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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.T
JAMES GA R DNER, J R.
** T EK3IS.
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and Letters of business.
[ From the N. O. Picayune .]
LATER FROM THE ARMY.
ARRIVAL OF THE ALABAMA.
Anticipated Movements of Gen. Tay
lor — Loss of the Steamer Sea—
Gales at the Brazos—Further from
Gen. Wool—Latest from Monterey
and Saltillo—Reported Capture of 1
a Wagon Train bv Canales, &c.,
«sec,
By the arrival last evening of ihestearn- i
fillip Alabama, ('apt. Wimile, we have
dates from Brazos Santiago to the 11th
inst., and from Monterey up to the first
of the month. Below \vil 1 hefound seve- j
ra! letters from Mr. Lamsden, one of the
editors of tin's paper, who is now on his j
wav to join the army at Tampico- The
news is highly interesting as regards the I
present position of the forces in Mexico
and particularly so as indicating the fu
ture movements of the army. The drift
of the intelligence points to a crisis of
bloody import.
Among the passengers by the Alabama
we notice the names of Cols. Mitchell
and Baker. Majors Denny, Gaines and
Jones, Capts. Freeman, Berry, Fenner,
Marshall and Elkin, Lieut. Potter. Anns
frong, Humphrey, Merritt, Wilson, Ma
lone, Mcßunnells, Allen Poe and Curtis,
and Drs. Cabanis, Potter, Wells and Scott.
We notice tl»e names also of Messrs. Coz- 1
zens. Hall, Leare, Jenkins, H. vValley,
A. Wilson, P. Bible, Sneade, and Jno. '
Lane, besides 256 sick and discharged
soldiers. Col. Mitchell, and Lieuts. Pol
ler, and Armstrong, are among those who
were badlv wounded a! Monercy.
The editor of the Flag has been assure !
that a Mexican had given information on
board the steamer Troy, on her lust down
ward trip from Camargo, that the two al
caldes of Reynosa bad now in their po- ;
ssession two trunks and other valuables |
lielonging to the Rogers family, murder,
ed on the Colorado last spring. All the
arrticles taken from the murdered party i
can he found, it is said, in the neighbor
hood ot Reynosa. A division of the spoils
caused dissatisfaction, and induced dis- ;
closures to be made.
The Flag mentions that Theodore Mur
phy, a private of Capt. Caswell s com
pany of the 'Tennessee cavalry, Was
drowned in the Rio Grande opposite Fort
Paredes on the Ist inst. His hat was blown I
offby the wind and carried into the river,
and to regain it he plunged into the stream
having a heavy sword suspended to hrs
side, and a considerable weight of silver ■
in his pockets, just received at the Pay
Department. Althoughl said to be an
expert swimmer, he was carried under
by the weight about his person. His body
.has not been recovered.
l Editorial Correspondence of the Picayune ]
Brazos Santiago, Dec. 6, 1846.
Here I am once more in Texas. 'The
Alabama arrived safely off ihe bar at this
place on the evening of the 4th, and yes- j
uerday morning I came on shore, and am
‘•doing as well as could he expected.”—
Our passage was entirely safe, though
juot the most agreeable I ever made. On
it he morning of the 2d inst. after all hands !
had taken a hearty breakfast, we came
<£>iit over the bar at the South West I*3BB j
of die Mississippi, and it was not long be
/ore there was a general epidemic on
board. For my part, although I was
thorn in live sweet month of of May, the
2d of December was my berth day! No
■doubt you will think this a very bad pun;
■but I thinkiit requires a bad pun to be a
good one. Please excuse the bull.
Now for what little army news I have
fceeu able to gather, It was my good
fortune to meet this morning an old friend
t.i a gentleman direct from Monterey, 1
who gave me the data lor what follows, j
My informant left Monterey on the 27ih
of November. Gen. Taylor had return
ed from Saltillo, and expressed himself
pleased with the appearance of the city,
which was quiet possession of the troops
under Gen. Worth. Saltillo is about
sixty-five miles from Monterey and has
an elevation of some 2,609 feet above the
hatter place. The cold, in consequence, is
frequently quite intense. Gen. lay lor !
saw ice while he was there. The most
delicious fruits are said to abound in Sal
tillo. No demonstration against General
Worth had been made by the enemy, al- •
though o-nlv at the distance ot twenty
-miles from him. His scouts had disco v
ed about 3,000 Mexican cavalry, said to
have been sent from San Luis Potosi for
the purpose ofgrazing their horses.
Oen. Wool had been ordered by Gen.
Taylor to occupy forthwith the town ot
Pa rras, a small but beautiful place seven- J
ty miles northeast of Saltillo. General
Wool would have no opposition at Parras,
as the inhabitants were prepared to re
ceive him peaceably. His troops are
represented to be in the finest health and
dweiptioe.
The -ultimate plans of Genet al Taylor
had not of course been fully developed,
but sufficient was known to render it
quite certain that something like the fol
lowin'* outline was to be adhered to. He
had received intelligence from the Gov
eminent of the call for additional troops.
He would therefore occupy all the posts,
.owns, &0., either immediately or re
motet V. o" the line of operations to Tam
.loo Lieut. Col. Riley now occupies
Alou* Morales with the 2.1 Regiment 0 i
Len, Taylor would him
selflake up his line ot march for Victo
ria, where, rumor has it, Santa Anna has
10,000 choice troops. This city is indis- ■
pehsably necessary to Gen. 'Taylor, in
order that he may secure his lines of corn. !
municalion in an attack upon San Litis !
Potosi. Santa Anna knows its impor.
tance, and will no doubt resist its pos»es- !
sion by our troops. But I shall not spec- |
ulate. Gen. Taylor intended to march,
as soon as provisions could be hastened
up—which would probably be by the J
10th December—with the 3d,4fh and 7th 1
Infantry, the Dragoons under Col. Har
ney, wli6 had a* rived at Monterey,Bragg’s
battery, and two regiments of volunteers,
which hitter had not been designated.—
It would >eem that Gen; Taylor himself
attached some importance to the rumor
of Santa Anna’s 10,000 troops, as he
heads in person the expedition against
Victoria, After taking this point, which )
he most assuredly will do, it is thought
he will make no lurther demonstration
until the desired reinforcements reach
him from Tampico.
Should Gen. Butler’s health admit of
it, he will he left at Monterey in com- I
mand; otherwise Col. Smith, of the Riffes, |
will he detained for that purpose. Gen. i
Butler’s wound was not improving; in- '
deed it is said to be getting worse. 'The
air of Monterey is considered unfavorable j
to wounded invalids, and the surgeons I
have advised that all such should leave J
the coiintrv if practicable.
'The Mexicans finding that they can
not successfully fight ‘‘Uncle Sam’s boys'’ ;
either in the open field or behind en- !
trenched works, have resorted to the in. |
sidious means of seducing our men to de- ,
sort by offers of templing bounty and
high promotion, and it is to he regretted
that in 100 manv instances their villainous ;
schemes have succeeded ihe Alcalde’s
sou was arrested a few days since and
imprisoned, having been detected in car- j
ry mg on this species of icwr and remains j
a prisoner still. When the Alcalde, who
has been treated with all kindness and
consideration by Gen. Taylor, heard of !
his son’s imprisonment, he remonstrated
with the General against his further de
tention. The old hero “billed over” it) a
moment, and “let out” upon the alcalde {
in hot style. He told him, in no measured
phraseology, that he was well convinced
of his son’s guilt, and not entirely free
from suspicions of his worthy self; and j
that if he did not at once assist in resto
ring those who had been seduced to de
sert, he would hang his son and himself
100. as high as Raman was hung! A de
serter, who fought against us at Monte
rey as an officer, had been seen in the
city, a tool afSanta Anna. His name is
Riley , and deserted frbm the sth Infan
try before the battles. We have already
made mention of this fellow.]
It is said, and on good authority, that
Santa Anna fearing the Congress about
to assemble at Mexico would not tarry j
out hrs measured,or fully sustain him,had !
detached and marched to lire capital 7090 J
men, under the pretence of putting down ;
another outbreak of the populace, being ;
well aware that Gen, 'Taylor cannot at
tack him in his strongholds al San Louis
for some two months or more. Santa
Anna, it is no news to say. is a most wiley
foe, and in respect to knowingthe position
of affairs has the advantage, from natural
causes, of Gen. Taylor, and he is deter
mined to resist. It is now conceded, by
the officers of our army generally, that
the Mexicans will fight. San Lnis Potosi
is in a strong state of defence, and is daily
being strengthened still more, and it may
be that the battles of Palto Alto and
R. s «ca, and those of Monterey, were but
specimens of what may occur before San
Luis. Officers believe that a harder fight j
; than any one yet is before them. San ;
Luis Potosi is one of the richest cities in j
all Mexico, being directly in the mining
j districts, and you may depend upon it the
I Mexicans will make the big stand there.
| One thing, however, is certain: old‘-Rough j
1 and Ready” is not going to bo caught j
; again deficient in any thing—either in j
men, munitions or besieging cannon. Nor
will he he again caught by “white flags’ I
i or treacherous parleys. You may deceive
him once, but twice, nevei! But more of
1 this hereafter. My letter is already too
long, and I fear has but lilile to interest
i you.
In closing I will add that Maj. Gen*
Patterson had left Camargo with the Ala
bama and Illinois regiments, and was
I conveying these troops down to the mouth
of the Rio Grande, intending to go to
Tampico by water. Having duly report
j ed his intentions to the commanding gen- j
eral, an express was despatched and ar
rived in time, ordering Gen Patterson to
goto Tampico by land. Gen. P, and |
i st aIT have arrive at Matarnoros.
Brazos Santiago, Dec. 10, 1846.
Owing to prevailing contrary winds,
lam still detained at this place. The
Alabama and the McKim are not yet dis- ;
charged, nothing being able to go along- j
side of either. The McKim arrived off ,
the bar on Sunday last, five days ago.
The steamboat Sea is a perfect wreck,
as I supposed she would be. The Bra
zos bar is a most dangerous place for
vessels, and it is to be regretted, that so
important a post as this Island is to the
Army should be so difficult and dartger
ous of access. There is a great number
of vessels now inside the bar not yet dis
charged. Some of them have been de
tained from sixty to seventy days on de
murrage. The war is costing “Uncle
Sam” a large amount of money in this
wav, besides the hundreds of other ex
penses. Bui I suppose there is no way
to avoid it.
Gen. Shields, who is ordered to take
command ot Tampico, is here, waiting
an opportunity to embark. Some four
hundred of the xMabama troops will leave
here fhr Tampico by water; the remain
der.of thje regiment will go by land.
Gen. Pillow goes hack from this place
to take command in Gen. Patterson’s col
umn, w'hioh marches for Victoria. Gen.
Pillow was on his way home,as I informed *
you’in a previous letter; hut owing to let- !
ters received from above, developing j
something of the future operations of the !
Army, as well as letters from home ren
dering it unnecessary for him to return,
he goes back to his command. llis
health, too, is greatly improved. 1
Yours, &C. F. A . L.
Brazos Santiago,
A rumor which needs confirmation, .
but which was believed generally, how.
ever, reached this place three days ago,
stating that sixty Government wagons, I
", . . O 1 J
with provisions, specie, &c , for our army, |
had been captured by Canales somewhere 1
between Camurgo and Mier.. No partic
ulars staled. Whether this he true or
not-1 understand it is not improbable, as i
the incautious and unguarded way in j
which tiie trains 100 often move would ;
render their capture no difficult thing.— !
Canales is a cut-throat plunderer, bug! our
peoj le know it, and if they give him op
portunities, thev deserve to meet with
losses.
From %vhat I see and hear in certain j
quarters, I am more and more inclined to
believe that Santa Anna intends to bar
rass Gen, Taylor, and that a stand will
he made against him that will require
fighting, and not long first. Adieu.
Yours, &c. F. A. L.
TWmMINTU CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
_ j
[Correspondence of the Charleston Eveirinp News.]
Washington, Dec. 15th, 1846.
In the Senate this morning, after the I
, , , . 1 . !
reception ot some Executive communi
cations, Mr. Semple introduced a bill to
extend the Cumberland Road.—lt was
referred to the Committee on Roads and
Canals, fie also introduced a bill to grant
certain lands to Illinois.
Mr. Calhoun presented a petition from
the Chamber of Commerce of Charleston,
asking for a new Custom llouso. It was
referred.
At this stage, the Clerk of the House
appeared with a message from the House,
announcing the death of Mr. McConnell.
Mr. Dixon li. Lewis performed the
sad task of sketching the life of the de
ceased, after which the usual resolutions
were adopted, and the Senate adjourned |
till to morrow,
in the House a resolution was offered
by Mr. Graham, instructing the Military
Committee to inquire into the expediency j
of increasing the pay of the Army, and
granting bounty lands in certain cases.
Notice being given of debate, the resolu- |
tion lies over foroneday. Mr. Petit, of ;
Indiana, says he intends to oppose eny
: resolutions of the kind, on thegroi.n 'that ;
1 Congress possesses no Constitutional pow- j
er to grant lands in such cases.
< o
The next business was the consideration I
of the resolution heretofore offered by Mr.
G. Davis, calling on Hie President for
detailed information relative to the orders
i he has given to our commanders in Mexi
i co, whether in prosecuting the
| war is conquest or not, etc
j•. Mr. Hopkins animadverted with con.
siderable severity upon the resolution in, j
its amended form.— He agued that the j
President can have no personal interest ■
I in this matter, and that as the mere organ i
; of the Government, it is not right to call |
upon him to lay open to the press, and of 1
course to the enemy, the plan of the cam
paign. After further remarks, he moved j
i to amend by substituting the resolution as j
: it originally stood. His motion was finally |
| agreed to, and the resolution was adopted
in the following form:
Resolved , That the President be re
quested to communicate to ibis House,
i any and all orders or instructions to Gen
eral Wool, General Kearney, Captain
i Slout, Captain Stockton, or any other
; officer of the Government, in any portion ;
I of the Territory of Mexico, which has or
might be taken possession of by the Army
: or Navy of the United States. Also, w hat
form ot government sucli officers, or either
of them,may have established and organ
ized; and whether the President has ap
proved and recognized said government.
It is understood tlml the President will
communicate his/answer in tho coursa of
the present week, the greater portion of it
being already prepared in anticipation.
After the reception of some petitions,
the House went into Committee of the
Whole for the purpose of referring the
President’s Message to appropriate Com
j mittees.
Mr. Giddings succeeded in getting the
i floor. He denounced the war with Mex
ico as an unjust and murderous war, in
suppoit of which he would not vote a sin
gle dollar. He said he would appeal to
the people to justify him in his denuncia
j lion.
; Mr. Payne replied and made a vigor.
I ous defence of the course of the admin
j istration in regard to the‘war. He next
j referred to the attack of the opposition
upon the message, and said he stood pre
pared to vindicate every doctrine of that
document. Me also appealed to the peo- v
pie as to whether they will suffer the A
j mericau soil to .be invaded from any
1 quarter.
Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, followed
on the same side. He said be supposed
! from the course taken by Mr. Giddin-gs,
!■ that the latter belonged to the denomina
tion of “Friends,” <eommonly called
I Quakers, for they opposed all wars as
| unjust.
Mr. Giddings sprang from his seat to
■ disclaim being a Quaker, but Mr. John
! sou said he would allow no iulerrup
-1 lion.
Mr. Giddings said the gentleman ought
not to misrepresenfhim then.
Mr. Johnson said that whether the
member was a Quaker or not, his argu
ment was the same as used by that body
|of people. He then proceeded to show
I the state of things which would ensue,
; if the whole community were advocates
of the Quaker doctrine. In his opinion
no nation could long exist under such j
circumstances. He next defended the j
President, and enumerated all the insults j
j and outrages committed by Mexico, for
! the purpose of showing that we could not
: with honor remain quiescent any longer.
The remainder at his speech was devot
i ed to a sarcastic notice ot the opposition !
of the Massachusetts delegation to the
i war. He said it was but a second edi
; tion of tlie last war, and exhorted them to
| act differently.
Mr. Gentry next obtained the floor, but ;
the hour being late, on iiis motion the
I Committee rose.
Mr. Pillsbury gave notice of a bill
j providing for the erection of lighthouses.
Mr. Hopkins moved the usual resolu- I
! tion for (he election of Chaplain in the
two Houses
i
Mr. Pettit, of Indiana, made a speech, 1
in which he denied the constitutional
i power of Congress to appropriate money |
j for any such purpose, but rather than
there should be no Chaplain he offered to
| give twice as much as any other member
would, nut of his own pocket, towards
I paying the salary.
After a very amusing display of ora
tory directed against the numerous sects
of Christians, he moved to amend the res
olution so as to conform to his views.— I
The amendment was rejected by an al
i most unanimous vote, and die resolution
of Mr. Hopkins adopted.
Some important matters having been
; disposed of, the House adjourned.
[Correspondence of the Baltimore American .]
\\ asmi.vgton. Dor. 16, 1846.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
Mr. Simmons appeared in his seal to- ;
day.
The Vice President laid before the
Senate a communication from the Ttva- j
snry Department, in answer to a resolu- (
tion of the Senate upon the subject of
Marine Hospitals, which was laid on the
table and ordered to be.printed.
A large number of petitions were pre- ;
sented and referred.
Mr Ashley, on leave, introduced a bill
to establish a permanent generaljpic erup
tion system, in favor of actual setlleis
upon the public lands.
Mr. JBree.se, on leave, introduced a bill
to reduce and graduate the price ot the
° *
public lands.
On motion of M r. Turner, the Commit
tee on Military affairs was instructed to
inquire into the expediency of allowing
l the volunteers discharged in Mexico, in
consequence of sickness, their pay for the .
full term of iheir enlistment.
Mr. Dix gave notice of his intention to j
j introduce a bill to provide for the estab- ■
i lishment of a branch mint at New York.
Mr. Speight gave notice of a bill to pro- |
vide for the establishment of a branch
mint Charleston, SC.
Mr. Crittenden introduced a bill to pro j
I vide improvement of (he Western j
rivers.
Mr. Sevier moved to take up the Pre
■ sident’s Message for the purpose of refer- j
\ ence to the appropriate Committees,
i The various portions relating to our ‘
i Foreign Relations, Finance, Military and
I Naval Affairs, Post Office, Commerce,
| Manufactures and Public Lauds were j
1 referred to their respective Committees, j
That part of the Message relating to
i the organization of tentorial governments ;
! in the provinces of Mexico taken posses- \
sion of by the arms of the U S. was refer
red,.on motion of Mr. Westcolt, to the
Cornmilte oil Territories.
The resolution heretofore submitted by
Mr. Semple, calling upon the President
to inform the Senate what measures have
been taken for the transmission of letters
to and from the volunteers in Mexico,
I came up in order, and after being amen-
I ded on motion of Mr. Evans, so as to em-
I brace the regulars also, w'as adopted.
The resolution heretofore submitted
| by Mr. Benton, directed the Committee
; of Military Affairs to inquire into the ex
| pediency of allowing three months extra
I pay to all officers and soldiers, regulars
and volunteers, serving in the war with
Mexico, anil also of placing them upon
the same footing as the Navy, with res
pect to pensions and prize money, was
taken up and adopted-
Tho Secretary then read that part of
the message referring to the conquered
| provinces and tho means taken for their
! government.
Mr. Westcolt, said he entirely concur i>
: ed with the course the Government had
thought proper to pursue in establishing
governments in California and in New
Mexico. It w’as the exercise of a right
which the Presiient had under the laws
J of Nations, as Commander in Chief of the
■ Army and Navy. He was averse, how
ever, to the.continuance of this high pow
er any longer’tiian was absolutely neces
sary for the legislative power to come in
and lake charge of the matter. He thought
the Committee on Territories was the ap
propriate Com mil lee to refer to.
Mr. Benton said that after ike message
had been read and the Senator Dorn t lor
ida found there was no such thing in it,
as his motion supposed, he hoped that he
i would withdraw it,
Mr. Westcolt declined to withdraw his
| motion.- * .
Mr. Benton then contended that the
wording of the motion would give a false
i impression asto the recommendation of the
President, as it would lead to the belief
that he recommended the formation of
territorial governments and permanent
annexation of the conquered province to
.
the United States, whereas he recommen- j
ded no such thing.
After a somew hat protracted debate, in
which Messrs. Benton and Wescolt took j
the most prominent part.
The motion prevailed—23 to 22.
The Senate tiien proceeded to the election
of Chaplain,and on the second ballot Ihe Key.
Henry Slicer was elected—receiving 24 votes
out of 40.
i After a short Executive session, tho Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Petitions.
Mr. Seaman of J\. Y. gave notice of s bill
providing for the payment of FrenchSpoliati- j
mis committed prior to 1800 The notice
I w T as entered.
TARIFF OF 1846 AND TEA AND COFFEE
Mr. Pollock of Pa. asked leave to offer a
Resolution instructing the Committee of
Ways and Means, instead of bringing in a
bill to tax Teajjand Coffee,to propose a bill to
repeal the Tariff of 1876.
Objections were made to the Resolution,
I when
Mr, Pollock moved to suspend the Rules,
and called for the yeas and nays.
The vole was; yeas .74, nays 110.
Mr. Boyd of Kv, moved that the House go
into Committee of the Whole upon the Slate
of the Union.
Mr. Boyd took the Chair, and the debate
| proceeded at once where it closed last even
j ing.
Air. Gentry of Term, made a spirited ener
-1 gene and eloquent speech, warmly denun- !
ciatory of the President of the U. States, and i
of the subserviency of those who defended J
iiis exireme measures.
The President had descended from his high I
station to charge a sort of treason upon every
man who should dare to canvass the conduct
of the President of the U. States. The free
dom of debate was a privilege inestimable to
; freemen and formidable only to tyrants, It
j was grossly interfered with, or attempted to
; he interfered with by the President ot the
United Stales, and for one he w as ready here
to denounce such interference.
The doctrine of the President was that of \
| a despot, and as such he denounced it. He I
t was i petty usurper, who came into power>|
without the consent of the distinguished men i
of his ow’n party, and without the vote of ihe !
| majority of the American people; and yet j
I this man ventured to say who should speak, {
| what they should speak, and to charge all j
who should not think with him and ad with
| him as guilty of giving “aid and comfort to !
■ the enemy.”
Mr. Gentry took the ground that the Presi
dent made ihe war, began the war, was
responsible for, the war, and as such was I
' guilty of the conduct of a usurper.— More 1
J than this, lie wa» both a demague and a usur
per. He should not controvert the position
that the Government of Mexico had done !
that which was worthy of w f ar. He knew
; not that he would not have voted for war
against Mex co had it been recommended by
Ihe President and been presented to Congress
in a Constitutional form. Bui what he de
nounced was the President’s war, and the
petty usurper who held his seal of office at
the White House.
Mr. G. entered into a brief examination
of tha proclamations of Kearney and
Stockton; and of the right to the territory
' upon the left bank of the Rio Grande.—
These were all usurpative acts.
Mr. Kennedy regaided Hr. Gentry’s
! speech as treasonable.
i Mr. G, said if to defend the Constitution |
J ofihe United Stales from the usurpations j
of the Executive, and to denounce the
Executive as a usurper was “giving aid i
i and comfort to tiie enemy,” then he was j
{ giving that aid, but not otherwise.
Mr, K ennedy went on to denounce
those who denounced the war, and for
1 7 f
one to think the President for the manner
| in which he had prosecuted the war.—
The moral and religious people who op
posed this war, because they opposed all 1
; war, were responsible f#r this war before
| God and man. As for the Executive he ;
1 was abundantly able to defend himself
; and to repel all the blows aimed al him.
i He would indeed put him against tbewhole
opposition, regarding him as equal to the
whole of them.
Mr. Hudson of Mass, continued tiie
i debate in a speech that went into a candid
examination of the view of the Executive
| and in particular of the declaration that
war was not his act, and that he had used
all honorable means for securing peace.
Mr. H. controverted all these positions,
acd argued all the material questions and
issues both as connected with the war and
j the claims of American citizens for in
| deminily upon the Government of
co, He stated all the positions of the Pre
sident fairly in reference to this war,ami
answered them conclusively.
The speech, as an argument, was the
ablest of the debate. Mr H. had not
finished at the expiration of his hour.
The floor was given to Mr. Jones, of
Ga., upon whose motion the House ad
journed.
[Corresoowlence of the Baltimore Sun.]
Washington, Dec. 17, 1846.
The debate in the House has fairly com
menced, and it is not difficult to savin wnat
it will eventuate. The President’s course in
regard to the war will be triumphantly vin
dicated by large majorities, but the support
; given to the administration seems to be one
| solely on principle, and to wear as little as
possible a personal character. It is not the
President, or the administration who are de.
j fended, but their measures merely; and this
i is, perhaps,bestowing a still higher encomium
1 on their act. ft seems as if the members of
I the Democratic party in both Houses., were
: not disposed to shield the administration, but
Lsimply to defend themselves against the on
| slaught of the opposition.
The war will be pretty generally opposed
by the Whigs, which will allow the Demo
■ crati-c parly to present a new/ issue to (he
! people. This is precisely what it courts,
and, for tins reason, it is willing that the de
f bate on the message, in committee of the
whole, shall last at least a week. It was
well commenced to-day by Mr. Gentry, of
Teunessee, and well replied toby Mr. Ken
nedy, the talented blacksmith of Indiana.—
The more the administration is attacked in
that quarter, the stronger it will prove. The
very abuse ot the opposition will make it
strong, and force Democratic members into
its support.
The debate between Mr. Westcolt and
M __ tmmmm -
Cuf. Bruton in the Semite, whether that pari
1 of the um?«wge which refers to the conquer
ed territory of California and New Mexico,
should he referred to the committee on unili-
Ury affairs or on territories, was pretty
lively; hut fit last decided in favor of the mil
-1 itary. It is difficult to see how it could be
i otherwise; it being evident that we only hold
military pfw&f*#- ion wf ih'it territory,and that
all the rights we exercise there arise solely
i from that occupation.
The report of the Secretary of Slate on
the Consular Hill, is a highly interesting and
statesmanlike paper, although Mr. Buchanan
claims t e indulgence of the committee for
the hasty manner in which it has been pre-
J pared. It is to be hoped that the Senate
| and House will first enable him to organize
| the State Department as lie suggested to
i Congress, and then call on him l» draw up
the bill and present it at the na.xt session
; There will be no time to act upon it during
this, especially as, in case of its being car
ried, between 80 and 90,000 dollars would
I have to be appropriated lor salaries of Con
suls. Congress during the present session,
; wiil only do the business which cannot very
well be delayed. The session will not com
mence regularly before the 3d or 4ih Janua
ry, and they will have but eight weeks in ail
I to work in, four of which will assuredly be
consumed in talking and organizing fur the
next Presidency.
Orders were sent last evening fur
an additional Regiment from Pennsvlva.
i nia, the Slate which seems lo have come
> forward most nobly in support of the war.
| So many companies have offered, that
Gov. Shunk will have no difficulty in
' complying instantly, will the request. —
Many of the most distinguished gentle
men of Pniladelpha—distinguished for
wealth, standing and accomplishment—
have volunteered their set vices as officers
and the President is daily obliged lo re
fuse applications.
'Jdie minors thrown out in the papers
that Massachusetts has failed to complete
the Regiment required by the President
are prematuie. Massachusetts is some
what dilatory, when compared to the ala
crity of die Keystone State,but Maj. Coop,
er, of the War Department, has received
a letter from the Adjutant General of the
State; that the requisition of the President
will be complied wi h.
The Hon. Caleb Cushing, of Massach
setts.is in town, and heanly welcomed by
everv body. In tiie midst of the opposition
ofM ie Legislature of Massachusetts, he
and Fletcher Webster (son of Daniel,)are
the pledged supporters of the war. Mr.
Cushing is a statesman of rare talents and
judgment, and it is hoped that we shall sec
him again in the legislature of tire nation.
O O
Washington. Dec. 18, 1840.
SENATE.
Mr, Ashley moved that so much of fhs
President's, message as reiers to privateers,
be referred to the Judiciary Committee,
which motion whs agreed to.
Mr. Turney, on his motion, was excused
from serving on the committee on roads and
1 canals, and Mr. Stun pie appointed in his
| place.
Mr. Dix, on leave, introduced abill forthe
establishment of a branch mint at New York.
Mr. Speight introduced a bill lor the eslabt
I lishmentot a branch mint at Charleston.
Mr. Yutee introduced a bill for the con
! slructing a dry dock at Pensacola.
Mr. breeze introduced a bid declaring the
j assent of Congress to certain Sialea to lax;
public lands as soon as sold.
bn motion of Mr. Atchison flie Secretary
j of the Senate was directed to procure the en-.
| graving of 10,000 extra copies ol Fremont’s
; Map ot the route to Oregon, lor the u?e of
the Samite, at a cost not exceeding $2,700.
On motion of Mr. J. M. Clayton, the Vice
President was authorised to appoint a select
committee to which all memorials relative to
French Spoliations, prior to 18Q0, are to bp
referred.
On motion, it was ordered, that when Iflo
Senate adjourn it adjourn tot Monday nejgl.
After a snort executive session, the Senate
then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Douglass, from the committee on ter-,
ritones, reported a bill lor tin? admission of
Imva within the Union, winch was twice
read and referred to the commit lee op the
i whole, oq the Stale of the Union. Ordered
to be printed, and made the special order of
the Jay for Monday weeji.
Mr. Pettit asked leave lo offer a resolution,
directing the appointment of a committee of
five, to ascertain the number of clergymen
: who are willing to serve I lie Home in toe
capacity of chaplain. Objected 10, and op
motion, the House proceeded to the election
: of a chhplain. On the third ballot, liey. Mr.
j S; role, Presbyterian, of lias city, was elected.
Adjourned to 12 o'clock in morrow.
Office ts the Chronicle, }
Wilmington, N. C., i>eu. 18
The steamer Gladiator, Capt. Smith,winch
left here yesterday for Charleston, but with
-1 out proceeding any farther than the mam
bar, lias just relumed with the steamer Van
derbilt in low. From Capt, Poller of the
Vanderbilt we learn the following particulars:
The V. came opt of Charleston at her
usual hour on Wednesday, about 3 P. M.
At 10, off Georgetown, the wind which had
been blowing for some tune in heavy gusts,
set into a furious gale, from the East, accom
panied with some rain. At about 11 tne
steamer was thrown upon her beam-ends.—
After a while she righted, not having been
essentially damaged. At 2on Thursday
morning she was again thrown on bet beam
ends, her rudder carried away, both wheel
houses nearly demolished, one of her masts
broken off close to the deck, the Mail aparU
mem broken up, and all the Mails from
South taken in at Charleston, together with
the Charleston Mail , swept into the ocean.
The steamer righted again in a short time,
and not having had her machinery injured,
proceeded on her way, the vyiinj continuing
| to blow tremendously, as it did until about
12 on Tliursda v.
l J
By great skill and judgment, Capt. Potter
worked the steamer along witnuui a rudder
tor forty miles, brought tier up to the main
■I bar, where she was met by the Gladiator,
taken in low, and both got up to Smithville
at 9 last night, from thence the V. was towed
( ! lo town by the Gladiator. The passengers
( who were on board bestow the very highest
commendations on the Vanderbilt, as also on
the management of Capt. Poller, the officers
i and crew, in the awful conflict with the
| elements.