Arkansas intelligencer. [volume], March 11, 1843, Image 1

About Arkansas intelligencer. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1842-1859

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THE INTELLIGENCER.
VAN BUREN. SATURDAY. Mauch 11, 1843.
We are compelled to iaaue a small sheet, as wo have
not yet received our paper, and we would remind our
aubscribeaa that the papers we issue now, we send them
free gratis far nothing. We issue these sheets for the
benefit of our advertising customers.
A LIGHT IN THE HEAVENS.—A very singular
light appeared in the West, resembling a very large
Comet last night. We suspend any opinion as to what
it is for want of room.
The weather has been unusually cold for this season
of the year. We have no appearance of Soring yet.—
The farmers are unable to plough up their lands in con
sequence of the ground being frozen. Afr ond of ours
told us a few evenings ago, that he had heard that the
present cold weather was caused by the planet Venus
having crossed the Equinoctial Line, and could not get
back, and that he feared the world was coming to an
end according to the Miller doctrine, and if should it be
the case, he hoped he would not live to see it, “because
said he, "Iknow it would ecare me to death. "
We learn from our esteemed friend, Mr. 11. T. Wil.
son, that a General Councilor all the Indian tribes,
will be held at Tah-le-quah, Cherokee Nation. The
object of the Council is to promote peace and harmo
ny among the different Indian Tribes.
Commodore Hull of the United States Navy, died
at his residence in Philadelphia, on the 13tb ultimo.
We learn from every part of our Slate that the cotton
planters last year were successful beyond their most
sanguine expectations. The crop iu our adjoining coun
tics has tripled the quantity of any former year. So far
us the experiment has been made in this county, it ha<
proved alike successful. Prices are exceedingly low it
is true ; but so is the price of almost every thing w lich
the farmer has to purchase—bagging and rope oey ex
cepted
We are happy to learn that many of our farmer* this
year intend growing cotton. We trust to see several
thousand bags shipped from Van Buren next season. A
gin is being erected at this piece, and one at Fort
Smith. We trust that every encouragement will be
afforded by our merchants to the planters.
W e are aiso happy to learn, that the returns of those
who have shipped tobacco arc most encouraging. One
lot shipped from this place by John Austin &, Co., for
James G.Stevenson, Esq., sold for five cents per pound.
It was pronounced by the inspector to boos that quali
ty which always commands a good price. Indeed we
are assured by the gentleman who sold it, that had it
been well assorted, it would have brought six cents par
pound.
Those shipping tobaeco will do well to bear in mind
the necessity of keeping the green tobacco from that
which is well cured.
Let us suggest to some of those owning bottom lands
in our county, the propriety of growing hemp. In this
way th*y may not only make the business profitable to
themselves, but may greatly benefit their neighbors.
We feel great interest in the agricultural portion of
our community, and as soon as our paper is enlarged,
we intend to favor them with extensive articles on the
•übject.
Bjuiaurr Law.—ln thu Senate of the United States,
Mr. Berrien from the Committee on the Judiciary, re
ported bills from both Houses for the repeal of the law.
Mr. B. moved the indefinite postponement of the bills,
and proposed sundry amendments to the present law.
"he Bill and Report of the Committee are said to be
long. We give the substance in a condensed form.
Iho salutary influence which will be manifested by a
change in the law will be Ist, by the prevention of undue
credit—2d by preventing partial assignments—3rd by
substituting one uniform rule—and 4th by arming a
creditor with power to force a into liqui
dation before his assets are wasted by the desperate
speculation to which men in such circumstances arc
tempted. The reasons given for the continuation of
the law are that the benefits of it have been extended
to a portion of our fallow citizens, while its sudden re,
peal would deprive others of all the benefits of it—that
by a decision of one of the United Stales Courts of the
unconstitutionality of the law, which in effect has de
prived the citizens of one of the States of the Union of
the benefits of the law—that it is but the exercise of a
bcnificcnt power, which the experience of Commercial
States has found to be necessary, and a power which
the Constitution has conferred on the Federal Govern
ment that it will prevent enactment of “stay laws”
—that the law extends protection to a class of citizens
though poor and unfortunate, are honest, and should
not be deprived of its benefits—that the assignees shall
bo appointed by a majority of the creditors. No pro
vision made for corporations. The law no doubt will
remain as it is, there not being time for a full discussion
of the subject,—the matter will be deferred until
the next session of Congress.
We were kindly permitted to make the following ex
tracts from a letter of the Hoa. Edward Cross to a gen
tleman of this place.
“ The motion to reconsider the vote by which
the bill for the occupation and settlement of Ore
gon passed in the Senate a few days since, was on
yesterday, lost hy a tie vote, 24 voting for, nnd
24 against the motion. Os the fate of tho bill in
the House of Repreantatives, nothing enn be pre
dicted with certainty. If cu>.Gd u t n |l, it will
in my judgement be by a close vote. 1 >i—.=. my
self long desired to see our Stars and Stripes
planted on the shores of tho Paciic.
Your Pres'dcnt is still in bad odour with his
late friends, and 1 believe looks to the democra
cy of tho House with some oxpettation of admis-
sion into their ranks. His probationary statohas
but begun. M o shall lie slow to adopt the bant- '
ling of our opponents. He might prove os ut/
' manageable in our handsas in those of his frietA
, and we are unwilling to give him the rein.”
“P. S. Be pleased to make my iicknowJ^P e ’
, meats to tho “ Hard favoured fraternity ” / year
i place, for the honour recently coiiferred%y ni y
admission as a mem be* of tho fratortp- The
last mail but one, in due course brou»“ my Di
r ploma, under cover to Col. A. H. S/ter.”
: — ,
; From our correspondent at Ww* ln gton.
WxsHiNOTor Tcb’y 3. 1843.
, Messrs. Editors:— ln my lay I gave you some
. hasty remarks concerning potters and things
. here, and promised some furf* 31- views in conuec
, lion with Indian affairs. F' did not say, I cer
, taiuly intended to say thofLhe present arrange
, ment of the Indian jiepa> mpnt is the very worst
that could be, beth for/ ,e United Stales and the
Indians themselves; tyd 1 hinted that the proposed
! settlement of the Ore* >n Territory offered a most
favourable opportuk*y f° r placing our Indian le
gations on an enti/y ~ew basis. 1 feel therefore
called upon to dKUS*, somewhat, the subject of
the settlement '* Oregon. I have been at a good
> deal of pains 0 Lind out the locality and history
iof that county. ns w ell as tho right of the United
■ States to ’/le possession of it.
The GFegon Territory, as claimed by the Uni-
I ted StaK’i extends from the Rocky Mountains,
west V the Pacific Ocean, and from the ,42nd*
degne of north latitude, to the parallel of 54 de- •
i greis and 40 minutes. It contains within these
: jirvits some six hundred thousand square miles
- ai extent of territory greater than one fourth of
r die whole area of the U. States. Togive some idea
of the immense country thus embraced, it is only
necessary to state, that it exceeds, in size, the uni
ted territory of the nineteen States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Is
land, Connecticut, New Y’ork. New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, De'aware, Maryland,
North Carolina,* South Carolina, Georgia, Ala- ,
bania, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.—
It possesses a rich and fertile soil, and an agreea
ble climate; is well waered by noble streams, ,
and has a sea coast on the Pacific Ocean of near- ,
ly one thousand miles in length—about equal to
the Atlantic- coast from Boston to Savanah
From the 42nd to the 49th parallel of latitude,
the claim of the United States does not admit of
a question ; and by a treaty with Russia, tho ’
northern line is fixed at 54 degrees and 40 min
utes. so far as that power is concerned.
Soveral of the Sonators who have opposed tho
settlement of Oregon, have nevertheless contend
ed that we have an undoubted right to the last '
mentioned bouiffiary line. But they have oppos
ed it as being, in their opinions, impolitic to offer
our citizens inducements to go so far from Lome.
Soma of these getlcmen, Mr. McDuffie among tho
rest, seem to think that the country is cither alto
gether mountainous or altogether barren, so that
no one could live on it. Those gentlemen ought
to recollect that ignorance once mado the very
same objections to tho whole Louisiana Territory,
including the States of Arkansas, and Missouri;
and when the proposition was made to remove the
Indians from the interior of the States, to their
present belt of country west of these States, the
stay ut homo part of the country were shocked at
the inhumanity of such a proposition.
It is easy for those living on old broom ’edge
fields, like Mr. McDuffie, to imagine that be
cause a country has in some parts of it, no timber
it is therefore worthless. Such gentlemen ought
to visit those States which wore twenty years ngo
as great a wilderness as Oregon ; nor indeed would
a visit to the salt plains do much harm to their
book learning. The best informed are of the
opinion, tint the Territory of Oregon would sup
port quite rs heavy a population as all tho New
, England, Middle, and Southern State’. And he
reasons badly from cause to effect, who cannot
anticipate tho day, when quite as prosporous cities
shall spring up along the Pacific as Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, and
Savannah.
At the same time, in the present embarrassed
state of our Treasury, there are difficulties in the
■ way of a, once settling the immense Territory
of Oregon. Among the greatest inconveniences
1 may be reckoned that of extending our settle-
■ meats to a point where they would have but lit
tle feeling in common with other portions of tho
i Union. The arguments for and against mny gen-
I orally be found in the speeches of the Senators
I (many of whom by tho way understand very lit-
• tie about t) during the present session of Con
gress.
i 1 come now to present a view of tho subject
I which 1 hive not seen publicly assumed, although
it has been a good deal talked of in private cir
cles here.
It is to propose to relieve our Government of all
• their embarrassing relations with the Indian tribes
on our western borders, by exchanging the Ore-
i gon'Territory for the immense tract of country
• nt present occupied by them, extending tho whole
i length of Arkansas and Missouri, and west as fur
I as the fee simple claim of tho United States Go
i vernment extends. This may seem liko a start-
. ling proposition at first; but there may be found
I many arguments in its favor. Apiong the first
wdvauiuges to the United States may bo reckoned
i those of having her cordon of territorial settle
ments io the immediate neighborhood of populous
i States, the certain security tcour present western
borders, the defence of which is now maintained
nt great expense, the certainty that we should very
■con have two -new State* immediately weet of
/Missouri and Arkansas; and last though not least,
the practicability of settling our preseat embar
rassing difficulties with the various Indian tribes.
Treaties might be so arranged as to unite all the
semi civilized tribes into one nation ; let themAx:-
cupy different districts of the Oregon Territory,
with a State and Federative system, somewhat
liko the relations of the different members of the
American Union. They might be allowed a
Standing Delegation at Washington ; and for some
purposes members to Congress.
1 do not, however, at present, pretend to suggest
a plan. Ihis should be. the work of the most ex
perienced, both in tire United Statesand the Indian
countries. 1 only say that such u plan is, to my
mind, feasibleaud practicable. Such r.n object ac
complished, we might Lope to see the Indian tribes
far removed from a border population; and with
the proper patronage of our Government, they
might yet become one great and powerful Slate.
1 have addressed these hints to your paper be
ing the point farthest west, and shall hope that my
remarks may elicit profitable discussion on this .
important subject. *
1 am not oris of those who desires the removal
of tho Indian tribes farther west upon the princi
ple of wanting the country which they at present
occupy. On the contrary, I would proposoho en
ter upon such arrangements with Hern as should
make them amends for many abuses. I would
t give them a country much more extensive, much
more valuable, bounded by a great ocean ; and I
would lake such measures as should secure to them
tho blessings of liberty, education, commerce,
and an independent government.
1 would n ake such arrangement as that their
funds should be placed at their own disposal—their
lands should be surveyed—each settler should be
entitled to a fee simple titlo for sc. much, with the ;
privilege of granting to nny member of any other
tribe, or to such other person as the Indian laws
should allow.
A Itifid office should be established in tho Indian
country, and they should have the privilege of
granting lands nt their own price, to such citizens
of the United States as might choose to become
citizens of Oregon, and be sucject to such laws as
the Confederacy should pass.
At tho sama time"none should be permitted to
settle among them exept upon such terms, as the
Indians themselves should agree to; and wliero anv
should settle they should have all the privileges of
citizenship.
But I promised not to descend to particulars
I only wish to elicit discussion. 1 wish to hear
the views of the people of tho west on the sub
ject.
1 am respectfully—and with the best of feel
ings to all,
FAR WEST.
Constitutionqlily of Valuation and Stop I.awt
—An im;>ortant constitutional question is now be
fore the United Slates Supremo Court, which is .
deeply interesting to this country. It arises in a
case brought up from the District of Illinois.—
The fact,’as presented to the Supremo Court, are
briefly these.
Arthur Bronson, a citizen of the State of New .
Y’ork, filled his bill in tho Circuit Court of tho ,
District of Illinois, fortlie foreclosure of a mort
gage executed by John H. Kinzic.a citizen of the ,
Slate of Illinois. The mortgage is dated in 1833.
It contained a power to sell, in ths usual form, the
surplus to be paid over to the mortgagor.
On the 17lh February, 1841, the Legislature
of tho State of Illinois enacted a law forbidding
the sale of real estate, except under certain pro
scribed conditions; among others, was a restric
tion on this power, to wit: that the property sold,
should be first appraised, and ths sale should not
take place unless it produced a sum equal to two
thirds of such appraised. The q jestion presented
to tho Court, w« understand to be, “whether or
not the act o/" 1811. so far as it i.< sought to be ap
plied to th- mortgage of 1838, is. or is not, repug
nant to that provision in the Constitution of the
United States which declares that no State shall
pass any laws impairing the obligation of con
tracts!”
We have said that this question is one of deep
interest to the country, and, we may odd, to every
citizen, whether of the creditoi or debtor class
—for we are all creditors and all debtors. This
■ relation as lietwe.cn the People of this country is
i mutual and reciprocal.
It is a question of vital interest, and ns it may
i be determined, will influence, for weal or woe,
• the moral character of our People, and the pcr-
■ pctuity of our institutions.
We arc rejoiced that the question has been
t brought before the highest judicial tribunal ! —tbo
i Court of the last resort —and we look with confi-
• denco, but more with solicitude, to the decision of
that tribunal.— Madisonian.
1-—
j Lynch Law—Two Negroes Hung.— On Tues
. day last two negro men, belonging to a Mr. Bur
r nett, were forcibly taken from the premises of
» that gentleman, about seven miles south of this
• place and hanged without the benefit of clergy
. .judge or j iry. The circumstance* which led io
the affair, are briefly these: A few days previ-
I ous the negroes had went to the house of Mr. No
; land, when that gentleman was not at home, and
| after abusing his wife rifled all tho trunks, drnw
. ers, tec., about the house and decamped. This
i outrage was immediately made known to tho pro
i per authorities, who, neglecting the neces
sary steps to have the uegjoesn'rtoMivl forthwith,
a number of Mr. Nokia*** friend* a*fc*«4d«d to-
— t L
todv'to M t r ,e p Un ‘ ber , ° f
body to Mr. Lumen’s and taking the
fjom Ins overseer, hanged t h em wi “ h .
ny, as above stated. ‘
The above paragraph is f ro n the
Signal ot the 11th inst., and i, now —
roundsol the newspa|>er prt>u. The
of tne north will probably seiz, upon it
up the transaction as showing th» denravisfeVjE
South, and the excessive cruehy X "rat 1
our citizens upon tho colored ThaTi, J J
sons living ut a distance mny be uinrisadM U
enormity of the offences which ■
summary punishment inflicted by thoVWbtoß
Copiah, we have thought proper to cdpy iheW
lowing article from the “Signal” of a lahAfl
in winch tho circumstances are more
narrated. ?■ 1
T/w Negro Outrage.^.\ n lile | M ,
our paper, we gave an imperfect
summary punishment bf ta^,t. 7£a lneA
ing ton Mr. Burnly, of this coroi..
hung according to a statute o '
such eases maae and pro.
learned the j-rtrli "Hurs of ti,e
led to tiic.r ex< ciition. and tiie
on them, tiie more t’.re «e incliijfj
most any step caleu! all .j to
lor outrage as lh ov
acknowlnL-el „„„ cmmiiued
H H';>”.ir that they v .- f u t t„ tj|J )o
curing las alis-nc -. aid „ r ,| f . r J i,. . I
them hquor. < mtier el jng t ,
in a o:< k litas
throat- n< d l.i-r v..'. i'loath if
After ■ ' iq-.ior. ,-v <■«
hot co.ii'e at I ' vi.T.ri!,. u inch
ta-'V ’Lniili: Ir.l o' uey wo II -’.
Iter ciiihlrcn. v. !i they |:ronushtd
after li.ii, li. ■. rocildv ~k irom her
t baiio i.'n-o i;
tin-'. - > ■
c.Hied Al . ... IH I lies II ; of u
other p in I ruled
head, vo id Low out her
resisted or made tho least noise. 'I
wards took t i <| "ills and blankets from th*
broke open the trunks and drawers, and laBC
their contents, which consisted of forty JoIMIhH
specie and a quantity of clothing, all of WMfll
they carefully put up in the cuill* nud blanlraM
they even took the slio-'s from off the .bet of inG
N. and placing the whole of the plunder amM
back of a horst which they had broughteSSf
them for the purpose, they made off. I
We obtained these particulars from a mSm
man of the highest respectability, lie queries
od tho negroes on tho subject a few liour*|aM*/
ous to their execution, und also interrogated MTj
N. in a similar manner, and U(r answers agrel
io every essential particular pith the atateine a
made Ly the nogreee. What Aggravate* this i "
fair is tiie fact that th.‘ uufortuna(p woman h *
but six weeks previous recovsrod frrtm child-b«
and her body is bruised nnd isuch hurt from tl
rough treatmoat site receive! while in the ban
of the negroes, tho prints of wiioss fingers we
visibleon her neck.
Wo have ever been, nnd now are, opposed
any kind of punis'imeiit baing administered unde!
the statutes of Ju Igo Lynch, but when we refl-a
upon wa-it must bo tho feelings of the husbanl
and father, an i the deop angusb wluc.i must peii
vade tho bo<o u of the injured wife and outrage
mother, a din regard for candor and the prese(
vatio i of al! that is held molt sacied find all tint
is m>st dear toman in thi domestic circles <!
life, impels us to the fact, that if te
perpetrators of this excess.vely revolting crini
had been burnt alive, ns was first decreed, ths t
fate would have been to good for such diabolic 1
and in luman wretches.— Gallatin i Mist.) Si •
na!, 11th instant.
To stop a fit of Coughing.— A correspond, t
of the London Medical Gazette, states that i
close the nostrils with tho thumb aud Ingff L
ring inspiration, I -aving them freoxiurtiigaiMpp
tion.will roltevea fit of coughing in a A -t tit
In addition to the above we can stat Jtm f
sonal knowledge, that to press the fir jßon*
upper lip just below the nose will r i
veri-’t iireimii.iiiry symptoms of a sr ot
harmless. We have found the M
i ny a time in creeping on game in thi s
The Uses of Mesmerism.— The ..osto Moi
states that a young woman was thrown i ito th
| Mesmeric state at the City Hall, nt l<owel!, Mrip
’ on Thursday evening lest, by Dr. W. P. Slot
tuck, and submitted to the operation of extraclMi
a tumor on the shoulder, uitliout manifest ngol"
, slightest pain. An incissii n found the tulnomroi
mado to the depth of neony two inches,
- operation was one which, under ordinary cipoft
stances would have caused ncutc pain, fnillug,
Aic. On being brought back to the nuturalstsfe,
. the lady was entirely free from pain, nnd
. nware that any operation bad been perfownsd
f Tiiis experiment was |>erforined under tjfo dittl
, personal examination of Dr*. Holbrook, f .Ukjß
and lloni, of Lowell, and io
i and respectable audieneg. A full
. report of the case will soon bo publr"
I A Gem.— We find the
toast in ono of our exchange |»pc£
! daughters of America—may thef“ *”
beamy, subtract envy from friei'P’
amiable accomplishment* by swe*r*° m
divide time by sociability nod ef’ J&sl
’ duco scandal to it* lowest denonr’ 00, ,1 K 1