State journal & flag. [volume], December 18, 1846, Image 3

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

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VOLUME 4.
STATE JOURNAL & FLAG OF THE UNION.
'l11-11 «■ ... ■1 .■—j_*
NUMBER 5
Had the unlawful seizures of American pro
perty, and the violation of personal liberty
of our citizens, to say nothing of the insults
to our flag which have occurred in the ports
of Mexico, taken place on the high seas,
they would themselves long since have con
stituted a state of actual war between the
two countries. In su long suffering Mexi
co to violate her most solemn treaty obliga
tions, plunder our citizens of their property,
and imprison their persons without afford
ing them any redress, we have failed to per
form one of the first and highest duties
which every gnvernmeut owes to itscitizens;
and the consequence has been, that many
of them have been reduced from a Mate of
affluence to bankruptcy. The proud name
of American citizen, which ought to pro
tect all who beur it from insult and injury
throughout the world, has afforded no such
protection to our citizens in Mexico. We
had ample cause of war against Mexico
long before the breaking out of hostilities.
But even then we forbore to take redress
into our own hands, until Mexico herself be
came the aggressot by invading our soil in
hostile array, and shedding the blood of our
citizens.
Such are the grave causes of complaint
on the part ot the United Stntes against
Mexico,—causes which existed long before
the annexation of Texas to the American
Union; and yet, animated by the love of
peace, and a magnanimous moderation, we
did not adopt those measures of redress
which, under such circumstances, are the
justified resort of injured nations.
The message discusses, at considerable
length, the causes which lead to the inde
pendence ol Texas, and recapitulates the
leading historical tacts connected therewiih.
In this connclion it disposes, in the tallow,
ing terms, ol the argument that the Nueces
ja the western boundary ol Texas :
“Texas, as ceded to the United States
by France in 1803, has been always claimed
as extending west ot the Rio Grande or
Rio Bravo. This fact is established by the
authority of our most eminent statesmen
at a period when the question was as well
if not better' understood than it is at the
present. During Mr. Jefferson's adminis
tration, Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, who
had been sent on a special mission to Mud
rid,charged, among other things, with the
adjustment ot the boundary between the
two country's, in a note addressed to the
Spanish Minister of Foreign Atrairs, under
date of the twenty-eight of January, 1805,
assert that the boundaries of Louisiana, as
ceded to the United States by France,“are
the river Perdido on the east, and the river
Bravo on the west:” and they add that
“ the facts and principles which justify this
conclusion are so satisfactory to our gov
ernment as to convince it that the United
States have not a better right to the island
of New Orleans, under the cession referred
to, than they have to Hie whole district of
territory, which is above described-”
Down to the conclusion of the Florida
treaty, in February, 1819, by which thi
territory was ceded to Spain, the United
Slates asserted and maintained their ter
ritorial rights to this extent. "In tho month
of June, 1818, during Mr. Monroe’s admin
istration, information having been received
that a number of foreign adventurers had
landed at Gnlveston, with the avowed pur.
pose oi forming a settlement ir. that vie n
Sty, a special messenger was despatched hy
the government of the United States, with
instructions from the Secretary ot State,
to warn them to desisi, should they he
found there, “or any other place north ol
(he Rio Brvo, and within the territory
claimed hy the United Stutes.” He was
instructed, should they he found in the
■country north of that river, to make known
(o them, “ the surprise with which the Pres
ident Ims seen possession thus taken, with
out authority from the United Slates, of a
place within their territorial limits, and
upon which no lawful settlement can be
made without their sanction.” He was
instructed to call upon them to “avow un
der what national authority they profess to
•net,” and to give them due warning “ that
the place is within the United States, who
will suffer no permanent settlement to he
made there, under any authority other than
their own." As late as the eighth of July,
1842, the Secretary of State ol the United
States, in a nolo addressed to our minister
in Mexico, maintains that, the Florida trea
ty of 1819, the territory as far west as the
Kio Grande was confirmed to Spain. In
that note he states that, “ by the treaty of
the twenty-second of February, 1819, be
tween the United States and Spain, the Sa
bine was adopted as the line ot ' oundary
between the two Powers. Up to that period,
no considerable colonization hud been ef
fected in Texas; but the territory between
the Sabine and the Rio Grande being con
firmed to Spain by the treaty, applications
were made to that Power for grants of land,
and such grants, or permissions of settle
ment, were in fact made by tho Spanish au
thorities in favor of citizens of the United
States, pioposing to emigrate to Texas in
numerous families, before the dcclaratiuli
of the independence of Mexico.”
I he lexas which was ceded to spam by
the Florida treaty of 1819, embraced all the
country now claimed by the State of Texas
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande.
The republic of Texas always claimed this
river as the western boundary, and in her
treaty made with Santa Anna in May, 1836.
die recognized it as such. By the constitu
tion which Texas adopted in March. 1836,
oenatorial and representative districts were
.organized extending west of the Nue er.
The congress of Texas, on the 19th of De
cember, 1836, passed “An act to define the
boundaries of the republic of Texas,” in
which they declared thejRio Grande from
its mouth to its source to be their boun
dary, and by the said act they ex ended their
" civil and political jurisdiction” over the
country up to that boundary. During a
period of more than nine years, which inter,
vened between the adoption of her constitu
tion and her annexation ns one of the Slates
of our Union, Texas asserted and exercised
many acts of sovereignty and jurisdiction
over the territory an1 inhabitants west ol
the Nueces. She organized and defined
the limits of counties extending to the
Rio Grande. She established count of jus
tice and extended her judicial system over
the territory. She established a custom
bouse, and collected duties, and also post
offices and post roads, in it. She estab
lished a land office, and issued numerous
grants for land within iis limits. A senator
and representative residing in It were elec*
ted to the Congress of the republic, and
served as such before (he act of annexation
took place. In both the Congress and con
vention ot Texas, which gave their assent
to the to the terms of annexation to the
United States, proposed by our Congress,
were represent uives residing west ot the
Nueces, who took part in the annexation it*
self. This was the Texas which, by the
act of our Congress ot the 29lh of Decern
her, 1845, was ndmitled as one of the States
ot our Union. That the Congress of the Uni
ted Slates understood the Stale of Texas
which they admitted into the Union to ex
tend beyond the Nuere8 is apparent from
the fact, that on the 31st day of December,
1845, only two days after the act ot ad.
mission, they passed a law “to establish a
collection district in the State of Texas,” by
which they created a port of delivery at
Corpus Christi, situated west ot the Nueces,
and being the same point at which the Tex
as custom-house, under the laws of tlmt
republic, Imd been located, and directed
that a surveyor to collect the revenue
should be appointed for that port bv the
President, by and with the advice and con
sent of the Senate. A surveyor was ac
cordingly nominated and confirmed by the
Senate, and has been ever since in the per
lormancc ot ins duties. All these acts ot
(he republic of Texas, anl ot our Con
(Tress, preceded the orders of the advance
of our army to the east bnnk of the Rio
Grande. Subsequently, Congress passed
an act *• establishing certain post routes,”
extending west of the Nueces. The coun
try west of that river now constitutes a
part of one ol the congressional districts of
Texas, and is represented in tue House of
Representatives. The senators from that
Slate were chosen by a legislature in which
the country west of the river were repre
sented. In view of all these facts, it is dif
ficult to conceive upon what ground it can
be maintained that, in occupying the coun
try west of the Nueces wnh our army, with
in view solely to its security and defenco.
we invaded the territory of Mexico. But
it would have been still more difficult to
justify the Executive, whos” duty it is to
see that the laws be faithfully executed, if
in the face of all these proceedings, both of
the Congress of Texas and of the tUnited
Slates, he had assumed the responsibility ot
yielding up the territory west of the Nueces
to Mexico, or of refusing to protect and de
fend this territory and its inhabitants, in
cluding Corpus Christt. as well as the re
mainder of Texas, agaiust the threatened
Mexican invasion
But Mexico herself has never placed the
war which she has waged upon the ground
that our army occupied the intermediate ter
titory between the Neuces and the Rio
Grande. Her refuted pretention that Texas
was not in fact an independent State, hut a
rebellious province, was obstinately perse
vered in; and Iter avowed purpose in com
mencing a war with the Uni ed Slates was
to re-conquer Texas, and to restore Mex
ican authority oter the whole territory—
not to the Neuces only, but to the Sabine
In view of the proclaimed menaces of Mex
ico to this effect, l deemed it my duly, as a
measure of precaution and defence, to or
der our army to occupy a position on our
frontier as a military post, from which our
troops could best resist and repel any at
tempted invasion, which Mexico might
make.”
Of the immediate causes which lead to
hostilities, the message says—
* * * On the fourth of April
(1845) General Paredes, through his min
ister of war, issued orders to the Mexican
general in command on the Texan frontier
tu “ attack” our army “by every means
which war permits.” To this General Pa
redes. bad been pledged to the army and
people of Mexico during the military revo
lution which bad brought him into power.
On the eighteenth of April, 1846.J General
Paredes addressed a letter to the comman
der on that frontier, in which he stair d to
him “ at the present date I suppose you at
the head of that valliantjarmy, either fighting
already, or preparing for the operations of
a campaign and “ supposing you already
on the theatre ot operations, and with all
the forces assembled, it is indispensable that
hostilities be commenced, yourself taking
the initiative against the enemy.”
The movement of our army to the Rio
Grande was made by the commanding gen
eral under positive orders to abstain from
all aggressive acts towards Mexico, or Mex
ican citizens, and to regard the relations
between the two countries as peaceful, unless
Mexico should declare war, or commit acts
of hostility indicative of a state of war; and
these orders he faithfully executed. Whilst
occupying his position on the east bank of
tile Rio Grande, within the limits of Texas,
then recently admitted as one ot the States
of our Union, the commanding general ot
the Mexican forces, who, in pursuance of
the orders of his government, had collected
a large army on the opposite shore of the
Rio Grande, crossed the river, invaded our
territory, and commenced hostilities by at
tacking our forces.
Thus, alter all the injuries which we had
received and borne from Mexico, and after
she had insultingly rejected a minis'.er sent
to her on a mission of peace, and whom she
had solemnly agreed to receive, she consum
mated her long course of outrage against our
country by commencing an offensive war
and shedding the blood of our citizens on
our own soil.”
Ol the cnurts of our government to “avoid
the war” the message says :
“ Every honorable effort haa been used
by me to avoid the war which followed, but
all have proved vain. All our attempts to
preserve peace have been met by insult and
resistance on the part of Mexico, My efforts
to this end commenced in the note of the
Secretary of State of the tenth of Marcn,
1845, in answer to that of the Mexican
minister. Whilst declining to reopen n
discussion which hud already been exhausted,
and proving again what was known to the
whole world, that Texas had long since
achieved her independence, the Secretary of
State expressed the regret of this government
’.hat Mexico should have taken offence at
the resolution of annexation passed hy Con
gress, and gave assurance that our “most
strenuous efforts shall be devoted to the
amicable adjustment of every cause of com
plaint between the two governments, and to
the cultivation of the kindest and most
friendly relations between the sister repub
lics.”
The reasons which induced the govern
ment to permit Santa Anna to enter the
port of Vera Cruz, are plainly and briefly
stated, as follows :—
•■Scarcely a hope of adjusting our diffi
i cullies, even at a remote day, or of preser.
I »ing pence with Mexico, could be cherished
while Paredes remained at the head of the
government. He had acquired the su
preme power bv a military revolution, and
upon the most solemn pledges to wage war
against the United Slutes, and to reconquer
Texas, which he claimed as a revolted pro
vince of Mexico. He hud denounced us
guilty of treason all those Mcxicnns who
cinsidered Texas ns no longer constituting
a part of the territory of Mexico, and who
were friendly to the cause of pence. The
duration of the war which ho wuged against
the United States was indefinite, because
the end which he proposed, of the recon
quest of Texas, was hopeless. Besides,
there was good reason to believe, from all
his conduct, that it was bis intentiun to con
vert the Republic of Mexico into a monnr
chy, and to call a foreign European prince
to the throne. Preparatory to this end, he
had, during his short rule, destroyed the lib
erty of the press, tolerating thut portion ot
it only which openly advocated the estab
lishment of a monarchy. The better to se.
cure the success of his ultimate designs, he
had, by an arbitrary decree, convoked a
Congress—not to be elected by the free
voice of the people, but to be chosen in a
manner to make them subservient to his will,
and to give him absolute control over their
deliberations.
Under all these circumsfnncos, it was be
lieved that any revolution in Mexico, found- j
ed upon opposition to the ambitious projects
of Paredes, would tend to promote the cause
of peace as well as prevent any attempted
European interference in the affairs of the
North American continent—both objects of
deep interest to the United States.
***♦*«»
This was the slate of affairs existing when
Congress, on the thirteenth of May lust, re
cognized the existence of the war which
hud been commenced by the government ol
Paredes ; and it became an object of much
importance, with a view to a speedy settle
ment of ou r difficulties and the restoration
of an honorable pence, that Paredes should
not retiin power in Mexico.
Before that lime there were symptoms of
a revolution in Mexico, favored, as it was
understood to he, by the more liberal puny,
and especially by those who were opposed
to foreign interference and to the monarchi
cal form of government. Santa Anna was
then in exile in Havana, huving been ex
pelled fiom power und banished from his
country by a revolution which occurred in
December, 1844 ; but it was known that
he had still a considerable party hi his favor
in Mexico. It w«s also equally well known
that no vigilance which could be exerted by
our squadron would, in a'l probability, have
prevented him from effecting a landing
somewhere on the extensive gulf coast of
Mexico, if he desired to return tu his coun
try. He had openly professed an entire
change of policy ; had expressed his regret
that he had subverted the federal constitu
tion of 1824, and avowed that he was now
in lavorof its restoration. He had publicly
declared bis hostility, in the strongest terms,
to the establishment ol a mona/chy, and to
European inteiference in the afluiis of his
country. Information to this effect had
been received, from sources believed ta be
reliable, at the dale of the recognition of the
existence of (he war by Congress, and wus
afterwards fully confirmed by the receipt of
the despatch of our consul in the city of Mex
ico, with the accompanying documents,
which are herewith transmitted. Besides, it
was reasonable to suppose that he must see
the ruinous consequences to Mexico of a
war with the United States, and that it
would be his interest to favor peace.
It was under these circumstances and up
on these considerations that it was deemed
expedient not to obstruct his return tu Mex
ico, should he attempt to do so. Our oh
ject was the restoration of peace ; and with
that view, no reason was perceived why we
should lake part with Paredes, and aid him.
by means of our blockade, in preventing
the return of his rival (o Mexico, On the
contrary, it was believed that the intestine
divisions which ordinary sagacity could not
but anticipate as the fruit of Santa Anna’s
return to Mexico, and his contest with Pa
redes, might strongly tend to produce a dis
position with both parties to restore and pre
serve peace with the United States. Pare
des was a soldier by profession, and mon
archist in principle. He hud but recently
before been successful in a military revolu
tion, by which he had obtained power- He
wusllie sworn enemy of the United Slates,
with which he had involved his country in
the existing war. Santa Anna had been
expelled from power by the army, was known
to be in open hostility to Paredes, and pub
licly pledged aguint foreign interventions and
the restoration ol monarchy in Mexico.
In view of these facts and circumstances it
was, that, when orders were issued to the
commander of our naval forces in the Gulf,
on the thirteenth day of May last, the day
on which the existence of the war was
recognised by Congress, to place the coasts
of Mexico under biockude, he was directed
not to obstruct the passage ol Santa Anna to
Mexico- should he atieinpt to return.
A revolution took place in Mexico in the
early part of August following, by which
the power of Paredes was overthrown, and
he has since been banished from the coun
try, and is now in exile. Shortly afterwards,
Santa Anna returned. It remains te he seen
whether his return may not yet prove to be
favorable to a specific adjustment of the ex
isting difficulties, it being manifestly his in
terest not to persevere tu the prosecution of
a war commenced by Paredes, to accomplish
a purpose so absurd as the reconquest of
Texas tu the Sabine. Had Paredes remain
ed in power, it is morally certain that any
pacific adjustment would have been hope
less.”
The recent efforts of our government
to bring about peace are thus alluded to
•• Whilst the war was in a course of vig
orous and successful prosecution, being
->ti!l anxious to arrest its evils, and consid
ering thitl, after the brillant victories of
our arms on the eight and ninth of May
last, the nutinnal honor could not be com
premitted by it, another overture was made
to Mexico, by my direction, on the twenty
seventh of July last, to terminate hostilities
hy a peace just and honorable to both
countries. O i the thirty-first of August
following, the Mexicnn government de
clined to accept this friendly overture, but
referred it to the decission of a Mexican
Congress, to be assembled in the early part
of the present month."
The (blowing pragraph justifies the ac
tion of Capt. Fieemont, and Commodore
JSIoat, in providing for lire maintenance
of civil order in California, after they had
taken possession of thaj territory,”
“ By the laws of nations a cooqured ter
itory is subject to be governed by the con
queror during his military possesion, and
until there is either a treaty of peace, or he
shull voluntarily withdraw from it. The old
civil government beirg necpssaiily supesed
cd, it is the right and duty of (he conqueror
to secure his conquest, and to provide for
the maintenance of civil order and the riglns
of the inhabitants. The right has been ex
ercised, and this duty performed by our
military and naval commanders, by the
establisment of temporary governments in
some of the conquered provinces in Mex
ico, assimilating them as far as practica
ble to the free institutions of our own coun
try. In the provinces of new Mexico and
of the Califurnias, little if any lur'her re
sistance is apprehended from the inhabi
tants to the tempory governments which
have thus, from the necessity of the case,
and according to the laws of war, been rs
tahlished. It may provide for the security
of these important conquests by making an
adequate appoprinlion for the purpose of
erecting forlfications and defraying the ex
penses necessarily incident to the mainte
nance of our position and authority over
them.”
THE TARIFF.
The Tariff quesiion occupies a good share
of the message. The following paragraphs
indicate its tone on this tpiestinn :
“ By the simultaneous abandonment of the
protective policy by Great Btilain and the
United States, new and important markets
have already bet nopencd for our agricultur
al ai.d other products j commerce and nav
igalton linve received a new impulse ; labor
and trade have been released from the arti
fieial trammels which have so long fettered
them ; and to a great extent reciprocity, in
the exchange of commodities, has been in
troduced at the same time by both countries,
and greatly for the benefit of both. Great
Brltiun has been forced, by the pressure ol
circumstances at home, to uhandon a policy
which has been upheld for iges, and to open
her markets lor our immense surplus of
breadstuffs ; and it is confidently believed
that other powers of Europe will ultimately
see the wisdom, if they be not compelled by
the pauperism and sufferings of ti.cir crowd
ed population, to pursue a similar policy.
Our farmers are mure deeply interested
in mail tiiuing the just and liberal policy of
the existing law than any other class of cur
citizens. They constitute a large majority
of our population ; and it is well known that
when they prosper, all other pursuits pros
per also. They have heretofore nrt only
received none of the bounties or fuvors of
government, hut, by the unequal operations
of the protective policy, have been made, by
lliu burdens of taxation which it imposed- to
contribute to the bounties which have en
riched others.
*******
“In my annual message of December last,
a tanffof revenue duties bused upon the
principles of the existing law was recom
mended ; and I have seen no reason to
change the opinions then expressed. In
view of the probable beneficial effects of
that law, f recommend that the policy esiuh
lislied by it, be maintained. It has hut just
commenced to operate ; and to abandon or
modify it wiihout giving it a fuir trial,
would be inexpedient and unwise. Should
delects in any of its details he ascertained
by actual experience to exist, these may
he hereafter corrected ; but until such de
fects shall become mauifest, the act should
be fairly tested.
It is submitted for your consideration
whether it muy not be proper, as a war mea •
sure, to impose revenue duties on some of
the articles now embraced in the free list.
Should it be deemed proper to impose such
duties, with a view to raise revenue to meet
the expenses of thei war with Mexico, or to
avoid to that extent Ihe creation of a pub'ic
debt, they may be repealed when the emer
gency which gave rise to them shall cease
to exist, and constitute no part of the per
manent policy of the country.”
The great length of the message, and the
late hour at which it was received, has com
pelled us to make the foregoing its leading
features. Wcgive almost entire, extracts
irum all I fiat relutes to uur Mexican affairs ;
and at another lime we will publish tn exfen
so, all that relates to the tariff.
Jcmruol & jflag.
TUSCALOOSA, DEC. 18, 1846.
Congress assembled or\the 7th, Dec. We have
(he proceedings of (he Mouse to the 9th. inst. They
present nothing of special interest.
On the 4th. inst. Mr. Calhoun was re-elected
Senator in Congress for a term of 6 years. Judge
Butler was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the resignation of Gen. M' Du flee.
B. M' AI pin esq. was elected Mayor of Mobile
at the late election, by a majority ol 90 votes over
C. C. Langdoncsq. The ^ote .was 1010 for Lang,
don and 1100 for M* Alpiit- 1
The wintir term of the Supreme Court of Ala.
commenced on Monday last; Paesent, Judges Col.
lier, Ormond, and Goldthwaite.
We have on file, and will pu blish in our next
paper, a review of the opinion of Judgo Crawford
in the case of King & Ward vs. the Tuscumbia,
Courtland and Decatur K. R, Co., the Branch Bk.
at Decatur, and others. We regret our inability to
publish it, as the author desired, in to.day’s paper.
The Gainsville Pilot, of the 9th. inst* contains
several communications advocating the re-election
of lion. W. W. Payne to Congress in 184J. The
writers urge, that he has borne the heat and burth.
en of the day, and should net be set aside for any
other man. There is, also, a communication in the
same paper which suggests Mr. Payne as a suite
ble candidate for governor.
The Greensboro’ Beacon of the 12th. inst. has a
communication which suggests Col. John Erwin
of Greene for Congress. The writer of this com
munication expresses his preference, as a second
choice, for Col. Sant. Inge of Sumter, in which the
editor of the Beacon concurs
Messrs. Nor me ut & Co. propose to publish v
whig journal in the City of Montgomery to com.
mence the 1st. January next. We are requested,
Hays the Monitor, to soy that the paper will cortain
ly be iaaued.
The Proiclciit’s IHeftsuge.
The message is mainly confined lo a history of the
causes which lead to the war with Mexico. This
j history, though brief, is lucid, and will overturn all
the captious objections of {the parties* at home and
abroad, who have sought so zealously to put
our government in the wrong. There ore two
points in the message which will command espe.
cial attention. 1st, the commencement of hostil.
ities ; and 2J, the question of boundary.
Mr, Webster Ims, recently, declared that the
war is n “ Presidential war”—that the President
commenced hostilities by ordering our troops into
the territory of u nation with which our govern
ment wa9 at p-'ace. These assertions are met and
irinmphantly refuted hy the plain statement of
facts submitted by the President. It is shown
first, that ordersjwere issued, as early as the 4th of
March, by the Mexican government to attack our
army by every means that war permits—and it is
further shown, by an extract front one of the des.
patches of Mr. Webster, whilst Secretary of State,
that he claimed the territory between the Sabine
uud the Rio Grande, as the province of Texas.
The agency of ourgovernment in permitting the
return of Santa Anna to Mexico, is stated by the
President in plain and honest terms. He was less
i the enemy of the United Slates than his predeces
sor, who,in uddition to entertaining monarchical
opinions, was compelled by the circumstances hy
which he was surrounded to prosecute the war so
luuy ua iucAicu cuuiu command eitner men or
money. The object of our government was to bring
about peace with Mexico; and the opponents of the
w ar ore, (hereforet debarred from objecting to its
action, in this connection, until events prove thut
the government has acted unwisely.
The cost of the war has been about $0,000,000,
and it is estimated that if the war continues till
the 30th June, 1848, a loan of $33,000,000 will be
necessary. The opponents of the war, oil over the
country, taking their cue from Mr. Webster, have
declared the cost of the war to be $500,000 per day
—hut in this, as in all their opposition, they have
shot wide of the tiuth.
The President, again, recommends the appro
priation of $3,000,000 to be placed at his disposal,
“ as n measure for securing a speedy peace with
Mexico.” lie ulludes to similar appropriations made
during Jefferson’s and Juckson’s administrations ;
and adds, in reference to the appropriation of 1803
—“ Its object is well known. It was at thut
time in contemplation to acquire Louisiana from
Mexico, and it (the appropriation) was intended
to be applied as a part of the consideration which
might be paid for that territoryThe reason of
this statement is sufficiently apparent, and was
well understood in congress last session. The ap
propriation would then had been granted, but for
the opposition of John Davis, of Massachusetts,
who chose to identify it with the extension of slave
territory south west.
The President recommends tbs graduation and
reduction of the price of public lands, which have
been long offered in the market, at the minimum
rate, and remain unsold. He says—“ many
millions of acres of these lands have been offered
in the market for more than thirty years, and larger
quantities for more than ten or twenty years ; and
being of an inferior qualify, they must remain un
saleable for an indefinite period, unless the price at
which they may be purchased shall be reduced.
To place n price upon them above their real value
is not only to prevent their sale, and thereby de
prive the treasury from any income from thut
source, but is unjust to the States in which they
lie, because it retards their growih and increase
of population, and because they have no power to
levy a (ax upon (hem as upon other lunds within
their limits, held by other proprietors than the
United States, for the support of their local gov
ernments.”
The 8ubjectof privateering is brought to the at
tention of congress, and the pasage of a law to
try and, if found guilty, to punish as pirates, the
citizens of Spain, who escaping the vigilance of their
government, shall enter into this unlawful calling,
is earnestly recommended.
The erection cf a brunch mint, at New York, is
recommended. The President, on this subject,
soys—“ Two thirds of the revenue derived from
customs being collected at that point, the demand
for specie to pay the duties will ho lorge ; and a
branch mint, where foreign coin and bullion could
be immediately converted into American coin,
would greatly facilitate the transaction of the pub
lic business, enlarge the circulation of gold and
silver, and be, at the same time, a safe depository
of the public money.**
•k We will publish in onr next issue, in extenso. the
suggestions of the President on the subject of grad
uating and reducing the price of the public lands,
and, also, the portion of his message relating to the
tariff. The message, ns a whole, is, undoubtedly, a
very able document of its kind—and we feel sure
that the administration mjy safely rely on, it,
for a full justification, before the people, of all its
acts and measures connected with the war.
COTTON.—The Mobile Register of 11th. Dec
quotes middling cotton at 9 l-4c. The stock on
hand was 3*1,153 hales.
lion. David Johnston has been elected governor
of South Carolina, and Hon. A. W. Cain lieuten
ant governor.
AL’A. REIO.WENT.—We have received a copy
of ihe proceedings of a meeting held by the Al'n.
Reigment on the 25th. October, at the camp near
Camargo, in which the greivancea to which they
have been subjected, by being kept inactive for so
long a period are fully sot forth. We will uttend
to it next week.
The N. Orleans papers received by last nights
mail contain copies of a correspondence between
Gen. Taylor and Gen. Santa Anna, in which the
former communicutes his intention to terminate the
suspension of hostilities after the 13tlr Nov. last
Santa Auna says, in reply—“ Relieving that thf
terms stipulated in said convention should be religi.
ously observed by both parlies, I had taken no slept
which should tend to vacate it; but in view of thi
obligation you deem imposed upon you by the ordert
of your government, I confine myself by replyinf
that you can, when it pleases you, commence hoa
tilitics, to which I shall correspond accordingly. "
For the Journal and Flag.
Mr, Editor:—Although the ladies art
very ingenious in discovering the secret!
of the gentlemen, yet it is seldom thnt i
gentleman is successful in discovering those
of the ladies. It is to be hoped, however
that the subject of this communication will
not remain a scciet long—for although con
fined at present to the ladies of Tuscaloosa,
it is so comprehensive in its character, sn
patriotic in its aim, and likely to be so be
neficial in its results, that its promulgation
is Hue not only to the expanded hearts
which have projected it, not only to the
State of Alabama, which it is eminently de
signed to serve, but to the proper pride
of the cit zens of Tuscaloosa, among the fe
male portion of whom the plan has origi
nated.
Let me state it, therefore, a» a reliable
fart, that the ladies of our city aie already
taking the initiative in a project to assist
(and that in n small way) in the payment
of the principal and interest of the debt of
the State of Alabama. Their main hope
is in the co operation of the ladies through
out the State; and, indeed, without this, the
plun must fail of execution. The plan is as
simple in its details as it is Imnurorable in
its object, and con <ists simply in the sub
mission of one or two sacrifices of a do
mestic and ornamentnl character, for the
sake of avoiding the calamity and reproach
of Stale Repudiation. In short, It is pro
posed us a general resolution, to he adopted
throughout the S ate. that the ladies, for a
given number of years, say five, will ab
stain from llie wearing of silk and worsted
fabrics, and, coute.iiiiig themselves with cal
ieoes and inoslins, will pay over lo the State
Treasury, yearly, (through their ow n agents)
a contribution of not less than live dollars
each, to be appropriated to the payment of
the principal an! interest of the State debt.
1 uni Iree to say that I look upon the project
us onu of the noblest that canid be proposed
bv thnt noble sex : its details are suscep
tible of the most simple urrangement, and
of its feasibility and practical usefulness
the accompaning statistics leavu no routii
i for doubt.
The aggregate liabilities of thfi Slate, by
iho report ol the Committee o( Ways and
[ Means, to the Inst Legislature, is stated
i ut $13,140,760 57, the yearly interest on
which is five hundred and sevent-six thou
send two hundred and sixteen dollars and
fifty eight cents. The available assets of
the Slate are estimated by the commit
tee at six millions ol dollars, leaving a ba.
lance unprovided for of $7,146,765 56,
which, with the interest thereon and the
expenses of the. Slate will have to lie paid
by luxation. To pay the interest und ex
penses alone, five hundred thousand d'liars
will have to he raised yearly by taxation ;
and thus after nearly doubling the present
taxes forever, the principal of our Stale
debt will remain unpaid. It is proper to say
that the committee recommend the impo
sition of taxes to the amount of five huudred
thousand dollars only.
Let us see now what the ladies (who can
do any thing they may attempt) ean do in
this matter by the contemplated project.
There are, by the last cen“us, one hundred
and seven thousand one hundred and eighty
one females in Alabama, over the age of
twenty one venrs, and sixty-four thousand
one hundred and eighty under that age.
Of those over twenty one, wo may suppose
that one third ure in the habit of wearing
silks and worsteads, and of those under that
age (not including infants) one fourth.
These amount to 51.769; hut we may as
ume filiy thousand as the whole number.
Now, it these fifty thousand contribute to the
Slate five dollars jter annum, money saved
by the curtailments of their personal expen
ditures. Ihev will raise the sum of two bun
dred and fifty thousand dollars yearly, being
one half of the taxes proposed by Hie Com
mittee of Ways and Means.
We shall watch the progress and maturity
of the ubove project with much interest.
We attach great importance to its moral
bearings. If only ten thousand of the ladies
udopt the plan it will by mere moral force,
independent of pecuniary results, strike a
blow Irom which Repudiation will recoil.
The movers in the noble enterprise will he
cla >scd with those valliant women of old
who gave their flowing tresses for bow
strings, and submitted to every sacrifice be
fore National dishonor. I would pursue
the subject farther, Mr. Editor, hut you have
forewarned me that your paper is nearly
full. X
Propoxnls for III sulks.
Post Office Department, I
November 14, 1846. S
IN complinnce with the seventeenth section of
llie-nct of Congress “legalizing and making op
propriations for such necessary objects as have been
usually included in the general appropriation bills
without authority of law, and to fix and provide for
certain Incidental expenses of the department and
offices of the government, and for other purposes,"
approved August 2Gth, 1842, sealed proposals will
be received at this department until the ,'ilst day of
December next, for furnishing the following des
cription of blnnks for four years, the contracts to
continence on the fi-st day of April, 1847, except
for the States of Virginia, iMaiyluiid, the District of
Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia,
Alabamn, nnd Florida, contracts for which States
will commence on the 1st July, 1847.
Mails received.
Mails sent.
Account of newspapers and pamphlets receiv
ed.
Mails received at distributing offices.
All the above on royal paper, at least 25 by 1!)
inches, printed on both sides, and leint-ruled, with
not less than forty.two lines on a page.
Mails sent from distributing offices ; same size
paper as above, but folded lengthwise, and with 5U
lines on o page.
Free mail mutter; paper small royal 24 by 17 12
ncltes, 51 lines on a pace
Affidavit of official letters, on foolscap, four on a
sheet.
ACCUUIIka VUIICIIM iMuwi#n|», ‘"W W" “ “■■'-v.i
Mail failures, 4to post, circular, one page.
Special report, 4to po<t, do. do.
Post bills, foolscap, 12 on a sheet, without signa
tures.
Post bills, do 12 do with do.
Ditto for distributing offices, 9 on a sheet, with
signatures.
Post bills for distributing offices, 6 on a sheet,
with signatures.
The proposals must he for each Store separately
and must state the price* in one sum, per ream, lot
ench kind of blanks, for paper, printing, ruling, anc
packing. They ore to be delivered in such quunti
ties and at such times as may be required by lh<
different post offices, and on the requisitions of post
masters endorsed by the postmaster at the plact
where the contractor may reside, or such othei
place os the deportment may designate. Norn
will be considered as delivered, or will be paid for
except on such requisitions.
Each requisition, or quantity ordered, to be se
curely enveloped or packed for transportation* nn<
directed to the post office, at the expense of thi
contractors. The right is reserved of rejecting an;
bid which n ay be considered extravagant, und als<
to give to any one bidder the priming for one o
more States adjoining the State of his residence, li
case of the acceptance of the proposal of a persoi
■ residing out of (he State he bids for, he must, at hi
awn expense, furnish the blanks or keep them oi
deposit'* at some place within the State, to be des
ignated by the deportment.
Each proposal must he accompanied by a suffi
cient evidence of the ability of the proposer to corn*
ply with the terms of his proposal.
The successful bidder will be required to en'ei
into contract, with surety, in strict compliance with
the provision of the law, to which bidders are refer*
red.
Failures to furnish blanks nromp ly " hen order
ed, furnishing those of’inferior quality as to paper,
printing or ruling, or any attempt to. evade the true
meaning of ihe contract, will be considered sufficient
cause for its forfeiture.
Payment will he made quarter yearly, one month
after the expiration of each quarter.
The blanks must be equal to the best of those now
in iisp. Specimens may be seen at the various post
offices.
The following quantises for the several Slate* are
from the beat estimates lhat can be made for one
year’s consumption ; but they may exceed or may
fall short uf the quantifies required. The depart
ment does not bind i'self to any specific quantity or
amount;
STATE OF TENNESSEE. i
Reams.
Mails received 24
Mails sent ■* 20
Accounts of newspapers and pamphlets receiv.
ed
Mails receiving at distributing office*
Mails sent from do do
Free mail matter
Affidavit of official letters
A< counts current, foolscap. 2 on a shed
Mail failures
Special reports
Post hills—
Foolscap, 12 on a sheet, without aig'iatV,
Do 12 do with do
Do for distribut’g offices, 9 on a sheet,
with signature^
Do for disrribut’g officers, 6 on a sheet,
with signatures.
7
3
3
7
#
7
•*
*
• 145
STATE OF KE.VTCCrV.
V
Reams.
2J
18
125
Mails received
Mails sent
Accounts of newspapers and pamphlets receiv
ed
Mails received at distributing offices
Mails sent from do do
Free mail rnn'tpr
Affidavit of official letters
Account* current, foolscap.2 on a sheet.
Mail failures
Special reports
Post bills —
Foolscap, 12 on a sheet, without sigu’rs,
Do 12 do with do
Do for distrihut’g offices, 9 on a sheet,
with signatures.
Do for dieiribut’g offices, 6 on a sheet,
with signatures.
STATE OF ALABAMA AND FLoKtOA.
Resrtif.
Mails received 30
Mails sent 26
Accounts of newspapers and pamphlet* receiv
ed
Mails received at distributing office*
Mails pent from do do
Free mnil matter
Affidavit of official letters
Accounts current, foolscap, 2 on a sheet
Ma i failures
Special reports
Post bills—
Foolscap, 12 on a sheet, without aign'rs, }
Do 12 do with do |
Do for distri’mt’g offices, 9 on a sheet,
with signatures,
Do for disiribut’g offices, 6 on a sheet,
with signatures.
STATE OF Mississippi.
000
Renm*.
Mails received 20
Mails sent 17
Accounts of newspapers and pamphlets receiv
ed
Mails received u( distributing offices
Mulls sent from do do
Free mail matter
Affidavit of official letters
Accounts current, foolscap. 2 on a sheet
Mail failures
Special reports
Post bills—
Foolscap, 12 on a sheet, without sign’rs,
Do 12 do with do
Do for distribut’g offices, 9 on a sheet, !
with signatures,
Do for distribute offices, 6 on a sheet*
with signatures,
STATES OF LOUISIANA AND ARKANSAS.
^ Reams.
Moils received. 18
Mails sent 15
Account of newspapers and pamphlets receiv
:j
5
5
5
(V
2
6
2
2
150
ed
Mails received at distributing offices
Mnilsontfotn do do
Free mail matter
Affidavit ot offiial letters
Accounts current, fuoLcup, 2 on a sheet
Mail failures
Special reports
Post hills—
Foolscap, 12 on a slice*., without sign’ro,
Do 12 do with do
Do for distribute offices, 9 on a sheet,
with signatures,
Do for distribute offices, 6 on a sheet,
with signatures,
STATE OF TEXAS*
V220
Reams.
10
6
Mails received
Mails sent
Account of newspapers and pamphlets receiv
ed
Mails received uf distributing ofTi-es
Mails sent from
Free mail matter
Affidavits of official letters
Accounts current, foolscap, 2 on s page
Mail failures
Special reports
Post Bills—foolscap—
Foolscap, 12 on n sheet, without aignVs, "
Dii 12 do with do
Do for distribute offic es, 9 on a sheet,
# with signatures,
Do for disfrilmt’g offices, 6 on a sheet,
wi h signatures,
Proposals should be marke d “Proposals for print*
ing Blanks," and addressed to the “Second Assis
tant Postmaster General.”
C JOHNSON, P. M G.
Washington Citv, D. C.
Nov. 21,1840.
160
4w 5.
IS mist wav.
ABSCONDED from the subscribers plan
tation, in Pickens county, on the night
of the 2nd inst., FRANK, a molalto boy about
HO years of age, roller H ’shy and thick set, lie
had on, when he left, a green blanket over coat,
a black hat, and reu home made shoe*—he had
in hta satldl; bags two pair ol pants, a coat of a
dark color, nearly new—he rode otf a chestnut
aorrell horse, the white in hie face nearly cross
ed with a streak of brown hairs. The boy calls
himself Frank Stokes, is b) trade a carpenter,
is quite a plausible fellow, is fond of spirits, and
can read and write very well, when last heard
from, he said he belonged to Robert Jemiaon.
Any information givn of him, so that I get
him again, will be thankfully received and suit
ably rewarded.
SAMUEL Ci. COCHRAN.
Cochran’s Mills P. O. Pickens county, All.
.Dec 11.184(1. lm-4.
UI**OJ.tJTIOV
THE firm of Vaughan & Yeatks, was this
day dissolved by mutual consent. All per
sons having claims against said firm, will pre
sent them ; and tlioae who are indebted lu said
firm, are requested to call at the Auction
House aud “settle up.”
VAUGHAN & YEATES.
Qgc. 9, 1846. 3t-4.
Advaurcb (IoIIuh.
HE subscribers will make cash advances
on cotton ill store, to be alnpped through
litem to Mobile; and when desired, will insurer
cotton against loss by the river.
G. & O HOPKINS.
T
Tuscaloosa. Dec. ) lib, 184fc.
lm-4.
Trustee’s Sale ol Negroes.
BY virtue, and in pursuance of a deed of
Trust, executed by tlie late Henry Pot
ter, of Tuscaloosa county, in the State of Ala.
bam, to secure to 11-inly Clements, of the same
county and State, the payment of a certain >om
of money fllierem* specified, I will proceed, as
trustee, to sell at public aulion, to the highest
bidder for cash, in :no city of Tuscaloosa, Ala.,
on Monday the iftsl day of December, 1816.
the fallowing named negro slaves to-wit:
GREENE, BOB,
KENCHER, CHARLOTTE,
MILKY, MAL1NDA. (black.)
MALlNDA,(yellow)JULIA,
MARY, (yellow.)
HENRY McGOWAN, Trusts*.
Dec. 11th, lc46. Ws-4.
y
i
It