Newspaper Page Text
(Times rmt) Sentinel.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.
FRIDAY MORNING, JANY, 4, 1856.
- w ■ I
What Does it Mean !—Humphrey Mai shall.
It is known to all our readers that there exists in the
Northern States a great political party which styles it- j
self Republican, oompesed of recreant Democrats,
Whigs, and, so calleJ, Americans, whose sole purpose it i
is to make war upon the institutions of the South, and ,
whose sole bond of union is hatred of slavery as it ex
ists at the South.
In a recent speech in the House of Representatives, i
Joshua 11. Giddmgs, of Ohio, the notorious abolitionist, |
boasted in the following words of the present position
and future prospects of this abominable party: “We \
hare already got this House. Next year, with God’s
blessing, we shall have the President ; and in two years
more, we shall have the Senate. Then the Exeoutivc*
and Legislative branches of the Government will be in ;
our power. Then those who threaten dissolution had
better look out.”
So speaks aud threatens the Nestor of this abolition
host. We wish the signs of the times al'owed ua to j
laugh at his predictions. But there is too much cause
to fear that what he prognosticates will be history in a
few years.
Now, common prudence would demand a uuion of
all true Southern men, with such sound Northern men
as the flood of abolitionism has not yet submerged, in |
an opposing party to resist the aggressions of these Nor- |
thorn fanatics. We never could have believed that an
effort to construct such a party would have been de- ;
nounced by any sane man in any section of the Union, j
ifjihe congressional debates had not furnished an ex
ample in t,ie Hon. Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky—
the magnus Apollo of Southern Know Nothingism,
the member of Congress from the Louisville District, |
and the first choice of the Southern members of the
order for Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In a speech delivered on the floor of Congress on the
18th December, he distinctly charges the Democratic
party with the heinous crime of attempting to solidify
the political and material interests of the South and
array men of all parties in that section against the
North, with a view of meeting their natural antago
nists—the Republican party !
The speech is published at length in the Daily Globe
of the 19ih December. We make the following ex
tract from it. The italics are his own. Speaking of
the Democracy, he says :
Independent of their assumption that they are the especial
fiiends of civil and religious liberty, arrayed to protect the
fundamental maxims of both from tlie ruthless assaults of
‘‘Americanism”—independent of their arraignment of the
American party ior a violation ot these principles, Jthey
have taken a stand upon a sectional question to which I in
voke the attention of my countrymen.
Their resolution tenders congratulations to the country
for the triumph “ot the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska
bill,” and they hold it to be their highest duty “to continue
our efforts in the maintenance and defense of those prin
ciples and the constitutional rights of every section, aud
every class of citizens, against their opponents of every des
cription,” &,c. The readiness of these gentlemen to take
that position exhibits the desire for a renewal of a section
al controversy ; and 1 charge the fact to be, that it is ta
ken with the expectation of solidifying the political and
material interests of one section oj this country, and ar
raying men of all parties in that section against, tht other
section, and is done with the view of meeting their natu
ral antagonists—the Republican par ty—inot der thut they
may get up a sectional presidential contest. It this is true,
will not the country perceive at once that the introduction
of these matters into a resolution hy the Democratic mem
bers preliminary to an organization of this Chamber, is an
aiding and abeiting of the effort of the Republican section
of Ibis House (which claims to be a majority upon a purely
sectional issue, and which seeks a contest on that basis) to
have ouch an organization as will necessarily transfer the
contest to the popular arena at a time, and in a manner
fatal to the cause of American liberty' 1 , and to the Union of
these States ?
So spvaks the leader of Southern Know Nothing* 1
Has ho any backers in Georgia? Is there one man
between the two rivers who would not rejoice to see
all men of all partieß in the State arrayed in opposition
to the black Republicans of the North l Is it a crime
to meet our enemies as one man ! Is the right of self
defence to be surrendered by the South ?
W hat does the man mean ? We call upon the press
es of the opposition to defend their candidate for Spea
ker. Your members of Congress voted for him. Do
you stand on his platform? Are you opposed to South
ern union ?
But the strangest part of this singular charge is
that the advocacy of the Nebraska-Kansas act is made
the ground of accusation. Two years ago the Georgia
Legislature unanimously resolved that opposition to the
principles of this aot was treason to the South. Has it
come to this that a man must prove himself a traitor to
gain the support of the Know Nothings of Kentucky ?
The Savannah Republican ami the Democracy.
The most unrelenting and untiring opponents of the
Democracy are our otherwise clever and courteous co
temporaries of the Savannah Republican. They have
never, to our knowledge, found any thing to commend
in our principles, measures or men, where there was
any danger of its being ustd to the injury of thei.* patty.
They are partizans died in the wool.
We had supposed that tire announcement made in our
issue of the 26th ult. fc of the agreement of the committee
of Democratic Senators, to whom was referred Senator
Iverson’s resolution, “upon a platform embracing itt
substance the propositions enunciated in the late Con
vention of the Democracy of Georgia,” would be hailed
with delight by every Southern patriot who desired to
perpetuate the Union and protect the constitutional
rights of the South. But we were mistaken. The
Savannah Republican derives no pleasure from the
anuouncemeut. No doubt the conductors of that jour
nal are patriotic citizens; they love the Union, but too
well ; yet we question if they had not rather see it dis
solved, than saved by Democratic hands. They are
loyal sons of the South ; yet we question if they would I
not rather see her rights trampled in the dust, than
bravely deLnded by Democratic arms. We cannot
understand this bitter and unrelenting partizsnriiip ; we
deprecate it as the great evil of the day ; it is the mill
stone which impedes Southern progress; the deep gulf
w hich prevents Southern union.
Hear the Savannah Republican : what follows is its
commentary upon the announcement of the concurrence
of the committee of Democratic Senators upon Senator
Iverson’s resolutions :
The above suggests an enqurv. It the Georgia platform
is ito be ad p%d substance” why is it not adopted as it
stands 1 VV ny did it rais-e such a mu>s in the Senatorial
caucus, if its “substance” was approved ? If it was not its
’ substance” that was objected to, w hat was ii? These are
plain questions, and would be glad to have them an
swered.
1 lie truth is.tlte South is again about to be cheated, and
we are preparing ourselves lor au i glorious boeknut hv the i
Georgia Democracy troth the high ground taken at the i
Milledgeville Couvenii n. Their resolutions draw the
fittings 100 tight upon their northern friends, and though
laid down in the most solemn manner as an ultimatum ,
they will be relaxed to sml the tender conscience? ol th.ir
anti-slavery allies. Mark the prediction !
jCow, tin* “substance” vs Senator Iverson's resolu
tions are Ist, the maintenance of the Nebraska-Kansas
act; 2d, the enforcement of the fugitive slave law ; 3d,
the recognition of the right of a Territory to come into
the Union with or without slpvery as the people thereof
may determine. These great principles were recog
nized and will shortly be proclaimed as Democratic
doctrine by the committee of Democratic Senators. —
This is what wo ment when we announced that the
committee had “agreed upon a platform embracing in
substance the propositions enunciated in the late Con**
veniion of the Democracy of Georgia.” What objec
tion has the Savannah Rep üblican to these proposi
tions ? Do they not embrace in substance all that
the South demands? Yet the Savannah Republican
is certain “the South is again about to bo cheated.’’
Where is the evidence of bad faith ? The “muss in the
Senatorial caucus ?’’ Now, we have it upon the highest
authority, that with scarcely an exception, every Sena- ;
tor present endorsed the principles contained in Sena
tor Iverson’s resolutions, and that the only question
which piodnced si riousjdis; ussioti, was as to the policy of
enunciating them by a caucus of Senators. Some Sena
tors held that a party platform ought to be adopted only
by a general Convention, but in this they were over
ruled by a very large majority.
We hope, therefore, that the fears of the Savannah
Republican will be allayed. The Democraoy are sound
to the core upon these great sectional issues ; and the
warm.-st and strongest advocates of open aud deadly
warfare upon Abolitionism in all its phases, are Demo
cratic Senators from tlie North. If the South is true
to herself and will back up her friends at the North,
this fearful sectional warfare will come to a speedy
close, and peace, harmony, and fraternal feeling fill the
land, as waters cover the sea.
Death of John McPherson Berrien.
The Savannah papers bring us the mournful intelli
gence that John McPherson Berrien, a survivor of the
first school of Georgia Statesman, a distinguished law
yer, and an exemplary Christian gentleman, is no more.
He died at his residence in Savannah on the first day
of the new year, full of days and full of honors. He
was unquestionably the most distinguished lawyer in
Georgia. Ho was elected to the U. S. Senate and pre
sided over its Judiciary committee from 1827 to 1829.
On the installation of Andrew Jackson in March, 1829,
Mr. Berrien was selected as Attorney General, and
was regarded as a worthy successor of William W’irt.
Since then he has filled many distinguished positions
both in the service of his State and of the United
States. He particularly distinguished himself in the
Senate upon the discussion of the Compromise Measures
of 1850 *, and to him was entrusted the legal branch of
the discussion by the Southern Senators.
But the other day he presided over the Convention
of the American party and was hailed as he entered the
Hall of Reprtsentatives as the next Vice President of
the United States. In the midst of life we are in death.
Mr. Berrien leaves several children behind him. Mrs.
Bartow, of Savannah, is his daughter.
Riot at Leavenworth, Kansas.
St. Louis, Dec. 31.
A riot occurred at Leavenworth on the 15th inst.,
between the pro and anti-slavery parties. The ballot
box s were destroyed, the voting stopped, and an anti
slavery man’s h)use burnt. The inoendiary was ar
resud and lodged in jail. The jail was broken up, the
prisoner rescued, and great excitement prevailed. Ano
i ther statement says that the border Missourians would
j not allow the polls to be opened in several places, that
! the ballot boxes were destroyed, and the judges of the
j election maltreated.
FromJWaßhington.’
Washington, Dec. 31:
In the U.S. Senate to-day the President’s Message
was read. Mr. Clayton expressed his approbation of
the ground taken in regard to our relations with Great
Britain concerning Central America, and said that he
was in favor of insisting upon the American construc
tion of t o Clayton Bulwer Treaty. Mr. Cass said
that the honor of the country demanded that we should
insist upon our interpretation of the Treaty. Messrs.
Weller and Seward look tlie same ground, and all were
ready to support the Monroe doctrine should an emer
gency require such a course of action. Matters look
rather hostile. The receipt of the Message by the Sen
ate fell like an earthquake upon the House, none hav
ing the h ast suspicion that it would be sent. Avery
exciting debate ensued, which terminated in a refusal
to receive it on the part of the House. There was a
ballot for Speaker, and the House adjourned until
Thursday.— Charleston Courier.
Health of Montgomery.
During the last year there were 235 deaths in Mont
j gotnery, whites 142, blacks 93—or about one in thirty
j inhabitants.
■-
Abstract of tiie President’s Message. —The Mes
sage, an abstract of which is published by us this morn
ing, was sent to the Senate on the 31st ult., without
! waiting for the House to organize. President Kendall,
I of the Washington and New Orleans Telegraph line,
forwarded the abstract to the Southern press, at a re
duction of one half on the established rates, as anew
; year’s token.
University of Virginia. —There are now five hun
dred and thirty-one students in this noble institution of
learning: from Virginia 334, South Carolina 34, Ala
bama 29, Georgia 23, Mississippi 21, Louisiana 10,
Maryland 13, Noith Carolina 13, Kentucky 10, Mis
souri 9, Florida 6, District-of Columbia 5, Tennessee 4,
Texas 3, California 2, Delaware 1, Arkansas 1, Penn
sylvania 1, New York 1, Connecticut 1.
The Charlottesville Advocate says that seventy stu
dents were refused matriculation beoause their previous
standing showed them unqualified to derive any benefit
from the University.
Charged with Forgery. —Some days ago a man
named Elias Wood, of Troup county, Ga., was arrested
in this city on the charge of forgery. It appeared on
the preliminary trial that he had attempted to trade off
a note for $20,000, to which the name of Edward P.
Powers, deceased, was forged as maker, and ih.it of
Hugh A. Haralson, deoeased, as witness.
In default of bail, Elias Wood was committed to p. is
on to abide the action of the Grand Jury of the county
on his case.
River News. —The steamer Oswiobee Capt. Van
Vechten, left our wharf on the 3d inst., with upwards
of seven hundred bales of cotton for Apalachicola
bay.
Injunction Dissolved. — We learn that Judge Wor
rill very promptly dissolved the injunction granted at
the instance of Paul J. Semmes et a!, forbidding the
Mayor and Aldermen of Columbus to sell the stock of
tbs ciy in the Muscogee Railroad. The vase bae been
carried to the Supreme Court.
Election of Speaker.
A telegraphic dispatch has been receive! in Mont
gomery Ala., as we learn Wy the Mail, announcing that
Banks was elected Speaker of the I]<m-e of II- presen
tatives, on M ednesday the 2d inst. No pirticulars are
famished.
From Washington.
Washington, Deu. 28.
Spain has placid in the possession ot our government
prootsth.it the bark Amt-la, now homeward bound from
HVti, is intended fi>r a fillitiustering expedition against
Ci/*a, and requests the President to punish those on
board to the extreme penalty of the law.
It is reported that the government lias in it? possession
documents which will lead to the arrtst and trial of Park
er 11. French.
Ho Speaker Yet-
Washington, Dec. 29.
The House of Representative* had seven billots for
Speaker to-day. No election. The House is still iu ses
sion.
From the Western Plains.
St. Louis, Dec. 28.
The Santa Fe mail arrived at Independence last Sat
urday. There is no news of special importance. In
the mountain regions of New Mexico the weather was
unusually severe. The Indians were quiet and submis
sive.
Giddings of Ohio, and the Democracy.
It has always been a source of pleasure to us to hear
our party denounced by the enemies of our section.—
We therefore give room to the following “denuncia
tions” of that old sinner, Giddings of Ohio. His speech
will be found in the daily Globe of Dec. 19th.
EXTRACTS fKOM giddings’ speech.
MR. GIDDINGS. No, lam not through yet; lam
only beginning. 1 say, then, and I *ish the particular
attention of the gcmleman who preceded me, that for
23 years no petition coming from the North in favor of
freedom in this Distriot, has ever been heard from, after
it was committed to the Committee on the District of
Columbia. The rule of the House is, that the Commit
tee on the Dist. of Columbia shall take into consideration
and report on all such matters and petitions as shall be
referred to them.
For 23 years that rule has been violated, aud the parlia
mentary law trampled under foot. The rights of the peo
ple of the North have been repudiated and trampled up
on ; our doors have been slammed in their faces. This
has been done under democratic rule.
But let me go further. I regret to say that in this
District, under the laws of the United States, men ivar
boys and girls for the market, and sell them for profit.—
This revolting practice has been protected by the Demo
cratic party of this nation. They have elected Speakers
who have constantly so arranged the Committees on the
District of Columbia that, when petitions came up here
praying that this revolting practice might cease, and that
the people of the free States should no longer be involved
in such abhorrent iniquity, their respectful petitions have
been trampled under toot, and consigned to perpetual si
lence.
******
And now, my friends, here is the issue. The Demo
j crats have, at last, iu one instance, been outspoken aud
i bold in their avowal of their intention to maintain slavery
!in Kansas. They declare that the principles of the Kan
! sis bill shall be maintained, that the doctrines of that bill
j shall be upheld. They declare also, hostility to Know
! Nothingism as one of the principles of their platform.—
! Now, sir, the combined forces of the Opposition are ar
| rayed against this platform of theirs. We say that free
| dom shall be re-tored to Kansas. We say that lire solemn
i consecration entered into by our fathers 35 years since,
’ shall be restored, and transmitted to our descendants.—
I Here we stand. Thie is the issue before the House.—
j This is the issue for the campaign of 1856. “Liberty
j for Kansas” is our motto. Upon that the people of the
Union will stand. We are forming our party. We are
gathering our forces. We are consolidating our ranks.
We intend to be ready for the conflict. On that issue we
go to the people, and may God prosper the right!
j We commend these tit-bits to those Southern men
who are so vigorously engaged in making war upon the
I Democracy. They may probably be patriotic in their
| purposes ; but it is unfortunate for them that they are
; backed by the King Bee of the abolitionists.
The Democracy Stand Firm. —The democratic
| phalanx iu the House of Representatives stand firm
j and fast. There is no wavering. On Friday evening
another caucus was called, and was attended by a ma
i jority of the Democratic members, and there, after a
| full and harmonious interchange of opinions, they unan
imously decided as follows :
“ Resolved , That ws will adhere to our platform and
! our noininre.’’
This is the sentiment of the Democracy of the Uni
on. Everywhere the firm and united action of the
I democrats is applauded, and the slightest faltering now
j would mortify the UobLst party that ever existed in any
j country. Let the answer be to all proposals, that of
Paul Jones in one of his conflicts, when asked if he
had surrendered ; and truly may we use his words in
view of the great issues and contests upon whiah we
are only entering : “Surrender !” said the hero
| “Never ! The battle has only begun —Washing
j ton Union.
j Gen Lewis Cass. —Speaking of the purpose of Gen.
1 Ciiss not to be a candidate before the Cincinnati Con
vention, the Albany Argus says : “We know not
■ whether his countrymen will consent that his wish for
retirement shall be gratified. However that may be,
when his public service is ended, he will go down to
his final rest honored by a larger share of the respect,
i confidence, and love of Iris fellow-citizens of every stc
| tion of the Union, than often cheers the declining years
1 of any public servant.”
Senator Toucey —An abolition editor in Boston
hopes that Senator Toucey will be sent abroad, if for
no other purpose <han te gel him out of the United
States Senate : and rakes occasion to be offensively per
sonal in reference to that gentleman. The Boston
Herald (a neutral paper) thus rebukes his abolition
cotemporary :
‘ Senator Toucey has the mind of a statesman, the
heart of a man, and the manneis of a gentleman.-
Asa lawyer, he stands in the front rank of his profes
sion. He is thoroughly versed in legal 1 re, and hia
clear intellect and comprehensive ideas enable him to
grasp all subjects that come within the range of a leg
islator, in which capacity he has done much service iu
his native State aud the country. The only crime of
Set a or Toucey in the eye of the Telegraph, is that lie
is not an abolitionist, bis views bring to o broad and na
tional for that,”
Heavy Amount of Silrer.—— The steamer Alleghany
recently arrived at PiMsburg from L >oisville, with
$1 000,000 io silver belonging to government. It was
in charge of Adams A Cos., and destined for the Phila !
delphia mint.
Death, of s Missionary —The Newark Advertiser
understands that information has arrived artiouueing
the death, at Beirout, of cholera, of Rtv. Mr. Whiting, j
missionary of the American beard, who has been Di
boring io that country, fume $5 yesre.
David Wilmot Prosecuting for Libel. —The notori- I
oub David Wilmot, says the Washington Union , who
00-operated and 00-operates with the Know Nothings i
as the best way to break down the Democratic party of
Pennsylvania, after that party had repudiated him, and
who was one of the conspirators that assisted in com
pleting the fnsion between the whigs, abolitionists, an !
Know Nothings against the Democracy of that Slate
at the last election, has brought suit against Mr. Chase,
the editor of the Montrose Democrat, for libel, laying
his damages at SIO,OOO. There have beeu so many
extraordinary demonstrations of Know Nothing influ
ence in the jury box, that, not to speak of the lßt out
rage—we allude to that just perpetrated in the city of
New Orleans by which an officer is declared to be elec
ted who is knots n to have been largely defeated at the
ballot-box—we should not be surprised if Wilmot suc
ceeded in his crusade upon our Democratic cotempo
rary.
The Hon. Humphrey Marshall. —The Louisville
Journal has a letter from Mr. Marshall, the Represen
tative of that District in Congress, dated the 12th inst.,
in which the writer denies that he made overtures to
the Democratic party to unite on him for Speaker, and
that he was indignantly spurned. lie stys : ‘‘Neither
my friends nor I had the slightest idea of my being
elected Speaker.” The letter concludes as follows :
“I do not see how we are to organize the House on
any other principle than the recession of the Adminis
tration party from the position they have taken, for I
vow that I never will oast my vote for one of them for
Speaker, unless they combine to press the plurality rule
upon the minority, to which I belong, and it shall be
oome necessary to choose between the evils of having
one of them or a radical Abolitionist in the chair.—
In such a case I might feel that the Administration
candidate was preferable to the other, but both alike
occupy sectional ground—the one proposing to swear
by the Nebraska bill and the other against it. Our po
sition is to abide by existing legislation, without regard
to the opinion entertained heretofore of its expediency
or propriety, and to resist all further agitation of the
questions connected with slavery.”
If Mr. Marshall thiol s standing or “swearing/’ as he
calls it, by the Nebraska bill, is occupying sectional
ground, let him make the most of it. There will be
and ought to be no “recession” of the democratic party
from the position they have taken. That there ought
to be none, Mr. Marshall is himself witness when he
confesses himself willing “to abide by existing legisla
tion. ’’ —Savannah Georgian.
Sentence of a Murderess. —The tribunal of Pots
dam Prussia, lately pronounced sentence of death on
the widow of a Surgeon named Matyger de Kesin.—
She was found guilty of compliorty in poisoning her
husband ; of complicity in poisoning the female com
panion of her lover, the barber Kage ; of murdering
the son of Kage with u hatchet ; of having excited to
the murder of the daughter of said Ivage, and also her
own son. Her head is to bo cut off by the common
executioner.
The President’s Message.
The following abstract of the annual message of ihe
j President of the United States, we find in the Daily Sun,
i and Alabama Journal.. The President says :
“While amicable relations were pending in regard to
Central America, it was the undoubted understanding of
the United Slates that the Convention with Great Britain
would secure the permanent peace and independence of
those States, and that no dominion was, hereafter, to be
| exercised by tire United States or Great Britain ; but (Ire
j latter still asserts authority over the Mosquito Coast, and
; construes the Convention so as to maintain her present
| control. It is impossible for the United States to ac-quie ce
I itt this construction, although the United States and Great
| Britain maintain conciliatory correspondence on the sub
; ject. This difficulty cannot long remain undetermined,
i without involviug in serious dangers the friendly relations,
! which it is the interest, as well as the duty, of both coun
: tries to eln rish forever. lie entertains doubts as to the
: final termination, of the negotiations.”
j The President treats at length on the violation of our
neutrality laws, in recruiting for the foreign Legion, lie
| says: “Some officers implicated arc of high official posi
j tion, and beyond the legal jurisdiction of tins country, and
I entered into tho business with a full knowledge of our
j laws anl international policy. The subject is still under
j discussion by the two Govern merits. ”
A misunderstanding also exists between the Hudson’*
Bay, and Puget’s Sound Agricultural Companies, as to
i possessing a right to land on Puget’s Sound, lie calls
i the attention of Congress to this subject.
| The Bound dues are still unsettled, and the United States
declines participating in the Convention called by Den
mark —for the reason that the proposition Denmark pie-
S sents’for settlement, is commingled and made subordinate to
j matters wholly extraneoj* to that subject ; but that the
United States are willing to share liberally with the other
powers in compensating Denmark for any advantages thus
| accruing to ou r Commerce.
1 Satisfaction has not yet been made by Spain for the ar
: rest and search of the Steamer El Dorado, —but the Presi
dent believes there soon will be. He hopes to make some
general arrangement with that Government so as to avoid
j such acts in the future.
i In regard to the Army, he advocates the institution of
j a retired list ; and also, partial reorganization. He re
commends that the staff he mainly composed of details
; from that line. He urjis a gradual increase of the Navy
—bu : sa ,s nothing . regard t the action of the late Naval
j retiring board.
He advocates the abolition of the franking privilege, or
some modification of existing postage rates, and recom
mends the Post Master General’s report to the cousidera
i tion of Congnss.
In regard to Kansas, lie says but little ; no acts having
j been perpetrated prejudicial to good order, and Louejus*
tiiying the interposition of the Executive. He chemlus
hope ihat the gi>od sense of the people of that Territory,
: will pt event any violation of Territorial or Federal law.
Tiie unhappy situation of Mexico claims some torbear-
I ance on the part of our Government, but if th-i present be
| a stable Government, be urgently appeals that jus.ice then
! be made for the redress of the many complaints of our
j citizens.
The distracted condition of Nicaragua made it ingum.
I bent on the President to appeal to the citizens of the Uni
'kd fcvtatis, to abstain trotn any unlawful intervention in
i its affairs, and adopt preventive measures.
Since last Congress, the following treaties hare been
negotiated : “Commerce, Navigation, and the surrender
of Criminate,” with the Sicilies —“Friendship, Commerce
and Navigation,” with Nicaragua ; and Commercial ie
ciproeity” with Hawaii.
The r. ceipis in the Treasury during the last year were
$65,300,000. During the same period the expenditures
were $56,365,000 ; leaving in the Treasury a balance of
! $8,000,000.
The President is fully persuadeJ that it wou'd be diffi-
I cult to devise any super or system ot fiscal busimss than
that which is now in operation, ihe mat nitude of our j
i public revenue is gratifying evidence of the prosperity if I
j our Commerce, and suggests the propriety .f au early !
j revision and reduction of riu ies oil imports, aud the re- j
adjustment of imp >rt whedul- s.
The President sfteaks in great length on the Coosti’ution- i
al relation.- of our slavery system. He says it lias been a
: matter of painful regiet to see thotte States conspicuous for
| their services in founding this republic, aud eq .allv sharing
j its advantages, disiegatdiug their Constitutional obliga
tions, although conscious ot their inability to heal adm tted .
n-ilpabie somai evils of their own, aud which are con plete ;
ly w ithin their jurisdiction, they engage in the offx'We !
and hi.qielese undertaking ot reiorming domestic luaiitultona
ot oilier Males, wlioi'y beyond their coottel and authority
—while the people of the Southern Sta'ee ctmtine their at
teation to th-m owu affairs, aud uot piesuming officiously
lo intermeddle with the social institutions of the Northern
Staten. Too many inhabitant* of the latter section are
permanently organized in associations to infitu j D ; urv 0 _ 1
the former, by wrongful acts, which would be j- or y
war betwten foreign powers, and can only fail to be
in our system, uuder the cover ot Union. lie gives alc-, e
historical review of slavery and the laws of Congress oi.
the subject, and deprecates sectional agitation and uncon
stitutional projects to disturb the public peace and tran
quility. lie denounce* the fanaticism of the Abolitionists,
whose conduct, if persevered in, will end calamitously.—
If the passionate rage of fanaticism and paitizan spirit did
uotforcelhefactuponourattention.it would be difficult
to believe that any considerable portion of the fieople of
this country have so surrendered themselves to fanatical
devotion to the supposed interest* ot the relatively few
Africans in the United States as totally io abandon and
disregard the interest* of twenty-five millions of Ameri
cans, and to trample under foot moral and constitutional
obligations, and engage in plans of vindictive hostility
against those who are associated with tnem in *he enjoy
ment of I lie common heritage of our national institutions.
Are patriotic men in every part of the Union prepared thus
madlv to invite all the consequences of forfeiture to their
constitutional engagements?
The storm of frenzy and faction must inevitably dash it
sell in vain against the unshaken rock of the Constitution.
“I rely confidently on the patriotism of our people—on the
dignity and self respect of the several States—and on the
wisdom of Congress; and above all, on the gracious favor
of Almighty God, to maintain against all enemies the
sanctity of the Constitution and the integrity of the
ion.”
Excessive Freights.
A correspondent of the Charleston Courier, signing
himself “.4 Merchant and Citizen, ” in alluding to the ex
tensive extabiishment in Chattanooga, (Tenn.) for packing
beef and pork, says that the hope was entertained that a
new and lucrative trade would be opened in provisions as
i well as breadstuff*, but that this hope is delusive, the
high rate of freight on these articles, and the delay and
uncertainty of getting them to Charleston, amounts to very
near a prohibition. The freight from Nashville to the
Charleston Depot, we understand, is on a bushel of wheat
43 cents, on corn 38 cents, and on a barrel ot beet, pork
or lard, 110 cents per 100 lbs. gross, equal to about $3.25
per barrel ; and in addition to this we must add drayage
from the Railroad Depot to the stores or wharvtl in the
city.
“At these rates the products of the West cannot come
to Charleston. They are taken to New York, Philadel
phia, Baltimore, and New Orleans, at lower rates, and in
less time and with greater certainty. Wheat is now car
ried t’roni Nashville to the Northern maikets at 38 cents
per bushel, and to New Orleans at 20 cents.”
These complaints apply not only to the Carolina and
Georgia roads, but are prcity general throughout tho
State, and the effect is, to cut off’ from our market towns
a vast amount of country produce, which under a different
sy stem, would pour into them.
The writer above alluded to, further remarks :
“In view of this state of things, the question that natur
ally suggests itself, is—Why is this ? is it because the
Railroads, connecting Charleston with the Valley of tho
Mississippi, cannot afford t<* carry for less ? These roads
cost less to make them than other roads connecting with
northern cities, and less to work them ; the description of
their traffic is more profitable than those competing roads,
and they surely ought to be able to deliver a barrel of beef
or pork, or a bushel of grain in Charleston, as cheap or
cheaper than it c-ould be delivered from the Bame point, in
New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore, 700 to 1000 mile*
further.”
A Serious Accident. —We regret that Mr. Thotnug
Nix, our City Sexton was last Monday morning, thrown
( tiom the hearse by the hois- becoming frightened and
’ unmanageable, and was then kicked repeatedly by the
J horse. One of h's thigh* and a finger were fractured ;
j and he received severe kicks in his side. We understand
j that though so badly injured, he is thought to be doiDg
j pretty well.— Sun, 2</.
Death of the lion. John McPherson Berrien. —This
! distinguished statesman and great lawyer, dud at his res
i | ideuce in Savannah, tlr* morning at 9 o’clock. It will
he recollected that though tit Milledgevilie in attendance
ion the late Convention of the American party, lie was
; j prevented by indisposition, on the first day of its session,
i from presiding over its deliberations. The illness then
j contracted terminated fatally this morning. Judge Ber
, lion was born on the 23d of Augnst, 1781—consequently
[ was in the 75t)i vear of bis age at the t ine ot his death.
W e are compelled to defer, for our evening edition, a no
| lice of his life and distinguish and services. —Savannah
j Journal I st.
Mechanics’ Savings Bank. —John S. Montmollin,
I Ksq , was yesterday unanimously elected President of
th s Institution, and the following gentlemen Directors:
John S. Montmollin, John F. Tucker, Jno. E. Ward,
Gilbert Butler, and Richard Bradly, the last in place of
J. V. Connerat, resigned.
Since writing the above, we arc advised that Dividend
No. 2 of $3 per .-hare on the capital, awaits the orders
|of the stockholders. Sac. Georgian Is/ inst.
Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad—More Iron —
Progress of the Work.
| The hark J. Bryant, from Cardiff’, Wales, |brings 691
j tons of iron for the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad,
I Phis is the second cargo which has arrived for this Road,
[ and makes, with that already received, about thirteen hun
j dred tons.
1 | Arrangements are making by Messrs. Van Horn &. Cos.,
■ j the contractors,to commence the work of track laying
from the depot in this city on the 7th of next month. Their
i contract is for sixteen mile*, (across the great Ogechee,)
, which they expect to have completed by the first of next
. June.
A? regards the work of grading and bringing on the
whole route from Savannah to the West hank of the Al
: tamaha, the public will be glad to learn that it is in a state
•j of gratifying forwardness. As is known to those familiar
! with the country traversed, a considerable portion of it is of
i j a low, swampy character, to say nothing of the three rivers
ito be bridged. The dry weather and Jow water of the
1 year now closing, have greatly facilitated the operations
. ! of tfie contractors. The bridge* across both the Ogeech
j ees.Ohat across the great Ogeechee, a work of much mag
; nitude,) are completed with the exception of the drawers.
That across the Altarnaha, in the hands of Messrs, llol
• combe and Millen, is so tar advanced that the regular
| work of its constiuclion is beyond the contingency ofTiigh
j water. The same is true of all the operations of grading
and tressefing between Savannah and that river.
It is manifest, then, that this gieat enterprise, moving
. quietly onward, has reached a point in its progress where it
! may safely far said that much has been achieved. For
! there is now- no reason to doubt but that all the contracts
I which have been let, may be pei formed as specified—and
■ the cars be running to the western bank of the Altarnaha,
! eatly in the year 1857. That point gained,the most diffi
i cult portion of the woik will have been accomplished.—
From the Altarnaha down to the Florida line, to the pro
j posed point of junction with the Pensacola and Georgia
Railroad, the way is easy.
I tor their part, our Florida friends are going to work un
i dcr the most encouraging auspices. From Tallahassee,
I (already connected by railroad with the Gulf.) they com*
I mence soon to operate eastward. They expect to be at le
(according to the intelbgence which we have already pub
lished) to offer us a connection not only with Middle, but
East and Smith Florida, (ro Cedar Keys,) in a little more
than two years from this date
Such being tne pasture of affairs at both end* of the route
from this to t„e, Gulf ol Mexico, we hope very soon to
hear that some contract* have t*e*-n let by the Savannah Cos.
beyond the Altarnaha River. The fact that the road is
likely roi pay very small dividends until the connection is
made *'jth the Gulf, and, as we believe, very large ones so
soon a* that connection i* accomplished, should “determine
the directory to p ess forward to that grand consummation,
with alj feasible dispatch.—Sac. Ere. Journal.
From the St. Louts Republican, Dec. 21.
End of the Bogus “Kansas War.”
FIZZLE—OUT OF THE FREE SOILERS.
A gentleman of Westport—a man of’ great probity of
| character, and who ha* a large fortune at stake in Kansas
! —accompanied Gov. Shannon to Lawrence, and returned
! with him. Fe went there to see if something could not lie
! don- to prevent the effusion of blood .which,he -ays,ceitainiy
would have been the case if there had been no interference
between the parite*. Tins gentleman, after his return on
t'ie 10th inst . wrote to u* a letter in which he says;
: “A ci mniittce wat don hi* Excellency, inviting him
jlo come to Lawrence. He found them intrenched, and as
! well fortified as could l>e expected |.>r their forces. Tbev
Here all ndi armed with Sharp’s rifle* and revolvers, and
other implements of war. My opinion is they only had
one piece of artiMeiv. I trunk our for* ee could ha\e de
nio|i>hed every building in the place in half ait hour: but
fisd oue kuii been nted tn enher side, I am aJ.-o of opin
ion that tne greater po)tt>H would have been killed, and
no deuht tsai yof our men would al?o have siiffcted. W|