Daily constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 1846-1851, February 10, 1847, Image 2

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—gtMi 11l ■■ m ■■»■■ ■ ll 'r-T^»HI. ». .■■M Tillß CONSTITLTIONALIST. JAMES GARDNER, JR. T i: RMS. Daily, per annum, 53 00 Tfi-Weekly, per annum, h 00 if paid in advance, 5 00 Weekly, per annum, *» 00 if paid in advance, 2 00 53" All new subscriptions must be paid in advance. 1 £t3“Postage must be paid on all Cuintnunicalicns and Let’ers of business. {From, the Charleston Courier.] The Loadou Times on Slavery. The following is the article referred to bv our correspondent “O. P. Q.” in ids letter of the 4lh ult., published in Satur day’s Courier. We hail it as an evi dence of returning reason on the part of the people of England on a question of such vital importance to the happiness and security of our own country. It is a full indorsement of all that the S iutn has e\er contended for as to the impolicy and folly of interference with the institution of slavery, hy those who are aliens to it both in interest and understanding. [From the London ’Pi/ues. Dec. 21.] Among the erroneous systems which experience is daily leading us to investi gate, there is none that invites us more, both by its interest and importance, than that on which our colonial policy is built. Beginning in carelessness and indiffer ence, then rising suddenly to despotism and excessive interference, continuing af terwards in a perpetual vacillation be tween tyranny and concession, it now bangs trembling on the verge of utter ruin. Nothing, indeed, can save our colonies, except a hold, a comprehensive, and im mediate reform; not one that, seizing upon some particular and more promi nent abuse, shall destroy and offer it up as a sacrifice to appease the anger of an injured people; hut a searching and a ra dical reform, that shall not be content with alleviating symptoms, but shall kill the disease itself. We speak, of course, not of internal* and domestic changes, but of an alteration of the whole course of policy pursued by the parent Slate. The history pi various j colonies, and more especially a compari- I son of those which have enjoyed the bless- ; ing of self-government with those that j have been debarred from it, assures us that iu the evils now threatening or actu ally presented, we seethe consequences, not so much of colonial folly, as oi imperi al miSgovernrrierit. Indeed, we need not go far for proof indisputable of this truth. In the projected schemes of the Colonial j office that have recently been announced [ 111 this journal, there is contained an em- j pie recognition of enormous evils long j existent and no longer tolerable. If it, be necessary now to annihilate the settle- ! ment of Norfolk Island, it is impossible , to doubt that its original establishment was a false step. If it be necessary now j to favor and assist the importation of im migrants into the sugar colonies, we must per force believe that the obstinate ptohi- j bition against it was impolitic and tin- j just. If it be necessary now to change : the whole treatment of transported con victs, what must be thought of that ! which has prevailed to the present day? Finally, if it be necessary now to review the very system itself of transportation, we cannot easily exaggerate the miscon duct of those who, having first laid down an erroneous principle of action, handed it on from one to the other, and couminu ed it to the point of consigning thousands of human beings to utter damnation, and c? a fertile island to almost irretrievable ruin. And if we look back upon the history of these transactions —upon the experi ment of Norfolk Island and the abolition of slavery—we shall find it impossible to discover one single circumstance of pal liation or excuse in favor of the parent state. It could not iiave been known to those who presided over the destinies of the colonies in the eventful period of transition from bandage to freedom, that the natural and inevitable consequence of liberating compulsory labour was to annihilate it altogether. Indeed, it was parley through an apprehension of this consequence that the plan of apprentice ship was devised, in order that the plan ters might not be at once and immediate ly deprived of the means of cultivating their estates. That plan suffered an ear ly and premature death. The term of apprenticeship was cut short, and the last vestige of slavery disappeared in the Bri tish coloneieson the Ist of August, IS3S. Then was the time for the Imperial Gov. eminent to have shown itself in the char aclure of protector, adviser, and friend.— Then was the lime for Great Britian to have held forth a helping hand to the vic tims she had sacrificed upon the altar of a great principle. Bu 11 lie occasion was not seen or understood; or, may be, it i was disregarded. Instead of aid, she ; gave an order in council forbidding her subjects to procure from foreign shores the labor she had virtually taken away from their own. Seized with an impo tent desire to abolish slavery throughout the globe, she regarded with an almost insane suspicion every vessel that ap proached the African coast. Negro and slave, to the apprehension of tnc Colonial office and the morbid imagination of Lord Palmerston, were terms synonymous.— For three long years and more the absurd prohibition was continued in full force. At length in December,lß4l, a poor|instaV ment ofjustice was extorted from a new Government desirous of popularity. Im migration was thence forward permitted from Europe; but Africa still remained within the charmed line that the anti sla very mania had attempted to draw around a boundless tract of continent. This small relaxation, however, was of apiece with the orginal restriction. The inha bitant of the “cool north” was sent to lan —* h——'-c 1 —— guish under burning suns and die of nia lignant fevers, that the babarian denizen of the torrid zone might escape the sha dow of the fellers of bondage. Hundreds of English gentlemen and Creole families were pauperized, or made to struggle with bitter adversity, in order not to shock the peculiar sympathies of certain senti menlial philanthropists. Nor did the or der of 1843, permitting immigration from North America, place the colonies in a bettor situation, indeed, if we remem ber right; that order was never carried out. The first real and substantial boon was that conferred in June, 1844, which opened tiie Eastern continent to the plant er of the West; but even this measure came so late that few of its advantages have yet been made available; and it is not unlikely that the experiment we announced on Ft May will for the most part supersede it. \\ ith respect to the abstract question of introducing into our tropical colonies the free and willing inhabitants of Africa, the only difficulty that surrounds the sub ject is the impossibility of getting at ibe real objections to it. No one even super ficially acquainted with our sugar colo nies, pretends to deny that since the year 1838 labour always has been, arid still is, most seriously deficient. It is quite idle to say that the hands which were nu merous enough and strong enough when working with the shukles of a slave must and ought to he amply sufficient under the invigorating influence of freedom. These are more theories. The unhappy colonists have been forced lo sound and have found them hollow. The liberated negro in the West Indies does not tear I:. He shows an occasional and imperfect industry when the pressure of some par ’ ticular want or desire impels him to seek the means of gratification. But as for regular and continuous labour, it is not to be expected from him. In course of lime, perhaps, when the slave generation is departed and others are sprung op in their room “who have ml known bond age.” the case may be different. We do i not say that it will not be different. But meanwhile, and pending the great ex periment, the planter is ruined. Whilst humanitarians at home are prating of the | horrors of slavery, the free subject of Great Britain is losing his land, his money, his every means. Africa isguard ed as it were holy ground, and Jamaica is left lo waste. Such are the eflecks of humanity that has not its foundation in justice. ! [ Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.'] Washington, Saturday, Feb. 6, 5 P. M. IN SENATE. Mr. Dix presented a series of joint resolu j lions of (lie Legislature of New York, in- I strutting ibe Senators and requesting the i Representatives to Congress, from that State, to vole a proviso u* any bill which may be | before brought Congress in relation to the acquisition of more ter rite ry, which shall keep slavery forever out of the territory in que.-iion. Mr. B ighv submitted a resolution (which ! lies over) declaring the sense ot the Senate | to hi ll at the action of the New York Le 1 gislalure, in reference lo*s'a\eiy, (as above I recited) is in derogation of Uic Constitution ! of the United States. Mr. Allen presented a petition from Ohio, in favor of Whitney’s railroad over Oregon to the Pacific; aLo the proceedings of a meeting in that Stale, at which ex-Governor Shannon presided, at which resolutions were adopted justifying the war against Mexico, and the measures of the General Government iu relation to the same. The special order—the three million bill Was then taken up, and , Mr. Johnson of mar) land. made a long and ! able argument on it. When he bad concluded and taken his sent Mr. Cliss took the floor and made a few remarks, after which Mr. Morehead signified his desire to ad dress the Senate on the bill under discussion. Whereupon the Senate adjourned, leaving ilun the floor for Monday next. ]lO US F. OF REPR E S E N TATI YES. Mr. McKay reported a bill from the Ways and Moans committee rn ;ans for paying the in'erest on the public debt, which i was read twice, pat into committee of the whole, taken out, and by the House finally read and passed. Mr. Wihnot presented a’seriesof joint reso lutions from the Legislature of the Slate ( t Pennsylvania, against allowing slavery to ex its in any territory which the United States may heieafter acquire, in which slavery does not exist —which were read and referred to the Committee of the Whole, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Holmes, of South Carolina, reported a bill from the Naval Committee, to increase the Marine Corps of the United States, which was read twice and referred. Mr. McKay, from the Ways an 1 Means Committee, reported a bill making appropria tions to pay Revolutionary and other pension ers, which was read twice and referred lo the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Preston King presented the joint re -1 solutions of ihe Legislature of New York, ins r cling and requesting the members cf Congresslfrom that Stale to vote to keep sir,- j very out of any territory tiiat the United States may acquire, in which slavery di es not now exist—which was read, referred to i the committee of tiie whole House on the ! State of the Union, and ordered to be print | On motion, the House adjourned. Ship Mav York. We are informed by the consignee of this ship, that letters dated at Beau toil, N. C., 3d instant, slate that she had not arrived there up to that time, and it was supposed she had proceeded to New-York. Vessels have been engaged to bring tiie balance of her cargo lo this "port. Tiie schr. Sarah—one of the vessels chartered—with part of the cargo on board, was detained at Beaufort by contrary winds. . It is requested that the consignees will furnish the invoice value of their goods, with all possible despatch, so as to facilitate a speedy settlement of the affairs of the ship. Charleston Courier, Oik itist. The (ttforgia and Florida Boundary* Tiie St. Augustine Herald contains a resolution touching the adjustment of our boundary with Florida, which was introduced into the General Assembly of F lorida ou the sth of January, but we have not yet learned that it passed. It runs as follows: Be it Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, of the State of Florida, in General Assembly, convened, That the Gov ernor be and he is hereby empowered to employ Counsel on the part of the State to institute legal proceedings against the State of Georgia in the Supreme Court of the ! United States, to obtain a decision as to the | boundary, in a dispute between the Slates I aforesaid. "‘'“AUGUSTA, GEO., I WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEB. 10, 1847. SCrThe Constitutionalist letter Sheet Prices | Current, will be ready fur delivery Tills Morn ing. at 9 o'clock. O’ The letter from Victoria which we this day publish is written by an officer of the Richmond Blues, and will be read with inter est by manv of our readers, although the newspapers have already anticipated most ol its details of army movements. O’ The new company of volunteers raised in our city, has organized by the election of a highly competent and respectable set of offi- | cers. We can cordially recommend all who i are willing to serve their country in the ; ranks, to place themselves under their com- | ( mand. The company is not yet full, and a j few more volunteers will be received. Mr. IK or rest in Othello. A crowded house greeted the great Trage- j dianon Monday night,his first appearance here i in many years. It was incomparably the finest ! i specimen of acting we have witnessed on the ! Augusta boards. We will not attempt a criti ! cism. It was a chef d’ovxre in the histrionic 1 art Mr. Forrest won the breathless atten -1 lion of his audience. A profound silence reigned throughout the house, during the most thrilling scenes of the play except that it was frequently interrupted by a most pro voking cracking of ground peas, which some people had the bad taste to prefer to some of Shakspeare’s finest passages, and the bud manners to yislurb others whose tastes were rather more intellectual. We would sup pose that these nut crackers might have found a cheaper and more appropriate place j for their diversion than in the dress circle of the Theatre. Au;u»fit 4*a. ISrirfge Case- The Baltimore Patriot of the Gth inst. savs: —This suit, which lias been lor a • ... c /'I long time pending in the courts of Oeor- ' gU and South Carolina, and which, from | the largo amount involved, has become | a case.of great interest to the stockholders j &0.,0f the Bank of the Slate of Georgia and the Southern public generally, lias { been docketed for trial in tlie Supreme I Cour’, at its present session. Mr- 11. Johnson appears in’tlie above case for the 1 a. polices, and Mr. Webster for the ap- , ■ p, Hants. The Washington Union ol the 6fh mst. sa ys;—We are happy to learn that General Haralson, who has been confined to his room for tiie past week by sickness, is now conva lescent, and will probably be able to resume his seat in the House of Representatives iira few days. . “VICTORIA, 3d Jan., 1847. “On the 14th December, we left Camp Allen, one day after Gen. Twiggs—(when I use the term “we,” it includes the Vol- | 1 untcer Division under Gen. Quitman.) — ! That day we sassed through Monterey, and followed the Southern or Cadarete road, passing through Gaudaloupe from Monterey. I had often heard of a splendid cathedral in some town similar in name to the above, but 1 found nothing save a church, and that a common one. i his village is situated i*i a most fertile valley, at the fool of the Saddle | Mountain, on the etstern side of Monterey. I This vallev, (for the above mountain is a part of the Sierra Madre chain, within two miles of which 1 now am.) extends some two hundred and fifty to three hundred miles, and varies from one to twenty in breadth, surpass, ing any soil I have ever seen, in lertvjity. — Its proximity to the mountains forbids the idea that the usual curse of this climate scarcity of water, would affect its value. In the rainy season it may be too plentiful for comfort or health, but nothing more, for it cannot be overflowed. Ihe fruits which I have so often mentioned as growing so plen- , i tifully around we found in the greatest abun- I 1 dance on every days’ march. The first eve- j i ning we camped twelve miles from Monte- j ( rey. The next morning Major Williams re quested me to ride back with Lieut. Ander- ; son in search of Dr. Hill. We rode back i to thecitv, and there found him with Lear- | j kins, preparing to start with Gen. I. and I Staff'. They had wandered away from the ! road on the day previous and got lost. We j turned our bridle reins, and modestly follow- I cd in the rear of the escort, for some twenty five miles, where we left the General and his party and proceeded on. We came to Ca darcle there expecting to find camp. It wa s j not there, and it was 100 late to examine the i town. Suffice it to say, it is situated in the j above mentioned valley, thirty miles from | Monterey. We reached camp about 9 p. | m., 5 miles this side of the city, with our | charge, whose appearance caused considera ble rejoicing among both officers and men. Thus you see the men marched 23 miles. My pacing poney was taken sick and left to the mercy of a chance owner. The next day, 16th, we were overtaken by and camped with Gen. T. On the next we reached Montemorales, or rather encamped at a pru dential distance from it. Here we were to rest one day to receive rations and recussa late. The tents were pitched, and all pre pared to take it easy. I had determined as soon as rested, to go up and see , for AUGUSTA WHOLESALE PRICES CURRENT, FEBRUARY 10, 1847. ARTICLES. Ptr. Wholesale. ' ARTICLES. \Per. Wholesale. 1 EXCHANGE. BAGGING—Gunny. j IT a LIME nbJ. ‘225 a Augusta insurance-and Banking Company,,, par Kentucky 12 al4 MOLASSES—Cuba 'al. 26 a23 Bank of Augusta, “ BALEROPL—.ManiIIa •lb Bia 10 N. Orleans 3u a 371 Branch State of Georgia, Augusta, “ Kentucky 6a 7 NAILS—Cut, 44 to 2Ud 4iu 5 Bank of Brunswick,. “ BACON—Hams 8a 10 OlLS—Sperm, W. strained ] 130 a Georgia Hail Road, “ Sides 7 a 8 Fall strained d ... 125 a Mechanics’Bank, .... “ Shoulders 6 a Summer do.* 100 « Bank of St. Mary’s, .... “ BUTTER—Goshen, prime lb 23 a25 Linseed bbl. j Bank of Milledgeville, ** Country 12 a 15 Tanners 53 a Bank of the State of Georgia, at Savannah,. .. “ CANDLES—Spermaceti! 30 a 32 Lard 100 a Branches of ditto, “ Georgia made 12m 15 j 1*( > I AIDES bbl. *>st) a 400 Marine ami fire Insurance Bank, Savannah,. “ Northern do 11 alO POUTER doz. 225 a 250 B ra ,icli of ditto, at .Macon “ CHEESE—Northern 0« 10 PEl’Elf—Black Ib 24a \ Planters’Bank, Savannah, “ COFFEE—Cuba none PIMENTO.... Ola Central Bank of Georgia, “ K‘° , 8 ® ( ? RAISINS—.MaIaga bunch box. 225 a 200 Central K. R. & B’k’g. Co., Savannah “ *J ava V" n Muscatel 2 a Charleston Banks, “ I , rci . . Lagnaym.. 9a 10 RICE-Ordmary 100. 1 a 420 ,; a|lk of ( “ Ti f Shirtings, brown, 3-4 yd. 6t 1-air...... a _ Bank ot Georgetown “ « j: , '-. 8 . ' ia , ! r" ' r nme V-* a a Commercial,Columbia “ tL, , w a - s f french Brandies gal. 1:0 a 2 Merdtants’. at Clteraw, “ 1 Sheetings brown. o-4 U u 5 Leger f reres 2, , « 3 BanU of , Ialll!)lir , | ... , Ideacheti, a-4 8a 2J ito Holland Gm . 120 a l.n) Alalmma N(ttes ,. S dis. 3 P U i TfT Jo “ Q K t-n °*2 Merchants’ Bank of Macon 5 (ii 0 “ 1 (1 •••• 1 (L J N•’ HI lAI L dIV <llll- IjJ (( w .•% 'll) I c■ | i 1 FlSH—Mackerel, No. I bid. 1U a 124 N.E.Rum.bds. and brls 32 a 33 j, Commercial Bank, at Macon failed Do. No. 2 8 a 9 Whiskey, Phil. & Balt . 30 a 32 no sale oii uncertain. Do. No. 3 6 a 64 ’ Do. Ne w Orleans 28 a3O Bank of Darien and Branches. FLOL R —Baltimore, 11. S none. j f Peach Brandy j 50 a75 Bank of Columbus. Phila’d and Vir's none. SUGAR—CuIm Muscovado lb 8a 10 Chattahoochee Bail Road and Banking Company New Orleans none. P. IE & St. Croix 9a 12 Monroe Rail Road and Banking Company. Canal 7 50a8 00 Havana, white 10 a 11 '! Planters and Mechanics’ Bank,Columbus. Georgia 5 5(V<6 00 New Orleans 1 Si a 9 Western Bank of Georgia, at Rome. : GRAIN—Corn. bus. 65 a75 L<af. 1 12 al3 I Exchange Bank, Brunswick. Oats ... 40 aSO Lump ; Jf u l2 Ins. Bank of Columbns.a l Macon .. no circulation, I GUNPOWDER keg. 6 a ti SALT—Liverpool sack 137 a 130 Phoenix Bank ol Columbus. | HAY —Eastern 100. Loose bus.: 35 u 40 CHECKS. North River SOAP—American,yellow ]f> 5 a 6 On New'York, par. JUUION —Pig 100. SHOT—AII sizes 1 150 a 175 ; Philadelphia,... Swedes, assorted ton. 4lu 5 SEGAKS—Spanish M.|2o a3O 805t0n,... Hoop PO. 7 a American 8 alO ' Charleston and Savannah, Sheet lb Ha 10 TALLOW—American I 8 a Lexington,Kentucky “ Nail Rods .... 54a 6 TOBACCO—Georgia lb 4 a 5 Nashville,'Tennessee LEAD —Pig and Bar 100. 6 a Cavendish 15 al7 STOCKS. Sheet j.... 64a S j TWlNE—Bagging 2U a25 Georgia, 8 per cents 100 a 101 While Lead 1.... 74a 9 • ! Seine j ...' 3) a4O j Georgia, 6 per cents... 97 a 93 Exports of Colton to Foreign and Coastwise Ports, commencing Ist September, 1816. gayaßM nix • C?i» flesmi. Aiobiic. N. Orleaa*. ,\cw York. Other Psrlt, Total. wiiiTHEn exported. 1847.1846. 1847. 1846. 1847. 1846. 184 T 1846. 1847,1846. 16471 ism. LSI7. 1846. Liverpool. .71 36578] 13870 i 53143 32586,; 12500 44523 103782 S 212723 “27313 2089 “ 7298 Unit Glasgow and Greunock 5158, 2796 2065 1*261 1148: 1509 3900 12662 481; Cork and a Market ! . 2229 1635 |_ 3109 18<>07 ) | 373 ! | || Total to Great. Britain 41736 16666 57737 35486 13648 46032 110791 243397 28!97 34035 2089 7298 254198 382914 Havre ’ 7558; 3627 27043, 15638 ~4i3 -t>g J3U3I '’329?6 5u16l J 7824 ( ” 312 j Bordeaux, D 9 50 Marseilles I 1 326 j 448 29/1 8< I 3062 Nantes J f 5901 |_ 7>" 2156 j - 464 _ j| ! _ Total to France 7558- 3627’ 27525 16554 11308 13182 36816 53191 21310 22T13 342 ToTIT? I096(»9 Amsterdam 509 i 480; 275: Rotterdam ; : i 53 634 Antwerp 1914 511 630 j 1832 1107 4688' Hamburg ’j 333,: | 901 2907' Bremen { ; I 1808; 2271; Barcelona !i 1 ! 5208 i 82 Havana, &c 1 I 3591 10440 10860 ! Genoa, Trieste, &c ,1 910] 2172| 4661 15310 29931 640 B: 4 Ghent. Ac 1 H i 1500 : Other Ports ] 937[l j || 1129 874 117 492 386 Total to other foreign Purls 910 1826 6445 7444 3591 3)932 16367 17382 13752 192 386 f>3o)Hi 4054 t I New York | ' 28516, 19759 53676; ' 25157 " 7833 ' iTfjsj " 1746 V 23874 I 3315 —6t»sß Boston 108811 8248 ! 16622! 11358 10912 8317; 32874 436931 I 3961 7^ Providence 2315! 355 2258 1874 3366, 3563 \ 1585 i 1623 13451 Philadelphia 1031; 25251 80371 3087 ; 915; 421 2619| 3.804 Baltimore 1014 723 i 2858; 885 816, 2795 1515 1701 11 p'2l Oilier Ports j |OM4> 9363253| 3885 2496 3100 806 j 4749 1 1366 Total Coastwise 54601 40978 83704 42661 27727 29174 57632 75463 U 3678 40753 2:17342) I99(»o7 Grand 'i’otal j04835< 61271 173792 i 101J46 60127; 92289 23720] 338118 66919, Gen. Twiggs bad stopped at the village the day before, and was doing this day what we would do on the morrow. An express arriv- , ed from Gen. Worth staling that he was ( about to be attacked by 9.000 men. The 1 camp was all commotion; who had seen the express, &.C., &c., was asked, ibis was [ hushed by the promulgation of the order that 1 as Gen. Twiggs was about to leave with bis i brigade for Saltillo, Gen. Q. would act as; Major General and Cols. Jackson and Camp- , bell, of the Tennesseans, as Brigadiers.— On the following day I w ent to the road to see , as be was going back, but all ; had gone. We look up the line of march j on the 18th —nothing of note occurred — 1 passed through Linares on the 23d, and drank neither eggnog or brandy, but only j took Villa Grande on the 24th, Hidalgo on • I the 25th. Christmas day I purchased from ; a Mexican hunter, whom the picket had ta- , ITen and sent into me as officer of the guard, j a wild turkey, for 56\ cents, nett weight | 1 was 14.* pounds. You had no larger turkey . fur your dinner on that day. The hunter ; was turned loose, gun and all. The march ; became now an cary one to the men, lor as we neared this place reports reached us of a f | warlike character, daily inspections were j I had and scouts were sent out, camp fires of i the enemy and pickets were daily seen. On the evening of the 29th tiie Field Officer ol the day, Col. Campbell, who had gone ahead with the Mustang Cavalry, re -1 ported that we would be compelled to light for our camp. Tired by the long march and thirsting for water, we little cared how nu merous they were. The ranks w'ere closed j and scarce a murmur was heard along the line. The guns were examined without or- j ders, cartridges placed in the pockets for con- j venience, and each eye was seen turned to i the neighboring height, scanning closely its ; 1 sides. The cow quietly browsing on the j I distant hillside was watched with suspicious j i eyes, and some daring horseman would dash through the thick chapparal to obtain a bet- I ter view of the supposed Fancier. The smoke curling from the root ot some distant ; Ranch, was pointed out by the strict observer . : and allowed by all to be the camp of the en- j emv. We neared the village ot Dt. Garcia j or rather a Frenchman s hacienda, but the enemy had vamosed. They had Iclt that ; morning. We encamped in peace, posted pickets, and stationed sentinels. Had you now seen us you would have supposed vve I were in our country, around camp files, kin- I died from American forest; soon the camp ; ; was hushed in sleep, and the wearied soldier, | bound by slumber’s chains, wandered in im -1 agination to the comforts of the home he j had left behind. The moon shone brightly and glimmered on tiie long line of bayonets i stacked ready for the morning’s march. The captain, John and myself were sitting on a log in front of the fire, telling tales ot bye gone days. Suddenly the report of a rifle broke the silence of the night air— two followed —each breath was suspended, the long roll of the drum recalled us to our senses, I f a il in. fall in! was heard along the line, ihe men sprung to their guns and soon the dark forms were extended in regimental line, each officer at his post awaiting the coming of a General or an aid. Very soon the dash ing adjutant of the division rode up to Col. Redd, words were exchanged and on he pass, ed. Commanders take charge of their com panies ! attention company; by the left flank left pace; by file left, march,each captain ut tered, and soon the Jong line was broken, one long loud ringing shout was uttered, the camp was again quiet, and here ended the false alarm. On the 27th we entered Victo ra. The enemy had left the day before 4000 strong, whilst in the city, they had acted in a most disorderly manner, showing no respect for persons or property. Now these very same people who were turned out of their houses by force to furnish quarters for their own 1 armies, are now paid by their enemy and con j querors, an enormous rent for the same build, mgs. When we entered this town it was 1 i with banners flying and music. Forming on ! three sides o( the Plaza, w-e saluted the ban ; ner of the stars and stripes as it slowly as j cended the staff on the government house 1 where ?o lately the banner of our foe was i unfurled to the breeze. Many ol the natives | were lookers on. They seemed astonished and ■ surprised at our boldness in advancing so far jin their country with so limited a force. We j marched out of the town, the band playing i “'Hail Columbia !” On the next day, B. Co., will) D. and 11. of the Georgia and G. and C. of the Mississippi, was sent to garrison the city, Major Williams commanding, under tiie title of Governor. We are now in comforta ble quarters, men and all, silting on chairs, eating from tables and some of us sleeping on bedsteads. On the 4lh, yesterday, Gen. Taylor marched through town, from Monte | rev. His column had not encamped when , the advance of Gen. Patterson from Mata ■ moros came in on the opposite side and soon, his whole force passed by our dwelling,— the whole force of our army is concentrated i here. Victoria is a place ot no military ; importance, save for the concentration. It is a central point, being equidistant from Monterey, Camargo, Malamoros, Tampico, and St Louis. Gen. T. would move immedi ately, but Gen. Scott is now in the country somewhere, vve know, but from him Gen. I’. has received no orders, and if he moved it i might hamper Gen. S. We remain here a ! short time, move perhaps on Tula, but within | 10 or 15 days all will vamos to Tampico and from thence you are to convey the news, no us. JANUARY 6, 1846. Col. May, with a party of dragoons was sent !to Labradores, on the southern side ot the i mountains, about 25 miles from Linares to ex amine a mountain pass. When he was pass ing through a mountain gap on his return, the sides of which were from 6 to 700 hun dred feet high, a mine exploded in his rear separating his rear guard from h<scommand, the sides of the mountain appeared alive with men shouting and cursing. They rolled stones and rocks upon him. The Lieut, command ing the rear guard came up to May, and re ported it cut ell, he was ordered back and re fused to go.He has since been court martialed (charge cowardice,) his name was Sturges, and has lately graduated. Our boys are al lowed the privileges ot the city—no duties, save those of guard, which are very ardu ous, every three nights. They behave them .-ehes as gentlemen ami soldiers. They are all in perfect health and fine spirits. My situation in town enables me to lake advan tage of many opportunities for improvement, which in camps I could not do. You would never have received this lengthy letter had 1 been in my lent, I moreover see many of the officers of the army, Page, Little, Han son, an Dorn, Dana, &lc. I have seen Gardner several times, he has improved very much in health and personal appearance.— lie is now Adjutant to his battalion. “JANUARY 7, 1847. ‘'l am in luck; last night the wind blow ing with more force than our March tem pests. 1 understand that the tents, all, were blown down, and it is very cold without doors, but comfortable within. Yet it would be mure so if we had fire places, an article of convenience and contort which is not to be found in Mexico. The kitchens are smoke houses. They have fine bake ovens and ex cel in baking bread. In some of the houses you find every article of comfort to be seen in our own, musical instruments of all kinds and ornaments. Dul ’tis seldom we see these things, us the wealthier classes have vamosed to the Mexican side of the moun tains. 1 am comfortably situated, blankets and clothing, plenty toeatand fine company. Nevertheless,! occasionally wish for home and its luxuries, though for the Stale of Georgia I would not return before rny com pany. Toll that I often wish sire were here. The pure atmosphere causes the most distant objects of vision to appear very near. All the tropical fruits in perfection, and an enterprising farmer would have a succession of garden vegetables the year round. \Ve now have green corn, green peas, beans, potatoes and cabbages. “\Ve will certainly be in Tampico in twen ty days. You rs, COMMERCIAL. latest dates krom lIveR.P00l,::::::::::::: jaw 4 LATEST DATES FROM Ua vRE:Jan. t Augusta Jftarltct, February 10. COTTON.—During the past week we have had a quiet market, and prices a downward tendency. Purchasers seem more timid in their operations, and show no disposition to enter the market at the range of prices demanded by holders, w Idle on tha other hand sellers have shown no desire to exhibit their samples at prices which would meet the views of buyers. In this state our market has con tinued during the week, and will no doubt so re main until the next steamer’s advices come to hand, now daily looked for. In the present un settled state of the market it is difficult to give cor rect quotations — those given l>elo\v show a reduc tion of full }c. on all qualities, but we would re mark, that although a majority of holders would sell at them, they are not low' enough to meet the views of buyers, who are demanding a reduction from last week’s prices of i a 4 cent on all qnali -1 ties. The sales of the week sum up 4015 bales, which were disposed of as follow:—120 bales at i 10, 16 at 10L 177 at 10}, 111 at 101,209 at lOi, 195 at lOi, 93at 9 11-16, 530 at 10!, 180 at 10r,H79at 11, 319 at 11}. 380 at 11}, 95 at li 5-16,180 at 111, 176 at Hi, 5 at Hi, 33 at IU, and 67 at 12 cents. We quote for square bales— Inferior, —a— Middling fair, 11 all} Ordinary, 10 a 10} Fair, 1 Halit Middling, lOjalCl Good fair, Ilia— By the tables we publish this morning, made up ’ to the latest dates received, it will be seen that the receipts at the different ports show an increase ■ ; over last year’s up to the same period, of