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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST. * JAMES GARDNER, JR. gg.Trr-: ■■■ TERMS. *«r aaiinxn £3 00 tri- Weekly, j>«r mom 6 CO U paid in adran<;a 5 00 Weekly, per annua 8 00 If paid in nhuct 2 30 To Club*, remitting £lO m aDTaxcc, FIVE UOFIES *ra *«nt. Thi* will nut our Weekly pa f*r in Ik? reach of new *ub*crih«r* at TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. 1137’Sttbicribers who will pay op arrearage*, and ••nd font new «üb*criber«, with the money, can jet (he paper at J! 00. • CyAll new snb»eriptioa* m«t be paid is ad far.ee. rT'Poftaje me**, he paid oa all eommumgatioiu ■nd letter* of butlnet*. 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.