Chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Geo.) 1838-1838, December 22, 1838, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

teller from Nicholas Kiddle, Lsq. to the Hon. John ({. Adams. )> thr Hon. John Quincy Adams, Washington, D. C Puii.adKl.puia, Dec. 10, 1838. My Dear Sir—The general resumption ot'spc eie payments presents a Jit occasion la close our correspondence with an explanation olthe course of the Hank o( t!ic United Slates in regard to that •object. J his shall be don • brief!v and finally. On the loth of May, 1837,th. Hanks of Now- York suspended specie payments, and their ex ample was immediately and necessarily followed by the other Banks in the United States. ’J'hc country was thus placed in n situation ul extreme ditficuity, Irom which it could he extricated only by instant and vigorous measure-for its protection. The dangers were—lue total prostration of its credit and character abroad—the depreciation in prices o! all its public securities and its staple productions—and, last and worst, that the delen •ive remedy ol suspension might be protracted Until it became itsell a disease. Jt ivas Inanilest too that the calamity hid outgrown the capacity ol mure politicians—thru the country must take care ofitoelfand roly only upon itself— and ns, in times ot peril, the voice of the humblest citizen nny sometimes lie hoard above the tumult, my own personal position se niad to justify the as sumption ol instant and deep responsibility. Ac cordingly, nt the very mom, nl when this national misfortune occurred, immediate m i .hits were adopted to mitigate and to repair it. Ul these in their order. f. Aware that lue first intelligence of the sus pension would degrade tiie character of the coun try, and subject us to the reproach of had faith and insolvency, J addressed to you it published letter, which went to Europe at the same time with the news of the suspension, in which I ventured to pi dge my sell lor the fidelity ol our countrymen. In that letter, of the 1 Dili of-May, 1837, 1 said In the meantime two great duties devolve on the Hank an I the eountiy. Trie first regards foreign nations—the second our ow n. We owe u debt to foreigners, by no means large for our resources: but disproportnmod to our present means of pay n»v'itl. M'c must lake euro that this late meas ure shall not seem to be. an effort to avoid the payment of our honest debts to them. We have worn anil eaten and drunk the produce of their Industry,--—ton mu ll ol all perliups—but that is our fault—not theirs, \\ oin ly take less in,, - alter; but the country is dishonoured unless we discharge lli.it debt to the utmost t.irtliing.” For this purpose—the early and total discharge ot our debt to loreigncrs—the whole power of the Hank of the United Mutes w„s devoted. In such MTisist it was evident that if resort was had to ii- Kid curtailments, the ability to pay would be pro portionality diminished : —while the only irne system was. to k« cp the country as much at eu-a sr consisted with its su cty , so in to enable the debtors to collect their resources tor the discharge ol then debts. I'or the same purpose die Uilnh though entirely out of its course of business ; and in some degree ol collision with its own exclusive interest, assumed an active agency j„ collecting the debts of tile Hank of England— gave every fie day for the ree vvery of all debts, and stimula ted our country men t> this duly by earnest nod constant appeals to their honor and their true in terests. With what a generous emulation that appeal was answered, you well know—lor it touched a chord winch lies deep in nil Yincricim hearts, ft the universal distress which pervaded the community, could not bo witnessed without a p imlul sympathy,—its melancholy was redeemed by the high m l manly spirit which it roused throughout thr country. Fur novur, on its must glorious fields of brittle, was there display od a rnoro lofty sentiment of honor rind courage than was then exhibited. The honest payment of debt, »h" homely duty oi private lile— whs elevated by its universality into n sentiment of national hon oar ; as the whole country in one mass pressed forward to its performance, as to some sacred and patriotic obligation.— Whatever could Ire paid was paid instantly and cheerfully ; vvlmt it was intpos sdilo to pay at once was secured with ample inter e,t tor the delay, with an utter abandonment of mere selfishness, and a disregard ofnny pecunia ry sacrifice necessary to fulfil their engagements. Accordingly the manner in which the I . .Slates have settled their immense commercial debt to Europe is a lasting monument of their integrity. A'u country could have better performed its dutv. Even in the calmest moments of prosperity such a s Htlerneiu could scarcely lie imagined ns was accomplished amidst the gcnortil vv reek and con fusion ot all its great interests with which the country was ntiliclod. The eonsc.pitmce is, that the general credit ot the country never stood high er than at this moment; for it' hui now earned a distinction entirely exclusive and characteristic that while the (iovernment of the U. Stales is the only Ciovcrnment on earth that has over paid to the last cent its im'ionnl debt, tin people of the I idled States have discharged their private on - gagemnils with un unexampled fidelitya ri.fi glory this, worth a thousand victories. In the midst of these troubles the character of our institutions was threatened by a combination rrl politicians in Pennsylvania, who endeavored to establish, as the basis of Am *rican legislation, that a charter or oilier engagements made by any IMate Legislature was liable to be annulled by any snbse jaenl Legislature—and still m ,re t tVeelu ,i --ly by any politics! meeting called a Convention —which is ou\y another form of extruuniuj,.i \ | legislation—ami an attempt w.ts aiiliouneod to j carry thill dogma into elfrl at a I'onveiitiou llteii approaching. Pile assertion of such a right by tiie State Government, to annul all its engage ineats to foreigners, put forth at a m uncut when the country was laboring under a temporary ina bility to pay its debts. Was calculated to desires all confidence in the integrity of our American institutions; and I therefore said to you in my letter, “This must not be. it must be decided whether this Pennsylvania of ours is a virtuous community or a mere society of plunderers—nor will the Inuor of tin Statebj relieved either ul home or abroad,from the slain which u few small politicians Wished to lix upon her. until the Con vention adopts some solemn declaration that there is no power in this nation capable e>f vi elating the mend engagements of the Male authorities. Thai should be done, and if any efforts ot mine may avail, that shall be done, for the honor of this Mute, for the character of her sis,or state), ond for the stability of our popular institutions.” Accordingly, when the Convention met, one ot its most decided nets wai the following resolu tion, passed on the Slat of November, 1837. J{ solved. That it is the sense of this Conven tion that a charter duly granted und.r un act of Assembly, to a B irk or other private corporation, is, when accepted, a contract with the parties to whom the grant is made; and if such charter la* unduly granted, or subsequently misuscd.it may ho avoided by tire judgement of a Court of Jus lice in due course of ir.v, and not othorw Iso. mi ’ less in pursuance ol a power expressly reserved in the charter.” The obligation of the .''tale Legislatures t v ful fil all their engagements made with foreigners— and ths anxiety of individuals to pay their lor eign debts, being thus established, the next care was to enable both to comply with tlroir contracts at as little sacrifice as possible. It vxas due to foreigners that every debt should ho paid—it was due to ourselves to make the most of our resour ces in the settlement. Now those resources con sisted mainly in the public securities, and the sta ple productions of the country. The shock of suspension would of course sink both to the low ed point of depression, and it seemed expedient to save themfnm sacrifice by two measurer ap # plicable to each. There can scarcely la* any form of security more safe than the pocuilairy engagements of the states. They have a most luxuriant soil— cslmbls products—infinite natural advantages— e untiring industry in developing them. They have every thing but money,—and lor that the; , arc able to pay, and willing to pay, much more than the less productive industry of Europe can atlord to pay. Their loans 100, instead oi being wasted in wars or extravagance, go to the direct i r improvement of the borrowing States, —so dial e there can ire no belter application of the means ul it any European capitalist than to double his income by American investments. Vet all these require r. knowledge—local information—the means of ex ;• citing contiden o,—and it was (bought most expe j dientto establish an American age ney in London c as tiie common centre and the general support ol e ail American securities,—where in addition to the y appropriate business of th • Bank, iisvlt, all tin i, public and corporate Stocks of the Mates, might s find shelter and protection. , In like manlier the derangement of the currcn c <7 placed the staples of the South entirely ut the mercy ot the forcin purchaser, who could have | dictated the terms ol sale to tiie prostrated planter, t It win thought proper to overt lha- evil l y cm , ploying u large p irtion of the capital of tiie hank e 111 matting advance •on Southern produce. This i had two ell rets—tiie first was to provide remit i lances 1., pay j, s own bonds in England, issued to the New York merchants in their extreme dis . tress, for nsVlic Bank could nut of course pur . chase these staples, il made advances upon them 1 in the Mmlli, receiving in exchange bills on E«- * rope. I lie second elfect was to introduce into i the market a new competition, and thus prevent the unconditional subjection of the planter to tie . foreign purchase. Throe advances were made, . n*las in past years on tin* mere personal sectiritv I of I lie merchants, —which the confusion of ail , piivale credit would have rendered too hazardous, ■ —hut on the actual shipment of the procure to , an American houscin England, willing and idle . *■” protect American properly from the reckless waste with vviiieii ii lias been too o,t n thrown , into the market, with an entire.'(l sregard of all ilneiican inlet) sis. The combination ol these eouses the application ol capital on tins side am] ttiu prudent re >ervc on tiie other—have saved to the planting interest an amount which il is tlilli -I*llll to e. innate below ten or Jilteen indiums ol dollars. I believe, 100, that nearly one h *lf of the commercial debt of this country to Eunqa lias been paid by the mere difference between tin* actual sales ol the securities and staples, uml the prices they would hav ■ realized had they been thrown unprotected into the bands of Europeans. I he.se measures were essentially of a temporary nature—they w ere measures of emergency adopt iu in the midst ol u public calamity, and to be discontinued with Iho non - ity which caused them. \s soon then li re as the capital and in dustry of the country hid lime to subside into ' L<'ir liven tomeil channels, these operations were relinquished. and now .hey him to ally and linallv ceased. Hi. 1 7 11 r:n*r these movements it became impor tant to mid. stand distinctly the course of the Government. In mV letter to you of the (ilii ol \piil last, 1 slated my “conviction that there could ha no sale or perm,m lit resumption of spe cie payments hy the Banks until the policy ul tliv I Mivernment towards them was changed.” Ihi - elninge was* soon and happily made. On the Doth of May the specie circular, requiring pay ments in coin in the L ind Ollices, was repealed by *■■ uegress. On the S3ih of June the bill call ud tin* .‘Siib.’l’roiwiiry, requiring coin in all pay ments to the Government, was negatived. In the iiionlh ol Ju|v the Gov nnnent agreed to receive an anticipated payment of the li.mdi of (he Bank to Hu* amount of between four and live millions ol'dodiii'N in a credit to tlie Treasury on the hooks ot the Bank—ami arrangements were made for tin* more distant public disbursements in the notes ol tin* Banks. These arrangements, as honorable to lie* Executive officers, as they were beneficial t 0 I’tthli * service, brought the Government in fo elii ient co-operation for the rc-estahlishmcnl of the currency, uml opened the way to a resump- 1 tion of specie payments. That resumption ac cordingly, took place throughout the middle Mates on the 13th ot August, and in many of the south ern Btales soon after. | IV. Il remained only to aid gome of tho south- ,i western Stales for the same object. Their activi ty in extending their public and private improve- I incuts had made them debtor States, un i dopre- 1 dated their currency by its excess. But ib.-y , had abundant resaureoa. «»v\ perfect willingness j to pay—and all that win needed seemed to lie n longei i/rriod to rccuit their exhausted means—so 11 as to derive from the approaching crops, by a p short anticipation, ability to meet tlioir engage- i meats. Tho Bank of the United States has used its utmost endeavors for that purpose, by milking advances to the amount of fnany millions to the d Banks in those states; till of whom will, it. is pro- ,j sunn d, by the month of January, resume specie pay menls, uml thus c miplete tho circle of resump tion throughout the whole Union. An i now. upon reviewing the events which followed the suspension, it is a source of great I giatil'n*..,nm to see tluil all that it was designed to t do has been done. II was proposed to protect the character of the 1 the c mnt ey from the first shoes of the sukp nsion to eh. cl tiie honorfthle fiisehurge of our foreign l dehtois with the leas' M.ieritiee ol tin* property ot the deports—to vindicate the good faith of the Male Li gist itiires—to discourage all premature attempts to v.-'inm* —but. by 11 ee.n'.iuns del c., I those Miiti- w : 1 h*’ 1 were less prepared, accomplish a universal resumption. Alt these are done, and the trouble of the country have happily ceased. Os the future, it is dillicult to speak; hut in that future the bank ol the United Males will no lon ger occupy its past position. The Bunk ot the United Mates bid ceased 10 be a national institu tion in IB3fi, and was preparing to occupy its new place as 11 Male B ink, when the troubles of 1837, forced ii in some degree back into its old position; uml it tlru devoted all its power to as sist in carry iug the country unhurt through its recant troubles. Having done this, its extraordi -11 try duties ceased. For the future. it abdicates I this involuntary power. Il lias no longer any re sponsibility to the I nion. It has no longer any ' controversies with the Government of the Union. ! It now ib sires only repose, and itwiil take its rank , hereafter as a Simple state Institution, devoted ex clusively to ns own special i oiinras. 1 rejoice, too. tint this new position of the Bank 1 absolves me from many caies mid duties. In the j general Confusion of public itrtiiirs during the Inst ! two years it has been my lot to lie more prominent j til in my ow n iiiclin ilion prompted, and often to assume a station which would have better fitted ! others. Put public cal unities justify the nppa- i rent forwardness tliev require—as grout dangers j j are bet met by defying them. My task is now on led—and 1 gladly vv ithdruw from the *e respon sibilities. curry big with me tiie only satisfu -tion 1 ever sought in them—the consciousness of having done 111 y duty to the country ns a good citizen.— Willi great regard, vours, Ac. A. BIDDLE. Tin; Si*b-Tiikvsniv Scheme von ritk at)- VAXCEMKNT OF NIMITHEHV INTERESTS. VVo perceive that tiie conning New Yorkers are al ready dm J ling with delight over tiie present schemes of Van Huron uml Ualhoun for tin* regu lation of the currencies. A recent letter writer of that oily says that it is not for fbe Gothamites to complain 0! such measures, for the people over the mountains and south of the Potomac will be the sufferers, while they ol the great commercial Emporium will be the gainers. This w riter stales tb it he once heard Mr. Calhoun in the Senate denounce tho whole Safety Fund Banking sys lent of New Y ork us a contrivance of Mr. Von 1 Huron in his hostility to the United State.-, Bank, to destroy that institution for the purpose of ma king New York Safety Fund Bills current every whore, thus to enlarge their circulation and make the Union tributary to the empire stale.— Match's Cyir'er. ;'■! dill RNiCLE an I) SENTINEL. j C | —— "! AUGUST A. x I SATURDAY MORNIMG, DECEMBER 1 CCj’ The Northern Express Mail failed again £ jes-erday. The Giraffe. The exhibition of this tall stranger hes been ,1 removed to the lot corner of Centre and Ellis sts. e and is to remain in this city until Christmas day, None should neglect the opportunity offer ed to visit this most singular quap uped, it being i- the (test living Giraffe ever brought to this con '■ tinent, and,froni the extreme difficulty in obtain ‘ ing this animal, and bringing them several hun i- dred miles from the interior of Centrrl Africa^ It passing dreary deserts and many tribes of unci s vili/.ed and barbarous Alri-ans, it is highly’ piob () able that years may elapse, and evtn centuries, i- before the stately Giraffe will make its appear ance among us again. It should be seen by all, i ___ Florida. u Cur latest information dVorn the theatre of war, 1 is, that 120 or 1 .JO Indians had gone in at Tam pa Bay, to git Jnl. \ Wild Cut was said to be in a swamp, with I about I 5 followers. Bam Jones is yet alive, us intractable as ever, and has n large hand of followers. , A Challenge (<> the World. I A Mr. Wiliams,of Hinds county, Mississippi, ' who lately “used up” a celebrated marksman, of Claiborne county, in a rifle shooting, now throw » •' 7 07 H down the gauntlet, to any man, any name I distance, from twi iffy to sixty yards, olf hand, with a rillo gun, lor any amount, of money that, may be named. His residence is near New Town, Hinds county, Mississippi.—AV ho will try him ! i ... J Capture «1 Hill Johnson. The Albany Argus states, that through the vigilance ol Captain W illiam Vaughn, .Master L. B. Navy, of .Sachet s Harbor, and Deputy Marshal, J. W. Turner, of Oswego, Wm. John son has been re-captured and delivered to the Marshal. We learn that a history of the Mormon troubles in Missouri, is about to be published by’ one intimately conversant with all (he facts. The first Shad brought to the Savannah mar ket, were sold on the I Mb, at £ 1,2/5 each. The Hon. Samuel A. Elliott, was re-elected Mayor of Boston, on the 10th hist., by T a majority of Iff 13 votes. The entire Whig ticket for Al dermen was elected, Dl the re-election of Mr. Tallmadge, to the United States Senate, from the State of New* York, there appears to be little or noduuht enter tained. The movement of the Whigs in all parts of the State points to him as the man. i The interments in Now \ ork, during the week I ending on the 15th inst., were 184. From Harrisburg. j Our advices from Harrisburg, says the Balti- H more American, of the 15th to Thurs- [ day nigWi, ffo not mention any variation i» tho i previous existing state of affairs. The Senate t hud not yet rceogniioj either branch ol the House of Representatives, nor Jiad it settled the conflict- p ing claims to scuts of some of its own members, o in two of the contested cases of which Commit- 1 tees had been appointed. The Governor elect David R. Porter, Esip, arrived at Harrisburg, on Thursday. Some of the volunteer companies had departed for their homes, and general peace and c quiet prevailed. o p Communicated. 1,1 . . ot it A writer tn your paper of the 181“ lll »u, ove r { the signature, of “as oustuvr la ' ,ors Vl ’ r - o to prove that groat ovil- - *' HI How trout the ope- e ration of the banki’M hiw ot the Stale ot New- j Vork. The rtvmU of that law acknowledge that it is an experiment, and that evils may pos- | sihlv grow out of it, as all human legislation is t liceessufilv imperfect, but I shall be slow to be ta vo that <lie law in question, is not a decided improvement upon the present vicious sy .tcm of Stale Banks, which un ler all circumstances £ have subjected the community to heavy losses i and have aUo wholly failed in furnishing a sound • and uniform cunvncv. . ‘ . l iu canvassing tlic merits of this law of New j Vork, some little credit is due to the hitherto i enlightened policy of that Stale, not only in the 1 regulation of her hanks, but to hpr vast works of ' internal improvements, the commencement and , completion of which, in advance of her sister j i States, won, for the projectors, imperishable 1 renown. But the far-seeing sagacity of New Vork, seems to have made little or no impression i on the mind of “ax oiiskuvkh,” for he sets himself to work to expose the blunders of her banking law, and also to enlighten our own Le gislature;—but in stating his beau idea! of bank ing, he appears to have forgotten that when this law of New Vork was enacted, the people of that State were opposed to a National Bunk, — a i also were a majority of the people of the whole Union, and consequently a great Na . i tioual Institution was out of tho question. Ho, also overlooks the fact, that the rule of hank -1 iag which he tells us, •• practice has proved to he correct, viz: always to have as much specie on j hand as may amount to a third part of their lia | hililios including deposited and issues," has never prevailed throughout the United States, nor of ; laic years in England, and that such a system in the Stale of New York, would he very impolitic, j , i for the exchange of the whole Union is in her 1 favor, while her specie is only one-tilth of her | j circulation and deposiles, while thit ol Georgia is one-third —under such circumstances the Le gislature of New-York, has not been so foolish ■ as to compel her banks to have always on hand 1 a greater amount of specie, compared \\ ith their 1 cash liabilities, than is usually kept by the Bank . of England, notwithstanding “as ouseiivkii,” ’ insinuates that the LegisKtors of New York, j were •• perhaps ignorant that the Bank of Eng- ; land never think- herself safe unless she has a I ihrd-purf of the liabiiitic-, including hath defo- j 1 titu mid ismuts, always in specie or in huliun, \ lin her possession." Now, whatever the Bank of ■ i England, may •• think" on the subject of “specie | ! or bullion,” or whatever “ an observer,” may ! allcdge that institution never ha 1 in her possess ion one-third part of her deposites and issues, in coin or bullion, in the years of 1834, ‘5, and ’O. During that time we heard nothing about the safety of the bank, although her bullion at one time, was only one-eighth part of her cir culation and deposites. This is the operation of that r.le which “ as odseuv ku ” recommends us to adopt, a rule which the Dank of England, almost wholly disregards in practice, whatever may be its theories. In a country like the United States, with a papulation scattered over so vast an extent ol territory, the specie basis which is requisite to j sustain a sound circulation, is less in proportion than is required, is so small a country as Eng land, with a dense population; and the probability is that the day is far distant when the specie basis ot this country will be one to three, when compared with circulation un I deposiles. \Vc have recently had a sure experiment iu the way ol forcing specie into the country, against the laws ol trade, and it seems to me to be the dutv ol our law makers, not to require the banks to perform impossibilities, but compel them to de pos to ample securities with the .States s fiicicnt in amount, and of such a character as would redeem their issues in any emergency, no mat ter how unfortunate the banks might he in their general business. This opinion is fast gaining ground,and on this opinion tin- people must pass their verdict, for no one can expect that a great National Institution, founded on the credit and resources of the whole Union, with power to fur nish the exclusive currency of the country, will c\er receive the sanction of the people of this confederacy, however desirable such an institu tion might he. There is much of philosophical remark in the coninuinication of “ax ohsbuvku,” bull should like to know from what school he bus drawn his ideas of currency, or by what process of reason ing or observation, —lie arrives at lire conclusion, that a Bank of Kilty Millions of capital could have on hand at one time, deposiles to the amount of One Hundred and Fifty Millions. “We can hardly believe our eyes” when such a statement as this is put forth, which for grandeur of con ception, throws Law entirely into the shade. If the evils which are to follow the passage of the banking law now before our Legislature, are as apparent as “ax observer” would make us believe, such an extreme case as this, need not be cited to prove them, for the deposites of all the hanks in the L nited Blates. have newer reached the enormous sum of One Hundred and Fifty Millions. RICHMOND. j The Natchez Courier of the 13th, remarks as ( follows, in relation to the state of the money tnur .... * i ket tn that city : “With feelings of much pleasure we publish this day’s condition of our money market. Com- 1 paring the table of this week with its predeces sors, we must congratulate ourselves on the more respectable stand which our currency has now \j • o.Datth nines, ir will be seen can be 1 had for Natchez city paper at 2 A per cent, pre- ii inhnn, and specie would be equally low were it not that at present there is a great scarcity of it c among the brokers. There is a great demand 11 for Natchez Bank notes and 4 per cent, premium, over other bankable river money has been offered i for it.” ... in Tlie New \ ork Herald, of the 101 - r“ a^*u S g; of Mr. Biddle’s letter, savs:— V The letter of Mr. IV A' 0 ’ "’ith regard to the £ course ot tho U. K creatod n ,° sur l?,T tc unusual •• -* HatloUlll Wall street to day. J lie positin'- OI 1110 bank has been well understood by p pw leading men in the country. Tho facts con- T mined in the letter have been published in the w Herald some weeks since, and have now become 0 official under the signature of Mr. Biddle. The ® condition of the cotton market, and its future |j prospects, arc in no wise involved by the dedue- j tions to be drawn from the letter in question. The j course of the U. States Bank will, no doubt, be a pursued in tile same direction in which that insli- * tut ion has heretofore operated. From the Montgomery, (Ala.) Jour. E:. .'ra, Dec. 10. Fire. On Sunday night last, about 11 o’clock, our *' citizens were alarmed by the cry of lire. Itorigi- naled at. or near the office of the Alabama Jour- p nul, as that building was the first discovered to be ( on lire, apparently on the outside.* The flames !• immediately communicated to the adjoining build ings, among which was the spacious brick build- c ing the "Planters’ Hotel,” occupied by Herbert and Madigan, and owned by Mr. Abner McGehee. J' All tho buildings on a line with tlie Journal office wete consumed or destroyed, ns far up Court street us the bank. The progress of the flames in the rear of the fire, was stayed by blowing up a large wooden building attached to the Planter’s t Hotel. The amount of property destroyed is t supposed to he near seventy thousand dollars; and consists of thirteen Houses, besides out-buildings * —all belonging to Abner McGehee, with the ex- ci pi ion of three offices, owned by Col. J. Hutch- 1 iusoti, and Dr. Vickers. We understand that there was no insurance upon any of the property. ; except a partial one upon the two offices owned ; by C >l. J. Hutchinson. The principal sufferers ’ were, Abner McGehee, J. J. Hutchinson, Esq., Ur. Vickers, Col. J. Hutchinson, Herbert and Madigan, and David Boren. We were also in- ( formed that Mrs. A. Adams, the talented actress who was boarding at the Planters’ Hotel, lost her costly wardrobe and jewels to a large amount. ! Charles Horn, an Irishman, was dangerously hurl by a fall, in attempting to escape from the H .'el when in flames. His arm and thigh were broken, and his skull much injured. These are the principal facts relative to this distressing occurrence. There was much energy displayed by our citizens, though nil who witness ed their efforts, must have seen the necessity of i organized Fire Companies, to ensure a concert of j action. Our former hints upon this subject, | might, if appreciated, have shortened the detail of j this catastrophe; the most destructive that has I ever visited our hitherto fortunate city. * Since he above was in type, we have ascer tained fiat the lire did originate in the Journal office, and "a.- drobnbly the result of accident, as some individual, unknown to us, had taken the liberty of going in there on Sunday night with a candle. Akothsh Fi ur.—About! o'clock on Monday morning, a lire was discovered in tile three story brick bull ling on Market stria t, between First and Bocond streets which was entirely destroyed, to gether w ith its entire contents, it was occupied ' on the tii«i floor by H. M’ieman iS, Co., grb-ers, and tiic upper stories ly C. Sk dealers. J’ho former ADiM/mo be faijinifoedV the latter but partially. The building bchmgar to E. Bredell, and was in-ured. We have not heard the amount of the loss estimated, but it | mustbo consumable,— St. Louis Com. Bull. 11. The *• Washington Chronicle” and the New \ork ‘’Colored American,” the former edited by Mr. Cralle and tho latter by a full-blooded negro, are actively engaged in abusing Air. Clay, and it is particularly observable that they resemble each other very strongly in the general tone and spirit ol their abuse. Either tho negro imitates Cralle, or Cralle the negro—that’s certain. They would • do well to unite their papers ; they might achieve wonders by the vigorous exercises ol their con joined energies.— Lou. Journal, f rom the SicketVs Harbor Journal, Dec. f). LvKciTiox on Glx. Vox Bhocltz.—Wc have been informed by a gentleman who witness ed the scene, that the Patriot commander, Von Shoult/., was hung in Kingston yesterday morn ; ing, and that fob Abney and Air. George were i to be executed on \V ednesdaV morning next, and perhaps Mr. Woodruff’, though tlio Governor’r sanction of theconviclion and sentence of Wood ruff had not been received at Kingston when cur informant left. Nicnf.n Gkntilitv.—“Look here, Sambo you got dat quarli t dollar you owes rne 1” *S imho —La! Cuff.no. Money sr scarce, so many stoperages in Mobile—there aint no money in circulation. L’t'jf —O sho ! Sambo, what de nasliun you got to do wid Mobile ! Nigger, pay up, pay up. Sa nho —A\ ell, look here, Cull’—me hear massa tell more dan twenty men same tale; and 1 haiat seen no gentlemen treat him like \ou me. Act like a gentlemen if you is a nigger. Si in bo —No gentleman is a gentleman if him burnt got no money. Consignees per South Cttrolinn Rail u« a Hamuuko, December 20. _ Ih’cs Sr ffeall. Bnnd& Scranton, Could &Bulktv, K. 1). Cooke. T. Lawson, Spears & White, F. If. ( ooKe, Aldrich & Shove. Stovall, Simmons & t'o., G. H. Jessup, Slices & Brothers, Rankin, Togas & Co., lirochon it 11., A. U, Mallory,C. K. Huffman, R. Phillips. J. W. & T. S. Stoy, M. Putt, A. M. Lgerton, J'.. M. Robeitson, W. VV. Starke, G. Par rott, 11. 1.. Jeffers, 1. N. Oliver, J. F. Denson. December 31. Rrnkm &. Boggg ,7, s. Hutchinson. Rathbone & Baker, Clark, MeTcir& Co., if 11. Cooke, A. Saba), . * -'MilliT, Movfill k Hmnbn, b. \V Fo ce, Stovall & Simmons. Could &. Bu'kk-y, S. Knre’aui 6 Son, Rees & Beall, Spears & White, P. Golly, Purse, E. J). Cooke, 11. W. Sullivan, J. F. Bcnaon. COMMERCIAL. Natchez, December 13. Cotton —The market, this week, has shown much more animation among buyers than during any pre vious part ol the season. There is now Rule or no doubt entertained that the better policy of the plan ter is, 11 he can, to hold back his cotton from mar ket, an I all who are in a situation to do so have idsolved to adopt this course. An improvement in prices ba: taken place for all qualities, s : nce our last, and the market continues on the rise ; mean time our classification to-day represents the rates at wbicii a majority ol the sales have been effected, there are a number of agents travelling through ie Mate who seem eager to buy largely ; for what booses or institutions they are acting it is not Known. They have not, however, been able to ■■peculate much, ns the advances offered by the 1111111 /tank and some other institutions affords greater inducements than immediate sales. The f moil bank has already advanced on a good deal of cotton, and by this step, we believe, done a great deal otgood throughout the State. Aboutßoo bales ot cotton have comedo marxet w’ffbin the week, and about 500 bavu boon sold at prices quoted. CAa i deation. —lnferior, 9 a 101; middling 104 a 114; lair, 114 a 124; good fair and fno 124 a ld|. — Courier. New Orleans, December 17. iq — Kcceiv cd from the 9th to the loth inst, Jd,UOU bales, exported 12,180 bales ; stock on hand including all on ship board not ’eared, 55,825 bis. in Uiu early part ol the past week but few lev,, cis came jonvard who were willing tor-upon by the quotations in oar last review anxiety to elfet t sellers, who generally shewveiging not more than donn 1 * “L'ogifd'hands, including a fancy lino *ii. -Louisiana, at 17 cts. per lb., for a northern ii’arket the highest price yet paid this season. On ■Tidily the express mail put us in possession of tho Sheffield's accounts from Liverpool to the sth till, aid Havre to 27th Oct. which being very favorable or the article, also a better feeling in the N. York, ind all intermediate markets, with an advance of 4 o i of a cent per lb., gave us a fresh impulse, and die sa.es on that day and Saturday were large and n most instances at an advance pf ;} cent per ]b. the small quantity’ now ar.iving from Mississippi, with a very light stock in first hands at this season jf tho ycaron sale increases the confidence of hoid ars, and the market closed with an upward tendency for all sorts. The sales have been to the extent of S),000 bales, in Mississippi and Louisiana, at 11, to 17 cts. extremes, fair 13 a 13$,in Western Districts 124 a 12$ cts. for average lots, and in Mobiles at 12 a 114 cents. MARINE INTELLIGENCE. Savannah, December 20. Cleared—- Trig Excel, Sherwood, New York: br. schr. Pamona, Milles, Nassau. Arrived —Schr. Eagle, Wiley, Havana; steam boat Oglethorpe, Hubbard, Augusta; steamboat Chatham, Winy, Augusta ; steamboat Free Trade, (Toiler, Augusta; steamboat Anson, Burden,Gareys Ferry. Went to sea —Ship Henry Leeds, Marshall, Liv crpoo’; brig Excel, Sherwood, New York. Deported —Steam! oat New Vork. Wright,Charles ton; steamboat Lamar,(Tesweli, Augusta; steam boat Isis. Pearson, Garey’s Ferry ; steamboat Ogle thorpe, Hubbard, Augusta. Charleston, December 21. 1 Arrived yesterday —Brig Josephine, Smith, Bos ton ; steam packet North Carolina, Davis, Wilming ton. Cleared —Ship Marathon, Shaw, Havre; linesh’p Calhoun,O’Neill, New York ; brig Lottery, Hinson, West Indies; schr. Ursula. Davis, Mobile; schr. Levant. Willey, Jacksonville. Went to sea yederduy —Ship Benj. Morgan, John son, Havre; hr. brig liezin K. Reece, Tuzo, West Indies; hr. brig Belle, Poll; schr. Ursula, Davis, Vobi'e ; steam packet New York, Wright, New York, via Norfolk. Qpj' Mr. CAMPBELL will preach in Augusta, on the Ith, ;>th and Otb days of January next dec 2.3 trwtd ■rj' THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY will hold its Annual Meeting on SATURDAY, 22d inst. at half past live o’clock, P. M., at the Globe Hotel. Punctual attendance is particularly requested. The Anniversary Dinner will be on the tabU• at 7 o’clock. T. J. PAR.-MELEE, x „ . W. P. HATH BOM E, i Committee of J. M. ADAMS. 3 arrangements. dec 10 tj ————— • Benevolent Society. The Visiting Committees for the ensuing month are as follow -; Division No. 1. —Mir. A. McLauc, Mir. C. Pike, Mr<. Crump, Miss E. Mlarshall. Division No. 2.—Mr. Joseph Davis, Mir. George Rackett, Mrs. Boggs,Mrs. Cole. Division No. 3. —Mr. John Flemming, Mir. John W. F’Jton, Mlrs. Berry-field, .Mrs. Hart. dec 17 _ C. F. STURGIS, ffec’y. j y We are authorised to announce ETHEL liRKD J T.'.iii ER, as a candidate for County Surveyor ol Richmond County, at the approaching election in January. td dec 17 erj‘ We are authorized to announce COSBY DICKINSON as a candidate for re-election to the office of Receiver of Tax Returns for Richmond ounty, »t the election on the first Monday in J-<n ua;y next, dec 4 td* V Xcitit unis. , Halt, IVJTh , mf.-rras his It JL < laV)C N ••‘ini the lovers of the ai t? «■ >.iera 1 ■ l-.iat tic secoii; tvm o; hit i, r wng A-adomv com.’ «»““ 7 U 7r lU - V ’ U ‘ e *< oi JanW'neu °‘ jnl 3 11 kvoraolu opportunity fort o,e w .6 wou a 1 ‘ era ’ elves 01 a knowledge of this delight . 118 1,95 no ’ v at llis ro--m- besides his own Draw- some p.oiuct.uns ou'upils, which ha submits to die atcenLoa of tli i public. . - Vl: ' 11 f- Niiiit Classes, forge-it craan, will com nunc>. auo,o i the 21 la luary. lw de; 22 0! It- c,. All persons indebted to the estate of • il James Roberts, of Kcrivcu county, deceased me K-quired to come forward and make immediate payment, and those having demands are required to render them in avoiding to the requisitions of the law. JOHN S. MANER. Administrator. December 22.1838. wtit A J.L persons ind.J tod to tiiecst.it. 1 of Emily j. s. Robert.-, of Striven county, deceased, arc re t]iiuc Ito rome forward and male immediate pay. meut, and t nose having demands are required "to rend-r them in a cording to the requisitions of the aw. JiiH.N S. .MAN Eli, Administrator. Dt'ceni! or 22,1838. w 6t Georgia, Sci iven county; \\/ il EKI.Ah Anry Ceatisseaux applies for let t v tors ot adniini Ration on the estate of 1 etcr Cin nssoaiix. decc-.,si d, ol this county. j’in re are t icrefure to cite and admonish, all and singular, the kindred and cicdito.s of said deceased to he and appear at my office, witiii.i the time pre scribed by nuv, to show cause, if any they have why said letters should not be granted. Diven under my hand, at office, this 19th Dr c >m ber,mß. [dog22] JOSHUA PERKY, Cle.i-. Course of Instruction in the Natural Sciences. A RISC I EAR and thorough course of Instruction *a. in the Natural Sciences, with Lectures and Experiments, will he commenced on the first day of January next, id Air. Egeitoi’s rooms, by Mr. Merrit Platt, from Mew fiav.n. d he subjects first liken up. will be Chemistry and Natural Philosopliy. Hours of instruction to com mence at 12 o’clock, M. and -1 P. 21. A 01100- ladies, who may wish 1u avail themselves of instruction in this important and interesting de partment, without becoming mem! cis of the school, wi:l be admitted at $5 each ; former pupils of the school arc invited tu attend gratuitously. The course will continue till about the middle of June, and so far us the dine will allow will include besides the above, Ecology Mineralogy, Botanv, and (Audiology. ' ‘ ’ _dec 21 * dtrStw ts II Vll LI 4H. ANNUAL'S l''0!l 1539. OOK of Rovalty 9 Linden’s Tul leaux, licauty’s Costume, Drawing Roam Scrap Book, Juvenile Scrap Rook, Oiimt.il Annual, Landscape do Keepsake forget Ale Not With many other English and all the American Annuals lor IS i.O, with other tin ; books, suitable lor the approaclpingy io y.lays. For sale by d £l 20 _ * ' T. 11. PLANT. JF. SE TZK, has received an additional sun • p'y of Rest jet black Italian Lustring Silk, “ “ Gros da Rhine li blue and jet black Reps Fancy fign.ed, colored do Blue and jet black, figured Poult do Sore, }’! ai “ “ “ do do fig d blue, black, Armine Silk Sp endid needle-worked Co lain, all prices Rich black, Chantilla f i lls, from SC to $22 Ladies black Mohair, Me.ino and Thibet Hose black Thibet-wool Shawls Black, while, pink and blue Satins White, blue and pint - coos de Naples Silk Long Picnic emves 6-4 Irßa 4.111011, suitable for Pil'ow cases ma a F S'u h wo r !'i ,u ClotiiS ' aiHl Dros dc Nap Merino i>lac.\ Phibet Cloth Rich piano Covers dcc 20 <*»ANITE company, f ’ 1 V . , ’ “Dangers, one and all, did you know V teat about 8 miles from Augusta the;e is ap parently an mxhanstablc quarry of excellent Gran ite, which has been buried in the bowels of the earth for ages p«t, and has hitherto been of no service. H.vww of this, tiiemw--. ° 1 tmmm no lOngi-nT dormant for tne want ot hard Urmnlro f>\ vnnilf'e . .uUai.io for building. There fore we have taken a lease of the Quarry, and en tered into co-partnership fur. the purpose of carry ing on the Stone Cutting business in all Us branch es. We will lay tiie St.me down in any part of Augusta, at the Boston prices, with the freight and commission from that place to this added. We are now prepared to receive orders for P'rents of any description, also Window Caps and .Sills, Door do., Edge Stone, Gutter Stone, and in fact all kinds of work that Granite was ever used for. dec 5 ts CHTP.MAN & HEAD. 171011 SALE—A large and valuable Plantation, ' in the 6th di- trkt of Early county, on Spring creek, and in the neighborhood of lands belonging to Major Robert Taylor, of Athens. It contains about Ticu Thousand acres; six hundred and fifty of which arc under new, high and substantial lances. About four hundred acres have been cultivated, and on the remainder of that which is under fence, the timber has been deadened and it would produce well another year. The place has every necessary out building, gin house, screw-pack, barn, corn houses, stables, negro houses, See. &c.,aU large and commo dious. It is the wish of the subscriber to sell with the plantation, corn fodder, stock of every descrip tion, plantation utensils, St. 1 ,, negroes excepted. A groat bargain is offered in the above property; ! it be ing too distant from my residence, is the reason j for desiring to dispose of it. The location of the I settlement indicates health, and up to this time, the negroes employed upon it have enjoyed line health. , Major Taylor knows the property, and will inform any one respecting it—or information can be had by application to mo at Savannah, nov C trwStwCw E. D. IIUGUENIN. (fj"'The Columbus Enquirer will please publish the above six times, and charge the same to this I office. CO-PA KT.VEIiMI IP. rip HE undersigned having I alien A. ROWLAND t! into partnership, the WAREHOUSE AND COMMISSION BUS.NT ESS will he conducted un der the linn ol Baird Jj- Howland, alter Ist of Octo] her n xt. HLiNJ BAIRD sent. 18 20 ITVJE DOLLARS RFAVAKD. Strayed or Stolen, from a lot it the upper end of Broad street, At’ U* ‘Wt gusta, a bay P('NV, with a bridlt JSj^iiiinilsaddle; his hind feet up to tin A t fjUi fetlock joints are botii white, and hii left eye is out. He is well knowt j in Augusta, having formerly belonged to L. P. Du gas, and Mr. Wilcox. A reward ol live dollars will be given for him. JOHN M. C. EVANS, nov 20 dim Cl LOTH CLOAKS. —Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s J Cloth Cloaks, of superior qualities, and made | in the best manner, just received and forstlebwby nov 24 witrwtlstmar J. D. CRANE & Co. N'OTIGE. —Sealed proposals will be received at the Augusta Arsenal until the first day of Jan uary next, for supplying the Garrison with wood, corn, and hay, in such quantities as may be required, and also, for renting the old Arsenal lot and man sion thereon. The wood is to be of good sound oak, i and to be corded as c!o-e as practicable, the sticks j straight and of medium size, caL each cord to con tain 12S cubic feet. The corn "d hay or fodder (in | case l ay cannot be procured,) must liken se be sound and of fair merchantable qua ity. Security ! wifi he required for the faithful performance of all | obligations entered into under this notice. Address | Commanding Clficer. td dec 12 ! PROTECT'IOW IiVSUUANCKCOMPANY. 1 1 HIE undersigned, ngenls of the Protection In * surancoCompany of Hanford, Connecticut. I are prepared to insure buildings and ilieir ciiiilcnte against loss or damage by fin on the mosl reas-ina bleterms. VV, & J. CI.CATLIN. or* 31 elf 255 bliarieston lusarance Ae Trust Company Capital One Million Dollars —all paid in, ACtIKCV, AUGUSTA. rs>l IE subscriber is prepared to take Fire ain! t Mr,- X lino risks at the current rates of premium. robf.rt McDonald, oct 30 3m Agent C. L&: 1, Ce,