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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
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if From the .V. Orleans De/ta. Ith lnsi. \
frem JWlexiotr.
Arrival nf the U. N. Steamship Aloha nut from Yarn
(knn—ffur Corresjxmdenre from the ('amp of Gen.
Scott—lnteresting Details, etc.
The U. S. steamship Alabama, Capt. Win
die, arrived atari early hour yesterday more- I
ing. She left Vdra Ornz on the 2d. inst, and ■
BraZbs St. Jago on the 4th.
We have au immense pile of letters from !
crur correspondents in Mexico, most of which j
are rather old, and have boon anticipated in our
columns.
From our Amcrico-Mexican files, received Tiy
the Alabama yesterday, we make up the fol
lowing items:
Messrs. Peoples, Barnard & Callahan, have
commenced the publication of the American
Star, No. 2, at PfccTilk. W e have received the {
first number—it is dated the 12fh thine. It in
a locomotive concern, and will keep with the
advance of the army. The Star, No. 2, is bound
t > “go ahead.”
Lieut. Cffl. Belton, of the 3d Artillery, v. as
at the last accounts, acting Governor of Pue
bla.
In Vera Cruz, Tampico, everywhere in Mex
ico that the American flag floated, prepara
tions were making to do hotiOr to the Fourth
of July—the anniversary of our Independence.
Mr. R. G. W. Jewell suspends the publica
lion cf the Vera Cruz Eagle, till the middle of
■September. It will then be continued, mate
rially improved, with augmented interest im
parted to its editorial columns,
Mrs. Ann Chase, the heroine of Tampico,
pays court to the muses as well as being a de
votee of Mars. Site is put in the Vera Cruz
Eagle, with some touching verses in the shape
of a “lament for an absent brother.”
The modifications of the late Mexican tariff,
have been officially received at Vera Cm*, and
.are now in full force there.
Mr. W. G. Wells, with his dramatic corps,
and Mr. Hensley, with his equestrians, are in
Puebla.
By private letters received at Vera Cruz, on
the even nig of the 28th ult., from Jalapa, the
editor of the Sun learned that a strong body ;
of Mexican guerrillas had taken possession of
that town, which was left without garrison by j
Gen. CadvrMlader, who had proceeded with
all the troops to reinforce Gen. Scott; but on
hearing of the approach of American troops
from Vera Cruz, the Mexican chid' evacuated
the place immediately.
Paoue Jajlvtjta.—The Mexican Governor oT
Vera Cruz, now at Iluatnsco, ktrmmohed be
fore him the famous guerrilla chief P id re Ja-
TAuta, to answer certain chatge? made against
him. The Padre was severely wounded by
two of his men, who attempted te murder
him.
The editor of the Vera Cruz Eagle has seen
1 dters from jalapa to the 16th ult- All was
■quiet.
Castle of Sax Jr ax dk corres
pondent of the Vera “Ortiz Eagle says 1 here arc
seven different cisterns within the castle walls,
all of them finely finished with arched roofs;
they are neatly plastered, and kept in perfect
order and cleanliness. A paper drawn up by
Gen. Jose Rincon, and found among the trash
at the fortress, gives the following as the quan
tity of water contained in the cisterns, expres
sed in cubic feet:
Cnbic Feet,
Cistern on the rampart, fronting East 24,948
Do. on the same 17,884
Another, fronting South-West 19,000
Do. fronting the Mole 0,000
Large Cistern, fronting South 16,68-1
Small one, same rampart 4,500
fDo. do., called Si. Joseph 4,7-52
Total quantity, in cubic feet *93,769
By getting at the number of gallons from
this, it will be perceived that there is but little
chance of suffering from drought, when a gar
rison is confined in the building, as was the
case during our blockade of this city.
There has been but few deaths since our oc
cupation of the Castle —among them, three of
Co. G, Ist Infantry, stationed there; six of the
Louisiana volunteers, (now discharged,) and
one prisoner, confined on a charge of deser
tion from Co. 11, Ist Infantry. At present the
health is good, as great care is taken of the
troops and prisoners, by the commanding offi
cer, Maj. Clarke, and the fortress is kept a s
clean as any private residence, by being con
stantly swept, and the filth carried away by the
prisoners. The heat is not as severely felt, as in
the city, for there is more or less of a sea breeze
all day, and in the mornings and evenings the
weather is quite cook
The garrison consists of Co. G, Ist Infantry,
which numbers about seventy men. There
are wenty-three prisoners, mostly on charges
of desertion; three Mexicans were also lately
brought in, on suspicion of being connected
with some rascality in the city.* Fresh meat
is furnished to the soldiers and prisoners three
times a week.
of a grave character, committed in the
city of Vera Cruz, are punished by imprisonment
ia the Castle for a time not exceeding three months,
at the discretion of the officers, who hold a police
court at the Palace every morning.
Co/, Belton Governor of Pnhla—Expected Brin- t
for cements —The necessity of a Lmrye Foyer —- ,
The obligation to Protect the Friendly Mexi
ea ns —>6.. Trist’& Contraverry-—ComjtosiHon
of the Mexican Minisfry—~No Guarantee for the (
Faith of any Treaties the Present Government
may make —The true course of our Government
■ —Movements of the Mexican 'Troops—The
probability that Col. Harney trill catch them.
Pubbla,’June 14th, 1847-—l2 o’clock.
KpsAlelia.— I The gubernatorial duties of this
place have been transferred to Col. Belton.
The prospects of a movement of our troops
are not materially changed since I last wrote
you. Col. Childs cannot arrive here for eight
days yet. After he arrives it will be necessary
to stop five days, and probably ten, for the
purpose of repairing wagons, shoeing horses
and making other arrangements previous to
moving—therefore, it wall bo about the first of
the month before the troops will take up a
line of march for the city of Mexico. Perhaps
hy that time Brig. Gem Caclwalhider, who is
knowir hero to be below w ith a force of at
least 3000; men* together with 2000 more who
will come at the same time, will arrive. In
that case there w-ill probably be a strong gar
rison left here, but if he does not, I think it
altogether likely this place, like Jalapa, will
be evacuated or likely left with a small garri
son. We have troops enough to go to the city
of Mexico, and sufficient megns of subsistence
are in the country, but be waetsp) larger force
than wc have at present, if for an uotiicL pur
pose than of intimidating a class ot wicked and
evil disposed persons, who commit depreda
tion-; alike upon Mexicans and Americans at
every opportunity. Moreover, there is an im
plied obligation on our part, though no posi
tive agreement or understanding, t« protect,
against injury, thorn of the Mexicans who
have been trading and dealing with us, and
furnishing us with supplies. Although money
is their great object in supplying us, still they
believe we will protect them, and it would bo
morally wrong, if wc can avoid it. to leave
them to the mercy of then suspicious and re
vengeful countrymen. It is true, we are pay
ing the highest prices for every thing, still, I
am fully convinced,there are some leeches hang
ing on to the army as particular friends, who have
profited far more than the Mexicans—who
ailoAv the Mexican the mill while they take
tlie dollar. No doubt these same persons will,
hereafter, claim fat offices and lucrative em
ployment from our Government, in considera
tion of the important services rendered during
the war with Mexico.
We have dates from the city of Mexico to
the evening of the 11th. The all engrossing
topic at the Capital is the organization of the
Government and the progress of the war.
'I he Mexican paper, El Republicano and
others, speak of the arrival of Mr. Trist in the
country, and states that he comes as a com
missioner with the propositions of peace. Air.
Trist is now ’here, of w hich the Mexicans at
the Capital are also aware, blit wheth r be has
been able to overcome the existing difficulties,
and open any conunUnicatlou with4he Govern
ment, no persons here is at present informed.
From my observation of this gentleman,! have
no doubt the first inform ;tioy you will receive
of his movements will be from Washington
city. . f t ,
Til" Organization of the Ministry of the
•Mexican Government was hot conyaclled at
the lust ed vi’cev. Seuor Rejon has been named
f s Minister of Foreign Affairs ; Senor Ibarra as
Minister of Justice'; Renor Tornel };s Minister
of W ar. Two persons have beefi spoken °f a -
Minister of Pinnace,Senors Eassedre and Baraa
cla—the latter, it is..said, licit! his appoint
ment as Minister of Foreign. Affairs two days
and resigned, for Avhieh lie lias been impri
soned. lie is a “liberalist” in his views, and
his nomination was looked upon by many as
a favorable omen of peace. Ibarra resides near
this place, and is also “liberal” in his opinions,
lie has neither accepted nor rejected his ap
pointment, but his friends are of opinion that
he Avill reject it. Os Senor Rejon very little
is known, but the Mexican people say *he is
“liberal,” by which they mean that he is a
republican in his opinion and in favor of a libe
ral government. Those men who arc called
“liberals” arc'generally considered as favora
ble to negotiation. The only answer that
they will give in reference to Senor Tornel is,
that “ho loves money.”
By a decree of the Mexican Congress, the
present Government hove power to do any
thing except negotiate for peace. Santa Anna
is left in power until January next —unless a
revolution should route him. It ho sticceodes
in organizing a ministry that will support him
he Avill be able to do what he pleases—make
peace or continue the war. If bo does not so
succeed, ho will be compelled to act according
to circumstances. The greatest trouble will
arise from there not being in power any one
to act without violating the only legal authority
of the land, and we cannot have any guarantee
for the fulfilment of any stipulations to which
they are vTiling to agToe. We cannot afford
to go there and whip them, take their capital,
and wait a year for them to organize a govern
ment with sufficient .powers to negotiate—thet e
fore, on the score of Justice to ourselves, and
humanity to this benighted race Os native in
habitants, th had better pVirsnethc easiest and
most practicable course, as I have p.o idea but
that aa e \x 111 hatp to come to it eventually—
which is, op teketke country and say it belongs
to m? —onptmzfPS government suited to the
coiicfeion Os the people, and administer H as avc
conceive to be just. We have plenty of men
here who are competent to act as governor, and
no doubt a sufficient number could be found,
without sending to the 1 oiled States, whd
would be willing to act as coiineilmcu.
Os the movements of the Mexican army I
have the following information which can be
relied on: Gen. Juan Alvarez, from the south,
at the head of 4000 cavalry, arrived yesterday
at Atalisco, a toAvn about 20 miles from here.
His son, Col. Alvarez, Avill also arrive there in
the course of tn'o days Avith the infantry, num
bering 3000. Gen. Juvera has left Mexico
with 4000 troop* for Piedras Negras, situated
in Lanas de O pan, north, of this place about
50 miles —the balance of his command remain
ing at the fortifications. A party of 200 men
are to leave Atalisco to-day for the purpose of
reconnoitering in the vicinity of Puebla, com
mitting such depredations as they maybe able,
and watching the approach of the train. If the
force coming to Atalisco has for its obeject an
attack on the train they will meet with a warm
reception, as there will be about 4000 troops
accompanying it. Those gone to Piedras Negras
are, no doubt, sent there in order to get them
out of the city of Mexico, for the present.
The guerrillas and robbers are almost as vio
lent enemies as the guerrillas and the Ameri
cans. A few days ago a party of guerrillas
came in contact with a body of robbers, whom
they hung. Now, if the robbers would hang
the first set of guerrillas they come to, It would
be a sort of Kilkenny cut business.
MUSTANG.
% -*—
•the Taking of Tobasco.
The following characteristic letter from one
of our gallant tars, who took a conspicuous part
in the late brilliant affair at Tobasco, is well
deserving of a reading from all persons who ad
mire Yankee valor and sailor frankness and
humor. The letter was not intended for pub
lication, and is, therefore, written in the free
and easy style of friendly correspondence; but
there is nothing in it that will not excite the
admiration, sympathy, and deep interest of all
our readers. The pathetic and heart-rending
complaint which concludes the letter, respect
ing the stubborn auti-combativeness of the
“bloody Bruno,” who will not stand with his
] 100 men long enough to be tickled hy our
jolly tars, is decidedly the richest thing wc
i have-read. If Mr. Polk does not promote our
friend in his very next orders, he shall ccrtain
j ly hear of us.
Sailors fumed Soldiers, or Boiled Txihsfers Ashore
Our Fleet passing up the Tobasco River —
Bruno in Ambush—Sharp Shooters Aloft —-
Eormiliable Defences — Lieut. May wounded in
Reconnoitering—Fine Order 7* reserved hy our
Sailors—Captains Buchanan, MrC/uney , and
Adams — Com. Perry—Sailors Hitched to Can
non — Order of March —Encounter the Enemy,
and Drive Him Before Them —-Difficult March
—Great Excitement among the Frogs and 'Tad
poles — Lieut. Maynard's Gallant Charge — The
Enemy Routed Tall Walking—'The Fort
Opens upon our Steamers, xrhich is Briskly and
Effectively Returned — Lieut. Porter Lauds and
Carries the Enemy’s Battery, and Hoists the
Stars and Stripes — Cupts. Lee and Bigelow —
The “Camels"—Oar Troops March into the
Tenon and Occupy the Plaza —Songs o f the Sai-
Inre —Damage Done hy the Enemy’s Cannon.
Eds.. Delta —You asked me to keep minutes
of our Tobasco Expedition. I can't to the mi
nutes; but if the hours will suit you, here they
are. It was a novel pirfur, the like of which
you may ne’er hear tell of again, aJtd well
worth the expenditure of a sheet of foolscap—
so I will begin in due form and give you every !
item, from the battle with Bruno down to the
stealing of a chicken. Just think now of an
.army of salts su I I ndy transferred from the ;
ship to the shore. The idea alone is enough !
to fix one’s ’attention and excite the risible or
gans, Oiir. thousand tars transmogrified into
soldiers. Bhov lie ring musket s, forming into
I platoons, marching by ■ word of command —
; “Eyes right, and lace Corporal—the word or
: der is only a caution,” Sec. They w ent through
i the exercises beautiful. Dragging , rrhlh ry
I through swamps, chaparral, on diuhes and ///•
flitches, where horses would have foundered, j
Oh, it was a beautiful sight, and this is the
pit fur I designed pi esentuig to you, and is pro- ,
nounccd to be the most novel and interesting
of the war. Tobasco, you must know, is a tine
city, situated on a high bluff, on the right bank
of the river, 80 miles from its month. The
| river is narrow, the banks high and steep, and
' covered with trees, chaparral, an I flags, inter
' woven with hanging vines and the densest fo
> liage 1 have ever seen. Fifty determined men
j could have swept every one of us from the
1 docks as we passed up without our ever see- j
I ing an enemy. The channel runs close to the ;
right bank of the Ever, which looked imme U- i
j ately down on our decks, packed wkh men. —
'flic vessels frequently became entangled
among the branches of the trees, and in this
way, about midnight, sever’d men were swept
out of the boats and from the decks of the ves
sels. Then w ith burning of the blue lights
(the preconcerted signal for any accident) and
the rowing about of the boats,.in this sepul- j
chral glare of the light to pick up the lost, ren
dered the w hole scene strikingly picturesque
and iutensley exciting from the beginning to
j the ending of the expedition.
! On the the squadron anchored ofi the
! River Tobasco, and on the 14th, all things be
: ing readr, we made sail. The steamer Scor- |
j ploh bearing the Commodore’s broad pendant,
I havir-g m tow the "Washington and \ esuvius,
1 followed bv the steamers Spitfire, 1 ixen and
Sfoarge, tow ing the Hitno, Slromboli, Bonita, j
; »ml 4 apt. Taylor’s little vessel the Spitfire,
with the patent India-rubber Camels, for lift
i ing onr vessels over the shoals and obstructions
■ thrown aciosfe the river—the boats of the
j pquadrby, about 50 in number, towing astern
; of all, presented a "beautiful sight. About sun
dowu we left Fienters., and with an oecasiou
al interruption ffomthe overhanging branches
j sweeping.otir men overboftrd, v. c passed on
| very gently until 3 '6’clock, next day, when
we captured a canoe with two Indians, from •
whom we learned that Bruno lay iA ambush,
with a large force, at two favorable positions,
at points Id and 20 miles further up. The
tops wove at once filled with sharp-shooters, j
and officers were kept aloft on the look-out.—
| The place designated as the first point of at- .
j tack being passed without interruption, we
i were beginning to feel secure, when a heavy j
volley opened on us from the banks. -Tn an j
1 instant the fire was returned froth The heavy |
J guns of the Scorpion, Washington and Vcsur
1 vius, and from the small arms on deck and i
aloft. I.ients. Blunt and Gansevoort, com
m m ling field pieces mounted in launches tow
ing astern of the Vesuvius and Washington,
■ sung out, “Go it boots,” and let drive, and
the way those little pieces danced about those (
i launches’ decks, as these gallant fellows fired
i volley after volley, is nothing to you. The
I firing lasted about ten mimi cs; the big esco- [
: peta balls whizzed through the rigging of the I
! old Vesuvius inmost mournful strains. It was
i a melancholy feeling, too, (music* always
j makes one sad,) to be st mding still and be shot j
at like a dog and not see an enemy, and have j
no place behind which to dodfje. your devoted !
body. I thought of getting behind the main
mast; hut, wo ! wo ! was me—there I found
a big buck negro occupying the place, lou
j know that I cared nothing about ray own life, j
j but it would have distressed my Sally sorely
!* to have been hit in the head. Strange to sav,
j but one of our men was wounded, the balls ,
nearly all passing over us.
The awning of the Scorpion, I was told,
was cut up pretty b ully. The Vesuvius’sides *
: were pretty well peppered—but for the fore- i
sight of the Commodore, in stationing sharp
j shooters aloft, we must have suffered severely,
but they had hoard of onr being armed with
the revolving rifle, and had a most awful hor
| for of exposing themselves to its effects. They
were afraid of raising their heads to take aim,
• for fear of showing themselves to the men i
aloft, and being shot. This nice little brush |
| was monopolized hy the three vessels named, ;
all the rest being some miles astern. We j
learned in Tobasco that Bruno commanded in
person. We kept on up the river, and an- ;
cbored ai sundown at a place called the Dev
il’s Bend. About two hours after, the rest of ;
our forces came up and anchored in line astern.
At this place, we expected the most formida
ble opposition. Here is a long reach of a mile
and a quarter in length—the river narrows |
and an obstruction thrown across the bar, with
i a strong breastwork commanding it, made my
heart go “pit pat. pitti pat,” as I thought of
| the morrow, and the distress of my S illy, j
should a Mexican pill enter ray stomach. As i
j the shades of Evening stole over us, we were 1
fired upon agairt from the bushes, the dis
charge breaking a man’s leg on board the Ve
suvius. NVc opened the big guns on them
' again, cleared the woods of the nmsquitos,
i and went to bed.
At daylight, Limits. May and Alden were
- s*‘nt ahead some 100 yards or so, to sound on
the bar and examine the obstructions, which
could be scon projecting out of the water. —
This was a perilous undertaking, but they
went boldly to work, when a shower of balls
were poured down upon them from the breast
work and bushes. Lieut. May’s boat being in
advance, received the fire, severe! }' wounding
him and several of his crew, compelling the
j boats to return to the Vessel. The order was ;
then given for theforces to embark in the boats 1
and form into lino, three deep, in the middle :
of the river. This was done with great des- j
patch and in beautiful order. Capt. Buchan
an was particularly noted for the beautiful
style and celerity with which he brought his
division into lino; his men wore the best
1 equipped in the expedition. Whatever Buch.
docs, he does well —whether in the fight
' ing line, nr horsing a midshipman—this last ;
lie does brau.fi/ul, and nothin’ else. Capts. I
MeCluney and Adams were likewise remark- j
' cd for the coolness and decision with ■which
they gave their orders, in the confusion that
must necessarily occur in bringing fifty or six
ty twelve-oared boats into line, in a narrow
I river, and under the fire of the enemy. This
’ is no small merit, I think. In advance of all,
; was the “old boss” In-self , sitting quietly in his
: barge, with his broad pendant Hying, forming |
the most conspicuous mark for Mexican shot, j
■ j and his mouth puckering out as if he did not
1 i care a d—n for all the Mexican bullets in To
basco. While forming into lino, a heavy can
, nonacle was kept up from the vessels. At a
i signal given from the Commodore, the steam
ers ceased firing —the men gave an awful
! | shout —700 oars dipped their blades into the
■ ; water, and a thousand Yankee tars stood on
' the banks of the Tobasco. Good ! I was thar;
1 and my Sally sustained no loss.
The forces were now drawn up in the order
of march —the pioneers and scouting party,
; commanded by Lieut. Maynard, in advance—
then the marines, in command of Capt Edson
—then the “old boss” and suite, with his broad
’ pendant in front —the artillery, hy Capt .Mack
enzie, and infantry, in two divisions, by Cants
Forest and Brpese—the ambulance party fol
lowing iifter, to pick up the killed and wound
ed. And now* you should have been here with
• your notebook, to gather a few scraps as they
f
fell from J ciok, when hitching him up to the
artillery. I have often been called a Jackass,
says one, but little did I think that my mother’s
sou would ever he called upon to fill the place
of one! Marching about 300 yards, brought
us out of the woods into an open space; the
grass and flags up to our arm-pits, and an oc
casional marsh to wade through, rendered our
advancing exceedingly painful and laborious.
We had ton field-pieces dragging after us, with
twenty rounds of grape and canuister, yet our
tars never flinched, but dragged them through
muck and niire, until we planted them in the
: Plaza in T obasco. As we neared a dense chap
arral skirting the woods, the Mexicans opened
on us ag im.—-Capt. Mackenzie and Buchanan
immediate! v brought forward the artillery, and
opened on the thicket, the marines and infan
try advancing and returning the tire at the
same time. About tbiy time the word ran
along the lino that the eik m y wns advancing
on the right—the field r pieees were trained on
them, and in the act of firing, when discovered
to be Lieut. Maynard, with his pioneers, return
ing from a scouting expedition; 5 seconds later
and they had been dead men. The Mexicans
retreated before us as we advanced, keeping up
a running fire, but rarely showing themselves.
It was impossible to charge them for the
marshes and chaparal; there was no means of
forcing our way through the woods, the un
dergrowth of briars*> vines, snakes, scorpions
and other vegetables, render it perfectly im
pregnable. We now struck into a footpath,
which wc kept until we got insight of Tobasco.
It was with the greatest difliculy that the
artillery could be got along, and but for the
indomitable energy and perseverance of the
officers them, they must have
been left on the road. But before such fellows
as Mackenzie, Buchanan, Berry, Gansevourt
and Blunt, it was no use —the chaparral fi ll
bark, the high flags bowed their devoted heads,
the bull-frogs said “bloody hounds” (not
nouns) and hopped away, and the tad-poles,
having no legs, wagged their tails and exclaim
ed “wo are dead tad-poles,” and the artillery
passed along. Our march now for two or
three miles was uninterrupted by the appea
rance of a Mexican, but the roadside was
strewed with cartridges, beds, haversacks, and
other indications of people moving in a hurry.
Scouting some distance in advance of the main
body, the pioneers suddenly came upon a
large party of the enemy waiting in a close
chaparral to give us a volley as wc approached.
Maynard charged in upon them in gallant style
and routed them out —and now you should
have been here to have seen what a Texan
world call a specimen of “tall walking,” the
Mexicans running and the pioneers after them.
The yellow varmintes seemed to think that
A bey were lossing too much time in their feet
; touching the ground so often, so they picked
them njr. and we soon saw nothing but a
| cloud of white specks in the distance like coat
i tads shivering in the wind. Maynard’s runners
are of no contemptible dimensions, and he
' noon left his own men far astern, but ho was a
j f nail alongside Os the Mexicans. There were
enough of them to have eaten up his little
force, numliermg.lnii thirty men, and half of
ihcm armed with axes. This was our last
brush, and towards evening the advance guard
j came in sight of the fort commanding the ap
proach to the city by land and water’. 1 have
I never seen a incite commanding.position—con
i' struetod on a bluff, taking in a line of the river
; one mile and a half long, exposing our vessels
i to a raking fire the whole distance. Li the
fort they mounted three long 325, three hoar \
; field pieces and a 21-pound carronade,. and as
i the Scorpion and Spitfire came around the
1 bend of the river, they opened on them from
the fort with grape and round Mud. The
two little steamers came steadily along, payjpg
more attention to steering clear of the shoals
than of the shot. The Scorpion coming up
first opened her fire as she got abreast, the
; Spitfire joining in; the grhpe fairly rained, arid
j soon drove the enemy from their guns; their
lire slacking, and Capt. Bigelow thinking the
t silenced, put on steam and passed on up
< to the city, when the fire re-opened from the
. fort, which the Spitfire returned most gallant
ly, again driving them from their gnus. The
Scorpion at this time landing a party of men
to take possession of the town, and thinking
in the fort that they were about to be attacked
in the rear, prepared to limber upon the field
pieces, when Lieut. Porter landed with a force
from the Spitfire and gallantly rushed up the
hill to board, when the enemy fied. leaving
two of their field pieces behind, all limbered
up for moving off’. lie then spiked the guns
and hoisted the American flag.
Capts. Leo and Bigelow of the Spitfire and
Scorpion acquitted themselves most creditably.
These were the only vessels the shoalness of
the water would admit of coming up at the
time. The whcelhousc of the Scorpion and
Spitfire were driven in by the shot of the fort,
paddles shattered, wheel shot away, and several
men and an officer wounded. With the as
sistance of Capt. Taylor’s camels, the Etna and
Scourge were subsequently brought over the
, bar. We now formed into line, and with flags
i flying marched into the city to the tunc of “Oh!
git along John.” On reaching the public plaza,
the men and officers were quartered in the
public buildings around the square, the com
. man der and suite occupying the government
house. Every Mexican had left the city. Not
: an officer of the Government, civil or military,
could be found in the place. We were in the
city nine days, during which time not an out
rage was committed by a man, and private
; properry respected most rigidly. At night our
jolly tars would assemble together in squads
j of a hundred in the plaza, and sing their sea
songs. Such music had never before been
heard in Tobasco. The ladies always assem
bled in the balcony of the Spanish Consul’s
j house regularly every evening, and never left
! until the last note was sounded. There are
i few concerts in the world equal in my opinion
i to the music of a hundred sailors’ voices. The
| guns M ere all put on board of the steamers,
| and the forts and magazine razed to the ground.
On the 2(ith. we left Tobasco. Capt. Van
1 Brunt left as Governor. The xEtna, Spitfire
and Scourge remained to hold possession of the
i place. Bruno is still in the woods in com
i mand of 1,100 men, and will no doubt annoy
; the vessels from the river banks. And now
j that I have come to the end of my journey, I
will ask a question; Is it our fault that these
yellow rascals would not stand and fight? Is
it our fault that more of us could not get killed
j and wounded? Is it our fault that Bruno, with
two thousand men, would not stand before
one thousand tars and be shot at? And lastly,
| is it my fault that the President and Secretary
have not discrimination enough to discover my
I merits and promote mo. Yours, &e.
Central Kail Read Statistics.
Wc are indebted to the President of tlic
I Central Kail Hoad for the following statement
of produce, manufactures, Sec., brought down
to Savannah from the Ist of October to the
middle of the last month. The results are ex-
I ceedingly gratifying, and these receipts will
doubtless be very much increased the coming
business season. The items are as follows:
840 bales of domestics, 1 ,1)95 packages of
merchandise, 134,992 pounds of bacon, 1,487
bushels of meal, 3,380 pounds of beeswax, 281
bushels wheat, 5,780 pounds dried fruit, 17
barrels apples, 1,035 bushels of oats, 8,100
pounds of feathers, 280 bushels potatoes, 445
head of poultry, 1,925 dozen eggs, 160 bushels
cotton seed, 16 steers and 64 sheep, 417 bush
els rice, 576 bushels of peas, 100,493 bushels
of corn, 3,021 barrels of flour, and 277,399
pounds of flour in sacks. —Savannah ItroabU
can, 1A iust.
Good.
An officer lately returning from Mexico, was
accompanied from New Orleans by his sister.
A Mexican "whig began to discourse to the
ladv about the wickedness of the war expa
tiating at considerable length. Ihe fair one
replied that she had understood, from her
brother, that that M-as just the way the Mexi
cans talked; and that as he coincided with
j them in his words and feelings, she could see
I no difference between him and them, except in
color. The Mexican sloped.— Louise! He Deni.
Al it gns ta , <l3 cor 13 1a .
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 14.
POII GOVERNOR
HOH. S. W. TOWNS.
OF T\ L ROT.
Oar Gauntry’s Prosperity.
If anv one would take the trouble to look
oxer the files of whig papers published during
hist year, they would be amused at their ex
travagant prophecies of the ruin that in loss
j than ode year was to overwhelm the country
i as consequent upon democratic sway. The
”| Philadelphia .'forth American, and the United
i Stairs Gazette, two leading whig papers now
merged Into one, were am mg the foicmost m
i these sage predictions.
But the Ith of July is one d;iv in the year
I when by common consent there is an armis
tice of political warfare, and politicians laying
1 down partizanship will speak like patriots
when their country Is the theme. Ihe follow
' ing is a portion of a frank testimonial to the
condition of ou rcountry from the Sortb Annr
ican S Gazette fin an article entitled “The Fourth
I of July.”
Our country is now indeed “as democratic
as ever, one of the most powerful and prosper
ous of all the governments of the earth.”
Away then with all the persiflage in M'hieh
whig editors of that ilk constantly indulge
about Democratic misrule, and the ruin and
destruction that democracy are bringing upon
our country. llom- much of the present pros
perity of our country is attributed to whig
policy, whig legislation and whig measures:
i The country “stands as democratic as ever,”
under a democratic administration, and is
prospering under democratic policy and mea
sures:
77;t> Fourth of Julij. —lt Is now seventy-one years,
i a vear beyond the full period allotted as the, term
of human existence, since the founders o! Amen
! can liberty published to the world the Declaration
of Independence, —an cver-iucmorable act, adding
a new ."siute to the family of nations.—a republican
.Stale, to which (lie political philosophers of that era
of thrones were scarce willing to prognosticate a
duration equal to that of the life of man. Three
millions of feeble colonists, scattered along the
coasts, and lost amid the forests of a wild continent,
rushing into war—a war of rebellion, too—with the
strongest of the European Kingdoms; and, in the
moment of arms, framing the polity of a democratic
government, did not seem to promise much securi
• ty for the permanency of their novel institutions.
But time and the doubting philosophers have passed
‘ »nay; clowns have fallen and imperial sceptres
been trodden under foot; and the new State, enra
j mencing bv such humble beginnings, aiter three
i score and eleven wars of experiment and of pro
! press, stands as democratic as ever, one of the
most powerful and prosperous of all the govern
ments of the earth. Its career lias disproved nu
merous ingenious political theories, and even many
fixed political ideas, concerning the inherent fee
bleness of popular governments, and the irrpossi
bilitv of extending republican institutions ever a
large territory and a vast multitude of Citizens,
Magnetic Telegraph. . ,
Ike Mdscogeo Democrat of Bth inst- .says—
•• From Mr. C hester, the Agent of the • Wash
ington and New Orleans Telegraph Company,’
who is raw in this city, we ai e pleased to learn
; that he has laid out the line from Macon to
this place, via Knoxville and Talbott on, and
j that a person is row chgagcd ir measuring the
ground and setting stake? for the Mites of the
posts on which to suspend the wires. The
whole line is expected to be in operation hy
tho Ist January, between New Orleans and
; Washington City.
The Crops and the Weather.
The N. O. Courier, of 9th inst. says —“T he
corn and sugar crops in general, arc very flue,
while 'everybody is pretty well satisfied with
liis cotton crop. The weather, says the Ked
River Republican of the 3d instant, for some
time past has been very cool for the season, and
during the last few days we have had copious
| rains. These are not calculated to do any in
jury, unless they, as some suppose they will,
j engender the dreadful cattcrpillar. It was
about tills time last ye.vr that they made their
appearance, and the fears of our planters are
therefore now alive about them.”
Description of the Chinese Jnr.k.
The N. Y. Journal of Commerce gives the
following description of .the Chinese Junk ar
rived at that port —“The China Junk is built in
the shape of a whale boat, 150 feet long, breath
of beam 25 feet and 12 feet hold. Her stem has
a rise from the deck of about 30 feet. She is
; built entirely of teak wood, and is very strong.
Her masts, three in number, arc of teak wood,
j She has latiue sails. Her sails arc made of
; bamboo, and anchors of M-ood. Her cabin is
! 30 feet long, 23 feet wide and feet high,
painted with designs of birds, boasts, Sec. In
the after part of the cabin is a large case, con
taining one of their principal goddesses, hareing
30 arms and hands stretched out. She is decora
ted with watches, flowers and other offerings.
The vessel contains a large number of other
i curiosities. She has 3 windlasses —one aniid
sliip, very large, to get up the anchor; one on
the bows to heave the heel of the rudder to the
stern post; one astern to heave the rudder out
of the water. She is painted outside white,
black bends from her stern to her fore rigging;
i from the fore rigging to her stem red. Has
i nine ports on a side, painted white with black
streaks, and has two eyes, one each side the
rudder. *
“Her rudder is so constructed as to ship and
unship at will in a shoi-t time. Capt. Kellett
states that she is a very fine sea vessel. She
i has been perfectly tight on the passage. Her
; cost was $75,000. Her crew consists of 40
i China men and 20 European.”
Interesting Statement.
Mr. Polk, the Boston Advertiser says, is the
I first President of the United States, who has
celebrated the Anniversary of their Indepen
dence, by passing through five of those States
I on that day. On the sth instant, he honored
! Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
' Island and Connecticut with his presence.
Professor Schocnbein.
This gentleman has recently made a discove
ry, -which is destined to make a great sensation
all over the world. He has discovered a me
thod for immediately cauterizing wounds
which invention, taken in connection with that
of insensibility produced by ether, will effect,
! it is supposed, a complete change in Surgery.
Professor Schoebcin, ft will bo recollected, first ~
discovered the explosive properties of raw cot
ton.
Six Per Cent Treasury Hotcs.
The Secretary of the Treasury announces
| that arrangements have been made by which
; holders of six per cent. Treasury Notes, issued
under the Act of 28th January, 1817, “will
receive the semi-annual interest, which will be
payable on them six months after their respec
tive dates, from the Treasurer of the U. S. at
j Washington; Assistant Treasurers at X. York,
Boston, and Charleston; Treasurers of tlie Mbit
! at Philadelphia and New Orleans, or the Col
lector of the Customs at Baltimore.”
Presentments of the Grand Jury.
RICHMOND SUPERIOR COURT—THIRD WEEK.
The Grand Juries for the Ist and 2nd weeks of
the June Term of the Superior Court, having ex
i amined and reported the condition of the Jail,
; (Jerk’s Office, Poor House, &c., thereby relieved
i the Jury of the third week from this duty. 'This
J’lry make the following presentments in addition
thereto, which they request may he published.
Complaints have been made to this Jury of a seri
ous character, touching the violation of the Sabbath.
It is known to the members of this body that the
is frequently violated by the sale of goods
and other commodities, as well as the performance
of ordinary labor within the limits of the; city of
j August'*. We do therefore, respectfully and earn
estly call the attention of the proper authorities of
j said city of Vugrtt-ta, as well as the magistrates iff
j the county of Riclin’ornl, to enforce and execute
I said laws for each and every infraction, whether
committed by individuals nr by incorporated com
panies.
We would also present as an evil the ptatr.
tiee recently introduced among our coloured popu
lation of holding Fairs and Rails in different parts
: of our city. We understand these things have l»e
--; come very common, and while we would not re
strain our negroes from such enjoyments as are
consistent with their situation, we look upon these
i practices as having a corrupting influence and a
| tendency to evils of various kinds.
We present asa nuisance in our city ail houses that
are occupied and kept as houses of ill-tame, and
would respect-fully call the attention of the ril.v
I authorities to the general ordinance which fulls pro
vides for the evil and which reads as follows.
‘Any jverson or persons, who shall keep a disor
| derh house, or house of ill-fame, and oren - owner
1 of a house or houses, or other person who may rent
• or cause to he rented, any housh to be used as a
i house of ill-fame, shall be lined not exceeding one
i hundred dollars for every day the house is so kept.
; (’ircnmstances from which it may reasonably be
inferred that any Ik use which is inhabited by dis
orderly persons of immoral character, and notori'*
onsly bad fame, shall be sufficient to establish the,
fact, that such house is a disorderly house or hous
of ill-f ame, according to the meaning of this section,
and all adult persons inhabiting or living in sueh
house, shall be considered the keepers thereof, ami
be subject to the penal des of this section. ' u
The Jury has been informed that the Patterson
Bridge road and the Milledgeville road, are in bad
order. We recommend that the Inferior Court
have lhes#roads put ia repair as early as possible.
The Jury disapproves of the present mode of pax -
j ing the Receiver of Tax Returns. In the opinion of
this Jury, when his books are returned to the Infe
rior Court and the Comptroller General, the duty
imposed on him by law is performed, and he should
be paid. By the present arrangement, that officer
s has to wait until if is ascertained what the insolvent
list »nav amount to before he can be paid, and then
his pay is to he reduced in proportion to the amount
•of the insolvent list This the Jury considers un
• i •• - v * -■ ’ ' • . •
! just, lof when the duty required Jiy (aw is perform
ed that officer should be paid. Under this state of
facts a receiver might be induced to impose a tax
on such only as he was satisfied were aide to pay,
j whereas, the law makes it obligatory on him to tax
•'ll This jury belie* es that when We has perform -
1 ed the duty required of him, he should be paid for
[ the full amount of his digest without reference to
j the abilities of those taxed to pay The Jury re
| quest that pur >*cnat»*r and Representatives endea
vor to have the law so changed in the next legisla
ture as to meet tlft* Hews of this body .
In taking leave of this Court, the Jury beg lea : e
to return their (banks to h k ia Hondr Judge Holt for
the courtesy extended to them, and would tender
to him our approval <*f if? manner of discharging
his of Hi cal duties; they likewise return their thanks
to the Attorney General for his courtesy to this
body.
M. M. DYE. Foreman.
GEO. M. WALKER.
J A S. L. COLEMAN.
VVM. 11. STARK.
JOHN A. BARNES.
! CHAS. BAKER,
j IE H. HICKMAN.
C. C. TALIAFERRO.
JNO. I). RA3IEV.
JEREMIAH MORRIS,
CHAS. R. MARTIN.
J. C. FARGO,
ALFRED RAKER.
JNO. R. DOW.
HORACE CLARK.
L. HOPKINS.
E. CAMFIELD.
M. P. STOVALL.
On motion of the Attorney General, at the re
quest of the Grand Jury, ii is ordered that these
presentments he published in the city Gazettes,
| and that copies be laid before the Inferior Court
and City Council.
A true extract from the minutes of the Superior
Court. A. 11. Me LAWS, d. c. s. c.
Aa Important Cure by Dr. Jayne’s Altera
tive.
We have been informed by Mrs. Mahan, (grand
i daughter of old Gen. Wayne,) that she suffered for
a number of years from the growth of a large Goi
trous Tumor, which, besides great deformity, pro
duced both a difficulty of deglutition, and of breath
ing. Indeed, she says, that the pressure upon the
wind-pipe was so great, as to prevent her from
j sleeping in a recumbent position, and often suffoca
tion appeared inevitable. She also labored under
severe indisposition from Livkk Compi.\i\t and
Jai xdicf., a eompanied with a horrible train of
; nervous affections,for which she used Dr. J vvxk’s
Alterative, which she took regularly for six or
seven weeks, with occasional doses of his Sanative
Pills, and her general health was thereby com
pletely re-established, and now perceiving some
diminution in the size of the Goitrous Tumor, she
was encouraged to persevere in the use of the Al
terative, until every vestige of the painful Tu
mor had been entirely removed.
W e cannot speak too highly of Bits important pre
paration pf Dr. Jayne, and for the sake of suffering
humanity hope that it may become more generally
known. —Public Lc '.ccr. _ * ;