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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST. *
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
gg.Trr-: ■■■
TERMS.
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rT'Poftaje me**, he paid oa all eommumgatioiu
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BY OUR PONY EXPRESS.
*i HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THS MATE.
nr The West India British Royal Mail
f bmpany's steamer Thames, arrived at her an
chorage, off Snip Island, on the night of the
13th, and delivered her pas-engers (12 in num
ber) and mail;;, on board steamboat Delaware,
for New Orleans. The Thames was boarded
by the steamer Pelican on the 14th, and short
ly after the Thames left for Vera Cruz.
The Thame* was despatched from Havana
in lieu of the Southampton steamer, Mcdwav,
the latter net having arrived at Havana m to
tae 10th. Her detention is attributed to a
scarcity of coal, at her u-raal depots on the line.
-—.l labile Tribune, Ja. *, 16.
Alabama Gold.—We were not aware until
lately, that any effort was making in this state 1
to collect gold, but wo understand, that du
ring the past year, dust and bars to the value :
of $20,000 were sold at Wctumpka. The gold
was obtained chiefly in Tallapoosa county, and I
thus far has proved to be remarkably pure.— !
A merchant of this city sent to the New Or
leans Mint a few days ago 567 (iwtr. 7 rrs. in i
bar* for coinage and received in return, after
paying commission and postage, $5 IS. The:
Mint weight before melting was 28 02. and 40-
li 1, and after melting 28, S3-ICO, yieldin''
• 38. 1000th*—5520,95 in coin.— ld.
NE»W ORLEANS. Jar. 14, F. M.—Cotter..—
The letters by tiie Caledonia were received this
morning anti although it i* generally reported that
the order* come at lower limits, there wv.s an ac- i
demand a -;d 30D0 ! ales charged hands. There j
it an unwdlingnei* shown lo state prices, but from
all we can codcct we should say tharc i* no mate- \
xiid change. Wa therefore continue to quote Mid
dling 6j} a 650.5 Good Middling 61 a 7c.
Sugar. —Yesterday, heavy arrival* hare de- .
pr«»sed the market, still some 600 hhds. hare
changed hands at rather easier rates, say Fair S£. a
T.irae crops: have been sold on plantation, of |
which 400 hlids. Fair at 3|c. and 2 Prime at 4c. i
Molasses. — Ihe demand wa* active and 1500
bbl*. have been sold at 133 a I9c. principailv at
19c. The purchases have beer, mostly for" the 1
North.
Corn. —The limit* for English ordm hare been
reduced and consequently the English buyers are
the market. We only hear of the sale of
800 sacks White, rather green, at 30c. and 300
Mixed at 34c.
Whisiu. —100 bbß. Rectified sold at 19c. and
150 bbls. in lots at LTc.
f'l'tights.—Ssot an engagement lias transpired.
Return of Santa Anna to I^xesico-
In the House of Representatives, on Thurs
d*y, the Speaker presented the following mes- !
•age from tie President of the United Slates,
which was read:
I hive carefully considered the resolution cf
the House of Representatives of the 4th inst.,
requesting the President to communicate to
that House ‘-any instructions which may have
been given to any of the officers of the army ro
navy of the United States, or other persons, in
regard to the return of President General Lo
pez dc Santa Anna, or any other Mexican, to
the republic of Mexico, prior or subsequent to :
the order of the President or Secretary of War, j
issued in January, 1546, for the march of the ■
Army from the Nueces across the ‘stupendous
deserts’ which intervene, to the Rio Grande;
that the date of all such instructions, orders, i
and correspondence be set forth; together with
the instructions and orders issued to Mr. Sli
dell, at any time prior or subsequent to his
departure for Mexico as Minister Plenipoten
tiary of the United States to that Republic,*’ :
and requesting the President also to “commu
nicate all orders and correspondence of the i
Government in relation to the return of Gen- :
oral Paredes to Mexico.”
I transmit herewith Reports from the Se
cretary of State, tlfo Secretary of War, and the
Secretary of the Navy, with the documents oc- j
companying the same, which contain all the
information in the possession of the Executive
which it is deemed compatible with the pub
lic interests to communicate. For further in- i
formation relating to the return of Santa Anna
to Mexico, I refer you. to my annual Message
of December Bth, 18 46. The facts and consid-.
crations stated in that Message induced the
order of the Secretary ot the Navy to the Com
mander of our Squadron in the Gulf of Mexi
co, a copy of which is herewith communicated.
This order was issued simultaneously with the
order to blockade the coasts of Mexico, both .
bearing date the 13th of May, IS iG s the clay
on which the existence of the war with Mex
ico was recognised by Congress. It was is-ued
•olely upon the views of policy presented in
that message, and without any understanding
on the subject, direct or indirect, with Santa
Anna or any other person.
Gen. Paredes evaded the vigilance of our
combined forces by land and sea, and made
qis way back to Mexico from the exile into
which he had been driven, landing at Vera
Gruz after that city and the Castle of San |
Juan d’UUua were in our military occupation,
as will appear from the accompanying reports I
and documents.
The resolution calls for the “instructions and I
orders issued to Mr. Slidell at any time prior
or subsequent to his departure for Mexico as
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States
to that Republic.” The customary and usual
reservation contained in calls of either House
upon the Executive for information relating to
our intercourse with foreign nations has been
omitted in the resolution before me. The call
cf the House is unconditional. It is that the
information requested be communicated, and
thereby be made public, whether in the opin
ion of the Executive, who is charged by the
Constitution with the duty of conducting ne
gotiations with foreign powers, mch informa
tion, when disclosed, would be prejudicial to
the public interest or not. It has been a sub
ject of serious deliberati on with me, whether 1
could, consistently with my constitutional
duty and my sense of the public interests in-
Tolved and to be affected by it, violate an im
portant principle, always heretofore held sa
cred by my predecessors, as I should do by a
compliance with the request of the House.
President Washington, in a message to the
House of Representatives of the 30th of March,
1796, declined to comply with a request con
tained ia a Resolution of that body, to lay be
fore them “a copy of the instructions to the
illnister of the United States who negotiated
the treoty with the King of Great Britain,” — |
i, f>j«*T‘hrr with the ■corre«pondeTi''e rad other
* ■ ' - 1
' documents relative to the said treaty, except
; Lug such of the said papers a* any existing ne
gotiations may render improper to be dis
closed.” In assigning his reasons for declin
ing to comply with the call, he declared that
i “the nature of foreign negotiations requires
caution, and their success must often depend
upon secrecy, and even when brought to a
conclusion a full disclosure of all the measures,
demands, and eventual concessions which may
1 have been proposed or contemplated, would
be extremely impolitic; for this might have a
pernicious influence cu future negotiations, or
produce immediate inconveniencies, perhaps
danger and mischief, in relation to other pow
| era. The necessity of such caution and secrecy
j w.i3 one cogent reason for vest ug the power
j of making treaties in the President, with the
I advice and consent of the Senate; the princi
ple oa which that body was formed confining
jitto a small number of members. To admit
■ then a right in the House of Representatives
i to demand and to have, as a matter cf course,
all the papers respecting a negotiation with a
foreign power, would be to establish a dan
gerous precedent.”
In that case the instructions and documents
called for related to a treaty which had been
concluded and ratified by the President and
Senate, and the negotiations in relation to it
had been terminated. There was an express
reservation too, “excepting” from the call all
such papers as related to “any existing nego
tiations” which it might be improper to dis
close. In that case President Washington
deemed it to be a violation of an important
principle, the establishment of a “dangerous
precedent,” and prejudicial to the public inter
ests, to comply with the call of the House.
Without deeming it to be necessary on the
present occasion to examine or decide upon
the other reasons assigned by him for his re
fusal to communicate the information request
ed by the House, the one which is herein re
cite ' is, in my judgment, conclusive in the
case under consideration.
Indeed the objections to complying with
| the request of the House, contained in tlxe
resolution before me, are much stronger than
those which existed in the case of the resolu
tion of 1796. This resolution calls for the
“instructions and orders” to the Minister of
: the United States to Mexico, which relate to
; negotiations which have not been terraina
; ted, »ud which may be resumed. The infor
! mation called for respects negotiations which
, the United States offered to open with Mexico,
| immediately preceding the commencement of
the existing war. The instructions given to
the Minister of the United States relate to the
differences between the two countries, out of
which the war grew, and the terms of adjust
ment, which were prepared to offer to Mexico,
|in our anxiety to prevent the war. These dis
; ferent still remain unsettled; and to comply
| with the call of the House, would be to make
public, through that channel, and to coxnmuni
| cate to Mexico, now a public enemy, engaged
■ in war. information which could not fail to pro
i duce serious embarrassment in any fuiure ne
gotiation between the two countries.
I I have heretofore communicated to Con
i gress all the correspondence of the minister
i of the United States to Mexico, which, in the
existing state of our relations with that repub
| lie, can in my judgment, be at this time com
| municated without serious injury to the pub
| lie interest.
Entertaining this conviction, and with a
sincere desire to furnish any information which
may be in the possession of the Executive De
partment, and which cither house of Congress
may at any time request, I regard it to be my
constitutional right, and my solemn duty, un
der the circumstances of this case, to decline
a compliance with, the request of the House
contained in their resolution.
JAMES K. POLK.
"Washington, Jan. 12, 1543.
Tha following documents accompanied the
President’s message:
Department or Stats,
Washington, Sept. 14, 1847.
Sir.; I transmit you the copy of a letter,
bearing date the loth ultimo, from Colonel
Henry Wilson, of the U. S, army, the acting
Governor of Vera Cruz, addressed to the War
j Department. From this, as well as other in
i formation, it appears that Captain May, of the
■ British steamer Teviot, although fully aware of
the character of his passenger; brought Gen.
i Paredes from Havana to Vera Cruz, and con
! nived at., if he did not directly aid in, his lau
ding at that port in a clandestine manner, and
i contrary to the established regulations, requir
j ing a visit from the proper inspecting officers
before any passenger could bo landed.
That the captain of the British steamer, by
I this conduct, has been guilty of a grave and
j serious violation, cf the duties of neutrality
which Great Britain owes to the United
States, can neither be doubted or denied. It
is known to the world that General Paredes,
as President of Mexico, was the chief author
j of the existing war between that republic and
; theU. S. and that he is the avowed and em
bittered enemy of the country. The British
captain must have known that all his influence
j would be exerted to prolong and exasperate
this war. It is, indeed, truly astonishing, that,
with a knowledge of these facts, he should have
brought this hostile Mexican General, under
an assumed name, on board of a British mail
steamer, to Vera Cruz, and aided or permitted
him to land clandestinely, for the purpose of
rushing into the war against the U. S. If any
1 circumstance could aggravate this violation of
j neutrality, it would be the extraordinary
: privileges which this government has granted
to British mail steamers ever since the com
mencement cf the present war.
The President has not yet determined what
course he will pursue in regard to British
mail-steamer*. The great law of self-defence
j would, under such circumstances, justify him
| in withdrawing the privilege altogether from
| thtse steamers of entering the port of Vera
; Cruz, and thus effectually prevent the landing
of enemies in disguise. He will not, however,
| resort at present to this extreme measure;
convinced, as he is, that the British govern
: eminent will at once, upon your representation.
' adopt efficient means to prevent such viola
: tions of their neutrality for tha future. In the
mean time Colonel Wilson will be instructed
to adopt the necessary means, under the law
of nations, for the purpose of preventing and
punishing similar outrages on our belligerent
rights. British mail-steamers cannot be suf
fered to bring to Vera Cruz either Mexican
citizens or the subjects of any olhcr nation,
for the purpose of engaging in the existing
war 011 the part oi Mexico against the United
State*. A neutral vessel which carries a Mexi
can officerolhigh military rank to Mexico, for
the purpose of taking part in the hostilities
against our country, is liable to confiscation,
according to the opinion of Sir William Scott,
in the case of the Orozimbo—(6 Robinson’s
Reports, 430;) and this, even although her
captain, and officers were ignorant that they
had such a person on board. That is their
lookout. Such ignorance is no excuse, because
it is their duty to inquire into the character
of their passengers. The consequence is the
same to the belligerent as if they’ had acted
with full knowledge. “Otherwise (in. the
language of that distinguished jurist) such
opportunities of conveyance would be con
stantly used; and it would almost be impos
sible, Ln the greater number of cases, to prove
the knowledge and privity cf the immediate
offender.”
You are instructed to make Lord Palmers
! ton fully acquainted with the conduct ofCaptain
( • •
. Mar. I do not know whether be or any of his !
officers who may be implicated in this serious
charge, are officers in the British service,
i Should this prove to be the case, then you will
ask. for their dismissal, or such other punish
ment as may clearly manifest that the British
government ha* disapproved their conduct.
I am, Si c., JAMES BUCHANAN.
Geuroe Bancroft, Esq., See.
90 Eaton Square, Oct. S, 1547.
My Lord: In consequence of instruction*
from the American Government, I called at
the Foreign Office a few days ago, to represent
to your lordship the conduct of Captain May,
or tire British steamer I'evict, who unmindful
of his duty as aneutral, and using improperly
the extraordinary privileges which the Am
erican Government has granted to British mail
steamers ever since the commencement of the
: present war with Mexico, in the month of
i August last brought from the Havana to Vera
j Cruz General Paredes, late President of Mex
j Ijo, the author of the war of Mexico against
I the U. S. and their avowed and embittered
enemy.
i By the principles of British law, according
to the opinion of Sir William Scott, (o Robiu
eon’s Reports, 430.) Captain May has rendered
the Teriot liable to confiscation, or the Presi
dent of the U. S. might effectually prevent
similar aid to the enemy, by withdrawing from
! these steamers the privilege of entering the
! port of Vera Cruz. But I am confident her
Maje. -ty's Government will render such steps
unnecessary, by adopting efficient means to
i prevent, for the future, such violations of their
j neutrality.
i It Captain May, or any of his officers im
plicated in this serious charge, are officers in
! the British service, I feel bound to ask for
their dismissal, or punishment in such other
way as may clearly manifest that the British
; Government has disapproved their conduct.
I have the honor, &c.
GEORGE BANCROFT.
To YU count Palmerston, &c., k c., &c.
Foreign Office, Oct. 12, 1547. 1
Sip.: I have the honor to acknowledge the !
receipt of your letter of the Bth inst., staffing I
, that you had been instructed by the govern- ■
meat of the U. S. to complain that Capt. May,
of the British mail steamer Teviot, violated
the belligerent rights of the U. S. by bringing
the Mexican General (Paredes) from Havana
| to Vera Cruz, in tho month of August last.
And I have to inform you, that I have re
ferred the above complaint to the proper de
partment of her Majesty’s government, in or
-1 der that the charge brought against the Cap
| tain of the Teviot may be officially investiga
i ted.
I have the honor, &c.
PALMERSTON. 1
Georoe Bancroft, Esq., &c.
Foreign Officb, Nov. IS, IS 17.
Sir; In answer to your letter of the Bth I
I inst. (ult.) complaining of the conduct of !
Capt. May, of the British mail steamer “Te- ;
riot,” in having conveyed Gen. Paredes from ;
Havana to Vera Cruz in the month of August i
last, I have the honor to state to you that the
I Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having
investigated the circumstances of tills affair, i
her majesty’s government have informed the
Directors of the Royal Mail Steam packet
Company, to whom the steamer “Teviot” be
longs, that the directors are bound to testify
in a marked manner, their disapprobation of j
Capt. May’s conduct in having thus abused
the indulgence afforded to the company’* ves- j
sols by the government of the United State*;
and the directors of the company have accord- |
i Lngly stated to her majesty’s government that j
| they will immediately suspend Capt. May |
i from his command; and that they publicly !
i and distinctly condemn any act on the part
| of their ofriccn which may be regarded as a
; breach of faith towards the government of the
j United States, or as an infringement or inva
■ oion of the regulations established In tho Uni
i ted States officers in those port* of Mexico
; which are occupied by the forces of the Uni
j ted States.
I have the honor to b-*,
PALMERSTON.
Georot: Bancroft, kc. kc. Sic.
Report of the Secretary of War
~
\V r AR Df.f vrtment,
Washington, Jan. 12, ISIS.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit, hcre
with, in. conformity with your direction, co
| pies of all such papers on the files and records
: of this department as are required by the res
i olution of the House of Representatives of
the 4th lust., which is in tho following terms !
I Unsolved, That the President of the United
i States be requested to communicate to this
House any instructions which may have been |
given to any of the officers of the army or
navy of the United States, or other persons,
in regard to the return of President General
j Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, or any other
I Mexican, to the Republic of Mexico, prior or
i subsequent to the order of the Secretary of
I war, issued in January, 1840, for the march of
the army from the Nueces river, across the
“ stupendous deserts” which intervene, to the
Rio Grande; that the date of all such instruc- (
tions, orders, and correspondence be set forth, j
together with the instructions and orders is- |
i sued to Mr. Slidell, at any time, prior or sub- I
sequent to his departure for Mexico as minis
ter plenipotentiary of tho United States to
j that republic.
Resolved farther. That the President be furth
er requested to communicate all the orders and
; correspondence of the government in relation
j to the return of General Paredes to Mexico.
Very respectfully, your obedient serv’t.,
W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War.
To the President of the United States.
HEADQUARTERS. DEPARTMENT OF VERA CRCZ,
August 15, 1847.
Sir : I have the honor to report, that on the
j 14th instant the British steamer “Teviot,”
; Cdptain May, arrived here from England and
the Havana, having Gen. Paredes on board,
| under the assumed name of M. Martinez; who, I
in consequence of the tardiucS? of the board- 1
ing officer, Capt. Clark, landed at between C
and 7 a. m., incognito, from a four-oared boat,
apparently prepared for the occasion. In his
transit through the gate of the Mole, he was
recognized by an inspector, who took no no
tice of him; therefore I immediately ordered
the discharge of both him and Capt. Clark;
the former for having lost sight of the main I
object of his appointment as inspector, in giv
ing no notice, notwithstanding ray office is but
a few yards from the Mole.
A short distance from the wharf he (Gene
ral P.) was met by tho British Government
courier, and Mr. Alexander Atocha, both of
| whom recognized the person of General P. —
That the British courier should report noth
ing, is a matter of no surprise; but that Mr.
Atacha should show so much indifference on 1
, the arrival of such an important person seem
ed to me strange. I therefore requested him
to appear at my office, and inquired if he
claimed to be an American r He answered in
. the affirmative. I then put the question.—
The reason why, as an American citizen, he
did not, at once, report the arrival of General
Paredes i Hi* answer was, that he was no
spy; that he asked nothing from the United
> Sta’es, and wished nothing from them. In
short, it appeared to me that he, as an Ameri
. can, lost sight that it was his to co-ope
t rate in a«y way (whilst' residing here) -.that:
* i
f might result'in the hcncht of his adopted 1
country.
The foreigners have also shown, (that for- |
getting they are neutrals and that as such
they are bound to side with neither party) iu
this particular occasion, feelings decidedly hos- j
tile to our Government; the English house of
Manning, Mackintosh & Co. having requested
from Mr. Dimond, the collector, the keys of
♦he luggage known to belong to Gen. Paredes.
The General having arrived at the house of
a Mr. Jose G. Zamora, a native merchant, he
presented a letter of introduction from Paris,
and requested that horses might directly be
furnished for himself and servant, a request
immediately complied with; and but ten min
utes after his landing, he passed through one
of the gates of the city on his way to the in
terior, without myself or any of rav officers
| being able to avoid it —Irom the circumstance
| of the arrival and presence here being un
j known, and the letters from the United States
; Consul at Havana giving notice of his having
I left, not being delivered to me until after the
General’s departure, owing to their being in
possession of a lady passenger on board.
The conduct of the commander of the stcam
: er is reprehensible in the highest degree, for
j landing an enemy to a friendly nation in a
port In her possession; which facts I report for
i your consideration and action them n, as you
i may think expedient; for it is a well known
j circumstance, ascertained from the passengers,
I that the captain of the steamer was aware of
the character of his passenger, who, in vari
ous conversations, remarked that Mexico was I
indeed an unfortunate country; and that a
country where no man but Santa Anna could j
rule—who possessed neither talent, honesty, j
nor military capacity, was indeed to be pitied; |
that he was, therefore, sure that no aiterna- !
live remained but to throw herself either in
{ the arms of the United States, or those of the ,
European nations,
j You will therefore perceive, that if General 1
i Paredes left this city, it was from no want of i
! vigilance; for on the fact being made known to
i me, I immediately ordered the search of the i
i whole block from whence he took his depar- i
! turc; but in vain—he had left, and that, sure- 1
| lv. before the boarding officer had even vi
i sited the steamer.
I have acquainted you with the whole cir
cumstances of the case, that you may (should
you think it proper) lay it before the Secreta
ry of State, for his information respecting the
| conduct of the commander of a vessel of a i
neutral and friendly power, such as Great Bri- !
tain would seem to appear; and have, in con
j sequence, directed Mr. Dimond, collector of
this port, to communicate with the British
Consul, requesting to know the cause whv the
commander of the packet Teviot allowed any
j passenger to laud, contrary to all established
; regulation*, before being visited bv the regu
larly appointed person named to discharge that
| duty.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
j vour moit obedient servant,
IIV. WILSON,
Colonel United States Army, com’dmg.
Hon. Wm. L. M ARCT,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
Headquarters, Department Vera Cnrz,
August 31, 1847.
Sir: I herewith have the honor to enclose
copies of my communication to 11. 13. M’s
consul in this city, and his answer thereon to
“Capt. May, commander of the mail steamer
Teviot.
I am, very re spectrally, your most obidient
servt.
IIY. WILSON,
Colonel United States Army Commanding.
| Hon. Wm. L. Marcy, Secretary of War.
Washington, D. C.
Vbra Cruz, Aug. 30, IS 17.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on
the return to this port of the British steamer
Teviot, I direct that Capt. May, her com
mander, be notified not to land, under any
pretence whatever, while lying in this harbor,
but offering every facility to her officers and
crew in whatever they should require.
I have been compelled to the adoption of
; the above course, from the aggravating cir
j cumstances attending f hc landing of General
i Paredes, the cx-President of Mexico; which,
if they have not compromised that harmony
: happily existing between the United States
and the nation you so worthly represent, still
a gross violation has been committed on the
: universal standing port regulation, and espe
cially here,where our peculiar position requires
the most strict observance of neutrality from
foreign vessels arriving in this anchorage, and
have, in consonance with the above, represent
ed the whole circumstance in relation to this
case to the Hon. Secretary of War at Wash
ington, for the consideration of the Govern
ment of the United States.
I cannot but regret this untoward occurence
—the means of clouding the sincere good feel
ing entertained by the authorities here to
wards the British mail-packets; but will never
theless uniformly afford them all the facilities
heretofore conceded them, convinced that
every endeavor will be made by you for the
continuance of that cordiality which your
official course has tended to cement.
Accept, sir, the assurances of my high con
sideration and sincere regret.
H. WILSON.
Col. U. S. A., Gov. Vera Cruz,
I Francis Giffard, H. 15. M. Consul, Vera Cruz.
I certify tho foregoing to be a true copy.
B. 11. ARTHUR, Adj.U. S. Inf.
British Consulate, Vera Cruz,
27th [3oth] August, 1847.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of you communication of th : s day, rc
; lating to Capt. May, of the royal steam pack
i ct Teviot, and to state, in reply, that a copy
i thereof shall be laid forthwith before her
' Majesty’s Government.
With renewed expressions of regret that
anythidg should have occurred to cause you
personal annoyance, I have the honor to re
main, sir, your very obedient and humble
i servant, J. GIFFARD.,
H. M. Consul.
| To Col. Wilson, Governor of the city of Vera
i Cruz.
' I ccrtifv the above to be a true coptp
’B. H. ARTHUR, Adj’t. U. 2. Inf.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy •
Navy Department, Jan. 12, 1848.
Sir: In compliance with the direction con
tained in your endorsement of the resolution
; of the House of Representatives of the 4th
instant, I have the honor to transmit here
with copies of all papers in this department,
which it i* believed, arc within the purview
of the resolution.
A list of the accompanying papers is here
unto annexed.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. Y. MASON.
* To the President.
[Private and confidential.]
U. S. Navy Dbpartmbnt, May, 13, 1846.
Commodore: If Santa Anna endeavors to
enter the Mexican port*, allow him to pass
freely.
Respectfully yours,
GEORGE BANCROFT.
Commodore David Conner,
Commanding Home Squadron.
Princbton, Sacrifxcios,-August 16; 1546.
Sir; The brig-of- war- Dw*mg, jffst' aboU ,
! sailing for New Orleans, with despatches from j
I the English minister to Mr. Pakenham at
; Washington, allows me an opportunity, and
sufficient time, to inform you that Gen. Santa
Anna and hi* friends have just now arrived at
: Vera Cruz in the English merchant steamer
Arab from Havana.
I have allowed him to enter without mo
lestation, or even speaking the vessel, as I was
informed by the senior English naval officer
here, Capt. Lambert, she carried no cargo, and
: would not be allowed to take any in return. —
I could easily have boarded the Arab, but I
deemed it most proper not to do so, allowing
it to appear as if he had entered without my
i concurrence. It is now quite certain the
j whole country —that is, the garrisons of every
town and fortress—have declared in his favor.
But, unless he has learned something useful
in adversity, and become another man, he will
' only add to the distractions of the country,
and be hurled from power in less than three
j months.
At last the “Relief” is just coming in. No
vessels with coal have yet arrived. Vessels
I with coal for a supply of the small steamers
will be necessary here; without it, they would
be of little service,
i Rcsnoctfnllv, vour obedient servant.
D. C ONNER,
Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon. G. Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy.
1 I write in great ixastc.
Augusta, (Georgia.
THURSDAY MORNING. JAN. 20.
Gen- Cass’ Letter.
That this statesmanlike production would
create a very strong impression on the public
mind, was a matter of course—that it would
I be hailed with satisfaction by the Democratic
I party of the South, we had a good right to ex-
I pect. We anticipated misconstruction —illibe-
ral carping* and fault-finding from the South
-1 ern Whig press. Strange that this should
1 be so, for it ia impossible for a candid man
to deny that the cause of Southern rights
under the constitution, on the question of
slavery i.i new Territories, gained a great
accession of strength in the views of Gen
eral Cass as set forth in that letter. But
| we looked with full certainty to assaults by
| Southern Whig presses upon this letter, not
by open refutation of his positions, because
that would be to side with genuine Wilmot,
Winthrop Provisoism —but assaults in a co
vert way, in order to break the tide of popu
larity which is strongly setting in at the South
in favor of those leading Democrats at the
j North who have fearlessly breasted Northern
j fanaticism, and taken their position on the
constitution of our country and in defence of
the South. That tide of popularity in favor
of Messrs. Dallas, Cass and Buchanan is alarm
ing to Southern Whig politicians. They can
not arrest it, or by naming a single
Northern Whig who has added to his South
ern popularity by his course on this question.
Not one. They are all Wilmot Proviso
men. The only hope therefore of these pol
iticians is to insinuate doubt* of the sincerity,
or hunt up evidence of past inconsistency
| against these great men. Unless some such
' petty scheme can succeed in making a lodg
j inent in the popular mind, the whole South,
disgusted by the fierce, relentless and unscru
' pulous opposition of Northern Whiggery to
j her institutions, will rebuke it by uniting on a
Northern candidate f>r the Presidency who
is sound on the constitutional question. The
election of such a man will be the most effec
tual mode of strengthening the South. Such
j a result will be the destruction of the South
ern Whig party as it now exist* in close alli
i anee with Northern Whiggery.
| . . -
But Gen. Cass’s letter is assailed from s
; quarter from which wo should have expected
a different course. It meets with a cold if
I not hostile reception from the Charleston Mer
cury. The following quotation from the edi
torial of the Mercury of the 17th inst., con
tains what we consider to be a miscon»truction
of Gen. Cass’s position:
But suppose Mexico a territory belonging to
! the United States, a territory undergoing a
I preparation for admission into this Union, a
i portion at length of the Union, Foreign to
| us in habits, feelings, government, religion,
, where shall we look for any one of those cle
! ments which will go to make a “ more perfect
| Union:” What doss it possess to reconcile
us when we consider what will be its condi
tion as a territory, and what its condition if
j divided into, and incorporated into this Union
!as so many States ? The first, the great ques
-1 tion of Its condition will be as to the subject
j matter of Gen. Cass’s letter ; Shall the own
! ors of slave labor have a right to go there r
~ O ~ * '
Its condition is that of a territory belonging to
the United States. Mr. Wilmot provides that
the slaveholder shall not go there. Mr. Cass
says Mr. Wilmot’s proviso is unconstitutional.
The slaveholder goes there. The people of
this territory, Spaniards, Indians and Negroes,
forming an amalgamated population, forbid
his entrance. What does Mr. Cass say to
that r lie declares that is constitutional.
Now, on this branch of the question we do i
not intend to repeat what we said on the same !
subject when we discussed Mr. Dickinson’s
resolutions. We merely intend to present one
; single view of the case, which seems to us con
clusive. Congress, the agent of all the States, |
cannot prohibit the slaveholder going there.
Why ? Because the territories belong to all ,
the States, and, of course, the slaveholding
portion cannot be excluded. But although a
majority of the partners who own the territo
ry cannot exclude the minority constitutionally
: from going there, yet the territorians them- j
; selves can constitutionally prohibit the slave
| holders. No joint owner can exclude his
I partner, but yet one who lives on the thing
j owned can exclude him I The absurdity
1 which results from the position assumed by |
; Gen, Cass is so striking, that we may well bo j
excused from pursuing it. We cannot consider, j
i therefore, that Gen. Cass offers any other se- !
curity to the slaveholding States than does. Mr.
Wilmot.
This assumes that Gen. Cass lays down the
proposition that the citizens of the new terri
tories may in their territorial form of govern
ment pass laws prohibiting slaveholders from
moving there with their slaves, enjoying their
property in them and exercising acts of owner
ship over them. We do not so understand his
letter. We understand it to assert that it is
not probable that a majority of the people in
forming a State government for admission to
the Union would consent to re-establish slave
ry. This is a matter of opinion as to a fact. It
is not an opinion as to a constitutional right
of a slaveholder in United States tei'ritory
while it remains such.
Gen. Cass is entitled to an opinion on this !
. question, and he* is entitled even to a prefer- '
■'l . •
wwagggegßffMWMßw
| cnee u to what a majority of the people will
choose. We at the South may and do prefer
that they would form themselves into addi
tional slave states. Northern men may rea
sonably prefer that they may form themselves
into free states. But when a northern man,
of distinguished position and influence, gives
the great weight of both in favar of the con
stitutional rights of tha South—when he de
nounces tae \V ilmot Proviso as unconstitu
tional, and wholly denies to Congress the right
of passing any laws interfering with the do
mestic relation of master and servant in terri
tories, he has done all that the South could
claim of him. He has done what no North
ern Whig dare do. He has assumed a posi
tion which, if rinnly maintained by the South
and secured by a majority of the American
| people, leaves us nothing to f«ar from the Wil
; mot ProvisoistS.
As regards the rights of the slaveholder, in
I case he should move into new territory with
his slaves, in claiming to hold them in servi
tude, we have an able article from the Southir*
i Banner which we will shortly lay before our
I readers.
The Bobbers-
The prisoners. Lydra Williams alias Wit.
Bowen, Henry Beach and David J. Miller,
, charged with the robbery of which we gava
an account in our last, were yesterday broujj2tx
( before the Superior Court and arraigned. On
reading the indictment a fatal omission was
discovered. The prisoners were therefore re
manded to jail. A new bill will be preferred
to-day and the prisoners will no doabt be
again put upon their trial.
Theatre.
The Manager offers an attractive bill thie
evening, and Mr. Shelly and Mr. Bass both
appear.
Lieut. McLeuald
This gallant young officer, the son of ex-
Governor McDonald, of this State, is thus spo
ken of by Brig. Gen. Lane in his official report
|of the recent attack on Metamoros, near
Mexico ; “Lieut. McDonald, of the 3d artillery,
acting assistant quartermaster, was with me
in the charge, an I behaved most gallantly, as
he ever has done upon all former occasions.
Lts.Douglass and Blake were also in the charge
—the former as my aid-de camp—and both
behaved gallantly. It afford* me much pleasure
to bear testimony to the good conduct both of
officers and men. Never could they behave
better than on this occasion.”
Investment of Capital.
’ The Milledgevillc Federal Union, says—'“Wo
invite the attention of the holders of State
j 8 per cent. Bonds, as well as of guardians, tnas
i tees and capitalists generally, to the act of tha
1 Legislature, “to commute the Bondi of this
State issued in redemption of the Bills and
i liabilities of the Central Bank.” As these
new Bonds will constitute tha best Stock that
in all probability will ever be authorized by the
; State, they will unquestionably be in great de
! mand. The amount to be issued is limited.
! Those therefore, who want them, should make
an early application at the Central Bank, or
, at either of its agencies—the Bank of the
State at Savannah and Bank of Augusta.”
' The Court Martial at Washington hat ad
! i journed to the 24th inst., in order to afford
i time to Col. Fremont to prepare his defence.
Frozen up.
Tha Providence Journal of the 12th inat.,
i says that the river there :» frozen for a dis
-1 lance of ten mile;',. Vessels bound up or
| down the river arc compelled .to take steam.
Michigan.
The Legislature organized at Michigan, tha
i new capital, on the Ist instant. John N. In
gersoll was chosen Secretary of tha Senate,
J and Allen J, Welsh, Sergeant at Arms. Mr.
i W elsh has just returned from the wars. A. W.
j Buell was chosen Speaker of the Houae.
A bill to repeal all laws prohibiting the im
. ! portation of slaves into Tennessee for sal*,
i passed the House on the 3d inst., and waa
1 sent to the Senate for concurrence.
Lieut Col- Mansfield.
The numerous friends of Col. Mansfield, of
the Engineer Corps, will be gratified to learn
that he has reached his home at Middletown,
Conn., in safety.
: | A committee of his fellow-citizens proceed
i ed to the depot at Meridon, to receive him in a
carriage, drawn by four matched horses, and
about two miles from the City he was met by
a deputation of gentlemen on horseback, and
at the head of Washington street ke was sa
luted by the “ Mamjield Guards ," a fine disci
plined company of Infantry, under Col. Star,
who formed the advance of the escort through
the City.
Besides the ringing of bells, loud and enthu
siastic cheering welcomed his arrival—“ the
smiling and happy faces of the ladies
the windows."
In a modest and feeling reply, he responded
to a patriotic address from Mayor Clark, in the
presence of more than one thousand of his old
friends and acquaintances. Resuming his seat
in the carriage, he was escorted to his dwelling,
where he was again saluted by the Guards, and
then left in the quiet enjoyment of his happy
family circle, from which he had so long been,
separated. Long may he live to enjoy Ida
well earned laurels.
The Gaines Case
The decision of the case of this lady by the
Supreme Court, last week, in her favor, enti
tles her to four-fifths of the property in New
Orleans in controversy, which had been sold
by her father’s executors to Mr. Patterson,on
the grounds of her alleged illegitimacy. A
correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, says:
“This is but one branch of the great case, and
involves but a small portion of the property
claimed. The ether cases, the name of which
is legion, will be contested on their individual
merits. If they turn like this, upon this vali
dity of the marriage—the proof of which via
j admitted in the present case—and it can be
sustained, Mrs. Gaines will become the female
Croesus of the country. Her counsel express
decided confidence a«; to the future resul't r
predicted upon the faith of this decision,
co RwroAfar &oT" 1J
QfUl BUSHELS CORN, in Sacks.
OVHJ 200. BuskcU, OATS, in Sacks. COW
| PEAS. Jurt rtefjted and for csle by
! Jan. !3 - GIBBS A MeCORB.