Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 30, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 January 1847 — Page 3

3nöiaiia State Sentinel.

WEEKLY ED IT I OX. ITtmSAL TICILA9CC II THE PUCC OT IIBI1IT. I.XUI VXAI'OLIS, JA. Ii. 1H4T. , Our Terms. , The follow ing will hereafter be the permanent terms of the Weekly Indiana Slate Stntinel: . ft7"Payments to be made always in advance. One copy, one year, $2.00 Three copies, one year, 5X0 Five copies, one year, 8.00 Ten copies, one year, 15.00 Twenty copies, one year, directed to one person, 2U.U0 Seiiil-IVcckly. . (Published three times a week during the session.) One copy, 8100 Three copies, $10.(0 One copy during the session, 1.00 Three or more copies, each 75 I . . The Ilatlcr Kill. The jisiat committee to whom the proposed amendments of tie State debt bill of lat winter, were referred, reported back the same on Saturday last, with few alteration and additions. In bulk the amendment bill remains pretty much as before it was submitted to t! e committee. It was put into the hands of the State Printer on Saturday evening, and though making thirty-two pages of printed matter on cap paper, was delivered to the two Houses on yesterday afternoon. We will not venture to decide whether this speed is owing to the friendship of the printer to the canal interest, or to that despatch fur which he has heretofore received some credit. We presume he did Lis best, whatever may have been his motives. We have not had time yet to scrutinize carefully the alterations which have been made. The whole subject is one of vast importance, and which will vitally affect the interests of tbe State fur the next "quarter of a century at least. We hope to be able by bur next publication to give our opinion a to the probable effect of the proposed amendments as they "bow stand. By the way, we see that the State Journal publishes the bill of Mr. Orth, providing for the adjustment of the State debt upon the principle proposed by Mr. Defrces in the Senate & year or two ago, accompanied by a very plausible calculation by which the State can redeem its credit and retain the canal and canal lands in its own keeping. We may Lave a word or two to say about this bill in good season. C7It is supposed that the Legislature will adjourn in about two weeks from this time. If this should be the case it will relieve us from the incessant labor to which we have been subjected during the present session; and therefore we might "personally be glad to see it." . Cut we do not see how" it ein be, taking into view the large amount of business and the immense interests et stake, dependent upon the conclusions to be artivtd at. As usual, however, the Legislature may hurry its business with the railroad speed which has been customary near the close of each session, of late. The Flood. The damage done by the late flood appears to have been great and general throughout the interior of Indiana and Ohio. So far as we have received intelligence, the story is the same from all quarters, loss of com, stock, and fences, and the destruction of bridges, dams, and mills, to an incalculable extent. The town of Dayton, Ohio, seems to have suffered more than any other so far as we have heard. It is supposed that the loss there will not be less than $1C 0,000. The White Water Canal, including aqueducts and bridges, was damaged to the amount of 75,000 at the lowest estimates; the Central canal to the amount of $15,C00. I3ut we have not space at present for particulars. The following extract from a petition forwarded to the General Assembly, from the citizens of Erookville, giv es an account of the effect of the late freshet at that point: They represent that on Friday, the 1st day of January, 1317, the valley of the v late Water River was visited by a violent and extraordinary freshet, which has resulted in a terrible destruction of pro pcrty. ' . "From the exposed situation of the southern extremity of . the town of Urookville, upon a low point of ground, between the junction of tho west and east branches of the river, the loss of property and consequent destitution of the inhabitants has been extreme. At two o'clock the east branch burst over the artificial bank which confines it upon the western side, and in a few moments all that part of the town referred to was submerged, the inhabitants having barely time to escape with their lives. So powerful was the current in this quarter, that both banks of the White Water Valley Canal were swept away, and the water from both branches occupied the former site of the town. Dwelling houses and their contents, outhouses, mills and bridges were swept off." In addition to the above we leirn from letters received, that the aqueduct at Laurel, is gone. The embankments at several points, and the feeder-dams of the canal at several points, arc seriously injured. One letter says that the low bottom farms of the White Water are swept of their fences; several dwelling houses and barns are removed, and a great deal of the best land was ruined by depesites of sand tanks." The White Water was sU feet higher than at any former period, sim;e it3 first settlement by the whites, and the damages to the canal, are variously estimated It from seventy-five to two hundred thousand dollars. . l$zv Government Tjunsfoet. We learn from he Gazelle that a new Government Transport is being built in this city, under the direction of Capt. Boardman, of .Mississippi. The ship builder is Mr. A. Temple; the engine builders Messrs. Yeatman t Shields. This vessel is to be employed as a Transport at Tarnpico. She is to measure 150 feet deck, 'M feet beam, hk feet hohl. She i- to be built of very heavy timber and in all respects of great strength. She is to have two engines, the power of which is to be applied at right angles on a single wheel, 25 feet in diameter and 1(4 feet length of bucket ; the wheel is to be worked in the centre of the boat, and about 30 feet from the stern ; so that whatever may be the oscilla tion cf the boat, the wheel wili have constant hold of the water. The dimensions of the engines are to be, three 13 inch cylindrical boilers, 22 feet long with two 10 inch flues in each boiler; two 22 inch cylinders, 6 feet stroke. The contract was completed on the lGth insL; and tie boat is to be finished in 00 days from that date. Cin. Alias. UUlh. A National. Government Massacred. A horrible massacre occurred in the city of Katmandoo, the capital of the kingdom of Nepaul, in Northern India, last September. The Queen had a favorite, one Gen. Singh, whom the King caused to be murdered on the 1 1th of September, at 10 o'clock at night. Her Maj esty was so outraged at the loss of her parmour," that she at once instigated the massacre ot the i'rime Min ister, the Members of the Cabinet, the nobility, Coun cil of State, generali and chief men, to the number of two hundred. The King aloue escaped, but his where abouts was not known. A single nobleman only was saved, and the tueen appointed him commander-in-cnief. The Queen is the King's scnd wife. The male children by the first wifu who would have prece ded her children in the government, were arnon those slain or confined in dungeons. Nepaul is a powerful kingdom, having. about three millions of inhabitants. The national religion is Buddhism. Most of the peo ple are Tartars, as may readily be inferred from the conduct ot the Queen. Origin or "Not Anything Else." In the time of George II., tar-water was all the rage in England. Sir Horace Walpole relates an anecdote of a lady going to an apothecary and asking him if he sold tar-water. His reply was, ice don't sell any iinj cue, maiam.

The Judiciary. There is a cry which has saluted our tars so often, that we feel called upon to notice it. It is that ' politics ought not to hare any thing to do with the judiciary." This exclamation seems to us to be made without any just sense of what it means ; and wc feel disposed to venture a few observations upon it. We hazard the assertion, in the outset, that politics ought to have something to do with the Judiciary, and we will explain wherein. That the question of po

litical opinion Las had a controlling influence in the selection of men for judicial stations in many instances, will not be denied. When the Federal party was driven from power in the executive and legislative branches of the Government, at the close of the administration of the elder Adams, he took good care, in opposition to the popular will, to throw the whole power c-f the judiciary department into the hands cf the Federalists, by appointing men t.f that party as judges. , We mention this fact as a precedent, on I not with a view to arraign the act, indefensible as it unquestionably was. The impropriety of the act consisted solely in the fact, that the appointment were diametrically opposed to the expressed will of the people. Wc do not pretend to assert, that, in the selection of judges of courts of inferior jurisdiction, very particular regard should be had to political opinions, because their decisions, if wrong in principle, are always subject to a revision by the appellate courts. The case is however very different in courts of the last resort, because their errors are incurable. Now it often occurs that these courts are called to decide constitutional questions, upon which the great parties of the country are at variance. The Judiciary is a co-ordinate branch of the government, and has the sole power over all judicial questions. ' But it is a fatal error to suppose that the Judiciary forms an exception to the rule that our government is reprcsen' taliee in all its branches. To deny this position, would Le to negative the proposition that the people are supreme, and that iu them all sovereignty resides. Judges arc but men, and in deciding questions they act according to their opinions. It may be said, that they have regard to the weight of authority. The answer is two-fold. The questions arc doubtful or they would not arise;, and whenever doubts exist, opinion turns the scale. It is therefore of the highest importance that the authorities they establish should be right. If the opinion of the judge is contrary to that of the mijority of the people, their will and intentions are frustrated ; and the principles which their votes have sought to establish, and which may have controlled the action of the legislative and executive branches of the government, are subverted in the judicial branch. What then becomes of popular sovereignty, and of those great principles for which parties contend ! Is the will of the people to be thus set at naught, and are we yet to be mocked with the declaration, that we live in a country where the people are supreme! It is high time that th.s notion of the absolute independence of the judiciary should be abandoned. If the people are capable of self-government, as wc all profess to believe, let every attempt to wrest power from their grasp be frowned down, and at once. If not, then let us acknowledge the slavish doctrines of monarchy. Vet we are told that it is sacrilege to select judges for their political principles; and it is even preached to us, that to appoint a judge because he holds the opinions of a particular party is "bribery and all that." We hold that political opinion is one of the qualifications for a judge, the same as for any other civil office. We have made these observations not invidiously, nor for the purpose of prejudicing the pretensions or prospects of any man ; but because the subject is one which is discussed a good deal at this time, and we have reason to think that very crroueous opinions are entertained in regard to it. Politics may interfere m the Judiciary to a prejudicial and even criminal extent. Whenever party spirit finds a place upon the bench, the mind of the Judge is not in that healthy state, requisite for the impartial discharge of the solemn trusts of his office. There is then reason for the fi that prejudice and partiality may usurp the place of justice, and soil the purity of the ermine. The appointing power can never be too careful in guarding against such a calamity. But in other respects we hold fir.nly to the doctrine, that politics has to do with the Judiciary. Wc might give whig precedents in the inferior courts, where, as we have remarked, the rule does not apply with the same force ; but we forbear, for the reason that the precedent, if good, is not needed ; and if bad, it can allbrd no justification to those who follow it. But we place ourselves on the impregnable basis of principle, and there rest devoid of fear. Froui Texas. The steamship Galveston arrived at New Orleans, on the 18th, from Galveston. The Austin Democrat, arguing that Santa Fe is included within the boundaries of Texas, a laid down and defined in the law of 1S3Ö, contends that it rightfully belongs io her, and to her ahne, and any attempt to establish a territorial or other government within these limit is an intringerncnt ot her rights as a sovereign State. A letter appears in the Austin Democrat of the 9ih nst. It is from Gov. Henderson, addressed to Gen. Taylor, and dated Executive Otlice, Austin, Texas, Auv. Sid, 13 10. Gov. Henderson refers to the General's dispatch of the 23th September, where he 6ays "The gallant defence of the fact of a recent change of Government in Mexico, believed to be favorable to the interests of peace; induced me to concur tcilh the Commissioners in terms." From the above it might be, and has been inferred, ie says That the Commissioners acted without having previously had instructions from yourself, which I (eel assured you never intended to be understood to say, as we received our instruction Irurn you on both occasions of our retiring with the Mexican Commissioners to draft the articles of capitulation." He then reminds the General of the following cir cumstance, which took place on the occasion " iou will, doubtless, recollect that when your Commissioners, immediately after your first instructions, returned and reported that they could not agree with the Mexican Commissioners, you rose to leave the room, rour officers with you, some proposition and appeal was made to you by Gen. Ampudia, I believe it was, to allow them to retain, ns I understood it, only their muskets, sabres, and other small arms. I saw a disposition m you to grant the boon, and I then reminded you of my opinion that you could soon compel them to surrender at discretion, and added, that if you persisted, they would not allow you to leave the city before you would bo notified of the acceptance of the terms first proposed. You re plied that you did not wish to run any more rik, or shed any more blood that all you desired was pos session of the city, and that that would satisfy your Government. To which I replied, that if it satisfied the Government, of course I would be coutent. Here the conversation terminated between us on that point." A large body of Indians, supposed to number not less than ."Hi, are near the San Gabriel Knob, about 10 miles from Austin. This camp is in a section of country where there is little or no game they keep up constant signal fires in every direction. An express has been received at Houston, from Messrs. Torrey & Brother,, stating that " a large body of Camanchcs and other Indians had arrived within seven days' ride of the Trading House, high up on Little Kiver, numbering more than ten thmisand. Five Camanches were sent in by their chiefs, with .the old Waco Chief. They profess to be friendly, &C. Messrs. Torrey &, Brother desire the Governor to send a detachment of rangers to protect their trading establishment.

Washington, Sat. night, Jan. '2, IS 17. Gentlemen: I have been quite ill to-day unable to leave my room, and to-night I am unable to sleep. I am anxious, and fearful for my party, and country. The President, as you know, in his message at the opening of the present session, suggested the propriety of levying a moderate duty uptn the articles enumerated upon the free lit, and consequently, at present untaxed, of which articles tea and coffee are the principal. I understand that at an early day of the session, the Secretary of the Treasury communicated with the committee on ways and mean, (proba?

Uly verbally, and through the chairman,) and suggested the impossibility of procuring loans at the low rate tT iu!eret now fixed by Congress, unless further du-1 tits fehould be assessed to enable the lenders to see i the means provided fur payment; and moreover sug-1 gesting lea ai:d cofll-e as the only articles which could be t-u'.jecicd to duty with the prospect of raising a ' substantial addition to the revenue affbrdrd by the present tariff, and suggesting further the necessity of, action during the last month a? necessary to enable I the Government to raise money to carry on the war. J Nothing icsulting from these suggestions, the Secretary o:l the 21st of last month, addressed to the com-) mittcc cf ways and means a note, which has been formerly published, and a copy cf which you will fu.d herewith, cut from the Baltimore Sun. I Since the House adjourned to-day, I learn that the House cf Bef rc6cntativcs to-day adopted a resolution complimenting the people as being very patriotic, and willing to be taxed to carry on the present just and necosary war, and at the same time, by a majority of about sixty, adopted another resolution cond mnirg the suggestion i f the Administration to raise mor.ey to carry it on by a duty upon tea and coffee. I infer from thi, that it i the fixed opinion of the majority of the House tf Representatives, that the people prefer compliments to taxation. Thus, the Administration, v i'.h a majority cf its party in the House of more than fifty, in left, on this question, not only without a majority to cany out its recomrneudations, to enable it to meet the expectations of the country, in carrying on the war, but moreover findi itself, on this vital question, in a fearful minority. What the result Avil! be, is a subject cf much surmise. Many, I am told, suppose the Secretary of the Treasury, not being supported by tbe House, and being unwilling, under those circumstances, to be further responsible for the forenamcd operations of the Government will resign. Others seem to think that this vote will be re-considered. I have however heard but few speak of the matter, only those who have visited me at my room. It Is very clear, I think, that unless a reconsideration does take place, either the war must be abandoned, or the rate of interest left discretionary with the Government. This last will, I presume, be the result. And thus, to avoid a duty of about one cent a pound on coffee, and a like advalorem duty on lea, our national bonds will be hawked about the market at a discount. For my part, I am of opinion that the people would prefer the tea and coffee tax to any such mortifying, and disgraceful conditiion of thing-. But the present gentlemen of the House, who voted down the proposition, will be able to show that they voted against taxing the old women's tea and coffee. My notion is, that the old women are better patri ots than the representatives m Congress of their better halves, and that rather than see the war abandoned, or inefficiently prosecuted, they would pay cheerfully the additional cent a ouud for their coffee, and for tea accordingly, and moreover go and fight the Mexi cans with their broomsticks and fire shovels and then make a better right cf it than trained politicians. You will, no doubt, find the resolutions, yeas and nays, &c., in this night's Union. Your Representative, like myself, is confined to his room to-day by being unwell probably might have rot to the House in a carriage if he had been advised of the matter to be brought on the carpet. I presume no one is authorized to say Low he would have voted had he been present, but he has often been heard to say that he would rather resign his seat in Congress than vote against the Administration, on a question of supplies for Ihe war. There is trouble here. The whigs will vote any way to embarrass the Government, and some demo crats, I am persuaded, do not give the proper credit , , . c- , . "or the good sense which is theirs--nor the patriotism :ither. Yours, in truth, BIlUTITS. Tlic I'olllics of Europe. The foreign correspondent of the Washington Union, in a late letter, observes": "No prescience could have forseen the extraordinary. political events which have occurred in Europe within the last six months: Denmark threatened to be severed in twain by the Schleswig-Holsteincrs, and the ball for its consummation still rolling on : a French prince married to the heir presumptive of the Spanish throne, and the stipulations of the Utrecht treaty disregarded the sudden uprooting of the apparent affections which existed between the British queen and the French king, and the effort of each to fortify themselves by new alliances: And, lastly, the open violation of the covenant which was the sheetanchor of the safety of European States, and the dowfall of Cracow. In all this England, of the five great powers, will be the chief loser. She has already suffered inconceivably in reputation in the loss of that almost magic power in her name, which made the remainder of Europe stand still at her bidding. She is yet to suffer the humiliation of being ruled off of the continent altogether, and the injuries that she will sustain politically and commercially therefrom. I wish it were otherwise; for after all, she hasher redeeming points in her system of government. She is more free more kindred in her character to ourselves than any other great power. She has her fault-, the chief of which is ambition, and they have hastened her to the culminating point. Her policy and her diplomacy for the last three years have constituted a budget of blunders. They commenced with Texas in an evil hour. To their signal failure in that and other question, wholly American, may be attributed the success of Louis Phillippe in gaining for his house the Spanish prize, ar.d to the silly protests against the marriage, the contempt with which Lord Palmofätuif views are treated with reference to Cracow." The London correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce speaks of the affairs of Spain as follows: " Spain pre sents no point of importance. The distinguishing feature of the week being the squabbles between Narvaez an i Queen Christina. The mother of the sovereign of Spain has made herself infamous in history ; her present conduct is so vile that she cannot get a Spanish minister to enforce her requirements; Her conduct is so disgusting and imperious that even "her tool Narvaez remonstrated. With a lie ready in her mouth, she fled to the Queen, and accused the dictator of attempting to have her assas sinated ; then demanded the expulsion of Narvaez and his staff from the country. Queen Isabella issued her commands, but the ministry refused to act. Christina was in a furor, and finally was only appeased by the French ambassador taking ber in hand, and even threatening to aid the party who want her expatriation. V hat Spain might have become under even an inert, though honest government, the Elate of hf r revenues from 1323 to 1316 will show. In 1823 the revenues amounted to 5,500,000 sterling, in to 5,700,000; in 183:4 to 8,100,000; in 1340 to 1U,0L0,IH0; and in the present year to 12,1X 0,000. All this increase, this positive growing nations ally rich, has beeajin spite of the most atrociou, misrule, the vilest domestic feuds, a long civil Warthe finect soil in the world in fallow, and the rich mines of Grenada unworked. This year's amount of revenue is exactly the sum due to the Lrilisii creditor for arrears of coupons, and as the interest, and arrears. on the debt of 71,511,009 have bet little chance of liquidation, the government have been driven out ot . , . ... , r .i i ,- 1 V the Uriwsn, ana Auicn, anu rrencn munpy uwrufi?, and have been compelled to resort to a large domestic loan at five per cent. . Portugal, you will perceive by your files, is just in that position, which 1 told you nearly two months 8-to, would inevitably be its fate. It U in open rebelliTm the insurgents being in great force; uot to put down the Quecu, but an unpopular, ministry, , It is possible, should the rebels succeed, that the Queen . i , i.i.i .Ii . t may be deposed, and that her eldest son be declared sovereign, ah una nas occn uone uy mc prweiama tion already it has only to be stamped at the can non's mouth. 1 he Duke of Saldanha commands some 0,000 troops, who are marching against Das Antas, at the head of 5,000 regulars and 10,000 armed peas antry. . If the people and their commanders, are but a u ...- .1 i .:n i i.. ,,i.i ...i true w tdtw viuer, tue coun win uv uuiumuu.

Late from the Squadron. Important neics I Total wreck ff the United Slates Brig Somers. Greet loss of life. The baik Morgsn Dix brou;ht news to New Orleans on tbe 21st, and from the Piety una of the following dy vre gaihfr the following inttreitinfr particulars. , Three pnep, laved from one of the prize schooners re ciit'y wrecked, have bten sent prisoners to Perot. Fie out of six persons, who were on board the prize brig Furnante ben she was wrecked, ft ere lo. Of the three reU ibtt went adiift at the time, ihe prize Steamer bae Deter been heard of, and atn butrd are doubtlres lost. . The inhabitant of Tobasca are mach dUguited with tbe neglect cf iL government of Mexico in no aiding tbem.

. The rumor was that a quorum of the New Mexican ! Coegreca coulJ not be got together on the Sin. , At I V o'clock on the 13;h int. Com. Conner arriTed at j Aotn LiiarJo from Tampico, in the steamer Princeton ; In the af.ernoon bia broad penant wa cbai ged to the Ka ri;an. The Potomac frigate came in the name evening and anchored om'er Green Island Ila Verde, aa it ia , called by the Mexican. When ihe Morgan Dix Bailed, from Aiiton IvzarJo, the following U. 5. men cf war were lay irg near that Ure : Frigates Karitan and Potomac; stiainers MiUai'pi, Princeton, Vixen and Pelriia ; tor ship Relief ; and h hooner llonita anJ Tetrel. The U. 8. ! uhx.ncr Morris formerly the Laura Virginia had sailid j f.r Tohaeco with provisions. &c, f.i the cutler MrLane. I Tl - !!,.. .1 Li L-i v ' ' : t r! in vun nuiun r uuikauing itri vrui ill place hi ibe Somers. During the right on which the Creole wae burned by the expedition from the U. S. bri Vomers, a party of nixteen Mexican, ot di r command of Captain AUmra, viaited a small isljnd called S .lmena, a p'are useJ as a depoaite of coal for tbe U. S. q jdron, where they found a man named Muri.hy, generally known as Gov. Murj.hy, who has a family in N. O. The Mexican cumpet'ed him to inform them cf the precise actuation and condition of the American versels, threatening him with death. Murphy recognized a Mexican named Flores, with whom he waa acquainted, and implored him to save his life, which he did. Afier being informed of the situation of the Morgan Dix, which was loaded with coal, they started with the intention of attacking her, but were prevented by seeing a light on deck. It afterward appeared that the cook had at that moment came out of tLe cabin with a light to perform aome duty cn deck, and the Mexicans were fearful that they would te repulsed. Passt d Midshipman Reger, of tbe Smei, was talep priaoner w hile in the most daring manner makiug a reeon nrisance in the neighborhood of the magazine at Vera Cruz, a few nights before hia vessel was lost. On the morning of the 8th insU, the United States brig Somers, Lieut. Commanding Raphel Kemmes, was underway, off I!a VerJe, blockading. Tbe wind was blowing freab, and gradually increasing in strength, but a vessel heaving in eight, determined ber idcers to stand out for her iu order to tee what she waa, when a heavy squall struck her, and ere she could recover, another followed quickly upon its heels. The brig was hove down upon her bem ends, and in fifteen minutes was at the bottom. An able correspondent of tbe Picayune writes thus concearning the Somers in chase cf a strange vessel : "Aa we neared Pajiros reef, we tacked and stood for the northern point of the Green hland re f. Ti e strange vessel in the meantime came down rapiJIy, but showed no colors. While at this point, about half past Dine o'clock, A. M., while Capt. St-nimes was star ding in the lee arm chest, observing the reef with his glsss, the officer of the deck, Lt. Jsmes L. Parker, reported the appearance of a squall. The brig was then on tbe lai board tack, under topsails, courses, jib and main trysail. Capt- Se'mmes immediately crossed to windward and ordered tbe main sail to be hauled up, followed upon the instant by the ordirto brail up the trysail. Tbe mainsail was hauled up but the trysail lot k sgsinst the lee rigging and was in part trailed up with great difficulty, at the same time the helm was put hard up. The squall now pressing ber, the order was given by the officer of the deck to let go the lee maintopsail sheet and on the next instant to cut away all lacks and sheets Finding she would not pay off, Capt. Semmea ordered the helm to be put down, hoping to bring ber to the wind. .It was however all unavailing. From the moment she commenced careening she continued to go over with great rapidity, ai d in thirty seconds was on her beam enda. In lees than ten minutes she sunk. The puff cf w ind was much more violent than could have been expected from Ihe appearance of the weather. Tbe accident however mainly due to the extreme lighine-of" ln ' Oi.e or twi rninute "flcr ,ho " om' n,1' ! tbe and officers bad gained tbe side f ihe vessel or ihe tops. The small larboarJ quarter boat was cleared away and dropped carefully round leeward, and manned by her uaual compliment of five oarsmen. After much struggling, and a display rjpon the part cf several of those on board of great manliness and noble Holl to save, the boat in twenty minutes reached the island. ....... , As soon as the men were larded, Mr. Clark, disregarding the most strenuous entreaties, resolutely ehoved off sgain with a volunteer crew at the imminent hazard of theii lives. Less than three minutes after the boat left the brig Capt. Kemmes, finding tbe ve-sel s tiling under them gave an order for every man to aäve himself. AH simultaneously plunged into the water, and grasped the poMs, gratings, pars,.coops, and other floating objects at band. . Many must have gone down from the want of any support whatever ; others struggled on frail floats to be finally drifted on the reefs and dahed to pieces. Some were driven to sea to he heard of no more, and others encountered the worst fate which rouid be. apprehended in being devoured by sharks. Of near sixty who plunged from the wreck, only seventeen escaped. Through all this appaling scene the greatest composure was observed by men and officers. .There waa no apearance of panic, no exhibition of selfishness. Those who could not twi n were particularly enjoined to go in the boat. The strange vessel proved to be the Abrasia, bound for the squadron at Anton Lizardo. She passed very near the Somers, but the catastrophe was so sudden thai she failed to discover it. As sot n as the boat landed at. Green Island. Dr. Wright took the colors and bad tbem hoisted in the most conspicuous place, in orJer to a'tract the attention of the Abrasis.so (hat the accident might be reported to the squadron. We were however to-day the bearers of our own story. The Mexicana saw the accident from the mole, and cheered and exulted for a long lime. The brig bad been for a long time engaged in the blockade, and had done more to interrupt the commerce of the port than almost all the other vessels together. Within the last fortnight both lown and castle had been kept in a state of constant alirui by the burning of the Creole ; and nlher demonstrations which I presume you wid hear in due lime. Ibavenn doubt ihe Mexicans were relieved when they saw her sink into the ocean. I append a list of (he lost and saved 39 men saved, 37 lost. One officer, Mr. Rodgers, Passed Midshipman, and one man, John G. Fox, were captured by the Mexicans two days before while reconnoitering an important point, in company with Dr. Wright, the latter escaping to witness the catastrophe of the brig. From Havaiiii mid Ihe 1'acillc Ocean. By the arrival Friday of the fast sailing packet Christoval, Capt. Smith, in nine days from Havana, the New York Sun received special despatches and files of Spanish journals by Overland Mail from Panama, Equador, Peru, and Chili. The latest dates arc : Havana, Dec. 11, Lima and Callao, Nov. 7, Valparaiso, Oct. J.", Santa Fe de Bogota, Oct. 22. Our most, important advices relate to the threatened conquest of tlic Hispano-American Republics by the monarchists of Europe, under the direction of Gen. Flores, the deposed usurper of Equa dor, iiow in Spain. Venezuela and JNew Granada had signified their intention to repel Flcres, should his expedition against Equador attempt to enter their ports. It Equador, itself, active preparations were making to resist the invasion. The parent country and tie monarchists generally tre severely denounced for countenancing this piratical expedition against a nation at peace with them. TI.e movement of Flores, coming similtaneonsly with the monarchical alliance against the Argentine Republic, has aroused all the South American Republic. Those who at first were indifferent to the aggressions of England, France, and Brazil upon the States of the Plata,, now uuite in denouncing the monarchies. Should Flores ever land on South Amcri:an Republican soil, his fate is sealed. The Congress of Chili had assembled. President Bulness, inliia message to that body, congratulates the people upon the tranquil condition of the country. The commercial treaty with Spain is expected-to have a salutary influence upon the business interests of Chili. Tranquility prevailed througLoui ail me counfrin tvi the West Const. The war between the liritish and the New Zealandcrs had terminated. Mr. Thilip Tardo had been appointed Minister Plenipo tentiary to Chili from the Peruvian government. A Good Story Spoiled. The story of Hiram Smith, having sent tlie Queen of England six barrels of flour, and i reived in return three tiiouana auiurs, with a hrge i rder for flour of the same kind is contradicted. The Tribune, in correcting this repoit, feels authorized to inform her Majesty that Hiram Smith is quite ready for a trade of the kind. : The Tcry last curiosity we have seen spoken of in tho papers is " a tet d that came off a dog'a tail when it was a tcasgtn . J.ne man mai um u iu ictired entirely from public life-

Congress.' In the House of Representatives, Jan. 2, Mr. Pxttit subm'.lied the following resolution; which was agiecd to : lUtolced, That the Secretary of War be requested to report t this House how many tegirr.ents of vo!unt era have been detained at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande ever since they reached the borders of Mexico, and not employed against the enemy ; from what State or SlaU-s they went, and what, if any, is the reaaon for so detaiairg tbem. Duty on Ten and Off ee. Mr. WirTwoita aubmitteJ the follow inz resolution :

upon which he demanded the previoua quei-tion : Rei!ved. that it is inexpedii-ut to levy any tax upon lea and coff e. Mr. Pa TSE. I desire to drbate that resolution. The Cfeke. It is too late to debate the resolution the gentleman from Il.inoia Mr. Weqtwurtb having demanded the previous question thereon. .... Mr. R. Crimav. Mr. tusker, I desire to know " gentlemen can, in the same breath in which, they prerei. i a lesoluti n to which there is o4 jeitian, move the previous question, ar.d thus cut lf ajl d. lta or ol jeclion ! If so, gentlemen may continually follow the same cour-e. The Sfiiiti raid that it had tx en fnqaently derided that any gentleman had a right to demand the previous question; and tint the previous question having been de manded. nereianly precluded all debate. Mr. Piti moved that tbe res-duiion be laid on the table; upon which motion. Mr. Y C5i wobth demanded the yeas and nays; which wer ordered, and beiug taken, resulted yeas 49, nays 1Ü6. Mr. G. S. HorsToit inquired of the chair, whether, if tbe Houte ahou'J rote down the motion to lay on tbe table, and refuse the previous question, it would not then be in order to move a reference of the lesolutiou to the rommi'tee on Ways and Meana, who bad the au' jct-mat-ter of the resolution before them. The SriAKER replied it the affirmative. The question being upon seconding the demand for the previous question 103 voting in the affirmative, noes not counted tbeie was a second. The question, "Shall the main question be now putt" was decided in the affirmative. The fc sake a proceeded to put the main qoes(in, when tbe yea and nays were demanded and ordered, and, on, being taken, reaulled yeas 1 15, nays 48, as follows, .Ykas Messrs. Abbott, Anderson, Arnold, Darringer, Cell, Benton, James Black, Blancbard, . Brinkerhood, Uroadhead, Mjltoi, Drown, Uufiington, Wil iam W. Campbell. Carroll, Cthcart, Cocke, Collamer, Cranston, Croxier, Carrett Davis, Delano, Da, .Molt, Dillingham, Dixon, Djtkery, Dunlap, Ellsworth Erdman, John II. Ewing, Foster, Fries, Garvin, Gentry, Giddings, Graham, GriJer, Grinr.cll, Grovrr, Hale, jlarolin, Harper, Haalings, Henley, Ilillard, Höge, Hough, John W, Houston. Samuel D. Hut bard, Hudson, Hu"grefird, Washington Hunt, Joseph R. Ingersoll, Jenkins, James H. Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Seaborn Jones, KennrJy, Daniel. P. King, Preston King, Leib, Levin, Lewis. Lonp, Lumpkin, McClelland, Joseph J. McDowell, James McDowell, McGaughey, Mcllenry, Mrllvaine, Marsh, Moteh-y, Mouiton, Nien, Norrie, Perrill, Perry, Pollock, Ramsey, Rathbun, Reife, Kipley, Julius Rockwell, Root, Runk, Suwlelle. fcawyer, Scammon, Schenk, Severance, Truman Smith, Albert Smith, Thomas Smith, Caleb 13. Smith, Starkweath er, St. John, Strobm, Strong, Thibodeaux, Thomasson, Benjimin Thompson, Tibbatts, Tilden, Trumbo, Yance, Vinton, Wentwortb, Wheaton, White, William, Wi.'mot, Winthrop, Wright, and Yost 115 Nats Messrs. Stephen Adams, Bayly, Bigg, Bowdon, Bowlin, Boyd, Will, am G. Brown, Burl, Ruelen Chapman, Chase. Clarke, Cobb, Collin, Cottre'l, Cullom, Cun ningham, Dargan, Douglass, Ficklin, Giles, Goodyear, Gordon, Hara on, Ilarmai snn, Isaac E. Holmes, George S.Houston, Edmund W. Hubbard, Hunter, George W. Jones, Lawrence, Leake, La S re, Ligon, McClernand, McKay, Barclay Martin, Morse, Parish, Payne, Reid, Roberts, Leonard II. Sims. Simpson. Stanton, Jacob a Thompson, Toombs, Tredway, and Woodward 4 9. A motion to adjourn waa here put aud negatived. liar rtA Mexico. Mr. Fi c klin ut'mittnd the following resolutions. liesfll bu the Huute of Representatives, That the repeated insults to our national flag the unwarranted depredations upon the public property of our cilizena the failure to comply with treaty stipulations the refusal to pay the just demands of our citizens the rejretion and ma'trealment of our minister, Mr. Shannon, aud the onceasing disposition to combine with foreign nations for the purpose of crippling our interests in the porta of Mexico constitute good and sufficient causes for the United States to declare war against her, independent cf, and apart from, the attack w hirh she has made upon cur army in May last upon the Rio Gmnde. Jlettlvcd, That when war was commenced by tbe act cf Mexico, the attack of her army upon ours should not only have been repulsed, but the glori. u? victories of the 8th and 9th of Maj; last, nchieved by our gallant officers and soldiers, ahou!d have bet n fallowed up uu!il that government was sufficiently rebuked for its temerity, . ItctolceJ, That it ia the duty vf every true-hearted American to stand by the government in this conflict, and not. give encouragement V tbe enemy by declaring that they are rijht and tee are wrong. Jiesolicd, Thtl while the country is engaged in war, and our troops are in the batile-field, no party should seek or design to make political capital by exposing to the enerry our weak points, or our party divisions at home, but all should unite -as one man to bring the war to a speedy and glorious termination. , .... Real ted, That the brave volunteers in our army have; fully vindicated the character for intrepid valor and bold: dating assigned to ihem l.y the yartUhty of ; , and Ihey need not be ketit out of na lie by reason of any J distrust o them, or their willingness to fight "lo the death." Resolved, That wo deplore the policy which retained I fourteen thousand of our gallant volunteers in the vicinity j ot the iuo Uranue, where some filleen hundred have fallen virtime lo the disease of the country, and have been wrapped ia their blankets and buried in a land of ktra'gfrs. Reto'ved, That our rolontecra who hare been kept out of battle have evinced the utmost firmnesa and parrioiia.n , hy remaining at their p.iat f,r nv.re than six montha. j ed by the prospect ol shortly winning laurels on the bat tie held. Resolved, That the pay of the volunteers shoulJ ! speedily inreaed to $10 per month, together with a libe ral grant of bounty lands at the close. u I the war. Mr. lie Dans announcing his desire to debate the reso lutions, they were laid over under the rule. A n ur Tax. Mr. Sims, of Missouri, submitted the following resolu tion, upon which he demanded tho previous question: RtvAved, That the people of the United States are too patriotic lo refuse any necessary tax in tune of war. A motion fur adjournment was sgain put, and nega tived. Mr. Kathbch mored trial tbe resolution be laid upon . L AA " ' - - . . . . ! ISats Messrs. Stephen Adams. Uarringer, Uayiy, ueuineer. Benton. D ees, James A. Black, Bowdon, Bowlin, - - . k . . " : i : . I t i, . I tsoyu, urotineau, Ainion urown, n.iam is. uruwu, uuii, John H. Campbell, Cathcart, Reuben Chapman, Chase, Clarke, Cobb, Cocke, Collin, Cottrell, Crozier, Cullom, Cunningham, De Molt, Dillingham. Dockery, Douglass, Dunlap, Erdman, faun, Ficklin, Foster, Fries, tiarvin, Gentry, GidJings. Giles, Goodyear, Gordon." Graham, Grii'er, Grinnell, Groter, Hamlin, Haralson, lUrmamon, Hastings, lloge, John W. Houston, George S. Houston, Washington Hont, Jenkins, James H Johnson, Joseph Johnson.- Andrew juhi.son, CJeorge W. Jones, Seaborn Jones, Kennedy, Leake, L (Her, La Sere, Ligon, Long, Lumpkin, McClelland, McClernand. Joseph J. McDowell, James McDowell, MOauhey, Mcllenry, Mcllvsine, Barclay MaUin, Morse, Mofely Moulton, Norris, Iarih, Tiyne, Perry, Pollock, Kunsey, Rcid, Reife, Sawtelle, lawyer, Scammon, Seddon, Leonard II. Sims, Simpson, Caleb .B. .Smith,. Robert Smith, Stanton, Starkweather, Strong. Thibodeaux, Thompson, Jacoh Thompson, Thürman, Tibbatts. Tredway, Trumbo, Weutworlh, Williams, Woodward, and Wright 107. So the resolution was not laid on the table. , The demand for ihe previous question being then seeonded, the yeas and nays were demanded upon the main question, and ordered. , . Mr. McClehhasd anked tbe Speaker whether the resolution could Iks modified with the consent of the mower. He desired his friend from Missouri I Mr. fcimJ to change his resolution, so that it woulJ rrad: - that a? our ancestors of revolutionary memory hesitated not to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors, to the prose cution of a war waged lo resist British aggression, so their Dosteritv of the present day would autunit to any tax whether upon tea and coffee, or other property, which may be necessary to bring the existing war, provoked by the aggressions Ol JilCZICU, IU Jiai wu umwiun nuu. ; The SrtiKta said the previous question bad passed the resolution from the control of Ike gentleman from Missouri fMr.8ims.l - . . . . - , Mr, Sims said if it was in order, he would accept of the odificaton.

me iaiie ; ami upon mis qurM.on iu jr.s ..u "c.c j secretiy remonstrates with a . monartu who car. oe demanded, and ordered, and being taken, resulted yeas unr(VTai as t0 kecp v,.ürj; to his subject. - Kusia 22 nays 107, as follows, via : persecutes the Nun of Minsk, and protocob und pro-YxAS-Messrs. Abbott, Arnold, Wflli ,.m W. Campbell. policy which .makes. a people rather., Carroll. Cranston. Dclanj. Uon ElUworlh. John H - J, nJ lJyBf,:iDsÄ uV . Ä the basis of royal desert, ,nd t Rock we'll. Truman m!th, Strohn,, Toombd Win- dangerous appeUt .-P.

Mr. Rathbcji akej fjr ir. formation, whither the resolut on rescindu g a portion of the Al t rule, passed this morning, prevented any meujler from rcqueauug U be excured from voting. TheSrtAKra replied in the cegtiive, adding that lha rule as ameoded did not allow a memler to explain the reasons for asking M be excused. ' Mr. Rathbcm immediately t. c hi sea', without asking to be excused, aa was expected. Loud laughter. Mr. Cubb. A good practical operation of the rule, The yeas and nays being then taken upon tbe adaption of tbe resolution ihe yeas wtre 125, iiajs none. So the resolution waa unanimoualy adopted. - , 1 .-i . 3!r. Webster's ofileia! prcccrdins n Scrrctnry of Slate, and IiU Into perches about Ihe liar, ronlniMidi The Washington correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer, says : :. Mr. Webster was sitting as if he" were asleep whil the message was bein read, until the Clerk of the Senats read, In the lancuaire of the Secretary

of the United Slater, in a despatch to our Minister in Mexico, under catc of the Hl of Juy, lrU," whrii he started as if he had suddenly found out that a live v coal of fire was- in his seat. .This part of the message brought all eyes on the Mass-achuselts Senator, to see how he would take his own language, after having so recet-tly declared that the President had committed an impeachable oflenee in ordering our troops to the Rio Grande. I add this part of tho message to call particular attention to it. Mr. Webster was Secretary of State in July, 112, when tho despatch .referred to was written : ' ' ' In the language of the Secretary of State of tij United States, in a despatch to our Minister in Mexi-' co, under date of the Sth of July, 1312, Mexico mayhave chosen to consider, and may still choose to con sider Texas as having been at all times since lto5, and as still continuing, a rebellious province ; but the w orld has ben obliged to take a very iilTcrrnt view of the matter. From the time of the battle of San Jacinto, in April. 183(1, to the present moment, Texas has exhibited the same external signs of national independence as Mexico herself, and with quite as much stability of government. . TracticaWy free and independent, acknowledged as a political Eovcrcignty by the principal powers of the world, no hostile foot fhidin rest within her territory for six or seven year, end Mexico herself refraining for all that period from acy further attempt to re-cetablih her ow n aulhoiity over that territory, it cannot but be surprising to find Mr, de Cocanegra (the Secretary of Foreign AfTuirS of Mexico) complaining that for that whole period, citi-' zens of the United States, or -its government, have been favoring the rebels of Texas, and supplying them with vessels, ammunition and money, as if the war for the reduction of the province of Texas had been constantly prosecuted by Mexico, and her sue? cess prevented by these influences from abroad." In the same de$patch,4!.e Secretary of Siate affirms that u since 1S37 .the. United States have regarded Texar as an independent sovereignty, os much as Mexico; and. that trade and commerce with citizen? cf. a government at war with Mexico cannot, cn tha account," be regarded s an -intercourse by which assistanceand succor are given to Mexican rebels. The whole current of Mr. de Ilocanegra's remarks runs in the same direction, as if the independence of Texas had not been acknowledged it was acknowledged in 19.37, against the remonstrance and protest of Mexi-' co ; and most of -the acts, of . any importance, cf which Mr. tie Bocanegra complain, flow necessarily from that recognition. He speaks of Texas as still being "an integral part of the territory of the Mexican republic," but he cannot but understand that tLe " U. States do not so regard ,iU The real complaint of Mexico, therefore is, in substance, neither more nor less tlnn a complaint against the recognition cf Texan independence. It may te thought rather late to repeat that complaint, and not quite just to confine it to the United States, to the exemption of England, Fj-ance and Belgium, unless the United States, having' been tLe first to acknowledge the independence cf Mexico herself, are to be blamed for setting an example fur the recognition of that of Texa6. And her added that " the constitution, public treaties, and the laws oblige the President to regard Texa? as an independent State, and its territory as no part of tire territory of Mexico." The present ForE of Rome Day ereaiing rrtü the Darkness of Roman Swat. We extract the. following from the hnndon WetVy Dispatch, of Nov.: 20, It is contained in an article headed "The Three P's Protestantism, Puseyifm, and Ponerv," and roes j to show that the present h ad of the Papal church is takirg rank among the most liberal and enlightened temporal prince of the earl h : "The present Tope of. Home is proving himself, by-' the least questionable evidence of deeds, to be one of the most liberal and intelligent mcnarchs end best Christians in all Europe. He calls, into ol it i al existence the middle clashes, aud grants a liberty to Us subjects to hold public meetings, and to d.scuss pub-' lie affairs in ojen assembly. He furgives, recalls from exile, and liberates all political oÜVnders. He extends the utmost limit- of toleration to all religious sects, and tells the Jews not to sue for that protectionlavor, wlncfl, ns suhjccWi mey are enimea io enjoy as a right, lie gives freedom to con.mercer and loosens tbe shackles of. the press, lie introduce I retrenchment, reform and honesty into all the various (departments of the public . service. He ardently strives to form an incorreptihle Administrativ!,' to place justice va the bench, and efficiency and talent in the executive. While continental Europe is crush-. ing the l.berty of its subjects, partitioning Cracow, and iutriguing for matches in Spain, the incarnation of the Catholic faith has placed him.-vlf at the head if ih. nrrtrrrii- nnrtc. and hids fair to become tiie rc(Tenorat t 0f t,e liberty of our continent. His coJe is, apoj to adorn the mild reign .f a Christian Prince. He. begin, to create a people in the .place. of a mob; education and l!i2 extension of tlie liberty of the press are promoted, and, in place of establishing his throne. on the shoulders of an aristocracy, he relit s fr its stability up;n the encouragement and the eulargement of the power of the middle classes, and the promotion of the liberty of all hi subjects. This is what the Pope has done is doing. The despots who surround him already begin lo tremble. Metternich quikes at the bad example of honesty, justice, and emancipation exhibited to his victims by his royal neighbor. Prussia, that has so solemnly guaranteed a constitution to its subjects, aud, witli, the usual rascality of the Jeremy Didolers of politics, has so pertinaciously refused to perorm Iii promise,r . I. ....i.iivii mA ri !i rrnrnnlnr df iL. u y pimuu.v - - whole philosophy of the humbug of parsondom, relyin"- no more on weaiiu anu runs., inumnj; n-u-n toleadi the slavish doctrines of priestly sycophants, ,.t i i. c. .. . i . who preach up the right divine.of kings Jp governwrong; but throwing himself, with onerous abandonment, on the great, human hairt,' trusts fonpower,peace , law? anil order to the efficacy cf impartial justice, of executive puritv, the esteusion of rational J . . . . . , i i . . . . liberty of body, thought and .-peech, and to the crown--, ing spirit of a wise humanity äi.d a sincere devotion utho- welfare of his subjects. ' '. "He Las left his theobgy behind him, that he may be the better able to carry his religion further. Her advances with the spirit of his age, and rules in the milder light of a progressive and Christian d.syfrnsstion. Let his followers adorn Jiis.niser doctrine, by showing themselves every where the fast friends of knowledge and of liberty." The cardinals that is, same of them who. should have lived iu tbe days of the Inquisition have Leenrebelling ngainst the Tope. A proclamation waa issued by "one of the:n, declaring that there was a, conspiracy against the Church, and that Tins ti e Ninthwas the "prmapa.l conspirator. Several of the cotw clave have strcnuom-ly opposed each reform brought forward by his Holiness, yho, because he persevtn d in carrying his plans, has been met by the rankest treason, i Their Eminences oujht to have known their man better, than dare ta jilay sedition sgainpt a sovcrein of such astuteness and decision of character. They deserve their fate. Ünder a strong escort, they were teut. to .the cast'.e of Su Angelo, as pr i miners. His Holiness has composed his new Council of Staie of prelates . only, with one Cardinal as President. The first act was to authorize the publicatiou of a Law Journa', so that all proceedings in c ur'.s of juj tice may be published. Hitherto every t'iing l.na. 1 hjen in the dark-Mhe tribunals have been sevrtt. .V. ' J". Journal ff Commerce.

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