Daily constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 1846-1851, December 28, 1847, Image 2

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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST, j JAMES GARDNER. JR. TERMS. ally, per annum 58 00 Tri-W eckiy, per aynum 6 00 If paid in advance 5 00 w eekly, per annum 8 00 If paid in advance 2 50 ' To Clubs, remitting 510 in advance. FIVE COPIES are sent. This will put our Weekly pa per in the reach of new subscribers at TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. who will pay up arrearages, and •end four new subscribers, with the money, can get the paper at $2 00 fUr’All new subscriptions must be paid in ad vance. [U/*Postage must be paid on all communications and letters of business. BY OUR PONY EXPRESS. 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIL f Frf“m the N. O. Picayune, 23*7 r'nsf.j VTom Gen Patterson’s Train. Jalapa, Nov. 24, 1817. I sent off an unfinished letter to you last • night, and when interrupted by the informa tion that a courier was on the point of start in’ I was n°iug on to speak of the intense j tooling manifested by the most influential peo ple in town in favor of Lieut. Alcalde, who, with Adj’t Garcia, is to be shot to-dav, at noon, fora violation of their parole of honor. So deeply were my feelings wrought upon by the scenes of last evening—the crowds of sup plicating women—the solemn but animated countenances of Mexican generals, priests, and t dignified citizens, as they plead* for the lives of those who had so basely forfeited them, that I dreamed of nothing else last night but exe cutions, priests and crying women. The degrading confession, on the part of the most respectable Mexican citizens that it is considered no disgrace, no crime for a Mexi can officer to violate his parole of honor while an enlarged prisoner of war, or even for him i to join a band of cut-throats while vet a pris oner, and lie in wait to kill those to whom he owes his life and freedom—to whom, in fact, his life belongs, is enough to excuse us from putting any faith in future in the promises of Mexican officers. It is time, too, to give these ’ 1 individuals a few salutary lessons in the school of honor, and to cause them to bold inviolate: ! the almost only barrier aga nst wars of exter mination, viz : the soldier’s parole. The two criminals spent the whole of last i night in the church with priests, a strong guard ! being placed over them. Their coffins have already been conveyed to the place of execu tion, and in less than an hour the two wretch ed men will die, as they hardly deserve I to die, a soldier’s death, and they will i appear before a higher judge, who will de- 1 cide whether it is wrong to take the life of a ! professional soldier for a violation of the most ! sacred and humanizing feature in civilized j warfare. A esterday the citizens of Jalapa wit nessed an act of American j ustice, to-day they will see another. Half-past 12 o'clock. —’Hie execution is over. ! Tae prisoners marched blin ifoldod to the pla- | za. A priest attending them. They were in full uniform, and behaved with as much firm- j ness as could be expected of men under such circumstances- Each was supported by a i friend at either arm, and were led to the side ; of the plaza and sc .ted upon their coffins, near the wall of the barracks. They contin ued their devotions alou 1, alter embracing a few friends, until the word “ fire V’ when both fell back dead, scarcely moving a muscle. The troops under Gen. Patterson were all pa- : radod again, and not only looked very well, but behaved as they did yesterday, with per- ! feet propriety. The bodies of the executed of ficers were given over to their friends, and soon conveyed away in neat coffins. Thousands of Mexicans flocked towards the scene, but were prudently kept out of the plaza. The excite ment which prevailed yesterday among the inhabitants seems in a mea-nre to have subsi ded to-day—but whether it yielded'To a sense of juetice or to awe, remains to be seem Everything in the solemn ceremonies of yesterday and to-day was conducted correctly ! —Capt. Taylor, of Col. Hughes’s regiment, acting as provost marshal. The military com mission before which all four of the criminals were tried, was presided over by Major Kcnly i of Hughes’s regiment, Lieut. Burnside, of the 2d Artillery, acting as Judge Advocate. The members of the court proceeded in all the tri ads with great care, and offered to the prison ers every facility irr their power as judges, to ! prove their innocence and’to bring up pallia- I ting facts. They performed their duty like just and intelligent men, and true soldiers. Lieut. Burnside, the Judge Advocate, has con ducted himself throughout all the proceed ings in a manner to call forth praises from all parties. H.s duties were arduous, and of the ! most responsible and painful character ; but, although young, (a recent graduate of West Point academy,) he has done his duty kindly, delicately and faithfully. Col. Hughes, whose duty it was to approve or disapprove of the sentences, met the painful subject in the same unbiassed, decided manner. The prisoners were legally condemned on the most clear and j positive evidence, and he had but one course to pursue. The colonel and captain (guerrillaofficers) j were sent up this morning to Perote; in-charge of the Ist Pennsylvania and Georgia Regi ments, there to await there trial. It is more j than probable that they, too, have broken their parole, but I really hope for human de cency’s sake, that they have not been guilty of somexcusable and disgusting an offence. We a*e off again to-morrow morning; so farewell, or rather, auvevoir . b.- ♦No petition was gotten up-by these people in favor of the two Americans who were exe cuted yesterday, and very little was said in favor of Garcia; Lieut. Alcalde was the main object of their sympathies. Great pity that a young mart of good family, (nephew of Her rera, See., &c.) and with so many powerful friends, should value his honor so lightly. Jal a pa, Mexico, Nov. 24, 1347. It is now dark, and since I concluded my last communication and handed it in to be for warded, such singular and outrageous scenes have passed before mo that I must again write, though in the midst of preparations for a long march. This morning the alcalde of Jalapa called on General Hughes and asked him if the bodies of the condemned Mexicans could be given up to their friends after the execution. «Yes.” “Will you allow the condemned to walk to- the place of execution?” “Yes, if they and their friends desire it.” Will you direct that they may not march in the midst of sol diers, but a space be allowed for them and their friends?” “They will be strictly guarded to the place of execution, and every precaution taken, to prevent confusion- attempt to es cape. Although they have forfeited every right to such considerations, still they are condemn ed to die, and every reasonable indulgence shall be allowed, and all proper delicacy shall be observed towards them.” “May the usual funeral ceremonies be performed.-” [lt had been intimated to Gov. Iloughes that subscriptions had been made to get up a grand pageantry.] “Certainly, yes, but no ostentatious display will be allowed. Should any thing of the kind be attempted I shall put it down and hold you responsible for it. The immediate relatives and friends can bury the unfortunate men ac cording to usage, but nothing further. Do you think one hundred persons would be as many as would congregate on the occagion?” “Oh! yes; not so large a number will desire to at tend.” A short time after this interview the alcalde went to Gen. Patterson’s quarters, and,through | an officer of the staff, asked if the general had i any objection to the deceased being buried i with the usual religious ceremonies. The of- 1 fleer, alter consulting with the general, replied i that no objection would be made. Judge, then, of the surprise of the general and the governor ! when they heard tire sounds of martial music ' passing their quarters, an i on looking out saw j a procession of some 2500 people, a military | band of twenty-five musicians, the military I caps of the degraded scoundrels carried along j side of the gaudy coffins; a formidable array j of priests, silver candlesticks, &c., Tec., and | two hundred of the first citizens of the place, j scrupulously dressed iu the finest broadcloth, i in tasty and complete mourning suits, following j the remains of the very men whom our of ficers had condemned for the basest of all ' crimes—men who, in Europe, in any civilized or decent community, would have been de nied every thing but “the benefit of the clergy!” Gen. Landero was in the procession. Never were the most sacred and tender feelings of humanity more grossly outraged; never was impudence or insult more strongly marked; never did the inhabitants of a conquered town deserve severer chastisement. The alcalde, it seems, after visiting headquarters, went and told Gov. Hughes that he had seen Gon. Pat terson and communicated to him all that the Governor has said to him, and that the general had given his free consent for the remains of the criminals to be buried with any ceremo nies their friends might see proper to observe ! It would seem that our enemies are bent upon their own destruction. No kindness is extended to them that they do not abuse; no courtesy shown them that they do not mock at; no faith placed; in them after they are con quered that they do not take disgraceful ad vantage of. A major general of our army has been in this place two weeks, and Gen. Laud dero, a prisoner of war on parole, who, it is pretended, has been here all the while, never reported himself to him until the guerrilla officers had been captured, and then he made his appearance to beg that they might be par doned. I now believe that Landero has been at Orizaba, o jerating against us, but people hero, not Me deans, who have lived here for years declared that they had no idea that he was in Jalapa. That Col. Hughes will have trouble with these people, I have little doubt; hut that he will prove to them that he is an “out and out” gooernor of the place, I am cer tain. Orizaba will, I trust, soon be occupied by at ) least a thou sau I of our troops, and Gov. De i Soto thus be deprived of his power to annoy us. | X B. \ NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 22—P. M. —Cotton The market has been quiet, and the sales do not exceed 2000 bales ; prices unchanged, though hold ers are free sellers. Su<rar. —soo bids, changed hrnds at yesterday’s i prices; say Fair^c. Morasses. —Sal-s 1500 bids, at 18J a 18^c. Flour. —The market continues heavy. Sales j confined to 220 hols. Illinois a id 500 bbls. Ohio, at ! 55.50. and 600 bbls. at auction, slightly damaged, at 54.80 a $5. Corn. — Prices are easier. 4351 sacks White and Yellow were sold in seven lots at 60c; T2CO Waite at 61c; 300 Yellow at 5000 bushels White at 52c in bulk. Whiskey . —lso b‘ Is. Rectified woi e taken at 19£c. Freights. —A ship taken for Trieste at IJc. Luts from Monica- The British West India mail steamer Te- ! viot arrived at Ship Island on the 20th from Vera Cruz, whence she saile I on the 16th inst. The advices from the city of Mexico are to the 14th inst.- The news is very important. On the 6th inst, (which is the latest from Queretaro) the Mexican congress had- a quorum, but no business had been transacted. The correspon dent of the Piety une mentions some impor tant news in the following extract from one of his letters: I was assured yesterday by an intelligent Mexican, and one who, from his position, is ■ doubtless correctly informed, that the Mexi can Government had determined to send pro positions to Washington, for commissioners to meet at Havana and arrange the terms of a treaty of peace, and that these propositions had actually gone down by a spe dal courier, I who accompanied the train which left yester : day. Another paragraph in the Monitor of yes terday states, that GemParedes had hal an in terview with Father Jarauta, the notorious : chief at Talancingo, and that they resolved upon calling in the aid and intervention of European Powers in the affairs of Mexico. — From this it will appear that Paredes has not abandoned his favorite project of placing a 1 foreign prince on the throne of Mexico; in fact, it is the prevailing opinion here that it 1 was for this purpose he returned, notwith standing his many protestations of patriotism and devotion to the cause of his country. He is viewed with distrust by all parties and can not command among the native Mexicans, even a decent corporal’s guard. He is backed, however, by many foreigners, among whom is one Juan de la Granja, formerly Spanish Con sul at New York, and a corn sp indent to the 1 New York Sun. This fellow has gone to Queretaro; where he will, doubtless, aid Pa redes with all his influence. El Iris Espanol, the Spanish organ here, comes out in. a long article protesting against the feeling which ap pears to have sprung up in the United States in favor of the permanent occupation of this country. G®n. Scott had issued an order dividing the army into brigades under the command of Gen’s. Smith, Cad wall ader and Col. Riley. He had also issued a severe order against the guerrillas. It was rumored that an expedition to the in terior was organizing at the city ot Mexico, and that it was to be under the command of Gen. Smith. To Col. Bankhead, of the 2d artillery, has been assigned the command of the department of Vera Cruy. We see no reference in our news to the ar rests made by Gen. Scott. Below we copy from the correspondent of the Plcayune at the city of Mexico. The Monitor of yesterday publishes a decree from Senor Rosa, the Minister of Jud ce and Ecclesiastical Affairs, protesting against the sale of church property in this city, except for the benefit of the Mexican Government and the Church. You will recollect that a short time ago the civil and military Governor pro hibited the sale of any of this property, ex cept by permission of the Government of the United States, and Rosa’s decree seems to be intended to counteract the effect of this prohi bition. He, Rosa, pronounces all such sales invalid and of no effect, and speaks w armly on the subject. The Mexican people or those who administer the govenfnvnt, appear to think that the result of the recent buttles in this valley has been j ust nothing at all; that notwithstanding the loss of their capital, the dispersion of their army, the dissensions of their chiefs, and their entire want of control over any portion of the country occupied bv ; our troops, everything must go on just as it did before; that the revenues c f the country must flow into their hands r s usual, and that any diversion of them for the support of our troops | is an insult, a wrong committed ou the nation, i vvnich they as rulers thereof, are bound to re- I sent. In fact, judging from the tone of his i decree, one would think, that Rosa intended to make a personal matter of the atfair with 1 Gen. Scott. i Tne following item is from the American of ; the 14th of December : Serious Affray.—On Sunday evening, the 12th hist, three men (Ist. and 2nd. Pennsyl ( vanians.) were attacked by a mob of leperosin i one of the streets in the west part of the city, I and one of the party named Luke Floyd, so i badly beaten that his death is expected.—Some of the party escaped and procured a guard who shot three of the Mexicans dead and wounded ! others. [Special Correspondence of the Picayune.) Mexico, Dig. 10th, 1817. I Yesterday the train under the command of j Geu. Twiggs, left for Vera Cruz. This is the seiOid tr; i.i that has left hrre for the U. S. since the occupation of the city by the Ameri can Army; but this, unlike the first, goes down with almost the certainty of reaching the coast in safety; before all was doubt. The road was known to be beset by guerrillas, and mmy thought that at some favorable point the con voy would be attacked by the whole Mexican Army, supposed to be fifteen thousand strong; now it is known that there are bodies of our troops every femiles on the road, and that Gen. Buteir with seven thousand men, will m let the train somewhere in the u ighhorhood of Puebla. There are no Mexican troops known to be on the road, and the few binds of rob bers who may harbor in the villages and bar rauces dare not attack the train, protected as it is by a strong escort of artillery —that weapon so elective in the hands of Americans and so much dreaded by the Mexicans. Gen. Twiggs, the commander of the train, is too well known as a fighting general for the greasers to willingly .attack him, unless, indeed, they were in overwhelming numbers, and the hope of plunder might be too much for them; but I dase prophesy, if their temerity should carry them so far, that they will get more licks than copiers. By Magnetic Telegraph Correspondence o f the Times and Compiler. CONGRESSIONAL. Washington, Monday, Dec. 2C —P. M. U. S. SENATE. Tlie Vice President cailcd live Senate to order to-day at 12 M. Prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Gurley. Mr. Dix presented a memorial from officers of the U. S. Army at Puebla, praying the establish ment of a retired list for the Army, and making provision for orphans and widows. The memorial S was signed by Geneials Scott. Worth and others. I In presenting the memorial, Mr. D*x addressed the | Senate in an eloquent and forcible manner, iu bc l half of the objects prayed for. Mr. Hannegun presented a memori;dq>rayLngfor he establishment of a territorial government in Oregon. Agreeably to notice, Mr. Felch asked and ob tained leave to bring in a joint resolution, which was read the first and second rimes, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. It related to errors and defective returns in certain surveys. Mr. Breese, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a joint resolution, which was read tbe fust and second times, and re ferred to the committee on Indian Adairs. The res iutiou relates to holders of certain lands under Indian reservations, alienating them in fee. .Mr. Hale piesented resolutions of instruction adopted by the Legislature of New Hampshire, in i'av r of the Wilmot Proviso. Mr. Nile presented similar resolutions of tbe Legislature of Connecticut, in favor of the Wilmot Proviso. The resolutions offered some days since by Mr. Calhoun, coming up. he moved to postpone them until the Ist Tuesday in January. Mr. Allen desired to know whether Mr. Callioun meant to go against all acquisition of territory ? Mr. Calhoun replied that it was not his intention to involve any other question than that contained n his resolutions. 'The question of the conquest of Mexico was the real one before tbe country, and .hat he should discuss. Debate ensued, in which Mr. Alien moved to ra rer the resolutions to live committee on- Foreign Relations. After i'urthe" debate, tbe resolutions were post poned, and made tlie special order for to morrow for; nig' t. Mr. Dickinson relative to the acqui sition of territory, were then taken up, and ati in eresting debate ensued, in which Messrs. D;ckin mn, Cass, Calhoun and others, took part —when ;hcv were passed over for the present. A message was received from the House of Rep resentatives. announcing proceedings relative to he death of the Hon. (ko. C. l4roiugool«: Mr. Mason delivered an eulogy on tire deceased member; and after the adoption of the usual reso lutions in such cases, the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OP RE PR ESENTA 77 VES. Mi*. Grinned offered a resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to inquire if officers have been appointed to explore the Dead Sea. and if there he power to appoint similar commissioners to explore rivers and harbors in the I.’nitct7Slat«rs. Mr. Schenck moved resolutions of enquiry res pecting all orders for the conquest of California and New Mexico. Mr. Isaac E. Holmes offered a resolution calling ou the States to refund the surplus fund of $30,- 000. loaned them, before Congress authorized more loans. Referred to the committee on Fi nance. Mr. King, of Georgia, offered a resolution to dis pense with desks in the hall of the Home. Laid on the table. Mr. Pettit offered a series of resolutions favoring Internal Improvements. Mr. Simms moved to lay tbe resolutions on the table—Lost; yeas 70 nays 124. Mr. Richard .on offered resolutions asserting the justness of the w ar now waging w ith Mexico—that indemnification was necessary to satisfy our rights; and that the rejection by Mexico of the overtures for peace on our part, leaves us no alternative but to fight it out. These resolutions gave rise to several motions, when the Previous Question was demanded on them, but before it was put, a motion was made to adjourn, wdiich was carried.. And the House adjourned. Washington, Tuesday, Dee. 21—P. M. U. S. SENATE. The Vice President having called the Senate to order, Mr. Dix, agreeably to notice before given, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill relating to the repeal of the Pilot Laws. It was read the first amt second' rimes, by consent, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. Several Senators gave notice of their intention to bring in bills, and the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Numerous petitions were presented. One of these was presented by Mr. Giddings, of O' », and p-ayed for the abolition of slavery in the 1. trict of Columbia. Mr. Geo, W. Jones moved to lay it upon the table. Mr. Jacob- Thompson called for the reading of the paper. Mr. Geo. W. loncs demanded the yeas and nays on his motion, and the call w as sustained. The vote was declared to be, yeas 97, nays 97, and the Speaker voted in the negative.* The members continued to present petitions.* Mr. Richardson's resolutions on the Mexican war were then taken up for consideration. Substitutes were offered by Messrs. Stephens, Bolts, R. W. Thompson, and Van Dyke. The previous question was refused, and the House passed from the sub ject for the present, without any further action. — So the resolutions lie over. Mi*. Wentworth’s resolution in favor of Internal Improvements by the General Government, was called;up. The previous question w*as demanded and sustained, and the resolution was passed. [*Oar despatch is not entirely intelligible as to this vote, and it is very possible we have mistaken its meaning ] Washington, Dec. 22. /.V SENATE. The Senate met at the usual hour and was call ed to order by the Vice-President. Prayer was offered by the ReV R. R. Guriev, the Chaplain of I the House. Sundry petitions and memorials w*ere presented upon various subjects; and among others one by Mr. Hale of New Hampshire, relating tc the abo lition of slavery. A question was raised by Mr. Berrien of Geo., as to the propriety of its reCep ioh. Mr. Hale insisted, and Justified his course by sta ing that it was dictated rather by a sense of duty, than any desire on his part to press the subject. This provoked a discussion, which resulted in the question of reception being laid on the table, by a vote of 33 to 9. Mr. Ashley of Arkansas, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill amending the act re gulating the appellate jurisdiction of the U. S. Su preme Court. The bill was read the third time and passed. Mr. Cas 3 of Michigan, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill providing for the raising and equipment of additional troops to serve during the war with Mexico. The Senate then went into Executive session. HOUSE OF REPRESENT A TIVES. After the House was duly organized, and had proceeded to business, Mr. Robert Smith of Illi nois, suggested certain corrections in the Journal, which were accordingly made. Mr. Ligoa of Maryland, said he voted in favor of 1 laying the abolition petition presented yesterday, I o n the table. His name, he found, was recorded in the negative. Me wished it corrected. It was j corrected accordingly, and the vote then stood, ! yeas 90, nays 97. The Speaker said he voted in the negative, which made a tie—consequently the motion to lay the petition on the table was still lost. The resolutions of Mr. Henley of Indiana, pro viding for the appointment of the Pj inting Com mittee by the Speaker, were taken up and passed. Sundry petitions and memorials were then pre sented by several members, and referred to appro priate Committees. The Standing Committees were called in order by (he Speaker for reports. Mr. Gentry of Tennessee, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, announced that Mr. Barringer of North Carolina, had taken his place as Chairman on that Committee. The resolutions were then called over in their regular series, and those presented by Mr. Lincoln, ! ol Illinois, relating to the Mexican War, were or dered to lie over. On motion of Mr. Vinton, of Ohio, the House re solved it elf into h Committee of the Whole Upon the state of the Union, and Mr. J. R. Ingersoll, (of Penn.,) was appointed to the Chair. The Committee took up the bill to supply the deficiency in the appropriations for tbe Subsistence ; Department, which was passed. ! The President’s Message was then taken up. and | motions made to refer the several parts of it to the appropriate Committees. Mr. Clingman, of North Carolina, offered an amendment to this motion, and in the course of his remarks, which were continued for one hour, the full limit of his time, introduced the subject of Slavery. In expressing his views as to the manner 1 of its agitation at the North and South, he used earnest and pointed language,- and entered quite warmly into the discussion of the question. He spoke with fluency and ability, and from’ the nature of the subject and eloquence of his delivery, com manded the attention of the House. After the close of his speech, the House rose from the Committee of the Whole, and adjourned without further business, Washington. Dec. 23, P. M. U. S. SENA TE. The Vice President called the Senate to order to-day at 12 M. A message was received from the President, tra .smiting a re >ort of the Secretary of the Navy relative to Dry Docks. Mr. Crittenden, agreeably to notice, asked and obtained leave to brinir in a bid. which was read the first and second time, an I made the special order of the day for Monday next. li. related to the purchase'of the MadisOli papers. Mr. Johnson, of Maryland, introduced resolutions cal ing on the Secretary of War for information relative to the number of regular and volunteer troops who have actually been in service in Mexi co—Slow many have been discharged. &c. A messa ,e was received from the House of Rep resentative 3. announcing the death of the Hon. Mr. Harner of Ouio. Mr. Allen responded to the announcement from ! <he House, and paid a tribute to the character of the decreased. As er the adoption of the customary mourning resolutions, the JSei;ale adjourned till next Nh>tiday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr. Schenck offered a resolution that when: the | Hon e adjourns to-day, it will adjourn over to Mon day next —which was adopted. The Speaker announced that the first business in order would be tiie reception of Petitions and j Memorial-. Before any were presented, however, I Mr. Morris arose and announced tbe death of a memb r from Ohio, the Hou. Mr. Hamer ; and, after a brief but eloquent eulogy on the deceased. | the House adopted the usual resolutions of condo- i I lertce and meaning. Later from Santa Fe. - (Correspondence tkc Ba'ti.nure Patriot—By Telegraph i CINCINNATI, Dec. 22. 1847. We have later accounts from Santa Fe and j Chihuahua. Fourteen companies and two battalions had left Santa Fe for the South, to winter at El Tas so. Five hundred troops remain. The farcer under Newby and Bodine had gone to Taos. The St. Louis Republican has accounts which state that |the troops on their way to the South, committed flagrant violence on the inhabitants of the country, and had made i the whole army odious. It is stated in papers received that a war : party of Camanches had made an attack on the Rio, drove off two hundred cattle, killed three men, and captured all the wagons. Paymaster Spalding reports that 3500 Mexi cans are fortifying Chihuahua, and that they were casting canon at that place. The river is frozen over at Bardstown, Illi nois. Gens. Quitman and Shields.—These dis tinguished officers having made known to his Excellency Gov. Johnson their intention to leave our city yesterday, an order was issued by him for the volunteer companies composing i the Fourth Brigade to parade as an escort to conduct them to the point of debarcartion. The military were formed on the Brigade Parade Ground in Meeting-street* under com mand of Brig. Gen Cruickshanks, from whence , they marched to the Charleston Hotel, the place designated in the special order of the - Governor. Here they were formed into line,and reviewed by Gen. Quitman, on horseback, * accompanied by Adjt. Gen. Cantey. Previous to the review, Gen. Shields made 1 his appearance in the piazza of the hotel, ac companied by the Mayor, where he remained for some time a spectator of the ceremony below, and expressed himself highly pleased P with the movements and military bearing of ! our citizen soldiery. It was the intention of the escort to have ! conducted these officers to the Wilmington C boat; but, as she had not arrived when the ceremonies were concluded the military, were 5 dismissed. We understand, they left last evening, about half-past 7 o’clock, on their , way to Washington. The ladies of Charleston, with their accus tomed kindness, have taken care that Gen. t Shields shall suffer as little as possible from his wounded arm. They have presented him , with a sling for its support. It is made of - deep blue satin, from which a pendulum of ■ the same material is suspended, on w r hich is embroidered in gold cord a Palmetto tree, surrounded with a golden w*reath of Shamrock, | and surmounted with the motto —“Jasper sustained the Palmetto—the Palmetto will sustain a Shields.” —Charleston Courier, 25th t inst. 51 ngtts t a , (Georgia. TUESDAY MORNING, DEC. 28. !3P*The crowded state of our columns this morning, with Legislative proceedings and Mexican intelligence, excludes much other I . interesting matter we have prepared, among | w'hichis a continuation of the acts passed by the Legislature, and signed by the Governor, up to Saturday last. The Mails- Three of the Northern mails due last evening came to hand. There wall be three due this evening. Democratic WLei ng* MILLEDGEYILjIE, Dec. 22d, 1847. At a meeting of the Democratic party in : the Representative Hall, Gen. John W. A. . Sanford in the Chair, and the Hon. Joseph j Sturgis of Muscogee, and Dr. R. L. Roddy of Monroe, acting as Secretaries, the following gentlemen were appointed Delegates to the National Convention, to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President : FOR THE STATE AT LARGE. j M. HALL McALLISTER, of Chatham. ABSALOM 11. CHAPPELL, of Bibb. Ist Dist. Thomas M. ForMaN, of Glynn. 2d “ Henry L. Benning, of Muscogee. 3d “ James S. Pinckahd, of Monroe* 4th “ William B. Pryor, of Troup. sth “ Charles J. McDonald, of Cobb. 6th “ William H. Hull, of Clark. 7th “ F. H. Cone, of Greene. Bth “ Eli 11. Baxter, of Hancock. The Louis Philippe. This fine Havre packet, with a valuable car go on bourd, and a number of passengers, got ashore off Nantucket, and after loosing her rudder, and one or two anchors, w*ag got offin a leaky condition, and taken into Edgartown. A severe snow commenced at Richmond on Monday night, and continued without inter- ! mission all of Tuesday. The Richmond Re publican of Wednesday says—“ Last night the snow w r as one of the deepest we remember to have seen.” Palmetto Regiment Returning* Home The Greenville Mountaineer of the 25th inst., says—We are pleased to learn, as we do from most reliable authority, that Governor Johnson has received intelligence from the Secretary of War that the remnant of this brave and devoted regiment will be immedi ately discharged, and the State and the friends of the survivors will have the satisfaction of greeting their return home about the first of February next. Government Steamers. The Savannah Republican 24th inst. says— “We hav*» the pleasure to say, on the authori ty of a friend, that the Proprietors of the New York and New* Orleans line of steamers, have two Os their steam ships far advanced towards completion-. These vessels are each 255 feet long : —one 4*6 aiid the other 49 feet beam— both 15 feet depth of hold. Eich vessel is to draw 43 feet w ater when fully laden. The j burthen of one is 2300 tons —of the other 2GOO tons. They can ; come to the wharves in this tity, w’here they will touch weekly ou their trips between the cities of New Orleans, Ha- j vuna and New* York. “These two fine ships, aVe‘ the first of the Ocean line established with the patronge of the Government, by authority of the Act of Con gress of 3rd March, 1847 —commonly known as £he law of our Representative in Congress, the Hon. Thomas Butler King, The Presi dent of the United States, in his recent annu- ' al Message, speaks in terms of high commen dation of this plan, as one which will promote the general interests of commerce, and tend much to improve our young Navy officers in the art'of steam navigation.” ( Correspondence of the Constitutionalist.) GEORGIA LEGISLATURE. IN SENATE , Thursday, Dec. 23, 1817. The Senate took up the special (r Jer of the | day—the report of the Committee of the i Whole on the bill for the relief of Peter Trezevant —w hich, after considerable discus sion, was passed, by yeas 28, nays 14. As follows: Yeas —Messrs. Barclay, Chastain, Clayton, 1 Darden, Duncan, Farris, Forman, Fort, Hol loway, Hunt, Hunter, Irwin, B, D. Johnson, 1 H. J. Johnson, Lawton, Little, Marks, Max well, Moore, Montgomery, Parks, Rees, Sni -1 der, Stew'art, Terrill, Wales, Williams and Willingham— 28. Nays—Messrs, Camp, Cochran, Coffee, Col lins, Dunagan, Glenn, Henderson, Hilliard, Halford, Simmons, Smith, Stapleton, Watters, Wiggins —14. The Senate took up the bill w hich author- j izes the Governor to appoint additional En- t gineers on the Western and Atlantic Rail ’ Road, and also, with the concurrence of the | | Chief Engineer, to contract with any person i or persons for the completion of said road, provided it can be done for the sum of $375,- i 000 or less, payable in the bonds of the State; and on the passage of the bill the yeas were 20, nays 18. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr. Ramsay moved to reconsider so much of the Journal of yesterday as relates to that section of the bill appropriating money for the political years of 1848 and 1849, that fixed the per diem pay of members at $4. Y r eas 70, nays 34. Mr. How*ard moved to reconsider so much of the Journal of yesterday as relates to the rejection of an additional section offered by Mr. Gaulding to the bill appropriating money for the political years 1848 and 1849 : “That the sum SISOO to W. T. Colquitt, and the : sum SISOO to Joseph Sturgis, and the sum of SIOOO to Alexander McDougald, for pro fessional services by them rendered the State in prosecution of writs of quo warranto a gainst the Bank of Columbus, and the Chat tahoochee Rail Road and Banking Company.” ■ The House agreed to reconsider. Mr. Phillips, from the Special Committee in relation to Messrs. Towns, Sturgpa & Ben ning, Attornies of the Central Bank, made the following report: Resolved , That a Special Committee be ap pointed to examine into .the alleged defalca tion of Messrs. Towns, Sturgis & Benning, as = .. ,11.. Attornies of the Central Bank, and that th^y report all the facts connected with said charge' that said Committee have power to send for persons and papers, and that they fully ex amine and report what balance, if any, is due by said firm; and what misconduct they or either of them have been guilty of; and es pecially that said Committee have power to I examine into the unsettled account reported by said Director, and report to this House the reasons why the same has not been settled* and that due notice be given to the parties, so that they be permitted to appear before the Committee in person. The Select Committee to whorn was referred the consideration of that part of the report of the Director of the Central Bank as relates to the alleged default of Messrs. Towns Sturgis & Benning, as collecting Attornies of the Bank, and who were by resolution instructed to col lect the facts in relation thereto, and report the same to the House, report: That the firm of Towns, Sturgis & Bending l received in August, 1835, promissory notes of the Bank, amounting, in the aggregate to the sum of $3,539 00, principal, for collection: that on the first of September, 1837, Joseph Sturgis, one of the members of that firm, who had the entire and exclusive management and control of the whole case, in the name of the firm, advised the Bank that the money was collected on each of the notes, except two small notes, one of S3O and one of $20 —and also except one hundred dollars upon a note of one Williamson, which had been paid into Bank before the note was sent out for collec tion, and which they had allowed Williamson, being so instructed by Mr. Mills, who was then the Cashier of the Bank; to which credit thus allowed, your Committee cannot find that any objec- lion was made on the part of the Bank—but, from the silence of the Bank, must have been then acquiesced in. Accompanying this statement of the cases collected, and on the same sheet of the paper, was a letter signed by Joseph StUrgis alone, addressed to Dr. Fort, then the President of the Bank, advising him of the enclosure of 1 two notes, or drafts, in blank, strongly en | dorsed, proposing them to be discounted for the funds in hand collected, and asking Dr. Foi t to arrange the business for him with the Bank; and if the same could not be done wdth | out his presence, to advise him thereof, and he would come himself and personally attend to the same. This letter, as also the letter of Towns, Sturgis & Benning, with the state ment of the cases collected, all being on the j same sheet of paper, was directed to the Cash - | ier of the Central Bank, and was by him filed j as a part of the correspondence of the Bank. | There is no evidence that the Bank ever re plied to this letter of Mr. Sturgis, or advised him that the notes could not be discounted,and , that the money must be paid over to the Bank. On the 27th December, 1837, an order was passed by the Bank, upon the eve of that direction going out of office, that Cahrles J. McDonald proceed to settle the cases with this firm'. Your Committee have no evidence that any application was made for tins money, oh the part of the Bunk, after being notified of its collection, until the month of March, 1838, when Mr. Sturgis paid over to Gov.' McDon ald, as the of the Bank, the'sum of $3,- 51 i 30, and which sum was afterwards ap i plied by the Cashier of the Bank, in accor dance with instructions, to a settlement of the account of Messrs. Towns Sturgis & Benning, leaving open, and unsettled, the note of E. Johnson, principal and interest, $249 Sanders’ note, s2l 20—Hatcher’s note, for $30 —and a balance of WilliUnson’s note of one hundred and sixteen dollars: —the note for S3O being uncollectable, makes the a* mount unsettled, $337 7o: deduct from thisr the commissions on the amount collected, vi/j the sum of sl9i 95, leaves a balance due the, i Bank, unsettled, of $192 81. The Cashier of 1 the Bank, on the 18th November, 1815, at the instance, as he says, of Judge Sturgis, sent the account of this firm to the Messrs. Thomas & Downing’, for the purpose of effecting a e -of this balance; and it appears that thef parties were unable to come upon terms of settlement: the Director of the Central Bank requiring interest on the money collected fio n the time the Bank was advised that the sain*? I was collected, viz, from the Ist Septemb er* 1837, to March, 1838, whit h Judge Sturgis,v Dr alone has had any agency on the part of the firm* in the whole transaction, refused —each* member of the firm proposing to pay what of nght the Bank was entitled to. It further appears that Judge Sturgis, to enable him and the Bank to come upon terms of settlement, requested tire Direction to sub l mit the matter to the Judge of the Superior j Court of the Chattahoochee Circuit, by mov ing a Rule at Chambers against the firm, that ‘ the Judge might then pass upon, and settle the matter of difference between them. —This' proposition the Director thought proper t'V decline, advising Judge Sturgis that the Rule would be taken at Talbot Superior Court, in the month of Septeprber then ensuing, at which Court, as appears by ah exemplification copy of the proceedings had, the Central Band raov i ed a Ride Nisi against the firm, calling upon them to show-cause why they should not pay over to the Bank the principal and interest collected in each case, with interest thereon from ihe day of collection up to the month of September, 1847, the time when the Court was in session. To this Rule, each of the j members oi the firm answered separately; — | Mr. Sturgis answering that the money was collected by him alone, and that the same was paid over upon application, except the balance as before mentioned, and proposing to I be willing and ready then to pay the same; j Messrs. Towns & Benning each answering that : they had no knowledge of the affair, except as j derived from Mr. Sturgis, but that they were i each whiling and ready to pay the amount ad mitted to be due. To this answer of Mr. Stur gis, an issue w r as tendered, and the case con \ tinned by the Bank. It is proper to state that the firm were *d | vised by letters in August, 1837, that any money collected might be remitted by mail, an 1 the reason for failing, to remit, as given bv Mr. Sturgis, was the enclosure of the notes to be discounted for the amount in hand im mediately thereafter to the Bank, and the Bank | failing to reply thereto, or to return the notes, or to advise that they would not be received I or discounted, and that the money must be ! remitted. It i* due to Messrs. Towns & Benning, from all the facts in evidence, that they have each been urging the final settlement of this matter, and have proposed to pay over to the Bank the amount that should be found to be due; nor is there any evidence, in the opinion o. the Committee, that Mr- Sturgis, the other member of the firm, has declined paying the amount that he considered the Bank was en titled to- The disagreement, as to what is the proper amount due, seems alone to have pre sented a settlement o£ this matter with all the ‘ As to what should be the basis of a settle ment between the parties, whether the inter est demanded should, or should not be paid, is not for the Committee to decide. Itisaqu tion of law, and to be binding on the parties must ba agreed upon by themselves, or P asse upon by the Court, who alone have the power to give force and effect to the same. lhe<- on£ mittee are therefore of opinion that the firm of Towns, Sturgis & Benning, from tae foregoing state of facts, cannot be considere in the light and character of defaulting * ' tornies —that Messrs. Towns & Benning a i no wisesubjeetto the charge ot having