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WILLIAM E. JOKES. AIGISTA, CEO., THURSDAY EVEXIAG, ARV 2« J 837. [Seiui-weekJy.j-Vol. 1.-Xo. 8.
JJUlfltSilCtl
DAILY, SEMI WEEKLY AND WEEKLY,
At No. 261 Broad Street.
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as heretofore i.i advance, or Six at the end of the
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Foot at the end of the year.
Tuesday Evening, January 24, 1837.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16,1837.5
Monday evening, 10 o'clock. 5
The deed is done! The Expunging Resolu
tions have passed the Senate, and the act of sa
crilegious violation of the Records of the Senate
has been performed by the Secretary. I have
ust returned from the Capitol, after witnessing
the disgraceful and humiliating spectacle, the
contemptible farce, as Mr. Webster said every
man of sense would regard it, were it not also a
\ ruthless violation of the Constitution. I have
seen those who were sent here to be the guar
dians of the Constitution and a country which has
more to preserve than any other country under
Heaven, borne down by a power which has swept
every thing before it, until our very existence as
a nation under our laws and constitution is ren
dered a matter of groat doubt and apprehension.
At this late hour, exhausted as I am, by a pro
tracted and most exciting session, and filled with
the most painful emotions by all I have just seen
and heard—the exultation of the wicked and des
perate —the compliance of the servile—the dejec
tion of the virtuous and patriotic—the ineffective,
though wonderful labors of groat statesmen to
rescue the Constitution, and preserve the dig
nity and independence of the Senate. I can only
briefly notice the incidents of this most disgraceful
sitting.
Mr. Ewing spoke with extraordinary earnest
ness and power. He maintained the justness of
the opinion conveyed in the obnoxious resolution,
and went at great length into the consideration
of the proposition to Expunge. Some of his pas
i sages were full of noble and impassioned elo
quence—others were of the most sarcastic and
withering character. When he sat down,
“ Question! Question !” was cried by Benton,
and echoed by the Expungers.—The ayes and
noes were ordered, and just as they were about to
be taken Mr. Webster rose. Instantly the most
I perfect silence reigned over the whole chamber—
you might hear the suppressed breathing of those
i around you, so profound was the silliness. His
| appearance was most solemn and imposing. He
was manifestly struggling with deep emotions.
He began to read a manuscript which ho raised
from his desk. The circumstance was singular
that so skilful and practised an orator should read
the remarks he thought fit to offer. But it was not
a speech, it was a solemn protest in behalf ofhis
colleague and himself as Senators of Massachusetts
against the proceeding in which the Senate was
about to engage. It was a paper of immense
power—the argument clear, and irresistible as a
mathematical proposition, and conveyed in the
most terse and vigorous language—the remarks
on the act to he performed, and the protestation
y against it such as might be expected from the
mind of a statesman and a patriot. The closing
,• sentences were eloquent beyond description, and
his voice, in giving utterance to them rang through
the chamber like a clarion. Never have I heard
li more energetic and effective elocution than was
7 exemplified in the reading of the whole paper.
As soon as Mr. Webster finished, “ Question!
'■ question!■” again resounded through the room.
(| The question was then put on the adoption of
% the Expunging Resolution—and carried. Twen
j ty-four in the affirmative. Nineteen in the ne
gative. Mr. King of Georgia, left the Chamber
4 before the vote was taken. The man to whose
pride the majority of the Senate yielded their in
dependence and dignity—Mr. Benton —then
4 arose and proposed that the work should be con
summated immediately. The question was then
put —the proposition agreed to. The President
H pro tem. Mr. King of Alabama, then directed the
% Secretary to execute the order of the Senate—and
■ instantly Mr. Webster, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cal
houn, and all the Whig Senators with the cx
f) ccption of two or three, left the chamber in dis
gust. They could not witness the degrading
spectacle;
Mr. Dickens then commenced his task—teak
<- his rule, and deliberately drew with his pen the
| prescribed black lines around the subject of the
vindictiveness of the Senate. He was busily en.
gaged in the Work of degradation—the Senators
sat quietly looking oil—they watched the proceed-
I ing, some with exultation, no doubt—but most
with contempt and indignation. At last the en
raged feelings as the people rose up against the
desecration—they became uncontrolable—ahd
four Successive rounds of hissing burst upon the
cars of the servile actors in this farce. Instantly
the President arose and cried, “ Clear the galle
ries !” Mr. Benton sprung up, apparently al
i most bursting with rage, and actually bawled into
silence the other Senators, who had risen, as he
exclaimed, “Let the disorderly persons be taken
into custody! I hope the ruffian will be ins ant
ly seized and brought before (Senate —the Bank
RUFFIAN SIR —THE UNITED STATES Bank RUF.
fian I—l hope the Senate will not permit them
selves to be insulted by ruffians of the hank !
—ruffians, sir, who, during the panic, used to sit
in these galleries armed with dirks and pistols to
overawe our deliberations!” —and with this ex
plosion down sat Thomas H. Benton.
The President directed the Sergean-at-Arms tc
I take the disorderly persons into custody. That
officer repaired to the galleries and soon returned
| with a person under his charge, whom Mr. Ben
ton had pointed out as one who had committed
f the disoidet 1 A motion was made to discharge
this individual—but Benton having applied to
f;. him some of those brutal terms which constitute
his ordinary vocabulary, Mr. Morris, of Ohio, a
i-oso and suggested that it was but fair the person
charged with the contempt should be heard in his
own a'sfence. Again it was intimated that the
person in .custody was ready to answlr questions,
and wished to bo heard—but this privilege and
birthright of every American was denied him.—
This was perfectly in keeping with the lawless
and outrageous character of the night’s proceed
| ings. What justice or decency could be expect
a, e( j f rom men who had not scrupled to to invade
* and violate the sacred charter which they were
I elected by the people to protect and defend I Af
ter some confused proceeding, the Senate conde
scended to order him to bo discharged ; and in
stantly 4 motion was rnadp to adjourn and carri-
I
ed. The person who had been brought up then
asked the Chair if he might he permitted to say a
word in his own behalf, to which the President
promptly replied, « Take him out of the house.”
VVhat right bad this band of Destructives and
Disorganizes to treat an American citizen in this
way? To drag from the gallery, where he was
surrounded by a dense crowd, and arraig., bin ,
before their tribunal without a shadow of evi
dence, to allow a bullying, swaggering member
of their own servile faction to indulge in insolent
language towards him—and then, without allow
ing him to be heard, to dismiss him with con
tumely and contempt I—After this great achibve
merit, the twenty-four knig.jts of the black
lines broke up their club and dispersed.
Mr. Clay has bestowed this name upon them,
and let them hereafter be refered to with the title
of K. B. L! ! He expressed his hope that the
Secretary would carefully preserve the pen with
weich he performed the execution, and give it to
the most warty ofthe majority. Perhaps, indeed,
hereafter when Americans shall have lost all but
the forms of the Constitution, and some American
monarch shall trace back the history of those suc
cessive stages by which a Throne had been rais
on the ruins of a Republic, he may, in order to
express his gratitude for the proceedings of this
day and night institute a new order, and give
them the name of “Knights of tub Black
Lines.”
Washington, Jan. 19, 1837.
Thqjdisgraceful proceedings of the Senate on
Monday night in violating their own records,
produced a deep sensation in the other branch
of Congress; and as soon as the House met on
Tuesday, Mr. Underwood of Kentucky asked
leave to introduce a series of resolutions, the ob
ject of which was to preserve the journals of both
houses from any mutilation, erasure, or alteration,
by providing proper punishment for every such
act. The motion, however, required the suspen
sion of the rules, and that, of course, was not
granted by the party. On the same day Mr.
Calhoun directed the attention of the Senate to
the fact that the proceedings in the case of the
individual who had been arrested and brought
before that body were illegal, as there was not a
majority of the Senate present. Mr. Calhoun,
however, did not pray for a decision at that time;
and so the matter was undetermined.
A quietus was given ’to the resolution of Mr
Allan, of Kentucky, for inquiring into the expe
diency of granting a portion of the public Domain
to each of the old Slates of the Union. This
subject has producer) a groat deal of heated dis
cussion It was on Tuesday laid upon the table
on motion of Mr. 8011.
Mr. Wise’s resolution for inquiring into the
conduct of the Executive Departments, has been
graciuously allowed to pass at last. Mr. M’Keon,
one of the New York Regency, made an elabo
rate defence of all and sundry the departments
of the Government, and was followed by Mr.
Jenifer in a cutting, vigorous and most eloquent
speech. He replied to all the principal arguments
of Ihe different advocates of the Spoils’ Parly
and particularly of Hamer, whose gross political
tergiversation, and fulsome adulation of the pow
ers that be, he handled without gloves. He road
a letter from Hamer, written from Washington
only three years ago, in which the Van Huron
faction and its head were denounced in unmeas
ured terms; and he asked what right such a per
son had to denounce Washington letter-writers
or members of Congress, for assailing the admin
istration in advance, when in fact that had been
his own course three years before Mr. Van Bu
ren was elected.
The game of the party now began to develope
itself. After refusing Mr. Wise his Committee
of inquiry fur nearly two years—after postponing
from day to day the consideration of his resolu
tion—after denouncing it as impeaching the
President, as an insult to the President! —after
all the manifestations of horror at the idea of pass
ing such a resolution —they suddenly, a few weeks
before the termination of the session, when they
know that a committee will not have time to look
into the one thousandth part of the abuses of the
Government, relinquish their opposition and by
a unanimous party vote agree to the adoption of
the resolution. Mr. Vanderpool rose and moved
the previous question, the effect of which was to
cut off all further debate ! I wish every freeman
in the country could have heard the indignant
remarks of of Mr. Wise. He exposed the mean
ness ofthe conduct of the party and told then they
could not by this trick and chicanery escape from
the odious imputation of delaying action on the
resolution. Though the time between the period
i and the end of the session was much too short
for the prosecution of the investigation he sought,
- he still took their proposition late in the day, as
it was, and seconded the call for the previous
. question. This call was sustained by the House,
• and the resolution finally adopted.
> In the Senate, on the same day, Mr. Kent pre
-3 sented a memorial from the Grand Jury of the
i County of Washington, remonstrating against
. the presentation of petitions on the abolition of
, Slavery, and praying Congress to apply such
remedies as might be in their power. A discus
. sion of considerable length and interest arose on
i the question of printing, which was finally carried
t in the affirmative.
, In the Senate yesterday there was a very long
and animated discussion of the bill for anticipa
ting the payment of the indemnities becoming
> due under the French and Ncopolitan treaties,
t which was finally rejected by a vote of 22 to 19.
1 The proceedings of the House were very inter
- csting. Mr. Hawes, of Kentucky, offered a rcso
-1 lulion providing that all mcmoriols, petitions, &c
--3 relating to the abolition of slavery and the slave
> trade should be laid on the table without being re-
J I ferred or printed and that no faithcr action should
-| be had thereon. As soon as the resolution was
i : read, Mr. Hawes demanded the previous, ques
s ' lion, which call was sustained by the House, and
3 ! the resolution was adopted by a vote of 129 toC9.
, ' In consequence of the trial ol Richard V\ bite
I for burning the Treasury, having terminated in
- his acquittal in consequence of the statute of
s : limitations, although otherwise would have been
- convicted, the President has recommended to
- Congress a revisal of the law so as to prevent the
s bar of the statute jrom operating in cases when
3 the proper officers of the Government did not
- know, and could not by due diligence have known
-by whom the offences were committed. The sub
- ject has been referred to the Committee on the
- Judiciary.
1 The bill for the admission of Michigan into
. the Union was next taken up and after some dis
cussion on the propriety of committing it to the
Committee of the Whole, it was decided that it
should not be committed; and it will be taken up
this day, as the first business in order.
The Committee of inquiry on Whitney’s case
readily pursuing their inquiries; and it is
said they will make their report during this week.
Gen. Santa Anna arrived in this city yesterday
after; loon. I have not seen him yet,
Mr. Cuthbert, of Geo. took his seat in the Sen
ate yesterday.
Judge Wayne has also arrived. The Supreme
Court is now full, and will proceed immediately
to the trial of cases involving questions of consti
tutional law.
From the Montgomery Advertiser.
TEXAS, MEXICO, AND SPANISH AF
FAIRS.
The Second Campaign Against Texas.
Important —We have been favored by the
Editors ofthe National Inquirer, (a weekly
publication ot this city,) with a slip containing
the following important Proclamation. Mr.
Lundy, one ofthe editors ofthe paper alluded
to, was in Mexico a short time since, and no
doubt has correspondents in that country ;
Advance if the Mexican Army to San Louis
Poiest.—Proclamation of General Bravo. —
By the last Express mail from the South, the
official Proclamation of General Bravo to his
array, dated at San Louis Potosi, has been
received in this city. We have been permit
led to make a translation of it, and herewith
lay the same before our readers.
It will be thus seen that the Mexican army
is advancing rapidly upon Texas.
PROCLAMATION.
The General in Chief ofthe Army of the
North, to the Jorces under his command.
Soldiers/—You are destined to form in im
portant part ofthe army that returns to Texas.
Since the grand work of our independunce
was achieved, our country never called upon
its worthy sons in defence of a more sacred
cause, nor to sustain a more just war. In that
Texas where there should only be found peo
ple friendly to the Mexicans, and grateful for,
the generous hospitality granted by them you
meet with hordes of insolent adventures who
when ourusurped lands are claimed from them
answer by raising the savage cry of war. A
trifling success, which must be attributed to the
contempt wiih which they were looked upon,
and by no means to their own prowess, has fil
led them with vam glory. They consider the
soldiers of our army as cowards and eflbrmin
ale, though this same army, during twenty-six
years of continual combatting, has never once
shuiiod danger, but has, on the countrary, giv
-1 eu strong proofs of suffering and heroism.
; But the madness of these adventurers knows
no bounds ; they have threatened to carry the
uar as far as the walls of Mexico itself—(bo -
ish men that they are ! Wo forgive them
this extravagant idea hut shall at the same
lime undeceive them. Let them be made ac
quainted with the true character of soldiers of
the Republic.—On 1 and let them understand
that to us has been commit!ed the'gunrdianship
of the honor of the nation ; to us the ven
geance for the outrages she lias received ; to
us, in fine the charge of making it evident to
them that a magnanimous people are not to
i be insulted with impunity.
, Soldiers ! Our comrades are waiting our
arrival on the Northern frontier, and are impa
tient to share with ua the renown of our first
’ efforts. Let us proceed to join them without
delay ; and all united, let «s fulfil the sacred
duly entrusted to ns.—lt requires but one
small off >rt to secure the integrity of the na
iti mil terilory, and to restore the character, as
well as the inestimable blessings of penc<.
Soldiers ofthe Army ol the North ! What
- I expect from you is subordination, disci
, pline, respect for property, firmness in the
hour of battle, clemency towards the conquer
ed. The example will bo set by your com
manders, ami victory will follow in your foot
steps—of this I, as your commanding general
assure you. He will he found always near
, you, the first to encounter danger, and when
' the campaign shall bo terminated, he will re
commend your services, that they may be re
' compensed as they deserve, and will then
1 leave to you, exclusively, the merit of having
• triumphed.
Camp, in San Louis Potosi, Nov, 9th 1836.
NICHOLAS BRAVO.
1 We arc indebted to the Hon. Judge Wood
ward of New York, just arrived from Texas
t for the following copy of a letter from the
s seat of government of that republic. Subjoin
, ed to it is a communication from President
( Houston, to the Legislature of Texas, com.
plimentary to the judge, which as it furnishes
1 some items of interesting information, we
’ publish.—N. O. Bulletin.
, Columbia, Dec. 23,1836.
Augustus M. Tompkins, a gentleman who
1 is reporter to the Senate of the Republic of
’ Texas, reports the perfect organization of the
' government, courts are regularly established
i finances, regulated revenue laws passed, the
■ land-bill passed the army is organized.
I Gen. Houston will repair to the army and
acquire what information may be of irnpor
-1 tance and last intelligence received of the
> approach of the enemy, ho will return to
i Groce’s retreat on the river Brazos, which is
, the seat, of government during the recess of
Congress, where he will remain at the tem
’ poraryseat of government until the first of
May next, wnen the congress is to meet at
■ the city of Houston, about 25 miles from the
» Galveston buy, on the Buffalo Bayou. The
\ latter place is the seal of government until the
f year 1840 -
The congress has passed resolutions an-
I thorizmg the President to accept any number
i in his discretion, not exceeding forty thousand
! volunteers fur two years, or during the war as
j in ids discretion he may deem proper.
Executive Department, )
5 Columbia, Dec. 13,1836. y
- To the Honorable the Senate and the House of
, Representatives.
5 Gentlemen— lt becomes my duly and at
'* the same time it gives me pleasure to call
'• your attention to a gentleman and a friend to
Texas, who has but recently arrived in the
- countryand Ins claims upon you, viz. John
.. Woodward, Esq, of the State of New York.
The accompanying documents, the onc
c marked A and the other marked B, will ena
• ble you lo see upon what this communication
3 is founded; actuated purely by a spirit of pat
-3 riotistn and benevolence, he has been the de
voted friend of Texas, thro’ all her difficulties
J and struggles for liberty when a dark and
threatening cloud hung big with destiny over
• her, when it was feared by many that the toc
ej sin of her liberty was soon to be sounded, ami
I I some were induced to abandon her to her fate
J ne stood firm as her friend and her advocate,
|u r energies were only increased by the <kn
-1 gers which surrounded her, but he found con
-0 solatioa and hope in the justness of our cause
b and the firmness of our people; and he now
a appears among us to cheer us in our prosper
lt ay and success as heartily as lie sympathized
with us in our adversity.'
Judge Woodward comes from the most
' populous and wealthy states of the North,
c and brings with him such testimonials ofehar
acter and worth as doubtless will insure your
• favorable consideration of his claims; when
. (it is recollected our success depended upon
, | the exertions of such gentlemen, persons
t j who were actuated lo interfere purely
from benevolence and a moral convict,ok. of
’ i the justness of our cause.
lam sure that you will give to jnfo'
■ | Woodward such assurances that he will bo
, secure in his investments in Texas ami will
(satisfy him that wo are not ungrateful lo our
friends Through his exeiions, together with
others connected with Ifimrin procuring addi
tional strength to our navy (which will soon
• I am informed if it has not already arrived up
on our coast) we will bo enabled to keep the
, command of the Gulf. It is the intention I
( understand of Judge Woodward to nettle
many families in Texas, and coming as he
■ does trom the Northern part ofthe United
Stales and being a gentleman ofiortune high
character and influence, through him we miiy
reasonably expect to introduce into the coun
try many valuable ami enterprising citizens,
and when I know it is at all times the pride
and wish of a free people to do justice lo mer
it, and at the same time to know yon, their
representatives arc governed by a spirit ol
liberty and intelligence. 1 feel confident that,
the claims of Judge Woodward upon the Re
public will not be passed unrewarded.
(Signed) SAM. HOUSTON:
A New Orleans paper ot the 11th was re
ceived yesterday alter our paper went to press
It furnishes some interesting items of intelli
gence trom Cuba, from Mexico and Texas
We give an abstract, derived in pari from let
ters which have been shown to us, received by
the same mail.
Dates from St. Jugo are to the lulli ult.
General Lorenzo has issued further procltma
tions adhering to his determination in fivor
of the Constitution of 1812—Ins troops nave
taken an oath of fidelity to it, and are arcsilved
upon resisting the iroups of General Tacou,
4,000 of whom have landed at Siiarra and
are expected daily at Si. Jago. A buttle is
expected. St. Jago. is in a deplorable con
dition.
The British sloop of war, Nimrod, and the
British fngale, Vessel, Captain Jones, ue lay
ing alSl. Jago, for the protection qt British
subjects and property. The British slop of
war, Madagascar of 46 guns is at Port Royal,
Jamaica, and the British ship, Melville, 74
guns, Admiral Hulket, is laying at Bermuda,
exclusive of the blockading squadron of two
vessels.
The intelligence from Mexico is also of
interest. M. Gorostiza arrived m the city of
1 Mexico on the 15th of December, wh ch
event will bring up ut once for the decision
of i but government, the results of hie mission
1 to this country. On the same day, General
Bustamenlc arrived from France, in the city
1 of Mexico. He is a candidate for the Presi
-1 deucy, and will probaly bo chosen. Report says
1 he declared for the Federatlqu System, which
sets him at once into opposition lo Santa An
na. His success) would he favorable lo the
principles originally declared by Texas—
. but in her present posture, would it not be
adverse lo the hopes rested upon the suppos
ed engagements of Santa Anna? The ac
counts are confirmed, of extensive prepara- 1
tions for an invasion ofTexas.—but the suc
cess ofthe efforts is rattier problematical. 1
General Bravo’s army, (say about 4,000) is ,
encamped at Monleny, about 200 miles from
Mantamoras. Another body of troops is ut (
Matumoras, whither General Bravo lias gone
lo get them in readiness to enter Texas. 1
But they are clamoring for want of pay,—mid
are in a state of disaster from want of dis
cipline and insubordination. Five officers
mil several privates wore shot for mutiny, on
tiie march to Monterry, and hardly a day (
pusses at Matmoras, without an execution (
for robbery.
The Congress of Texas lias adjourned to i
meet in April, at the new town ol Houston.
The army has encamped near Bexar, where
the President lias gone to review it. lie has 1
been empowered to receive services of any
number of volunteers, not exceeding 46,009
men.
Texas has lost, one of her most distinguish
ed citizens, in Colonel Stephen F. Austin,
who died at Columbia, on the 26.1 i ultim.
Ex. President Buruel, of Texas, is in New
Orleans.
Half a million of specie has arrived in
New Orleans from Tampico and Matamoras
wi thin a week.— Mobile Register.
TWENTY FOURTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.
Thursday January 1 O', 1887.
A message was received from the Presi
; dent, of the United wtales, communicating, m
i reply to a resolution of the 16lli, a letter ad
dressed to the President ofthe United Slates,
from the President of Mexico, of the 4ib
i ot July, being the whole of the information
f in the possession of the President concerning
i the visit of Santa Anna.
I The correspondence, consisting of a letter
; from Santa Anna, dated July 4i.li, ami the re
ply ofthe President dated (September 4th, was
I then read. The letter from Manta Anna,
. states that lie has given up the idea of keep
i ing Texas in a stale ot dependence on Mexi
i cu, but tiiat it will requite the interposition of
i a strong and disinterested power to induce
f Mexico to acquiesce m this view. He con
• aiders the President of the United States, as
f occupying precisely the position which he
t ought to occupy, to be able to interfere in tins
; contest so as to hr ng it to a termination—
i and Santa Anna expresses his determination
; to co-operate with the President in this mat
ter. The reply of the President is cautions,
. civil, and friendly. He oxpressuss doubts
r whether any act of Santa Aiuih, w hile a pr.-
I soner, could he considered as having any va
i lidity; hut is willing lo do any thing which
lie can, to produce so desirable a resuil, con
sistently with Ins duly, and the policy and
practice of the U. Stales.—After the corres
pondence had been read.
f Mr. PRESTON said, that the gontlcrnarf
who had offered the resolution lo which tins
, was a reply, was not in Ins seat, and he did
I not know what disposition he desired lo make
i of this message. Ho wished however, lo
• make a remans before the subject was dispos
i ed of. The circumstances of Santa Anna had
greatly changed since his letter of the 4th of
. July. Since that 1 1 rno he had been released
. from captivity, and had arrived in Washing
i ton City. He did not know whether the
. President or Santa Anna was disposed to on
ter into negotiation of Texas. He did not
i know what disposition the Senator from Mis
-1 sUsippi intended to make of tins resolut on,
r hut in his ow n opinion, the present message
. did not at aii change the position in which
1 the United States stood, in relation to Texas.
■ —Whenever that resolution should he taken
, up, he would pledge linntcll to prove that the
. U. Slates are bound to make a prompt and
- full recognition of the independence of Texas,
> independently ot any agency on the part of
r Santa Anna. In her own right, from her own
. right from her own position, Texas has a right
i to be recognized. The inquiry of the resolu
tion he should not consider as involving any
t opposition to the views ofthe President in Ins
, message, which placed tin; propriety of recog
. nition on tin: result of the invasion ofTexas by
ri General Bravo, which wna now abandoned.
Mr. WALKER made also a few observa
tions similar in their iriiport, and read certain
interrogatories on the subject of the feeling of
the Mexicans, which he had submitted to a
gentleman from Vera Cruz, and his replies, to
shotv that the expedition against Texas was
abandoned. f
Mr. CALHOUN said he was disposed to
vote for the immediate recognition aticr the
informal ion which had been received.
The message was then laid on the table
and ordered to he printed.
The Hon. T. S. CLAYTON, U. S. Sena
tor, from Delaware, lo fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation ofthe lion. J. M. Clayton,
appeared, was qualified ami took his seat.
FIRE IN NA'J CHEZ.
The office ofthe Courier & Journal, at Natchez,
Miss was entirely consumed by lire on tho niy hi
ofthe 13th hist.
Correspondence oj the Mercantle .Idvcrtiscr.
New r Orleans January 19, 1837.
Half past 1 o ’clock, A. M. S
Dear Sir, —The thrremometer holds mi impor
tant control over this market ut the present lime,
A few days more ns plcascnt weather, as the past
three days, would cause holders of produce to wa
ver in their firmness, and important decline would
lake place. Sales of Flour and Whiskey have al
ready been made nt a decline from Saturday’s and
Mondays prices, by the more timid holders, and
those of a more (inn east are almost derermined
to yield lo a decline, and no doubtwould do so, hut
each dislikes to he the first to submit.
The steamboat Goo. Washington arrived day
before yesterday from Cincinnati, which place she
left 291 h December,ami Louisville on Ist January,
reports die navigation of the Ohio hazardous and
difficult in consequence of ice, the weather cold
and tho river fast closing, and the upper Mississip
pi entirely closed.
it i r. it.
At his residence in Blakely, Ala, on the Hih
inst, Jas. W. L. Simmons, formerly of Augusta,
Ga. Ile has led a wife and Iwu amiable daughters,
wilh numerous Iricndslu deplore Ha ir loss.
In this city, on die COili in-i,, Ai.vx vndkii Pan
ton, aged about 2(1 yeurs, a native of Beach island,
Souib (forolina.
CRIME AND CONSEQUENCE.
Concluded.
One evening, as I sal in a room ut a tavern, rny
temporary place of abode, gloomily reflecting on
my situation—recurring, in agony of soul, to the
happiness that I had forever cast from "ic, and
painfully endeavoring to suggest to myself some
plan by which ( might retrieve, in part, my fal
len fortunes, there was a knock ut the dour, and
Roberts entered the room. He hud been absent
lor some time, in one of the northern states, and
he now approached me with seeming joy, and as
it he anticipated from me an equally cordial wel
come. His presence, however, was any thing
lint pleasing to me. I was largely indebted to
him for money lost and loaned nt cards; and
when did debtor meet his creditor with joy at his
heart 1 Besides, I had begun lo feel, that but for
my association with this man, I should nev
er have plunged into the vortex that had over
whelmed me. He was aware of my coldness, and
broke out with—“ Why, W ,my dear fol
low, what is tho mutter? Is this the way you 1
receive an old friend after a six months’ absence? 1
lint yon seem lobe in ibu dumps; has any thing f
unusual occurred to fret you?”
“ Why do you put such a question?” replied 1
I; “do yon not know that lam a ruined man—
that every thing I could call my own has been 1
torn from me—that lam a wanderer,covered with 1
shame, heaped wilh obloquy, steeped in poverty ? 1
and do yuu expect, under such circumstances, to 1
find my heart hounding with joy, or my face
mantled with smiles? To bo plain with you,
Roberts, 1 was thinking of you just us you piude I
your appearance, and 1 will tell you wfrut was
passing in my mind. Memory had gone back to 1
tho time of our first acquaintance, when I was in
possession of all most valued by man: wealth, 1
that seemed scarcely to have a limit—a repnlu- 1
lion, unhreathod upon by reproach—the alloc- 1
tions of one whose equal 1 have never met, and *
the unspeakable blessings of a pure conscience. 1
All. save one, of these have tied—perhaps that
too is gone; and all this is your work. Yes, sir, 1
yours! But fur you, I should never have he n 1
templed to play ; hut for you, I should have a- 1
band.med in time tho vile pursuit. Yes, sir, it 1
was you who urged me on, by stimulating me I
with false hopes that foitune would not always I
frown—that one lucky cast would retrieve all, 1
and a ihous.m I specious tales that won upon my (
credulous car; and when, amid reflections such
ns tl> esc, you presented youself in person, you 1
can hardly suppose that you could have been ve
ry welcome."
“ W ,” replied Roberts, “ 1 have had n
long ride to-day, and feel heartily tired. It was
my intention to go to bed as soon as I should
reach this house. But the landlord informed
me you were here, and as a friend I hastened to
see you. Homo would feel offended at the re
ception I have mot with, hut I can make every
allowance for the feelings that irritate you, and. I
feci it my duty not to leave you until I have some
what calmed your present mood. Whenever 1
gel into trouble, and led a disposition to give way
to misfortune, tbe first thing 1 do is lo sit quiet
ly down, wilh a comfortable glass and a good ci
gar, and philosophize upon the matter; and by
your leave, you slmll follow rny prescription.—
Gome, come, I will take no denial; we will talk ;
over alliiirs soberly and calmly, and the odds are '
ten to one hut we strike upon some plan which,
if boldly and industriously pursued, will set all 1
things straight again. You will not drive me
from you, will you ? O no, I see that you will
not.”
When the refreshments he had ordered had
been produced, Roberts resumed. “ Where is
your wile; W , and how is she?” I in
formed him. “ And you, I suppose, are a less
welcome guest than -lie at her father’s ? Well,
all that will come right too. By the bye, the old
gentleman should not bo quite so rigid about this 1
matter of play as he is. Many a cool bundled
has he won of my father; but I have observed,
that your reformed sinner always makes a perse
cuting saint. Let that rest, and tell me candidly,
are you entirely destitute ?”
“ Utterly, utterly,” replied I. 1
“ Are your debts all paid 1"
“ You know they are not; I have not paid
yon.”
“pshaw!” said Roberts, “nevermind me.— '
Have you paid others 1”
“They have paid themselves.” i
‘•Good! Have you formed any plan by which
you expect to support yourself and family.” i
“ None.” replied I. “ But if I had, what
means do I possess to put any scheme into cxc- I
ention ?” i
“ Let ns hit upon the scheme, and we shall find
the means,” said Roberts; “my purse, as well as 1
yours, is at present nt tbe lowest ebb. A rascal ! I
that 1 entrusted wilh a snug sum, bus decamped, 11
and left me in tbe lurch ; and a fellow whose i i
bond f held, lias smashed, and won’t pay a slid- 11
ling in the pound. Hut 1 started in life with h
nothing, and have been so often reduced to the ;
same condition as at first, that, as you perceive, I ( i
take the thing quite coolly. It is trim, lam a
single man, and there is no one depending upon
me—otherwise, I might feel this matter more se
riously ; but 1 should not sit down, and mope, !
and scold my friends, W ; I should be I
hut the more prompt, the more decided, and the [
more persevering in my actions. Let mo sec;
you have as yet proposed nothing to yourself.—
What s;ay you to turning rneiclnmt?”
“1 know nothing about business,” I replied,
“ and besides, t have neither capital nor credit.”
“ The law, then ? Your talanta and education
combine to fit you lor that pfofos .ion.”
“ And what am J to live on, while I pursue the
necessary study ! ’
“Thai’s true; one thing then is dear—mo
ney you must have, and that at once. That be
ing the case, there is one way to obtain it.”
“ And that is—” “ By winning it,” replied
Roberts.
I started from my chair, and walked up and
down the room with violence.
“ Now I pray you he listen to/ me
HUcm..c v ,' ,entinued tlieyjSiifler. “You would
not, I presume, object to gelling back some of
your losses by the same means that you made
them ?”
“And if I should not, how am I to know that
1 can ? Hal it not been, all along, my endeavor
to do so, and has not each attempt invariably
plunged me in deeper ? Besides, I cannot play
without a slake.”
“ Let me put this question to yon, W ,”
said Roberts. “ Suppose you knew that a man
had defrauded you of a certain sum of money;
you had no proof, however, which could establish
his guilt, and enable you to recover in a court of
law. Would you, if he were by accident placed
in your power, hesitate to force from him what
he had deprived you of—nay, would you not
deem yourself justified in Using artifice to place
him in that situation.”
I replied that I could net tell; possilily.l under
such circumstances I might do so.
“To be sure you would,” rejoined Roberts,
“and all (he world would applaud the deed.”
“ But whither docs your question load?” ask
“ f’aticnee, and you shall hear,” replied he.—
“Do you remember playing a game of brag in
company with O. and F. and myself, on which
occasion yon ami your humble servant were 1. ft
minus a few thousand ?”
“ Certainly,” said I, “ I remember it hut too
well.”
“ Well,” resumed Roberts; “ we, poor inno
cent lambs, were cursing our ill-luck—luck in
deed ! ha, ha! there was no luck in the matter;
we were fairly pigeoned—damnably cheated,
sir!”
. “Ho do you Know, Roberts? By Heaven,
if I thought so, I would make an example of
them.
“ Oh ! sir, you could not prove it!”
“ How do you know the fact, I repent?”
“ Because I have seen them playing together
since, when I was not inlercstered in the game,
and could watch them coolly and closely, and I
did so ; and lam perfectly satisfied iu my own
mind that there was collusion between them.—
Now, for thv drift of my question ; I say, it would
be perfectly justifiable in us to pay these knaves
in tbeir own coin—to turn the tables upon them,
and so net hack the cash they fobbed from us, ami
that I take it, would lie n pretty little capital to
begin tho world with again.”
‘ There is certainly nothing to object to on the
score of justice,” said I, “ but I question if such
a scheme would bo deemed honorable among gen
tlemen.”
“ I cannot answer for tbeir abstract opinions,”
said Roberts, “ nor do I greatly cure for ibem;
but this 1 know, that among the whole circle of
my acquaintance, which is tolerably extensive,
there is not one who would hesitate about the
matter.”
“ But what means shall we employ ? If they
he the rascals you have described, will they nut
he keen enough lo detect us I”
“ 1 defy them,” said Roberts. “ Leave every |
thing to me. To-morrow yuu shall lie instructed;
it is necessary now that 1 should sleep. Du you |
so, likewise, and he assured (hat your situation |
will soon he changed for the heller. In the mean
time yon will need money ; there are fifty dollars,
tmll of all 1 have—take them; you will soon he
able to repay me. Good night! and hark ye, no
more despondency, but took the woifil boldly in
the lace, and smile with contempt upon fate, as I
do.”
Perhaps, Mr. S. , you arc surprised that
I should so easily have assented to this vile pro
posal. There had been a lime, sir, when I should
have treated it as a personal insult; fiat 1 was
not then a broken-down gsmider. My principles
had not been supped fiy continual contact with tlie
unworthy ; the degrading and unhallowed desire
of gain hail not fastened on my soul, ami corrod
ed my sense of honor. One must have been crush
ed and miserable as I was, before he cun fie suie (
of his power lo resist the tempter.
Our scheme was soon executed ; we regained
onr losses from . and something more be
sides, and 1 was once more out of the reach of ab
solute want. I hired a small house, where, veiy
much against the inclination of her family, 1
placed Emily. One of her sisters accompanied
her, fur her continually declining health render
ed (he sympathies ot a female friend absolutely
necessary. I once more resolved to bandon play.
The suggestion thrown out fry Roberts with re
gard to the study of the law, although doubtless
Hot seriously intended by bim, bud been frequent
ly present lo my mind. 1 now determined to
pursue that avocation, and felt every confident'!;
in my capacity to succeed. 1 compared myself
with those around me who bore a reputation in
the profession, and fell proudly conscious that in
talent 1 was their equal. 1 told my wile of this.
Her only answer war a deep sigh, that seemed to
shake her slender frame, and these words: “ 1
1 hope it may be so, Charles; for your sake, 1
hope it may he so.” Ift h nettled at the doubt
implied, but I replied not. I had deceived her
too often to dare lo remonstrate. My studies
were commenced, but I bud little calculated on
the difficulties of my task. It hud been a lung
lime since 1 bad taken a book into my band, and
I found it almost impossible to chain down rny
attention lo the subject before me, My eyes
would he fixed on the page, hut my mind would
wander far, far away from it. Sentence after
sentence was perused and reperused, but no dis
tinct meaning was conveyed to my understanding.
I would sit for hours in one fixed attitude, lost in
total abstraction, and when recalled to myself fiy
some accidental circumstance, the visions which
had been floating in my mind were as scattered
ami unintelligible as the wildest fancies ot a fool
ish dream. It was impossible to study.
One morning, after repeated and unavailing at
terncts to overcome this slate of mind, I threw
down my hook in despair, and went forth into
the open air, to try it exercise would not bring
relief. It was a lovely day in spring, the trees
had just shot out their tender leaves, the hinlg
w ere peeling forth their joyous notes, a thousand
insects were dancing in the balmy air. It was a
day on which a heart at ease might leel most hap
py : hut to me the blessed son no longer shone
wilh brightness, and my bosom Was cold to those
charms of nature which had once made it thrill
wilh gladness. I wandered on, knowing and car
ing little where I bent my steps, when, at a sud
den turn of the road, I encountered Huberts.
“ Well met!” said ho. “ I was on my way to
see you, I have good news for you.”
“ Indeed,” replied I, sadly, “let me have them, ,
then, for thorn is no one to whom they could be
more welcome.”
“ Another chance, W , to got back some
of your cash, and if I mistake not, a pretty good
lump of it too. lam to give a dinner to-day, a i
bet I lost—lost purposely, my boy, and you must i
come; we will try conclusions wilh the gentle- .
men again, and with rather belter chances of sue- ■
j cess than we formerly had. Turn back and get
your horse, and as wc ride along I’ll tell you all
! shot it.”
“ I must decline your invitation.” replied I.
“ That you shall not I” said Roberts.
“It is useless for me to go, Roberts, for I will
not play. Imn convinced that 1 cannot win by
fair means, and I will not resort to any other.”
“ Yon can do a* you please about that, but I
must have you with rue; it will ho of service to
you ; it will cheer you up, and show yourliicnds
that you are not the man to give way to misfor
tune. Believe mo, the world respects every one
who shows it n hold front. Indeed you must
not refuse mn; I shall feel hurt if you do.”
I wont. It is necassary to say that night was
spent in play, and wilh the aid of ray honest
partner, \ Hid Hot lose, The ice vnu now fairly
- broke. I could no longer refuse to join Roberta
.in bis schemes of plunder. I was in his power; !
and felt that be could blast me by a single word/
1 Hut some suspicions began to be entertained ;my
success was 100 uniform for one who had formers
1 ly lost so constantly, and it was therefore concer
ted between Robert and myself, that 1 should oc
. oasionally seem to lose to hinij making a subso-
I '(iienl settlement with him in private.
■ There was a young man, soft of the Sheriff of
the County of , who acted as deputy to
his father, a very worthy and respectable man,
who had served with great credit in' th* continen
tal army, and brought up and maintained, by his
industry, a numerous family. He himself paid
no attention to the affairs of his office, but confid
ed them entirely to the activity and integrity of
Ins son, who had won general respect and popu
larity by the zeal and fidelity with which be dis-'
charged his duties, and the gentleness and mer
cy he exhibited, when called on to pul in fore*
the harsh decrees of the law. I had but little ac
quaintance with either the young man or his fa
ther, nor, in all probability, would the latter have
been pleased to have his son in habits of inter
com sc with me. I had attended a session of Iho
court of some business, and was detained too late:
to admit of reaching borne that day. Several
Olliers were in the same situation—among tjiera;
Roberts. Alter supper he took me aside, and ask
ed mo if I lecollerlcd Wallis.
“ No,” 1 replied, “ I icmember no such per
son,”
“ You have a bad memory, then,” said he; “I
never forget those who win my money,” aad he
recollected to my mind the individual who hail
held the faro bank at the races.
“ W but of him T” I inquired. "Does he think
to take mein again!”
“ I), no,” replied Roberts, with a laugh, “wol
have learned rather too much fur that. Hut I
have been talking with him; be will open a bank
to-night, and lie agrees that you and I shall be
equally interested. It shall be my business
lo gt t him belters ; and as there are several here
whose pocket-books are Will Ailed, I think we
shall make a handsome adventure of it. For the
sake of appearance, you know, we too must bet
against him, and he will permit us to win largely,
tor the purpose of enticing others. It is not cap
itally contrived 1”
“ Hut may not this Wallis betray us hercaf
ter 1”
“ Not the slightest danger of it; he is close as
wax. 1 know him of old; and besides, he is un
der obligations to me that he cannot violate if he
would.”
“ Kolierts,” said I, “do you feel no remorset
Does not conscience upbraid you with the mean
ness, the guilt of your course ! Have you no mis
giving:;, when you behold the agony of those yog/
defraud 1”
“ Have you such feelings V’ said Roberta.
“ 1 have I” replied I. “ They torture me by
night and by day. The hell that burned within
me when, like a madman, I scattered my wealth
to winds, was ease, was happiness, to what I now
endure, and if the hour of detection should ever
come, —but that 1 could not and I would
not sutvive!” I clasped my bands together, and
shook with fear at the very thought.
Roberts gazed at me some little lime in silence,
and bis countenance assumed a biller sneer. At
length he broke forth.
"Conscience ! Remorse! ha I ha! Because I
have lived too long lo lie a dupe! Most men,in the
greenness of youth, are fools, and ripen, with ago
and experience, into knaves. There ate some,
however, who are early wise, and they, if circuiu-
Ktancos permit, become great and distinguished 1
and some, who are always silly, and these are
reckoned virtuous, and become the foolbalW
of the others. For my purl I was net made to
lie kicked, I have found out that 1 must be the
wolf or the lamb ; I piefer to be the beast of
power. There is not one ol those men that you
sec there, who w ould not, if they could, strip us
to the last farthing. 1 play their own gmue, and
place them where they would place ms. And
fur this, forsooth, I must feel remorse I I And
ihe whole system of society based upon a cheat;
every one endeavors to overreach his neighbor,
and the most successful is the must respected.—
Bhall k I not >trivc among the real! You have
been defrauded of a princely fortune and reduced
to absolute want. 1 have let you into the secret
of your misfortunes, and taught you how to retal
iate your wrongs on others, and you prate to ms of
conscience and remorse. Well then', if co»-
scinco be to you this dreadful torment, iu Iho
name of common sense obey its dictates. He
wholly one thing or another (iu to those with
whom you have played of latk, and hand them
buck their money. Tell them they were cheat
ed; that you see through the evilof your ways
and come to make restitution; once more throw
yourself buck on poverty, and sec how highly the
world will applaud the net. They say there is
exceeding joy over a repentant sinner in beavsu.
Do you try bow much there is an earth. But I
am losing time. Am Ito understand that you
decline sharing with VVullisuud myself!”
“No,” 1 replied, “itis my fate; I have gons
too far lo recede, and I must endure, as 1 can,
the loss of self respect.”
We parted, mixing in with the general crowd.
It was not lung before Huberts had collected va
rious persons around linn, who secerned to bs lis
tening willi great attention to something he was
narrating, which, to judge from their frequent
peals of laughter, was highly humorous. No one
knew better than he how to afford entertainment
to others, His manner was admirable ; his very
laugh was a provocative to miith. Without be
ing boisterous, it was the most joyous, careless,
light-hearted burst of gaiety that I ever listened
10. Os those who were most attracted by him,
was the young man I have before mentioned, the
son of the old sheriff He seemed to be in an
ectasy of delight, and Roberts fooled him “to the
lop of his bent.” They drank together, they sang
together, and committed parlous extravagances ;
Roberts declaring that be was just in the humor
Ibru frolic, and a frolic he would have. Present
y cards were introduced, i know not at whose
suggestion, and 1 was told by some one that a faro
bank was about to be opened, and I received the
inforntatialion ns if it were new to mo. We soon
afterwards adjourned to another room, and the
game was commenced. At first 1 did not bet, or
rather appeared not to do so, but stood looking
on at the others, and marking the vicisitudesof the
game, 'i'o my surprise and regret I saw the
shcrill’s son at the table,for I had always heard
him spoken of as a moral and prudent youth, and
moreover, I hud not supposed be possessed Iho
means to play. I observed, however, that ah
though evidently Hushed wilh what he had been'
drinking, he staked with caution, and would,
not, in all probability, win or lose any thing of
consequence, and I thought nothing more of
the matter. About midnight, uftergoingthro'
the mockery of apparently winning some hun
dreds, I threw myself upon a couch and slept.
It was daybreak when I awoke, but the light*
were still burning, and the gamesters, undi
minished in number, as eager as ever in their
play. Roberts was among them,a nd I, being
desirous of returning home, took him aside to
acquaint him with my intention. He object
ed to my doing so, stating thst le was csce»-j0(l
sively fatigued, and must sleep a few
himself; that he had forborne
and I must now take my turn to watch, for it
wan better that one of us should observe honr
things were going on; that so far, owing to
the most singular run of luck on the part of one
individual that he had ever witnessed, the*
bank was loser. I inquired how his young
companion had fared. He had lost rather
heavily. “Hutsurely,” said I, “he cannot
afford to do so.” lie replied very carelessly,'
“ that's his own affair. I did not urge him to’
play. The truth is, he received yestereday a
considerable sum of money in payment of an'
execution, and very possibly he may be using
the funds. 1 suppose he knows that he can
make it all good. Hut go you now and sit
down, and wake me in a couple of hours, tins’
will be sufficient reyosd for mev"
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