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About Daily constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 1846-1851 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1849)
THE CONSTITUTIONALIST. JAMES GARDNER, JR. terms. Daily. per annum t •£’’ Tri-Weekly, per annum 6 00 If paid in advance O IX> Weokiv, per annum, if paid in advance....£ Of* J’nese terms are offered to new subscribers and alt old subscribers who pay up alt arrearages. In no case wif! the weekly paper be sent at $2, unless the money accompanies the order. In no case will it be sent at $2,0(1 to an n )d su b. scriber in arrears. O’ When the year paid for at $2.00 expires, the p iper, if not discontinued, or paid for in advance, will he sent on tne old terras, $2.50 if paid at tha office within the year, or $3,00 if paid after the expiration of toe year. (LTPostage must be paid on all communications and letters of business. [ From the Southern Banner.] Tho American Whig 1 and the British Tory In a few-papers past we took occasion to re fer, slightly, to the close political relationship between the American Whigs and the British Tories. We have no doubt that some of the faithful of the Whig party in this State have waxed tempestuous with us for placing them in such a loving embrace with a party across the water, that was religously abhorred by their “revolutionary ancestors.” The pert whig coxcomb, whose brain is as empty as hi heart is full of self-conceit, will damn the charge as a cal umny.—l he honest but deluded members ®f the rank and file, will, in the pleni tude of their bigotry, swear it is a slander, and retort the charge. The hypocritical, cunning, and well informed wire-worker, will, in pub lic, sneer at it with a gusto that will barm his gaping victims; but when he retires to his pil low, will confess its truth to his God. Be patient, gentlemen! Hear, kick and plunge as you may, the connection is saddled upon you by evidence which the whole world, be sides yourselves, knows to be conclusive. Lis ten now, for a while, to one ot your organs, the Augusta Chronicle «Sr Sentinel,, tfie editor of which is so passionate an admirer of your Tory brethren in England, that he has not the dis cretion to conceal his admiration. Young Lord Stanley has become the leder of that par ty, since the death of Lord Bentinck, and the Chronicle &; Sentinel, speaks thus approvingly of his doctrines: PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRY ‘Hon. H. E. Stanley, a young son of Lord Stanley, who has been elected to Parliament by the borough of Lynn, in place of the late Lord Benticnk in a speech made to his constituents, thus refers to the U. States and the importance of protecting the agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial industry of England. *‘l speak only of the general question of pro tection, and Isay I will do my utmost to op pose this free trade system I will oppose it as a new, untried and hazardous experiment, never yet sanctioned as a principle of government by any nation of the world, not warranted by the practice at the present day of the continental nations of Europe, and which, having been tried and adopted on the other side of the Atlantic, has, 'upon adoption and deliberate trial, been rejected—or is at this moment be ing rejected—by the practical, commercial sagacity of the U. States of America [vehe ment applause.] I oppose it for the sake of the manufacturer himself, who, whatever present gain he may imagine to make by it, will find that in the destruction of the home market he has lost a customer whose custom was in finitely more valuable than the occasional and fluctuating demand of the foreigner, [hear, hear.] I oppose it for the sake of the com mercial empire of Great Britain [hear) for the sake of those great commercial dependencies which are scattered all over the world, and which are attached to you by feelings of loyal ty which no acts of misgovernment have as yet had the power to destroy, but which you are now doing all in your power to disjoint and separate from the mother country, when you deprive them of those commercial privileges and that protection which they ought to share in connection with and treat them as foreign nations, alien i.i language and in race [loud cries of hear.] And lastly, I op pose it for the sake of the great agricultural in-, terests of England [cheers] —1 oppose it for the , sake of the farmers of England, whom, enter prising and energetic as I believe them to be, weighed down by a burden of debt the hea viest this world has ever known, you are pro posing to subject to an unfair and unnatural competion with the untaxed labor, the bound less territory, and the virgin soil of the Wes tern States of America [loud cheers.] I have visited that country, and I speak fiom per sonal knowledge of its agricultural resources, and I know that I speak the opinion of every western former and merchant when I tell you that in a few years they will be able to send wheat into this country at a price below 40s. a quarter, and probably below 35s [hear.]” Thus it is that the Tories, in England, insist upon a high protective tariff upon American corn, the effect of which is to rob the consum er of the difference between cheap American and dear British corn. There is this remarkable difference, however, between the Britisf Tories and American Whigs. The Tory is either too honest or too sensible to an enlight ened public opinion, to disgrace himself by contending that a tax on American corn will cheapen the price of bread. No such foul and contemptible stuff contaminates his lips. He advocates protection for the sake of sustaining British agriculture, against the cheaper corn of America. He admits it is a tax upon con sumption, but justifies it on the ground, sole lv, that public policy requires that tax to be paid by the consumers. This is the language breathed not only by Stanley himself, but also by the statesmen and journals of that party. But the American whig* What shall we say of his absurdities: He faces you down with the doctrine that “high duties make low prices” that the tax is paid by the producer or impor ter, and not by the consumer —that the do mestic competition brought by the protective system lowers the price of the commodity ! He tells you, if you want cheap cloth, you must protect the home manufacturer against the cheaper pauper labor of England—that if you want cheap iron, you must tax the iron of Sweeden where it is made for a mere song— that if vou want cheap salt, you must tax the Liverpool or Turk’s Island—and lastly if you want cheap sugar you must consent to a duty of 100 per cent, on the foreign articles, in fa vor of the sugar of Louisiana. He talks to you of the necessity of protecting “home in dustry” against the pauper labor of other coun tries, as if the industry of the consumer were not as much “/tome industry ” as that of the manufacturer. Ihe farmer, mechanic, or any other consumer who will not see that he is plundered under the forms of law by this sys tem of protecting “home industry, is a jack ass fit to carry burthens all his life for his mas ters. It is precisely such a race that is des tined to be ridden to all eternity by the “jug gling fiends” who build their wealth and do minion upon the ignorance of their fellow creai” res - A snivelling Yankee whig—a tra velling age.l? f° r a b°ok concern or a patent medicine, who a hundred dol]^’ 6 WQfth of stock in a manufacturing company, will, at one moment, chatter like a jackdaw about the necessity of protecting “home industry,” and if you ask him, in the next, whether ic is just to lax the labor of all other classes for the bene fit of the manufacturers, he will deny that such is the effects of the system, and tell you that it actually cheapens commodities. If you ask then, why he seeks protection, when he can afford to furnish the article cheaper than it can be done from abroad, he will tell you it is to prevent the American manufacturer from being run down by the Cheaper articles from other countries. Thus it is, that, like a brazen thief, one part of his story will contradict the other, and although he stands detected by his own narrative, he will still protest that he is innocent of robbing you of your property. For tunately for the peace of the confederacy, the injustice of the protective system is now so glaring, that public opinion may safely be re lied upon to prevent its revival. Were this net the case, the only proper method to treat its advocates, would be to tell them to their teeth, as they have often justly been told, that they are a set of robbers, and repel them by something more convincing than mere argu ment. We publish an article in to-day’s paper, from the London Economist, which places this whole matter in its true light, and.ask for it the special attention of the reader. Conviction of Drayton and Sayres.—Sen tence of Shuster. —ln the criminal Court at Washington, on Friday, (a nolle prosequi hav ing been entered in the forty-one larceny in dictments against Daniel Drayton,) both he and Edward Sayres were tried and convicted of transporting upwards of seventy slaves, be longing to different owners, from the District of Columbia. The court sentenced Drayton to pay a fine of $l4O and costs in each case, and Sayres, in like manner, to SIOO and coats in each case —both to be imprisoned until the fines are paid. Thomas Hand, alias Shuster, found guilty of stealing the Government jewels from the Patent Office, was sentenced to suffer three years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary. The writs of error to the Circuit Court, in the cases of Drayton, Sayres, Hand and Stone, convicted of forgery, will be argued on Satur day, the 26th inst. Rain in Abundance !— We see that our ex changes in the lower part of the State are complaining of the unusual dry weather.— With us, there has been but few dry days for the last four or five weeks, and while we write the rain continues falling; in fact, the pr ra ped at present is very fair for a rain of “ forty days and nights.” Wagoners have been com pelled to stop hauling from Dalton to Chatta nooga, owing to the imm nse rise in the water courses. Should this season of wet weather j continue much longer, the injury to the crops of corn will be very serious. This seems to be ; the universal opinion among our farmers.— Ringgold ( <Ja.]*Repub ., 19 Ih inst. The Whigs of Georgia —We never for a I moment supposed that the Augusta Chronicle 1 represented the feelings or the sentiments of i any considerable class of Southern citizens of any political complexion, or that its blind de i votion tosparty would find an echo in the bo -1 soms of the staunch and sturdy sons of Geor gio. We rejoice to find that wo were right; for the editor of the Republic, himself a strong Whig, and a gentleman whose statements may be implicitly relied on, makes this distinct de | claration in his last paper : “ Whigs are certainly not playing false to us to our face and in their letters. Pbr tffe last six months we httve conversed with but few Whigs who did not utterly condemn th course of the Chronicle on this slavery question: It is vital, and unless our skirts are clear, our position brightly, warmly Southern, we are gone.” No. We know the people of Georgia too ! well—from residence among them—to doubt their high sense of honor, sagacity and spirit. Neither plausible politicians nor partisan presses can divert them from the true path by j paltry efforts to exc'te their jealousy against South Carolina, or to heap ridicule on her. The young giant, Georgia, fast towering above her older sisters in stature, strength and resources, will not permit her hands to be tied, or her eyes to be blinded by the small i weapons wielded by Lilliputian hands. She will lock arms with- Alabama and. Carolina, between whom she stands, and present an un broken front to the Northern aggressor. Re creant, indeed, would the men of Georgia be and Democrat alike) to their past re ! nown and future hopes, did they fail to adopt , the bolder—even the better—course, on this f great issue of Southern Equality. The sod of Ireland never nourished a reptile—so the soil of Georgia never yet bred a traitor. Partisan prejudices may blind a few bigotted wire-pull ers to the true course —but the instinct ol self-preservation will guide the people right. Columbia (N. C .) 'Telegraph. Crops in tub Upper Districts.— We were pleased to observe, on an excursion we recenc | ly made as far as Laurens Court House, that I the effect of the late cold weather on the wheat crop has been somewhat over-estimated. The Avheat, it is true, is generally small and light, but we presume this is more the effect lof the drought than the cold v-oather. Along the line of road from this place to Laurens, we observed very little which bore evidences of injury from the frosts. Most of it will be ready j for the sickle in a few weeks, and we appre ; hend that on the uplands of Laurens and Newberry, the crop will not be much'below I one-third less than an average one. On the low lands, we learn, the injury done by the cold was much greater. We have never seen finer stands of cotlon than those on the road to Laurens. Almost every seed planted seems to have come up ; and though the crop is somewhat late, we have hopes that a few warm days will make amends for the backwardness occasioned by ihe late cold weather. Corn is generally small and unpromising. The fruit is considerably injured, but not entirely destroyed.— Colum. i (s>. 6’.) Banner, May 22. Ericsson’s Condensing and Distilling Apparatus. —Extract from the Journal of Captain James C. Baker, commanding U. S. Transport steamer Alabama, on her voyage from New Orleans to Chagres, and back, in , March, 1849 : “ The condensing apparatus for making fresh water for the use of passengers and crew, ■ works-admirably, furnishing 1200 gallons, if f necessary, per twenty-four horns, enabling us [ to dispense with at least 3,000 gallons of wa ter, which weight can be carried in fuel or , , cargo. We drank this water, from choice, during the whole voyage. It is as clear as - the purest spring water.” The Boston Journal says that the Alabama i has Ericsson’s condensing and distilling appa ratus, which enables her to keep the water in the boilers sufficiently fresh to prevent any : incrustation of salt, and to save the loss of ■ luel by blowing off, as well as to supply plenty of water lor the crew and passengers. ijpThe Vickburg Sentinel says that Col. Anthony Butler, of Texas, lately lost by the burning of the Gen. Pike, was, many years ; grro, one of the leading lawyers of Mississippi. ;He resided -it Columbus and Monticello. He ! was at one period Minister to Mexico, and oc ; cupied a very prominent place among our pub lic characters. He had outlived almost the I memory of his fame, and only the oldest of | | PUF citizens recollect him. The Mississippi Central Meeting. —We have before us the proceedings of this meet ing held in the Hall of the House of Repre sentatives, on the 7th inst. The meeting was a very large one, and the deepest interest was manifested in its proceedings. The Gover- j nor of the State presided, and amongst the | prominent names we see many of the most j distinguished men of Mississippi. Chief Jus- | lice Sharkey was the Chairman of a Commit- | tee of ten appointed to draft resolutions and prepare an address explanatory of the objects ot the meeting. The meeting,/after being ad- | dressed by the Governor and Chief Justice . Sharkey, adjourned until 8 o’clock, p* m., at which hour the Hall was again thronged. The report of the committee, which was unanimously adopted, is one of the ablest pa pers on the subject we have ever read, and, as a dispassionate appeal to the North, calm, but powerful, its effect must be felt throughout the Union. We have, to the exclusion of other matter, published it in to-day’s paper. It will repay a perusal. We perceive, by the resolutions adopted, that a regular State Convention of Delegates i is called for the first Monday in October, in J which both political parties will be equally | represented—the delegation to be double that j of the Representation in the State House ot Representatives. Well done, Mississippir — [ There can be no fears for the South if our sis- j ter States come up to the defence in this man- j ner. —South Carolinian, 23 d inst. Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, j —We learn that at a recent conference of the i Board of Directors of the South Carolina Rail- j road and Wilmington ahd Manchester Rail- S road, conditions were agreed upon for the \ junction of the two Roads, which were mu- | tually satisfactory. The point of junction i will be a Rocky Mount, about a mile and a | half below Middleton Depot, near where the Camden Branch enters the Wateree Swamp. We understand that the grading of the en tire route has been contracted for by stock h dders, to be paid lor in stock of the Com pany. The entire superstructure has been ordered to be let upon similar conditions, which is confidently anticipated will be ob tained, as a proposition has already been re ceived to contract for it from parties who are willing to take four-fifths of their compensa tion in stock. It is the determination of the Directors to have forty miles of the road in operation at an early a day as practicable, as contemplated by the subscription of the State, This will car ry the road, from its junction with the Cam den Branch, to within ten miles South of Darlington Court House. It is confidently expected that at the next meeting of the North Carolina Legislature; that body will appropriate §300,000 towards! the construction of the Road, which will be devoted to the forty miles running South from Wilmington.— Ch. Mereu ry . [ Telegraphed for the Baltimore Sun J Philadelphia, May 20, 8 P. M. Destructive Fire, &o.—Hughes's extensive hay press, on the Moyamensing road, with, two dwelling houses, were destroyed by fire this evening—being the fourth time it has been burnt out. We have nothing later ' am St. Louis, as the western telegraph doe. it operate on Sunday. Boston, May 20. 6 P. M. lleavv I nsu' ranch,Losses,&c.-*-The amount of the property burnt at St. Louis, insured in ! this city, is estimated nt §IOO,OOO. Pittsburg, May 19, 9 P. M. Business—lnsurance, &c. —Business here is very dull at present, and I have no change to notice in the markets. The amount of loss of the insurance ufijees of this city, by the great fire at St. Louis, is estimated at §30,000. South-Western Rail Road' The Macon Telegraph of the 22d inst. says : —The Directors of this road held a regular meeting in this city on Wednesday and Thurs day of last week. We have not been able to get such an account of their proceedings as would authorize us to say more, than, the pro gress of the work is at once Haltering to the Directors and encouraging to the Company, and to the interest of those who are in any way connected with it. A great deal depends in the infancy of such a work as the South-Wes tern Rail Road, upon the energy and capacity of the Directors who are intrusted with the interests of the Corporation. The present Board by their enlightened enterprise have already given the stockholders of this Compa ny and the public at large, much cause to be lieve that they are just such men as will reso lutely call into exercise every means at their command for the early completion of the great work with which they arc connected. Fifty two miles of the road, we are assured, will be completed and fully equipped, in less than eighteen months. This will carry it to the west bank of Flint River, in time to receive the crop of the adjoining counties of .South Western Georgia for 18-50. Such arc the pre sent auspicious indications of the affairs of this company. The Crevasses Our latest news from the Sauve crevasse is that the volume of water through the breach has materially increased, in consequence of the moving of the old hulk which was partial ly sunk in the gorge. We learned last eve ning that the hulk was driven through the piling yesterday morning, carrying away a considerable portion of it, and rendering the difficulties of stopping thecrevasse much more formidable. The joint committee will meet at half-past 10 o’clock this morning, in the office of the Mayor, and receive the report of the Survey ors on the various propositions to stop the cre vasse. We may therefore expect prompt and energetic action, which we doubt not will be attended with speedy success, notwithstanding the difficulties to be contended with. The small crevasse which took place on Thursday, opposite the Barracks, on the other side of the river, we learned last evening was closed.—-V. O. Vic. 19 Ih inst. The Overflow. —There was a very slight fall in the water in the rear of the city, yester day, which raised ’trong hopes in the minds of many of the sufferers by the inundation that dry times are coining. We attribute the fall to the outlets which have been made through the Metarie Ridge, and we trust that a further rise, at least, will be prevented by these means. —lb. For California. —Several young gentlemen from the counties of Jones and Jasper, passed through this city, on the 16th inst., en route for California, via St. Louis, and thence by the land route over the Plains. 'Their names are as follows : -Dr. Benjamin F. Keene, James Hunt, Wiley Baron, John Harvey, Hiram Linsay, Larkin Stewart, and Washington Stewart. Our best wishes attend these young gentlemen—and if our desires could be grati fied every one of them would return in health and laden with as much gold'as they and their friends have use for. —Macon Telegraph, 23 d inst. Snow in May.—lt snowed at Elkton, Md., on Monday last, and the}' had hoar frost every morning to the end of the week. THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.' Augusta,. (Beorgia. FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 25 ; UF* SEE FIRST PAGE. 13 ij magnetic &rUgra))l). Reported lor the Constitutionalist. We received the following dispatch last evening, at half-past six o'clock, from our cor respondent, dated Baltimore, May 23, 1849. Ne« York Markets—-May 22- Flour has advanced 6d; Cotton regains firm; Corn advancing ; 'Treasury Notes lie* premium; Exchange Hkc. premium. There have been four new cases of Cholera in the city of New York. Savannah, May 24,5 P. M. i Cotton. — Sales to-day are live hundred and I seventy hales, at six five-sixteenths to seven five eighths. Charleston, May 24, 9 P. M. Cotton. —The sales to-day are one hundred I and forty-three bales, making the total sales ot , the week six thousand bales, against three thou ! sand received during the same lime. 'The busi j ness of the week closes with an advance of one eighth to one-quarter cent. Middling fair seven I one-half to seven live-eighths. _ The Free Soilcrs. The argument wielded against Southern rights and in favor ot the constitutionality of the Wilmot Proviso is exactly the one urged by the Chronicle J Sentinel. Mr. Van Burcn in his letter to the Buffalo Convention, assumed that the constitutionality of the Ordinance of 1787, was ratified by the South in the signa ture of Southern Presidents to the Missouri Compromise Bill and the Oregon Bill, and that the South had no right now to deny to Congress the constitutional power to pass the Wilmot Proviso. So argue all the Northern Free Soilets. The disingennousness of the ar gument, and the suppression of the attendant facts have been often enough pourtrayed to ; satisfy at least all Southern men of the fallacy of the conclusion. But the Chronicle A Senti nel pertinaciously takes the anti-Southern side, and seeks to insist that the administra tion of Mr. Polk and nearly every preceding administration since the organization of the government, have admitted the constitution ality of the principles of the Wilmot Proviso. The Constitutionality of the Ordinance of 1787. —The Constitutionalist affects to re gard it as important to the best interests of the South, that all take issue with President Polk, and nearly every preceding administra tion since the organization ot the Government, in reference to the right of Congress to exclude Slavery from territories belonging to the Uni ted States. — Chron. A Sent. 23 d inst. i If this is not assuming the free soil side by the Chronicle $ Sentinel, and insisting that the question is settled against her by nearly every administration since the organization of the government, then the English language has lost its force. The Chronicle $ Sentinel in the following paragraphs fra*a the same editorial, misrepre sents Mr. Polk and his opinions. “Our opinion is, that Mr. Polk ought to have vetoed the Wilmot Proviso in the Ore gon bill; insteading of “approving” and en dorsing with his signature both the expediency and the constitutionality of the same. Believ ing, as we are bound to presume he did, when he signed it, that the right to prohibit slavery in territories was strictly constitutional, he should have vetoed it on the ground taken by Mr. Van Buren in regard to the inexpediency of abolishing Slavery in the District of Colum bia. The Democracy in the South sustained Mr. Van Buren; and we are sorry to add that even the Constitutionalist endorsed in strong terms of commendation, President Polk, after he had affixed his name officially to the Wil mot Proviso, as a constitutional and proper mea sure—as a fit subject for Congress to legislate upon. “It cannot be urged in extenuation of Mr. Polk’s approval of the right of Congress to legislate on the question of slavery in territo ries, that he fell extreme reluctance to use the veto power; lor on all matters except that of slavery in the territories, he was remarkable for the tree and doubtful exercise of his offi cial negative on the acts of Congress. If Mr. Polk considered the Proviso unconstitutional, it was his sworn, duty to withold his approval, and send the bill back to the house in which it originated. But instead of this, he signed the bill and thereby conceded the whole con stitutional question, which our neighbor seeks to revive, after praising Mr. Polk’s adminis tration as “one of the best which the country has ever known,” —or in words to that effect. If this is not “artful dodging,” it is very short turning, even for a supporter of both the Al abama and Cass platforms. Mr. Polk did not consider the Wilmot Pro viso constitutional. He so stated in his mes sage accompanying the Oregon Bill with his signature. He stated that he would have ve toed it, or any bill which prohibited the intro duction of slaves into territories rfouth of 36 deg. 30—the line of the Missouri Compromise. The Chronicle wilfully misrepresents Mr. Polk, when in defiance of his distinct declaration to the contrary, it says, he believed the right of Congress to prohibit slavery in the territories was strictly constitutional. What does the Chronicle believe on this point ? Does it be lieve Congress has this right ? Certainly it does. We have never seen it deny this, though often charged with holding this opinion. The Chronicle takes this distinct position— i that Mr. Polk conceded the whole constitu tional question, when he signed the Oregon Bill. Does the whig party of Georgia hold itself bound by this concession, admitting that it was made r Is Georgia bound by such a concession? Is she precluded from the right to hold the Wilmot Proviso unconstitutional, and to resist its application? We contend that Georgia is not so bound. The democra tic party contend likewise. It remains to be j seen whether the whig party surrender the constitutional question as the Chronicle does. We shall hold them to that issue if they do not repudiate the doctrine ao boldly advanced by the Chronicle, that this question is settled against the South by nearly every administration since the organization of the government. We do believe that the administration of Mr. Polk was “ one of the best which the ! country has ever known.” It was more than , that—it. was the most brilliant in the annals ot our government, and if we were called on to j designate that which was most entitled to the admiration, gratitude and applause of the American people, we would designate Mr. 4’oik’s administration. But the Chronicle mis represents in attempting to pourtray us as jus tifying and commending the late President for signing the Oregon Bill. W e regretted that he did not veto it, after Mr. Burt’s amendment was rejected. But we believed his motives patriotic, and his reasons entitled to great re spect, and therefore did not assail him. That signature was not a concession, nor in tended as such, of the constitutionality ot the Wilmot Proviso. It was a concession to the spirit of harmony, and to the principles of the Missouri Compromise.- On this subject we our own views, and corrected the misrepresentations of the Chronicle more than once. It will find enough to do to de fine and defend its own position on this great Southern question, without travelling out of the issue to misrepresent cither our position, or the grounds of Mr. Polk’s signature of the Oregon Bill. The position of the Whig party in Conven tion in 1847, >vas that “the Wilmot Proviso is unequal, unjust, and unconstitutional.' Is that its position now? If it is, the Chronicle A Sentinel misrepre sents it. Mr. Cashin’s Communication.—We re ceived the communication of Mr. Cashin, which we publish this morning, on Wednes day. It was too late, for yesterday’s paper. idTWe copy the following paragraph from the Savannah Republican of the 23d instant.— While Major Roland and his fellow-officers will meet with a cordial welcome among us, our citizens must regret losing from the post near this city, Capt. Anderson and the offi cers attached to his command. Their gentle manly deportment and agreeable manners hare endeared them to many warm friends. It was hoped by us that the removal contemplated by the Department would be reconsidered; but understand Capt. Anderson received or ders en Wednesday evening, from Washing ton, directing the transfer of his Company to Savannah. “ We sincerely regret to learn that Major Roland's Company of Light Artillery, station ed at Oglethorpe Barracks in this city, has been ordered to take post at Augusta, (Geo. j The Artillery Company now at the Augusta Arsenal, will, we presume, be ordered here. — The accomplished and gentleman-like officers now here, will bear with them to their new post the wannest regards and the highest re ■ sped of our fellow-citizens.” •r Major Dado’s Sword- We are pleased to learn that the sword sup . posed to have belonged to the lamented Dade, and to have been worn on the eventful day of the massacre, has been received and recog nized by Mrs, Dade. Some time since, we mentioned that the late Mr. James T. Gray, who obtained it from an Indian in Florida, de . sireJ that this relic of a departed hero, should be conveyed to his widow, and for this pur po;>e placed it in the hands of Col. G. H. Tal cott, U. S. Army. We are permitted to copy from a letter acknowledging the receipt of it, the following extract: • ( “ Circumstances over which I had no con trol, together with my ill health, have pre vented my sooner acknowledging the receipt of your letter of April 12th, informing me that you had sent, by Col. Hunt, a sword pre sented, for that purpose, by the late James T. Gray, of Augusta. Since then, the sword has been put in ray possession ; and, although it is greatly tarnished and defaced, and such a length of time has elapsed since I have seen it, yet I immediately recognised it as the one - usually worn by Major Dado, and it is utterly impossible to express all I felt when I looked upon, and held in my own hands such a pre cious relic «f the past.” [communicated.] To the Editor of the Constitutionalist . Sir —ln my note to you, which was pub lished in your paper, explaining the reasons why despatches from Baltimore did not reach Augusta on the same day as Charleston, I made the following statement : “As regards the other messages alluded to they were received in the Charleston office, long after the hour for closing, for which extra services, the engaged were al lowed a fair remuneration.” The Charleston Courier of Tuesday, notices this statement and adds : “Not being aware any regulation to this ef fect had been adopted by the Company, we made inquiries of the operators at the office in this city, whether they were compensated for “ extra services,” and were informed that they never had received a dollar extra for any “ ser vices they have ever performed.” Without knowing or caring anything about | what amount, or whether any, had heer»re | ceived by the operator s in Charleston, justice to my character for veracity calls upon me to | state on what authority my allusion about allowances for extra services was based. Bn the 3d inst., I icceived the following despatches from Washington city : For Augusta Office. Thompson and Garland says, “set upon same terms as lust night for steamers news.” Signed, A. LINTON, Operator Washington Office. 1 For Columbia, Charleston and Augusta Offices. Thompson says, apply' to the papers he re ports for in your city, and they will pay fifty cents per hour for setting up after 10 o’clock, (the hour for closing.) and if they refuse to pay he is responsible for the amount, that is for i last night and to-night. A. LINTON, Operator Washington Office. The despatches furnish the evidence upon : which my rematk (considered so objectionable by the Courier ) was based. And knowing that the messages were received in Charleston, and that the operators sat up after the hour of | closing, (10 o’clock,) I presumed they had re ceived extra pay, a*d therefore made the st.ite naent quoted above. * Yours, & c . O. E. CASHIN, Operator, Augusta Office, The Baptist Convention.— The second tri- | ennial meeting of this body' was commenced yesterday, at 12 o’clock \r.,'at tie First Bap- | list Church, in this city. The Coaventioia was j called to order by the President, Rev. Dr, Johnson; J. C. Crane, Secretary. After ap propriate religious services by Rev. J. 11. Ken • driek. Pastor of the First Baptist Church, the constitution and rules of order were read, and a Committee on Credentials of Delegates ap pointed. Dr. Johnson was requested to preach the Foreign Missionary Sermon in the evening, at 8 o’clock. The Convention then adjourned to 4 f. m. During the afternoon several resolutions were offered and adopted, chiefly in reference to the organization of the ,Convention, and arrangements for to-day’s exercises, We ob- a very large number both of Clerical and Lay Delegates in attendance, and the proceedings promise to be of interest. Me are requested to state that the sessions of the Convention will be held with open ,doors, and the presence of all disposed to at tended its deliberations will be welcomed. Ch. Mercury. ( Telegraphed for the Baltimors Sun.) The Great St. Louts Conflagration—Names of (he Principal Dealers—Loss of Life , ac. , St, Lons, May 21—7 p. m. My despatch containing further particulars of the great conflagration, with which our city has been visited, has been delayed'ou account of an interruption in the telegraph. I am now enabled, however, to send you a pretty full outline of the particulars. The whole number of houses destroyed is four hundred and eighteen, including the most valuable portion of the city. The number of lives lost is not known, but supposed to be about twenty. The loss of property is now estimated at fully $(1,000,000. The insurance companies generally will be enabled to pay the full amount of their liabilities. The brokers are all insured. Since the fire the cholera has greatly abated. [Telegraphedfur the Charleston Mercury. \ Tho Telegraph Our telegraphic communications with the North is still imperfect, the messages having to be re-written at Fayetteville, and our des patches are a day behind their time. The fol lowing should have been received on Tuesday evening: Nt.w Yoiik, May 22, 6 p. m. The Cotton nnrkct to-day was firm at for Fair Upland. We have further details of the destructive fire at St. Louis. The number of buildings destroyed was four hundred and eighteen, and the loss is estimated at six millions of dollars. The Insurance offices in Wall-street lose about $100,000; it is estimated that the In surance offices of Boston will lose not less than that amount. There w..s a tire yesterday in Cincinnati, in which ten houses were destroyed. Ihe Cholera still prevails there, twelve new cases having been reported and seven death. Dispatches ikom California. —Military Force for that Country.— It is understood that important dispatches have been received at the War Department, from California, set ting fdrtli that the people had organized a go\ - eminent for themselves, and had adopted the Wilmot proviso as a fundamental article. - These are doubtless those brought by Mr. Panot, who was met coming overland through Mexico, a short time since, and a dispatch from Washington says; It is reported that Mr. Crawford recom mends to General Taylor to organise a strong 1 military force in California, of volunteers, to sustain Gov. Smith, until Congress shall act 1 lor the territory.— Haiti more San. British Navigation Laws and the Unite a States—The leading provisions of the British 1 Navigation Bill, as it passed the House ol Commons, and now comes before the House of Lords, may be embraced in a nut-shell. It limits the coasting trade, both at home and in the Colonies, to British vessels, (except in In > dia, where it is left to the discretion of the Governor-General,) but opens the direct trade, both with Great Britain and her Colonies, to the vessels of all nations which extend a reci procal freedom to British vessels. What there , is in these provisions, or either ot them, to American s equanimity, we cannot imagine. A dispatch from Washington states, . that should the bill finally become a law in England, Gen. Taylor will lay it before Con gress as a proper subject of legislation, ami the idea seems to be confirmed by the follow ing from the National Whig : If it becomes a law, the subject of reciprocating will, no doubt, form a large part of the delibera tions of the next Congress. For ourselves, we de ny the right of the treaty-making power, to take cognizance of the question. It is a revenue me a sure, and belongs to the House of Representative A call, signed by a largo number of tho citi zens of Macon, merchants, &c., is published in the Macon papers, for a meeting to be hold i at the City Council Room, on Saturday, 20th ! day of May, at 10 o'clock, A. M., to consider j the propriety of the junction of the Rail Roads, and negotiating with them for tho establish ! ment of one common depot convenient to the j main business parts of the city. Those who arc opposed to such connection, are also re j quested to be in attendance. SPECIAL Is OTIC ES, AUGUSTA FIRE COMPANY. O’A Called Meeting of the Augusta Fire Company, will be held at the City Hall, on SATURDAY EVENING. May 2t!th, at 8 o'clock. By order of F. LAMBACK, Chief Engineer. Alex. Philip, Sec'y. may 2o 2 RAFFLE! RAFFLE ! ! To be disposed of by Ruffle, a fine Parlor sett of Kosewmod Furniture, consisting of IJ Piece-,. | 40 Chances at 10 Dollars each. Please call and examine, may I C. A PLAT! CJLEVBLAND A SPEA*L SURGEON cag* DENTISTS NO. 215 "^UII^EHOAD-ST. (Over Aldrich & Green's .Shoe Store.) | Nov. 11 1 y E. A. SOULLARO, COMMISSION MERCHANT. SAVANNAH,GA I Nov. b d&wly MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COS FANY OF NEW YORK. . .iuBKRTsaN, Pres’t. | Sami . II a hn av,Stjc'y Applications received by GREENVILLE SIMM ON S, Nov. 24 ly Agent; PIANOFORTES EXCELLENT SECOND-HAND PLANO FORTES, lor sale cheap. It. S. JACKSON. First Room over Gustav Volger’s Segar Store, jan 24 6mos Broad street PROTECTION INSURACE COMPA NY OF NBW-JERSEY. ‘CAPITAL §300,000. J V . Voorhees, Sec’ry Wm. Thompson, I'ro B. S. Whitney, Gen’l Agent, 69 Wall st., N. V 1 Fire and Marine Risks are taken in this Office on {lie. most liberal terras, by JOHN MILL, Agent, Next door above the Mechanics’ Bank Sept 2 ly