State journal & flag. [volume], November 13, 1846, Image 2

About State journal & flag. [volume] (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 1843-1846

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Cnli(«rnl:i.
THE SOURCE OF THE COLUMBIA.
“Father de Smet.” a Catholic Missionary
in Oregon, is writing a series of interesting
letters to the New York Freeman’s Jour
nal. Writing Irom the source of the Co
lumbia River, he says :
1 contemplated with admitation those
rugged and gigantic mountains, where the
Great River escapes—majestic but impetu
ous, even at its source and in its vagrant
course, undoubtedly it is the most dangerous
river on the western side of the American
Hemisphere. Two small lakes, from four
to six miles in length, formed bv a number
of springs and streams, are the reservoirs of
its first waters.
I pitched my tent on the banks of the first
fork that brings in its feeble tribute, and
which we behold rushing with impetuosity
over the inaccessible rocks that present
themselves on the right. What sublime
rocks! How varied in shape and figure?
The fantastic in every form, the attractive,
the ludicrous, and the sublime, present them
selves simultaneous to the view; and by
borrowing wver so little the aid of the imag
ination, we behold rising above our aston
ished eyes, castles of by-gone chivalry, with
their many embattled towers, fortresses sur
rounded by their walls and bulwarks, pala
ces witli their domes, and, in find, cathedrals
with their lofty spires.
When emigration, accompanied by indus
try and the arts and sciences, shall have
penetrated into the numberless valleys of iho
Rocky Mountains, the source of the Colum
bia will prove n very important point. The
climate is delightful; the extremes of heat
and cold are seldom known. The snow
disappers ns fast as it falls; the laborious
hand thnt would till these valleys, would be
repaid a hundred fold. Innumerable herds
graze throughout the year in these mead
ows, where the sources and streams nurture
a perpetual freshness and abundance. The
hillocks and declivities of the mountains are
generally studded with inexaustihle focesls,
in which the larch-tree, thornbush, cedar,
and cypress abound.
In the plain between the two lakes, are
beautiful springs, whose w iters have reuni
ted and formed a massive rock of soft sandy
stone, which has the appearance of an im
mense congealed or per rifled cascade. Their
waters are soft and pelucid, and of the same
temperature as the milk just drawn from the
cow. The description given by Chandler
of the famous fountain of Pambouk Kalesi,
on the ancient llierapolis of Asia Minor, in
the valley of Meander, and ol which Malte
Brun makes mention, might Ire literally ap
plied to the warm springs at the source of
the Columbia. The prospect unfolded to
cur view was so wonderful, that an attempt
to give even a faint idea of it, would sivor
of romance, without going beyond the limits
ol fac.
We contemplated with an admiring gave
this vast slope, which, from a distance, had
the appearance of chalk, and when nearer,
extends like an immense concreted cascade,
its undulating surface resembling a body of
water, suddenly checked or indurated in its
rapid course.
The first luke]of the Columbia is two miles
and a half distant from the River des \res
n-plats, and receives a portion of its waters
during the great spring freshet. They are
separated by a bottom land. The advanta
ges nature seems to have bestowed on the
source of the Columbia, will render its geo
graphical position very important ut some fu
ture day. The magic hand of civilized man
would transform it into a little terrcstriul
paradise, _
THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
“The Bay of San Francisco is the glory
of (he western world. Its mouth lies in
latitude 37 degrees 53 minutes. The water
on the bar is eight fathoms at low tide. The
mountains on either hand rise several hun
dretl feet above the sea, and form line land
marks in loggy weather to point out the
bar, and the channel into the harbor. The
capes at the ocean's edge are about two miles
apart ; always verdant and refreshing to
the eye ; and, as you go up the passage, the
little streams tumbling from the rocks among
the greenwood and the wild game, standing
out on the cIitBs, or frolicking among the
brush, and the seal barking in the water,
give promise of pleasure and rest from the
toils of the sen.
“This passage is about five miles in length.
Four and a half miles from the enpes it nar
rows considerable, and presents a bold point
north and south. On the southern one
stands the Presido or fort, on which this
mighty harbor condescends to depend for
protection. The fort is in ruins. A dozen
old rusty guns in the care of thirty or forty
half-clud half-breed soldiers.usually fornging
in squads of five or ten among the neighbor
ing Missions ; one side ot its walls tumbled
down, and another strongly disposed ot
plunge into the sea, and not the tenth of a
true soldier's heart beating lor a hundred
miles around, is a true summing up of its
present strength.
“The house of (he commandant, situated
in one corner, is a respectable whitewashed
pile of mud and bricks. On the other corn
er of the satne side' is the chapel, also built of
mud; a filthy plaee for worship. On an
other side are artificers’ shops and a prison
—The two other sides are.broken down, not
by the lying metal cf brave conflict, but by
the gentle pattering of the-rains ; the ruins
covered with bones! not the bones of fear,
less men, who have fallen in the breach,
throwing their gushing blood in the f.ice oj
a conquering loe ; but the bones of beeves
that have been gnawed by the garrison dur
ing years of valorous eating. Densely man
ned, also, arc these piles of udohie and osse
oua ruins, not with rank and file of mailed
warriors, but with dogs, vultures, a.id jack
als. This it Fort San Francisco, one of the
strongest posts7h the California*. Heaven
help its dogs, vultures, and jackals, in case of
ft siege!
“Si* mile* from the capes at the mouth,
and at the point where it begins to open into
the Bay, are two small islands on which
forts might be conveniently built, that would
command the narrows, and also the entrance
into both the north and south parts of the
bay. Indeed, the whole bay is so studded
with islands easily fortified, and so overhung
by headlands, which of themselves are for
tresses, that a party in possession of them
could hold the Bay against vast odds, and in
comparative security. From the narrows
to the northern point of the Bay is twenty
four miles, and to the south-eastern point
thirty-five miles.
“The southern half of the Bay varies from
fourteen lo fifteen, the noithern half from
four lo twenty miles in width. In every
part of this large tract of water is good
holding ground,and on all itu shores are coves
in which vessels of any tonnage may lie
snug and secure from storms, within a ca
ble’s lenglli of the land. In the N W. corn,
er of the Hay in the inlet ol the Rio Sucre
mento. It is about one and three fourth
miles wide for the distance of seven miles,
and then spreads out into a bay seven miles
wide, and twelve in length, when it narrows
down to four miles for the distance of two
miles and a half, then widens to seven or
eight miles the distance ofeleven miles, with
islands in the centre, then narrows to lour
miles for the distance of three miles, and
then it widens into a bay about twenty miles
north and south, and about the same Jiatance
east and west, studded with nine islands.
On the east of ,t, between the mouth of the
Sncremento and the Bav, lies one about ftf
teen miles in length, N E. and S W., and of
a breadth varying from three miles to ten.
All these islands are hw and marshy. On
the southern point of this large island comes
in the Rio S in Joaquim, and on the northern
point of it is the northern mouth of the Sue.
ramento.
‘•On the south side of the promonotory on
which shunts the fort, Castillo do San Frun
cisco, is n little village called Yeiha Bueno.
As the harbor in which foreign vessels refit
and purchase supples lies in front of Yerba
Bueno, it will Scarcely be imparting any fact
not legitimately inferable from their known
character, to say that the Yankees have built
and inhabit this town. These descendants
of the kings and noble -of the old Saxon
Heptarchy, knighted and ennobled anew by
the physical and mental conquests over the
wilderness of America and over the oppres
sions of their Mormon conquerors, the reign
ing families and nobles of Great Britain
have built up an empire of mind on which
the sun nevei sets. In the Bay of San Fran
cisco is Yerba Bueno. In the Sundwich
Islands a nation is spoken into being. The
Chinese seas are burdened with its ship*. On
the coast of Alrica the emancipated slave
unfurls the banner of Freedom over the for- j
tunes rf an independent national existence,
and almost the entire habitable parts of this
great continent are enjoying the impulses to
human Freedom which the American Sax
ons sent out to the race on the Fourth of
July, 1776. These Yankees at Yerba Bu
eno employ themselves in their character
istic business of duing everything.
“The surpassing beauty and magnificence ;
of this harbor of San Fiancisco can never j
be properly estimated by being viewed from
the land. One must approach it from the
sea; have a full view of tbo loftyf shores
nor h and south, rising at intervals into
lofty peaks girded at their bases with prim
eval forests i f evergreen cedars and pines
mottled with the houghs of the oak, the ash,
and the plune. The bar which springs from
the northern headlands of its entrance, and,
running beneath the blue waters ot the Pa
cific from five to nine fathoms, causes a belt
of surf to roll across the mouth, must be
passed. A breeze must bear your burk over
rfnd along the dangerous rocks three quar
ters of a mile inside on the right, quarreling
with the surges; and onward four miles be
tween the projecting cliffs, overhanging
peaks and verdant woodlands filled with
s;nrting deer and other game, to the harbor
at the narrows beneath the fori; and thence
onward still past the tort andTlie islands ly
ing ucross the entrance ; and the Bay is
seen* a broad sheet of water stretching off,
north and south, the largest and best harbor
of the earth, surrounded by a country, part,
ly wooded.and partly disposed in open glades
nnd prairies of the richest kind, covered
with the flocks and herds of Iho Missions,
and deer, and elk, and bears. And amid !
the beautiful hills of Iho south and east are
Santa Clara, El Pueblo San Jose, and Mis
sion San Jose ; and on the southern penin
sula, five milts wide, in San Francisco,
Yerba Bueno, the trading house of the Hud
son Bay Fur Company, the Presidio and
the Castillo; on the northern peninsula is '
San Rulael, and in the north San Francisco j
Solano; a group of beauty and grandeur, I
thnt knows no superior in any clime.”— (
Farnham's Travels.
THKU.— The German Schnellpost says that
the well known natural philosopher, Dr. Au.
gus’, has made a communication in a Ber
lin paper, in which he stales that when an
extended portion of liie earth's surface is
brought by a net of railroad tracks into
connection of electrical conductors, the ac
cumulation of electricity in the lower part of
the atmosphere is prevented, as the iron
tracks efi’ect a constant electrical equilibri
um between remote regions. By ibis means
a violent storm is rendered unlikely, and if
one should arise, it would undergo a consid
erable diminution. The doctor states it as
a fact, that since Berlin has become the
focus of several railroads, there have been
no violent storms ; and all that have arisen
there,’had a rapid and gentle termination.—
Mobile Herald.
Goon Rkaso.iing—Commodore Sloal,
on receiving information of the buttles on
ihe Rio Grande, was placed ir. ipiite u dilem
ma, haviog|lbe unfortunate example of Com
modore Jones Oefore liis eyes to warn against
any exira responsibility ; und on the oilier
hand, the shocking dereliction of duly that
would be charged on him, shoulJ it turn out
that war in fact existed, and he failed to
act. He argued, however, that it was bet
ter to be condemned for doing too much,
thun for too little; that if the country on
Ihe east of the Rio Grande belonged to the
United States, it was plain that Mexico Jtud
invaded our territory, and he had a right, be.
ing in th6 public service, to' retaliate, and
invade hers. Ifon the contrary, the dispu
ted limits belonged to Mexico, it was plain
that our Government had invuded Mexico,
and he Imd a right to follow the exumple
of Government. And on that hint, came
California under the star spangled banner.
N. O. Bulletin.
An exchange relates a remarkable exam
pie of gambling. It says thut a negro tire
man. on board a steamboat running between
St. Louis and New Orleans, having lost all
his money at poker with his companions,
slaked bis clothing, and, being still unfortu
nate, pledged his own freedom to a small
amount. Losing this, Ihe bets were doubled,
and he filially, at one desperate hazard
ventured Ins full value ns a slave, andliid
down his free papers to represent the slake.
He lost, suffered his certificates to he de
stroyed, and was actually sold by the winnet
•o a slave dealer, who hesitated not to tuk<
him at a small discount upon his assessed
1 value,—Mobile Herald.
From the iY. O. Commercial Times.
Lulcsl from the Army.
Arrival op tiir Galveston,—The
stcnruMliip Giilveslon iirrived yesterday eve*
ning from Brazos Santiago. via Galveston,
having left Ihe former place on the 29lh, and
(lie latter on the 301 li ultimo.
Troops.—The troops at Monterey are
(liajrilnited at present through the city mid
in the forts. The Bishop’s palace is occu
pied by companies ol the 4:h Artillery. Two
or three companies of the 2 1 Artillery ocou
uy the citadel in front of the town. The J
Till Infantry encamps in the main I’laza :
The 2d Division under Gen, Twiggs, and |
the 3d under Gen. Butler, are encamped at j
the Walnut Springs, three miles in front of
tile city. 'Pile stats and stripes arc waving j
from several different points. Yankee Duo ■ j
die and Huil Columbia arc heard, und dress
parades are now witnessed every evening,
in the great Square. The inhabitants are
coining back to their homes, and Senoras
and Senoiitns, finding the invaders not the
suvages they have been represented, are
seen in public places.
Texas Regiments and Texans.—Both
the Texas mounted regiments have been
disbanded. Their term of enlistment expi
red some time previous to the buttle at
Monterey, but they were induced to remain
in service until Gen. Taylor had gained pos
session of the place. Texas has now' no
troops in the field. Governor Henderson
(now at Monterey) has issued an order for
the raising of a new Texan regiment, to
serve during the war. Companies in this
regiment are to have from seventy to one
hundred men each. No commissions nre to
be given in advance- The first ten persons
w ho enlist the requisite number of men, and
are approved of by their respective compa*
nits, will, upon presentation of company
enrolment, receive commissions from Go
vernor Henderson. The regiments nre to
be raised as speedily as possible. A large
number of the men belonging to the dis
bunded regiments will re-enhst.—MnUimo.
ras Flag, 14th ult.
The General in-Chief of the Army af the
North to the Inhabitants of the three Pro
vinces oj the. East.
Countrymen :—Tho supreme Govern
mem being anxious to attend to llio defence
of the rights and the integrity of our belov
cd Republic, against the enemies who have
invaded it. has thought proper to appoint me
General in Chief of the brave troops destin
ed to that holy purpose in the North. I
immediately flew with cnthu.iasm to this
section, my desire to sustain the rights of
the people being notorious, and at the com
mencement of the present month, 1 Was
in Monterey, dictating and ordering all the
measures in my power, to repel the advance
of our enemies. Thinking, however, that
an immense weight was imposed upon me,
und feeling my inability, I entreated that his
Excellency the Gen. Don Juan Nepoinu
ccno de Almonte, should come and lake the
command, supposing that the illustrious
conqueror of Patiuco would, on his arrival
in Mexico, assume the reins of the National
Government.
The enemy on the 19th inst. made his
appearance near my head quarters at Mon
terey, and encamped in the wood of Santo
Domingo; their encampment being three
miles in length, and about nine in circumfer
ence. 1 gave orders to observe diligently
all their movements, and to Itaross them as
much as possible, all the generals and chiefs
under my command being determined to
fight them sooner than retire. The citadel
or fort of the Monastery, aimed some good
shots at the enemy, who employed the day
in leconnoitering und preparing for their at
tack.
They commenced their attack onjhe 21st
with a formidable mass, composed of the
greater purl of their regular troops, upon the
bridge ol the Purlsima and the forts of Kin
con del Diablo and Tereriu, but they were;
victoriously repulsed by our valian' vete
tans, causing them a positive loss of 1500
men.
On the 22d,] in the morning, Gen. Toy.
lor directed his columns of attack upon the
Archbishop’s hill, a point commanding the
city, and although in their first advance the
enemy suffeted severely, they again came
to the charge with a brigade composed ul
most entirely of regular troops, and two of
our largest guns and one howitzer (obussj
were unfortunately blown up.—Notwith
standing that misfortune, I sent a reinforce
ment ol Inlaiilry, with two light pieces ol
artillery, as soon as I was informed of the
event. They arrived too late, the enemy
were already in possession of (he position
nnd works. This accident compelled me to
concentrate my forces in the Plaza, to ena
ble me to ofier a more vigorous defence to
the invaders, ami repel, as we did, their at
tacks upon the slrcets and houses of Mon
terey. Under these circumstances, our am.
munition and provisions were getting scarce,
ami notwithstanding the valor and energy
with which all our combatants, veterans nnd
auxiliaries were animated, I proposed to the
General of the enemy to open a conference
by which the national honor, ihat of our
arms and of the particular division under
my command, wiili their arms, equipments
and baggage were saved.
This is a true relation of the operations
of the campaign up to the 24ih instant, and
although the scarcity’ of means, materials,
and other circumstances, have compelled us
to such a result, we should not for an instant
lose our courage, as the Republic will bring
into a 'lion all its great elements, and with
one victory, which we may, shall and must
obtain, the problem will be definitely solved
in favor of our arms.
People of ihe East : The alternative that
was taken at Monterey is of no great conse
quence, particularly when you bear in trind
that in a short time the favorite General of
the Mexicans, his Excellency Don Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, will personally direct
the campaign. In the meantime, let tho
sacred flame of a love for your country,
burn in your bosoms, and we shall, without
doubt, triumph over our enemies.
Pedro dk Ampudia.
Head.Qunrters at Saltillo, Sept. 28, 1840.
Mexico—Piivnte advices from the city
of Mexico up to the 26th September inform
is that Santa Anna had left the capital on
'hat morning with 2000 Cavalry and 800
Infantry. He was utterly unsuccessful in
raising a loan of two millions on a mortgage
•>f the revenues of the Church, ns the lien
ass considered hv capitalists illegal. He
, hen applied for $2,000,000, but could mere
ly obtain $27,000, which was the sum total
with which he sturted.
t
Sanla Anna proceeds to San Luis Potosi,
where helwill halt, and concentrate the whole
ol the Mexican forces. Instructions have
been forwarded to the General commanding
the Army of the North to make no further
resistance at Saltillo, hut to full buck Upon
San Louis Potosi.
Explosive Cotton—Important.
Tliu Washington Union contains some
interesting statements in relation to the dis
covery of explosive cotton. The European
correspondent of the Union says this ar
ticle “ will undoubtedly eventuate in the
discontinuance o( tho use of gun pow
der !'* It this should prove true, the de
mand for cotton will he greatly augmented.
The Union says :
‘The question comes up, whether, with
these experiments before us, so directly
vouched for, ns they are, by one of our
most intelligent citizens, it does not be
come the duty of the War und Navy De
partments to investigate the subject, and to
institute a series ol experiments ns soon as
they can communicate with the authors or
patentees. We sny patentees, because we
understand that the lirst step has already
been taken to takeout a patent right in our
own Patent Office.'*
The European correspondent of the
Union, writing from •* Franklord on-the
Maine,'1 says:
*• Upon my arrival in this city ! was in
vited bv a triend, a distinguished member
of the German Diet, to dine with him, and
not declining his hospitality, I met with and
was presented to Professer Ballzer, who it
is but proper to remark is distinguished for
his attainments, nnd who has charge of the
public laboratory as a chemical lecturer.
Before the separation of the party, Profes
sor B. took from each of his waistcoat
pockets a paper contain-ng some raw cot
ton ; a small portion of that which was in
one he placed upon a sheet of white paper,
and near it some gunpowder on another
sheet. He touched litem at the same mo
ment with the burning end of a cigar, and
with the quickness of the lightning’s blast,
the cotton was consumed without smoke or
odor, or ashes, or even the slightest stain
upon the snow white sheet ol foolscap; while
the ignition of the gunpowder seemed to
be slow, although of the best quality, by
which the paper was burnt and colored,
and the room filled with smoke. He then
took a small quantity of gunpowder and
placed it upon pnpei, entirely covered it
with prepared cotton from the other paper.
Touching the cotton with the blaze of a
match, it exploded without burning the gun
powder! Subsequently, at my apartments,
ho exploded cottcfn upon the palm ol my
hand, without my feeling the sensation of
heat, such was the remarkable rapidity of
its ignition.
"A short time, it is stated by the inventors,
is only required lor tile preparation of the ar
tide, und the process is so exceedingly sitn
pie that it can he manufactured by common
laborers, and without any danger whatever
of combustion- It can be fit for use in
n few hours after the cotton is taken from
tfie bale, and without the aid of machinery ;
and it may be thoroughly saturated with
water without affecting its properties inju.
riously. As soon as re.dried, it is again fit
for use. There is nothing to apprehend to
it from its spontaneous combustion, nor will
it ignite by friction in its transportation, or
in the leading of fire urms, or become infla
med under a temperature of 200 d. Clei
sus. It will catch fire either from a bluze
or n spark. The fact has been ascer
tained from repeated experiments, that the
forty- eighth part of an ounce of the prepared
cotton, will propel a bullet Irom a n Ameri
can rifle as far nnd us fnst as the twelfth
iinrt of an ounce of gun powder. The six
teenth part of an ounce will drive a three,
quarter ounce hall a distnnee of sixteen
hundred paces ! Moreover, the barrel never
requires cleaning. forty shots without in
termission have been made, nnd without any I
perceptible accumulation of filth, while the
gun throughout was entirely free from heat
In firing a three pounder, the result was
the same in this respect. The experiments
in blasting rocks with prepared cotton have
also been eminently successful. At Ba
sle n large block of granite, me nsurit.g 240
cubic lect, was blown up by four ounces,
which could not have been effected with less
than two pounds of superior gun powder.”
Singular Discovery.—In the south wes
tern part of Franklin county. Miss., there
is a | latform or floor composed of hewn
st one, neatly polished under ground. It is
about one hundred and eighty teet long,
and eighty feet wide. It extends duo noitli
and south? and its face is perfectly level.
The masonry is said to equal, if not supe
rior to any work of modern times. The
land above it is cultivated; but thirty years
ngo it was covered with onk and pine trees,
measuring from, two to three teet in diam
eter. It is evidently of very remote ami
quity, ns the Indians who resided in the
neighborhood had no knowledge of its ex
istence previous to its recent discovery.
Nor is there any tradition among them from
which we may lorrrt any idea of the object
of the work, or of the people who were its
builders.—There is also a canal and well
connected with it, but they have never been
explored. A subterranean may be under
neath. Farther explorations may throw
some light upon its origin.—Louisville Jo ur.
Mexican Names.—A writer in the Union
gives the derivation of the names of sev
eral of the towns in Mexico, which have
recently, by the progress of our arms, be
come scenes of interest. Monterey was
founded about the year 1600, and received
its name from Guspar de Zuniga Acevedo,
Count de Monterey, then Viceroy ol Mex
ico. Cerralvo received its appellation Irom
the Marques de Cerralvo, who held the
government Irfim 1624 to 1635. Many
other towns in the northern part of Mexico,
which may become the scenes of future
contest, were named in honor nf the royal
governors sent out by Spain ; such aB Li
nares, Cadarcvta, Cruillas, Fuenclarn, Re
villa, &c. Santa Fe, Ilia capital of New
Mexico, was originally the site of an ec.
clesiastical establishment, and signifies the
Holy faith.
Jciurnol & jflag.
TUSfc'ALOOS*, NOV. 13, 1846.
This number of Ihe Ting completes the
volume. Our subscribers who are in ar
rears, can’t do us a greater favor, than lo
enclose their subscriptions to us by mail—
at our risk.
Tlie University of Alubunm.
This Institution is now in a very flourish' |
ing condition. Under (lie care of its learn*
ed and able Faculty, it accomplishes all the
elevated ends which the people have the
right to expect from an institution of learn
ing so munificently endowed- It affords
opportunities for the attainment in our own
Stale, of as complete and thorough an edu
cation as can be obtained at Yale or Har
vard. No person could be better qualified i
for the arduous and responsible position
which he fills so honorably, than its excel- 1
lent President, Dr. Munly ; and the differ- !
ent professors are all finely qualified for their
several departments. The excellence of
their government and instructions are man
ifest in the rapid advancement and elevated
character of the students of the Institution.
A more estimable and accomplished body
of young men cannot be found at any college
in the Union. They seem to combine with
habits of studiousness, an ambition to be re
garded as cultivated-gentlemen, and to lay
deeply the foundations of the character which
they are hereafter to hold in our State, when
they shall bacon* it* leading citizens, and
occupy the poete of honor now in the hands
of “older" but not “better” men. We ore
proud of this Institution, its Faculty, and
Students. We are reminded too that, at
the next session of the Board of Trustees,
to be held in December, choice is to be
made of a Professor of “English Literature
and Oratory," that chair now being vacant.
This is one of tho most important of the
Professorships, and requires nu individual
of peculiar -qualifications to discharge its
duties properly. The name of the Profes
sorship indicates what those qualifications
are. He should be an accomplished belles,
lettres scholar, and an eloquent orator ; and
should possess the power of imparting his
own tastes and attainments to his pupils.
More than this,—he should not only be
thoroughly versed in the performances of
others, but should have added achievements
of his own to the great funds of literature
and eloquence. Such a man is indispensa
ble in this department ; and would, by re
flecting honor on the Institution and litera
ture at large, attract students from all parts
of the South- Such a man we are sure can
be obtained ; for there are numerous men
of letters in our country,—fine orators loo,
who would be glad to procure the situa
tion.
We trust then, that the Trustees will take
Ibis mutter into proper consideration, and
make choice of some one who will be wor
thy to fulfil the duties of this department,
vvith the same credit that the other chaiu of
the Institution are respectively filled.
The Rev, A. A. Lipscomb, formerly pas
tor of the Methodist Protestant church at
Montgomery in this State, has become ad
junct editor of the “Literary Athenaeum,'*
a monthly magazine established at Balti
more.
The citizens of Clarke county have re
cently held a public meeting, in which they
denounced by resolutions, the changes made
in our State Constitution, at the last session
of the General Assembly, “as impairing its
power, and destroying the harmony and
consistency of its provisions.” They re
commend to the people of the Stute, the
propriety of calling a general convention, to
prepare a new constitution. This move
ment seems to us disorganizing and danger
ous. The constitution can only be prop -rly
changed according to the mode provided in
that instrument itself. Any other mode is
tut revolution, and strikes at the basis of
organized society. When “evils become
insufferable.” the people have the right to
revolutionise,—but surely it cannot be insis
ted that our State government is in such a
condition as to justify a resort to “ the last
appeul of an injured and su Bering people!”
The lute storm in the Gulf of Mexico ap
pears to have been one of the most dread
ful and disastrous which has ever occurred
in those seas. The shipping in most of
the West India islands, particularly Cuba
was either destroyed or greatly injured ; and
the loss of property and life is very great.
Much solicitude is felt to learn ita effects on
the blockading fleet along the Mexican
coast. They were no doubt partially pro
tected by their vicinity to tho coast.
The recent discovery of the new planet*
according to the predictions of Le Verrier,
will render his name as immortal as those of
Herschell and La Place. It is the most sig
nal achievement of astronomical science,_
being no less than the discovery of a new
world by mathematical analysis. This
planet has been observed in various parti
of the United States, and recently by Prof
Barnard, of the University of Alabama
whose earnest devotion to every branch o,
science connected with his department, it
so creditable to that institution.
The lust intelligence from our fleet in
the Gulf of Mexico, was that an attack was
to bo made on the 11th or 12th ofOctobcr,
upon Alvarado j to be led by Commodore
Conner in person.
Geo. IVIirubeuii B. Lamar.
This gentleman has been 'appointed by
Gov. Henderson, Civil and Military Gov
ernor of the frontier of Texas, and is ac
lively engaged in the duties of that office.
He seems to have won fresh and abundant
laurels by his gallantly at Monterey. His
conduct, it is said, was marked by his usual
chivalry and eager impetuosity. He was
mounted on a large white horse, and was
conspicuous to both armies, throughout the
engagements—seeking continually the posts
of greatest danger. Unnumbered balls were
discharged at him, but he seemed to bear a
charmed life, and the Mexicans have since
expressed their wonder at his miraculous i
escape, and daring achievements. “ He
was seen in almost every street of the city
where the battle raged most fiercely, and, as
in the battle of San Jacinto, he was the
mark of many a Mexican bullet from which
he only could have escaped, it seemed, by
supernatural aid.” It is thus that fortune fa
vors the brave. General Lamar is the Marsh,
al Ney of our army, and with all his military
talents, combines the cultivation of a schol
ar and the refinement of a gentleman. In
private life, as we well know, he is one of
the most amiable and pleasant companions,
modest and unassuming as, in the field of
strife, he is reckless of dunger, and chivnl
rous and daring.—“ in peace the galo of
spring, in war the mountain storm.’' Such
men are an honor to any nation; and it
cannot be long before Gen. Lamar shall
receive those honors from the people of
Texas, which unfortunately of lute have
been awarded to his enemies and revilers.
It may not be generally known that Pres
ident Lamar, many ypars ago, was the
editor of one or the leading papers in this
State. During the continuance of our seat
of government, at Cahawba, he for some
lime had charge ol the “Cahawba Free
Press,” ilien published by William B. Allen.
Subsequently lie returned to Georgia ; de
clined a nomination for congress to which he
would have been easily chosen ; went to
Texas, distinguished himself at the buttle
of Sun Jacinto, and was made the second
President of the Republic. He has since
remained in private life, till (he present war,
when he became Inspector General of the
Texas troops, and has served with G< v.
Henderson.
Major Gen. Uutler.—The slanders
heaped upon this gallant officer for his con
duct at the storming of Monterey, have
been refuted by the highest authority. He
seems to have given offence to some of
moro cautious letter-writers in the army, by
his daring gallantry, and his unhesitating
exposure ol himself and forces to the hot
test part of the Mexican fire, when it be
came necessary so to do, to capture one of
the Mexican fortifications. It is a singular
charge to make against nn American gen
eral, that he acted too bravely !—One of
the letter-writers says that “he acted like a
madman.” The same charge was once
made against General Wolfe, to George III.
“Gen Wolfe mad!" replied the Kirg, "well
then I wish he would bite some of my other
Generals!”
Myers and his friends were acquitted,
on the 27ih ult., before the Hustings’ Couri
at Richmond, of the murder of Hoyt. The
tribunal by a vote of fiv? to two, decided the
assassination to be justifiable, und dis
charged the prisoners. This mode of pro
cedure, without n trial by jury, seems to
us to be very singular, and is, we suppose,
confined to Virginia. Upon the examina
tion it was proven, in addition to former
evidence, that Hoyt was seen to enter a
house of ill-fame, in the suburbs t,f the ciiy,
with a woman veiled and disguised, who
was supposed to be Mrs. Myers. This en
tire tragedy has a deep moral connected
with it; but we fear that too great a laxity
of penal justice has been manifested in its
conclusion. Few will blame the injured
husband, but it is a dangerous precedent
to leave the lives of transgressors unprotec
ted by any shield, in the hands of irritated
and always uncalculating passion. Shaks.
peare’s powerful delineation of the jealous
madness of Othello, shows how dangerous
are the workings of misdirected fury in the
hands of a husband. The aegis of the law
should not be entirly withdrawn even from
the guilty.
Col. McClung.—This gallant officer,
who was severely wounded at Monterey,
while standing on the breast works, and
enthusiastically cheering on his men, has,
wo learn, returned to Mississippi. He was
shot through both thighs by a musket ball;
and his wound, though at first deemed fatal,
is rapidly recovering. He is a nephew of
Chief Justioe Marshall, and is a gentlemen
of fine intellectual attainments, though he has
unfortunatoly been concerned in several
deadly personal rencontres, which have ac
quired a wide notoriety in the South.
The Mexican government has officially
notified Gen. Lx Veoa, that Commodore
Carpender and the crew of the Truxton
had been exchanged for himself and fel
low prisoners of war. The General was
at New Orleans awaiting the ratification of
this exchange, by the United States, intend
ing to return to the Mexican service as
soon as liberated.
Commodore Stockton has declared, by
proclamation, the whole Pacific coast of
Mexico to be in a state of vigorous block
ade, to be made absolute except against
armed vessels of neutral nations. The
squadron consists of the Congress, Savan
nah, Columbus, Cynne, Portsmouth, and
Shark.
A daring burglary was perpetrated in
this city, on Friday night of last week. An
entrance was effected by a window, into
the store of Mr. P. L. Sink, and the lock
of a partition door having been forced, the
robbers made their way into the front room,
and thence removed nn iron safe containing
near nine hundred dollars in specie. They
made their exit through the front door,
which they left unbarred. Nothing but the
chest was carried away. It was found tha
next day in a ravine towards the river,
where it had been forced open, and rifled
of the money. A quantity of papers in the
chest was left uninjured. A hammer and
a prise employed by the burglars were left
upon the spot. This money was the prop,
erty of the General Government in the
keeping of Cnpt. J. H. D<aing, Pension
Agent at this place. As no neglect can be
imputed to him, we trust that he may not
be held responsible for the loss; as he is a
highly worthy and public spirited citizen, t
who received no compensation for the dis.
charge of bis official duties, generously
performing them for the benefit of our rev*
olutionary and other pensioners.
Several )oung gentlemen, citizens of our
State, who were engnged in the storming of
Monterey, and greatly distinguished them,
selves have recently returned to their homes.
One of these Robjeut Gorkk, E»q., of Perry
county, was, wo understand, a member of
the Texas Rangers, under Col. Hays ; was
in the hottest of the fight ; and won golden
opinions from his associates, for his gallantry
and dauntless decision. lie went to Mex
ico as a private in on Alabama company ;
b it preferring the field of action to that tf
repose, to which the great body of nurSlate
troops were unfortunately consigned, he
succeeded in getting a position in the gal.
lant corps of Texnns, who have covered
themselves with lairels by their chivalrous
conduct through the whole war- Young
Goree brings back with him many trophies
of the war ; among others a stand of colors
which he took with his own hand ; and we
are gratified at the testimonials of respect
which are being paid to him by his fellow
citizens.
The defeat of the tariff democrats in
Pennsylvania, overwhelming at best, was
not quite so complete as has been represen
lot 1 y he w 1 ig press. Judge TnoMP. oN(dem)
was elected by several hundred votes over
Campbell, (whig,) hitherto conceded ns tri
umphant. This makes the delegation in the
next congress stand 10 whigs, 7 democrats,
and 1 native. The democracy in that State
will have to adhere to the old doctrines of
free trade, or the “ Key.slone” can never
be redeemed. The “cohesive principle of
plunder,” under the name of protection, was
too powerful for the temporizing course of
those who while they professed to he demo,
crats, were advocates of the tariff of '42.
This “ holding with the hounds and running
with the hare,” can Dever be successful—
Let the democracy return to the old land
marks erected by Condy Rnguet, and the
true doctrines of trade and the constitution
will again be dominant in Pennsylvania.
A spirit of duelling seems to be unfortu
nately prevalent in our army in Mexico.
An affair of honor took place recently be
tween Lieut. S- G. Ward, and Mr. Robert
Yeatman both ot Tennessee, near San An»
tonio, Texas, in which both partied wero
slightly wounded. Not long since, it wa»
announced that Gen- Thomas F. Marshall
of the Kentucky troops, and the Hon. Balie
Peyton, volunteer aid to Gen. Taylor, were
about to fight, in consequence of a blow
given by the latter. This difficulty has
been adjusted, by an apology in writing.
A similar affair between Lieut. Musson of
New Orleans, and Capt- Shivers of Miss.,
who were about to fight with rifles, was
amicably settled by the interposition of some
officers of the regular army. Several other
affairs of the same character, are said still
to be on the tapis. We trust that a stop
may be put to this domestic warfare. Surely
our officers can find sufficient gratification
for their lust for blood,” in such scene*
ns those of Palo Alto, apd Monterey, with
out turning their weapons upon each other.
More honor can bo won by such gallant
conduct as that of May, Duncan, Ridgely,
Butler, Worth, and Hays, than by all the
duels that have ever been fought.
Tho Hon. Nathan Clifford, the new
Attorney General, has entered on the du*
ties of his office. The Democratic papers
of New England, speak of him in the high,
eat terms of praise ; as being, although com»
parutively a young man, a worthy incum
bent of the office once held by Pinkney and
Wirt. _
Capt- McMahon, tho commander of the
Irish “Jasper Greens,” who were engaged
in the disgraceful riot with anolh' r com
pany of Georgia volunteers, on the Rio
Grande, in August last, has been honorably
acquitted by a court martial. It seems
that he was endeavouring to quell the dis»
turbance, when he was attacked by Col.
Baker, whom he mistook for one of tba
rioters.
Commodore Stewart, it is said in sev*
era) northern papers, has been assigned to
tho command of the squadron now being
concentrated in the Gulf, preparatory to an
uttack on the Castle of d'Uiloa. The
Pennsylvania, 120 guns, was in preparation
at the Gosport Nuvy Yard, to act as his
flag ship, __. _—