. This, then, is a sample of
the charitableness and religion of Know Nothingism.
But, gentlemen, here is the Governor’s doctrine in rela
tion to the Nebrasba bill.
Mr. Wise then read a passage from the message in re
ference to the repeal of the Compromise, which the Gov
ernor characterizes as “a violation of the plighted faith of
the nation,” and declares that “the ultimete effect will be
to determine us manfully to demand the restoration of
this broken compact, and to jealousy guard each and eve
ry right of Massachusetts.”
That is in exact correspondence with the preaching of
Mr. Freeman Clarke. But the Governor goes on : “while
we acknowledge our fealty to the Constitution and laws,
the oft-repeated cry of disunion, heralds no real danger
to our ears.”
Os those lights which Massachusetts is jealousy so guaid,
j it seems the two cardinal ones, are the habeas corpus to
take the fugitive slave out of the hands of the United
States Commissioner, and trial by jury ; to have the title
of the Virginia master, subjected to the verdict of twelve
abolitionists. “It is submitted” says the Governor, “wheth
er additional legislation is required to secure either of
these to our fellow citizens.”
Gentlemen that is not ail. This Know Nothing Le
gislatuture has just elected one of the most notorious, one
of the most inveterate, of their abolition leaders to tho
j Senate of the United States, and 1 beg to read to you a
■ passage from a Boston paper which came to n,y hand this
evening. It is the Boston Daily Chronicle, and I pre.
sume noonew'iil say that it misrepresents the position of
Know’’ Nothingism in the” State of Massachusetts :
Mr. W, then read a long report of a lecture on “the
evils of, and the remedy lor slavery,” delivered at the
Tremont Temple, Boston, by Mr. Anson Burlingame, one
of the Know Nothings elected to Congress, in which he
took ground in favor of the repeal of the Nebraska bill.
’ the repeal of the Fugitive Slave law, the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia, and the prohibition
of slavery in the Territories of the United States.
Speaking of the Nebraska 1 ill. this lecturer said :
“One of its fruits was the election ot a, Sent tor at the
State House yesterday (great appi use and eaiis for “W il
son,” who was on the plhtform.l one who would take
the place of one who w.s fuse ’<> freedom artel not true
to the slave. [Thus denouncing Edward Eventt,] He,
himself, on going to Washington should endeavor to so
conduct himself as to truly represent hi? native pace.”
The report continues :
“After Mr. Bur.iugame had coae'udtd, Mr. Wilson