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[From the N. O. Delta, Dec. 22 ]
LATEST FItOJITIfB FJLJSET.
Loss of the L T . S. Brig Somers —Over
20 Men Drowned —Capture of
Americans by the Mexicans —Situ- |
atiou of the U. S. Squadron.
We learn from Purser Warrington,
that the LT. S. brig of. war Somers was
capsized, and sunk in a few moments, in
a heavy squall from the North, on the Sih |
inslv, at 9 o’clock, P. M., off Green Island, j
There were 80 persons onboard, of whom,
it was supposed at the time, 139 had per
ished, and among them were Passed Mid
shipmen 11. A. Clemsen and John Rin
gold f lynson. Since then 10 out of the |
39 have drifted ashore, one oj whom died :
from exposure. Eight men went ashore
•on hen-coops, near \ era Cruz, after hav
ing been in the water 30 hours, and were
taken prisoners of war by the Mexicans.
Great credit is due the officers and crews
of the English and French vessels of war
at anchor near the Somers at the? thru :
every assistance possible bn their part
was rendered.
On the sth inst. Midshipman R. Clay
Rogers and Doctor J. M. Wright,, with a
boat’s crew from the Someis, went for the
purpose of recomioitering below Vera
Cruz. When Rogers, Dr. Wright, and
a seaman hud gone some distance from i
the boat they were surrounded by seven
Mexican soldiers. Mr, Rogers and the
seaman were made prisoners and sent to
the Castle of Perote.
Com. Conner arrived at Anton Lizar
do on the 13th inst., on board the Prince
ton, and went ou board the frigate llari- \
tan* as his ff g ship. The sloop John
Adams was blockading Vera Cruz. Fri
gate Potomac arrived at Green Island
13lh inst. Frigate Cumberland sailed
for Norfolk on the 6lh.
j Left at the anchorage at Anton Linar- ;
<lo the following vessels viz:—Frigate
Raritan, steamers Mississippi, Vixen, and
Petriia, and storeship Relief, and schrs.
Boneta and Petrel. Also, brigs Oneco, |
Chinchilla, and Garnet, loaded with coal; ,
and Abrasia, from Pensacola, with pro- !
visions and stores fur the squadron.
Extract of a letter from a well inform
ed source at Vera Cruz: “'Pile iccent
intelligence from Tabasco is that this
Stale is much disgusted with the neglect
of the Supreme Government of Mexico,
in not aiding them. It was thought a
quorum of the Mexican Congress could
not be tint together. - ’
Extract of a letter from an officer ia
the Navy, dated w Anton Lizardo, Dec.
10th, 1816”:
“A few moments after writing the
•above I received intelligence of the entire
loss of the brig Somers, \v,th two of her
officers, Acting Sailing Master Clemsen
and Passed Midshipman Ilynson, and 39
of the crew. See capsized and sunk off
Vera Cruz. The remainder of the offi
cers and crew were saved, amidst a se
vere gale, by the exertions of the Engli.di,
French and Spanish vessels of war lying
* - O
off Vera Cruz. Nothing was known of {
this anchorage until the remainder of
those ou the wreck were brought down
by one of the steamers.
“The Somers has been performing the
most arduous blockading duties for sever
al months, under every vicissitude of
weather. She was to have been relieved ’
to-day by the John Adams—but her race :
is run. She lies a wreck, in 17 fathoms
water, almost within gunshor of the Cas
tle.”
We are indebted to otu polite and ac
commodating friends of the Ttopic for
the following interesting letter from their
intelligent correspondent:
Off Vera Cruz, Dec. 9, 1916.
Messrs. Editors —One of the most af
flicting calamities of the war occurred
yesjerday in the loss of the brig Somers, |
which foundered near Green Island, with
the loss of Passed Midshipmen llenery A.
Clemsen and John Ringold Ilynson, and
more than thirty of her grew. That any !
escaped is due to the humane exertions
■end intrepidity of the British, French and
Spanish officers of the squadrons lying at
Sacrificios, who witnessed the sinking of
the brio; and, notwithstanding the fear
ful height of the sea, and the rage of the
” C* J
sent several boats each from the j
principal ships to the rescue. Twenty
boats are said to have been out.
It was honora* le to human nature to
attempt such an undertaking, and their
success must be regarded as a reward for
their intrepidity, directly conferred by' an
approving Providence.
I hear the names of Lt. Tarleton, of FT.
B. M. frigate Endymion, and Lieut,
Wood, mentioned in terms of the highest
praise. But all acted bravely and nobly,
with but little distinction individually.
ilynson was an ornament to the Navy
of the brightest character. He had no
superiors, except accidentally of rank, in
his profession. His equals and inferiors
all loved him. A specimen of his gal
lantry has been shown in his participation
in the recent cutting out or burning of the
vessel under the castle, and I am told he
could now’ have saved his life, but for bis
generosity in giving up his spar to a sailor
whom he considered weaker than himself.
In seeking another support lie went down.
I knew him intimately, and can tmlv
pronounce his the noblest mind and tho
warmest heart that I have ever yet tpund
in the human breast. Mr. Hynson’sonly
I—;■ T- f"!—Kili—HßßKy *WW>IIMPnI!
brother is a resident of your city In 1
deploring bis sad bereavement, lie can
enjoy all the consolation that is to be !
derived from the reflection that half the
officers of trie Navy join hi his grief, and
v also mourn a brother. ,
j Os Mr Clemson I know nothing, but am
. told that he was a young man of fine
ciiaracter and good promise as an officer.
The commander of the Somers, Lieut.
; Commandant Semmes, and his surviving
! officers and men, were taken to the dif
lerenl ships at the Sacrificios anchorage,
; and treated with much kindness until this
morning, when they were sent down to
I us with the first intimation of the dreadful
i accident.
The John Adi ms, without a pilot, ran
through the reefs in the heaviest of the
IO
gale which carried the Somers down, and
succeeded, at the most imminent hazard
of destruction, in reaching the anchorage
at San Anton Lizardo. A merchant brig
j also escaped in the same manner. '1 lie
Adams takesilieSomets, place to morrow
morning—filling up the breach!
Tiie Cumberland frigate, under the
command of Capt. Gregory, and officered
and manned with the crew ofthe Raritan,
sailed for Norfolk via Havana on the 9th
i inst.
'The Mississippi, bearing the red flag
of Commodore Perry; the Raritan, Capt.
I Forrest; the John Adams, the Relief, the
Vixen, the Petrita, (late Champion.) two
or three gun boats, and four or five mer
o 7
chant vessels, lie at San Anton.
Commodore Conner is expected every
hour, with the Princeton, Spitfire, and
their small vessels from Tampico; and
the Albany and Boston from the North
and we confidently expect, upon their ar
rival to make an immediate commence
merit upon Alvarado. Some of ilie patri
| otic citizens of that place have throw n
out polite intimations of their readiness
recommence the exchange of their copper
fur our iron, and Com. Conner is not the
man to decline a traffic furnishing such
returns.
{ presume you have not yet heard ol
the attempt of Mr, Rogers, one of the
i recent culling-out party, to set fire to a
building used as a magazine near the
town. —His life was probably saved by
not succeeding. Himself and one of his
boat’s crew were made prisoners, and it
, is said have been sent to Perote—reason
j not stated. That is all 1 know of it.
My news from the interior is all second
handed, ami you can gather such from
; the newspapers which deal in that article.
As a faithful chronicler, I record only :
well certified facts. The rumor that the
i Congress will not convene, for want of
money amongst the members to defray
their travelling expenses, is not worth
much, 1 take it, and I only notice it here,
because so much harped upon.
I regret to see some of the New Orleans
• papers so anxious to do injustice to Com.
Conner, as to overrate the credit of*Corn.
Perry. 1 presume the latter officer will
correct, or lias corrected, some of the
misstatements t > which 1 allude. He is
a gallant, just and warm hearted officer,
and will suffer no man to force upon him
the credit due another, and no real friend
of his will ever attempt an open*lion of
that kind.
Very respectfully, vouns,
INDICATOR.
List of Officers and mem Lost. —Henry
A Clemsen, Acting Master; John R.
Ilynson, Passed Midshipman. Wm. G.
Brazier, Ehenozer Terrell, Charles H.
Haven, James Rvder, James Thompson,
Charles Lowe, Thomas Young, Wni,
; Gillan, Mathias Gravel, Ma jor Cain, Den
nis Kelly, Alexander Anker, Chas, Mc-
Farland, James Fennel,,Charles True,
John Day, Wm. Purdy Edward Mc-
Cormick, Wm. Elmsley, Wm. Quest,
John Hargrave, Wm. McCardy, John
Christopher Myers, Clement C. Willen,
I Ihomas McGowan, Joseph Antonio,
Adolph Belmenle, Manuel Howard, Win.
j W. Powers, Henry W. Spear, James
Chapman, Lewis Johns on, Jonatius Leo.
pold, Thomas Jefferson, Wm. FI. Ruse,
Peter Hernandez.
List of Officers and Men Saved. —R.
Semmes, Lieut. Commanding, M. G. L.
Claiborne, .I no. L. Parker, Lieuls.; John
F. Sieele, Purser; John H. vV right, Pas
sed Assistant Surgeon; Francis G. Clark,
Midshipman; Edmund T. Stevens, Pur
set’s Steward; Jacob Hazard, Yeoman.
Amos Colson, W illiam Johnson, Mat
thew Buck, John McCargo, John G. Van
Norden, Charles Seymour, John W’il
liamson, John Pollen, John Smith, Henry
Strommell, Thomas Mnihollen, Geo.
Wakefield. Wm. Keys, Francis Haire,
IF in. Poland IFm F. Thompson, Chris
topher Lawrence, Jos. Todd, Stephen
| Maynard, Sami. Bennett, Thomas I).
Burns, W m Power, Joseph Skipsey,
i Joseph Jones, Charles ’Nutl.es, Washing
; ton Cooper, Wm, Dix, Francis A, Wal
: deon, James Chambers.
LATE FRO "I TIIE All RY OF OCCUPATION.
Mata .mop. os, Dec. 7, 1846.
JMessrs. Editors —i address you on board
the steamship J3:g Flatclffe. We reached
here last night, and are detained partly by a
severe gale blowing, and partly by some of
tiie volunteers aboard killing some Mexican
beet last evening. We have four companies
! of Indiana Volunteers on board, in charge of
; Eeut. Col. Madden. You will see by the
1 Matamoros Flag of Saturday, that a change
in the movements of the army lias taken
place, by order of Gen. Taylor. lamon my
way to Camargo, with §57,000, lor tne use
of the Quarter-Piaster’s Departmental that
i point, to furnish transportation to the army.
A volunteer, belonging to Capt. Kinder’s
Company, died aboard iast night. A man
named Crawford, is now under arrest tor
shooting at cattle: one Johnson, who is an
Ohio \ oiunteer, stationed at Fort Brown, in
formed on him. ISeverai beeves were shot,
cooked and ate by the volunteers. I dined
at the Ohio House yesterday, with Col. Cur
tis, Capts. Moure and Chapman, and several
other officers.of the 3d Regiment ot Onio
1 Volunteers. 1 had the pleasure of an inter
view with Gen. McLaughlin, who bears {he
i privations ol the camp with all the vigor of
the most youth/ul voiuhteer. I met General
Pillow and Col. .Baker at the mouth of the
! river, on their way to Brazos St. .Jago. Lieut,
Col. Earl, of the Ist Regiment Alabama Vol
j nnfeers, had tiie camp equipage of five of his
j companies on board the steamboat Virginia,
bound for Tampico. The order mentioned
above, changed tiie arrangement, and the
1 regiment will probably be transported by
i steamboats to Camargo, and marched from
f thence to Tampico.
. .As soon as I deliver the funds in charge at
; Camargo, I will again write to you, I visited
j tiie gardens of Alatamoros yesterday—the
peach-trees are in bloom; the citron, the
i orange and lemon, and other tropical fruits,
arc ripe and mostly gathered. The soil here
is rich, and produces luxuriantly ; the cotton
plant grows ten feet high, it is idle to say
this country is poor—the climate and soil is
equally advantageous to produce ail the lux
uries of life, and by industry, could be made
j rich, and of great importance as a part of the
United Slates. Col. Curtis' Regiment quar
ters in the city after to-day. Tue officers
quarters are on the Plaza,in the public build
ings formerly occupied by tiie Alcalde, a very
peasant and agreeable place, 1 saw Col.
Mitchell and Ajt. Armstrong at tiie mouth of
the river. Yours, O.
Matamoros, Mexico, Dec. 10, 1840.
Gentle men — Another sad tale has readied
ns from Monterey—Brig. Gen. Thomas L
Hamer is no more—lie died on or about the
3d inst. The Gen, had been quite ill for two
or three weeks, hut had so far recovered as
! to he able to attend to his public duties; he
suffered a relapse, which proved fatal. Geu,
Hamer has long been favorably known to the
i country as a public man. Though bis sphere
j has hitherto been in civil affairs, he has al
ready given the mo?l conclusive evidence
that, had life been spared, he would have
1 boon not less distinguished as a soldier.
Accounts from Saltillo represent every
thing quiet. The troops stiller considerably
from tue cold, and wood was £i9 per cord.
|^ t OBSERVER.
MOXTER ET, Nov. 30, 1346.
I walked round to the Commissary’s store
this morning, to look up some papers, ami
ju t as 1 entered the door found a gentleman
making preparations to leave for the Brazos :
j he kindly consented to remain a few minutes,
j and by him 1 send you this.
Nothing of importance has transpired since
1 my last to write about; but as 1 am well
aware how eagerly every thing is read com
• ing from this quarter. I embrace the chance
of sending you what there is.
There is much excitement in the city this
morning, arising from a murder committed
last night at Armstrong’s Hotel. A party of
Tennesseeans from the camp came into town
to lake supper at the hotel, and whilst eating
and drinking, a (able was turned over, break
i ing a number of plates and glasses. Arm
strong came into the room much excited, and
commenced a tirade of abuse, at the end of
vvnich pay was offered him doi file for ail that
was destroyed: but not content with that, he
i called in tiie Guard, and after pointing out a
very estimable young man, by the name of
i Forrest* said, ‘‘There’s the d—d rascal who
broke my dishes”—but before ibe Sergeant
of the Guard could reach him, Armstrong
i pulled out a pistol and shot him dead, and
f escaped before his companions or the Guard
1 couid put their hands upon him. This is the
only Version of the affair 1 have heard.
No arrival from Saltillo since my last. A
‘ company of Artillery left for that place this
morning. The ludianians I spoke of as Le
j ing ordered there, have Wot reached here yet.
Two Frenchmen, in addition to the ‘;big
bno*’ Mexicans, have been arrested on a
charge of tampering with our soldiers, and
offering them inducements to desert. There
will be a pretty hangiffg ra^teb^ere. some of
these days, A volunteer Lh-’Wenant Colonel
dressed himself in a private’s clothes, and
was readily accepted as a volunlarin, and
1 given an order on a man about 10 leagues
distant, for tiie money and horse promised
j him. The one who gave the order was im
mediately arrested, and the Colonel started
! for Lis reward, hut not alone—he took 20
good men With him, and will doubtless re
turn in the course of the day with several of
| those wiio preferred the Mexicans to tiie
American service, and also with the indivi
duals who pay out the Mexican dollars^
A musical amateur gave a concert last
night at Armstrong’s, which was very well
attended. The gentleman sung several songs
very well, and the one who accompanied him
on the piano was no ordinary musician.
The tables have been turned on the Mexi
cans, and for these who have been assassi
nated of the volunteers, a double number of
the enemy have suffered within a day or two.
I It is reported this morning, that Gen. 'Bay
lor has ordered the Ist Kentuckians to Cer
ralvo, to prevent this killing,
CHAPARRAL.
Monterey, Dec. 1, 1346.
Messrs. Editors—The war between the
Kentuckians and Mexicans, as it is familiar
ly termed, has created no little excitement
both in town and the camp. It is thought
i that not less Ilian forty Mexicans have been
killed within the last ftve days, fifteen of
whom, it is said, were killed in one day, and
within the scope of one mile. From this,
you will see that the boys are determined to
i have and to take revenge for the assassina
! tion of their comrades. When it is known
I that no Mexican, since the commencement
of the war, has been punished for outrages
committed on the persons and property of
American soldiers, and they have been nu
! merons, many persons will look at the course
| pursued by the Louisville Legion in a light
far from condemnation, and whilst regreting
the circumstances winch have led to it, they
will ask you the question—“iSliail we rest
quietly m our tents whilst the enemy is lying
in ambush and murdering our comrades as
they pass the roads?” Ever since tiie occu
pation of Matamoros by our troops, the Mexi
cans have been cutting off our men, when
ever they couid bo found in convenient places
for the job, and the compliment has been in
variably returned, generally two for one, and
this, too, in many cases, without regard to
the Scriptures giving out, that it is --better
to let ninety-nine guilty go, than punish one
innocent man.” The first of these difficul
ties, in different places, find their origin in
| the Mexican disposition to rob, to accom
plish which they will murder an American,
if it he only to get possession of the clothes
upon his body. Retaliation is sure to follow,
and in many cases the innocent is to suffer
for the crimes committed bv their guilty coun
trymen. This is a stale of society deeply to
be regretted, and no man in and out of Mexi
co would feel more pleasure in recording a
termination of such proceedings; but I can
i didly believe that they will continue to exist,
as long as the difficulties between the two
; countries remain in the present unsettled
I state.
Yesterday, Mr. Armstrong had a hearing
before Uol. Smith. This man, as I staled in
my letter of yesterday, is accused of the mur
der of a young Tennesseean, in bis hotel,
if he is guilty, as ail his comrades allege,
he should suffer the severest punishment,for
a mure unprovoked murder I never heard of;
but, as he is not attached to the army, it can
not be indicted here, and I suppose he will
suffer that worse than death that Juliet speaks
ol — -banishment. Not to New South Wales,
but to New Orleans, the Botany Bay of the
American commanders in Mexico, at which
place, I presume, he will he released. The
civil authorities of Mexico refuse to take
cognizance of any offence committed by our
men. The military law here seems to think
it has no jurisdiction over Americans out of
the army;and I suppose Louisiana will not
feel disposed to trouble herself with offences
1 committed out of the State.
The trial of the Alcalde’s son, and others,
engaged in tampering witii our men, is set
for to-morrow. 1 should not exactly say
tria 1 ; for it will he more in the shape of a
court of inquiry at first. I saw tins young
Aicade this morning in prison. He is a
young and very interesting man, and was
weighed down to the ground with irons, not
that they leaf liis escape, but to deter others
from following In his footsteps. At first it
: was thought that but few men were engaged
in the business; but it is now clearly ascer
t lined that many of the principal men in the
place have had a finger in tiie pie, and since
the first ar est many of the JirSl families of
Monterey have left, and the population of
the place has decreased in that time nearly
100(3. The 7th regiment has lost many men
by desertion, and 1 have since ascertained
tiiat the number I spoke of before—Forty—as
1 having deserted, may be safely trebled, and
all since the 26tii Sept. The regulars have
invariably gone to the enemy, but what few
of the volunteers that have left us sans cere
inonie, have made tracks for a Christmas din
j ner in the while settlements. The friends of
those arrested—particularly of the Alcalde—
fear the worst, and if they were hung in the
1 Plaza, as Taylor threatened, they vvouid not
be much surprised.
A train of wagons loaded with provisions
started yesterday for ►Saltillo, escorted by a
company of infantry. Our dates from Gen.
Worth are as late as the 27ili. Every thing
is reported quiet,and the command well satis
fied with their location. Nothing from Gen.
Wool sjnee my last, and I am unable to say
I whether he has yet left Monclova for Paris.
It he has not lie will certainly do it when lie
gets short of provisions and forage.
It was generally believed yesterday that a
movement would be made in less than ten
days, originating no doubt from an order for
all the infantry to sell their horses, and tiie
small number of men who were permitted to
leave camp. You may not understand what
the infantry have to do with horses. On tfie
inarch from Camargo here, of those who have
I come up since Gen. Taylor did, many of the
volunteers not caring to bring their feet in
j contact with the rocky road, supplied them
selves with horses, varying in prices from
| three to fifteen dollars, and they have retain
ed them ever since, to ride to town and to
hire to others for a like purpose. They'have
! been offering them for sale at every door in
Monterey since yesterday morning, alleging
t at a movement of the army demanded it,
j as they could not be taken along. But it is
known generally at tins hour, that when
Capt. Rhine offered the service.-? of his com
pany of Rangers to Gen. Taylor, they were
; declined on the ground that no movement
would be n.a le until ordered from Washing
: ton, which the General said might not reach
: him till after the sitting of Congress, so you
; can judge what chance there is of an early
move.
i The weather is lovely at this time, and
| forcibly reminds one of the spring-time of
year. It is a great climate, and blossoms,
; halt grown, and ripe fruit can be found on
i the same tree.
'Bhe mail leaves here for Camargo once a
week, Tuesday, and (hat is the great d ty for
i mailing letters for different parts of the U.
I States. CHAPARRAL.
[llepor/ai for tue Baltimore Stun.]
TWENtMISTU CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
Washington, Deo. 23d, 1843.
SENATE.
Mr. Dickinson, on leave, introduced a
bill in relation to the District Court of the
U. S. for ihe State of New York.
Mr. Brcese, on leave, introduced a bill
to reorganize a terriiorial govermneut, in
the territory of Oregon, aud for other pur
poses.
.Mr, Semple, from the committee on
roads and canals, reported a bill to relin
quish the National road to the states of
| Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri, upon
1 certain restrictions.
Mr. Breese, from the committee on
public lauds, reported back the bill giv
-1 in rr the assent of Congress to certain slates
i O cj
to impose a tax upon the public lands
within their borders, as soon as sold with
out amendment.
Also, the bill to establish the office of
surveyor general of the public lands in
the territory of Oregon, and grant dona
tion rights to settlers, was reported with
certain amendments which wereordeiered
tu be printed.
Mr. Dix, from the committee on Com
merce, reported a bill to repeal the act of
2d March, 1837, concerning pilots.
The committee on printing, to which
had been referred the resolution submit
ted by Mr. Yu lee, to direct the engraving
of a map of Florida, reported in favor of
the adoption of the resolution.
After a tedious and uninteresting debate,
the report was, on motion of Mr. Philips,
laid upon the table.
The committee on printing, to wbch
had been referred a memorial from the
yearly meeting of (he Society of Friends
in New England praying Congress to
adopt measures (or bringing the war with
Mexico to a speedy close, reported a re
solution that said memorial be not print
ed.
Mr. Davis expressed his surprise at
this report. The memorial was upon a
very important subject, was couched in
respectful language, and could give of
fence to none. 'Bhe memorialists simply
asked that their petition should be printed
K*ar J1 " r—
and it was but right that they should be
gratified.
Mr. Atherton explained that the com
mittee had come to the conclusion to re
commend the .printing of no memorial,
( unlessJf contained historical information
or statistics—and not then when it was
referred to a committee who would em
body it in their report. No disrespect
; was intended to the memorialists by the
recommendation not to print.
A long debate ensued, without any
particular interest, in which Messrs.
Davis Simmons, Chalmers, Westcolt,
; Crittenden, J. M. Clayton, Sevier, and
Niles took part.
Mr. Davi s moved to amend the resolu
j (ion reported by the commute by striking
out the word “not.”
Upon this question the yeas and nays
were ordered, and it was decided in the
negative; yeas 21, navs 21—the vice
President giving the casting vote against
O O O
I the amendment.
The resolution was then, on motion of
j 1
Mr. Maifgum, laid upon tho table.
After a short Executive session, the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Several unsuccessful attempts were
made to introduce hills and resolutions, of
which previous notice had not been given.
Among others, those of the distinguished
Western member. (Mr. Tihbais ) referred
to in my letter in Monday’s Sun-
Mr. Douglass, from the committee on
territories, reported the Oregon Territori
al bill, similar in its provisions to that
reported by the same gentleman, which
, passed the House at the last session.
Read twice, and made the special order
for the first Tuesday in January.
Mr* McClellan, from the committee of
commerce, reported a hill making appro
priations for rivers and harbors—the bill
of last session, in a modified form. Read
tw ice, arid referred.
One or two other bills, not of general
interest, were reported, and the [louse
then resumed, in committee of the whole,
the debate on the question of referring the
President’s message. Mr. Washington ,
f' Cr
Hunt, of New York, and Messrs. Bailey,
of Virginia, and Staunton, of Tennessee,
, addressed the committee.
Some warm words passed between Mr.
1 Garret Davis and Mr,Bailey,in the course
of the latter gentleman’s speech. Mr.
Davis wished to make an explanation,
hut Mr. Bailey declined yielding the floor,
j expressing his surprise that Mr. D. should
ask such a favor after having himself
j yesterday refused it under similar cir
j cumstances. .Mr. Davis then said that
he would not allow the gentleman front
; Virginia falsely to represent him as hav-
I ing favored the interests of Mexico, Mr,
i Bailey rejoined, that if the gentleman
1 intended to declare that he had misrepres
ented bin, it was untrue. [‘‘H //c,”
j several understood Mr. B. to say, but I
j prefer the softer word, j
At the conclusion of Mr. Stanton’s
speech, the committee rose, when Mr. C.
J. fngersoll otTeied a resolution terminat
ing the debate to-morrow at 2 o’clock,—
Before the question was taken on this re
solution the Honse adjourned.
Washington, Dec. 24. 1846.
EE.NATE. j/r
Mr. John M, Clayton presented a petition
| from citizens of the Elate of Delaware, pray
| ing Congress to adopt speedy and efficient
■ measures tor terminating the war with Mexi
co in an honorable peace.
Mr, Clayton said that this petition was nu
merously signed by persons belonging to both
political parties, who were not opposed to
war upon religious principle. He would
like to co-operate with them in bringing
| about an honorable peace, but for himself be
could see no way of bringing the war to an
1 end but by fighting it out.,
He was disposed to grant the government
I any ti ems that might be asked lor, lor the
j prosecution of the war. He had heard it
said, and had seen it put forth in the public
! prints, that there was a party in this country
i disposed to oppose their own government and
| support that of the enemy. He did not be
lieve in the existence of any such party. —
j The supposition was a base calumny upon
, the American character. There might pos
! si bly be individuals so situated, but he would
undertake to say tor the great whig party,
j which, though in a minority in the councils
of the nation, was the majority at this time of
the people of the country, that they were the
firm supporters of their own government, and
| were not to be driven into any other position
by such base charges as had been made
against them, probably with a view to pro
duce such a result.
The memorial was then, at Mr. Clayton’s
request, laid upon the table.
Mr. More head, on leave, introduced a bill
to extend the time for selling lands granted
to the Kentucky Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
Mr. Ashley, on leave, inti educed a bill
granting a quantity of land to the Etate of
Arkansas fur the purposes of internal im
provement.
Bills were reported from the committee on
finance for the establishment of branch mints
at New York and Charleston, and notice
given that they would be called up immedi
ately alter the Christmas holydays.
Mr. Ashley, from the cammittee on the
Judiciary, reported back the House bill for
the admission of lowa into the Union, with
out amendment, and its immediate conside
ration, as the .representatives from that Slate
. are now in ihe city, awaiting the passage of
the law r , to lake their seats in the House.
Mr. Yulee said the Constitution adopted by
lowa, devoted the 500,000 acres of laud, to
which she would be entitled, upon coining
into the Union, to purposes of education,
whereas the grant was for internal improve
ments. He moved, therefore, to amend the
I bill so as to prevent the land from being di
verted from the purpose for which it was
granted.
After some debate the motion to amend
was negatived by a vote of 40 to 2, and the
bill w’as passed. Eo lowa is now the 29ih
{State in the Union.
The amendment to the constitution sub
mitted by Mr. {Semple on Tuesday, was re
ferred to the Judiciary committee and order
ed to be printed.
On Mr. Semple's motion, the committee
on Patents was instructed to inquire into the
propriety of making all patents valid when
!'—LJSgSßgggi
granted, until vacated by due process of law.
On motion of Mr. Woodbndge, the com
mittee on Military Affairs was directed to in
quire into the expediency of constructing ad
ditional works at Fort Gratiot.
The {Senate then adjourned over until
Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Barclay Martin made a personal ex
planation in regard to some remarks attrl
: bated to him in die report of his late speech
| in the Naiional Intelligencer. He disclaim-
I ed the conversation said to have taken place
in the course of that speech, between him
self and Mr. Pettit,and stated tiiat i\Jr. Pettit
was not even in the House at the time,which
statement. Mr. Pettit confirmed.
The resolution of Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll,
offered yesterday, for terminating the debate
in committee of the whole,on the President’s
message, at 2 o'clock to-day, was postponed
until to-morrow.
Mr. Robert {Smith moved to suspend tho
rules, so that the Elates and Territories might
be called in order, for resolutions, &.c., but
the motion did not prevail.
On motion of Mr. Rath bun, the I louse
then, in committee of the whole, resumed the
debate on tiie President’s message. Mr.
Gardner, of New York, spoke his hour, in
defence of the war; Mr. Root, of Ohio, fol
lowed in opposition, and the debate of 10-duy
was concluded by Mr. Bowling, of Missouri.
The speech of Mr. Root is considered one
of the best made, on the whig side of the
House, during tne present session, ile kept
the House in a roar of laughter throughout,
and with bad arguments in a bad cause, no
man certainly could have made a more suc
cessful effort. But it seems to be evident,
from a remark made by Mr. Joseph R. In
gersoll, in the course of Mr. Gardner’s speech
to-day, and from the speech at the other end
of the capitol of Mr. J. M. Clayton, that tho
more influential and sensible wings in both
Houses doubt the policy of this war nf words
which has been commenced by a portion of
their party, and are disposed to disclaim all
connexion with it.
1 should not be surprised to see these in
both Houses, out Herod Herod in their sup
port of the war, before the close of the pre
sent session. The remark of Mr. Ingersoll,
to which f refer, was, that as a member of
the Whig party, he must he permitted to de
; dare, speaking for himself and for his con
| slitueuts, that ihey are not opposed to the
i prosecution of the war. This was in reply
j to a remark of Mr. Gordon, the Whigs, not
only of this House, but of the United States,
are opposed to the war and to its nefarious
prosecution.
At the conclusion of Mr. Bowlin’s speech,
the committee rose.
On motion of Mr. J. R. Ingersoll, a bill for
the more easy discovery of the ow’ners of
ves-els, was referred to the judiciary com
mittee.
Mr. Harralson hail leave to withdraw sun
dry papers from the files, and then the House
adjourned to Monday.
AUGUSTA GEO
TUESDAY MORNING, DEC’R. 20, 18R».
No mail norih of Charleston last evening.
m ft-i” It will he seen by reference to the
Vv ashington correspondence, which appears
in our columns this morning, that lowa has
been received, as a Stale, into the Union;
and that both Houses of Congress had ad
journed until Monday, the 28th inst.
Gen. Scott. —Ulus distinguished officer,
says the N. (). Picayune of the 20th instant,
accompanied by Major Smith, Caps. Monroe,
ami Lieuis. Ecott and Williams, arrived in
! our city yesterday and took lodgings at Ihe
Et. Charles Hotel. The General appears to
' be in excellent health and spirits, and wo
| learn leaves for the seat of wir in the early
} part of the week.
|
Departure oj ike \ oLunteers. —On Thurs
day morning last, says the Charleston Cou
rier of yesterday, a detachment of ten
i vases, one non commissioned and one com.
I missioned officer, from each Company, lett
“Camp Washington,*’ at the Race Course, on
I the Rail Road, to locate a Camp near Horso
Creek, some five miles this side of Hamburg,
| On Friday morning, the right wing of the
Regiment, consisting of five Companies,
{ started for the new Camp, under the com
j tnand of Major Gladden, and we understand
tiiat the remaining troops are to leave this
morning, for the same destination.
Lt. Col. Dickinson has proceeded to Cam
den, and will shortly join the Regiment at
its new rendezvous. . ■'
Colonel Butler will probably remain in tho
city, but for what period, or when the Regi
ment will move, we are not advised. Wo
perceice it stated that the Volunteers from
j one or two other Stales have been ordered to
be in readiness to march in ten days. This
j leads us to believe that similar orders have,
or will be, extended to the Palmetto Regi
ment, who claim and are entitled to the
credit of being Ihe first organized under the
new requisition.
O’ It will be seen by reference to the
; Washington correspondence which appears
; in our columns this morning.that both Houses
j of Congress bad adjourned until Monday the
28lh instant.
!
Marble Sugar. —The Salem (Mass.) Ga
zette says that the pulverized white sugar,
now used in families, contain in every pound
of sugar two ounces of pulverized marble.
\\ hen used dissolved, It deposits a sediment
of clay or mortar. On a post mortem exam
ination of the body of a man who lately
died of it, his bowels were found to be com"
pletely McAdamized and pipe-c|ayed !
O’ I he splendid packet ship Thos. P. Cope,
bound trom Philadelphia to Liverpool, having
been struck by lightning on the 291 b ult. was
partially consumed by fire. The passengers
and .crew, nearly 100 in number, were for
tunately rescued by the British ship Emigrant
which tell in with the wreck on the oih lust,
i hey had remained on board in a precari
ous condition from the time of the accident.
On opening the hatches of the packet, as lit©
last of the crew left, a dense body of smoke
arose, and the remnant of the ship soon af
ter disappeared. The ship was partially
i nsurecl. The cargo, which was valuable,
was also insured.— Charleston Mercuri/.