E. W. HUTTERj EDITOR. •. " i, .TAMES'TOfHAgAN OF . ; [Subject to the decision qfiWatiqnal C^vptiioiQ Jaimafy 1849. The Next Presidency. kJWehave this day- nailed to our mast-head the name of JAMES BUCHANAN as our first choice for the next Presidency, subject to the decision of the Democratic National Convention. This annun ciation we deem, proper to accompany with a few reflections. • M ' We are among those who believe that Pennsyl vania may justly claim the honor of furnishing to the Democracy of the Union the next President, not as a .but as a matter of right i For nearly half a century the old * Keystone has been a. hewer of wood and a drawer of water for always standing in the front rank of the battle,;where the shot fell thickest and fastest She assisted by her vote and influence in securing.the elevation of Jef ferson,Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Van Bores aud Polk, and when, on a single occasion in the memorable campaign of 1840, she withheld her votc-Trom the Democratic nominee, defeat was the consequence. With this isolated exception, Penn sylvania has always stood, like a great Collossus, upholding by her giant arm, not only the principles oi .the Democratic party;but also its men, whether they have lived North or South of ; Mason and Dixon's line. • She has thus displayed a disinter estedness worthy the best days of Roman virtue. At length there is a disposition manifested by ojr [sister stated to accord to Pennsylvania what by her long continued and' self-sacrificing services in the [Democratic cause she has so richly earned. The press and the people of other stated now come voluntarily .forward and tender to her a distinction to which she may with such undoubted justice as-, pire. This, then, is the 11 golden moment” Now, -it we be true to ourselves, and fritter not our hopes away by suicidal dissensions, the long deferred claims of Pennsylvania will be satisfied. We esteem it the duty of dyery sincere Democrat so to em ploy his energies as to guard against a course that may again dash the bowl of promise to the earth. Pennsylvania is singularly fortunate, "too, in the candidate,, whom, unless the signs are egregiously at fault, she will present to the national nominating tribunal. Were he one of questionable character, there might be some ground to fear that her claim would be again postponed “to a more Convenient reason. , Bdt when she presents the name of Jas. surely the voice of cavil .should be hushed./ What true Pennsylvanian does not feel a glow ul Ihonest pride thrill through his frame at the sound of this great and honored, name! j Who has forgotten, how in the Senate of the United Stated he, so often grappled with and overthrew the choseji champions of Federalism, Clay and Webster!? -When a Gordian knot in national policy puzzlUl ;md perplexed, his Was the master-hand ever able aud extended to unravel it. When a great and \it|ul measure of the Democratic jiarty was to be \ indicated uni) upheld, aguinst the combined assaults j ufable, subtle- and experienced party leaders, whom did we look tb ns the man equal to the Herculean Jabk; other than to James Buchanan? His mas terly speeches on nearly nil the great public ifonstlmt have agitated this country for the lust' quarter century will survive whilst eloquence Ims a .votury and the triumphs of mind ace deemed worthy of emulation among men. If Mr. Buchan ud'it fame as Senator was such as to enshrine him in our innermost uffMinu*, surely his immonso, arduous, uud responsible labors as the first, officer indite Cabinet of President Polk, have not dimini •■hWl his hold upon our gratitude. On the contrary, they huve enhunmt-und extended his fume us a Statesman, and have made hid name as familiar in foreign lands as in our own; \Sinee the organiza tion of the Federal government, no' diplomatic productions have served more to elevate the char acter of our nation, at home and abroad, than the various state-papers tliat have emanated from Mr. Hcc«anan. Many of these, involving questions foe most complicated and abstruse, are not neces sarily published to the world.’ But more than enough, have met the piiblic eye to stamp their uuthor.as one of the ablest Statesmen of the age. Such is the character of the man,! whom Penn ey vania delights to honor, and who enjoys the con fidence and respect of the whole American people. His private reputation is;as pure and unsullied as hil public fame is enviable and brilliant. It was his. good fortune to share in an eminent degree the confidence of ANDREW JACK§ON r and it is our sincere opinion, that had Mr. Buchanan lived in the cai lier period of the republic, and participated in national affairs then, as he does now, such men as I Jf.fff.hsov, and Franklin, and Arams, and Hancock, und Jay, would have rejoiced in his so ejety, and felt proud to claim him as their kindred. His name is the very synonme of consummate statesmanship and high-toned patriotism, and he is one of the very few men in the land to whom all pai;ties/accord the qualifications of mind and char acter suited to the Presidential office. (t would be a proud spectacle to see the freemen of Pennsylvania rally to the standard of her A illus trious son, with enthusiasm and unardmityl Holy and commendable would be a union of hearts and hands in such acause. Through the naan, they would hstvc it in their power to elevate and honor and dig nify the Staff —whose tame is their-fame—whose giory is their glory—whose destiny, for weal or woe, is their destiny. In the devotion of other States to their great men, vc |have an example worthy of all praise and invi tation. See with what unfaltering devotion chiv alrie South Carolina adheres to Mr. Calhoun cheering and encouraging him by her support, amidst all the vicissitudes of fortune. Mark how the old jßay State, .though leprous with political defile ment, has never once added to her long catalogue of sins that of inconstancy to her Webster See hoy Kentucky has clung through good and evil report to of Clay, carrying her at tachment even to the hazardous extreme of follow ing hini in:all his eccentric aberrations. Observe, also, with what steady pertinacity Missouri has for thirty years adhered, and still adheres, to her in trepid Benton, . nursing and venerating his great name in proportion as the hand of enmity has es . sayed to defame.it. Oh! This feeling of State pride, 5 is an honorable, a noble, a praiseworthy passion.. It contributes more than all other influ- to elevate, dignify, and makepow i L*rftil'the people who cherish it. The “Old Domin ioil” womd never have earned the proud appellation of [“Mother of Statesmen," ; had she employed her self in the ungracious task of dragging down her il lustrious sons, the moment they had succeeded, by industry and perseverance, in securingV distinction above their fellows. The South would not main tain that almost magical sway in the public coun cils, in the.face of superior. numbers, if she dealt . with her public men, as one deals with the wooden characters, that'grace the bowling saloon, erecting them for the merer pleasure of overturning. No— tho South is faithful to herself, by practising fideli ty to her distinguished sons, and in this consists the ~leciet of. her''wonderful success. ‘ [With deference be it said, we. in Pennsylvania -greatly nee?* this disposition. ■••£enig the happy • «•. ' suljts to which it in th" experience.of othrj,.. ; r.Ciin the rnce-bf intent and ambitiou <* -.vonu: ‘ nor h;; b'juhiii -. it is necessarv ;im; not "only improve our immense .tJvantagv and fesom-oei, but also -That tvv iih , je?TuU' care the' fahiie ol*• ©ifr'-distinguished puUt.- \. Jiffcm. wbose-uaßUMfram !i fc hfead of '.-ui| EWS“vL-.:"' -• ■ ■ • ' -■ .. , * I ISSC column*, we have a son, whom the whole Upion selves. To refuse the endorsement of our State Convention, under thesej flattering in our opinion be an instance of wholesale afitega tion,auch as the historiairdiasjghaps not Wore had-qccasibntoMcortU? 1 Hiese af£ the cbnsi|iratioii| whiffi impetus to declare fats Pennsylvania and inseparable. Untp? the deerte difleffcntly, w, (T are c<^senrcO saihuhder |/At» flag, desiring none better. jVteamvhile we shall 80 conduct onr humble part in tne canvass—refrain ing from crimination of tbose.who think and-act to be'entirely”lree to lend a°corbiai and zealous support to the nominee of the Nation al Convention, be he whom he may. . The Easton Argus i states, on the authority of official reports made by the collectors of customs the Sectetary of'State, that the numßer of' ar rivals from foreign countries at New York, Boston. Philadelphia, Baltimore and New' Orleans, during the year ending September 30th, 1847, amounted to nearly a xiluok! . The increase! over the previous year - being over eiohtt-two • thocs avd ! The great majority of these emigrants hail from Ireland and Germany, who have abandoned . the graves of their ancestors to seek an asylum in this favored land of liberty. Many of them have brought with them, not only their wives and chil dren, but habits of industry and substantial wealth, which they add to the common stock and thereby increase the sum-total of our national prosperity. Every true Democrat must rejoice in.;the sublime spectacle presented by this' immense tide of emi gration from the down-trodden and impoverished re gions of the Old World. Democracy has ever sympathised with and encouraged the Aliejt, who has left his native land and relinquished home with its endearments for the sake of the civil and reli gioua Freedom guaranteed to him here. In the war of Independence we were deeply indebted for military services to foreigners, and they have ever since displayed the most ardent devotion to the in stitutions which the blood and treasure- of their countrymen aided in establishing. - Yet, this class of citizens has ever been hatpd and proscri; Federalism. During the administrate] Adams, they were disfranchised by an gress, which to this day serves as a m< the bitter and .malignant hatred with ■ were regarded by the enemies, of Demoi early day. The republicans of ’9B fe] tice of this proscriptive and persecuting its authors were ejected from office tumely that followed them to their grai The Native Jlmtriramsm of the pre happily in its last stages—is a legitimate offspring of the outrageous infringement of liberty wiich signalized the reign of the elder Aiiams. The basis of this political organization is the recogni tion of classes by the government—a class to be proscribed, and a class to be favored—a class to hold a monopoly of office, and another to be stig matised with a disfranchisement extending through the long period of twenty-one years! No foreigner of pride and spirit would brook the idea of casting his lot in a country that disgraced and degraded him—that heaped all its burdens of taxation upon him, without suffering him to 'have a voice in choosing those that impose them—thus dooming them to wear the badge of serfs uinong a nation of freemen. It is to the Democracy of this rountry thatithe alien population are indebted for the equality of political rights which pervades our institutibns, But for ill potent sway in the government, they would be at this day mere hewers of wood.and drawers nl water—for a superior chtss, and we would not bn witnesses of the sublime spnntaele of u Qi uirtn Million of human souls crowding to our hospitable shores within u single your, ' It is it truth, that there ere to ho round in the United Stales, men of character nnd intflli. K flnce , who do not hesitute to ufflrm that tho Mbxi can war was produced by the acts of the Executive of our own country, and this without rhyme or reason ! Even Henry Clay, who on no previous occasion had taken sides against his country, has beclouded all the gloried of his past life by echoing this false accusation. Now to ns it seems of very little consequence, how the Ship of State came into this situation. The chief concern of us all should be to'get her out of it, with profit and honor. But even this inquiry no friend ot the administration need fear to meet. Who, then, originated the Mexican War; That is the. question. We have the answer at hand. When Congress, on the 13th day of. May. 184f>, placed men and money at the disposal, of the Executive to prosecute the war, it was coupled with the emphatic declaration that the war exis ted “by the act of Mexico.’’ Not one party only, bnt both, with scarcely an exception, so voted. Here there isno allowance fur human imperfection —none for error in judgment—none for difference in opinion—none for want of light and knowledge. There the declaration stands, broad and sweeping and unequivocal as language can make it. What absurdity, then, to rush in the face of this solemn asseveration of the sovereign congress, and to assert that the war does not exist “by the act 1 of Mexico,” but by the mismanagement or design of our own Government! What injustice to go be hind the record, and to impute to congress the crime of having spread upon its journal a palpable and deliberate falsehood. Congress was in posses sion of all the facts, then as now. It had seen how the United States had lor years endured from Meki co the most humiliating accumulation of wrong, committed not less against her citizens than against her government. It had seen how Mexico paid no manner of regard to her treaty stipulations, and with what audacity she habitually set all Law and Justice at defiance, until she had at length capped the climax by sending an armed force on our own soil, alnd there butchering in cold blood'American citizens. Well was congress warranted, therefore, in de claring to their own cohntrymen and to the world, that the war existed, “by the act or Mexico.” It is our sincere conviction that this War was as just and as true as any similar docu ment from the days of Nimrod down. "“The ceremony of inaugurating Fraxcis R. Suo.-ia as Governor of Pennsylvania for a second term, will take [face in the Capitol at Harrisburg, in the pre sence of both branches of the Legislature, bn Tuesday, January 1 bill. The w'hole people of- Pennsylvania may justly regard ita cause of sincere congratulation, that the Statelias secured for .another period of three years the services of a Chief-Mag istrate, who combines in his character all the high qualifications required by Jeitkhsov Honesty, Capacity, and Fidelity $o the Constitution. Democratic Sleeting; In Drnniore, Our columns to-day contain a call for a Demo cratic meeting, to "be hoiden at tlie Unicom, in Drnmore township, on next Saturday, the anniver sary, of tb' J Battle of New Orleans. The signatures to the call, we are assured, embrace the names of those who have long been regarded as the staunch and true nien of the party in that section of the Kentucky and the Presidency. county. At a meeting of the Democrats of Crittenden county, Kentucky, (the proceedings of which we find in the Hopkinsville Press.) at the Court House, in Marion, on Monday, the 1 Sth of December, 1843. (County Court day.) Maj. Isham Clemext whs called to the chair, and Jas. Duvall, Esq., was appointed Secretary. On Motion of J. W. Head let, and after Some remarks by him, the follow ing, among other resolutions, W'as unanimously adopted: Resc.ivr.. That reposinu especial trust and con fidence u; ti.e ability and tu.r.irpa&ti.! stalesinail shm Of the Hoi.. Jakes BcciiAXAsf. 0 f Peiiru-ylvh.- n:u. v.-e recommend him to the Dehmc, uic pariy throughout the. I .'.tiled States, for President. OB V viiji:npns!*eu u-llo.w tiny Wii.lioi o' Unlucky, for V;*»<* A§DMHjr # gfeciplifH b*fn* Jute yAfcien, rt^fed'tfisfboasß^ Ciliad wfejte pbwious led ; tJjßfhtoA»giufeflKat & f world' i roust succumb toroeir superior prdWess. Gloriously did the Hero of New Orleans, with his mere handful of raw militia, undeceive the proud the mother_cpuntrv r , by r riiat briL Ifant finale to the second war with o’ur'old oppres sor. Theyrcame, flushed-With'/tiie recdlectibn of many a bold and successful battle, and stimulated to deeds of desperate valor by the promise of every (impujiity whiph the hcfpe(of plunder • cation of a-vile inspire— but before the well-directed. .American riflejhey made to flee as chaff before the rude blasts of the whirlwind; FiSfq of thaVmemdfaßle 'struggle, which gave the finishing stamp to our national greatness, is no more." He'sleeps beneath the wil lows of the Hermitage, by; the side of her, whom, in life he loved; with a love unspeakable! , But his spirit still lives. His example, and teachings are yet'abroad amongst men, silently working won ders, and moulding the form and'fate of civil and political institutions. .If his martial victories left their impress on the age and country, and on the world, his civic deeds have exercised an influence' not less momentous, becaiised they ‘ released the country from internal dangers far more subversive of the national welfare than even the perils menaced by an invading foe. The Wilmot Proviso. At the last session of the State Legislature reso lutions were passed, with great unanimity, instruct ing our Senators and requesting our representatives in Congress, to sustain the Wilmot proviso. We concede to the Legislature the right of instruction, as applied to the Senators, and would regard that man-as a sorry professor of Democracy, who did not, without any further ceremony, either obey or resign. This is the old States’Rights doctrine, and notwithstanding the dissent of many excellent men, whose opinions we value highly, it has our hearty approval. At the same time, however, .it must be confess ed, that the resolves of the Pennsylvania Legisla ture do not always reflect the wishes and of the people. They are rather noted for their contrariness. Look back, for example, at the re solves passed, for a series of years, as regularly as the session came, in favor of the Biddle Bank. Had one relied on this data only, one could not have escaped the conviction,-that the peo ple of this State were most desperately enamored of the Marble Monster. Grand mistake! We believe in our hearts that the people, contra-distin guished from the politicians, were never in love with that bank, and that Gen. Jacksox, by his veto md the removal of the deposites, merely ful- a sentiment, which more than any living man «ie had the sagacity to discover anti the firmness to execute. The same kind of resolves were passed year after year, session after .session, in favor of a High Tariff, until one would have almost imagined that the peo ple of this State coveted nothing so much, as Mon opoly and Taxation. We should like to see some body try that gunie vote. ~ Unless the signs of the times nr« uhoaetlipr de ceptive. the resolves of the last session in favor of the Wilmot proviso, were merely, in the rur.ni-. strop Hussies, »u few more of the aume sort.*' VVe have never tor an instant regarded them us a true reflection of the wishes of the freemen of Pennsyl vania, than whom no people on earth are more closely wedded to the safety and perpetuity of the Union. If the subject were now for the first time to he introduced into the Legislature, we would discountenance its agitation there as one to the set tlement of which that body can contribute nothing, But, in view of the past, wo trust it.may be brought to the test ugain, that the world muy judge wheth er the action of the last legislature was, or was not, in consonance with the will of the people. Editor’)) Acknowledgements. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to many breth ren of the press, who have kindly welcomed our return to the editorial corps: Also, to numerous personal and political friends, here and elsewhere, who have successfully exerted themselves to extend the circulation of our paper. We feel that the best return we can make for these displays of friendship —the more cheering because extended at the threshold of our enterprise—is to spare no possible efforts to deserve them. Wbat would tliey be at 1 One of Bishop Berkeey’s pregnant queries is the following: “ Whether it is not always a great point to know what we mould, be at, and whether whole States, as well as individuals, do not often fluctuate fur want of this necessary knowledge-?” 1 o this great point the “no more territory'' men do not seem any nearer to-day than-, they were the moment the absurdity was first mooted. Not one of the wise-acres employed in opposing territorial acquisition knows “ what he would be at." They are driving to all points of the compass, hither and thither, but with all the driving there is no drift. They have no well-digested substitute, but fluctu ate" between this plan, that, and the other, until they are finally themselves lost in a labyrinth of perplexities. They admit that Mexico was deeply indebted to the United States, even before the War. leaving the expenses of the War itself out of view. They admit, that Mexico has not a dollar of mon ey, wherewith to‘‘discharge, this indebtedness,, and that it would be useless to rely on treaty obliga tions, seeing that she has paid so little regard to those already in existence. They concede, also indeed they cannot do otherwise—that the only’ possible indemnity, within reach of the United States, is Territory, and they are anxious, say they, that the war shall terminate honorably. And yet—eccentric mortals—in the face of all these declarations, their cry is “no more territory,” for fear of the collateral question of slavery 1 He is not a sound statesman, who opposes one system, but at the same time fails to recommend another and better in its stead. Do, therefore, ye men of the no-more-territory party, do enlighten us in what way we are to recover redress from Mexi co, if our army be withdrawn,, and no land is ceded to us! Do inform us, in a word; what ye would he at! The State Legislature. This body convenes at Harrisburg at 12 o'clock to-day. In the Senate, owing to the fact that many of the strongest Democratic districts in the State in October 1840, returned whigs, that party still retains its ascendency. The House of Representa tives, however, is laigely Democratic, so that nei ther party will.be able to inflict serious injury on the Other. That both may be animated by a dis position to legislate for the welfare of the State W devoutly to lx hoped Among ’h-iix <»i members we discover tin name- of ma.'iv tt-n* guished for tbesr lalem- Hie Governor s -vlrssag - will no doubt, as usual, h- sent in on to-morrow I£T i’ne -m» and Massachusetts «abroad was fo »'e f.r.HK-d lo Athol on ii,c .*uuj nit. ---‘iSSSiBs _ CKir Washington Correspondent announces the? by the President, of Dr. Davis, of SSniana, ’Minister to Chinas; CoI.-Rowax, of Ken tftdtyCharge’ to Dr. tflgMuntry upon these admiaSle sefectßts. B ft&Vit will be recollectedjgnras theßeakeiSf &£ House of Representatives!! the lastßkmgißL he filled abi«y ana great popularity. Col. Rowan is a gentleman ofthefrighest order of talents, great firmness of character, and eminently qualified, to represent the fountry-at aw Guuit.— He jg the son of the celebrated Judge ( Rqwax, fomjerly. a citizen, aiid we believe, a native, of this State, who was once a distinguished member of the Senate of the United r States. r Col. R. has. npmqr ous fri£nd|fin Tib wjjl be truljr gratjjfieij with lus appointment Dr. Niles has great expe- rieariv a*** - Dtplomatisfr-aHd-hig appointment-will be considered among the .best- that could. be made. • . 1 iii HiiJixJ j n it ru; jj * : i»i Jf . FropitfrePeansylcafium, Col* Wfison UlcCan^kess. :. Thw distinguished gentleman—President of the ; Electoral College of this State in 1844, and well known as one of the. most eloquent Democrats of Western Pennsylvania—was invited to. address the late ‘Democratic War Meeting, |at the Museum, and as the letter was delayed by storm and bad roads, he attempted to send the subjoined reply on the day of the meeting, by Telegraph. But the wires were in bad humor, abd his answer was returned to him. He has, therefore, remittedit by due course of mail. We ask attention to it as b letter fail of eloquence and spirit: , Gentlemex;— Your flattering invitation to be present at the War Meeting, to be held at' the Chinese Museum, is only now-received: and to reply in time, I mustpse the telegraphic wires! I regret that corporeally I cannoti be tbefe, but I shall be with’ you in the spirit and enthusiasm, which will assemble and animate the masses of the people. . 1 / . ! ' Remember, .in .your proceedings, our glorious country, aud its enlightened administration, and send up to the Capitol of the Nation, a voice,, as shrill as the clarion, and as loud and potential as the booming cannon at Churubusco. Resolve, that the Government shall be reimbursed for the expenses of the war, and American citizens for all losses occasioned by Mexican perfidy and declare, in the spirit of prophecy, that the assumed evils of territorial indemnity; shall be promptly eradicated by adopting the sentiment of the great statesman of the age, in his patriotic letter, addres sed to the Gibraltar of Pennsylvania Democracy. Present me affectionately to all my oriental brethren of the Democratic faith, and believe me to be ever, Theirs and your obedient servant, WILSON, McCANDLESS. Pittsburg, Saturday morning, Dec. 18. -47. Messrs. J. -C. Vandyke, Andrew Miller, J. F. Belsterling, and G. G. Westcott, Esqrs., Democratic Committee, Philadelphia. General Shields. This gallant officer, who in. the army has earn ed the enviable soubriquet of ‘ ! thc brave Shields;’ is now in Washington city, on a visit. We learn ed to know Gen. Shields intimately and well, whilst he held the post of Commissioner of the General Land Office, and to know him is to respect ami love him. A nobler heart than his does not animate the bosom of man. He resigned that pleasant post, with its salary of S:U)UO per annum, and accepted in exchange the perils and privations of the camp. How nobly he has met the expecta tions of his friends, we need not say. The terrible wound he received at Cerro Gordo, and the provi dential preservation of his life, are among the most wondcrfiil incidents of the war. Gen. is of Irish nutivity, uml inherits ull the rare virtues of his countrymen. Aniifttroiiff Couuty Jbr BuclituiftiftJ The regular democratic meeting fur Armstrong county was held in the town of Kittiming, on the '4lst nit., and was numerously nttondod by the democracy from all sections of the county. Uen. Uu HKitT- Oil n mid H, N. Lise, Esq,, were chosen the delegates to tho 4th of Murcii Convention. These genllemei\ are the avowed friends of James lU'ciuxax for the Presidency. > The Canal Board. The Canal Commissioner elect, Hon. Mourns Loxobtheth, enters upon the discharge of his public duties, on the 1 ltlx instant He succeeds Joshua Hahtsiiorxe, Esq., of Chester county, who for the last three years has devoted his time unre mittingly to his responsible trust, and who retires with the best wishes of all who have had official intercourse with him. In Judge Longstretii he will have an able successor. The new'board now consists of Messrs. Burns and Uongstreth (Dem ocrats.) and Mr. Power (Fed.,) and it is sincerely to he hoped that on all political questions, which must necessarily arise, thes majority may be able to harmonise. Clarion County. The staunch Democratic organ, of this strong Democratic county, the Clarion Democrat, on the 22d of December, said: James Buchanan. —The late demonstrations throughout the Union in favor of Pennsylvania's favorite son, Hon. James Buchanan, for the Presi dency, give ample proof of hisi popularity, the just appreciation of his towering mind, and spotless character, and of the rights of,the Keystone State to the' President. With James Buchanan for Presi dent, arid, say Gen. Worth, if a good Democrat, for Vice President, our course is onward and our end triumphantly victorious. The Public Works. We are gratified to learn by the following letter td the Pennsylvanian, that there is a prospect of an early opening of the State Canals, as the repairs necessary to navigation will be completed by the Ist of February: 1 Canal Commissioners’ Office, Harrisburg, January 1, fB4B. To the Editors of the Pennsylvanian : Gentlemen ' As many erroneous reports are in circulation, and as numerous inquiries have been made in relation to the opening of the public Works, the Board of Canal Commissioners deem it proper to state, that all the repairs to the main fine of* candl and railroad between Philadelphia and Pitts burg will be completed by the middle’of February, and that the navigation will be resumed at as early a day in the Spring as the weather will permit the water to.be let into the canal. By order of the Board, THOMAS L. WJLSON, Sec’y. Slaying a Mexican. Extract from Henry Clay's speech, delivered at the dinner of the Sons of New England, at iNew Orleans, on the 22nd of December 1846, met to celebrate the landing of the Forefathers of'New England on Plymouth rock:— . ’ “ AlthpugU; leading -a lifq ofjretrreuient/I am not wholly unobservant of the-proededings relating to the condition, welfare, and. prospects of our coun try. And when I saw around me to-night, General Brooke, and other old friends, I felt half inclined to auk for some nook or corner in the army, in which ] ‘might save, to avenge the wrongs done to tny country. I thought that I might yet be able to capture or slav a Mexican'' A. Couxthy Qcahbeii. —Mr. John Martin, of Shippensburg, in this State, has'lately been the subject of a sale slander, which he very properly endeavors to repel through the columns of that ex cellent paper, 'the' Valley Spirit. It seems that Mr. Martin made some, apphj-butter,in the fall, as every body else does up ip the vcdpnfry, and bought at a l neighboring store a number of- earthen pots to put C«I Benton. * tin - Tlicsc P° ts appear to have been badly made c , V • ’ and the glazing coming Ofl; poisbned eight out of 1 lie bt. Louis Uninii. the leading Democratic pa- ten of Mr. Martins family, all of whom however ‘ per of Missouri, in alluding to the rumored posi- finally, recovered after considerable suffering: Not tion of this distinguished statesnnan, says - Mat-standing this very plain statement, somebody, c . , „ . : . 1 • , , ' got up a slander about the apple-butter few years sine, when the from the head of the Senate Committee on Milita- domestic economy which Mr Marti. ? ev ' ' Dr - P***® wps about leaving New York for ry Affairs. From this, newsmongers have invent- following turtawUhdiEriant terms- * P 6 ’ 3 m, l thesouth, he wis roiled upon by the vestrymen of ed the charge that he contemplates ' assailing the ' „ The'renort was nnfln clrr^b,. ; L , ? sr »all church.m Westchester county, and urgently administration. Now, we can state, foHhe fenefit mn'that my .m/c solicited to take charge of the same. The Rew of those who have given credence to such a rumor, D^tto . r .S rac ‘ o l?. received - the.'comtraffee, but re that Col. Benton «ti)l contim***? tn; the ct-.ViVeiv‘uriSuideil V . T*?^** s ? iS&r urgin gl as a i> term, with the l‘n idom-tinjt nothing h, - o,:-. 1 £ T chief objWuthat the salary, though libeSd from : cum-.hto ir.ar the co;J leeliug between then-. and ; <-i. n »; •ri !*•* Vi ’■ a r *- the parish they represented, would be inadequate : that i! is not prol-. :-le that ahy Ihing A ,hc kind “ d Ibr his expenses, having a considerable family ,f; wilt occur.*’ no ,t— lias ftej .nowthey can t do-hence . ; \ '/ Gen. Patterson had! retched tire eity.of»Melico having left a garrison at Rio Frio, iwhere a perma ncut rffepot is to be made. t GhuVScotrissaidlohave issuetlan order making anew assignment of brigades to Gens. Smith and Cad wall ader, and Col. Riley. i ' The Meriean Congresa had a quorum pa Mondavi the 6lh of Deceuih^r,-which is the iateit have yet come aerate from Queretaro. 1 Thte Star' says mimy deputies were still absent, and six : or eight others were expected to leave during the week, notwithstanding the critical state of agairs in which the republic is placed. The correspondent of the Monitor thinks the new Congress wifi do no better than the present. Nothing of the least inter est was done on Monday. The government was occupied with the regulation of the arniy. A de cree was about to be-issued on the subject con templating the number of the standing atmy at twenty thousand men. ■;-p’ J It will be .seen by our correspondent’s'letter that there was some design entertained of sending a Mexican commissionet; to .Washington, to solicit the appointment of commissioners to meet at Ha vanna, and arrange the terms of. a treatylof peace We are, not yet prepared to see how authentic is this report. The steamer Portland, Capt. Spinney, arrived at Vera Crux on the 15th inst., after a terrtbje passage, during which a hundred horses were thrown over board. All on board, concur in the belief, that had not the horses been thrown overboard when theV were the ship would inevitably have gone down. Had it been delayed fifteen minutes, the probability is that it would 1 have been too late. . ■ f. Col. Bankhead has appointed Lieut. Fahndstock, of the 4th artillery, acting assistant adjutanfgeneral. At Vera Crux, the papers have a rumor ufthe de feat of a division of our army at Llano Grande. Our later letters from the capital show it to be unfounded The following items are from the Free American of the 10th inst: Gen. Butler left Jalapa on the -6th for Puebla. The train which he lias .commanded has also left that city; Gen. Marshall and staff were met by Captain Wheat at Plan del Rio. . “ A gentleman who arrived here from Los Llenos de Apa, in company with Capt. Wheat, from Jalapa, was robbed, as well as several persons who were with him, (persons belonging to the F.hglish mining company,) of all they had with them, at a place called Rio del Norte, by the brave dcfensmrs de ta Patria, the g'uerilleros; or, in other words, robbers. Capt. lyheat assures us, that from there to Jalapa the roadiis perfectly opened to-travellers, and that in parties ol three or four it can be overrun without the least (danger. The difficulty among the prominent officers oi our Army appears to have-been quite as serious as was represented. We publish here the.'orders of Gen. Scott, reflecting upon the officers .who were said to he under arrest. They betray no little tem per—perhaps we should say, ascerbity of temper; Wjk Department, Amt. General’s Office,) Washington, Jau. 28, 1847. J The following regulation has been received from the War Department: War Department,) Washington, Jan. 28, 1847. J The President of the United States directs that paragraph G5O of the General Regulation for the Army, established on the Ist of March, 1820, and not included among those published Jaiiuary 20, 1841, ho now published, and that its observance us a part of the general regulation* be strictly cnjnmed Upon the army. By order of the President: (Signed). , W.*L, MAItCY, decretory 1 of War, The Ibllowjng Is the pumgrnnh of the General Regulations lur the Army,' established on the Ist of Murehi 1820, relerred lu above i “ fIOO. Privute letters or reports, rolutive to mill tnry marches Intel oporntlons, tiro frequently mil tililevous In design, and always disgrneelUl to .the army. I hey are, therefore, strictly torbldden, end mi officer lounil guilty of mulling such report fbr publication, without special permission, orol'pla cing the writing beyond his control so tlmTit finds Its way to the press, within one month after the ter miimtfon of thu campaign ta which it relates, shall tie dismissed from the service.” Ily hommuml of Mai. Gen. Scott, (Signed) WM. G. FREEMAN 1 , Ass’t Adj. lion. JIEADgUABTERS OF THE ARJIY, ) Mexico, Nov. 12, 1847, f Tlie attention of certain officers of this army is recalled to the foregoing regulation, which the gen eral-in-chief is resolved to enforce so far as it may be in his power. . 3 As yet but two echoes from home to the brilliant operations of our army in this basin have reached us ; the first in a New Orleans, and the second through a Tampico newspaper. It requires.pot a little charity to believe that the principal heroes of the scandalous letters alluded to did not write them, or specially procure them to be written, and the inteTligeirt-caiL.be M mo.loss in conjecturing the authors—chiefs, partisans, .and pet familiars. To the honor of the service, the disease —pruriency of fame, not earned—cannot have se:zed upon half a dozen officers (present,) all of whom, it is believed, belong to the same two co teries. False credit may no doubt be obtained at home, bv such despicable self-puffings and malignant ex clusion of others i but at the expense of the just es teem and consideration of all honorable officer. 'Who love their country, their profession,, and the truth of history. The indignntion of the great'num ber of the latter- class cannot fail, in the end, to bring down the conceited and the envious to their proper level. ' By command of Muj. Gen. Scott. _ • -'.H, L. SCOTT, A. A. A. G. The letters alluded to by General Scott as “ the echoes from home ” are evidently the “ Leonidas” letter, and the other a letter which appeared firstln the Pittsburg Post , ..was thence transferred to the Union, whence we . copied it on the Bth October, with some introductory remarks, and the whole, then appeared in a Tampico paper.. .. - . ' .When Gen. Scott’s orders were published,Lient, Col. Duncan came out promptly in l the' North Amer ican with the following frank avowal ofhif connec tion with the “ Tampico letter,” so called. 'a!c cording to the. North American the “Tampico Jetter” was “ compiled from two letters Written by officers of the army in Mexico to a brother officer in Pittsburg, for bis eye alone. ; But rdad’ Whit- Col. Duncan has to say to it: CONRAD WEISER. _ Mexico, Nov. 13j 184 T. To the Editor of the North American: . Sir : I herewith present a copy of the “/Tampico- Letter” characterized as “scandalous,” “despic able,” “malignant,” &c. in general, orders. No. 349, published in the American Star of this morn ioe: # i. "■ To the end that the true character of this letter may be known, I desire that you reptiblish it m your paper, and that none of my brother dicers may innocently suffer for a publication so obhoxiouk, I hereby! publicly acknowledge myself to be its " author. The Substance of it I communicated froth Tacubaya,soon:after the battles, m aiprivatolettef ’ to a friend in Pittsburg. i. The statements: in the letter are known by veiV many officers of this army to be true,and.l can -but think that the publication of truth is jess likely to do violence to individuals or the service, than the- - suppression or perversion of it. .. . Justicejto Gen. Worth, (who is evidently one of the “ heroes” pointed at in order No. 439,) requires 1 me to state that he knew nothing whatever'or my, purpose to write the letter in question, nor that it ' had been Iwritten till well on its way to itH destina-;- 1 tion ; he j never saw, nor did he. now, • • indirectly, even the purport of one line, or syllable!, of ft till he saw it in print, and he, is equity ignor-j. rant of my design to make this declaration,, which. I > do, as I wrote the letter, unprompted and, on-.my ■own responsibility. ” ’ ’ f j * . Very |respectfiilly, your obH serv’t, JAB. DUNCAN, Brevet Lt. Col. U; Si A. After the publication of this letter, Col. Duncan under arrest, arid subsequently . GeW. '- Pillow was arrested, and next Gen. Worth. The North American is of opinion that Gem PilloW was ; not arrested on, account of the “ Leonidas \> letter, :• but on the following gronds : There has been,another arrest, that, of Gen.Pil- i. low, one of the chiefs but npt,- as ap pears on account of Ithe letters of which he T is the hero. We hear,, generally, that the cause was this : _Gen. Pillow having taken exception. |o the ’ finding of a court of inquiry; which* finding has been approved by Gen. Scott, addressed a paper re lating -to tlie matter to the Secretary of War, through ' * the Comraander-inrchief, preserving a copy,; which * he avowed in a letter accompanying; he hadsetU, or . would send, directly tothe Secretary at Washington. This transaction hp judged to be a ; contempt, and for the so-judged contempt Gen. Pillow is , N<»t,>tirderiitauding the technicalities of the case, we axe not advised whether prrt of or the whole of the transaction is regarded as the • ontempt—but that is immaterial. 1 1 Gen. Worth 5 * arrest is t!.«? priced in the North American of the 28th tilt.: The last, arrest occurred yesterday—that of Brevet Major Gear. Worth, and the charge is, we Believe* contempt towards »hc /‘oinmandcr-in-chief. out a foil jr.r.owledge of the facts, wv do not pur pose to lengthen this article by any remark*: up.; U lhi> pr<-.:eeding. ' ' P The Difficulty in the Army.