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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
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[From the Cincinnati Commercial.]
THE MAIDEN’S SECRET.
BT MRS. K. 8. NICHOLS.
In my heart of hearts,
On its fragrant altar,
e There a s cret lies,
Tha my lips would falter;
But the suo suines out,
Blinding me with splendor,
When I want a light
1 hat is »ott and tender.
In my heart of hearts
There’s n treasured feeling,
That my tell-taie eyes
Fain wou’d be revealing,
But it they would speak,
One ever stands before them,
And 1 daie not lift
The curtaina drooping o’er them.
In my heart of hearts
Secretly l tremble,
Yet l dare not sigh—
Oh! why should love dissemble ?
Once my tongue could speak,
Maiden’s never faster,
Now ’ti dumb or weak—
It has iound a master!
In my heart of hearts
Cupi i’s slyly uestiing,
* H Through tne rosy hoars,
Wiui the rogue in wrestling;
Often when 1 dream
Hand and foot I’ve bound him,
Sm den y be bursts
Tne silken letters round him.
In my heart of hearts,
1 can bold no longer.
That, which if 1 b nd,
Only grows ihe stronger—
\ Deares , I'm i* love!
’■*' Gfadl, I reveai it,
Ther j ! iny secret’s go e !
Pray , wo uni y**»c nceal it?
{From iV. f. Herald 27 in ult )
Tha Late Commodore Barron—sketch of
hia hi e and Naval Career*
We ann» UiCed, on Thursday, th© deMh of
Commodore James Barren,at Norfolk, Virginia,
on Monday afternoon, 21st inst. in the eigotv
third y ear of nis age. He had been, since .m
--death of Commodore Rodgers, in 1838, the
senior captai in the U States Navy; the date
of his commission as post-captain being May
* x 22, 1799; that of Commodore Stewart, now
senior officer in the navy, being dated
April 22, 1806; the next oldest captains are
Charles Morris, date of commission, March 5,
1813; Lewis Warrington, November 22, 1814,
ana Jonn Downes, Marcn 5, 1817.
James Barron was born in Virginia, in 1768,
and commenced his naval career when but a
youth, under the au.pices of his lather, who
held the tank of “Commodore of all the arm
ed vessels of the Commonw- . ith” of Virginia,
during the war of the Revolution, and until
the State navy was disbanded. Subsequent
to this period, James Barron followed a ma
ritime lt.e in private service, until the organi
sation of the navy of the U. States, soon after
which, he entered the public service, and re
ceived his comm.ssion as lieutenant in the na
vy, the 9th of March, 1798—the same day
with Charles Stewart, as befote mentioned.
Barion served with credit under Commodore
Barry, during the brief hostilities between the
U. States and the French republic. This ser
vice was on board the frigate U. States, in
wh ; ch Stewart, also, was lieutenant, and De
catur and Somers Midshipmen. Barron was
then about 30 years ol age, whiie Decatur was
only in his twentieth .ear. The U. States
frigate captured several French privateers, but
had no opportunity ot falling in with any of
the national armed vessels of the republic. In
the c mrse -of one of her cruises, the U. States
was overtaken, while in the Gulf Stream, by
k , a gale of wind, which lasted nine days; the
v-""'' frigate sprung her bowsprit, and the rigging
become valueless for the support of the masts,
the loss ol which appeared certain, and even
that of the ship and crew was seriously ap
prehended. In this critical situation, Lieu
tenant Barron suggested to Commodore Bar
ry the possibility of sett ng up the rigging,
and thereby saving the masts; offering himselt
to undertake the performance of this duty, the
difficulty of which was increased by the ship’s
being before the wind, and rolling unceasing
ly. Commodoie Barry consented to the ha
zardous experiment being attempted; Lieu
tenant Barron got the purchases on the shrouds
J and succeeded in getting the rigging taut and
the lanyards Secured, without accident. The
masts were thus saved, and perhaps the ship
also, through tne skill and judgment of Bar
ton. The services rendered by the lieutenant
on this occasion having been represented by
tJommodore Barry to the government, with a
recommendation that he should be promoted,
he was at once raised to the rank of post cap
tain, in which he remained in command of
lithe U. States. The frigate was refitted, and
sailed on a second cruise —shaping her course
for the West Indies, for the protection of our
commerce against the depredations of the
French cruisers in those sea*. Sever 1 priva
teers were captured but no French national
vessel was fallen in with by the United States.
Commodore T-uxtun, in the U, S. Frigate
Constellation, however, on the 9th February
1799 fell in with the French frigate Insur
gent, off the is.aaJ of Nevis, and after a we 1
fougnt action, captured her. Boon afterwards,
Commodore Barry, on account of ill health,
id the oommind of his squadron to
a —Barron still being in command of
U. States, and Decatur, who had been
■jMwpromoted, bring then her fourth lieutenant.
| \ The ingate at erwards, conveyed to Europe
* the envoys to the French republi:, Messrs.
jßlisworth aud Davu*, and returning to the
p DeiHware, she was dismantled for expensive
repairs.
me treaty with France being ratified in
February, 1801, the navy wa* placed on a peace
establishment, and by an act of Congress, un-
Wk d«r Jefferson’s administration, maay officers
were discharged—only nine of the twenty
eight captains being retained. Os those nine
retained in the service, Barron was one; and
when the war with Tripoli took place, he was
placed in command of the frigate President,
bearing the broad pennant of C jmmodoire Rich
ard Dale, as commander of the squadron or
dered to the Med.teranean, in May, 1801. His
elder brother, Captain Samuel Barron, (who
died in 1810,) was in the same squadron, and
commando 1 the frigate Philadelphia. The
other vessels in the squadron were the frigate
Essex. Captain William Bainbridge, and the
schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant Sterrett. The
latter vessel had a biilliant and successful ac
tion with« Tripolitan ship of fourteen guns,
which struck her flag after an action of three
hours, but nothing further beyond the pro
tection of American commerce was effected by
the squadron and Commodore Dale, towards
the close of the year 1801 returned to the U.
States, with the President and Enterprise,
leaving the Philadelphia and Essex in the
Mediterranean. In September, 1802, Captain
Barron being in command of the frigate New
Y:rk, with Decatur for his first Lieutenant,
again sailed for the Mediterranean, and form
ed part of a squadron under the command of
Commodore Richard V. Morris. Nothing im
portant occurred during several months’ ser
vice against Tripoli, by this squadron, and in
March, 1803, Barron was ordereu to take com
mand of the frigate Chesapeake, and retqrn
home. Decatur having been engaged as se
cond in a duel between midshipman Joseph
Bainbridge and an Ei giish officer, resulting
in the death of the latter, the Governor of
Malta demanded that Decatur and Bainbridge
should be delivered up to be tried by the civil
courts for an infraction of the laws. It was
deemed advisable, to avoid difficulty, that De
catur should return to ihe U. States, which
he did, as a passenger in the Chesapeake.
Thus it will be seen that Barron and Deoatur
were frequently and repeatedly biought to
gether in the early part of their career in the
service. About four months after ihe return
of the Chesapeake to the U. States, Decatur
took command of the brig Argus, and sailed
again for the Mediterranean. At Gibraltar he
was transferred to the schoonei Enterprise,
and Lieutenant lease Hull assumed the com
mand of the Argus. The gaiiaut exploits of
D catur in the war with Tripoli, took place
during the year 1804. Commodore Samuel
Barron succeeded Commodore Preble in com
mand of the squadron m the Mediterranean,
and James Barron continued tor a short time
in command of the frigate Chesapeake, which
ship did not return to her former station, du«
ring the Tripolitan war, but remained in the
U. States. In September, 1804, we find Cap
tain B.trron a am in the Mediterranean, in
command of the frigate Essex, one of the
squadron of ten vessels under the orders of
his brother, Commodore Samuel Barron. This
-quadron was the strongest lorce which the
Americans h-d then assembled in that sea.
The blockade of Tnpoli was maintained by dif
ferent vessels during the season of 1804 5, but
i.o attack was attempted, although prepara
tions were made to renew the war in the
spriDg. In April, 1805, a portion of the Ameri
can i-qoadron assisted Mr. Eaton the U. States
Counsul at Tunis, in nis celebrated attempt to
restore Hamet Caramalli to the g vernmeut of
Tripoli; the reigning bashaw at that time, a
younger brother, being a 1 usurper, A treaty
of peace between the U. S ates and 'Tripoli
was concluded in June, 1805. Previous to
this, on the 22d of May, Commodore S. B *r
-1 ron, on account ot ill health, transferred the
command of the squadron to Comm d ire
Rodgers; and captain James Barron was short
ly as erwards transferred trom the Essex 32 to
the frigate President 44. The war wi h Tri
poli terminal d after an existence ot tour\ ear*.
It proved ot great vaiue as a school for the
American navy. The Tripolitian business
t .u-i being settled, Commodore Rodgers sail
ed with thirteen vessels, and anchored off Tu
nis on the Ist of August, 1805, wnere he re
mained over a month. Auer settling the dis
pute with Tunis by negotiating terms uuder
the muzzles of his guns, the vessels m the
Mediterranean were gradually withdrawn,
tnough it was still deemed necessary to k-ep
a small squadron in that sea. Captain Bar
ron was among those officers that returned to
the U. States.
The period of the return nome of the Me
diterranean squadron was that when the •‘guTl
boat poltct” of Mr. Jefferson—which origina
ted with that President, in 1803—began to be
carried in full operation. At the close of the
year of 1806, President Jefferson announced
to Congress that fifty-gun-boats had been
built, or were in prog.ess, and his message re
commended an extention of the sys em. This
plan was unpopular with the senior officers
of the « avy, and the gun-boats were gen ral y
placed in command of younger officers, except
when collected in squadrons. We are. not a*
ware that B*rron had anything to do with
this portion of the service. By a law passed
in April, 1806, the President was authorized
to employ as many of the_nat onal vessels as
he might deem necessary, but limited the
number of officers and seamen. The list of cap
tains, under the new law, was as follows :
1. Samuel Nicholson, 8. Hugh Campbell,
2. Alexander Murray, 9. Stephen Decatur,
3. Samuel Barron, 10. Thomas Tingey,
4. John Rodgers, 11. Charles Stewart,
5. Edward Preble, 12. Isaac Hull,
6. James Barron, 13. John Shaw,
7. William Bainbridge, 14. Isaac Cnauncey.
Among these officers whom Stewart is the
only survivor, James Barron enjoyed a high
character in the service, being deemed oue
of the most ingenious and ready seaman that
America had ever produced. No officer bore
a more conspicious part in the organization of
our navy than he did. Heorigiuated the first
code of signals in the American navy, and
early distinguished himself for scientific sea
manship aud nautical skill. As an officers, he
was accomplished and efficient, and one ot toe
best disciplinarians in the service. But in the
midst of his usefulness, ana in the zenith of
his popularity as a navy commander, an un
lucky event occurred, which cast a cloud
over his future prospects, and terarmated his
career in active service. We allude, of course,
to the well known affair of the Chesapeake.
Early in the year 1807, the frigate. Chesa
peake, of 38 guns, was ordered to be put in
commission, with a view of sending her t > the
Mediterranean, to relieve the Constitution,
44, then the flag ship on that station, tne time
of the sailors on bo rd of her having nearly
expired. Captain Charles Gordon, master
commandant was attached to the Cnesapeake
as her captain, and Captain James Barron was
selected to hvist a broad pennant in her as
commander of ihe Meditterranean squadron.
The Chesapeake * ay laying at the navy yard,
in the Potomac, at Washington, where she
remained taking in her masts and stores, and
receiving officers and men, until the close of
theaprin/. 'The specific orders of the Navy
Department to Commodore Barron to take
command, were given May 15. 1807. Ab >ut
this time the British Minister at Washington,
informed oUr government that three deserters
from an English vessel of war had enlisted a
mang tbecrewof the Chesapeake, ana he re
quested th t they might be given up. The
matter was re erred by the Navy Department
to Commodore Barron, for investig*»uon, and
he directed Captain Gordon to inquire into
the matter with care, and to m-ik ms report.
It was ascertained that three men were ac
tually deserters; but -hey ail claimed to be
impressed Americans, wno h* « avaiieu them
solve of the opportunity to escape from ille
gal detention. The British Munster received
the report, and appeared to be satisfied, as no
more wa3 said on the subject.
With part of her armament on board, the
Chesapeake dropped down the Potomac early
in June, 1807, and anchored in Hampton
Roads. Having received her remaining guns
and stores on board, and completed her crew
to about 365 persons, on the 19th of June
Capt. Gordon reported the frigate to Com.
Barron as ready for sea. On the 22 I June
she got under way from Hampton Roads,
bound to the Mediterranean. A British squad
ron, which then consisted of a seventy tour j
gun ship and three frigates, had been for
sometime lying at the mouth of Chesapeake
hay, watching some French frigate that lay at
Aunopolia. When tne Chesapeake weighed
aneaor, and the British squadron—the Leo
pard, a frigate mounting 66 guns—lilted her
anchor, and stood out to sea, preceding the
American frigate by several miles. As the
Chesapeake gained an offing, the Leopold
shaped her course to close with her, and when
near enough, hailed her, to say that a letter
would be sent on board. This proved to be
from the Captain of the Leopard, enclosing
an order from the Vice-Admiral, commanding
the British forces on the North American
station, to seaich the Chesapeake for certain
deserters from the British navy, said to be
serving as part of the crew of the American
frigate.
Commodore Barron gave a written refusal
to comply with a demand so extraordinary,
and the Leopard’s boat sent to the Chesapeake
having returned, she oponed a fire on the
Chesapeake, giving her an entire broadside,
and continuing to keep up the fire for a con
siderable period ; when the Chesapeake being
in an unprepared state, and unable to return
the fire, having also three of her crew killed
and eighteen wounded, struck her colors.—
Stie was then boarded by an officer from the
Leopold, her crew mustered and four alledged
deserters from the British navy taken from
her. Com. Barron formally surrendered the
Chesapeake to the British captain, who re
plied, that, having to the utmost of his power
tulfilied the instructions of his commander-in
chief, he had notning more to desire, and must
proceed to join his squadron. Commodjre
Barron, who was among the wounded, then
called a council of his officers, and the Chesa
peake returned to Hampton Roads the same
evening.
Nothing could exceed the indignation ex
cited throughout the nation by this mortify
ing occurrence. A court us injury was sum
moned, and the results were, courts martial
on Com Barron, Capt. Garden, Capt. Hull,
the commanding marine officer on board and
the gunner. The charges against Commo
dore Barron were four, viz:—lst. “For ne
gligently performing the duty assigned him.”
2d. “ For neglecting to clear his ship for ac
tion.” 3d. “Failiing to encourage, in his
own person, his inferior officers aud men to
tight courageously.” 4th. “For not doing
his utmost to uke or destroy the Leopold,
which vessel it was his duty to encounter.”
Some o. the charges affecting the conduct o:
Com. Barron were not proved. The court
expressed th. strongest opinion “os to the
firmness and courage of the accused. Tne
evidence upon this head 'S clear and satisvac
tory.” Upon the charge of neglecting, on
tne probaoiuty of an engagement, to clear his
ship for action, the court found Commodore
Barron guilty, and sentenced him to he sus
pended from all command in the navy, wi h
out pay or emolurn nt lor the period of five
years irom the Bth or February, 1808.
Decatur having attended tne sating of the
court ot injury, disapproved so entirely of the
course pursued by Com. Barron, that, from
motives of delicacy towards him, he begged
the Secretary of the Navy to excuse him irom
erving on th c : court martial wneu he was or
dered to serve a3 a member. The Secretary
overruled his objection, and insisted on h s
serving; but Decatur gave the counst.-l of Bar
ron notice of the opinion he had formed, that
the Commodore might exercise his privilege of
protesting against Decatur's sitting as a mem
ber of the court. Barron did not protest, and
Decatur took his seat, and acted as one of he
court martial. Subsequent to the removal of
Barron from the Chesapeake, Decatur was ap
pointed to command her; the destination ot
the frigate was changed, and she was ordered
to the coast service. Captain Gordon and
Hull, on their tria's by courts martial, were
found guilty of some slight informalities, tnd
sentenced to be privately reprimanded.
Commodore Barron having been suspended
from duty for five years, and also deprived
of nis pay by the same sentence of the court
martial, resorted to the merchant service as a
means of support. He was abroad when war
was declared, the news of which reached
him m Denmark, when it was not believed
that hostilities would continue six months
Barron afterwards sts ed that he should have
been gad to have returned to the United
States, and taken part in the service of the
country during war, if he had received the
slightest intimation from the Navy Depart>
ment that he should have been employed on
his return. His suspension terminated about
eight months after the declaration of war, in
June, 1812; some months after which he re
ported himself to the Navy Depatment for
duty, by letter. The war' continued about
two years after he had become available for a
command. He returned to tne United States
at the close of the year 1818, soon after which
a memorial in his tavor was presented to the
President by a portion of the Virginia delega
tion in Congress, Commodore Decatur, be
ing then one of the Board of three Navy Com
missioners, took an active part, by the expres
sion of his opinion, in preventing Barron's
restoration to active service.
It was, ere long, intimated to Decatur that
he was likely to receive a hostil ecs 1 from Com
Barron. He then stated that if such a call
was made, he would meet it, though he
should be belter pleased if it were not made.
On the 12th of June, 1819, Barron commenc
ed the correspondence with Decatur, by ad
dressing him as follows:
“I have been informed in Norforlk, that
you have said you could insult me with im
punity, or words to that effect. If you have
said so, you will no doubt avow it; and I
shall expect to hear from you.”
Decatur replied on the 17th of the same
month, disavowing the offensive expression
attributed to him. Two other letters follow
ed, explanatory of the first; the correspon
dence ended for the time, and Decatur con
sidered it at an end. Nearly four monts after
wards, on the 23d of October Barron again
wrote Decatur, complainiug of his attempts to
injure him with his friends; and considering
him as having expressed a willingness to meet
him ;n the field, whioh he regarded as an in
vitation to fight, he informed him that he ac
cepted it. Decatur replied in an elaborate
and msultiog let'er; but disclaiming all per
sonal enmity. Finally, after some further
correspondence, Decatur left the sole adj ust
merit of the terms ot meeting with his friend
Commodore Usinbridge. On the Bth of March
1820, Com. Bainbridge was visited on board
the Columbus, seventy-four, (then lainv in
the Potomac, preparing for sea,) by Captain
Eiliot, as the friend of Com. Barron, for the
purpose of making final arrangements for the
meeting.
Ihe duel took place at Bladensburg, near
Washington city, on the 22J1 of March r 1820,
and wab fjught with pistol*, at the distance
of eight paces, or yards, the soonest that is
customs y. Inis was done by the second* to
accommodate Commodore Barron, whose
vision was defective. On taking their stands,
Commodore Bainbridge informed them that
he would give the word quickly—“ Present!
one, two, three;” and they were not to fire
before the word “one,” nor after the word
“three.” Commodore Barron observed to
Commodore Decatur, “that he hoped, on
meeting in another world, they would be bet
ter friends than they had been in this.” Com
modore Decatur replied: “I have neve been
your enemy, sir.” No jyoposal for a recon
ciliation was snggested. The concerted words
were pronounced by Commodore- Bainbridge.
At the word “two,” both fired so exactly
together that only one report was heard.
Commodore Barron fell, wounded in the right
hip, according to the announced intention of
Decatur, who had declared that he would
hit Barron in that part of his body. Decatur
stood fora momet erect, but was obseved to
press his hand on his right side. He then
fell, the ball having passed through the ab
domen. He remarked. I“am mortally wound
ed—at least I believe so; and wish that I had
fallen in defence of my country.” x*. was
raised, and supported a short distance, where
ha sank down exhausted, near to where Com
modore Barron lay. The latter “deolsred
that every thing had been conducted in the
most honorable manner;”and told Commodore
Decatur “that he forgave him from the bot
tom of his heart.”
CommoJere Decatur was borne from the
field to the home of his afflicted family, in the
carriage which had conveyed him to the
ground. He lingered in great agony until
halt-past 10 the same night, whau he ceased
to b.esthe.
Com. Barron slowly recovered from the
effects of his wound, and was soon afeewards
placed by the Navy Depaatment on shore
Bervice., The Norfolk Herald says.—
He was in command of the Philadelphia
Navy Yard, and had the honor of receiving
Gen. Lafayette, “the Nation’s Guest,’ - wh*n
he visited that place in 1824. He was also
an invited guest, with Colonels McLane,
Huger, Fish, and other surviving officers of
the revolution, at the great fete at Yorktown,
given to General Lafayettee by the State of
Virginia, October, 19, 1824, He was next
transferred to the command of the Norfolk
station, at that interesting period when the
dry dock, aud many other important improve
ments in the Gosport Navy Yard, had just
commenced; all of which came und-ir his su
pervuion. From this station he was called to
the superintendence oi the Naval Asylum at
Philadelphia, where he eon.inued until the
wasting hand of time had indicated the neces
sity of nis retirement from active service,
when he chi se Nortolk, the home of his early
irieuds, (and among whom he had found
friends indeed,) as the place in which to pass
the remnant of his days. In social life, as in
his official station, Commodore Barron was
governed by a high sense ot honor, and bore
lumseii witti a dignity, courtesy and affabili
ty which gavi a coarm to his society; and al
though of a temperament not too breok the
sligntest indignity, was in his natuie
all the milk ol human kindness arid benevo
ience, and the prompting* of ardent friend
ships and enduring attachments, which, when
once formed were held sacred to his latest
hour. In his family circle he was ohrished
with unspeakable fondness and affection; and
the whole community, in wtuch he has been
lor so Wrge c portion of his life beloved and
esteemed, will ever honor and revere his mem
mory.
A Closet Affair. — I'he “ t'own Facts and
Fancies” man of the Pennsylvanian, is a ge
nius in his way. Tho following is one ot his
latest sketches of Life in Philadelphia, and
although of rather sombre hue, is not the less
amusing:
City Police, April 15—A Closet Affair.— Mrs.
Sophrouia Devadenger is a m i latte lady who
reals all the French novels and the Home
Journal, and *o cultivates a taste for those
Eufopean refinements in social intercourse
whicn some of our travelled gentlemen wish
to introduce into this country. Mrs. D.’s
husoand is a shade darker than herself in
complexion; he is a tobacconist by trade, and
a very worthy, industrious and unsuspicious
fellow. Mrs. D. has formed a Platonic inti
macy with a light lemon colored D’Orsay,
who calls himself E Iw. Berringcon. While
Mr. Devallenger is making segars and an hon
est living at his shop, Mrs. D., at home, is
making tea and toast tor Chevalier Beirsng
ton. But last night, Devallenger being taken
with an ominous pain in the head, came home
two hours ooner than usual, and inter, upted
a tetea tete between Midame and L Chevalier.
No lady who has read a F.ench novel can be
embarrassed in ’such a case ; a closet or cup
board is the obvious resource. The only re
cess of this kind in the apartment was a place
under the stairs, where Devallenger kept his
unseasoned tobacco, extra pots of snuff and
various tools and materials for which there
was no room in trie shop. Into this “ low
browed vault,” by Madame’s directions, the
Chevalier crept on his hands and knees, and
was snugly shut up by the adroit lady, at the
very moment Devallenger entered. The hon
est tobacconist complained of his aching head,
without assigning a cauee for it, not imagin
ing (poor fellow !) what an oppressive weight
his as frontis had to sustain. Meanwhile,
Chevalier Berrington, in the closet, was fear
ful that his breathing might be overheard ; to
prevent whicn he put ids face in a large jar,
which stood on the floor conveniently. This
jar contained snuff of a highly volatile nature;
and as soon as Berringcon drew his first
breath inside of tne vessel, a column of the
titilating dust ascended into eacc. nostril, and
produced such a tempestuous sneezing as
might have b«en mistaken for those rapidly
successive detonations which ere incident to
an explosion of saltpetre. The astounded
Devallenger looked at his wife for an explan
a ion. Mrs. D. seeing that a denouement cou;d
nbt be avoided, shrieked “ Roobers” and
“ Murder!” Devallenger seized a shovel,
threw open the cuddy door and went regular
ly to work on the carcase of the Chevalier
who 8:ill continued to sneeze in answer to
each blow, though the whacks ne received on
his rear were certainly “ nothing to be sneez
ed at.” The shovel was actually demolished
in the furious attack. Chevalier Berrington
attempted to offer no explanation or justifica
tion either to the husband or before the Mayor.
In answer to querrie* proposed by the latter,
he magnanimously exclaimed : “ Send me to
jail for a thief if you ohoose. I’d better suf
fer than sile the tepetation of the fair sex I”
He was committed accordingly.
New York Democracy —.For a long time
past the forlorn hope of the So ithern Democ
racy in their New York allies was reposed .n
the Old Hunkers, whose headquarters was
Tammany Hall. In fact, that hall was regard
ed as the very Mecca of the pure Democratic
f ith; but it too has at last fallen into the
hands or the Free-soilers—and as Silver Grays
succumbed before Sewardism in the Whig
party, so now the Hunkers are routed from
their last stronghold by the Van Burenites.
The black flag waves over the capitol at Al
bany, and over old Tammany Hall. The only
choice offered by the two parties, is a choice
between Sewardism and Van Burenism. Here
is a brief account of the final route at Tam
many Hall:
Election of Sachems.— After a very warm
ly contested struggle, the Barnburners have
succeeded in defeating the O d Hunkers, and
getting possession of Tam oany Hall, this is
what they have been aiming at for years, and
they have succeeded at last, so that John Van
f Buren can go into the wigwarm once more,
i In the election ot Sachems, on Monday night,
they elected their whole ticket, with the ex
ception of one candidate.
The Barnburner ticket beat the Hunker al
most two to one. So much for the “sournd
neS'S” of the New York Democracy, at beau
qurters.— Southern Press.
TM CONSfITUfMALISfi
2tagttota, Georgia.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 2
Southern Rights Meeting.
The members of the Southern Rights
Party of Richmond County, are request
ed to meet at the CITY HALL, in the
city of Augusta , on TUESDAY, 6th of
MAY, at 4 o'clock, P. M., to appoint
Delegates to the Convention to nominate a
Candidate for Governor at the ensuing
election.
Democratic Southern Rights Convention*
The day generally agreed upon is Wednes
day, the 28th of May, for the meeting of this
Convention.
Oratorio at the Baptist Church.
The Grand Oratofio to-night, at the Baptist
Church will be no ordinary affair. Muoh mu
sical taste and accomplishment are enlisted in
tho enterprize—the very best in fact our com
munity affords—and we do not doubt that the
result will be a finished affaij. The Conduc
tor, Mr Shrival, is an accomplished and expe
rienced musician, well known in musical cir
cles, and as a tenor singer, we think he is en
titled to a very high rank in the musical world.
In richness of voice, and taste, and beauty of
style, his.singing is not easily surpassed. He
i 9 assisted by many ladies and gentlemen of
this city, amateurs in music, who will, we feel
sure, achieve on this interesting occasion a
triumph for our city.
It is not often our community have the pri
vilege of hearing sacred music so effectively
rendered. An Oratorio is a rare entertain
ment, and the one now offered is got up
in a style worthy the attendance of the lovers
of fine music. The piece? are from the best
masters, and have been rehearsed carefully for
weeks.
Tne tickets are one dollar each —the pro
ceeds to go to the benefit of the Baptist Church,
which is in want of funds, ani takes this
ta9telul mode of appealing to the pub ic libe
rality. Those who attend will spend a de
lightful evening, and come away with the
pleasing consciousness of having bestowed
their money usefully.
Shad and Pompano.
The epicures of New-Orieans, are at this
time, enjoying the privilege ot testing the
respective merits of these delightiul fish,
The Delta awards the palm to the Mississippi
Shad over the Northern, but thus eloquently
exit Is the Pompano as the fish of fish:
“We have no hesitation in declaring that
the Mississippi shad i* fully equal, it' not su
perior, to tktt of the Northern rivers. Wren
asked by the sceptics, who have not been for
tunate enough to taste of this fish, h;w it
got into the Mississippi, we return the same
answer that the chap did who was aske how
Che Elks got throu ;h the woods, with their
high horns —‘that is their business.’ But
that the real simon pure fi-sh is here, and that
he may be caught at the Gardanne Crevasse
any day you try, is a point apon which we
are as positive as we ever were of any fact in
our lives. Setting aside shad —though they
are difficult to set aside, when well cooked —
we come to speak of pompanos, which, in
fact, compared with shad, are as Hyperion to
Satyr. Our Northern triends come out
arid brag considerably of their fine fish, until
they try pompano. But when they have once
tasted of this delicious article, they give in
incontinently, and swear most lustly that
they’ll never say shad, halibut, fresh cod, or
any thing else in the icthlogical line again.
No fish has yet been d l ™ l . r ed to compare
with the pompano. It combines all the good
qualities of all other fish, without any of
their bad qualities, it is fat, juicy, and deli
cious, like the shad, without any of the shad's
boniness. It is firm, like the trout or salmon,
without their dryness and hardness. It al
ways manages to keep decently fat, never
• o’erstepping the modesty of nature,’ but al
ways preserving an admirable consistency,
and even modeling its graceful figure so as to
adapt it to the prevailing fashion of dish s,
which it generally makes out to fit precisely.
The pompano, too, is a democratic fish ; it
does not keep particular parts for a select few,
and leave the mass to satisfy their plebian
taste on coarser par s. Every part of it is
equally good, jucy, and nutritious. Even
the bones, wnich in other fish, are generally
eschewed, are not only edible, but are, in fact,
the depositaries of his choicest flavors.”
Senatorial Elections—Blank Ballots-
The Savannah Georgian thus calls attention
to the circumstances under which Sumner
has been declared elected Senator by the Mas
sachusetts Legislature. If he has been duly
elected, and the Senate should so decide in
case his seat is contested, then Mr. Yulee is
entitled to a seat as Senator from Florida :
“ Massachusetts Election— Blank Ballots
not Counted.— At the 26th and last ballot fur
Senator in the Massachusetts Legislature, the
vote was as follows: whole number of mem
bers voting 368—0 f whom 193 voted for Sum
ner, 166 for VVinthrop, 2o for divers other in
dividuals, and two voted blank ballots. Mr.
Sumner, therefore, thougn declared elected
upon the announcement of the vote, and
without objection by his opponents, in reality
did not reieive a majority, but only one-half
of the votes cast. He will then take his seat
in the Sena e under precisely the same state
ot circumstances, as to material f tets, upon
which Mr. Yulee proposes to contest Mr.
Mallory’s claim to the office to wt;ca the last
Legislature of Florida declared the latter
elected. In the Florida election the first bal
lot showed twenty nine votes for Mr. Yulee,
and twenty-nine blanks. According to the
ru d n g» bo h in Massachusetts and Rhod
Island, (in the case of Mr. James.) Mr. Yulee
should have be-?n thereupon declare! elected,
which not having been done, Mr. Mallory
subsequently received a majority of the who e
number of members of toe Legislature, rnd
got the certificate of election.”
Quick Time.— The last trip of the Florida,
miuie in sixiy-three hours from Savannah to
New York, and in the same time tr->m New
York back to Savannah, tends to establish a
still higher character for th noble ship and
her vtry skilful Captain.— Savannah Georgian,
30(A ult.
’ Melancholy Suicide.— The Philadephia
papers, a day or two since recorded the fact
of a young woman, belonging to a respectable
family there, leaving her home, and going to
New York in company with a person who
had been paying his addresses to her. Her
father traced her to a house of ill fame in that
city, and conveyed her back to Philadelphia.
This was on Monday of last week. The pa
pers of Friday states the unfortunate victim
committed suicide on Thursday night by
swallowing a dose o' laudnum.
President’s Proclamotion.
It would set-m from this document that it is
■ monstrous crime n the eyes of our Repub
lican President, to aid an oppressed people in
throwing off the yoke of despotism. And as
for the Cuban patriots, whom t\r*nny has
driven from their country into thi» iof li
berty, and who now wish to carry back to
their old homes the blessings which they have
here tasted,—no words are too insulting to
apply to them. This proclamation strikes us
as the most astonishing document waich we
have ever seen from an American functionary.
In perusing it, we seem to be reading a mani
ifesto from the court of Austria or Russia. We
object not to the enforcement of the laws of the
land and of nations. Let it be done by all
means. But when it is remembered that the
Cubans are now ground down by one of the
most oppressively burthensome governments
in existence, —a government in comparison
with which, that which our Revolutionary
fathers threw off, was an inestimable blessing,
—every one must be shocked at the u:<faring
cruelty of language, in which the Cuban pat
riots are denounced.
How different are the feelings manifested by
the administration towards the exiles of Cuba,
and towards those of Hungary ! And why >
Is the government of Spam less burthenaome
than that of Austria ? No one believes it.—
The difference lies here : Cuba is a slave Is
land ; and when independent wiil add another
to the slave States of the South. That it is,
that chills the sympathy which a Republican
President otherwise would feel for a neigh
boring people panting for liberty. That it is,
that hushes in sileme those Northern presses
which a short time since, were filled with
words of encouragement to the Hungarians.—
We object not to the issuing of a proclama
tion by the President. We say not a word
against the most vigorous enforcement of our
laws. But we do say that the term-- in which
this message are couched, must shock the feel
ings of every friend of republicanism who
reads it.— Savannah Georgian.
Sumner’* Election. —The Commonwealth,
Free-Soil orgm, in commenting oat the suc
cess of the coalition in getting Charles Sum
ner into the Senate, has this significant p .8-
sag s :
“ Ihis is one cf a series of victories which
will make this indestructible Union the pride
md joy of the world. It will raise the droop
ing hopes ot the slave, and of ;he slaveless
■*hite men of the South. It will give courage
to the thousands of true men at the S >uth,
who, like Cassius VI, Clay, are longing to
throw off the chain of the slaveholders. It
will electrify the freemen of the North It will
seal the death warrant of the Fugitive Slave
Law /’ ’
Mechanics Meet ng>
At a large and resp-icwame meutiug of the
Mechanics, held at the City Hall, in this city,
on Wednesday evening, the 30tn A mi, Ga
rsy F. Parish was called to the Onair, and
David Wood, appointed Secretary.
After the objects of the meeting were ex
plained,
Wm. H. Pritchard offered the following
Preamble ami Resolutions for the considera
tion of the meeting, which were read and
unanimously adopted :
Believing that the meeting of th 9 Me
chanics at Atlanta, on the 4th of July next,
is for the legitimate purpose of endeavoring
to elevate the character of mechan cal em
ployments in Georgia, by an interchange of
opinions with Mechanics from different por
tions of the State, upon the beat means cal
culated to effect these ends,
Be it resolved , That every white Mechanic
in Richmond county, whose business and in
clination will permit his attendance, be re
quested to serve as a delegate to the meeting
at Atlanta.
Resolved, That Mechanics,generally,through
out the State, be invited to attend at Atlanta
on that occasion.
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting
are due to the Editor of the American Me
chanic, at Athens, for the zeal and ability
with which he has advocated the rights and
interests of the Mechanics; and likewise due
to many other -publishers in the State, who
have, in the kindest and most liberal manner,
given publicity to the call for the meeting n
Atlanta, and for the favorable interest which
many of them have uiani ested m behalf of
the Mechanics.
Resolved , That the Chairman appoint a
Committee of Five, to eo-operate wiih the
Committee of Arrangements, at Atlanta, and
to act as a Committee of Correspondence with
the Mechanics and Mechanics’ Societies of
the State.
Whereupon, the Chairman appointed the
following gentlemen : Wm. H. Pritchard,
John Reynolds, Alex. Philip, H. B. Frazer,
John W. Walker.
Resolved, further, That as the first move in
response to the call for the meeting in Atlan
ta, was made by the Mechanics’ Society of
Macon, it is the desire of this meeting that
that Society shall ba'e the appointment of an
Orator for the Mechanics’ Convention at At
lanta.
Resolved, That copies of the proceedings
cf this meeting be furnished to the city pa
pers, and American Mechanic, for publi a lion,
and that the papers of the State, generally,
be requested to notice or copy them.
G. F. PARISH, Chairman.
David Wood, Secretary.
Lucky Law Firms.— -Fillmore, Hall & Ha
ven is the titie of a law firm which lately
practiced in the city of Baltimore. Fillmore
.s now President of the United States. Hall
is the Postmaster General, and Haven repre
sents the die riet in Congress.
Giddings, Wade & Rauney ?s the name of
a late law firm at Ashtabula, Ohio. Giddings
is a member of Congress, Wade has been
elected Senator in Congress, end Ranney is
juat elected a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Seven Fugitive Slaves, says the N. H.
Statesman, passed through Concord on Tues
day for Cauada. It adds that it is a common
occurrence.