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WILLIAM E. JONES & Co. AUGUSTA, Gv. TUESDAY MORNING. AUGUST 20. 1839 , r rrT
VoL. ni.—N0.,85
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i'HRONICLE AND SENTINEL.
f \ u GVBTA.
MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 19.
The Next Congress.
The extraordinary results of the recent elec
tions, render it altogether probable that the ad
ministration will again command a majority in
the next House of Representatives. The follow
ing is the result in the Slates which have already
elected their members.
Opposition. Administration.
Maine, 2
New Hampshire, •>
Vermont, 3 ~
Massachusetts, 10 S
Connecticut, 6
New York, 21 lb
Pennsylvania, 11 1 '
New Jersey, 1 •'
Ohio, M * *
Michigan,
Illinois, 1-
Missouri, 3
Tennessee, 7 ,J
Indiana, 1 b
Delaware,
Virginia, 9 1'
North Carolina, 6 7
South Carolina, 2 ‘
Georgia, 9
Alabama, 2 3
Louisiana, 3
Arkansas, 1
102 116
There are eight contested seats, viz: five in
New Jersey, one in Pennsylvania, one in Vir
ginia, and one in Illinois. We have, in every
instance, in the above classification, placed the
disputed seats to that party which received the
highest number of votes, without reference to the
legality of the returns.
There are four States yet to be heard from.
. which elect twenty-five members, viz : Kentucky
’ thirteen. Rhode Island two, Maryland eight, and
Mississippi two. Os these twenty-five members,
the opposition had in the Inst Congress twenty
one, and the administration four, ihe opposi
tion, it is ascertained, have already lost one in
Kentucky, Mr. Southgate.
North Carolina.
The following are the members ot Congress
elect from this State:—Messrs. Jesse A. Bynum,
Charles Sheperd, M. T. Hawkins. J. J. McKay,
William Montgomery, Henry W. Conner, and
John Hill, Van Burenites; and Messrs. Lewis
Williams, Jas. Graham, Edmund Deberry. Ed
ward Stanley, Charles Fisher and Kenneth
Rayner, Whigs.
Indiana.
The following are the names of the members
of Congress elected from this State —(viz) Wm.
W. Wick, John Carr, J. W. Davis, Tnomas
Smith, T. A Howard, and Robert D. Owen, all
Van Buren men; and James R.tridcn, VVhig.
New Cotton.
Five bales of new Cotton were received on
Saturday last, from the plantation of Judge liyne,
of Burke county, and stored at the warehouse of
Messrs. Stovall, Simmons & Co. The quality,
we learn, is good—Hi cents was refused for it.
Two bales of new Cotton, of good texture and
excellent quality—good fair to fine—were receiv
ed at Hamburg on Saturday last, from the plan
' tation of D. Prescott, Esq., of Edgefield District’
S, C„ and sold to Mr. John E. McDonald, for
18 J cents per pound.
/ - A
/ The Hon. Franklin H. Elmore, a member o)
'Congress from the Richland District, S. C„ has
resigned his seat. It is understood that lie is to
be appointed President of the State Bank, to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge
y
Two Days Later from Europe.
The ship Oncco, at Boston, brings Liverpool
papers to 13th July.
There was a continued decline in the price of
cotton uni 1 the 11th, when considerable sales
were made, and on the 12th there was an ad
vance in price of £to sd. The sales ot the week
amount to 21,480, and imports to 30,882 bales.
There had been some improvement in the cot
ton trade in Manchester, in consequence of favor
able news and huge orders from Calcutta.
The authorities had withdrawn the military
and police from the streets of Birmingham, and
the town was comparatively quiet.
The crops’aro represented to be extremely
good, and never looked better or gave greater pro
mise of a plentiful supply.
In the House, on the 1 lib. them was a debate
on Sir William Molesworth's motion, of which
he had previously given notice, viz: “ That it is
the opinion of tins House that every considera
tion of humanity, justice and policy demands that
Parliament should seriously apply itself, without |
delay, to legislating for the permanent govern
ment of Her Majesty’s provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada.’
On the same day it went into committee on
the Lower Canada Government Bill, and the
several clauses were adopted—the second clause
bv a vote of 174 to 150. Lord Stanley voting
with the nays,
Mr. Atwood’s motion to take up the great
Chartists petition was to have precedence in the
House of Commons on the 12th.
The Paris papers are principally occupied in
endeavors to induce the Government to forego
the execution of any of the insurgents of the
1 ‘2 th of May, who may he capitally condemned by
the Court of Peers.
Letters from Bagdad announce the over flow ot
the Tigris, which bud laid the whole city nearly
under water. It Was stated that already more
than one thousand houses had been destroyed.
Turret.—Letters from < onstantinople of the
19th ult. represents the recovery of the Sultan as
almost hopeless. The heir of the Ottoman
j throne is a young man about 19 years of age,
brought up in that seclusion so common to Prin
ces of the Osntanlis dynasty, of whose notions
of government nothing can he known before his
assumption of the Imperial and pontilicial au
thority—hence the indisposition of Mahmoud is
an affair of more than ordinary interest. But the
Sultan’s illness has not in the least cooled his ar
dor for war. On the contrary he has expressed
himself indifferent to the protraction of his life
after seeing Mehcmet Alt and his son in chains
before him. The recovery of Egypt and Syria
would reconcile him to the loss of Greece.
Since the last advices from Constantinople, the
Sultan has diffused great joy among the inhabi
tant’s, by the promulgation of a firman abolishing
the government monopoly of bread and the house
tax imposed for defraying the expenses of quar
antine establishments. His highness has more
over commanded, that to all persons who have
paid the house-tax, the sums paid by them, shall
be returned on application to the imperial treas
ury.
Liverpool, July 12.
Cotton —The market opened with the same limit
ed and inanimate demand as marked the close of
lest week, and on each day prices gradually gave
way in favor of the buyer until yesterday, when a
complete panic seized the majority of the holders
of American Cotton, and the most irregular sales
were made, but generally a Id. per lb. below
closing prices of Friday last. At this great de
cline the trade bought freely', and showed an equal
disposition this morning to go on with their pur
chases, but have been in a great measure stopped
by the holders suddenly withdrawing a great por
tion of the Cotton that had been previously press
ing and demanding generally «d a j-d advance
in prices. A more limited business has conse
quently' been transacted, hut as the advance has
been obtained, the market has assumed a move de
cided appearance, and something approaching a
correct quotation can be given. The ordinary qua
lities of Upland and New Orleans are now : fd, and
the fair and good j a below the currency of
this day week. In Brazil and Surat, the changes
have not been so great, and the decline docs not
exceed od a Jjd. In Egyptian no change to notice
Import of this week 30.&52 hags; sales (including
10U0 American on speculation, and 22(i0 American,
60 Surat, and 360 Bengal for export.) 21,150 of
which 1(>0 were Spa Island 21 a 3uj; -I3DI I Upland
6 aS- 3 UK) Alabama and Mobile 5J a 8; BSJ New
Orleans a 9.
Manchester, July 12.
Cotton. —The commercial news from ' alcutta
this week is most favorable; sales have been ex
tensive at good prices, and large orders have come
to hand, principally for printed Calicoes and the
lower descriptions of hand loom cloths.
The general business has been better than the
last week, and when it is considered that Cotton
has declined fuhy .0 percent, and that power loom
fabrics have maintained their value, things must be
pronoueced more healthy. Hand loom calicoes,
however, arc easier to buy. Twist in low num
bers is a shade lower.
The best descriptions of shirtings have become
scarce and an order of some extent could not be
executed by purchases from lirst houses. < n the
whole, a better tone pervades the general business
of thedistiiet. It is understood that there are very
large orders in town for twist from Russia. On y
let the manufactures and spinners continue to work
short time a little longer, and we sh ill soon see a
living prolit for all e igaged in the trade.
•London, July 11.
Little business in the English Stock market. —
Consols are shade lower, being last mar ed at 92 a i
ex. di v. for money, and a | foracconut Three
percents Reduced are the same as yesterday, 92 J
a j, and the three and a half arc j per cent higher,
being last quoted 69 f a j ex. div. Exchequer
bills remain at 20 a 245. premium, and Bank Stock
191 £ a 192.
(lotion seems at any rate to have stiuck bot
tom in the Liverpool market so hard as to cause
some rebound, and to have fallen so low as to
make the Manchester men eager to buy. ft is
one of the best features that trade at Manchester
had assumed a much better appearance.—Balti
more American.
Public Meeting.
At a meeting of the citizens of Augusta, at
the City Hall, on Saturday, the 17 th of August.
1839, held in pursuance of a resolution of the
City Council,
His Honor the Mayor was called to the chair,
and Andrew .1. Miller, appointed Secretary.
The Chairman stated the object of the meeting
to be to take into further consideration the me
morial of the South Carolina Canal and Kail
Road Company, praying to be allowed the pri
, vilege of crossing the Savannah river and of es
tablishing a depository in the city.
Whereupon E<l ward F. Campbell, Esq. offered
the following resolutions, which being seconded,
/were adopted, to wit:
f Resolved, That the importance of the subject
which we are called upon to consider, entitles
those of our fellow-citizens who arc at present
absent, to an opportunity of expressing their
opinions.
Resolved, That the further consideration of the
memorial, of the South Carolina Canal and Kail
Road Company, be postponed until Saturday, the
second day of November next, and that this meet
ing stand adjourned to 12 o’clock, M. of that day.
A. GUMMING, Chairman.
A. .1. Milieu. Secretary
The Mobile papers announce the death of the
Hon. Henri Hitchcock, a distinguished citi
zenjof that place, and one of the most eminent
jurists of Alabama. He died of the yellow fever.
The Merchants and Planters’ Journal, says;—
“The death of Judge Hitchcock has casta
very heavy gloom oicr the city—not only from
the particular loss of a citizen filling so wide a
space in the community, and so high a station in
their esteem, but from the circumstances of his
death, which are ominous of disaster. His dis
ease was yellow fever of the most unequivocal
kind—a fact which it is a public duty (or us to
promulgate. There were during a few days pre
vious, other suspicious cases—some ol them
hardly more questionable, but his is one likely
from ills station, habits, long residence, and, care
fulness, and the abundance of his means for the
best medical preventives and attendance, to
spread alarms for the future. Our readers at
home and abroad, will see in it just grounds for
apprehension, though not enougli to enable litem
to pronounce positively that the epidemic has
fixed itself upon us, yet sufficient to cull for the
use of all proper caution and preparation.”
.V Correspondence if the North American.
j Nkw Youk, Aug. 13,3 P. M. '
’ i Considerable sensation has been caused this I
' j morning and a great deal of talk, by the news 1
1 | Irani England via Boston. At the first view of,
! the news, il was considered unfavorable; but up- '
1 I on mature reflection it has been put down as fa- *
s j vorable by' an almost unanimous vote.
1 I The sales of Cotton here to-day have been at I
' ' steady prices, and quite as large as for some days I
past. Flour is without change. North Caroli- I
s na and Virginia Wheat stlis at $1,35, a 1,38. —
s Corn, 87a91 cents.
Hills on England continue plenty and money
B scarce. Good bills have been sold this morning
c j at 8 premium.
■ | Some kinds of stocks are lower considerably,
and among them United States Bank, which sold j
at ; North American Trust Company fell
• ii perch
Front the National Intelligencer.
Mr. Clay aud Abolition.
, We find the annexed very interesting letter in
I the Norfolk Herald. It was in reply to one ad
dressed to Mr. flay by a committee of the Whigs
1 of Nanscmond county, Va, enclosings resolution
, ■ declaring “that the gallant stand of the Southern
I I Whig members of the late Congress of the Unit
j ed States, and particularly the efforts of Messrs.
; Clay, of the Senate, Stanley, of North Carolina,
Prentiss, of Mississippi, and Wise, of Virginia, of
tho House of Representatives, to expose and
check the fell demon of Abolition, entitle them to
the cordial thanks and gratitude of the friends of
peace and good order throughout the whole
Southern country.”
Ashland, May 25, 1839.
Gknti.icmkn : I duly received the letter which
you did me the iionor to address to me. transmit
ting a copy of a resolution adopted at a meeting
ot the Whigs of Nanscmond county, recently
held.
Whilst, I hut too sensibly feel that they have
placed an estimate entirely too high and flattering
upon my capacity and upon the public services
which 1 have lieen able to render, it affords me
very great satisfaction to learn that I have been
| so fortunate as to obtain their approbation ; and :
i 1 request you to communicate to those whom
you represent my respectful and grateful acknowl
edgements for the sentiments of respect and es
teem with an expression of which they have
honored me.
| At too session of Congress prior to the last, I
presented resolutions to the Senate touching the
institution of domestic slavery, embracing all the
principles applicable to the subject, the mainte
nance of which appeared to me necessary to the
security of property, the stability of our system
of general government, and harmony among the
States of the Union. At the last session of Con
gress, the ultra Abolitionists had presented them
selves under a new and alarming aspect. Instead
of restricting their exertions to moral persuasion,
addressed to the consciences of slaveholders,
keeping aloof from parties and politics, as they
originally professed to be their intention, they
had openly proclaimed their purpose to enter the
political arena, and, denouncing all who did not
adopt iheii dogmas and agree with them, to force
their principles and their men by the aid of the
! ballot box. Il required but little foresight to
1 discern the frightful consequences which would
| result from this change of their position, if they
1 should succeed. The Union would be first con
-1 vulsed throughout, and finally broken into frag
| merits. I thought, therefore, at the lasi session,
that the time was suitable to warn the country of
the designs and efforts; and hence the speech
which has commended itself to the approbation
of the Whigs of Nanscmond. That speech is
hut an expansion of the argument embodied in
the resolutions of the previous session. And I
shall he most happy it it should contribute any
thing towards arresting the mad career of these
. misguided men, and towards preserving the Un
, ion. which is the surest guaranty of all the high
, privileges which we enjoy.
, In the Constitution of that Union there is not
r a solitary provision, fairly interpreted and fairly
. administered, which authorizes any interference
of Congress with domestic slavery as il. exists in
the United States. There is not one, relating to
the subject, which docs not recognise and treat
slaves as lawful property, or look to the safety
l and security of that property. The clause which
fixes the representation in the popular branch of
Congress establishes a ratio founded upon the
I acknowledged existence of slave States, slaves are
assumed to he lawful property. On tho occasion
, of the imposition of a direct tax to prosecute the
late war with Great Britain, slaves were taxed by
Congress as .flares, and their proprietors paid the
? lax accordingly. The provision which secures
- the surrender of fugitive slaves to their owners of
I course admits that they are legitimate property,
and was intended to preserve peace and harmony
among the States. I have seen, with inexpressi
- hie surprise and deep regret, that it has been con
tended not only that this conservative stipula
j lion may be evaded, but that it is even meritori
ous to violate it. Meritorious to violate an ex
’ press injunction of that Constitution which many
of us are solemnly sworn, and all are hound faith
i fully to support! If any citizens of the United
States, who object to a particular part of the
Constitution, may elude and disregard it, other
t citizens, dissatisfied with other parts, have an
r equal right to violate them; and universal nulli
fication of the sacred instrument would be the
necessary consequence.
; I agree with you, gentlemen, in most of what
1 you say in regerd to the present condition of our
3 public affairs. In contemplating it there is much
to depress, hut, I rejoice to say, much also to an
imate and encourage the genuine patriot, and to
• stimulate his most energetic exertion. New and
alarming principles, dangerous practices, great
| abuses, and extensive corruption, have been in
troduced into the general administration during
the few last years. I have witnessed their pro
-2 gress with profound regret and deep mortification.
. | But sentiments of despair are never to he indul
t j god as to the fortunes or fate of the republic. An
| enlightened and virtuous people require only to
• j he convinced of the evil to apply an efficacious
j remedy ; and this conviction is forcing itself up
, on them, in spite of all the efforts which have
, been made and are making to deceive and betray
t them.
! I thank yon, gentlemen, cordially, for the
, | friendly and flattering manner in which you have
. I executed the commission assigned to you by the i
I Whigs of Nanscmond. and request you to he as- i
i i sured of the sentiments of esteem and regard
| witli which I am, faithfully,
i 1 °ur friend and obedient servant,
„ , H. CLAY. ■
Messrs. John C. Chump, Thus. H. P. Goon- i
. win, and John C. Cohoon, &c. &e.
From the Charleston Mercury.
English Post Uifice Reform.
In this great, question, the revolution of opinion
and ot the system, has been wrought by a simple ,
1 arithmetical demonstration,
i 1 l,e British Post Office System resembles a
I " —"V •
I c ' o3e corporation, consisting of an Executive, tlih.
Post Master (ieneral, who, with his subordinates
manages and controls the department. The mails
arc carried by contract, at a rate of postage horn
two pence to one shilling two pence per single
sheet. Ihe uniform practice of years had made
the system apart of the ■''late, arid removed en
tirely from popular cognizance and control. Of
ficial opposition had heretofore defeated all efforts
to reduce the exorbitant ami oppressive rates; the
system went on, and produced for the last twen
ty-live years a gross revenue of above twenty-two
hundred thousand pound sterling, or between ele
ven and twelve millions of dollars, of which in
come. one million and a half of pounds were nett
revenue.
In 1837, Rowland Hill, a private gentleman of
London, took up the subject and proposed, in a
pamphlet, to remodel the system, abolishing the
existing rate of postage, and the practice of charg
ing double and treble postage, dee, according to
the number of enclosures, together w ith the com
plex arrangement for Post .Master’s accounts, and
to substitute a imitdrm rate ol postage, without
regard to distance, of one penny for each half
ounce, collected in advance,
Phe result was in time a full conviction on the
part of the public, of the correctness of his views,
and the practicability of so great a benefit.
Mr. llill first fixed attention by the startling
fact, that notwithstanding the advances of popu
lation, wealth, commerce, education and their
concomitants, the revenue of the Post Office, had
been nearly stationary for above twenty years.
As a reduction of taxes was probable in 1837, it
was important to select that subject oftaxalion
in which reduction would give most reliefto the
people, with the least loss of revenue to the Gov
ernment. Os course the Impost would he select
ed which had been most defective in keeping
pace with the advancing wealth and numbers of
the nation, and this was demonstrative of postage.
From tables it was made apparent that for twen
ty years the revenue of the. Post Office had slight
ly diminished, whereas if it had kept pace with
the population, there must have liecn tin increase
ol 507,700 pounds per annum—u falling off,
therefore, of hall a million a year, without taking
into account the increase of trade, wealth and ed
ucation.
Phe loss was more evid cut on comparison of
the postage tax with that from the less onerous
stage coach duties—subject to the same influen
ces, the revenue of the latter progressively increa
sing and of the former diminishing from year to
year. If the demand for conveyance of letters
hud kept pace with that for conveyance of persons
and parcels, it was demonstrated that there must./
in effect have been a loss In the Post Office reverie
uc ol two millions ol pour ids a year. This was
farther proved by the expen enee of France where
with lower rates of postage the revenue had in
creased in five years from 2- 1,000,000 to 37,000,-
000 (nines, or filly four per cent. According? to
this, and the superior advance ol England in pop
ulation and commerce, the E nglisli receiptsought
to have increased by 75 percent, instead of di
minishing or remaining stationary. If laid with
a view to revenue solely, tin adore, regardless of
public convenience, the tax i ideated its object by
being too high.
The nett revenue of the Post, Office being
more than double the cost i if management, and
one third of the mail consi sting of franks and
newspapers paying no postage, it followed,
the tax on transmission of letters in Great Bri
tain was more than three, h limited per cent on
the actual cost of transinisi lion.
Mr. Hill shows that any obstacle to the free
transmission of letters and other papers injures
other branches of revenue- -hut that is not a con
sideration ol a t ather’s wi right compared to the
hindrance of the intellect ual, moral; and reli
gious progress of the peopl-And to this view
ot the subject ho adds the important considera
tion, that, if tire law inter posed not, capitalists
Would undertake the tram (mission of letters, on
ordinary commercial princi pies, and he interested
in using all proper economy, skill and attention ;
hut the Post Office being 1 y law a monopoly, its
conductors have not the ordinary stimulants to
enterprise and good inanag emenl—and however
badly conducted it may he , the people must sub
mit. The Legislature is t’nercfore responsible for
all the mischief of its man agement.
He next considered the extent of reduction of
postage practicable withoi it injuring the revenue.
He calculates the average cost of com eying un
der the varying circumstances of distances, <fec.
and adds the amount of (July necessary to pro
duce the revenue require d.
He first ascertains the present actual cost, part
of which is on account of franked letters and
newspapers.
The number of taxed letters per
annum, is 88,600,000
Os franked letters, 7,400,000
Os newspapers, 30,000,000
Total, 126,000,000
The total annual expense is £096,569, which
embraces all the bounties of the priviledged great
in this business,"with $200,000 insuper.innuna
tion allowances yearly, and royal pensions to
dukes, &c., and the enormous cost of twenty
eight percent, for expenses of collection, the ac
tual cost of carrying a letter, under all these ex
penses, being a out one and one-third pence each.
He then deducts, the unnecessary expenses,
and estimates those indispensable for carrying the
mail and concluding tire business-of the depart
ment, and, taking the existing salaries as they
were, found that the whole cost of transit was
£144,209 —being twenty-eight hundredths of a
penny for each letter, frank, or paper. The cost
of receipt and delivery, including the regal allow
ances of tire General Post Office, salaries to offi
cers end subordinates, rate of collection, and
£30,248 of pensions, amounted to £282,308,
being fifty-six hundredths of a penny for each
letter or paper—making, conjointly, eighty-four
hundredth of a penny for all expenses of each ar
ticle transmitted. Deducting the heavy .articles
of newspapers and franked letters, would leave
an average expense on taxed letters of only nine
hundredths of a penny.
These calculations were verified by another
and infallible test. He ascertained the cost of
carrying the mail the four hundred miles, between
London and Edinburg, including the mails of all j
•he intermediate places,to be five pounds per day |
the average nett weight of mail so carried to besix l
hundred weight. The cost was, therefore, for a j
newspaper weighing an ounce and a half, about 1
cne-uixlk of it penny for a quarter of an ounce, |
the weight of a single letter, one thirty-sixth of 1
u penny. As 400 miles exceeded much the av- }
erage of distances, he deduced from the forego
ing results the first grand principle of his scheme, |
viz:
‘•lf the charge of postage he made proportion- |
ate to the whole expenses of receipt, transit and ;
delivery, and collection of the postage of a letter, \
it rnu-t he made .uniformly the same from every i
post town to every other post town in the king- 1
dom, unless it can be shown how we can collect
so small a sum as the thirty-sixth part of a |
penny.”
—.—-
s. 3s it would take a letter of nine times
the single letter's weight to cost one farthing.
“luxation apart, the lux ought to he precisely j
the same for every packet ol moderate weight,
without reference to the number of enclosures."
I he next ana was to simplify the complex ma
chinery of the Department, resulting, as he be
lieved, not from the necessary business ol the de
partment but from •ts tax gathering purpose.
The expenses on the receipt anil delivery of let
ters were found to consist almost wholly of sala- j
ries to Post Other seriants and officers, viz; su- i
perintendents, including postmasters and keepers I
ot receiving houses, and clerks, messengers, and j
letter carriers. By simplifying operations, the \
first class he proved could do much more husi- i
ness. Ihe duties ol clerks, which he details, are ;
analogous entirely with those of the clerks in the :
I idled Slates. That ot the curriers is to deliver
letters and receive postage. The very complex :
and hurried duties of the clerks in charging. &e„ I
letters ol various postage, and the tedious process J
ot receiving by the camera, he proposes to slm- !
plify and cut oil by his third great principle.
“ J hat the postage besides being of low and uni
form rate, and regulated by weight—should in all !
eases be payable in advance.
His plan was the combination of these princi
ples—the public would hi' willing to pay a low
rate in advance—the uniformity of the rale sim
plifies the accounts —and the paying in advance, i
leaves nothing farther to be done respecting a let- j
ler in tlie office, except to deliver it promptly anil I
safely.
He then showed that under suit) arrangement j
the actual establishment could transact five times j
the present amount of business, and allowing lor
increase of mileage—he showed that while the
business of the actual establishment cost £426,- ,
517. —a fourfold amount of business would not
cost more than £651,248; being a cost of a I
farthing and three tenths Ibr a single letter.
He proposed therefore that the rale of postage
should be fixed at one penny per half ounce, re
gardless of distance—ami heavier packets to any
convenient limit should be charged at the same
rate.
To collect in advance—he proposed the issue
of stamped covers from the Post Office—for all
requisite packages; to he sold at a price including
the postage—each having the weight it was enti
tled to carry legibly printed on the stamp—and
to go through tlie mails as a frank. Sheets of
letter paper w nuld he stamped in the part used for
the address. Newspaper wrappers and covers of
cheap paper also to be stamped. Postmasters to
be required to keep these for sale—and a discount
'allowed to me.ko it their interest, and that of .sta
tions to sell them. The low price would riot
tempt forgery. The stamp of the receiving house
to he struck on each frank to prevent its use a
second lime.
1. The Pont Office would thus ho relieved
from collecting the revenue.
2- The receipt of letters would he prompt and
easy without the trouble of receiving money,
making change, charging, &c.
3. Exceptions to the usual rate would he of
little inconvenience—tor the weight allowed am!
the destination whether for local or general dis
tribution would be expressed on the stamp.
It would transfer the receipt of Postage to the
Stump Office, but there it would he in large sums
a number of stamps being bought at once, ands
, consequently the number of payments would he
reduced by a thousand to one.
With machinery the cost of stamping would
lie a mere tride.
The objections in the case of ignorant poisons
unaccustomed to write, are then met by several
proposals.
On taking the lettes from the box each is to he
stamped with the date and addiess of the receiv
ing house, with a telltale stump—which on a
well known plan counts the number of letters
impressed. Each letter when stamped to he
thrown into a box marked with the initials of the
Post Town to which it is addressed. These a'e
the leading features—besides which Mr. Hill gave
the minute details and various modifications of
his (dan —and met and answered candidly anil sa
tisfactorily the objections to it, such as the diffi
culties in the secondary distribution of letters.—
As to Foreign Letters he proposed that all leav- ,
ing the kingdom should he charged double the
English postage —and all coming i to the coun
try should he delivered free. 4he postage claim
ed by the foreign government to he paid by the
foreign resident. This arrangement would be
practically the same in result. The English
resident would pay bis share at. oncei nsteadofiii
two payments—and there would be no necessity
of negotiating with foreign governments in the
matter.
Parliamentary inquiry sustained Mr. Hill’s cal
culation of the amount of letters annually pass
ing through ;he Post Office. Iry an aggregate still
higher than his.
Also, as to the anticipated increase of letters,
from adopting his plan. It was found that the
illicit transit of letters exceeded that of the Post
Office.
Mr. Hill’s pamphlet circulated rapidly and pro- I
duced a powerful impression on tlie popular
mind. The attention of Parliament was culled
and gi .en to the subject. A committee was ap
pointed, and after thorougly investigating, re
ported in favor of the plan, complimenting Mr.
llill warmly, but proposing under the circum
stances a modified adoption of the scheme, viz:
that the rates on all inland general post letters
should be reduced to a uniform charge of two
pence per half ounces, with an increase of a penny
for each additional half ounce. They also pro
posed the partial adoption of his mode of collect
in postage in advance by means of stamped cov- j
ers, with some other similar modifications of the |
existing system.
The plan thus far triumphed in spite of the |
furious opposition and incorrect testimony of the j
Post office officials, whose misrepresentation or
ignorance, or both together, earned them the je
marked but silent contempt of parliament—undl
on the 7th of July last, the Chancellor of the
Exehcqucr formally recommended to Parliament
the adoption of the plan in its original simplicity
—merely requiring a pledge from that body to
cover any deficiency in the revenue which might
result at first from so great a change. The min
istry adopted and recommended the proposed
[jenny postage in tlie most liberal spirit, and to
their honor, to give the plan every advantage, rc
! commended the abolition of the privilege of par
! liamentary and official franking.
In tins abstract, we have endeavored to bring
within our limits by condensing so much of the I
already condensed account given in the Demo- j
cratic. Review, ns might afford our readers an '
understanding of the lending features of this very i
important and highly interesting reform. For 1
more full information we recommend them to
the Review, which promises at an early period, |
I to inquire into the applicability of the system to j
I the United States.
',We I, Bob, how much did your pig weigh?’—
I “Oh don t know, it did'nt weigh as much as 1 ex
-1 peeled—l always thought it wouldn't."
tram Ihc Southern li,inner.
Retail of Intoxicating Drinks.
Tn the People >,f Oo,i j; a .-
The following issue lias been mud, up and pro.-
wtitetl, lei low-eit Irens, tor your decision;
Huh the Lcgisiaiutc of the State, the right,
>'!ul in it their duty to pass a law to suppress) tip
pl'.rsg houses'?
Holding ns tire undersigned do, the affirmative
Ol both ol those propositions, we have submitted
the question lor your determination. Tire next
enquiry is, how is public, opinion with inspect to
this matter, to be tested I In other words, should
we fail to obtain a majority of the people to sign
our memorials. Is it just to infer that we are In the
minority ! W e think not, for many reasons.
I wo only need he assigned, to satisfy you of the
correctness of our conclusion. In st phee—
these petitions cun not be presented to every per*
son—nor perhaps even to a moily of our 'entire
population; and secondly, many who lake sides
wiih us, are unwilling to j ut their names to k
paper. As we wish nothing hut lair plav, then,
we shall insist (hat the opposition get up counter
memorials, as they are doing in some of the
Counties, and let the result be ascertained by the
plurality ot signatures. So far as we. have any
control over this movement, we pledge ourselves
to ask no action of the Assembly, unless our
numbers exceed greatly the. numbers of the oppo
sition. Ihe plan hero proposed is-not new, but
claims universal precedent loi its authority. The
t vile here proposed is that which is acted upon by
till’ British Parliament, tire Congress ot tile Urri
ted States, the Legislatures of the respective
States, and every other deliberate body so tar os
we know. JOS]AH FLOURNOY.
•los. HENRY LUMPKIN.
Athens, Aug. nth, 1839,
N. H. The newspapers of the State ore res
pectfully solicited us a personal favor, to publish
the foregoing card.
Consignees per South ('n loliim Kail Road.
llambuku, August 17, 1839.
K. D. Cooke; T. Dawson; Rankin, Hoggs Ai C 0...
T. Richards; Stovall, Simmons « Co.; Rees St lie all-
Antony St Haines; Bones A Carmichael; Havilaud,
Risley Sc Co.; J. F. Henson; George Parrott; J. \V.
Stokes; A. Sibley; P. Fleming; Hand S; Scranton;
Kcrnagban & Wray.
COMMERCIAL.
Latest dales from Liverpool, lull/ 13
J.alesl dates from Havre July 9
Charleston, August 17.
Cotton. —With tb." exception of a few bags Up
lands taken occasionally to supply Northern manu
factures, nothing has, or can he done: -all are wait
ing In expei Ution for better prospects, destined
perhaps to speedy disappointment.
Hire. —As will be peieeived, the operations in
Rice since out last, have been very light although
prices are fully sustained. Prime qualities meet
with little or no demand most of it being in stole.
The sales amount to 471 tierces, and were ellec
ted principally for the West Indian and Northern
markets, lx! at 11-16: 33,4 1-b; 7S, 271, 4jjj
and SO, 4y per ewt.
I■'lour. —loo hols Howard street brought ;
to S-, 50 bids new Baltimore at go bbis. Canal
at 7y. A feli bills Richmond country at j7 to 1
and a lot of “Haxall” at per bid.
Grain Three cargoes Corn arrived this week,
amounting to 85(10 bushels and were disposed of at
911 to H-0c per bushel; 3000 busl els Oats brought
43c. In- Peas there is nothing doing
Hay. —loo bales so d at $l, and several smal
lots at Ho ets. per ewt.
Groceries i lie operations in Groceries were on
quite a limited scale, the demand being cormncd to
domestic wants. Prices are, however, kept up in
view of favorable anticipations: 4,0 birds. Muscova
do Sugac sold at 7y to -Sc , about 00 hit Is. do. at 8
to 9y, and a few scattering lots prime at 10jc. per
lb. Codec has born.retailed at 9to ULc. per lb
Bacon. —3oo Haltilnoi Mams brought at auction
10 to 10 l-2c per lb. We quote Hams at 16 to 17
cts.; SkiesB4 to 94; Shoulders 10 to per lb.
Lard— Is ia little request, worth 13 cents.
Salt. —Bso sacks Liverpool brought $1 75c. a.
sack.
exchange. —(in England and France nominal.
/Sight Exchanges on the North 14 per cent.-Aakcs
Hills on New York, Boston, Baltimore, and
niond 30 days par; 60 do. 4 dis. 90, 14 do.; Phila
delphia, do. on New l.rleans and Mobile 14 per
cent.; on Camden and Columbia, S. C. par.
Freight.— To Liveipool dull at to 7-lOd per
lb. for Cotton. To Havre, f cent per lb. To New
York, 00 centj per bag for Cotton, luce, 50 ets.
per tierce.
statement of cotton.
S. Island. Upland./
on hand Ist Get. 1838, 924 2219
Received this week, 00 412
Previously, 11037 200190
11961 202521
Exported this week, 61 1654
Previously, 10384 197119
On shipboard not cleared, 00 314
10448 199057
Stock on hand 1513 3734
Savannah, August 16.
Cotton. —Arrived since the Dili inst. 327 bales
Upland, and cleared at the same time 1657 bales
Upland and 44 hales Sea Island, viz: to Liverpool
11«2 bales Upland and 44 bales Sea island; New
York 96 bales; Baltimore 79; leaving a stock on
hand including all on shipboard not cleared on the
Kith inst. of 1469 bales Upland and 11 1 bales Sea
Island 1 otton. The market is perfectly “in ca rn”
and we hear of no sales this week, prices nominal
and but Rule oflering. Tire new crop is beginning
to appear. In Sr :i Island nothing doing.
Rice. —There is but a limited demand, and smal!
sales are made from 4j a 44. Stock light.
Flour. —The market continues dull. Sales of
150 bbis Howard street at a 74.
Corn— Two cargo about «500 bushels arrived
this week were disposed of at 95 cents. 3000 bush
els oats at 53 cents.
* Groceries —ln Coffee, Sugar and Molasses a
moderate retail business doing at former prices.
Hay —Sales of 400 bundles on tire wharf at 95 "x
cents.
Bacon —Sales at 10,000 lbs Baltimore assorted at
124 ccuts.
Spirits —ln domestic liquors we have no change
to notice either nr price or demand.
New- Orleans, August 10
Cotton. — Received three 3d inst. 422 bales
rooking the total receipts to date 574,383 bales
Exported this week to Liverpool, 2080 do. Havre
1,180 do. W est indies 265, Coastwise 40 do. in ah’
3,565 bales, making a reduction in Mock of i 36°
bales, and leaving a ha ance on hanj.ine tiding ah
on ship-board not cleared, of 14.573 hales 6 • '
As for our own market it Iras Urtor wff’ost a
complete blank since t ie receipt 01 the accounts bv
the Great Western, and seems little likely to afford
ns any important transactions to repoit until the
season opens with the new crop, some holders
arc shipping, rn prelerencp to vie ding to the mate
rial reduction demanded By b .yers. The total sales
of the last ten days amount to 69 bales, 6 bales o'
which were of the new crop, received from Kol'
ncy, Miss —said to have classed good fair—whi. n
were sold ;.t 1.) ets per lb.-a mere fancy purchase
and, of course, allowing no criterion of the vain,
of Cottons in the market. There have aso been
two ba.es of the now crop received from Red it;,,!
which are not yet sold. wive