Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 37, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 March 1847 — Page 2
3nfttflüft fftätc SciüwcU wi:i:kly fditios.
KTEBJAL VIGILAPCE If TUE fBICE OF llBEETT. iiivroris, maucii 4. 117. Our Tenu. The Tallowing will hereafter be the permanent terms of the Weekly Indiana iiialt Sentinel: 5-Pay meats to be nude always In advance. One copy, one year, $2.01' Three copies, one year, 0.( 0 Fire copies, one y ear, 8.01 Ten copies, one year, 15.0(! Semi-Weekly. (Published three times a week during the session.) One copy, ;vgl.l)) Three copies, $10.10 Oue copy during the session, l.(K) Thrre or more mnies. each 7.1 L.csal Advertisements. The undersigned will not publish legal notices in their respective paj'eVa without payment being made therefor in advance. JOHN D. DEFREES, CI I A PM NS &. SPA NN. To Correspondents. O. P. C Danville. Yoara was receiveJ, bat too late for last week1 pipjt, the edition beinj exhausted by ma ccct.loo of about one hundred and forty new tubtcriber on th two days preceding the publication. The way that new tuUcriberi are "poa tag" in, i tome. We will try and hare paper enough In future. Our rtgulmr Uaue la now about UKW weekly. Oive us a many more, and we ill show w hat we caa do. . . 07- On Saturday, one of our citizens called upon us, and manifested unappeasable wrath iu consequence of the publication of a communication in the paper of that day, relative to needy families in our Community, and the alleged "want of action" on the part of the almoners of our benevolent societies, C ur wrathful citizen affirmed that the writer of the communication was a slanderer, and that so far from hi. allegations being true, the lenevoleiit societies and their agents had done all that their means and ability had enabled them to do. We give him the benefit of these counter statements as a measure of justice and Dot of right ; fur his violent, uncharitable and unchristian demeanor towards us, would no doubt In the opinion of the world, fully exonerate us from the duty of this explanation, so far as he is concerned. Folly and fanaticism alone could attach sinister motives to us on account of the puliicat.bu of communications in behalf of the poverty-stricken and the wretched; unless it should be done plainly in the spirit of pharisaism, and that is a spirit which we believe even our enemies do not impute to us. It would likely be more profitable to flatter and fawn upon those who have the power to bent fit or injure ; but this tee thall never do so long as the manual labor of our own bands can find us bread to cat. 03" Political extremes have met in Congress, and should circumstances favor, will amalgamate. The very state of things predicted and anticipated by certain resolutions passed by this Democratic club of Indianapolis, some three years ago, have occurred and are occurring. Calhoun crowded on the event of Texan annexation, without regard to consequences, immediate or remote, and in defiance of them. He labored with nearly as much zeal to give away all of Oregon, but only succeeded iu getting rid of a part. He now opposes the war with Mexico, brought on by his policy and that of the miserable Tyler; and though so fiercely determined for the immediate annexation of To-.- .i . r i 1 exas as a. necetiirv outlet foe Mir nvn curnlna minn. ! i.rJ v. 1 i .' i . .l -j e r, r r.i;r -T ... , i Sn acre Ot t.alimrnm rr ur Rinnirt iinitn. lt. nr. tended belief and fear that we have already too much territory, and that any further immediate addition would lead to the inevitable disruption of the Union, unless, tm.Vjj indeed; the newly acquired territory
iv.ii ' - it e t .x, t. if u i.- v acut, ny ana iu the aovice ana consent oi me ocnahall, to the extent of at least one half, be subjected i r , to the extension of negro slavery ! Not only this !a,e' f thc CCnfral offiCers rrr'd by such organelle has aliea ay began to ring the tocsin in favor ofttlon.w,' 6l'811 be discharged immediately upon the Disunion, unless hi', policy, his interests, and Äj f the war w.th Mexico. Th e bill also provides ambitious projects shall be held as superior to those of ! fT the aPiKjintmp,lt of ,hree Mtt adjutant generthe nation. All this tallies precisely with the spirit i'1' B"d au,I'orize8 ,he Resident to accept the serviof the resolutions to which we have referred. But ;"' thuU ,he 6tatC f ,he Sm,ce in Us I,inion there is another singular circumstance, which those ! 'T'" f vo,u,!tcers novv in Mexico " mnl resolutions perhaps did not anticipate, namely, a coa ,fter ll " tT r" K Kt "V volun,aril
lition, between Mr. Calhoun, not only with the bihtariff, anti-war federalists of the east, but alsc . .' I . J . tana, anti-war lecerahsts of the east, but also with ! the ultra, abolition fanntira ! nr if nnt .n..tlr!.-.n n.:tK n, :j, . i . i , with the latter, a coincidence at least in attitude cont . . . t n - i . w. w v uuiiiiUU .u.;j,f i . i - ' the aid or such allies, antipodes to him m opinions ' ..j cn.;mni. tit piu iu Li . . ,.: and sentiments, Mr. Calhoun has been able to wield . .k- ik.i rr .i. o 1 the "balance of power" in the Senate, and no small i .f i.Ä, .. f it. . .i I degree or influence of the same sort, in the country. ! ait tia ; txt .k- itt. r.i j i. . t All this is hut the "beginning of the end ; " and it is a I -f' . , r .v.: .. . ; i ..... . vui iuu iuu instruciive to contemplate. For the present we leave them to the reflection of our readers. We shall be soon enough compelled, by the . course of events, to revert to them. We have ouly now to remark, that there is more wisdom in the net ple than in politicians, and more safety too. 3 ftJWn ., , , F ,i i . i T . , . . CCTJn account of the late hour at which it came , , . , . ".u w voijiv. to.hand, we had not opportunity to say a word of the piece of poetry which appeared in our last, from Mrs. Bolton, entitled "A scene in Ireland." We think it amonr the very best of her praiseworthy efforts, and , , . , . , ... , . we have the satisfaction to know that it is much
mired by all whom we have heard express an opinion, legislation. A7. Louis Union. Written, as the subject proves it must have been, on j fjT-Tlie system of log-rolling" above alluded to the spur of the moment, it would alone be enough to j was the means by which Indiana, as well as other indicate the genius of the writer, and prove ber title 'States, has been swindled and disgraced. If it were io occupy a distinguished place among our best female ! practicable, every State . constitution should embody poets. If we bave flattered her but little, and we some remedial provision ; and if no better could be ire not much prone to that vice, we are not insensi- j found, every law, before taking effect, should be suable to her true merits, and are quite certain that her milled to a vote of the people. efforts will yet extort praise from pens more able than j '
our own. . The following U the language of the Hon. Iteverdy ! Johnson, of Maryland, on the three millions bill, referring to the unrighteousness of the Mexican war: " Public virtue has given us great prosperity. Let that virtue fail us--weaken the moral sense of the nation indulge in unbridled lust of dominion and s sure as there is a God who rewards virtue and punishes vice, the curse of Lis judgment will be upon US." The man who thus prates of public virtue and public morals, is the same person who a few years ago waa mobbed by the exasperated people of Baltimore, who bad been enormously plundered by a Bank of which Mr. Job son was the President. Wctider how much he thought a,bdut the " curses of God" at that time! The Railroad Meetinq on Saturday last gave ood .evidence of the favorable feeling of the people of central Indiana towards that important object. It is er7 generally believed that Illinois will yet cofne in to its aid. At all events, her coarse should not influence us in the least. We hares, lihenf -k. .-.. through our State, which will be read at the next meeting ; and we hope to see, then and there, a Urge gathering".- Due notice will be given, and piinclualily it desired. T h National Road.- After the railroad meeting lilt Saturday, we learn that a meeting was held relativ to repairing? the National Road west or White fiver. We have not seen the proceedings, but understand a resolution was passed recommending thecominissiorrere to go on and repair the road at the best ratejj and the County to be taxed for the safire. CTh O-ld Fellows of New York are preparing i itip, loaded with provisions fur tin relief of Ireland.
It might not be a bad arrangement if the Mexican priesthood should exchange places with the American clergy." Instead then of each class opposing, it might make a show of patriotic ardor in favor of its own government. S'ale SenlineJ. With all proper respect f ;r our neighbor of the Sentinel, we rrgret the insertion of such a paragraph as tJie fcregoirg in his paper. Thr-t the great mars of the American 4 clergy " are opposed to war, and to this Mexican war especially, is an undoubted fact; but it does nut prove that they take side with Mcxi-.-o. It only shows that they have so far advanced in civilization as to d.sapprove of wholesale and needless inhumanity. ChrUl ia n Messe ngcr. We hare no desire to do any injustice to the class mentioned. We merely staled a fact, of which our
neighbor admits the truth. The j racticjü effects of the course of the clergy, alluded to, must be inevitable and felf-evident, whatever may be the motives which impels that course. To those tffects only did we allude. That they tend to prolong the contest, and consequently the " wholesale and needless inhumanity " spoken of, we have not the shadow of a doubt. We should not have made the remark that wc did, had not the attitude of the class in question, in many instances, imperatively required it. So loi;g as they confine themselves within their proper bounds, we shall bo the last to quest iou the conduct of clergymen, whether individually or ai a class. But when they descend into the political forutn, they can claim no immunity beyond that to which politicians arc entitled. Our original remark was based cn the following, whit u appeared some weeks ago in the Public Ledger: Aid ' and .Co.mfokt to tjie Exemv. Disgraceful Proceed inn gs in Boston. The old spirit that prompted some of our Eastern friends in the last war to burn blue lights to apprise the enemy of the movements of our navy is still actively alive in Boston. An exhibition of it was given on Monday night last at a public meeting held in Tremont Temple, called to take into consideration the expediency of withdrawing the U. S. troops from Mexico, ana of memorializing Congress to bring the war to a ppeedy termination. One Dea. Samuel (ircely was appointed tluirman, and a committee reported resolutions which viewed the Mexican war with "deep sorrow and disgust." The resolutions were spoken to by Rev. C. iJrooks, Rev. Mr. Horton, Rev. Theodore Parker, Rev. Mr. Waterston, Dea. Grant, Mr. C. F. Adams, Mr. Trask, and others. The Eoston Tost gives the following account of the proceed ifigs : "Mr. Trask toik ocraion in hit remark to ry many di-eouiteou things of the Massachusetts volunteeit, a few uf whom were piesent, and itid he acorned and pitied iho man who wit tae enoug'i to enlist iu this unholy war." Mr. Jjmes C. Motse, tif company A voluuieers, admiohteif d a seveie nlukr lo Mr. T., which was received by the audience with altercate clappirg uf bards and hisse ' Mr. Muise concluded by saying Hut he was 'happy in bring the ol jt-ct of the scorn and contempt of his calumniator, and he dobuted Dot the whole of ibe volumeer coips coincided wih hi n in opinion. Mr. C. F. Adams lo k the staod, and said the mretm' was called by the eppuutn's of the war, and be didn't know ly what authoiity the lights of the meetii g ' were invaded by the hired minions of the admimstiatiuu. A gentleman lit the hall, named Paikman, inteirupted nun by laying he was afraid of fiee discussion od the subject, and inisted upon the volunteers exercising the right of defending themselves againt such gros attacks. The lesotutiuns were Uid on the table to t e taken up at the adjourned meeting to be held at Faneuil Hall tn Tuutsday etching, and the meeting adjourned." We expect to hear that the meeting on Thursday night will pass a resolution of thanks to anta Anna, and approving of hin intention to set murderous bands of highwaymen and banditti upon the scattered remnants of the American army afier be has "torn it to pieces." (rThe President's special message to Congress, which we puuiisi: in another coiuuin, seems to i;ave ' i u i i:. l : .i ..t ... i brought the ilignffiid Senate at:d House to a sense of the necessity of attending tj the public interests ccm roittcd to their charge. On the ICth, a bill was reported in the Senate for the organization of the ten regiments recently authorized into brigades and division?; and also providing for the appointment by the Tresiec"c lu ,MS l,lu UiC wor "u w wt',u" them into rrmrnnicB. lattal.rm. nnd rorrirrfoit nrW . . ... , . , . ' j existing military regulation, anu appoint ou.ccrs ior . j, . T . . eucii cumpaiuts, uattujionp, ar.a regiments, j rovision , , e . . . . . - is also made tor hllin vacancies in the rcnksnr.d if officers of the volunteer corps now in the fie d. That , P ., , . i .. . , 4 . . part of the late mefsage ef the President relating to , ... - . p an increase of revenue by the inpcsition of a duty on . , , J , . . tca nd coßce and a reduction in the price of the ... . . - , 1 . public lands, was rtftired lo the Committee on L. Finance. Gov. Siiuxk, of Pennsylvania, has vetoed several bills recently passed by the Legislature of that State
''s '"sour for so doing are clearly and succinctly '?iyen' ?nd wc find t,iat feome of lhe bil,s have bocn J? l' bü' 50lten,uP th rolling system. v e like to see a public officer walk boldly up to duty in this matter, and contribule n i 1 . . i i t . ajj Us power to destroy such pernicious legislation. j Although the several subjects embraced in the bill ! may le well enough, if passed separately, yet the j y8te,n of classing together those which are incongruous'' "u-h.1 to be repudiated- Let every proposition . stand on Us own merits or fall. Such a course will ad-'remcJv anV eerious ev.u row-lnrr out 0r ..;..,
öPKirvG.- jfvnaay, iviarcu i, his openea on us in a perfect bluster real winter weather snow and ice. That respectable personage, the oldest inhabitant," admits this to have been one of the hardest winters in every respect, ever experienced here. What with cold weather and floods, we are in a Yankee " fix ;" but with July in the perspective, and a little excitement in the way of telling plain truths, we are not likely to freeze bad." We regret to eay that the prospect for good crops this year, so far as a judgment can now.be formed, are rather gloomy. More Curiosities. We have had presented -to us several fine curiosities of late, among which are a Mexican fur pound h llow shot, of brass or bell metal, similar to the one thit killed the lamented Ringjold. Al, a copper grape shot. One of our citizens, w!io last summer fjr.itad one of a company and left for the copper mines of Lake Superior, lately re'urned, bringing- with him a bowlder of the copper ore, weighing upwards of 63 pound. It is almost pure copper, and is well worthy an examination. Call and see it IIoerible!A correspondent of the Cincinnati Chronicle states that Mrs. Thos. McElfresh.of Brown county, O., in a fit of insanity, recently cut the throats of three of her cbilderen, killing outright the two youngest and cutting a most horrible gash in the neck of her eldest, a daughter of some seventeen years of age; not, however, sufficient to cause her death. After killing ber two youngest, she dragged the bodies to the well, some ten or twelve feet from the kitchen, and endeavored to throw them into it, but froto debility was not able. The' bodies were found where the mother had left them, by the unhappy father and his friend, who waa at work with him in the biro, some eijhty -rods diatintr-
Mr. Calhoun' Anti-War Speech. We present the following synopsis of the speech of. Mr. Calhoun, made is the Senate on the 8th of Feb- ( ruary, as furnished by the Washington correspondent j of the N. Y. Joarnal of Commerce. It presents a J
fair view of the positions assumed by the Southern leader : Mr. Calbocx said : Never, since he baJ been on the stage of action, bad the country Ixen placed in so critical a situation as at this moment. NVe were involved in an onerou war, and in a j dangerous domestic question, boih of which deserved our liehberate consideration. The questions involved in this , sutject were many. He should confine himself chit fly to J t- ia.i - . . . i ' one. now suaii me war i dcsi conuucieu, so as to oung it to a satii-factory conclusion t or rather, what lathe mode for obtaining the ol jecta for which the war was made 1 There were two ways -or e to path on and conquer Mexico, and the other to take a defensive position in the territory now in our military occupation. He was in fvor, after much deliberation, of choosing the latter mode a defensive position. This would, in bis opinion, give os every ot jeect for which lbs war was declared, if be rightly conceived its ol jccL He would eiy, if be rightly understood it, for to this day, it was not clear to him what was the object of the war. From the President's Message he was U-d to believe that the objects were threefold: to repel invasion; to secure the Rio Grande as a boundary; and t'i force the payment of the claims of onr citizens. Both th Executive and Legislativ branches of the Government assumed that the Kio Grande was our rightful boundary. Bring in the war, as the President alleged, it was pressed with a view to the aujitroenl of claims, as well as for the other two ol jecis, which ha approved of, because, when in war, all sul jects in dispute should be prosecuted to adjustment. Two oljects wer already. We had repelled ibe invasion by two brilliant victories ; we bad secured our boundary by taking possession of a line along the Siena Madre mountains to the Gulf of California. Whether we shculd take a defensiv line, embracing all this territory, he could not undertake to say without further information. We should, by all means, avoid the appearance of taking possession f any part of the territory, as resulting from conquest. The only design ooght to be to take a line that would secure as from invasion, and give us ample indemnity, not for the expenses of the war, but for the claims of our citizens. He held that we ought to be just and liberal to Mexico, not only as a neighbor and sister republic, and emulous of copying our institutions, but because our true policy was not to weaken or oppress her. Her fate was mysteriously connected with our own. Her capability to sustain herself was necessary even to our own strength and profperi y. He wis not prepared to say what li ought to be taken; it ahould be, in a military point of view, eminently coercive; and it should be one that would ultimately be taken as the boundary between the two countries, and one that could be defended in an economical manner. He would, however, suggest a line, which, ss it appeared to him, would meet all theae considerations. He proposed a line, beginning at the mouth of the Riq Grande and running up to the Passo del None, and extending west along the southern boundary of New Mexico, to the Gulf of California. This coincided with the views of the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, even in case of a continuance of a compulsory line. This line was easily tu be defended, by one post at the mouth of the Rio Grande, another at Camargo, and another at Passo del Norte. Four regiments, as military men informed him, would be ample for the protection of this line. The country between the Passo del Norte and the Gulf of California requires no defence. It was in the bands of Indiana. A few vessels in the Gulf of California, a post. with one regiment, would be adequate to the protection of that end of the hue. This territory was sparsely settled. Thst wss an advantage. We wanted fjr our expanJiog population, soon to be eighty millions, an uninhabited country. This territory was of no value to Mexico it was a source of annoyance to her its population waa stationary, and waa only one hundred thousand. The Meiicana could not even protect it from the Indians. This line bad the advantage that it would aecure a permanent peace with Mexico. Our roving population would spread over this territory. If we made no provision for our increasing population, they would encroach upon Mexico, and involve us in another war. He would not take the line permanently, but subject to negotiation, whenever Mexico should be resdy to enter into a treaty ; and we should give her liberal compensation for any territory ceded to us. He would take possession of the principal ports of Mexico, and establish L us torn Houses, and collect moderate rate of duly, say ten per cent He had consulted well informed persons aa to the cost, and found that two and a half millions of dollars would be the expense of their possession, which now might be collected from the commerce of these porta, with great ben r fit to Mexico, to us, and to the world. It may be, he said, that Mexico would bold out. He thought not. It would be a turning point in her policy. Now, every nerve was strained to ojpose us. but, as soon as this course was adopted, she woulJ see that her institutions and national independence were safe, and she would soon make peace. What were the objections to continuing an offensive wsrt The vast expense; the uncertainty of success ; the ! hazard of national reputation. To conquer peace was to f'"rg me war. It took two pjrties to make peace 1 The defensive course he proposod would gain every ot i-ct cf the war Cvcrv oHect that could be gained by what was called " vigorous war." It would aecure us in the possession of the boundary we contended for, and give us every desirable security for the indemnities due to our citi ze s. Suppose we could now march to the city of Mexico, and there dictate a peace wou'd it be worth the cost 1 It would cost thirty millions of dollars and the lives of fif teen thousand of our countrymen. Would any one say that the whole country of California and New Mexico was worth the sacrifice 1 This supposed that we succeed ed in the campaign, buccess would srive us no more tbsn we already have possession of a bcandary and ample indemnity. But this was only the shell of the duestion a rugged snd often barren country, full of ruinoua defiles, was to be overcome. First, we were to take possession of Vera Cruz the home of the yellow fever the most fatal climate on the earth, i be fever prevails there eight months in the year By the middle of March, the plare will be fatal to oar troops. We may have force sufficient to take Vera Cruz, but shall we be able to send an army thence to the city of Mexico I w not, we must have a third campaign for the ohj -ct. Before that Mexico would become better armed and prepared. We aball have, in the meantime, a severe guerilla war. Let me tell you that, by the next campaign, the spirit of volunteering will be over. You must raise a hundred thousand men for the next campaign. If tho men can be got, how can yon get the money. Your Treasury Notes will be exhausted. You must borrow money, and impose internal taxes. The States were, many of tbem, burdened with debt and taxation already. Congress was averr-4 to direct taxation. Bat agsin, the country does not harmoniously sustain the war. A vast portion of the people half of our whole population believed the war to be avoidable, and would not sustain it with zeal. But a deeper qaestion arose. To whose benefit should the territorial acquisitions enure t If the Northern States are so speedily brought to a unanimous purpose, what must be the feelings of the Slaveholding States! who saw that they were to be entirely excluded. While this radical difference existed, would there be unanimity and zeal in Iprooecuting the war T But, if this difficulty were surmounted, what certainty was there that we ahould succeed in conquering Mexico t in bringing the war to a close 1 We ahould bave the same sort of war that France has in Algeria, and the Russians in Circaaaia. How many campaigns have the French had in Algeria ! (16.) We should be obliged to carry on the war for tea or twenty campaigns. VVhal, after a!, would we effect that we cannot get by a defensive line ! If we conquered Mexico, what shoulJ we do with it 1 What should we do with her seven millions of people ! If we incorporated Mexico into the United States it would destroy our own institutions ; if we held Mexico ts a conquered province, it would be equally destructive to us. Hence it was that he bad said that our fate was mysteriously connected with that of Mexico. The war was rashly begun. If it should be determined to pursue it ofTitnsively, those who did it would rue it to lha last day of their lives. He should vote against the amendment of the 8enator from Michigan, (Mr. Cass.) Whether he ahould vol for the amendment of Mr. Berrien, or for the bill itself, would depend on future development!. ß"The Federalists are in extacica at the recent speech of Tom Corwin, in the Senate. The rum and substance of the speech waa simply this. He took the bold ground that lhe tear was an unjust tear that the soil upon which the first bloc-1 was spilled t Mexican and not American soil and to http him God, as long as hs had the power to vote against men or money to prosecute this rar, he would not role for a single man or a single dollar, until it could be shown that the soil between the Nueces and the Rio Grande was American soil. This is quite equal to the ravings of the' Louisville Journal and Win. L. Garrison the Abolitionist.
Congress. Feb. 18. Sienale. .1 bill was passed to p-event the distress which has occurred through the crowding
of emigrant vessels. It requires an allowance of fourteen superficial square feet to each passenger two children 3 years of age, or under, to be counted as one passenger and further limits the number of passengers which any vessel may carry, to 2 for every 5 tons admeasurement. A resolution to purchase 10,000 copies of a late edition of the Constitution for the use of the Senate, was adopted. The naval appropriation bill was taken up. The amendment authorizing, the appointment of a "Pyrotechnist," with thc rank and pay of a Lieut. Com manding, (lrw; was agreed to. An additional clerk in the bureau of provisions and clothing was authorized at a salary of $1,0C0. borne progress was made in the naval appropria tion bill, and the three million bill war then taken up. Mr. LuliT, ol cxjuili Carolina, having the floor. iUr. B. said that this war had brought up questions which were surrounded with difficulties and embarrassments, and to bis mind, present gloomy foreboding. He wished that he could look to peace for relief. But in all the propositions which had been brought forward to secure a speedy and honorable peace, he could see no relief. Teace would bring with it an abiding strife, more fearful than war, if the declara tions from high sources were to be carried out. lie had no favor to ak of the President, and no particular hostility to him, but he could not agree wilh those who prorouiced the tear unjust. The President, he said, had been placid in difficult circumstances, in taking possession of Texas; for no matter what portion of it had been annexed, the taking possession would have been resisted br Mexico. Though the President might be particularly responsible for the existence of the war. Congress bad placed the sword in his hand, and it waa useless, now to go back to the causes in which the war originated. He preferred a peace voluntarily proffered to Mexico, tu a peace extorted from her. The latter would only last so long as Mexico possessed not the power to break it, and she would never forget her degradation. He was in favor of making the appropriation, and thought it would have been a wise policy to grant the two millions at the last session. In regard to the question of slavery, he believed if the designs of the Worth were permuted, they would end in disastrous w i a 4 . consequences. He would preier acquiring no terri tory if it is to be acquired at the expense of the Union. Gen. Houston of Texas indicated his design to speak on Friday, and Mr. Simmons of R. I., obtained the fior. In the House, by a singular act of legislative chi canery, me liiver and Harbor lim. ot last session, and which was vetoed, was moved as an amendment to a bill to continue public works in the Territory of Wisconsin. No conclusion was come to in the matter. Feb. 19. Senale. Mr. Cilley presented resolu tions of the New Hampshire Legislature, in favor of the adoption of measures for the extinction of slavery in the District of Columbia ; its exclusion from Oregon, and all other territories which may hereafter come into the Union, etc. After the presentation of petitions, Mr. Calhoun submitted thc following resolutions : Resolved, That the territories of the United Slates belong to the several States composing this Union, and are held by them as their joint and common pewperly. Rtsolted, That Congress, as the joint agent and representative of the State of this Union, has no right to make any law, or do any act whatever, that shall directly, or by its effects, make any discrimination between the States of this Union, by which any of them shall be deprived of its full and equal right in any territory of the United States, acquired or to be acquired. Resolved. That the enactment of any law which ahould directly, or by its effects, deprive the citizens of any of me states oi tins Union Irom emigrating with tlieir property into any of the territories of the United Statea will make such discrimination, and would, therefore, be a violation of the constitution, and the rights of the States from which such citizens emigrated, and in derogation of mat pnrioci equality wnicn belongs to them aa members of this Uli ion, and would lend directly to subvert the Union itself. Resolved, That, as a fundamental principle in our creed, that a people in forming a constitution have the uncondi tional rieht to form and adopt the government which they may think best calculated to secure their liberty, prosperity arid happiness; and that in conformity thereto, no other condition is imposed by the federal constitu tion on State in order to be admitted into this Union, except that its constitution shall be republican ; and that the imposition of any other by Congress would not only be in violation of the constitution, but in direct conflict with the principle on which our political system rests. Mr. Calhoun prefaced the introduction of his resolutions by a speech of some length, in which he pointed out the humiliating position in which the South would be placed should the declaration that no more slave States shall come into the Union, and no territory be annexed to it unless slavery be prohibited tuerein, ne persisted in oy the .North. He concluded as follows: S;r, here let me say a word as to the compromise line, I have always considered it as a great error highly injurious to the South, because it surrendered for mere temporary purposes, those high principles of the constitution upon which I think we ought to stand I am against any compromise line. Yet I would have been willing to have continued the compromise line. One of the resolutions in the House, to that effect, was offered at my suggestion, I said to a friend there, Mr. Burt, Let us not be disturbers of this Union. As obhorent to my feelings as is that com promise line, let it be adhered to in good faith; and if the other portions of our Union are willing to stand by it, let us not refuse to stand by it. It has kept peace for some time, and in the circumstances. perhaps it would be better to keep peace as it is." Hut, sir, it was voted down by an overwhelming ma jority. It wa renewed by a gentleman from a nonslaveholding State, and again voted down by an over whelming majority. Well, I see my way in the constitution. I cannot in the compromise. A compromise is but an act of Congress. It may be overruled at any time. It gives us no security. Eut tho constitution is stable. It is a rock. On it I can stand. It is a principle on which we can meet our friends from the non-elave-holding States. It is firm ground, on which they can better stand in opposition lo fanaticism, than on the shitting sands of compromise. Let us be done with compromise. Let us go back upon the constitution. Well, sir, what if the decision of this body shall deny to us this high constitutional right, which in my opinion is as clear as any in the instrument itself thc more denned and fcUble, indeed, because deduced from the entire body of the instrument, and the nature of the subject to which it relates I What then! That is a question which I will not undertake to decide. It is a question for our constituents the slaveholding States. A solemn and a great question, Mr. President. And if the decision should be adverse at this time, I trust and do believe they will take under solemn consideration what they ought to do. I give no advice. It would be hazardous and dan gerous for me to do so. But I mar epeak as an indi vidual member of that section of the Union. There I drew my first breath. There are all my hopes. I am a plantcr-a cotton planter. I am a southern man, and a slaveholder a kind and merciful one, I trust and none the worse for being a slaveholder. I say, for one, I would rather meet any extremity upon earth than give up one inch of our equality one inch of what belongs to us as members of this great republic! What! acknowledge inferiority! The surrender of life is nothing to sinking down into acknowledged inferiority ! I have examined this subject largely widely. I think I see the future, if we du not stand up now; and in my humble opinion, the condition of Ireland is merciful and happy the condition of Ilindostan is peace and happiness the condition of Jamaica is prosperous and happy, to what the southern States will be if now they yield ! Mr. President, I desire that the resolutions which I now send to the table be read. I move that the resolutions be printed. I shall move thai they be taken up to-morrow ; and I do trust that tho Senate w ill give them early attention, and an early vote upon the subject. Here the honorable senator returned his seat. Mr. Benton then rose and eaid: Mr. President, we have some business to transact. I da nnt intend to avoid business for a string of abstractions. Mr. Calhoun. The senator anva lm ran nnt take UD abstractions. The constitution is an abstraction. Propriety is an abstraction. All the great rales or life are abstractions. Th Ttarlsmtinn f Trulonrn-
dcrrce was made on an abstraction; and when I bear
a man declare that he is against abstract truth in a case of this kind, I am prepared lo know what his course will be ! I certainly supposed that the senator from Missouri, the representative of a lavebolding Slate, would have supported these resolutions. 1 moved them in good faith, under a solemn conviction of what was due to those whom I represent; and due the whole south and the whole Union. I have as little desire as any senator to obstruct public busiuess. All I want is a decision, and a decision before the three million bill is decided. If the senator from .Missouri wants to-morrow morning, very well. The resolutions can be taken up on Monday. Mr Rr-ntnn. I will nnrsne nw own course when
the time comes. I know what are abstractions, and . what are not. I know what business is, and what is not. I am lor going on with the business ot the cawelor.. .nt TtrT kI.hII m.t rntu f r nhtraetion I years ahead, to the exclusion of business. He says he calculated on my course. He is mistaken. He knows verv well, from my whole course in public ' life, that I never would leave busincs to take up fire brands to set thc world on fire. Mr. Calhoun. The Senator docs not at all compre hend me. Mr. Benton. I am from the right place. I am on the side of my country and the Union. The resolutions were then ordered to be printed. The naval appropriation bill was then taken up. and after the adoption of sundry other amendments, it was passed. The three million bill was then taken up, and Mr. Houeton addressed the Senate in a speech of much interest. After defending the editor of the Union, and condemning the course of the Senate towards him, he entered into a review of the origin of the war, and declared that having annexed Texas while she was at war with Mexico and Mexico having declared to us that he would consider the annexation as a declaration of war we were at war with Mexico the moment annexation took place. At the conclusion of Gen. Houston's speech, Mr. Simmons obtained the floor for to-morrow. The bill from the House for the relief f.f the heirs of Daniel D. Tompkins, was taken up and passed. and then the Senate went into the consideration of Executive business. House. Mr. McClernind, by leave, presented a memorial of the Jackson monument committee, praying that certain unserviceable brass cannon, captured by Gen. Andrew Jackson, at Pensacola, may be delivered to said committee, to be used in the construction of the statue of Gen. Jackson, and moved that leave be given him to that effect. The motion prevailedyeas 115, nays 4J. The resolution was accordingly introduced, read twice'aud passed. The House in committee of the whole, Mr. Foote in the chair, then took up the private calendar. After the committee roee, the bills for the relief of the heirs of Daniel D. Tompkins and John Faul Jones, were read a third time and passed. The bill for the relief of the heirs of Marshal de Rochambeau was rejected. A great number of private bills from the Senate, and bills not of general interest, were read a second time and referred. Feb. 20. Senate. The Senate took up and for some time considered the bill authorizing an increase of Generals in the army. Before any definite action was had on the bill, it was, on motion, laid over, and the Senate proceeded to a further consideration of the three million bill. Mr. Simmons resumed the speech which he commenced some days ag. and spoke at length, in part on thc merits of the bill, and in part in reply to the speech of Mr. Calhoun on presenting his resolutions yesterday. He sent up to the Secretary's desk and had read, some of the doctrines of the late Geo. Mason, of Virginia, one of the framers of the constitution, against the institution of slavery, and then commented on the same. As for the complaint of the gentleman from South Carolina, that the free States were out numbering the others, and that the equality of former days which was guarantied to the slave-holding States was not now observed, he could not for the life of h'jii see the justice or propriety of it ! When the compact was formed between the old thirteen Slates, together with Vermont, which fought out the revolution on her own hook, which made fourteen in all eight were non-slave holding and six were slave hold ing States. The free States then had a majority in the Senate, a majority in the House of Kepresenta fives, and a majority in the Electoral College ! This was the Union which South Carolina joined. How stood the case now! Including Delaware, which was a slaveholding State, there were fifteen States in the Union on that side of the question, rep resented in that chamber, and but thirteen non-slave-holding states with Senators in that body. The scna tors from the two new Statea, Iowa and Wisconsin, would make the parties equal. Was there any thing in this that ought to alarm the gentleman from South Carolina, and cause him to call upon the South to arrest tremendous outnumbering of the free over the slave Slates 1 As to the emigration of citizens of Iave States to new territories, taking their slaves with them and keeping them there as slaves, nothing of the kind was allowed at the time the Constitution was framed, and why the complaint that it should not now be al lowed ! Mr. Calhoun replied with spirit, and re-asserted his doctrines. Mr. Simmons rejoined with equal spirit, and the scene became highly interesting. Finally Mr. Soule obtained the floor, when the Sen ate adjourned. House. Several bills from the Senate were taken up and passed -among which was the one for dispo sing of the mineral lands on the 6horcs and islands of Lake Superior. The House added an amendment. The House then went into committee of thc whole. (Mr. Cobb in the Chair) and took up the River and Harbor bill, reduced from the bill of last session to about 500,000 in amount. After considering the same for some time, the committee rose and reported the bill, and the House passed it by a vote of 89 to 7' Blessige from the President. The following Message was sent to Congress on the 13th February, 1947 : Tb the Senate and Ilnise of Representatives of the United Stales : Congress, by the act of the ldth of May last, de clared that, "by the act of the republic of Mexico, a state of war existed between that government and the United States ;" and "for the purpose of enabling the government of the United States to prosecute said war to a speedy and successful termination, authority was vested in the President to employ the "naval and military forces of the United States." It has been my unalterable purpose, since the commencement of hostilities by Mexico, and the declaration of the existence of the war by Congress, to prosecute the war in which the country war unavoidably involved with the utmost energy, with a view to its "speedy and successful termination" by an honorable peace. Accordingly, all the operations of our naval and military forces bave been directed with this view. While the sword has been held in ono hand, and our military movements pressed forward into the euemy's country, and its coast invested by our navy, the ten4 a V a der oi an honorable peace nas ocen consianuy pre sented to Mexico in the other. Hitherto, the overtures of peace which have been made by this government have not been accepted by Mexico. With a view to avoid a protracted war, which hesitency and delay on our part would be so well calculated to produce, I informed you, in my annual message of the 8th of December last, that the war would "continue to be prosecuted with vigor as the best means of securing peace, and recommended lo your earlv and favorable consideration the measures proposed by the Secretary of War, in his report accompanying that message. In my message of the 4th of January last, these and other measures, deemed to be essential to the speedy and successful termination of the war, and the attainment of a just and honorable peace, were recommended to your early and favorable consideration. The worst state of things which could exist in a war with such a rower as Mexico, would be a course of indecision and inactivity on our part. Beins charg ed by thc constitution and the laws with the conduct of the war, I have availed myself of all the means at my command lo prosecute it with energy and vigor. The act "to raise for a limited time an additionai military force, and for other purpose," and which authorize the raising of ten additional regiments to the renkr army, to serve during the war, and to be disbanded at its termination, which was presented to me on the lltb inst-, and approved, on that day, will con-
stitute an important part of our military force.- These regiments will be raised and moved to the seat of war with tho least practicable delay. It will be perceived that this act makes no provision for the organizing into brigades and divisions of the increased force which it authorizes, nor for the appointment of general officers to command it. It will be proper that authority be given by law to make such organization, and to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, such number of major 1 it" J lln aii-ivnrv of
tu it. .a ... the service may demand. The number of officers- of these irrades now in eriee are not more than are required for thc respective commands; out luriner legislative action during your present session will, in my judgment, be required, and to which It is my amy respectfully to invite your attention. Should the war. contrary to my earnest desire.be protracted to the close of the term of service or the volunteers now in Mexico, who engaged for twelve months, an additional volunteer force win prooaniy become necessary to supply their place. Mauy of the volunteers now serving in Mexico, it is not douoted. would cheerfully engage, at the conclusion of their nrpent term, to serve durin the war. Tbey would constitute a more efficient force than could be speedily obtained by accepting the services of any new corps who might offer their services. They would have the advantage of the experience and discipline of a year's service,"and will have become accustomed to the climate, and be in less danger than new levies of e uffering from the diseases of the country. I recommend therefore, that authority be given to accept the services of such of the volunteers now in Mexico as the state of the public service may require and who mar at the termination of the present term, voluntarily engage to serve during the war with Mexico, and that provision be made for commissioning officers. Should this measure receive the favorable consideration of Congress, it is recommended that a bounty be granted to them upon their voluntarily extending their term of service. This would not only be due to these gallant men, but it would be economy to the government ; because, if discharged at the end of the twelve months the government would be bound to incur a heavy expense in bringing them back to their homes, and in sending to tbe seat of war new corps of fresh troops to supply their place. By the act of the thirteenth of May last, the President was authorized to accept the services of volunteers, "in companies, baltall iona, squadrons, and regiments," but no provision was made for filling up vacancies which might occur by death, or discharge from the service, on account of sickness or other casualties. In consequence of this omission, many of the corps now in tscrvice have been much reduced in numbers. Nor was any provision made for fillin vacancies of regimental or company officers who might die or resign. Information has been received at the War Department of the resignation of mora than one hundred of these officer?. They were appointed by the State authorities, and no information baa been received, except in a few instances, that their places have been filled ; the efficiency of tbe service has been impaired from this cause. To remedy these defects, I recommend that authority be given to accept the services of individual volunteers, to fill up tbe places of auch as may die, or become unfit fur the service and be discharged ; and tbat provision be also made for filling the places of regimental and company officers who may die or resign. By such provisions, the volunteer corps may be constantly kept full, or may approximate the maximum number authorized and called into the service in the first instance. While it is deemed to be our true policy to prosecute the war in the manner indicated, and thus make the enemy feel Us pressure and its evils, I shall be at all times ready, with thc authority conferred on me by the constitution, and with all the means which may be placed at my command by Congress, to conclude a just and honorable peace. Of equal importance with an energetic and vigorous prosecution of the war are the means required to defray its expenses, and to uphold and maintain the public credit. In my annual message of the 8ih December last, I submitted fur the consideration of Congress the propriety of imposing, as a war measure, revenue duties .n coma f th artir1f9 tinw embraced in the free list. The principal articles now exempt from duty, from which any considerable revenue could be derived, arc tea and coffee. A moderate revenue duty on these articles, it is estimated would produce annually an amount exceeding two and a half millions of dollars. Though in a period of peace, when ample means could be derived from duties on other articles for the support of the government, it may have been deemed proper not to resort to a duty on these articles ; yet, when the country is engaged in a foreign war, and all our resources are demanded to meet the unavoidable increased expenditures in niaintaing our armies in the field, no sound reason is pcrcehed why we should not avail ourselves of the revenues which may be derived from this source. The objections which have heretofore existed to the imposition of these duties were applicable to a Btate of peace, when they were not needed. We are now, however, engaged in a foreign war. We need money to prosecute it, and to maintain the public honor and credit. It cannot be doubted that the patriotic people of the United States would cheerfully, and without complaint, submit to the payment of this additional duty, or any other that may be necessary to maintain the bone r of the country, provide for the unavoidable expenses of tbe government, and to uphold the public credit. It is recommended that any duties which may be imposed on these articles be limited in their duration to the period of the war. An additional annual revenue, it is estimated, of between half a million and a million of dollars would be derived from the graduation and reduction of the price of such of the public lands as have been long offered in the market at the premium price established by the existing laws, and have remained unsold. And, in addition to other reasons commendiug the measure to favorable consideration, it is recommended as a financial measure. The duty suggested on tea and coffee, and the graduation and reduction of th price of the public lands, would secure an additional annual revenue to the treasury cf not less than three millions of dollars, and would thereby prevent the necessity of incurring a public debt annually to that amount, the interest on which must be paid semiannually, and ultimately the debt itself, by a tax on the people. It is a sound policy, and one that has long been approved by the government and people of the United Slates, never to resort to loans unless in cases of great public emergency, and then only for tbe ssnalk est amount which the public necessities will permit. The increased revenues which the measures nowrecommended would produce, would moreover, enable the government to negotiate a roan, for any additional sum which may be found I be needed, with mors facility, and of cheaper rates than can be done without them. Under the injunction of the constitution which, makes it my duty "from time to time to give to Congress information of the state of the Union, and to recommend to their consideration such measures as shall be judged 'neceFPary and expedient," I respect fully and earnestly invite the action of Congress on the measures herein presented for their consideration. The public good, as well as a sense of my responsi bility to our common constituents, in my judgment imperiously demand that I should present them for your enlightened consideration, and invoke favorable action upon them before the close of your present session. JAMES K. POLK. Washington, Feb. 13, 1347. Steamboat Accidents. A few daya since th steamboat John Metcalf, in descending the Ohio river opposite Aurora, ran into the bank and immediately sunk. The cabin floated off. and five or six persona were lost. The steamboat Medora burst ber boilers at Port Hudson, recently. Three or faur persona were killed,, and several severely scalded. 03" Judge Dewey and his friends rtiU keep up their lamentations because Gov. Whitcomb didn't see fit to keep a life cflictr. Groan on, whiggies ; it will feel a good dea! better after it is done aching. U. S. Cibcvit Coukt. f La.1 Ob Fridav evening Francis D. Newconib was Iroujht in guiltv by tU jury upon the sixth indictment against bim for forge ry, committed wnile Purveyor ueneral ot the btate. iV. 0 Pie. Ft ft. 11. A large cotton factory has just been built at liar Per'a Ferry. Predicted, This is the "ruin "Whig pclticiaci
