The New Hampshire gazette. [volume], September 01, 1846, Image 2

About The New Hampshire gazette. [volume] (Portsmouth [N.H.]) 1793-1847

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CAZETTE.
CASE OF GEN.GAINES.
The proceedings of the Court of Inguiry in
the foregoing case having been duly submitted,
the following are the orders thereon:
\War DerarTMENT, Aug. 18, 1846.
The proceedings of the Court of Inquiry in
the foregoing case have heen lawl before the
President and carefully examined.
It is seen that the court have found that sev
eral of the acts of Brevet Major General
Gaines ““were not authorized by his instructions
or by law; and that he has violated orders:”
‘T'hat for the ealls made by him *for velun
teers after the 16th of May when he knew of
the victories of [General] Taylor, the court
cannot find any necessity at the time—any au
thority in his instructions, or any warrant of
law.”
‘T'hat in mustering into service at Mobile eer
tain general and staff officers, after he was re
lieved from his command by instructions from
the War Deqartment, “the court are of opinion
that he transcended his authority and violated
his orders.”
‘T'he President views with deep regret the ex
ercise of this assumed authority on the part of
the late commander of the Western division;
and while he is disposed to give every consid
eration to the eircumstances which may tend to
qualify or mitigate his conduct, he can see
pothing in them which would justify him for
withholding the expression of his decided dis
approbation of the irregular and unauthorized
proceedings of that officer. But in considera
tion of the recommendation of the court, and
concurring with them in their opinion of the
““good and patriotic motives and the public zeal
by which he was actuated,” the President di
rects that further proceedings in the case of
B_rehvet Major General Guines be dispensed
w:th.
The President cannot dismiss the case with
out inviting the serious attention of the army to
the grave subject which has been presented for
his consideration and decision. The oflicers
belonging to the military service are known to
be devoted to the public interest. Their zeal,
gallantry and skill have long been established.
I'be country duly appreciates their value, but
unremitted care should be taken to abstain from
any act which may tend to impair their high
character. Aud what so likely to derogate from
this as the assumption of important executive
or ministerial authority by a military comman
der, or the disregard of his orders?
‘The exercise of authority not pdsessed nor
delegated—the non-chservance of instructions,
or the expenditure of the public treasure, not
warranted by law nor justified by imperious ne
cessity, cannot be disregarded. A just respon
sibility of all in authority makes it a public dury
of imperative obligation to observe and strictly
enforce the law and the rules of the service.
By order of the President: |
W. L MARCY, ‘
Secretary of War, ‘
The court of inquiry, of which Brevet Briga
dier General H. Brady is president, is hereby
dissolved.
By order: R JONES, |
Adjutant Genera).,
Gex. Canasres, previous to his departure
from Camargo, and Ybefore the arrival of our
troops, gave a sample of brutality, that, in ad
dition to the many acts of a similar kind, will
hand him down to posterity as one of the ras
cals, who, for some unknown purpose, have
been permittec by their existence to disgrace
mankind., He turned his command of Ranche
ros loose upon the town, with carte blanche to
commit any outrages they pleased. Full benefit
was taken of the pernission; even the women,
(and where will you find more amiability, gen
tleness and charity than in the Mexican wo
men?) did not escape them. ‘Their persons
were violated, and every indignity oflered
them. One caa well imagine why the arrival
of our troops was hailed with joy. A party of
the citizens offered to go out and catch the de
praved scoundrel and bring him in. They
made the attempt, but [ have not heard of the
result.—Cor. N. Orleans pader.
More Ruis! The editor of that sprightly
little sheet the Providence Sentinel, gives us an
other evidence of the deplorable ¢‘effects” of the
Tariff act. Hear him—¢The new Tanft laws
is death on the huckleberry trade. An old lady
with a whole load of the article, got as far as
Olneysville towards our city on 'T'hursday morn
ing, when she happened to see three or four
men with their heads together, talking about
something. She rode up to them, and inquired
what was the news. -
¢ “T'he Tariff bill bas passed,” said one of
them. :
? *The Tariff bill passed! Lord o'massy!
said the old lady," then I might as well go home
with my huckleberries!”” Andturning her horse
homeward, she rode sorrowfully off, muttering
occasional curses against the Tariff and the lo
cofocos, and wondering what in the world would
become of her huckleberries.”—[Keystone.
The Matamoros Flag says the route from
Camargo to M onterey, is 210 miles, over a lev
el country thick set with small underwood, the
largest timber being ebony and the musquite,
neither of which grow to the height of more
than 12 or 15 feet, and 12 to 14 inches in diam
eter. 'T'he whole distance is well watered from
August till March, plenty of wood, fair pasture,
many herds of cattle, numerous flocks of sheep
and goats, and now and then a small village—
which all have the appearance of decay. Scat
tered along the road are miserable huts, singu
larly picturesque from their original construe
tion, not quite equal to rail pen stables built in
ths backwoods of Arkansas and Texas for
scrub ponies,
Within fifteen leagues of Monterey the vil
lage of Caideret spresents itself, enjoying the
most lovely situation, standing upon a perfeet
ly level plaig, surrounded with green groves,
presenting everlasting summer, the fields bles
sed with natural fertility. 'T'he beholder invol
untarily exclaims, why should a Mexican toil
or labor?
Treasury Nores—An error escaped the
press in last evening’s *“Union,” which we
hasten to correct. “Notes of a lower denomi
nation than SSO will hereafter be oceasionally
issued.”” It should have read: ‘““Notes of a
larger denomination,” &c¢ than SIOO. Lower
was erroneously substituted for larger. We
understand from the best authority, that the
Secretary of the Treasury has uniformly avow
ed his determination to issue no treasury
notes under sso— Union, Saturday.
Hoa. J. M. Dana had a narrow escape from
a serious accident, on Friday last, at Fryeburg.
He was standing in his wazony when the horse
attached, started unexpectedly, and threw hin
forcibly to the ground, striking on the back
partof the head. He was not seriously injured,
although he yet experiences some incouveni
ence from the fall. [Portland Argus.
Mr Editor,—The lollowing little gem which aceident,
ally fell under my chservation, being too good to be lost-
I have taken the liberty to send to you for publication.
< Ovibp.
‘‘Rest from thy labers.”
Rest from thy Jabors? when life’s duty ’s done,
And calmly has set my life’s setting sun—
When from sin’s galling chain, my spirit is free,
O then will I rest dearest Saviour with Thee.
A L.
el e R
W hich is the most difficult of all punctuation?
~Putting a stop to scolding woman’s tongue,
: PORTSMOUTH:
Tuesday Morning—Sept. 1, 1846
The Navigation of the:Columbia River.
{ It has been a matter of some dispute whether by the
late treaty with Great Britain, in the settlement of the
Oregon question, the right of navigating the Columbia
river granted to the Hudson’s Bay company and all
British subjects trading with them, was to be deemed
perpetual, or only for a limited period. It was at first
stated that the chaiter of the Hudson’s Bay company
would expire in 1859. 'This was said to be an error
for that the charter would not expire until 1863. Oth
ers again insisted that there was no limii to the right
granted, because the charter was perpetual.
By the speech of Mr Benton in secret session of the
Senate on the ratification of the convention with Great
Britain, this matter is explained, and much valuable
and important information is elicited. Mr Benton in
his comments upon the article of the treaty in relation
to the Hudson’s Bay company, says :
““ By the terms of this article, the privilege
of nuvigation is zonficed to the Hudson Bay
company and to British subjects trading with
them ; and they are to be subject to the laws
and regulations which apply to our own citi
zens. Now there happens to be two Hudson
* Bay companies, and those who do not attend to
that little fact may fall into great error. ‘T'he
first company has a perpetual charter, from,
Charles the second, to trade with the Indians on
all the waters emptying into the Bay of Hudson,
'l'bis company has no rights under that charter
beyond the Rocky mountains. The second
company is of recent date, and is formed of the
' Hudson Bay and the old Northern Company
| united, and exists under a hicense of twenty-one
years, granted by the crown under an act of
Parliament. [t.bears the name of the Hudson
! Bay company ; but itisso entirely distinet from
the chartered company of King Charles, that it
can carry on no trade on the waters of Hudson
Bay, as the old Hudson Bay company can car
' ry on none on the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
T'his licensed company was first created in
| 1821, and countinued by a new iicense for a sec
ond term of twenty-one years in the year 1842.
It is, therefore, now in the fourth year of its
present existence, and has seventeen years to
live. [ltis of'this second, or licensed company,
that the wreaty speaks ; and of course, all the
privileges granted by the treaty, refer to it
The treaty stipulates for this company as it is,
under its present license : not as it may, or
‘may not be, under a new license. It stipulates
for a company whose existence is to terminate
in 1363 ; and of course thatis the limit, injpoint
of duration, of this privilege of navigation,
which is becoming solarge an object in the eyes
of some gentlemen. Certainly it must be ad
mitted to be a very different thing from the per
pelual navigation offered in 1826, [by J. Q.
Adams] and the sovereignly of the right bank
of the river demanded by the British since so
many years. ‘l'he vear 1863 is the limitation
of the navigation now granted ; and those who
do not yicld to the reading of the treaty as it
now stands, will only have to wait till 1863,
when {Zme will bring an argument which no one
can misunderstand.?’
We fiud, alio, the following note to this part of Mr
Benton’s speech, which seems to place his interpreta
tion of this branch of the treaty beyond question:—
“Since this was spoken, the letter of Mr Bu
chanan to Mr MecLane, before the ratification
of the treaty, has been published, in which our
Secretary informs Mr McLane that be had giv
en notice to Mr Packenham that the Senate had
advised ‘he acceplance of the British propost
tton in ihis imiled sense, and instructed him to
advise Lord Aberdeen accordingly. No pro
test has been received from the British govern
ment against this understanding of the treaty:
s 0 the question is at an end.”
From al! this it must be evident, that the granted
rights of the ludsen Bay Company must inevitably
terminate in 1863, and that it is not in the power of
Great Britain to eatend, much less to pm’pelu(lle, this
privilege by an extension or perpetuation of the Char
ter. Thus the clamor about giving up to Great Brit
ain the free navigation of the Columbia, is a mere
bugbear. But what if the grant were without limit?
Are not British ships and ships of all nations freely ad- ‘
mitted into our ports, harbors and rivers? They are al- |
so subject to paying duties and tonnage, and to conform
to our commercial regulations, and where is the trou- l
ble? It may be said we can shut them-out when we
please; but such an act would terminate friendly re
lations between the two countries, and amount in sub
stance nearly o a state of warlare. So in a state of
war, we can shut out the Hudson Bay company from
the Columbia River; for war puts an end te all com
merciai treaties, and there is nothing in the Oregon
treaty that cails in question our right of sovereigaty to
the territory in and about the Columbia, any more
than to our right to any portion of our widely extend-
ed country.
J There 1s another portion of the “treaty stipulating
that ““the possessory rights of the Hudson Bay Com
, pany and ofall British subjects who may be in occupa
’ tion of land or other property lawfully acquired with
in the territory, shall be respected.”” This undisturbed
! rossession, as Mr Benton well observes, can be only
for seventeen years,—he thinks there can be no law
ful possessions in Oregoan—no fee simple. The fourth
section, which confirms to the Puget Sound Agricultu
ral company the farms and lands belonging to said Co.,
provides also, that the United States may take them
at a valuation, which cannot much exceed the im
provements, and for these Mr B. properly remarks, it
is fair and equitable that payment should be made.—
They can claim nothing beyond what they have in
actual possession. Nothing by construction, as neither
our laws nor Briush laws admnit the validity of Indian
grants. Under the treaty of join occupation, neither
party could alienate the soil. |
T'TuHe NIGHTMARE ON A STEAMBoAT.—A ter
rible consternation was created on board the
Hendrick Hudson, on Friday night, as she was
ploughing her way from Albany to New York.
All the passengers were soundly asleep, and
nothing could be heard but the movements of
the engine, when ‘a fellow jumped from his
berth, and,at the top of his voice,cried—<<Fire,
fire, fire—we are i}l gone—all lost !> Instant
ly, every soul was aroused, and on deck—ter
ror and confusioniensuetl, and ascene followed
which appalled the stoutest heart—when, for
tunately, it was discovered that the alarm pro
ceeded from a passenger who was troubled with
the nightmare !
A tombstone in New Jersey bears the following in
scription : .
¢Readler, pass on—ne’er waste your time
On bad biography or bitter rhyme ;
For what T ¢m—this cumbrous clay insures,
And what I was—is no affair of yours.”’
Ou! Tuis Dresororn. Tarirr. We learn
that three new factories are about to be erected
in the flourishing village of Saco—two on the
Biddeford and one on the Saco side of the
River. One will soon go into operation, amd
the others in the course of some months. [ Bos
ton Times.
Surpwreck AxD ross of Lire.—T'he Steam
ship Hibernia, on her way from Boston to Hal
ifax, Aug. 16th, run foul of the Schooner Maine,
of Cohasset, and sunk her. Five of the crew
were saved; the remaining six, including the
Captain, perished.
Besides the evil things done by Congress at the late
session, the good things left undone present a list some
what formidable.—Jowrnal. ;
[Prominent among the “‘good things’’ left undone
stands the ““two million bill’> te enable the President
to conzlude peace with Mexico—deleated by JOHN
DAVIS—¢ honest John '’>—the whig 'Senator from
Massachuselts ! — Gaz]
Etract from the N. Y. Journal of Commerce of Tuesday. 1
“We have already expressed the conviction,
which we most deeply feel, that nothing can
ever turn the policy of the country back to pro
tection, but that agitation can only tend to a
further reduction. ‘There is certainly a new
disposition to abolish custom-houses altogether,
developing itself on all sides. Many whigs de
clare their desire, now that protection is aban
doned, to let free-trade take a clean-sweep, and |
raise the national revenues by direct taxation. |
A whig merchant expressed this sentiment to us |
| the other day on’Change. W hen he had turn-}
ed away, a democratic merchant said, ¢‘he can
easily be gratified in that.” 'This sentiment is
breaking out all about the West, as we can tes
tify from personal observation,—and our ap
prehension is, that it will become irresistibie
even without aggravation from the other side.*
Should Mr Webster, as he promised, move for the
immediate “‘repeal®? of the revenue tariff early in De
cember next, this sentiment in favor of direct taxes
for the economical support of government will doubt
less be strongly backed up. If any “‘repeal” is to
| take place, let all commercial restrictions be annihila
| ted, after the plain question is submitted to the people
—will you pay direct tax es for an economical expen
ditare by the general government and enjoy the priv
ilege of buying cheapest and selling dearest; or, will
you suffer double the amount to be extorted from your|
pockets by iadirection, and be compelled to buy in.
the dearest, and sell in the cheapest market? Let this
matter be once generally agitated, and we venture to
say the people will not be very slow [or, if slow, will
be sure] to abandon a system which discriminates so
much in favor of wealth by throwing an undue portion
of the burthen of taxation upon the shoulders of the
midding interest and poorer classes. The cry will be
¢“Let us see the amount we are assessed,and for what
purposes il is expended.’’
The French Claims.
The Charleston Mercury has the following very sen
sible remarks in relation to these claims: '
““I'he President’s Veto on the French Claims
Bill has been received with a storm of abuse
not inferior either in intensity or absurdity to
that which assailed the Vice President tor his
vote on the ‘Lariff. I'he newspapers must al
ways be in a fury about something. Now, the
eyes of editors alterngtely blaze with anger and
fill with tears at the cruelty of the President’s
act,—its bad taith,—its unparalled assumption
of power, and the enormous amount of suffer
ing he has caused. All these things he is char
ged with,
““Now the truth of the matter is, that, about
fifty years ago, the United States had disputes
with the French Republic that led to a quasi
war—during which time our commerce suftered
by confiscations and captures to an amonnt not
known. In the nature of things, the sufferers
were merchants and underwriters — classes
which can best bear losses—others have been
ruined since by cominercial speculations, and
their descendants are in the condition to which
three-fourths of the people are born—poverty,
involving the uecessity of getting a living by
labor. It is not so very terrible a condition—
uor one which editors of newspapers are so
generaily above, that they need to look down
upon these claimants as proper subjects of such
very desperate commisseration. Nine-tenths
of all the great fortunes in the country have‘
been made trom nothing, since these confisca
tions vccurred. Probably those who sufieredl
then, have had their share of the after success.
‘T'he rich fawilies of that day have |fallen into'
poverty—they are as bad off as if the French
Directory had plundered them. So much for'
the moral of the case.
“‘As to the justice ot these claims on the Gov
ernment, it has been from the first gravely dis
puted, and seems by no means a clear case. If
It Vias pot war, it was soinething very like war
that gxisted between France and the United
States. The national vessels fought and cap
tured each other,—and thatis at least as near a
state of war as existed on the Rio Grande,
when Congress passed the war bill. Let those
who have sneered at Mr Calhoun’s,dastinction
belween a slate of war and a state of hoslilities
please to take nolice that upon the legilimacy
of that distinclion, rests the justice of lhese
claims. In a state of war, Government is not
bound to make up the losses of its people in
their own pursuits,
“It is however urged, that by releasing the
French Government from these claims, the U
nited States assumed the obligation to settle
them itself. 'T'his is much the strongest view
of the case, and yet it would be a dangerous
rule to lay down that whenever the Govern
ment shall tormally relinquish the prosecution
of private claims, against a foreign nation, it
thereby binds itself to satisfy them. We should
say that such relinquishment afforded a pre
sumption that the government doubted the
soundness of the principle on which the claims
rested, and would not therefore risk a distur
bance of its good understanding with another
country by urging them. And this we are con
vinced was the view of the case taken by the
United States Government. But we are not
disposed to extend this discussion.
“I'he recent bill which the President vetoed,
is little better than an acknowledgment that
the claims are of doubtful validity. It was a
proposition to compromise with the elaimants
and give themn a certain sum, on condition that
they should ever after hold their peace.”
[There is one brief remark which the editor of the
Mercury might have added, and that is, that in 1800
these claims were a subject of diplomatic discussion
between the two countries, and were disallowed on
the part of France —The French minister emphatical
ly declared he would sooner resign his office than ad
mit their validity.—Ed. Gaz.]
Tue Warenouvse BiLn. — Mr. Secietary
Walker has issued a circular in regard to the
provisions of the new Warehouse Bill. All
goods imported previous io the passage of the
new act, are excluded from the benefits of its
provisions, and must pay the duaties enforced
by the act of 1842, The circular describes the
minutie of action under the new bill, and’is to
be a general guide for the officers throughout
the Union.
Letters from the squadron, blockading Vera
Cruz, as late as the 30th July, have been recei
ved at the Navy Department. The crews were
all well, except a few cases of the scurvy. The
Cumberland frigate had been ashore on a coral
reef in three fathoms of water, and was got off
by the steamer Mississippi, after having started
Ler water, thrown her guns overboard, -and
lost her false keel. \
Midshipman Wingate Pillsbury,of Newbury
port, and Michael Flinn, a seaman, both of the
steamer Mississippi, had been drowned by the
capsizing of the launch of that vessel.
Gov. Henderson not dead.—We stated last week,
on the authority of the New York papers, that Gov.
Henderson, of Texas, had died at the quarters of the
United States Army on the Rio Grande. Later ac
counts contradict the report,—and state that he has so
far recovered as to be able to resume his military du
ties.
A man went into a drug store in N* Orleans,
some days since, and desired to purchase four
ounces of laudanum. T'he apothecary thinking
that something was wrong, gave him a strong
decoction of Rhubarb, which of course made
the individual very sick, and instead of dying
quietly he became exceeding anxious to get
well again.
A volunteer, writing to Louisville from the
Rio Grande, says that the musquitoes there
s¢:an stand flattooted upon the ground, and
without difficulty drink water out of a pint tin
cup.” :
iz#>The Concord Courier and Gazette has of late,
since the present editor, Mr Low, took control, taken
_occasion to speak in far more liberal terms in regard
f to the tariff than the generality of the whig press—
‘ more particularly those in New England. The last
f number of that newspaper contained a long leading ar
i ticle descanting upon the causes, which it says opera
| ted to bring the present dominant nondescript party in
| this State into power : stating in the outset that no
3 progress could be made in overthrowing the democrat
| ic supremacy in the State ‘‘until the issue against the
} late dominant party was placed upon the simple ques
tion of liberty versus slavery.”” 'To this single issue,
it assumes, the success ot the ¢‘allies’’ is attributable.
—But it is the very height of folly for the Courier to
suppose they would have been successful upon this al
leged issue, had there beer. no minor ditferences among
the democrats causing destraction of the party.
The Courier goes on with its remarks in a manner
-designed to keep up the coalition between the *“lnde
| perdents’” and the whigs, and labors to convince the
! whigs that it is far inore essential to the perpetuity of
their power to keep alive this slavery issue, than to
malke the matter of “‘repeal’® of the new tariff so prom- ‘
inent an issue in the politics of the state ‘¢ as many are
inclined to do,”’—from the fact that many of the fol
lowers of Hale, from the democratic ranks, may still
be opposed to a high protective tariff, although united
with the whigs in the support of abolitionism. Nay,
the Courier says, that in the ensuing contest in this
State, the banner of the abolition fanatics ““must still
be borne aloft—and that ALONE,—otherwise, division
threatens, and the return to power of a dangerous par
ty certain.”” It says—°¢ the annexation of Texas as a
siave power was an inexpiable crime. To scorch and
wither its fertile and beautiful savannahs with the foot
steps of the slave was inexcusable. They that have
done it must continue in their exile from power. This
is the issue. It must be the only issue. Another pol
icy will risk the loss of ull.® Such is the Courier’s
language. Does the editor forget, in his reprobation
of those who annexed Texas as a slave state, that John
P. Hale himself, the great high priest and leader of
the ““allies,” was willing, when in Congress, that the
‘“ footstep of the slaye > might ¢ scorch and wither
[one-half] its fertile and beautiful savannabs?'® Does
he forget, too. that Hale was willing thus to “*scorch
and wither’’ the whole face of Florida?—Aund voied
for it ?
But let that pass. We doubt not the democracy
would gladly see the whig politicians follow the advice
of the Courier, and rest their success upon the issues
made by [lale. Let the whig politicians of New-
Hampshire bear that single banner aloft, and rest their
fate entirely upon it. In attacking the democrats on
that ground, they attack the constitution, and disturb
the harmony of the confederacy. Their triumph would
be the downfall of this glorious Republic. On the
strong arms of the democracy—the defenders of the
constitution—would lest its only security. The true
issue would be, the maintenance of the Union of the
States, and their consequent prosperity and strength,
or—dissolution and anarchy !
We did not intend, at the commencement of these
observations, a revicw of the entire article of the Cou
rier. 'We designed merely to introduce that portion
setting forth its views of the tariff. ’Mid such clamor
as is now going on in the greater part of the whig press
in consequence of the disturbance cf the ¢*black tariff”’
of 1842, we think it proper enough when one of that
party speaks a liberal sentiment upon the subject, to
place it on record. The Courier utters the following :
“For ourselves, we are ready to avow with
out hesitation, that in respect to the merits and
demerits of the new Tariff or of the old one our
opinions do not coincide with those of the whig
party generally. ‘T'hat the Tariff of 42 abso
lutely demanded at this time important rectifi
cations we believe. In one article of vast and
increasing consumption, that of 2ron, there was
need of alteration because owing ‘o the great
-rise of its price in Kngland (alinostdouble) the
article enjoyed more than douYle the protection
‘ which was proposed by the Tariff of 42 and
nobody demes but what that was enough. In
i our opiion there can be no reasonable claim
upon the sympathies of the people of this state,
made by the inanufacturers of Iron, when it is
considered that they actually enjoy under the
present duty of 30 per cent a higher protection
against foreign competition than was eontem
plated by the Tariff of ’42. I'he outery of ru
im made by the manufacturers, whose profits
for a few years have been enormous, and whose
chance for profits at present is better than any
other branch of business, is not merely ridicu
lous--it is shameful. 'T'c suppose that the people
of N. H. can be enlisted in a crusade in their
behalf, hecause they are not to be called to pay
some million of doilars or so of their hard earn
ings in additional cost of their various railroad
' enterprises to men who already are receiving
~all the protection that was ever contemplated
by the ‘L'ariff of °42—to suppose this and to go |
to the polls with sueh an issue is the very con
summation of folly. Yet there are obviously
some of the whig papers in this State so stupen- |
“dously stupid as to do it. If the whigs them
selves had been in power during the last session ‘
of Congress, and had not reduced this immense
protection upon iron, so far above what they
themselves contemplated, it would have been a
good cause for their overthrow,
“Of the enormous and most unjustifiable duty
on another article we have spoken once and a
gain, and speak again. We mean the duty on
foreign salt. On this by the Tariff of ’42 wasl
levied a duty of seventy-eight per cent. For
whose benefit ? [For what end 7 For the pro-|
tection of New York salt principally. And
what makes a principal item in the cost of New
York salt? Why the dutyor tax upon it levied
by the state. So that New Hampshire fn_rmers.!
must be taxed 78 per cent. upon the article of |
their first necessity, in order to assist in paying
the taxes of the Siate of New York! And whatl
is New York salt? Ask any of our farmers or|
traders, who have it unfortunately to dispose
of, and they will tell you that it is an article not |
Jit for use. ln preterence to its use any price
must be paid. So the consolation of the New
Hampshire people for the enormnous duty they
pay on salt, is first that they assist in paying
the taxes of New York, and second that the
salt itself isn’t good for anything!”
Tue LATE Barr Les 1x Inpla,.—The Advo
cate ot Peace for August, edited by Elihu Bur
ritt, contains a letter published in the Stamtord
Mercury (England) from a Private, John Lum,
dated the Bth of March, giving some account of
the battles last December, on the banks of the
Sutlej. Having spoken of the batle of the 20th
theswriter adds:—¢ On the sycceeding morning
we commenced hanging -and shooting all the
prisoners, which dreadful work occupied us
nearly all the day !! !> This is certuinly a
most extraordinary statement, and ready as
we are to believe that war has many horrors
veiled trom public sight, we can hardly believe
that such an atrocity as this could be perpetra
ted by an English Army in this century. Be
sides, hanging is a very unusual mode of put
ting prisoners to death. But if there be any
truth in the story, the whole civilized world will
brand with indelible infamy the author of such
a shocking violation of the dictates of humani
ty, and the umversal laws of modern war.—XN.
%. Jour. of Com. _
NiscARA.—A correspondent of a Rochester
paper says : ‘“l'he Great Falls have an aver
age height of 160 feet, ‘l'he measurements
made a few years ago show that 22,440,000 cu
bic feet of water descend this fearful leap every
minute—or 701,000 tons of water. lis moving
power would be 4,533,000 horse power. It
has been caleulated that all the motive power
of Great Britain is not one fortieth of this migh
ty mountain,”’
From the Boston Post of Friday.
Messrs. George F. Emery, John L. Leach,
Leander Warren, Benjamin D. Baxter, Wil
liam P, Loring and David Townsend, inspee
tors in the Boston custom house, have each re
ceived a letter from the Hon. Marcus Morton,
collector at this port, of which the following is
a copy :—
“Collector’s Office, Boston,
August 27, 1846. }
Sir,—Another person having, by the authori
ty of the secretary of the treasury, been appoin
ted to perform the duties of your office, your
services will pot be required after the 31st. inst.
Respectiully, your obd’t servant,
MARCUS MORTON, Collector.
Georer F. EMery, Esq.,
Inspector of the Customs, Boston.
These removals have excited much astonish
ment, as the persons removed were considered
among the best officers connected with the cus
tom house here, are true democrats, and firm
supporters of the present administration s but
the collector has seen fit to displace them,while ‘
he has retained half a dozen whigs in the same |
department trom which Messrs Emery, Leach |
and others have been ejected ; he has even ac
ted against his own evidence in this business,
‘as the following copy of a letter from him to Mr
Leach, when Mr L. applied for his appoint
ment goes to prove :
“ T'aunton, Seplember, 5, 1843, 1
Dear sir—l have just had the pleasure to re
ceive your favor of this date, and will loze no |
time in replying. |
In relation to ‘taking office under the present
administration,” my opinion is that each indi
vidual should be goveroed by his own judg-‘
ment, and tske or decline office, if he has an
opportunity, aceording to his own notions of‘
propriety.
I'long ago declined to ask office for any one ;
but I will not deny myselt the pieasure to ex
press my confidence in your honor, your integ- l
rity, your moral character, your patriotism,and
your capacity to perform with correctness and
fidelity, any trust you will assume.
You will make any use of this which you may
think proper aud accept my hopes and wishes
for your success in any pursuit which you may
engage in,
I remain your friend and obd’t servant.
MARCUS MORTON.
J. C. LeacH, Esq.
i 3 The Journal pretends inability to perceive how
the circulation of fulse stories in relation to new man
ufactories, stating that they are not going into opera
| tion on account of the new tariff, ~when the fact is the
very reverse, can operate injuriously towards those in
terested in their establishment. We think most any
individual of common sagacity must perceive that the
effect of such falsehoods must be anything but benefi
“cial to such establishments.
-The Journal does not know *“how this new tariff has
anything to do with free tiade,” and demurs to its be
ing confounded with that term, We do not know as
we ever spoke of it except as a desirable approach to
wards a system of free trade ; but some of the Jour
nal’s whig cotemporaries spoke of it as an “*infamous
Sree trade measure I’ which was going to reduce A
merican labor to a level with the pauper labor of Eu
rope,”” &c. We say we view Itas a desirable ap
proach towards aliberal system—full as near to it as
we supposed we should get at this session of Congress;
we had fears that there would be no change at all.—
Hence we feel gratified at what has been accomplish
ed. We do not look upon the new act as perfect, by
any means ;—we would desire to see it amended in
many important particulars ; but it is better now than
the manufacturers tariff of *42, by vast odds.
Again,—the Journal Jdeclares that *‘common sense
teaches, and the experience of next year will confirm
that it [the operation of the new tariff] wili be disad
vantageous to almost every branch of industry in this
town and state.”> None butthe *““common sense’ of
Sools can teach it, in our view of the matter As to
the “‘experience of next year’’ the people of New Eng
land can better tell afier they have had that experience.
Let them give it a fair trial. It certainly will prevent
a few capitalists from plundermg the masses quile so
FREELY as they are allowed to do under the tariff of
’42 5 in doing this, it will operate in favor of the inter
ests of the masses,—and those interests constitute the 1
interests of this *‘town and state,”” and of “New Eng
land.”> Recollect, neighbor, the people did not intend
that this tariff, like the-one it supercedes, should be
peculiarly adapted to the interests of one class of ¢api
talists. But, notwithstanding the positive terms of the
Journal’s prediction, we believe that after some expe
rience the New England manufacturers wili be little
disposed to condemn it.
By the way,—bas the editor of the Journal read the
advice of the New Hampshire Courier to its whig breth
ren in New Hampshire ?
We take a pleasure in copyving from the Charleston
Mercury the following just tribute to the well earned
repatation, ability and talents of Mr Lewis, the distin
guished Senator from Alabama. Mr Lewis had an ar
duous and highly important task assigned to him at the
commencement of the late session, as chairman of the
Finance committee, and the unremitting industry with
which he has applied himself to those duties, and the
ability and faithfulness displayed in their discharge, an
abundant evidence that the confidence of the Senate
was not misplaced. It will be remembered that this
task was first assigned Mr Calhoun, who was excused
at his request on account of indisposition. We know
Mr Lewis well, and consider him a man of superior
mind—of sound uncompromising political as well as
moral integrity and withala man of heart, which in
these degenerate days is a somewhat rare quality in a
politician,
HON. DIXON H. LEWIS.
Among those whose names should be maost
honerably associated with the success of the
two leading measures of the present Session of
Congress—the Revenue Taritff and the Inde
pendant T'reasury-—is the Senator from Alaba
ma, the indefatigable Chairman of the comnsit
tee on Finance. High and well-earned as was
Mr. Lewis’ reputation, he has‘added to itin the
manner in which he has discharged the duties
of his laborious and responsible office. He has
shown equal ability to deal with the minute de
tails and the general principles of the measures,
it was his duty to report, explain and defend to
the Senate. He has afaculty ot ¢clear statement
and plain terse argument that is as rare as it
is valuable. His speech on the Tariff was are
markable instance of this,—and a model of vig
or, perspicuity and directness. 'There is no
humbug about Mr Lewis—all is real and sub
stantial in the exhibitions of his mind. He
never amuses the galleries by flourishing his
sword in the air—it is the enemy he always
strikes at,
Alabama should be and we believe is, proud
of the well-earned fame of her Senator. and
the entive restoration of his health gives hope
that the country will long have the benefit of
his valuable services.—Char Mercury. ‘
The Charleston Courier says a new counter
feit com of the Mexican dollar has appeared in
that city. ‘T'he interior is made of a composi
tion of mnetals, over which is soldered a thin
plate of pure silver, so neatly put on as to de
ceive the most experienced.
Rurine Passion.— The New Yorker tellsan
anecdote of a famous punster in Boston, by the
name of Sigourney. As he was expiring, in
the presence of his Doctor, a servant entered
and called the physician out, saying in a low
veice, ““a man has fallen down the well 3’ but
Sigourney, overhearing the appalling informa
tiim, inquired with a scarcely audible whisper,
1 say, Doctor, did he kick the bucket >’
UG~ Tue EsrTHQUAKE in this city was felt 25
“minutes before 5 o’clock on Tuesday morning
Aug. 22, but, as timekeepers vary, we had bet
ter call it 5 o’clock. 1t began at that hour in
Newhuryport, where it lasted eight minutes,—
T he shock was felt in all the towns of the coms
monwealth from which we have heard, and
houses were shaken, bells rung, and people
roused from their beds in teis city. Not being
awake at the inoment, we cannot, of course,
have a very distinct idea of the vibration,—
Boston Post, Wednesday.
The citizens generalfy of this town, and those around
us, say they felt the shock very sensibly—at the same
time mentioned by the Post—about 2 minutes before
5. Houses and beds trembled, but we didn’t hear any
bells ring. They might have rung, however,—for we,
like our friend of the Post, ‘‘not being awake at the
moment,’’ “‘have not a very distinct idea of the vi
brations.”” Itis stated that the noise was very similar
to that said to have been of so frequent occurrence in
the vicinity of Deerficld, N. H., for a few years past.
We learn from Hill's Patriot, that the ferryman near
the Free Bridge, Concord, states that the water in the
Merrimack was considerably agitated during the con
tinuance of the report. A person fron Allenstown
states that it threw dowan a cart-load, or more, of sand
from a bank near the road where he was passing at the
time. We don’t think it was any “great shukes® in
this vicinity. According to accounts it was far more
violent east, north and south of us, than it was here.
In Massachusetts and Maine, chimnies are said to have
fallen, and crockery tumbled from the closet shelves
and smashed to pieces.
From the Journal of Commerce.
EARTHQUAKES.
WEDNESDAY morning, Aug. 26, 1846.
Messrs. Editors: In your telegraphic notice
this morning you state that an Earthquake was
felt at Boston and the neighboring towns on
Tuesday nizht.
‘ Messrs. Dutilh & Cousinery, No. 23 South
| William street, New York, have letters from
Smyrna, in Asia, of the 28th of June, stating
that an Earthquake was experienced there on
the 25th of June, at about six P. M, T'he shock
’ was vely severe and much damage was done,
In the Journal of Commerce of Junuary 10,
1846, you chronicle an earthquake at Memphig
~on the 23d of Dec. 1845;—in your paper of
~April Ist, you state an earthquake took place at
Maysville, Ky. on the 231 of March, and in
' your paper of 28d April you also state the oe
cutrence of an earthquake at Cuba, on the 23]
of March,
~ loyour paper of March 7th you give an ac
count of an earthquake at Cincinnati, on the
28th of February, in your paper of May 15th
you state an earthquake was experienced at
Santa Crnz, on the south side of Cuba, on the
28th of April, and i that of July 7th, that an
earrthquake was felt at Catania, in Sicily on
the 28th of April.
In your paper of March 14, you state an earth
quake was experienced at the Belgian settle
ment of Santa Tomas on the 30th of January,
and in the paper of June 4, you state that shocks
of an earthquake were felt at Salem and New
buryport on the 30th of May.
Thus, you will see by this aecital, that there
has been an extraordinary regnlarity as to the
particular days of the month, viz :8d or the
23, Bth or the 23th and on the 30th days of the
month,
You have alsochronicled in the Journal of the
30th of July, an earthquaka at Martinique and
Guadaloupe on the 16th of June—in the Jour
nal of May 26, an earthquake at Memphis,
Tennessee, on the 9th of May—in the Journul
ot August sth, Earthquakes in the Morea, and
in that ot August 22, an earthquake and mete
or at Fincastle in Virginia on the 12th of Au
gust,
" The earthquakes in Greece occurred in June
but the particular days are not stated. | hope
to ascertain them,
~ You will see that the Catania earthquakes
traveled Kast, from April to June, commencing
i in East longitude about 15° —then in the Mo
rea in Jong. about 22, and lust in Sinyrna in
long. abeut 27°.
i All of these earthquakes have produced equi
lebriums on Brookiyn Heights, the particulars
of which have been sent you regularly from
time to time in the New York Municipsl Ga
zelte.
‘T'he great numherof earthquakes which have
been experienced within the last eight mouths
has been wonderful—our atmosphere has been
singularly affected as you will see by the exten
sive and very minute records in the Municipal
Gazette.
The Icelandish Mountains have been greatly
agitated and continued in that state at the last
dates—the mountains had been qniet for more
than half a century. Yours, with great respect
E. MERIAN.
From the Jouraal of Commerce of Thursday.
MEexrico.—T'he New Orleans papers add lit
tle to the intelligence brought by the Adelaide
from Havana. ‘T'be Picayune says that Santffp
Anna was to embark for Vera Cruz, on the
Montezuma, which had been purchased for
him through an English house; but the Capt. of
the Adelaide, it will be remembered, reported
that he had already sailed in the Br. steamer
Arab.
The plan of Gaudalaraja adopted by the
revolutionists of Vera Cruz, was to the follow
ing effect:
Ist. A repudiation of the Congress summoned
by Paredes; 2d. A declaration in favor of a
new Congress, to be chosen according to the
electoral laws of 1824—which Congress should
be charged with the formation of a constitution,
excluding utterly the monarchical principle;
3d. Providing that Congress should assemble
within four months after the liberating forces
gain possession of the capital; 4th, Guaranty- ¥
ing the existence of the army; and sth. Declar
ing traitors whoever should oppose the assem
bling of such Congress, attempt the liberty of
its members, or oppose the constitution it should
establish,
The Vera Cruz plan was signed the morning
of the 81st of July. 'l'he name of Gen. Mozo,
who commands in the eity of Vera Cruz, and
of Gen. Rodriguez de Cela, whocommands the
castle of San Juan de Ulloa, are not attached to
the plan,
The news received in the city of Mexico from
the frontier was such as to drive the Government
almost to despair. Oun the 27th July a courier
arrived, announcing the departure of eigha
thousand American troops from Camargo for
Monterey. Gen Armijo, about the same time,
sent word that six thousand Americans had
come down upon New Mexico. And tocrown
the whole, a despatch was received from the
British minister at Washington, which quench
ed every hopa of recciving aid from KEog
land.
The Congress of Mexico has passed a law
authorizing the President to issue letters of mar
que against American commerce, such letters
to be issued directly by the government or by
its agents in foreign countries. ‘l'be President
had published a decree in conformity to this
law, which with instructions to carry out the
purposes of Congress was forwarded by the
British steamer,
[n the city of Mexieo there were, at last ac
counts, but 1200 troops, and there was some
intention of raising a volunteer force.
Some troops from the army had arrived at
Tampico to reinforee the garrison of that city.‘
e ————— 3 -
Colonel Mclntosh, one of the wounded men
on the Rio Grande, is now in New York. -
Mexicax Prizes.—Capt. J. H. Rodney,*of
the brig F. L. Vail, arrived at St. John, N 8.,
from St. Martins, reports that on the 23d of
July, he saw a Mexican privateer with .l,hree
American vessels, prizes, passing by the island
of St Martins, apparently bound through Soms
brara passage,~—Boston Post, Tuesday.