The New era. [volume], February 04, 1847, Image 2

About The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
_TJHEJME W ERA,_
VN hat 4 it >.■«« a Miip nf huty l.ifo ?— C'otopvr.
foimWOTTII, Va.
_THIUO(l>A Y.^FEBRU A HY 4. IH47.
OUK FL V(ji!
FEEE /RAPE-LOW DUTIES- NO DEBT—8E
RATION PROM RANKS ECONOMY—RE
T™£?«ment-and STRICT ADHERENCE
1 o THE CONSTITUTION.
An Unmitigated Scoundrel.
Some year atuce, a fellow hy the name «>f .1.
C. S Dustaiv. of moat insinuating ntul htimhle
manners, well educated and accomplished, came
into nor office in art otter state of destitution, al
most naked, and asked us to let him look over onr
papers, which we, uf course, assented to. '1'his
was continued from day to day. until he hail so
far gained on our confidence that we loaned him
money, fed him, and through our means he was
put in decent trim, having, as we since learn,
ino-t unwarrantably laid others under cnntrihu
huiion. through the influence uf being with us.
This Dmlnn proved to he one of Hu* genus of
Smha.l’s “ Olil Man of the Sea.” and ,w* found
’’ difficult to shake him off. Not doubting |,is
honestv. and wishing to give him a chance to
live, we gave him authority to make a collection
tour f r ns of four nr five weeks, which has lasted
*’ -*»y months, and we have hail no returns
from hint, hot have received frequent complaints
of him, and learn that he has taken, like Falstaff
nmsi on war ran table liberties with the king’s press,
otherwise, nor authority, m rob gentlemen, not
one of whose names has been returned to na hy
him. The only evidences we have received from
him, that he wits living, was one dated •• \Vj|
linrnston. N. C.. Dec. 19.” slating that he could
“ send 101 front here, and he down by New
Year’s day with some $200.” A no live, note we
Ctve entire :
*• Plymouth, N. C., Jan. 8th. 1847.
Dear Sir — Circumstance* have made it ne
cessary lor me in delay my return iiiitil the'15th
instant With every assurance «»#* high feeling,
•• Believe me yniirs. Sir. J. C. S. D.”
Since this note of •* high feeling.” we have
hpard nothing ol the consummate villain, and
although u« ev|*ect no return of the $300 .»r $400
which he lias obtained of ns, we feel it our duty
to expose the rascal, and pul others on their guard
that they may not be fleeced by him ; and we re
quest the favor of th** press, generally, that they
will extend this notice through their columns._
This fellow, Dutian, is a medium height, dark
complexioned, full habit, with a specious tongue
and insinuating, bland manners. Beware of him
— for bis heart is blacker than his lace.
A. F CUNNINGHA \I,
Flditor iVrw f'lrn S,' Old T)<>m in inn .
Portsmouth Feb. 2. 1847.
6CP* We are indebted to the lion. Mr. Atkin
son fora copy i.f the %t Bill to revise the Consular
System of the United S'ates,’’ presented hy the
Special Committee appointed to revise the Coiisu
lar System. It has been read twice in the House
of Representatives, and committed to the Com
miltee of the Whole on the State of the Union.
ANOTHER VALUABLE PAPER.
In consequence of the failure of the northern
mail, by the non arrival of the boat, we are ena
bled to present onr readers with a highly interest
ing and valuable paper, today. *• It is an ill
wind that blows nobody ’good.” Our readers are
benefitted this time.
ANOTHER WIND STORM.
Wo had another violent storm of w md and
rain yesterday from the Southwest which lasted
until about 12 o’clock, M., when it lulled for a
short lime, and then veered round to Northwest,
where it continued to blow with great fmy for
several hours. The Hampton and Old Point
stearnpr. Slur, could not make its regular trip,
and at the time of writing this the Baltimore boat,
the Hemld, has not arrived. We fear much in
jury has .again been experienced on the coast.
THE LIEUTENANT GENERALSHIP.
V\ e publish to-day, as a matter of record, the
strange, egotistical, and characteristic speech on
this subject, that hurst, [the subject, nut tie
speech.] upon the American people like a meteoric
exhalation in a clear sky. filling all minds with
astonishment and wonder at who could lie tie
projector ot thin stupendous Humbug, hot all re
covered their equanimity when they hiund out
who was ns lather. I'lte Fredericksburg Re
corder, on publishing the speech, introduces the
following remarks, which, according with our
opinion, we also adopt. The people of this conn
try. say* the Kecnrder, •• are overwhelmed with
officeholder* already, anil they will regard the
creation of new places for new vampyres, with
jealousy and distrust ff there is virtue in a
Lieut. Gener.ilcy. why nut delegate 11 to Si’ott ?
or it the Vtaj ir Generals now in service, cannot
operate harmoniously and effi iently together,
(which we doubt not they will.) why not make
a unit of them, and call him I,tent. General, if it
is t hough I best to throw hig words at the enemy
instead of halls and homli* ? We like the sug
gestions ol Gen. Cags, who goes for fighting in
the *• good old fashioned way.” One Texas rifle
or howie knife is worth forty Lieutenant Generals,
in a war like this.”
DEATH OF LIEUT. HOT i s
We regret to learn, says the Richmond Re
publican, that information has been received by
Jnn. Minor Holts. F,*q., of the death of bis son,
Lieut. Archibald I). Holts, ot the [J. S Army.—
Lieut. H graduated at West Point in June last,
anrl hut recently joined his regiment in Mexico.
It appears like a few day* only snee we saw him,
to full health, walking the street* of Richmond.
THE FOUNTAIN INN,
BALTIMORE. ,
We see bv t lie follow ing complimentary notice,
from the Richmond Republican, which by the by
we can testily to the truth of, having frequently
partaken of tfie hospitality and comforts of that
house, while it was tinder the management of
Me*srs. I>tx &. Fogg, that a change has been
made in the management. It is, however, still
under the supervision of «nr friend Fooo, and
al'h'nigh we have not the acquaintance of his new
partner. Mr Thurutor, wre think w« ri*k no
thing in declaring it the best house for the sou th
ro merchant and traveller in the city of Haiti
to ind we therefore recommend all our friends
it. githem a caII ;
“1'he Fountain Hotel, Baltimore. — \Ie««ra.
Editors : Permit a traveller, who has seen much
in the way of public Intones, to bear bis testimony
to the excellency of this Hole1 in all respects. A
Hotel is, emphaticslly. the home ••• every iiiho
who stops at it, if properly kepi—soil, in all that
makes home agreeable, no hense that I ever vis
iied, comes heller op to tnv notion of comfort,
than the old Fountain Hotel, now admirably kepi
by Messrs Fogg & Thurston.
I It esc gentlemen are courteous and obliging,
nnd every want ol llteir guests is anticipated ami
provided for. The assistants are equally ohlig
log ; and I ant sure, every man who calls once
will be certain to call again.
“ A TRAVELLER.”
NEW YORK MONTHLY SUN,
II.LUSTRA IT D.
We received the February No. of this bennti
ml and mammoth sheet yesterday. It is the best
and cheapest publication of the kind we havese n.
anti filled with excellent rending matter, anti nu
| merotis wood engravings of great ntertt and in
terest. Only One. Dotlnr a year, for 12 Nos.
CORN -C ORN-CORN.
llrino on your Corn. W’e learn from the Nor
lolk Herald, that there are 2 ship*, 3 barks, and
) 3 brigs now loading in our port with Corn for
j Europe; it is estimated that they will carry ofT
! in the aggregate I«>0.000 bushels ofthis excellent
I article ; other vessels are daily expected—so send
on your Corn, as it is now commanding high
i prices.
| “Our harbor at this time, says the Herald,
preseuis an unusually lively appearance. Among
I the number of vikm Is taking in cargoes for foreign
! and domestic ports, we notice the ship Harkaway,
| reloading with tobacco for Europe.”
M O N K Y KI) COU 1‘0 It ATI O NS.
At a Iio meeting tielil some time since in the
* **w ti Hall, un tin* subject uf obtaining further
iocorp irateil privileges lor the tow n of Portsmouth,
it will he recollected that Caut. Watts, thinking
he was making a strung argument against the
movement, declared that nil incorporations tce' e
great evils nr curses, and urged that, as one rea
s >n before the people, w hy he did not go, at the
present lime, lor incorporation, although, with all
its evils. In* hoped the time would come w hen he
should he aide to go lor it too ; toil it is too much,
jitter such a declaration that he should he found,
at the first opportunity, presenting bills for invest
in; particular bodies with a particular curse, when
what the whole people asks lor cannot he obtained
Iroin the legislature, because opp >sed by their
“ representative in pul,” mil withstanding expe
rience has proved that all would be henefined by
such a change in our municipal government, and
that none could ho injured, except one or two
ambitious aspirants who are looking in honors
which God anti nature never intended they should
wear.
In all seriousness we ask nnr fellow citizens, if
they do not feel alarmed, nt the building up these
exclusive boilies in our midst, who have the con
trol of large sums of money , and are invested w itb
large rights to hold property, more especially,
when these things are done secretly, and without
advisement with liie people ? The School Com
missioners of the County have been incorporated,
and now those of the Town must he. Who has
been consulted or advised with in this matter?
not the PROPL.B. Immediately on the organi
zation of this hoard, w ith corporate powers, all
the property appertaining to the Schools now be
hinging to the Town will he placed in their
hands; the taxes that are drawn from every in
dividual at the rale of 02. a head, will go into
their coffers, the appropriation of a large portion
of the revenue of the Ferry will also go there and
become ‘‘vested rights.” which will trammel
subsequent legislation. and for that very object
we believe it was intended hy its framers and
originators. Well, to carry on this corporate
power, new Clerks and Treasurers will have to
be chosen, whose pay will of course demand an
additional lax from ilic pockets and industry nf
the people: for this Board of Commissions pro
dnee nothing and still ihey must eat. anil they
will eat at the expense of those who are now
ground down with taxation. Think of tlmse
things fellow citizens now, and proven! further
encroachment upon your properly anil y-.ur rights.
If yon do not, the time will soon arrive when you
will seriously regret it. We intended to pursue
this subject on another lack, hut we hare said
enough in this article to arouse investigation.
These are our own views of this matter_
| ami it is but fair to say, that in n conversation
with one of the present Commissioners, whom
we highly evleern. as we personally do the whole
of them, he difl'.-rs with us entirely on the sub
ject ; and looks upon the act asked of the legisla
ture as vitally essential to the permanency and
prosperity of the Schools—and thinks it the only
way in which the property of the Schools ran he
reserved lor a fund sacred to the purposes of pjn
i can. n. Under ilie present Commissioners, wc,
pc I haps, would ftnlpriain no doubts as to iho cor
red exercise of the power, proposed to he vest* rl
in ilieiii, but we fear the future, and putting im
plicit faith in the truth of the adage, that ” p..w
er is always stealing from ibp many to the few,’’
w« are j••*!..us of every transfer of power from
the great body of the people, to individual or spe
cial bodies, not subject to the salutary supervision
and check of the w hole.
MAKYI.AKI) RFSUMPTION.
I lie ( nmoiiltee i.f Ways and Means of the
! House of Delegate*. have reported in favor of
Maryland honestly paying th. interest on her nc
rniiiiilated debt, and are almost •• tu-kled to
deirh,W'e congratulate tlie editor* of the Sun
on this sign of returning prosperity,
patkioticT
A nninhcr «if citizens of Ohio County, Va
have petitioned Congress In lay a 20 per cent,
doty on all free articles of the tariff except coin
i and bullion, for the purpose of raising means to
I defray the expense* of the YVar. Their petition
conclude* with this patriotic strain:—
** W Inlsl a portion of our fellow- citizens are
enduring the privations of the camp, and risking
tlo-ir health ami lives ir. sustaining ihp rights and
honor of onr common country, we, your petition
ers. w ho remain at home, not only consider it a
doty, toil would consider 11 a high privilege to
bear the small burden that this moderate increase
Ot the tariff Would lmp.se npoii us.”
V FRY qi; FKuTlN I) F FD.
fo find a long advertisement, observe* the
Philadelphia Keystone, offering a bounty and u!
tenor emoliimenis, to men who will enlist into
the service of their country, in the columns of a
newspaper that shamefully tells every man that
goes to the *• Poland of America,” •• that he it
fighting ngnintl fjoti !”
THE peace op EUROPE
A late English' paper in seme remarks relating
•° '*,H present political stale of Europe, say«:—
“ I he long pending dispute between Turkey and '
Persia seems likely •*» he drawing low ards a bloody
arbitrate >n. I tie former professes to he anxious 1
for an arrangement. the latter is preparing for war ;
and here again Russian intrigue is no doubt ai
work. The long cherished ami ultimate design
o! Russia is ilie‘'inr:nr|Hira'ioii”—for that is now
the fashionahle word—of Turkey. Germany nod
llnlv are pretty much under the yoke of Prussia
ami Austria, ami with these and many more causes
of dissension in operation, he would he a hold men
hat should prophesy the preservation of peace in
‘.nrope for another vear.**
THE IRON S TEAM REVENUE CUTTER. !
JO T DUII.T IN RICHMOND.
During nnr late absence we took the nppnrtu
■ nit V, under the guidance of the constructor of 'he
l "Ik. Mr. ( apes, anil the hoi bier of t lie engine, I
Mr. IiioHTll.tLL, tu thoroughly inspect this henu
lilnl anil excellent vessel, tanill in Richmond at
die Tredegar Works of Joseph R Anderson.
Esq Of all the iron vessels huilt by the (lov I
eminent, ibis is the only one ypt finisher!, that
will prove serviceable, ami at the same time cred
itnhle to the mechanical character of nnr country —
the simple putting together of the hull, as com
pared with the /yccrnrc, now lying at Rockett**,
cannot hut strike the most superficial observer:
hut the fact, that a vessel has heen huilt, out and
out, in the heart of Virginia.nf Virginia materials,
ring in their crude stale from her bowels, cut from
her mountain tops, ami fashioned by nnr ingenious
and talented mechanics. will prove an era of the
utmost importance and interest in her history.
The mind immediately a*ks the question. In
whom are we indebted tor this triumphant devel
oprnent of the resources of this Stale? and memo
ry as readily points to his Rxcellency, the late
President Tyi.kr. whose eagle vision saw that
which had been hid from all his predecessors;
and to test the practicability, he ordered the cot
ter Lcnrsre to proceed to Richmond, to show the
country that the .James River «n9 navigable for
vessels of that class—a (act which, previous to
that time, had been looked upon as Utop:an. al
though these waters had ran to the sea from time
! immemorial ; and, since we have heen a country,
I "iir merchant ships havo borne, on those very
waters, our rich products to all parts of the earth.
It was President Tyler wlm directed the model to
he drafted and the contract to he made for building I
this vessel, arid it was his vein which placed it |
in the power ot President Polk to carry out as he
has nobly done, the original design of his prede
cessor, which was to give an impulse to Virginia
enterprise, and develops hpr mighty resources.
We are much indebted to Mr. Polk for his carry
ing toil, to completion, the original intention, hut
an unbounded gratitude is due to our own .John
1 vr.r.R, for originating the design ; and when his
i faithful services t<* his native Stale are forgotten.
| by any of hpr children, her son will have set in
: darkness, and her glory will he enveloped in
| illunni. W'e could have wished that the name of
"John Tyler" had heen given to the vessel, hul
Shakespeare’s assertion “that a rose by any other
name will smell as sweet.” is equally applicable
here, and the “ Tullf," wherever she floats, will
carry along with her all the reminiscences of her
birth. We return from this very natural digres
sion to our first intention, which was only to do
an act of justice to our Virginia resources, and
those engaged in building ihe Polk, by noticing
her particularly, which we have not heretofore
done, having delayed from day to day. in the
hope that she would, ere this, have heen in our
immediate harbor ; but we shall delay no lunger,
although in a few days she will he here, when
she will be transferred to the Navy, of which
we prophecy she will he the pride and ornament.
Mr. Anderson, at whose works, m Richmond,
ihe “ Polk ” has heen built, hull and engine, has
spared no expense to present every facility to the
Constructors to put up a first class vessel, and
there is riot a sheet of iron, a bolt, brace, or strap,
but what has underwent a thorough test before it
has been pm to its dpstined use ; the whole work
of ihe vessel, outside and in, r» fleets the highest
credit on Mr. Capes. The birth deck for the
men. is ceiled throughout, and the cabin and
ward room work is substantially and neatly fin
ished; she is schooner rigged, with Ihrpc masts,
and at a little distance, presents very much the
a ppearanee of a sloop of war. Her draft of water
w-iil he, when all is on hoard, between 8 and 9
fi'ct. The motive power is sails and steam. The
steam power will he obtained from two of Light
hill’s Half Bearn RogiriPS, o', we he'ie-’e, 100
horse pu.*er each. 'I hey have been constructed
under t he superintendence of the patentee him
I self, and we feel satisfied that she will perform
every thing I ha i has been promised. Mr. Light
hall is a most accomplished practical engineer,
and has never failed in fulfilling every prom
ise yet made ; ami we feel perfectly satisfied that
he w ill far exceed his pledges on this ease. He
is also putting a pair of his engines in the “Wal
ker.” another ve«sel of the same class, building
rt Pittsburg, which we are assured will equal,
and perhaps surpass the “Polk” in speed.
We have before sp.,ken of Mr. LighthnII, and
congratulated the Government on its fortunate sp
leen-.ri of a really capable man and a practical
constructor of engines, and securing his services
• o the nation, for it cannot tie denied that many
who have heretofore been engaged and are m>\v
paid high salaries, have little more practical
knowledge of the engine, than would enable them
to handle the “starting bar” of our most common
engines; but in Lightham., they have a man
whose whole life has been devoted In the devel
opment of this peculiar science, and who has,
furthermore, been eminently successful, which is
the best test of his worth. We may here, with
out impropriety, mention that he has perfected
still further improvements in his Half Bearn
Logins, which gtves him far greater power, se
cures die machinery, hollers and all, from injury
from the enemy’s shot, and materially lessens the
expense of building. These are advantages which
have never been secured by any of the miserable
submerged propeller systpms, for they are only
like a goose, their feet are under water, while the
boiler, or body, is exposed to be riddled whenever
brought into action.
We sincerely h->pe the Secretary of the Navy,
or the Secretary of the 'Treasury will he author
ised to engage Mr. Ltghthall to fit the Legare,
now lying at Richmond, with his F.ogines, with
all his improvements—with anch alteration she
will prove the swiftest despatch vessel in the
Navy, anti he of vast benefit and use to the Guv* I
eminent, while as she is. she will be nothin?
more than ahe has been, a mis rahle abortion and
Taxation, as all that family h»*0 proved since they
hive been built.
From ilie ttichiuoiul Koqnircr.
RANK INJUSTICE.
I he 1 arhoro* (N. (' ) Press eooiains a seaih
ing article opon the gross injustice emu mil te<| by
ibe VY lug Governor of the Stale, in the selection
of the F leld Officers nf the Noitli Carolina Regi
ment ol volunteers for Mexico. When it is re
collected that 1 be Regiment consists almost ex
clusively til f)crin>crats. a ml that FJdgecomb conn
ly (tlie •• lentb Legion” of North Carolina) has
furnished one. fifth of the whole Regiment, is it
nut Worthy ot censure that a Whig Governor
sboiiM^overlonk (Jen. Louis D. Wilson, Senator
from F,dgennmh, who left his seal and raised two
companies and who is acknowledged to he the
oldest as lie is 1 lie ablest military man in the
Regiment — in order to promote to the high offices
ol G"|i>ue| ami Lien 1. Colonel two Whig mein
i>ers, that in their seats voted that the war with
Mexico was unjust, and ;he unauthorised act of
the President ? I lip Press may well he indulg
ed, under all the circumstances, in framing the
follow mg proclamation to he read by the Whig
Colonel at the head ot his Regiment, on the eve
of battle :
i\ly gallant companions in arms! You volun
teered. | did nut. You believe this war to he
just. { do not. Rut volunteer or not, he the
war just or not, I as your Colonel tell you i|i*t
you most fight. I am just as willing to lead you
as Colonel in an unjust war as in a just one, anil,
right or wrong, you most fight it out. Go ahead.
Hurrah Cr Mexico.”
the misunderstanding at RIO
JANEIRO.
1 lie New V nrk Journal of Commerce lias re
oeived a lelier, dated Rio Janeiro, November 25th,
which confirms ihp former report of a difficulty
between Mr. Wise a ml the Brazilian government,
the author slating that his information is direct
from Air. \\ ise and Com. Rosseati. One of the
men seiz»d is said to be still in custody on the
charge ufcarrying concealed weapons. 'The letter
concludes with the following postscript, giving
some items ol interest relative to the slave trade,
and the cause of the prejudice against Mr. Wise:
The Brazilian government dislike Mr. Wise,
because he has been very instrumental in breaking
up the slave trade,— refusing to allow American
merchantmen, sold here notoriously for slaving, to
sail under a scaled letter with the American Hag.
Von know the laws about licensing vessels, and
understand what I menu. Mr. Wise lias, in doing
this, incurred the displeasure of the Brazilians,
and hence their disposition to make difficulty and
have his recall. Mr. Wise says the [J. S.
schooner Enterprise, that was condemned at the
Nt.-vy \ ard (Brooklyn) t wo years ago, has made
three successful voyages to Africa after slaves,
snd is now on the fourth. She sold for £1,500,
and in three months cleared her owners, to his
knowledge. £9.500. I helieve he is a slavehold
er in lliu United States.”
From the Albany (Ga.) Patriot.
TAX ON 'TEA AND COFFEE.
Under ordinary circumstance*, it is no doubt
proper that lea and Coffee should be admitted at
a very iow duly, if taxed at all, because they
enter so largely into the consumption of the poor
as 'veil as the rich, and are now esteemed by
many of ali classes, as articles absolutely neces
sary to their comfort. But tinder present circum
stances, we helieve that there is not n man or
woman in Georgia, we hope not in the Union, j
who unuld object to the payment of one or two
ceni.s a pound on Coffee, and a proportionate
amount on lea. We feel sure that to each
American, the consciousness of having contribut
ed his mite in this way to sustain the honor of his
country and the glory of her arms, would add
new enjoyment to the pleasure of sipping his fa
vorite beverage. We have seen it asserted that
(he people of Georgia would not sustain their
Representatives in voting b,r a tax on 'Tea and
Ci fTee to sustain the war f We say, without
hesitation, it is a slander. N<* people are more
patriotic or mure ready to hear the necessary bur
dens of Government than are Georgians. But on
such a question—a small tax on Tea and Coffee
lo sustain our country in a contest with a foreign
nation there is no State in the Union whose
people will object. Let not the members of Con
gress dodge this question through fear that it will
make them unpopular; it would be ten limes
more unpopular to refuse to furnish the means, or
to vote the necessary supplies for the vigorous
prosecution id the war. Our people are not trai
tors ; money has never outweighed their devotion
to their country ; neither privation nor danger has
ever subdued their patrtstism. 'The sons and
daughters o| those who voluntarily deprived
themselves of 'Tea rather than submit to the
appearance of British oppression w hilsl they were
colonists—of those who trttimphed over eveiy
d.gree of hardship which poverty and tyranny
Could impose, to establish the independence of
our country, will never rpfose In contribute any
or all the means in their power to maintain her
rights and her honor.
Monroe Edwards died yesterday morning in
the Prison Hospital ,it Sing Sing, of consumption,
alter art illness of only shout three weeks Thus
has ended the career of a man endowed by Nature
with talents that might have fitted him for emi
nent usefulness, but which were prostituted to ihe
injury of his fellow men and the destruction of bis
own peace and happiness. No relations or friends
save his companions in punishment were present
to iniiigale the suffering of his iast hours, and he
w'll sleep in ihe prison burial ground with no me
morial of bis name or fate. I a not i lie w ay of the
transgressor hard?—„V. Y T'ihunc, Jan. 30
SiNoirr.AR and Mei.anchoi.y Accident.—
A rock was about being blasted the other day on
the Pennington and Montpelier rail road, and one
of ihe hands supposing ihe match had goieotti,
ventured on ihe rock, when the charge went off,
making a seam sufficiently large to lake in his
legs and a part of his body. The seam closing
field hirn firmly without any hope of extracting
him. and at his earnest solicitation a hlood vessel
was opened, which put an end to his sufferings,
if this is true, it j* a singular and most lamenta
ble case.—JV*. Y. Sun.
W ashiNOToN Fountain.— Would it nut bo
advisable lor the government to furnish the worthy
editors of the Washington Fountain with aullieti
ie information of what is going on relative to
civil and military affairs? Tito Fountain not \
being furnished with sources of correct informa
tion. publishes all kinds of embarrassing rumors,
w inch are credited to Washington. Theheadsof
departments bavconly to endorse <>n official papers
sent to ihe Union, •• send slips to the Fountain.”
—JY. Y. Sun.
A usefui, invention.—They have invented
a composition which perfectly imitates marble,
and which may he poured in a fluid state into
moulds. It is found to answer sn well that a
manufactory of casts lias been erected at Char
lollenbnrg, in Prussia. 'Fite first samples have
marie their appearance, and they surpass all ex
pectation, having all the soundness and traus
patency of the stone they imitate, and perfectly
resembling the Carrara marble. Statues may be
raRt of this material as easily as of plaster of
Paris, and will be afforded at so cheap a rate that
tl will be in the p>w**r of parsons of very moderate
means to posses* them.
CONORR98IOIV A L.
THE LIEUTENANT GENERA!.—COL
BENTON'S DEFENCE OF THF. PRESIDENT.
In the Senate, on M nday. C-d. Benton Itavirg
asked and obtained leave to make an explanation
in vindication of himself and the President, rela
live to the proposition for the appointment of a
L'ent. General, proceeded as follows;—
I leel myself caller) upon by the remark* of the
Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Badger) to
vindicate the President from the unconstitutional
and dangerous design which the hypothetical oh
nervations of that Senator would attribute to him ;
and shall do so in the simplest form of narrative,
repeating to the Senate all that has taken place
between the President and myself in relation to
this appointment, and thereby enabling the Senate
and the people to judge of the justice of the accu
sation.
It was at the beginning of the month of Sep
temher last, and in the moment that I was about
setting out to the West, that the President sent
lor me, anil informed me that he had d one so for I
the purpose of offering me a high appointment._
He named it ; it was the mission to France, then
becoming vacant by the return of tin* gentleman
( Mr. King, of Alabama.) so long an ornament to
thi« chamber. I declined the ap|siiniment. and
lor reasons which had induct'd me to decline high
appointments from Presidents Jackson and Van
Boren Mr Polk was kind enough to nsk me to
take time to consider; hot I answered him that
there was mi need for time; that the answer
would still he the same, after any leug'li of
consideration ; and so. with thanks for tin* rumor
he had done me. the np|M»in!inenl to the French
mission was definitively declined.
'Phis was the beginning of September Lst ; so
that, at that time, it is certain that the President
could iiavp hail no such design ns Iras been at
tributed In him by the Senator from North Caro
Ima—no design to make me his successor by
virtue of military feats to he perlornted on the low
lands or the table land of the Republic of Mexico.
On the contrary, a fertile imagination-meh ns
the Senator from North Carolina so happily po*
«csses— might have seen, or thought it saw. to
this proposed appointment, a sort of political tit*
portation—something like ait exiling and burying
in a foreign court—for a purpose the verv reverse
of what the Senator from North Carolina has
supposed. I sny an inventive imagination might
have seen, or thought it saw, all this. Possess
irtg no such imagination, I saw no such thing.—
And taking the offer in the sense in whit'll it was
made, as eminently hunnrahle in itself, amt a sig
nal evidence of the President's confiden' e in me.
and guod w ill for me, I made him my thanks for
it privately, as I now do publicly ; and the affair
was droppptl. This, I repeat, was at the begin
ning of September last—only three months before
the meeting of Congress ; so that, at that lime, it
is quite clear the President hail no such momen
tous anti fearful tlesign as the Senator fr ini North
Carolina has attributed to him Up to that time |
—up to the first tlay of September, in the year ■
1846—the Republic was safe.
Immediately after refusing the mission In '
France, I went off to the West, whs gone until
the month of November, and hail no cnnimunica
• ion of any kind, direct or indirect, nor upon any
subject whatever, with President Polk. 'Phis
makes all safe again for two months more. | re
turned to this city in November, where my family
was, and where Congress was soon to meet._
The day after my arrival I called upon the Presi
dent ; and here we approach the dangerous
ground ! For, in that first interview, hp actually
asked rne my opinion about the future mode of
conducting the Mexican war. For reasons nut
proper now to he staled, hilt of the validity of
which the country will some tlay have an oppor
trinity of judging, the President saw fit to ask me
my opinion upon the future mode of conducting
the war. 'I’ltis request did not strike me as heing
any thing strange or unreasonable—either unite
entiling in him !o make, or for me to comply with.
In my Senatorial capacity I was his constitutional
adviser nn many great questions, those of peace
and war inclusive. In my pulical capacity, I
was the supporter of his Administration, anti
ready to give him iny opinion nn any subject. As
chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Military
Affairs, anti accustomed, in that character, to
communicate on military subjects with all Ad
ministrations for about a quartpr of a century last
past, I saw nothing in the nature of the request
he had matle to implicate either id ns. He asked
me my opinion as to the future mode of conduct
ing the war. I gave it to him. first in speech,
face to face, and afterwards in writing. And here
it is! [holding up a roll of paper.J for I chose to
retain the original for myself, while sending a
copy to him. Here it is! and at the proper time
the public shall see it, hut nut now : for I do not
belong to the school that makes publication of
plans of campaign—even rejected plans—in time
of war.
The President approved the plan: and it so Imp
petted that the nature of the plan required a head ,
to thp army—one head to the wlode hotly—to
unite anil Combine the whole into one harmonious j
and consistent movement. It so happened also
that enough was known of the ideas of the two 1
highest in rank of the officers of the army to know
that their plans were different ; and it is a maxim
of fundamental observance in war that no general
| is to he nqitired to execute a plan which he dis
approves. A new commander became iodispcnsn
hie ; and as any new major general would lip
subordinate lo all now in commission, the solution
of ifm difficulty lay in the creation of a new rank,
superior to that of major general, and inferior to
the constitutional commander in chief. The crea
tion ..f the rank of lieutenant general, as had been
done in the year I /'OS.* at the time of the expected
war with France, was the solution of the difficul
ty. This rank appeared tube the regular der'va
j lion from the President’s ns n political and milt
tary character, ami Ihe proper connecting link
I hetween him and the army. A« President, he
was both tlip civil head of the Government and
the military Ijead of the army He was com
mander in chief of the army and navy, and of the i
militia or volunteers in serviep. Tlipy were then '
in servicp..and in a foreign country. He could
not goto Mexico to command in person; para
mount duties required him in remain here. He !
could not send orders from the closet in this city.
That was a lolly of which there had bepn no ex> 1
ample since the time that the Prince F.ngenc (of i
Savoy) was accustomed to return unopened, at
the end of the campaigns, all the orders which
the A'die Council was accustomed tu send him
from Vienna.
The President was bound to Command: lie
could not go in Mexico to command in person;
and lie could not command from Washington.—
I he solution of i lit* difficulty, which reconciled all
contradictions and permitted Ihe exercise of all
duties, civil xml military, was the appointment of
'» military deputy—a legates—a locum tenons—a
lieutenant to take the place of the Constitutional
commander in-chief in the field ; to give orders
in (its name, and lo take the responsibility of plans
and movements, while the generals, at Ihe heads
ill divisions or columns, would only have the res
ponsibility of execution. 'Phis, for reasons ton
well known to require rehearsal in (his chamber,
it was thought, would he entirely agreeable to the
generals of highest rank in nor army in Mexico; it
would secure their rear at home, and leave them
free to contend with the enemy in front. It was
not intended in diminish the fighting vocation ol
the two generals, but to reconcile and accomplish |
>wu desirable objects, namely, the execution ol the ,
President’* plan*, and the release of the major i
generals from responsibility fur plans and move
•John Adam* appointed General Washington
Lieutenant General in 1799. so Col. Benton wanted '
to be Lieutenant General in 1947. The oldest com- 1
mission in the Army, ** if.**—N*w Era. 1
•icn's. This was the view < if the office of lie,, t
«m general : a* to the prop.reed officer, them
no breach of military rule, law . etiquette, nr j,,**
etieiy in the proposed appiit.iment. The
was original, xml belonged io no person. '|'| ^
President 111 a right In nominate, and theSenaT
to confirm, w hom they pleased
Personally. I would take no concern in j| .
■nly asked the President to make known the naine
intended for tl e place to the tnemhers of Conn
that all objection* to the officer, as well as |7» ,(,*
office, should be open to foil inquiry. I furharfc,,,"
friends to say a word on my account. 1 would n,jt
s»y a word for myself. I would not even obviate
prominent irhjeelion by reminding any one that j*
1812.1 waa the military superior of every
imw in the service, and had a right to haveci>,n
natidcd the whole of them if we had chanced |„
s. rv,. together. I was then eolonel in the servj^
•I ii.» United States, com missioned by President
Madison, under a law of Congress. and led a re.r,
oeni ot oiy own raising from Tennessee to the lew.
er Mississippi under Genera I Jackson, to meet the
llritlsh then expected at New Orleans, but who
•ltd not come pfl 1814. I was then ofa rank, a,,({
m a piwition. to have command, it we had met, „(•
every general now in service. Rvert in the r.g,,'.
lar army, in 1813. I was lieutenant colonel while
most ol the present generals were company off,
cers. and only one of the rank uf colonel. Yet f
'Corned to mention tIrene things, even to bos,,,n
friends, while the measure was depending, ai)1|
■nly do it now for the purp.se of rescuing pls
President front a suppised breach of military dm,
rum which the pointmiMit of a citizen tr.im civil
lile (uiys. li being dial ciii-/..*n) to tin* command „f
the army would imply in the opinion of the Set,a.
tur from North Carolina.
Finally, ami to conclude the vindication of if,.
President in this particular, I can say that M,
Pnlk m nm the first President who proposed i„
give nut the coin'iinnd of the army against M,.xj
ci.— that Gen. Jackson himself proposed it j„
1830. when our affairs with that country l.mkeri
warlike; and that then, as now, I agreed to take
it.
And here, Mr President, having fulfil!ed Iny
tH«k nf vindicating the chief magistrate of n,*
Union from the design, hvpmheiically imputed i„
I’itn.of wishing to appoint his successor, in my
person and by means of this lieutenant general
ship. I might close my remarks: hut as my name
has been coupled with this business, and as I have
remained silent, and even leti my seat, while ihe
measure was depending, I must now lake, leave
with the kind indulgence of the .Senate, to pr„!
Cecil a Step further, and to say a word on my own
account ; and to show that service, and not rnrik
was my inducement to agree to the offer of ihe
President : and that there might have been case*
iu which I would not have accepted the office „f
licuti nan! general even if it had t een erealed. |
have already said that I will out now show what
my own plan was ; hut lean sav of it that it wm a
plan which looked to a result, and promised an ij
sue, and that briefly ; and that I would haw hnj
nothing lu do with any plan of any other kind
nothing to do with any plan that contemplated a
long and moderate war, or a war of masterly in
activity, or of retreat upon the Rio Grande, or of
defending a line, or of attack upon the idle nr,|
sohiary castle of San Juan of Ulna—espeiially
at ihe commencement of the season for the black
vomit. In no one of these cases would I have hern
lieutenant general, or captain general, or major
general, or colonel general, or any other sort of gen
eral that ever was heard of I know very well that
the President had no idea of any one of these must
amiable plans, hut there is a way to give him an
idea of them, and even to force them upon him *
and that would he by the simple process of deny
ing him the means of doing any thing else.
I shall not stale my plan; hut I will say of it,
that besides intending a tcsull, ii proposed m car
ry on ihe war, w hile there w as war, according In
the o«age of ajl nations in ihe case of invasive
war—the invaders to be paid arid subsisted hr
the invaded. Contributions regularly levied —
d'itips regularly collected — would accomplish the*
objects, and leave the United States free,or near
ly free, from the expenses of the war
I can say, further, that my plan was not lim
ited to a mere military view of ihe subject ; that
it comprehended n union of policy and of arms
the olive branch to go with the sword : minister*
to treat as well as an army to fight. A diplomat
ic mission, nationally constituted both in a geo
graphical and in a political sense, was to nttend
thp headquarters; ami while the ministers steal
ready t.» negotiate at every step, the army wnsto
take an organization and an attitude to give cm
phasts to negotiation. And this combination «f ;
arms and policy was not mere guess work,the idle
conception ol fancy ; hot the result of the knowl
edge of the state of parties in Mexico—a peace
party,for honorable peace ; a war party for etidlw
war—as was so luminously shown by theSenainf
from New York (Mr. D>x)a few" days ago Mj
plan was adapted to both of these parlies—honor*
aide p> aee for one ; the sword fur the other. 'I'he
military part of the plan h.is fallen to the ground:
the diplomatic part falls with it : and now it dr* I
volves upon those w ho have frostrated the plan
of the President to present him a heller.
I cm-riled much on the efficacy of ihe diplomatic
part of this plan ; for great errors prevail to Mm
icn w iih regard to nor designs and feelings I1"
wards them, and which nothing hut an nnlbent'
mission rould removr. 1 he war parly is iru*'%
sant in its calumnies against ns, artfully '
• rived to operate mi every class of the people. 3^
tit render peace impossible. It I.iir a falsehood ff
every class. To the religions orders ihpwtfi*
represented as n tvar of religion—the Protestant |
against iIip Catholic—and a war of aacrilegi*'"
the spoliation of the churches. 'I'o the creole
Spaniards and the Indians of roiled him id, lliff 1
pre-ent it as a war of races—the Anglo Sj*!n 1
against iIip Spanish American—and the aubji'E1' ■
lion ot the latter intended. 'I’o the nnrntxed I"' I
dian race, (nearly Ihn one half of the whole |i"pn'
lation, and the sole resource of the army fur ••*
rank and file.) it is presented a9 a war of PXlin(’'
Hon. and of slavery — their race to he e*iirpn:ed,
like so many tribes in our North America ; nr 10
he carried into slavery to work the fields of ihfif
masters, like the slaves brought from Afric.i —
And, to all, it is presented as a war of anihili,n
and of cotuplest, in which there is no pence f«t
Mexico bill in the degradation of her citizens si *
the loss of her independence.
A mission, such as I proposed, would anlhend-,
cally contradict all these calumnies, and show li'1’
deceived people of Mexico that just and honorable
pence is all that we want; and that, far from
wishing her degradation, both policy and inlere*1
unite in making us wish to sen her j>ri»“per*'ii?»
happy and independent. .She is a Republic— «"r
neighbor—\\ ho did n* ihf honor li» <.npy <ftir forml*'
government, and had a great commerce with «>■
I he injuries of which we complain were d'1’
'v"rk of a few, while the great majority of lb**
people, who have done ns no harm, are wiilif.*'' .
do us justice, and reciprocate the wish f*r lb*'
idose connexion, political and commercial, between
the two Repnhlics, which is necessary to tHeif
»wn prosperity —to the staiuluv of Hip republic0
tystem in all the Spanish American Slates. »'"1 (
to the complete tndpppurlence of the New Wo'11*
Iron, thp Old.
I counted much on the efficacy of the diplomat'®
part of the plan, and not |p«s on the military pnt1,
I the oihrr failed. Of this I can aay nut hint? I"’1
hat it was not framed in total ignorance of M’ *1
•«n character, Mexican country, and Mexican
•oorces. Forty years ago | studied Humb"''11,
iml did not overlmik his chapter on the mili,i,r7
h f nepa of the country, arid especially hn >
e-stng dpvelopement of Ihe great elements "f <|r
enee with which Nature had endowed her; *br
langers id the coast when the north wind *•’*
•lowing—the black vomit when it waa not—
he deep defiles of vulcanic mountains Tim pl*n ^