Newspaper Page Text
THE CONSTITUTIONALIST. 1
JAMES GARDNER. JR.
' I
TERMS.
Diily. per annum £S 00
Tri- Weekly, per ay.nuin 6 00
If paid in advance 5 00
Weekly, per annum *> 00
If paid in advance 2 50
To Clubs, remitting £lO l.v advance. FIVE
COPIEIS are sent. This will put our Weekly pa
per in the reach of new subscriber* at
TWO IK)LEAKS A YEAR.
[Ej’Sub.scribers who will pa\ r up arrearages, and
■end four new subscribers, with the money, can get
the paper at g- 00.
fCr’All new subscriptions must be paid in ad
vance. » 1
[JjTosfagc must be paid on all comrnunicatious i
and loiters of business.
BY OUR PONY EXPRESS.
21 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIL.
(Prom the X. O. Picayune, 13 th inst.)
From the Rio Grande.
The U. S. steamer Telegraph, Capt. Folger, ]
arrived yesterday from the Brazos, having
sailed thence on the Bth instant.
The most painful intelligence we have by
this arrival is the death of Capt. John Butler,
of the 3d Dragoons. We learn that he died of
dysentery.
We have the Matamoros Flag of the 3d inst.
Wc rejoice with its editors upon the receipt of
their supply of paper.
The Flag announced the arrival of the steam
er Maj. Brown from Camargo, with nearly $90.-
000 in silver bars, the duty on which is ae- ■
cording to the Flag, between s>oooo and S7OOO. i
Capt. Chapman, the quartermaster, has been j
inspecting and reviewing the troop;; in the vici
nity of Matamoros, as well as the public works. I
The Flag speaks of the result as very favorable
to the efficiency of Col. Temple.
The following is a portion of an article in the
tame paper:
On Thursday our commandant, Col. Davcn- j
port, and Capt. Chapman, quartermaster, ac- |
companied by the first alcalde, Scnor Lo. Val- |
dez, visited the public schools of this city.
These schools had been discontinued since our
oecupation until within about six months.
They found the acquirements of the scholars
highly creditable to both pupils and teachers,
and the supervision and management of the
schools equally creditable to the gentlemen
composing the ayuntamiento during whose
administration they were re-established. It also
appears that the utmost liberality within their
power has been extended for the support of
the schools, in a few days, however, under
the now arrangement, the supervision of the
schools will be shared by Officers of our Gov
ernment, and the funds necessary for their
maintenance will be by them appropriated.
NEW ORLEANS. Jan. J2.P. M Cotton— The
Caledonia's news rendered factors walling sellers
in the early part ot the day, and some sales are
very currently repoi ted to have been made at a
decline ofjajc.jbut as there was an active demand.
(trices towards the close of business recovered near
y the whole of the early decline. The sales sum
up 5000 bales.
Sugar —The stock is very light, but as there was
a good demand, GcO hhds. have changed hand at
full prices.
Molasses —The sales amount to 800 bbls. at 18ja
18£c.; leaving none for sale in first hands.
Flour —The market continues heavy and holders
are anxious to realize. Sales 14-37 bbls. Ohio in
four lots at go 50; 300 bbls. Illinois at gii 65; 500
bbls. choice Ohio at $5 75; and 2CJ bbls. choice St.
Louis in two lots at
Corn. —There is very little for sale. We hear j
of the following transactions; 100 sacks Yellow at
55.Jc., 700 at 56£c., 900 Mixed at 55c., and 1350
White at tiie same rate.
Freights —A ship taken for Cowes at Qc.; one
for Nantz at 1 1-lGc; one for Trieste at I jc.; a
British bark for Liverpool at 15-32 U.; and a ship for
a port in the North Sea at Ijc.
(From the X. O. Picayune, 1 Zl \ inst.)
From the Rio Grande-
The U. S. steamer J. B. Thomson, Capt.
Ellery, arrived yesterday from the Brazos. She ,
sailed on the 4th inst., and though bringing no I
later papers, we have later dates from Mon
terey from our correspondents. This steamer
brought over Messrs, D. 11. Weaver, J. Daldy,
E. Grey audThos. P. Burch, cabin passengers,
and eighteen men belonging in part to the 3d
Dragoons, the Pennsylvania Regiment and the
Quartermaster’s Department.
There appears to be nothing now on Gen.
"Wool’s line. We annex the following orders
transmitted to us by a correspondent:
Headquarters Army of Occupation, )
Monterey, Mexico, Dec. 17, 13i7. 3
[Order s— N o. 11. ]
The war on the part of the U. S. hitherto has
boon, conducted towards the people of Mexico
with great forbearance and moderation. Private
property and the religious institutions of the
country have been held sacred, and those who
re named neutral and abstained from taking up
arms against us have been treated with kind- j
ness; whilst on several occasions we have not
only fed their famished soldiers but bound up
their wounds.
By a series of brilliant victories, one army
after another has been defeated and dispersed, i
and the capital of Mexico taken, and yet, in
stead of levying contributions on the inhabi- i
tants for the support of our armies, wc have 1
continued to pay fair and even extravagant 1
prices for whatever we have received from ]
them. And wh it has been our return? “Treach
ery and cruelty have done their worst against i
us.” Our citizens and soldiers “have been j
murdered, and their bodies mutilated in cold t
blood, by bands of savage and cowardly gur
rillas; and the parole of honor, sacred in all c
civilised warfare, has been habitually forfeited a
by Mexican officers and soldiers.” I
Such infamous and nefarious conduct will a
not be tolerated. Whilst it will afford us
pleasure to extend protection to the innocent s
and unoffending Mexican —ho that remains a
strictly neutral, and does not take up arms t
against the United States—those who counte
nance or encourage, directly or indirectly, the 1
bandits who Infest the country, and who are J
called guerrillas must be made to feel the evils
of war. Individuals will be severely punish
ed and heavy contributions levied upon the
inhabitants of all cities, towns, villages and
haciendas who either harbor them, or furnish
them with supplies, or who do not give infor- o
matron of their haunts or places of abode. r
To carry out more effectually this order, the a
alcaldes and other authorities throughout New p
Leon, Coahuila, and that portion ofTamauljpas d
at present in the oecupation of the troops of the
"United States, will forthwith organize police y
parties for the purpose of ferreting out, and b
bringing to the nearest American military post n
for punishment, all offenders herein alluded to. a
On failing to do so, each and all will be held fi
personally responsiole for all damage done to ij
either Americans, Mexicans or other persons; tl
whilst heavy contributions will be levied upon $;
the inhabitants where the injury of damage ti
may have been committed. m c
Merchants, whether Americans, Mexicans, a :
Spaniards or of other nations, who may here- y,
after pay tribute, to Canale?, or to any other C (
person in command of bandits or guerrilla par- &
to insure th® safe transportation of their j o
good*, or Other property, to any part of Mcxi- ! s ,
1 co, will he identified with those parties and I
punished with the utmost severity, whilst the r
goods will be seized and confiscated for the
benefit of the U. S.
Commandants of districts of posts belonging
to the Army of Occupation, will forthwith
adopt measures to have this order carried out
promptly and to the fullest extent.
J. E. WOOL, Brig. Gen. Com’ding.
Laws of Georgia-
Ax Act to simplify and curtail pleadings a
law.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Seante and House
of Representatives of the State of Georgia in
General Assembly met, and is hereby enacted by
the authority of the same. That from and after
the passage of this act, the form of a declara
tion for the recovery of real estate, and mesne
profits , may he as follows: any law, usage, or
practice, to the contrary notwithstanding, to
wit:
Gioucii, Jto the Sup. Court of laid county
r The petition of (A B) sheweth that (C D) of
said county is in possession of a certain tract
of land in said county, (here dccribcthe land,)
to which your petitioner claims title: that the
said (C D) has received the profits of said land
sincejthe day of 18 of the yearly value
of dollars, and refuses to deliver the said
land to your petitioner, or to pay him the
profits thereof:
Wherefore,your petitioner r rays process may
issue requiring the said (C D)to be and appear
at the next Superior Court to be held in and
for said county to answer your petitioner’s
complaints.
Src. 2. And be it further enacted. That the
form of an action for the recovery of personal
property may be as follows, to-wit:
Georgia, )To the Court of said counfr.
County: )
The petition of (A B) sheweth that (C D)of
said county is in possession of a certain
(here describe the property,) of the value of
dollars, to which your petitioner claims
title; that the sa'W'i C D) has enjoyed the pro
fits of the same since ; that the said is
of the yearly value of dollars; and that the
said (C D) refuses to deliver said to your
petitioner, or to pay him the profits thereof:
Wherefore your petitioner prays process
may issue requiring the said (CD) to be and
apj ear at the next Court to be held in and
fur said county to answer your petitioner’s
complaint.
Sec. 3. And he it further enacted, That the
form of an action to recover money on a note,
bill, bonde, receqA. or written promise of any
description, by auefing a copy of which with
the endorsers names (if any) and credits shall
be appended—and when the suit is on a bond,
the breach from which arises the right of ac
tion shall be set out plainly—may be as fol
lows, to-wit:
(jGok'.h , )To the Court of said county.
C bunty : )
The petition of (A D) sheweth that (CD)
of said county is indebted to him in sum of
dollars, besides interest, on a dated
and due which said the said (C. D)
refuses to pay—
Wherefore your petitioner prays process
may issue requiring the said (C D) to be and
appear at the next Court for said coun
ty, to answer your petitioner’s complaint; pro
vided, nevertheless that when any defendant
shall at the appearance term of such cause de
mand oyer of any note, bill, bond, receipt or
other instrument sued on,the plaintiff shall be
compelled to produce the same to the defend
ant for the purpose of examination.
Sf.c. 4. And b+it further enacted. That the
form of an action on an account may bo as
follows, to wit:
Georgi a |To the Court for said county.
The petition of (A B) sheweth that (C D)
of said county is indebted to your petitioner
dollars, on an account as will fully appear
by reference to a bill of particulars herd ) an
nexed, which account the said (C D) neglect
ed to pay:
Wherefore your petitioner prays process
may issua, requi»iig the said (C D ) to he and
appear at the next Court to b a held for
said county, to answer your petitioner’s com
plaint .
Sec. oth. And be it further an acted, That
the form of an action to recover money on a
judgment, may be as follows, to wit:
FOK, '( l '('u)i/v • ( Fothe Court for said couutr.
The petition of (A B) sheweth that (CD)
of said county, is indebted to your petitioner
dollars, besides interest on ajudgment ob
tained by your petitioner against the said (C
D) at a (name the Court) Court held on the
day of ,13 ,in the (county,
district or town) of , in the State of
as willfullyappear by reference to an exemplifi
cation of the proceedings in said case; that
the said judgment is unsatisfied, and that the
said (C D) neglects to pay the same.
NS heretore your petitioner prays process mav
issue requiring the said (C D) to be and ap
pear at the next Court, to be held for
the county of * then and there to answer
the plaintiff’s complainst.
Sec. G. And be it further enacted. That the
form of an action for breach of warranty on a
deed, may be be as follows, to wit:
E ° K< Coun/y ■| To the Court of said county.
The petitiont (A B) sheweth that (C D) is
indebted to him in the sum of dollars,
for this: That on the day of ,18 ,
the said (CD) executed to your petitioner a
warrantee deed to a certain tract of land, (cles- |
cribe the land,) for the sum of dollars
paid by your petitioner to the said (C. D);
that your petitioner has been evicted from said
lot of laud, and sfcTT( I* D) refuses to indemni
fy your petitioner for his damage in that be
half:
Wherefore your petitioner prays process may
issue, requiring the said (C D) to be and ap
pear at the next Court for said county,
to answer your petitioner’s complant.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted. That no
depaitute from the before precribed forms shall ;
work a nonsuit, provided the plaintiff shall ,
plainly and distinctly set forth hi* cause of
action, _
Sec. 8. And be tl farther enacted, That it 1
shall and may be lawful in pleading, to set out
amounts and dates in figures, or what is some
times oalled the Arabic numerals.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted. That all
laws and parts of laws, militating against this
Act, be, and the same are hereby repealed.
Approved, 27th Dec., 1847.
r—^ —
Ax Act to authorize parties to compel dis
coveries at common law.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House
if Representatives of the State of Georgia in Gene
ral Assembly met, and is hereby enacted by the i
authority of the same. That from and after the
passage of this act, that any party, plaintiff or j
iefendant in any action at common law pend
ng in any Superior orlufcriorCourt of this State,
wishing a discovery from the adverse party to
je used in evidence at the trial of *uch action,
nay file written interrogatories to such party,
md call up,on him to answer the same in solemn
’orm on oath or affirmation; and if, upon such
nterrogatories being filed, it shall appear to
;he Court, by the oath of the party filing the
mine, or otherwise, that answers to such in
errogatories will be material evidence in the j
:ause, and that the interrogatories themselves j
ire pertinent, and such as the adverse party \ 1
vould bo bound to answer upon a bill of dis
iovery in a court of chancery, the court shall :
dlow such interrogatories, and shall make an i
»rder requiring the adverse party to answer the ;
iiimc lit writing and in solemn form, on his i ‘
| oath or affirmation: and the answer to such in- |
terrogatories being so given and tiled, shall be |
j evidence at the trial of the cause, in the same
manner and tothe same purpose and ex tent,and j
| upon the same condition in all respects, as
it the same had been procured upon a bill in !
■ chancery for discovery, but no further or i
j otherwise, and if the party to whom interro- i
i gatories shall bo so propounded, and who shall *
I be required by the court to answer to the same,
shall, in sixty days after notice and copy of
such interrogatories served on him,fail to make
answer flftiiaimer aforesaid,or shall answer the
same evasively, the court may attach him and
compel him to answer in open court, or it may
continue the cause and require more direct and
explicit answers; or if the party to whom such
interrogatories shall be propounded be defend
ant, in the action, it may set aside his plea nr
pleas and give judgment against him by de- |
fault; or if the plaintiff, may order his suit to I
be dismissed with cost,as shall,in the discretion j
of the court,be deemed most just and proper:
Provided, That nothing in this act contained
, shall ilftriudc any party to such action from
exhibiting his bill in chancery for discovery
touching the same matters.
Approved, 17th Dec. 1817.
Exciting Scenes before the Fremont Court
Martial*
The dull and monotonous proceedings of the
Fremont Court Martial was, on Saturday and
: Monday, the fifty-second and fifty-third days
of its session, somewhat varied by a passage of
words, looks, frowns, grimaces, &c., on the
part of Col. Denton, towards Gen. Kearny,
which cannot but amuse the general reader.
From the report of Saturday’s j roceedings, as
published in the National Intelligencer, we
extract the following :
Gen. Kearny said : “ Mr. President: Be
fore the Court is cleared, I wish to make a
statement.”
No objection being made—*
Gen. Kearny said : “ I consider it due to the
dignity of the Court, and the high respect I
entertain for it, that I should here state that
on my last appearance before this Court, when
I was answering questions propounded to me
by the Court, the senior counsel of the accu
sed, Thomas 11. Benton, of Missouri, sat in
his place making mouths and grimaces at me, 1
which I considered w ere intended to offend,
to insult, and to overawe mo.
“ I ask of tliis Court no action so far as I am j
concerned. lam fully capable of taking care
of my own honor.”
The President of the Court said : “ lie re
i gretted very much to hear it. lie had not ob
served anything of it. lie referred to the ;
power of courts martial under the law in re
gard to violations of order in its preaonce ;
and he read the 76th article of the Rules and
Articles of War, as follows :
“No person whatsoever shall use any men
acing words, signs or gestures in presence of
a court martial, or shall cause any disorder or
riot, or disturb their proceedings, on the penal
ty of being punished at the discretion of the
, said court martial.”
I The lion. Thomas 11. Benton, counsel for
Lent. Col. Fremont, then a Idresscd the Court
as follows :
| “I desire the Julgc Advocate will take
down w hat I say.” lie then continued:
“Mr. President: On or about the first day
of Gen. Kearny’s examination before this
Court, when he stood in that corner, and when
lie twice swore that Col. Fremont had the
originals now of certain papers if he had not
destroyed them, he fixed his eyes upon Col.
Fremont fixedly and fiendishly at him. The
Judge Advocate, by leading questions, led
Gen. Kearny into a modification of what he
had previously sworn.” * * *
Here a member of the Court rose and said :
“Mr. President: I rise to bring the attention
j of the Court to a point of order, which ought,
1 think, to he observed. Remarks reflecting
upon the integrity of our proceedings are not,
in my opinion, admissible.”
Cal. Benton said ; “ I admit the power of
the Court to punish, but they must first hoar.”
It being now a few minutes of throe o’clock.
; when by law the Court must adjourn, the
Judge Advocate requested Col. Benton to con
tinue his remark* without waiting for the
Judge Advocate to recc’d them, and he, the
Judge A Ivocate, would endeavor to remember
and afterwards record them.
Col. Benton continued his remarks, accord
ing to the recollection of the Judge Advocate,
| as follows:
“ When Gen. Kearny fixed his eyes on Col.
Fremont, I determined, if he should attempt
again to look down a prisoner, I would look
at him. I did this day ; and the look of to
day was the consequence of the looks in this
Court before. I did to-day look atGert. Kear
| ny when he looked at Col. Fremont; and 1
looked him down; I looked at him till his
eyes fell—till they fell upon the floor.
“ As to this Court, I disclaim any intention
to disturb its »rder, entertaining as I do the
highest respect for this Court.”
The President of the Court said he had ob
served Gen. Kearny look towards Col. Fre
mont during the trial, and on the occasion re
ferred to, but not with an insulting expression
of countenance; on the contrary, ho, the Pre
sident, thought the expression was ohj of po
liteness and kindness.
The hour of three having arrive 1, th? Pra
sident gave the order for the adjournment of
th-e Court.
Gen. Kearny rose ami said ' “ I wish, in the
presence of the Court, to say, that I have ,
never offered the slightest insult to Col. Fre- |
mont, either here as a prisoner on this- trial or I
any where, or under any circumstances what
soever.”
The matter was again brought up on Mon
day, when the President of the Court rose and
read the following:
“The recollection and impression of the |
| members of the Court confirm those of the
President, as expressed on Saturday, in refer
i once to the looks of the witness on tho oooa- 1
sions referred to by the senior counsel. The |
Court considers the act avowed by the counsel, 1
of attempting look down a witness before it, as
improper and indecorous; blit as it did not come
to the notice of the President and tho counsel
has disclaimed any intention of disrespect to the
Court, no further action will be taken.”
Whereupon Col. Benton, (the senior counsel
of Lieut. Col. Fremont) arose and left the
Court.
GenT Kearny being in Court requested per- 1
mission to make a statement. The Court
directed the statement to bo made in writing; |
accordingly, and tho Court then being in closed I
session, Gen. Kearney sent in ths following
note, which the Court declined to receive. It
was, therefore, not read in open court or placed
on the recorp, but was returned to Gen. Kear- 1
ny. It was in the following terms:
“Disclaiming in advance the remotest in
tent ion of offering the least kind of disrespect
to tho Court in the following statement, I
have to refer the Court to the closing remarks j
of the senior counsel for the defence, Thomas j
11. Benton, of Missouri, which is on the record, ;
and is as follows;—‘I looked him down,l looked <
him till his eyes fell—till they fell upon the ]
floor.” That statement is false, and lam pre- 1 j
pared to prove it to be false by members of this j j
Court. S. W. Kbauxy, Brig. Gun.” { ]
There scorns to be now no other prospect of ]
the court coming to a conclusion of their labors ,
unless they break up in a row, which the c
above proceedings indicate to bo far from im- t
probable. Tho expenses of the court, so far, A
are said to he upwards of SIOO,OOO, and its c
decision will not be worth a brass farthing. ;
! Apples.—A gentleman from Tennosee is 1
; here with three or four hundred bushels of ap
i pies—first quality, to be shipped to Macon, j
| and from thence to Savannah, if necessary.—
; Mountain Eagle.
Since the appearance of a paragraph in our
1 paper last week, stating that thirty or forty
1 barrels of Irish potatoes, the product of one
! farm in Walker county, were sold here, we
l learn from a reliable source that the whole ;
crop of the gentleman alluded to, will amount
to about three hundred barrels. — lb.
■in !■ i■ n in i n m 111 i ii I’M in ■ niiin mi rut HTtirnTTiran
Augusta, otor g i a .
TUESDAY MORNING JAN. 18.
Ui?*No mail last evening from offices North
|of Richmond, Va. There will be throe mails
: due this evening.
W. W. S. Bliss, the accomplished
Adjutant and Inspector General of the Army |
of Occupation, passed through this city on
Sunday morning last, on his way to. Wash
| ington.
Mr- Holmes of South Carolina-
The extraordinary course of this gentleman
in refusing to vote on the third ballot, and
thereby securing the election of Winthrop to
the Speaker’s chair, induced the editor of the
Charleston Mercury to call for an explanation. ,
Mr. Holmes made one and addressed it to the
editor. He published it, and makes the follow
ing comments on that explanation. Wc invite
a careful perusal, and fell satisfied that the
reader will agree with us, that Mr. Holmes ut
terly fills in justifying his course. That a
j Southern man, whig or democrat, would have
connived in the election directly' or indirectly,of
an uncompromising Wilmot Proviso man, ought
to be a matter of astonishment. But so extra
ordinary has been the course of Southern whigs
in reference to those in their ranks at the
North whofivor this heresy'—so remarkable is
their placidity on this subject while acting
check by'jowl with Wilmot Provisoists in the
bauds of close whig brotherhood, that we have
ceased to wonder at any step a Southern whig
politician may take in this matter. But that
a Southern democrat, as Mr. Holmes is avow- .
ed to be, should have been so far blinded and ;
misled, excites our special, wonder.
Tho following from the Mercury gives and
answers, in a very complete manner, all the
leading points of his defences.
“We have already given our opinion of Mr. f
Winthrop; and if wc understand the defence ’
of Mr. Holmes, it rests on these grounds : Ist,
that “Mr. Winthrop has been successful in
defeating the Wilmot Proviso in the Massa- j
chusctts Whig Convention;” 2d, that by the
course pursued by Mr. Holmes. “Mr. Win
throp was elected, and the Abolitionists de
j seated;” 3d, that by it, “the Committees have
been properly organized, and Mr, Palfrey, Mr.
Giddings, and Mr. Tuck excluded from the
important Committees they' were so anxious to
control.” We arc sorry' to say that not one of
these reasons now exists in fact. So far a»
they relate to acts then pa i -t and operating as
the inducement to Mr. Holmes, they are en
tirely different from what Mr. Holmes sup
poses. So far as they have since transpired,
and to be considered as the expectations that
Mr. Holmes indulged in, as resulting from the
election of Mr. Winthrop, they have been ut
terly falsified. Mr. Holmes may say, I thought
Mr. Winthrop suppressed the Wilmot Proviso
in Massachusetts; but that Mr. Winthrop did
not do so, is beyond all dispute. Mr. Holmes
may say, I expected Mr. Winthrop would have
defeated the abolitionists, and have, in my
judgment, pr crly organized the Committees;
but Mr. Holmes cannot say that Winthrop has
so done. Mr. Winthrop never did, during his
political life, in tho State of Massachusetts,
- make a movement adverse to the principle of
tho Wilmot Proviso. On the contrary, he has
been its firm, talented, and unyielding advo
cate. Su Mr. Holmes will not refer us to
the action o Mr. Winthrop in the late Whig
Convention in Massachusetts as the evidence
of his hostility to the Wilmot Proviso? Do wc
not know, does not every one know, that the
Wilmot Proviso, was unanimously adopted at
that Convention ? And, moreover, that Mr.
Winthrop opposed the resolution of Mr. Pal
frey, which was to pledge the vote of Massa
chusetts against any candidate for the Presi
dency or Vice Presidency' who might boa
slave-holder, on the sole ground that it was
inexpedient as a Whig movement / Did Mr. j
Winthrop say the proviso was unconstitution
al ? Did lie say Mr. Palfrey’s proposed pro
scription was unjust? Did lie speak a word
for the slave-holding States r No. The Mil
mot Proviso, as an article pi Ilf! cal belief,
1 was adopted by that very convention; and Mr.
Winthrop only proposed the policy of urging
the further proscriptive pledge that Mr. Pal
frey' announced as one of the articles of their
creed.
“Mr. Holmes then tells ns ‘Mr. Winthrop
was elected, and the Abolitionists defeated !’ !
Would to Heave rit were so ! But the recent
events in Congress show that Mr. Holmes has
been cruelly mistaken, and that instead of be
ing defeated, the progress of the Abolitionists,
under the lead of Mr. Winthrop, has been on
ward and steadily progressive. Shall we rc
: fer to the remarkable casting vote of Mr. Win
throp ? To the vote on the question of laying
these Abolition Petitions on the table—a con
| servative practice, set aside by' his vote, and
such petitions now made matter for discussion?
To the vote on tho slave trade in the District |
jof Columbia ? In fact, to every vote , without
a single exception, given by Mr. Winthrop
since his election as Speaker, on proposi
tion affecting the question of slavery ? Wc
have Mr. Winthrop’s votes before us, and say,
without tho smallest hesitation, that Mr. Wii
: mot or Mr. Giddings could have done no more.
But Mr. Holmes tolls us ‘the Committees have
been properly organized.’ Let us look to the
Committee on Territories—that Committee, let
it be remembered, that the Abolitionists en
deavored to gci from Mr. Winthrop the pledge
of his consent, if elected, to allow them to
control it. Let us look at that; Committee,
and learn how far it has been ‘properly'’ or
ganized. What have the Abolitionists lost,
and what have we gained, by its organization
under Mr. Wiuthorp ? The Committee con
sists of nine members; of these six are promi
nent and undisguised Wilmot Proviso men. Os
these six Jive arc Whigs, and the sixth is a
Democrat. But allowing the Democrat to'
waver, still is the complexion of the Commit
tee made perfectly certain by the five Whig I
members—all of whom are Representatives
from free States. The majority of the Commit- 1
tee, made up of Whigs from free States, pledged
to the Wilmot Proviso I W e certainly are very
far from agreeing with Mr. Holmes that such (
a committee is ‘properly organized’under any .
circumstances. On the contrary so far as it
regards ourselves, we are free to declare that 1
its organization is not only- improper, but in
the most open and violent rUsregard of the ]
high functions with the discfmrge of which
he was entrusted- So far as regards the Chair
man of that Committee, Caleb E. Smith, it is 1
only necessary- to say-, that the Abolitionists of
the district which lie represents in Congress
withdrew their own candidate,, at the late
election, ‘expressly for the purpose ofnot hazard
ing the election of Caleb B. Smith, fcho has , *
pleged himself to sustain the main principles of the
Liberty Party f
“We have only’ one word to add, and that re
lates to the correspondence between Mr. W in
throp and Mr. Palfrey. Every one has read
that correspondence. We have never attach
ed the smallest consequence to it. Great
credit is given to Mr. Winthrop for refusing to j
make the pledge required of him by Mr. Pal
frey. But did Mr. Winthrop give no pledget
I ‘JJy votes are on record. My speeches are in
print. If they have not been such as to inspire ■
confidence in my course, nothing that I could get
up for the occasion, in shape of pledges nr declara- j
tions of purpose, ought to do so.’ The Aboli- !
tionists Avere very unreasonable to require or
expect a better pledge than this; and if they
did allow themselves for a moment, to lose
their confidence in Winthrop, his conduct
since his elevation to the Speaker’s chair shows
that there was no justice in the suspicion, and I
that Mr. Winthrop lias vindicated the asset- j
tion, that no new pledges could do more to in- i
; dicate his course than his ‘votes on record,' |
and hi* spechees in print.”
The National Casmonma
Now- exhibiting on Broad street, is daily and
nightly attracting crowds. The paintings seem
pretty well executed,and by means of the mag
nifying glasses and adaptations of the light
thrown upon them,the optical illusion is very
! complete. There are some very graphic and !
life-like battle scenes, and while gazing on
them the spectator can almost imagine him
self in the heart of Mexico, “no«r the flash
ing of the guns” and amidst the roar of artil
lery-, the rattle of musketry, the tramp of war
steeds, the shrill blasts of bugles and the
shouts of the combatants. Cerro Gorda and
Buena Vista are revealed in all their awful
glory.
There are besides some sublime Scripture
scenes, and several views of remarkable natu
ral objects.
The Cosmorama is well worthy a visit.
None who go fail to be pleased.
Ohio Democracy
The Democratic State Convention of Ohio
have nominated the Hon. Lewis Cass for the i
Presidency-, and Hon. John B. Weller, as the |
Democratic candidate for Governor. Col.
Weller commanded a regiment of Ohio troops
j under Gen. Taylor, in Mexico.
The Wilmot Proviso in N York-
In the House of Assembly of New York, on
Tuesday, Mi. Myers, (barnburner,) of St.
Lawrence, introduced a resolution to the ef
fect that congress ought to legislate to prevent
the introduction of slavery in any territory to
be acquired by the LL S., This resolution pass
ed the House almost unanimously—ayes 108,
- • ’
nocs 4.
The War
The following resolutions were passed by
the Alabama House of Representatives, on
Thursday, the 6th instant. The voice of the
people, on the subject of the war, is needed,
to stifle the breath of treason that is brooding
over our federal halls.
Resolved, That, in the opinion of this House,
the war, on the part of the United States, was
just in its inception; and that we approve and |
sanction the manner in which it has been pro
secuted.
Resolved, That the Government of Mexico,
having failed to pay the instalments due to our
citizens, on account of lawless spoliation upon
our commerce —having failed to a (just other
similar claims, equally just—having improp
erly interfered in the annexation of Texas to :
the Union —having refused to recognize a !
boundary between Texas and her territories — I
having arrogantly and insultingly rejected the
arbitrament of peace—and having appeal
ed to the sword to decide the differences be
tween the two countries, must now abide bv
the fiat of the stern arbiter to whom she has
appealed; and that, while we desire a speedy
and honorable peace, and seek not to blot out
the cxistance of Mexico as a nation, we shall
insist upon the establishment of such a boun
dary' between the two countries, a-s will give
.to us “indemnity for the past, and security for
the future.
The New Cunardcrs-
The Journal of Commerce of the 11th inst.
says—“ People who have seen these boats in
England, say the world has seen nothing like I
them hitherto on the broad Atlantic. We
shall be prepared for ten day passages, when- I
ever Mr. Cave Johnson can sec through the ;
matter far enough to take $250,000 a year for
transporting the Canada mail after the work is
done, rather than not to take it at all. One
gentleman acquainted with such things, says
that the new boats arc ten years ahead of any
others. But it is difficult in these times to
say how much improvement ten years indi
cates. Every decade for the last four has ac
! complished double what was anticipated of it.
Liberty never began fully to develope her
powers, until after the revolutions which fol
lowed our war of 1812, and the downfall of
Bonaparte.”
Telegraph open to Chcraw
The Charleston Courier of yesterday says—
M e learn that about noon yesterday, quite a
long conversation took place between the Op
erators at the Telngraph stations in Cheraw
and in this city, communication having been
opened between the two points. Several des
patches on business were also transmitted.
We have the pleasure of announcing, that
in all probability in one week from to-day, the
lino will be completed .to Petersburg, and
Charleston, and Boston, and Buffalo, and Cin •»
cinnati, and other distant cities, icill be in daily
converse.
In the coure of the ensuing week, the wires
will be in readiness to put up between Au
gusta and Branchvillo, so that Augusta will
also shortly be in communication with the
North.
Mr. Haley, tho contractor for the erection of
the line betw-een Washington and N. Orleans,
deserves great credit for his perseverance and
energy in forwarding the work so rapidly,
especially as we understand he has had to en
counter many unforeseen difficulties.
The remains of the gallant and lamented
Capt. Churchill, was brought to Savannah, on
Friday last, in the brig John Enders, from New
Orleans. The volunteer corps of that city
were desirous of interring them with military
honors, but the family and friends of the de
ceased preferred that the ceremony should be
unattended by anv public display-.
Cold Weather at Washington-
The Intelligencer states that the thermome
ter stood, on Tuesday morning, in exposed po
sitions, at 8 degrees above zero, or 48 degrees
below the freezing point, in that cit}'. The
Patomac, above the bridge, was hard frozen
across that morning, and if the weather so con
tinued, the ordinary navigation of the river be
low the brid;. e could not fail also to be suspend
ed.
The recent gale was very severe in Boston
harbor, and the mercury fell to live degree*
above zero. At New Bedford and Fairhaven
the blow was attended by an unusually high
tide, and the wharves were flooded. At New
Bedford the tide rose three feet above high
water mark. At New Haven, on Monday, the
thermometer stood at two degrees above zero,
and in New York, on Tuesday morning, it
stood at only nine degrees above zero.
By Telegraph
[Reported for the Constitutionalist .]
CONGRESSIONAL.
Washington*, Jan. 14, 1848.
; [Senate not in session.]
HOUSE OF lIE PIIESENT ATI YES.
The committees being called upon for re
-1 ports, several private bills and unimportant
resolutions were reported, and advere reports
made on others.
I
Petitions were presented by Messrs. Rock
well of Conn., Thos. Hall of N. Y., Wick,
Fulton, White, Jamison, and Flournoy, which
were read twice and referred.
Mr. Congor, from the Committee on Print
ing, reported a resolution authorizing the
printing of 1000 copies of the Report of the
Coast Survey. Adopted.
Mr. Robert Smith from the Committee on
Roads and Canals, reported a bill for the
completion of the Cumberland Road through
the States of Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and In
diana. Read twice and referred to the Com-
mittee on the Whole.
Mr. Collamcr, from the Committee on Pub
lic Lands, reported a resolution for the pre
paration and printing of a synopsis of the
geographical observations on the mineral
I lands in the region of Lake Supeiior, by Dr.
Jackson, U. S. Surveyor. Adopted.
On motion of Mr, Rockwell of Conn., the
House went into Committee of the whole,
and tosk up the private calendar, Mr. Cobb of
Ga. in the chair.
The bill for the relief of Mary Brown, wi
dow of Jacob Brown, a revolutionary soldier;
and stop-mother to Maj. Brown, whowaskill
| ed at Matamoros, was taken up, and led to •
j protracted debate as to the propriety of «pe
| cial legislation in such cases.
Without action upon the bill, the commit
tee rose, an 1 the House adjourned to Monday.
[com m on* icatep.]
Vote of thanks to Gen Taylor—Mr. Ash
mun's Amendment-
Mr. Editor: —I am pleased to see by your
I strictures on the above named-resolution and
| amendment of Mr. Ashmun, and the plan you
have adopted of keeping it before the people,
I that the Wing Press in this ( ity see and fed
the awkward predicament in which they are
placed, in upholding their whig leaders in
Congress, in their reckless course against the
administration, and any thing but American
vote on the above resolution. They have, it
is true, a majority in the present House, —but
they already see and feel that a majority of the
People arc against them. Desperate means re
quire desperate remedies—they have chosen
their position, and you do but your duty in
holding them up to the indignant gaze of their
countrymen. They have sought notoriety, and
they have found it—and it will stick to them
and theirs for generations to come.
I want no better argument to condemn them,
and the course they have thought proper to
pursue, than their vindication in whig papers.
I give you below an extract of an article pub
lished in the Republic of Friday last, and hare
taken the liberty of putting only one or two
queries at the end of several sentences, in
brackets, which I would like the Republic or
any other whig paper to answer satisfactorily
; to the American people.
[ From the Republic of Friday last .]
Vote of thanks to Gen Taylor, Mr Ash
man's Amendment
“ The Whigs who voted for Mr. Ashman's
amendmetl, declared by doing so, that the war
] was unnecessarily and unconstitutionally be
: gun by the President of the United States. As
wc expected, the democratic papers are charg
ing them with inconsistency, because they vo
ted for the War bill, the Preamble to which
declared, that war existed by the act ofMexi-
! co. Every body will see the absurdity of this
charge, and the injustice of it. Our neighbour
of the Constitutionalist among other names
placed before the public in the glaring light of
infidelity to previous declarations, has placed
those of Messrs. Toombs, King and Stephens,
of Georgia. We happen to know (and we
thought almost every body else did) that these
| gentlemen protested against the Preamble rc- '
ferred to, and voted for the bill with it, because
they were forced to do so by the democratic
majority, or deny necessary ’ supplies to our _
endangered little army under Gen. Taylor. %
[Our “endangered little army? ’ How endan
gered and by whom? Were they endangered
by an attack on the Mexicans, or bv an attack
by the Mexicans on them?] The death scenes
of war had already been enacted upon the Rio
Grande, [By whom, by the Americans or by
Mexicans?] and fears were entertained that our i
whole army would be swept off by the superi- "
ority of Mexican numbers, [And still th*y
maintain that the war was unconstitutionally
I bey tin and by the net of the President!] There
was no time to loose, War was blazing in the
West, [was it?] and the stripes and Stars and
their defenders were in supposed iminent haz-.
*n*d of utter destruction. [Hv Americans or'
Mexicans?] The Whig members of Congress
did not know* then, as they have learned since,,
that the contest was rendered even unequal*
by the imbecility and cowardice of the enemy,
[So the contest was with on enemy , and thak
enemy although since found out to hi© a cowards
ly set of scamps, a set of cut-throats, who way
laid and murdered American citizens when
ever an opportunity offered or their numbers, |
would warrant the risk?] It was a case, rather \
for the act of impulsive passion and harrowing
solicitude, than that of calm and deliberate
judgment.”
In this last sentence, thh editor is correct.
and so were his whig friends when, they voted
for the war bill. They acted under the impulse
felt by every American, and the only difference
now between them and a great majority of the
American people, is, that the same American
impulse governs the latter as when the war
was commenced by the Mexicans murdering
our own troops on American Territory. The
impulse of the whigs who voted for Ashman's