Newspaper Page Text
TIMES <fc 9ENTM
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA,
TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 29, 1858.
- r personal.
The connection of the ndi*nod with the .Time and
-.ntinel w j]j be dissolved on the Ist July.?
Darin* hie editorial career, ho steadily aimed and un
ceasingly labored to advance the intellecta.l.aocal mor
.Tand political interests of Georgia. He retire,.o .he
Ides of private Hie, with a conscience.vord of offence to
God and his country. He may have been and doubtless
was. olten in error, in the views, sentiments and the policy
he advocated, but is not aware of any article he ever
penned, which be would willingly blot.
He retires with the kindest feelings for hts brethren of the
press, and with profound gratitude and respect for the peo
ple of Georgia, and will never cease to labor and pray for
their prosperity and happiness.
He will be succeeded in the editorial department by
Messrs. Peyton H. Colquitt and James W. Warren,
both of whom are men of intelligence and honor, and de
voted to the.rights of the States and the Union of the
States under the constitution.
His late partner, Ro swell Ellis, Esq, continues in the
office, and will fulfill all contracts of the hi m of Lomax
Ellis.
Wishing the paper every success under the new manage
ment, 1 bid the patrons of the Times & Sentinel an affec
tionate farewell.
TENNENT LOMAX.
P. S.—For twelve months past the Times & Sentinel
has been under the editorial control of Peyton H. Colquitt,
Esq.
The Montgomery Advertiser and Ourselves.
Our gallant cotemporary of the Advertiser, whose true
Southern spirit we admire, takes us lo task in a very pleas
ant way for the discrepancy of our views in relation to
the apostacy of Douglas and Wise to the Democratic par
ty. The idea is thrown out that we “ apologise for the
Southern Wise and yet denounce the Northern Douglas.”
We cannot arrive at tho same conclusion with our co
temporary from a perusal of our article. We see no apol
ogizing for Governor Wise’s recreancy to his past princi
pies. Our allusion to him was incidental and the language
used was not too moderate. We said in connection with |
Mr. Letcher’s great fitness for the Governorship of Virginia,
that Mr. Wise would hardly be re-nominated—that his re
cent course on the Kansas question would scarcely be en
dorsed by the democracy of the good old dominion”—that
a “proper regard for the purity of the party and the ad
vancement of its cardinal doctrines would lead them to
decline advocating his claims.” This language we con
sider strong enough and is not in the nature of an apology.
It is true, we shall make no war on Gov. Wise over an
obsolete issue, if he desires to act with the democratic party,
any more than we would with the Union men of ’32—the
Harrißon party of’4o—the Union men of’so—or any other
party based upon a past issue. Still our confidence is di
minished in the integrity of the man and we do not desire
his course endorsed by the democracy.
The readers of the Advertiser we are sure will not re
proach us for any want ot spirit or Southern patriotism in
not using harsher language towards Gov. Wise. We d G
not express our love for the South in this way. We may
not indulge in the extravagant spirit of our cotemporary
towards a recreant leader and yet be &s sensible to a wound’
inflicted upon the honor of the South. We do not expect
to stir up the ashes ol departed fires to show our zeal lor
Southern Rights, but will meet the issue bravely we trust
when it presents itself. Gov. Wise thinks the election of
a Black Republican President sufficient cause to dissolve
the Union. He was prepared for the issue at the last elec
tion and will perhaps advocate such a policy for the South
in 1860. This we think would lead our friend to exercise
the Christian virtue of forbearance towards a faithful old
soldier the infamy of whose desertion may be covered by
the glory ol his patriotism at the Waterloo battle yet ahead
of us.
Affairs iii Mexico—Mr. Forsyth Coming Home
Our latest advices from Mexico introduce the prospec t
ot some trouble between our government and that unfor
tunate people- We published, a short time ago, a letter
from our Minister, Mr. John Forsyth, to the Minister of
Foreign Relations in Mexico, protesting against the irru
position of a tax in the shape of a “forced loan,” by the
government of the latter, upon the citizens of the United
States, resident in Mexico. Mr. Forsyth based the claims
of our citizens to exemption from payment of such con
tributions chiefly upon a treaty between the two country
made April sth 1831. In compliance with his views and
exhortations, the subjects of this government have resisted
the collection of said tax, in consequence of which their
goods have been seized, and they ordered to leave the
country. Mr. Forsyth, thereupon demanded, and has re
ceived, his passports.” His mission is thus terminated, and I
tho causes which controlled his action have become ques
tions of public interest. They lead, necessarily, to nego
tiation, and possibly, to war. We have hereto lore intima'-
ted our opinion upon the question thus presented. We
cannot agree with our able minister that,in the absence of
treaty stipulations, there would be merit in his position.—
We think, however, that the treaty of April 1831, fully
meets the case and completely sustains him.
By that treaty it is provided that, “The United States of
America and the United Mexican States, designing to
take for the basis of their agreement the most perfect equal
ity and reciprocity, engage mutually not to grant any par
ticular favor to other nations in respect of commerce and
navigation, which shall not immediately become common
to the other party,” again, “They (the citizens of the two
countries respectively'’ shall not pay higher or other duties,
imposts or fees whatsoever, than those which the most fa
vored nations are or may be obliged to pay; and shall en
joy all tho rights, privileges and exemptions, with respect to
navigation and commerce, which the citizens of the most
favored nation do or may enjoy.” The tenor and object o 1
the whole treaty is to place the citizens of either country
upon the most advantageous footing in the other compati
ble with its interest, and the plain, unambiguous letter of
the instrument guarantees to them all the rights and im
munities secured by treaty to the citizens of other nations.—
We have not been able to see the treaty concluded between
Mexico and Great Britain to which Mr. Forsyth makes
reference in his letter, but we presume that the portion of
it which bears upon this question is correctly quoted, where
he says that, “In the convention celebrated between Great
Britain and Mexico, at London, December 26, 1826, Arti
cle 10th, it is clearly and emphatically stipulated that ‘no
forced loans shall be levied upon * British subjects.” The
only question, then, to be decided is whether the tax com
plained of fulfils the requisites and conditions of a “forced
loan .”
This question can be satisfactorily determined by an in
spection of the decrees having reference to the exaction. —
The first decree imposes a contribution of one per cent,up
on all capital in the country within certain limits, as to a
mount The second decree provides for the repayment of
the contribution in shares of a National Bank to supply
which with capital is the chief object of the levy. If this
be not a “forced loan” we are greatly at loss for a defini
tion. We admire and commend the spirit and firmness
with which Mr. Forsyth maintained his position and trust
that our government will begin just where he left off, and
use the proper means to compel an observance of the
treaty, _
Union Springs Gazette.— Mr- H. H- Smith, the edi
tor of the above Journal called on us to-day. Union
Springs is in such close proximity to Columbus by means
of the Railroad, that an identity of interests will keep up a
friendly union between the two places. Our merchants
who look for trade in this direction, will find the Gazette
* fine advertising medium.
Andrew H. 11. Dawson’s Oration.
We have received the oration delivered by Mr. Dawson
in relation to the purchase of Mount Vernon, with the kind
roquefit from the author, that we would read it. We have
done so in a cursory manner and find in it many be au*
tiiul figures, fine passages and classical illusions. The style
is flowing and full of the mild exuberance of fancy. We
have one objection to the oration, which perhaps does
not mar its beauty a great deal. The superb tropes and
metaphors which flow in rapid succession do not dove-tail
very well. Wo are sailing at one moment in a rapid
stream, amid shoals and quick-sands, and aro transported
over hills and dales in a second’s time to new scenery,
new objects, a calm sea without the slightest conception
how the change took placo ! With this exception tho ad
dress is very readable and will doubtless find a quick sale
at our book stores.* The reader will find a vindication of
John A. Washington Esq., the owner of tho Mount Ver
non property in the oration—Chaffin & Johnson —Book
Sellers in our city, have a lew copies ot the oration for
sale.
Death of Mayor Wayne. 7 SS£
Tho Savannah papers come to us to-day, dressed in the
habiliments of mourning for their late and worthy Mayor
Richard Wayne, who died Sunday at A. M. lie has
been in a critical state for a week and hence the announce**
ment of his death does not surprise us. although we share
the grief of that stricken city. Dr. Wayne was born in
1804. Has held many positions of public trust duriDg his
life. He was a Surgeon in the Army and stationed at Fort
Moultrie during the troubles between the General Govern
ment and South Carolina. Represented Chatham county
several times in the Legislature and has served as Mayor
of that city as long as six years ift succession. The Mili
tary, Masons, Odd Fellows and Fire Companies took part
in his burial and the flags ot the vessels were hung at haif
mast.
Change of Schedule.
From and after the Ist day of July the following will be
the schedule of the mail trains upon the Muscogee and the
Montgomery and West Point Rail Roads: .
DAY TRAIN.
LEAVES * ARRIVES AT
Macon 9.45 a. m. Columbus 3.50 p. m
Columbus 4.30 p. m. Montgomery 10.30. p.m.
Montgomery 8.30 a. m. Columbus 2.30 p. m.
Columbus 3.30 p. m Macon 9.20 p. m.
NIGHT TRAIN
LEAVES ARRIVES AT
Macon 11. p.m-1 Columbus 515a. m.
Columbus 6.15 a. m. | Montgomery... .12.00 p. m.
Montgomery... .9.30 p m. 1 Columbus 3.00 a. m.
Columbus 4.00 a. m. | Macon • .9.50 a. m.
, COMMUNICATED.
Religious News.
The Rev. Mr. Ryerson of Augusta, who was expected
in our city a week since, will preach in the Baptist church
this evening, and on each successive evening during the
week*
We are also informed, that the right Rev. Bishop Elliot,
of this diocese, is expected here by the afternoon train, and
that he will administer the ordinance of confirmation to
such as present themselves for that purpose at the Episco
pal Church this evening.
It is with pleasure, that we announce arrivals of this
character, for we can receive nothing but good from these
messengers of peace- Besides, the laborers are too few for
the reaping and garnering of the harvest in our ‘midst, and
it is well that there are those abroad who, like Paul of old,
do not resist the calls of the Spirit, but have “come ovei”
to “help us.” May those who have gone thus far, with
zeal into the good work, still hold up the hands ol these
men of God until Israel ’ prevail.
The Steamship Arabia and the Cable Fleet.
Halifax, June 27.—Nothing yet 3een of the approach
of the Arabia, which left Liverpool on the 19th inst-, nor
has anything been eeon or hoard of the cable fleet. Grea
excitement exhibited and ardent hopes indulged in the
success ol the wire fleet.
Fare Reduced.— The New York and Savannah steam
ships have reduced cabin passage between those two pla
ces from $25 to sls. This is good news [to the traveling
public, who will Jind this a pleasant line ol travel.
For the Times & Sentinel.
LETTER FROM A CIHJNENPIUGC.EELADY
Bidding adieu to the beautiful “City of Flowers,” our
little party entered the cars, and at the shrill sound ot iho
whistle, away we dashed on our visit to the “Queen of the
West.” The country through which we Ipassed was love
ly iudeed, and the beauty and jvariety of its scenery w'ould
have charmed the most fastidious lover of Nature’s beau,
ty. On the one hand, are spread out to the view broad
and undulating fields, touched with the verdant tints of the
newly sown crops, or o’er which waves tho • golden grain,
already ripe for the reaper’s blade* On tho other hand
alternating hills and valleys meet j’the eye, clothed in the
luxuriant verdure of a Spring, decorated with
Flora’s choicest gifts,and stretching iar away .until lost in
the distant horizon. Still onward, as we speed our way*
each| view presents, like some j. grand Raleidoscopes, a
new and lovelier sceno. Rising cloud high in the distance
and “clothed in its azure hue,” we behold the dim outline
of the majestic mountain. As we push onward, anothe
appears, until at last in whatever way we turn the eye,some
giant peak rears its dark blue wall, as if to .dispute our lur
ther progress. But still we halt not. One moment we are
darting merilyjacross the grassy vale, while the next finds
us suspendedifar above’the torrent that roars hundreds o*
feet beneath us. A moment more and we are thundering
through the tunnelled mountain,, and the next winding
around another’s rocky base, far .above the awe-inspiring
abyss that lies beneath us; while Lof feet above
us rises the blue clad peak,a monument to the grandeur
and sublimity of nature.
But as we were whirled mile’after mile,'each particular
scene fell back in the distance, and at,last the well known
signal warned us that we were approaching the end of our
journey. When the rumbling of the cars had ceased, and
we had entered the omnibus, we realized indeed, that we
were in the city of rocks, tho beautiful “Queen of the
West.” Land of my birth, home of myjchildhood! I felt
like kneeling and kissing the hallowed dust for the sake
of by-gone days. Who that has a soul >an refrain from
emotions ot rapture, when after long years ;.ot absence, he
re-visits the hallowed land of his birth, the cherished home
of his childhood. But alas! the unsparing hand of time
had left his impress here as “elsewhere, and naught was
seen that did not remind me that ‘nature’s law is change.’
Each old familiar.spot, where once I? loved iso well to
sport in girlish glee, was now so changed as to have almost
lost its power to charm. Many a dear one, too, who
knew me well and loved me, whose faces were ever bright
as the May morn, with youthful anticipations, r .and whose
i bosoms with tho noblest aspirations, are now
missed from the stage on which they once promised to have
played so honored a part. Where are they r now? Alas !
they have long since been wrapt in their winding sheets,
while their bodies repose beneath the grassy turf, in the
cold, silent and solemn tomb, and their spirits are reveling
in a brighter and happier world. Other faces, too, not less
loved, nor less familiar, though still spared to share the
joy and contend with the difficulties ‘of life, had almost
grown out of my recollection, so much had they changed
since last we met.
Nashville is situated on the Cumberland river, and is a
large and important commercial cit/. The oft-repeated
whistle ol the engine, the frequent arrival and departure of
first class steamers, the constant rattling of drays, carts,
&c., the throng of people that continually crowd the streets
—the display of every variety of merchandise, are things
that attract the observation of .all visitors. The beauty
and elegance of the buildings, both public and privatejead
all to the conclusion that Nashville is an important busi
ness emporium, and a place’of wealth, taste, elegance and
refinement. Z
On the morning aftei;our arrival we visited the capitol,
which is said to be one of the finest buildings in the Uni
ted States. It is composed entirely of marble—is ot the
finest architecture —cost .the State several millions, and
presents a grand ’ and imposing] appearance. /There we
found assembled in the Senate chamber, the large T and in
telligent body of ministers which composed the Confer
ence of the M. E- Church, South. After getting a seat,
which was procured with great difficulty, ?on account of
the galleries being “already densely crowded, I gazed
around,and my dazzled vision could hardly discriminate
whether I was awake or dreaming. The magnificence of
the interior of the building was “alone | sufficient to excite
my admiration; but when I beheld the k giant mass ol in
tellect assembled before me, the grand display of intelli
gence and refinements hat greeted my eye on every side,
the beauty and grace.that wreathed the dtows of the fair
Representatives of the city and State, my admiration was
kindled into enthusiasm. Feeling oppressed by the exces
sive heat, we again sought the street and the . refreshing
influence of the balmy breeze.
The next place of note that we visited was the residence
of Mrs. Polk. Fortunately for us we found her at home
and were delightfully entertained during our visit. She
is exceedingly fascinating and possesses all the attributes
of a true and genuine lady, viz—beauty, intelligence and
piety. The monument of the ex President is situated in
the front yard of his elegant mansion, and around it has
been placed by the hand of her who cherished his memo
ry with fond recollection, beautiful shells, flowers aDd
shrubbery .1
Early one morning I visited the Cemetery. As I enter
ed the I could not resist the I' feelings of'awe and
solemnity that stole over me, for I felt indeed that 1 was in
the silent city of. the dead. As if to counteract the sad
dening influence exerted by the presence of tho assembled
dead, the grounds have been beautifully laid off, with peb
bled walks, and decorated with shades and bowers and
shrubbsry, while here and there blooms the fragrant rose,
placed by the hand of affection over the last resting place
of some cherished and loved one as ‘a last token of fond
remembrance. As I wandered over the grounds and re
membered the old adage that “Death levels all distinc
tions,” I could not help but be struck with the great diver
sity of monumental marks that had been erected f.over the
sleeping ones beneath. Here, over the remains of some
proud son of wealth, unknown to honor or distinction,
save that which gold confers, rises the splendid mausoleum
upon which the sculptor’s art has been exhausted, and upon
the tomb is seen,
Not what he was,but what he should have been;
While in yonder corner,quietly reposes the remains of hon
est worth, with nought but the grassy mound to mark the
spot, and not even an humble slab to tell who rests below*
Reared in the lap of poverty, and blest only with an hon
est heart and generous soul, his name is his monument and
his epitaph is engraved upon tho hearts of his friends.
Ida of Thornville.
U. S. PUBLIC PRINTING, ETC.
Mr. George Taylok, from the Select Committee
on Printing, made the following— Report.
The Select Committe appointed under the resolu
tion of the House of Representatives of Decem
ber 9, 1857, to examine into the laws in relation
to the printing for the House of Representatives,
the prices paid therefor, and the duties of the
public printer; and which was further directed,
by resolution of December 18, 1857, to inquire
into the prices paid for the binding of Congress,
and the laws regulating the same, and into the
prices paid for engraving, and for the paper
used for the printing of Congress, and for the
publication and binding of the Congressional
Globe; and which was further instructed, by reso
lution of January 19, 1858, to examine into and
report to the House what change, if any, is re
quired in the existing laws providing for and
governing the public printing connected with the
Executive Departments or Bureaus, beg leave to
make the following report:
It became necessary to the committee, in order
properly to discharge the duty assigned them,
critically to examine, in connection with “the laws
in relation to the printing of the House,” the man
nor in which the printing, binding and engraving of
Congress is at pressnt done, and ascertain its char
actor, whether efficient and economical or the re
verse, with the general management of those great
interests; and, if possible, to devise a system by
which the public work in those several depart
ments can be done in a way to obviate any defects
which might be found at present to exist.
Under the existing laws, the Senate and House
of Representatives for each Congress elects, each
respectively, a public printer to do the printing of
each at certain established rates of compensation.
Each house has its binding executed under the di
rection of a committee on printing; and for each
Congress there is appointed by the President, with
the advice and consent ofthe Senate, a superinten
dent of public printing, who, very much in the ca
pacity of a steward of Congress, acts on its behalf
in purchasing paper, delivering the same to the
public printer, and keeping an acconnt thereof; in
receiving from Congress the manuscripts and other
matter ordered to be printed; delivering the same,
to the printer or engraver; in receiving the same,
when executed, from those parties and from the
public binders; inspecting work done, and in cer
tifying the accounts therefor. How under these
arrangements, have the printing, binding, engrav
ing. &c ; , of Congress and the Executive Depart
ment been done? Have they been-done well, and
with a just economy? And are the established
rates for printing and binding either higher or low
er than the public interests require? These ques
tions T will be best answered by a statement of
facts.
PUBLIC PRINTERS.
The public ‘printer elected by the 33d Congress,
and the public printer of the Senate for the 34th
Congress, respectively, contracted with a third
party to do the required work, reserving to them
selves a large per centage, which was as a nett
reward or profit for simply taking, under the name
of public printer, the printing of Congress, and sub
letting it to another who did, and is still doing the
work for them. The public printer elected by the
House for the 34th Congress, did the required House
printing himself; and, in addition, as sub-contractor
under the Senate printer, did the work ofthe Sen
ate for that Congress, as he did all of the printing
for the public printer of the 33d Congress; and he
is now doing the work for the public printers of
the Senate and House ofthe present Congress.—
The same party is printing the post office blanks as
a sub-contractoi under the gentlemen having that
work to do.
The per centage paid by the s üb-contractor re
ferred to, to the various public printers designated
—emoluments of their mere sinecure offices-amoun
ted to more than $21,000 during the month of
January last, and will average nearly $20,000 per
month. This includes no allowance ofper-centage
upon the House printing for the 34th Congress;
the sub-contractor mentioned, as public printer of
that body, did the work himself, and thus was
saved payment for privilege. The gross amount
thus paid, as a per centage or bonus’for the privi
lege of doing the work, by the sub contractor to
the government officials, varies but little from $240-
000 per year; at the same lime he realizes, over
and above that large profit, a handsome reserve
profit for himself. *
The printing for neither the 32d nor the 34th
Congress is yet completed, but is still in course of
execution ; therefore, the aggregate of per centage
named as being paid by the sub-contractor to the
officials is the per centage on that printing, on the
printing for the present Congress, and for the prin
ting of post office blanks, which is sepcrate from
the congressional printing, and amounts to nearly
$50,00 per annum
THE PUBLIC BINDING.
In the matter of the binding of Congress and of
the departments a similar state ot tacts has been
found to exist. The House binding for the thirty
fourth Congress may be taken as a lair illustration
of the manner in which that work generally has
been done. That binding was contracted to be
done at 22 per cent, less than former prices.
The gentleman who secured that contract from
the House Committee on Printing sold the con
tract, or re-let the work to be done to a party in
this city for the consideration of 20 per cent, on the
gross amount of binding done, and this sub-con
tractor again sub-let his contract to another or third
party in this city for the ’consideration ot one.halt
of the profits on the work done, after the deduction
of the 20 per cent., which was reserved to the pub
lic binder or original contractor. Upon information
which your committee are not disposed to question,
is believed that the 20 per cent, reserved to the
public binder has already amounted to $33,000,
and that the second or sub contractor has received
a very considerable sum out of profits which have
been made on the work after the payment of the 20
per cent • to the original contractor. And it is but
simple justice to the third party, or second sub-
contractor, who did the work, to add, that he has
been so well satisfied with the residium of the
profits, the one half remaining after the payment ol
the 20 per cent , that he has felt it his duty to do the
work in a better manner than much of that here
tofore done for Congress.
This particular illustration has been selected, not
with a view to find fault with the first contracting
party, but as aptly showing the general practice of
parties assuming to do the public work, who obtain
contracts and then use mechanics to execute them
under a reserve from the actual operatives ot a
large per centage, as profit to themselves.
The binding of the Senate for the 34th Congress
was given to a gentleman ot this city at rates ten
per cent, higher than the prices allowed for the
House binding for that Congress. Under the cir
cumstances, and after what has been said relative
to the profits made by the various parties interes
ted in the House binding, it would be useless to in
quire into the exact gross profits of the Senate bin
der, who your committee believe is not a practical
mechanic in the business into which his contract
led him. The binding of the Senate for that Con
gress, already paid for, amounts to about $150,000,
and much yet remains to be done.
The gross amount of binding for the 33d Con
gress is $538,458 59, that for the 34th Congress,
$384,686 17.
In additiont to congressional works, there is a
large amount of binding aqnually done for the dif
ferent executive departments and bureaus. The
prices paid in the departments and bureaus are
much higher, in comparison, than those established
by Congress. The binding done lor the depart
ments and bureaus is of a different character, and
it is done without any contract, and with little or no
regard to economy. The cost of the blank books
used annually in the departments is large, and
in almost every instance the prices paid for them
are from thirty to fifty per cent, more than such
books can be procured for. There is no competi
tion for this work, and no general contract is made
for its execution. It is a grand monopoly for a
few individuals, who leap therefrom enormous
profits.
The following letter which your committee re
ceived from Mr. Hein, disbursing agent in the
Coast Survey office, bears directly on this point :
Coast Survey Office,
Februaay 2, 1858.
Sir : I enclose copies of the accounts paid by me
during the year 1857, for blank books, binding,
printing blanks and formulae, cjrc., amounting to
$1,066 10. _ . ~.
The work was done bv Mr. H. P. Lewis, and Mr.
George S. Gideon, in Washington, and given to
those gentlemen by directinn from the Treasury
Department to that effect.
Finding that kinds of blank books could be
procured from Baltimore, of much better quality
and lower prices than here I ordered some from
Messrs. Murphy & Cos. Their accounts show
that .their prices for better work are from 25 to 50
per cont. lower than is paid here for similar work ;
but on complaint being made by the book-binders
in Washington, no further orders have been given
to Baltimore.
No contract has been entered into for the blank
books and printing of formulae. They are fre
quently changed, and only such quantities are
ordered from time to time as are necessarily re
quired.
The expense for binding, &c., hasbeea paid out
of the Coast Survey appropriation, being consid
ered a contingent expenditure for that work.
Yours, respectively,
SAMUEL HEIN,
Disbursing Agent Coast Survey.
Prof. A. D.Bache,
Superintendent Coast Survey, Washington, D. C.
The manner in which the binding is done for
the Department of the Interior furnishes a fair il
lustration of the general plan adopted by the depart
ments, with exception of the Treasury Department
in which a private binder is employed at $lB per
week, assisted by a boy at sls per week. Much
of the binding of that department is done in this
way at a saving of from thirty to fifty per cent, on
theentire amount. The binding in the Department
of the Interior is very fully described in a letter
received by the committee from the Secretary, the
Hon. Jacob Thompson, from which liberty is taken
to extract the following:
“No contract or agreement has been made or
entered into by this department on account of
binding or printing for the present year. Such
work is ordered from time to time as required, and
is paid for according to rates established by the
Superintendent of Printing during the few months
the subject was placed under his supervision by
the act of 3d March, 1855.—(Laws U. S-, vol. 10,
p; 652.) Much of it is of such a character that it
must be done in the building of the department,
and more than a year since a room was assigned
to, and fitted up by the proprietor of the ‘Union’
for that class of wofk. Under these circumstances,
and because the work has been done to our satis
faction, and at prices certified to us to be reasona
ble by the Superintendent of Printing, I have not
been satisfied that the public good would be sub
served by giving it to other parties, although they
have proposed to undertake it for less. Proposi
tions to this effect have been submitted by the fol
lowing gentlemen, viz:
“1. By C. Alexander, under date of 15th July,
1857, who offered to do the work for 33 per cent
less than the rates then allowed.
“2. By C. Alexander, under date of Isth^ Sep
tember, 1857, renewing his previous offer, or it r the
department would enter into contract with him to
do its binding, &c.,to 4th March, 1861, at the rates
then allowed, offering to pay into the Treasury of
the United States, for its use, ten thousand dol
lars.
“3. By William Pettibone, under date of the
15th inst., proposing to undertake the work at 20
per cent, less than the rates heretofore established,
and now paid. I enclose copies of these proposi
tions.”
The binding done for the Executive departments
and bureaus, including the printed heads in some
instances, for the year 1857. amounted in gross to
the sum of $77,500. This does not include the
work done by the private binder in the Treasury
Department. Owing to the change in our consu
lar system, by which the amount in the State De
partment was greatly increased, the gross amount
above stated is probably more than a fair average .
The average wonld not fall below $60,000 per
year.
English Opinion of Mr. Belly’s Operations in Central
America.
From the City article of the London Times.
The statement from Paris to-day, that a con
cession for the canal to unite the Atlantic and Pa
cific through the territories of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica has been granted to a French Company, is
surprising only from the tact of its apparently not
having become known at New York where the in
fluence over Nicaragua is paramount, and where
there are persons who still claim rights to the route
which, whatever may be their validity, are likely
to be supported for political purposes. The whole
affair, however, is without practical importance,
since the conditions are never likelij to he ful
filled.
The company are to commence the work in two
years, and complete it in six, and the channel is
to be such as to admit two of the largest ships to
pass abreast. The direction moreover, is to be en
tirely French, and the French Government are to
have the exclusive privilege of keeping a couple of
ships of war on the waters of the-routc throughout
the whole period occupied in its construction. A
capital of £10,000,000 or £15,000,000 would not
suffice, and the public can easily judge the pros
pect of any such amount being raised within the
next 24 months on the Paris Bourse.
The scheme originally proposed in London, and
most unfortunately rejected, was for a canal of
much more moderate dimensions or even, in the
first instance, for an ordinary transit, by improving
the navigation of the San Juan, and crossing the
11 miles of hilly land between Lake Nicaragua and
the sea by a railway or other temporary means,
until the success of the enterprise should have en
couraged further expenditure.
The following “declaration” is appended to the
grant made by Costa Rica and Nicaragua to M.
Belly for the purpose of constructing the ship canal
across the Isthmus, referred to in the prececding
article :
Declaration against the United Slates and in favor
of an Kuropean Protectorate.
The following is appended:
The supreme chiefs of the two Republics of Nic
aragua and Costa Rica assembled at Rivas, after
having settled the questions which divided the two
Republics, and having re-established peace and the
most complete harmony between them, with a
common accord and in order to secure the indepen
dence and safety of the two countries, as well as
of all the States of Central America.
Considering that a fresh invasion of American
fillibusters still menaces the independence of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua, in contempt of all the laws
that protect nations and that guarantee the lives
and properties of citizens in civilized countries :
That this invasion, officially reprobated by the
Government ol’ the United States, is preparing in
reality, under its patronage as the means of definite
ly taking possession of Central America, if Central
America refuse to surrender itself voluntarily to
the United States ;
That hitherto all the official agents of .the United
States at Nicaragua have been accomplices and
auxiliaries of the invaders, acting as masters and
audaciously hoisting the flag of the United States in
all parts where, as at San Juan del Sur, the flag
of Nicaragua only ought to float, and openly me
nacing Central America with an inevitable annex
ation :
That the Minister actually accredited to Nicar
agua boasts in public of peremptorily proposing
this ultimatum— either the iegal possession of Nic
aragua by the ratification of the treaty Cass Yris
sarri, or a fresh invasion of the fillibusters already
organized at Mobile under the American flag;
That, moreover, the Government of the United
States has, according to official reports, made to
that of Costa Rica, by its Minister Plenipotentiary
at Washington, declared that it was utterly power
less to prevent fresh attempts by the filibusters, or
to protect the neutrality of Central America owing
to the insufficiency of the laws of the United States
on this head;
Considering that three years of war and devas
tation have deprived the two Republics of the
means of resisting a fresh attack on the part of
many thousands of brigands; that the towns of
Nicaragua are destroyed in whole or in part; that
their commerce is annihilated ; their population is
decimated; and that after a desperate resistance,
which testifies their patriotism, they must suc
cumb before a superiority of numbers, unless Eu
rope design at last to defend them against attempts
unprecedented in the 19th century;
They declare solemnly :
1. That they place the Convention above men
tioned, relative to the canal ofNicaragua, under the
patronage of civilized Europe, by appealing to the
justice and humanity of all Christian nations against
the attacks of pirates and buccaneers, of whom
they have been for three years the victims ;
2d. That they place the independence and na
tionality of the Republics ofNicaragua and Costa
Rica under the guarantee of the three Powers who
have caused the independence and nationality of
the Ottoman Empire to be respected, namely,France
England and Sardinia.
3d. That they supplicate the Governments of
these three Powers not any longer to leave the
coasts of Central America without deience, its rich
country at the mercy of barbarians, and the future
route of the trade of the world without a serious
guarantee of liberty and neutrality.
4. That they bind themselves in the name of
their people to accept from those three Powers all
the conditions they may attach to their assistance,
provided the public law of civilized Europe be ex
tended to all the States of America, and imposed
by force, if needs be on those who so audaciously
violate it.
In faith whereof they sign the present declara
tion.
RIVAS,
TOMAS MARTINEZ,
JUAN RAFAEL MORA.
May 1, 1858.
Interesting Mexican News,
New Orleans, June 25.— The steamship Tennessee ha3
arrived below at quarantine, with Mexican dates to the
19th inst.
Admiral Zerman has come on as a passenger in the Ten
nessee.
The lorced loan has caused great excitement in Mex
ico , and all foreigners who have not complied with the
requirements ol that law, have been ordered to leave the
country, .
Americans and their goods have been seized tor non
compliance, and our Minister, Mr. John foreyth, haa de
manded an received his passports.
The liberal party appear to be gaining strength.
Zuloaga was about going to Tampico for reluge.