JKTVlStt IttTRS-nAPTISW.
Naw-Yoas., Nov. 20, 1845.
M. M. Noun, Ejq. :
Dear sir: White reading your very Interest
ing illustrations of Hebrew law and usages,
p.iblished in The Tribune, I was rather sur.
prised to meet the declaration that Baptism was
Hebrew rire: and 1 beg leave to say that I
shall be g ratified by being enabled to see the
evidences of the fact, and to hate your opinion
.f the Origin 0f the rite. My attention having
fc-een directed to the investigation of the An
cient Mysteries, havo become satisfied that a.
epocies of Baptism was practiced therein, More
Mie foundation of the Hebrew Commonwealth,
Indis, Ejjypt, Greece end Britain; and a
!mn Mysteries, in the remote antiquity of their
tintii'ition, were intended to preserve a pure
worship of the Deity, and the transmission of the
tMditirma of the early ages of the human fsmi
Iv, the ritual must have had one common origin.
hu I was not aware that Baptism had been in
cMnprated into the Jewish rite.
Th?re is also another point which I wish to
n.doMtand better. Itisthis: "II bhe still re
lined t chango her faith, or become a pnselyte
th fate, or to observe the seven precepts of
ihe snnn of .'oah,n JLc. What are the seven
I recepls referred to, and whence were they
1. rived ! The old Constitution of the Free
mnKwia speak of the "three Principles of Noah,"
end it seems probable that the three and the se
vn descend from the same source. Undoub
dly many of your sources of information are
contained in what to me are sealed books, or I
wmild only trouble you for the references and
Impe you will pardon me for thus attempting
to give you additional labor.
lam, dear sir, respectfully yours.
JAMES HERRING.
(Irani Sce'y Grand Lodge S. JV. Y. Howard
Ihmtt, JV. Y.
ft. M. .oh' Reply.
I shall proceed cheerfully to reply to Mr.
Herring's question seriatim.
Circumcision and Baptism were the initiatory
men fur the admission of Hebrew children into
I lie established religion ; and these two rites
wrre inseparable from the earliest periods, but
lieyarc not both of the same divine authority.
The impressions I know prevails, that Baptism
received its original form, and derived its obser
vance from the apostle John, who baptized Je
sus in the Jordan, but it is evident, that the
Biiptism by John, was the introduction to a new
faith nnd not a new practice. Jesus, burn a Jew,
Imd received the initiatory ritea in infancy, and
understood tliem well. Maimenides great
authority al vays among Jews and Christian,
s a wide interpreter of the law says, (Issur
llinh Cup. 13.) "Israel was admitted into the
covenant by three things: by Circumcision, by
Baptism, and by Sacrifice. Circumcision was
in Egypt, sj it is said, none uncircumeised shall
eat the Passover. Baptism was in the wilder
ness, befuro the giving of the law, as it'is said,
"Thou shalt sanctify them to-day and to-morrow
and let them wash their garments and sacrifice,
-a it is said, "and he sent the young men of the
Children of Israel, and they offered burnt offer
ings, they offered them for all Israel."
The origin of Baptism, dates from the time
of Jacob, when he received into the Church the
young women t Sichein, and other heathens
who lived with him. Jacob said to his family,
(Gen. xxxv. 2.) and to all that were with him,
"put away from you the strange Gods and be
ye clean, and clange your garments." Eben
Ezra, also great authority, applies the word "be
ye cltak" to the washing and purification of the
body; hence the origin of Baptism.
It is certain that heathens who become eon
verts to the religion of the Jews, were admitted
ty Circumcibion and Baptism, wan inseperate-
ly joined to it
"Whenever," says Maimenides, "a Heathen
is willing to be joined to the covenant of Israel,
end place himself under the wings of the Divine
majesty, and take the yoke or the law upon
him voluntarily. Circumcision, Daptism, and A
blutiun are required." This practice continu
ed to the reign of Solomon, but t that period,
other nations became protelyiee in such vast
numbers that they were received by Baptism
or washing only. Some time elapsed, say thir
ty days between Circumcision and Baptism in
order to give lime for the wound to heal ; the
chi'd was then brought to a running stream,
called "gathering of the waters," and plunged
in. If a man, the Ttiumriri or the Judicial
Consistory charged with thisduty, when placed
in the water instructed him in some of the
weightier obligations of the law, and plunged
him in, so that every par; of the body was im
mersed, nut the lip of a finger was left exposed ;
hence the difference between sprinkling and
immersion in Baptism. If an Israelite, says
Maimenides, finds a Heathen infant and bap
tizes him for a proselyte, ho becomes a member
of the Church, and Baptism was always admin
istered by persons regularly ordained, an appoin
ted fur that purpose, and witneases and written
lesinnny were necessary to prove the fact
Proselytes however were unwillingly made at
all tunes, for many were tenacious of their old
aaisiuins, and fell again to idolatry, so that final
ly Baytiboi was giadual'y abandoned, and it is
only now practiced when a Christian female
desires to become a Jewess, and then under
very considerable rebtrirtions and ceremonies.
You will thus perceive that the rite of Bap
tism dates from the time ol Jacob, and by the
wised interpreter of the Isw, was pronounced
Jewish rite and followed Circumcision.
A Pruwlyte of I lie Gate,' is the next point a
bout which you aik fjr information. There
were tw kinds of Proselyte the first cf the
Covens nt -the cot id id the Gate. The finf
Btt JJ I J. J I.J.. i.
though of Gentile birth, were admitted to all
the privileges of the Jews; they worshipped in
in the same Court of the Temple with the He
brew?, while others were prohibited, and were
partakers of all privileges, Divine and human.
The proselytes of the Gate were Gentiles, who
were admitted to the worship of God of Israel,
and the hopes of a future life, but who were
not Circumcined. These Prouelytea although
permitted to worship in the Temple, could not
enter the same Court with the Proselytes of the
Covenant, but were deemed unclean and a
special Court assigned to them, called the
"Court of the Gentiles" they had n distinct
placo were the law was expounded to them,
they were not denizens of Jerusalem. In the
New Testament, Proselytes of the Covennnt
sre called merly Proselytes, and Proselytes of
the Gate are called worshippers ; and it is a
curious fact, nnd but little known, '.hat the first
proselytes to Christianity were the Proselyte
of the Gate. Their condition being free and
unconstrained, merely semi Jews, the transition
to another faith was easy and natural, and ss
they were most numerous in the Roman State,
they were the first cause of the spreading of
the Gospel; although Jesus of Nazareth never
addressed himself to them, but slwsys to his.
brethren who, like himself, were born Jews,
and were not so by adoption.
The seven precepts nfthe sons nAbitt, of
which as you say, Masonry knows only of
three commonly Cullod the Suahchidet, are as
follows:
I. A renunciation of all idols;
II. The worship of the true and only God ;
III. To commit no murder ;
IV. Not to be defiled by incest ;
V. To avoid rapine, theft and robbery ;
VI. To administer justice ;
VII. Not to eat flesh with blood in it.
This was the Common I .aw that prevailed
from the time that Noah left the ark until the
arrival of the Jews at the foot of Mount Sinai.
The law of Moses is the codification ol the Com
mon l.aw, as given by the sons of Noah, ampli
fied, extended and made to apply injustice and
in mercy, in good faith and principle, to the
whole civilized world which now live under
those laws, with some immaterial local amend
ments. I am dear sir, Yours, in, itc.
M. M. N.
The Missimj Mexican Instalment Moke
Mystery. A letter from Gen. Smitn Anna, to
Chss. Challngham, a merchant ol New York, is
piiblifched in the New York TriSuue of the Kith
last, from which we make an extract, touching
the long missing indemnity. After mentioning
that the money was raised in cash, and the first
instalments paid in that medium, he then says
in reference ta the instalment of July 30 :
"1 dictated all the necessary measures, and
positively ordered the Secretary of the Treaury
to make the payment in specie according to my
anterior provisions; rothat, if, in defiance ol my
orders, the payment was made in bill or drafts,
that functionary violated hi duties by disobey
ing my commands, and the agent Don Eintlio
Voss was not less guilty in receiving, as he
jeceived, according to what you say, the amount
in paper. At that same period I dictated, in
advance, other ordera for the successive instal
ments with all exactitude, and in ready cash;
for, the people having contributed it in cash, 1
resolved and ordered that the money should not
be employed for any other purpose; and my
conversation with the Minister Shanon, which
you mention, alludes to this.
"In short, in my opinion, the instalments to
which you refer, were paid in ready cash ; but,
if it is not so, the Minister and the agent Voss,
are reponsiblet the former for having disobeyed
my positive orders, and the latter tor not having
fulfilled the orders of his constituents."
What says the Minister Shannon!
Thb Canadian OriNio of the President's
Mwsaoc The Montreal Herald, which may
oe presumed to foreshadow the British com
ments on the message, hold the following strong
language :
"We regret to see that the tone of the Mrs-
sage is decidedly unfriendly, and that there ap
pears in it a studied determination In make no
compromise whatever of the conflicting claims
of the two countries.
"The successful villany practised upon
Mexico in Texas, is now recou.fnded to b! a
dopted towards Great Bnt -in in Oregon. Grants
of land are promised to all who choose to go
and settle there, and the certainty of their title
to possession being confirmed by the United
Stales Goverement distinctly held out. Mr.
Polk will find that England is not Mexico.
"The style of impudent bravado adopted to
wards the European governments, and the
threats against them if they darn to establish
any new Coloniea in North America, although
peculiarly silly, are intended no doubt to irri
tate ; they shew clearly that if Mr Polk can
possibly excite a war during his administration
be will certain! do it.
"We much frar that the rontrol of public af
fairs in the United States has fallen into the
bands of bad men."
This is from an English press in Canada, and
though the tone ia as flippant as impudent, it
will doubtless find a responsive echo in the mo
ther country.
FirTssm FrT or Snow The Quebec Ga
zette of the Sth says that lie thermometer at that
place was down to ten degress below zero, and
the anow lies in heaps mors than fifteen feet,
and then falling so thick tLat it was impossible
to se at a d;etanr e of a few feet. The bt. Law
rent waa piled up with Coatirg ice. This de
gree of rold is mors severe than toe frightfuUli
miti e-f Mettow in 1 1 2
THE AIuEKICAN.
Saturday, Vecrntber SO, 1845.
t. It. r.1LltF.ll, Esq., at hit Ileal Es.
tale and Coal Office, corner of 3d and Chesnut
Stres.s, fhlladeljihla. Is out hoi I ted to act as
Jlfenl, and receipt lor all monies due this
office, for suhncrlt'llon or advertising,
.tho at his Office. Mt. 100 ,Vussmu Street,
Vkw IVfc. 'i
,1nd S. K. Vomer of ttnlllmort and Calvert
sis., Ilattlmore.
MJ A few loaJs of pine and hickory wood are
wanteil on subsc ription, at this olTice. Grain of
all kinds will also be received.
Cv" A few 20 lb. kegs of printing ink ran be
had at this office, at rhiladelidiia nriect. for rath.
vy -
r fv- T. Mil r .
u win oe seen, ny reierence io our t on-
greninnal news, that t!en. Cameron's standing
as a democrat has not suffered very murh from
the vituperations and slanders of a few papers
professing peculiar democratic views, who vain
ly imagined that they had entirely demolished
the General. Dr. Sturgeon, the caurns Senator,
has been plad sHrse Wd of rmt committee,
wWeGri:. Cameron has been placed at the had
of two. Tbis certainly argues well for the stand
ing of the new Senator among his brother demo
crats in the U. S. Senate.
K7" A condensed statement of the correspon
dence between the British and our own govern
ment on the Oregon question, will be found on
our first page. It is a bi ief summary of the whole
question.
C7 The Misses Pike have been delivering
lectures on Mnemonics or the art of Memory, in
this place and Northumberland.
C7 Si.r.KJiiixo. The snow which fell on the
1st inst., still affords most excellent sleighing,
notwithstanding the predictions of its sudden dis
appearance, on account of lunar influence. The
moon is certainly at fault this time. How will
our old friend, Cspt. Jas. I.ee, of Northumberland,
account for the wining influence of the lunar orb
on this all-important subject.
Ha r r tSBt'RO PArsss. The Harrisbnrg
Argus proposes to publish a daily and weekly
paper, during the session ofthe legislature. We
trust the editors will be fully rewarded for their
enterprize. Terms for the daily, during the ses
sion, S2 ; weekly. $1.
The Democratic Union will be published twice
a week during the session, at $2. The Union is
a well conducted paper. The Reporter is pub
lished on the same terms.
K7 Pricx of Coal, anp the Rail Roab to
Pottsvili.k. The Pottsville papers complain of
the scarcity of coal in that town, and the difficul
ty in getting it. Coal is now worth $2 40 in
Pottsville, and is, we believe, never less than
82 25. If our Pottsville friends will only assist
us in completing the rail road between Shamokin
and Pottsville, our operators will agree to deli,
ver them coal fiom the Shamokin and intermedin
diate mines, ten percent, less than the Pottsville
prices. The average rash price for coal, at this
place, is about SI 75 per ton hauled about 20
miles from Shamokin, by horse power, on a woo
den rail road. With a T rail track and motive
power, it could he delivered here at SI 50 per ton.
The mines that will be opened on the route of
the contemplated road, will have from 15 to 30
miles to the Pottsville market. Many of these
mines have a breait of 500 feet above low water
level, while the quantity of coal per acre is said
to be from three to five times greater than that
of the Schuylkill county region. The facilities
for mining are therefore greater and would enable
our opeiators to compete successfully with any
other region, for the Philadelphia market. The
new loud would be a profitable concern from the
coal trade alone, independent of the great Susque
hanna trade that would pass over it.
C7" Texas as a Stats. The House, or. Tues
day, passed the resolutions admitting Texas as a
State, without debate, by application ofthe pre
vious question moved by Mr. Mr Connel. There
was considerable confusion in the House. Some
members asked to be excused from voting. The
vote was finally taken and stood 141 to 56.
The resolutions for the defence of Oregon, pas
sed the Senate the same day by a unanimous vote.
Pi sky ism in Boston. Right Rev. Bishop
Eastburn, prelate ofthe diocese ol Massachusetts,
bas issued a public declaration expressive of his
disapprobation of certain Romish ceremonials, or
"outward signs" of Catholicism introduced 'into
that new churih for free sittings, known as the
"Church of the Advent." in Boston. These in
novations of golden candlesticks, and of a laige
wooden rrosa by which the table ia surmounted,
the posture of facing the altar observed by tbe of
ficiating clergy.
The Bsptist Board of Foreign Missions have
officially announced that tbe subscriptions neces
ssry to extinguish tbe debt of 140,000 Lave been
completed.
Tbe New Yoik Morning News, of ths 12th inst.
ssys "The Floui market is firm, but it is in ra
ther a precarious state. The large amount of
flour held here amounting to over $4,000,000
creates some demand for money, but tbs rats is
not over six per cent., and within three days
large amounts have been taken at 5 per cent.
Ohio Pinitsntiarv Last yesr tbs Ohio Pen
itentiary yielded a revenue of SIS, 025.
CAtiroaNU and Mexico. The Presi
dent in his message, statea that negotaitions will
again be resumed with Mexico. Mr. Slidell, of
Louisiana, has already been sent as Minister to
that country. From the amicable tone of the Mex
ican papers in favor of President Herera, it is evi
dent that all our difficulties will be amicably ad
justed by treaty, and it ia mors than probable,
that that delightful province, upper Colifornia,
will be ceded to us for a valuable consideration.
It is rumored that our Minister is authorised to
ofTer ten millions or more, for the acquisition of
this valuable territory. The climate and coun
try is described as a perfect paradise, and in an
agricultural point of view, is worth ten times as
much as Oregon. We trust our minister will be
successful in his negotiations. These operations
will, besides, have a favorable effect upon the tar
iff in the way of raising additional revenue, f
ihe following extracts will throw some light
upon this subject :
From the N. O. Tropic ofthe nd inst.
UsiTim Siaifs and Mkxico From our fdes
of Havanna papers received yesterday by the Ti
ti, we gather some particulars not before given,
we believe, which, if at all to b relied on, throw
new light upon our present relations with Mexi
co. We find them in the Diariode la Marino af
the Htb ult. That paper, after alluding to its
previous notices of the intelligence received by I
the steam packet from Vera Cruz, goes on to
state that persons well acquainted with the se
crets of the Mexicsn Government say that pro
positions to that Government have been made by
our Consul at the city of Mexico, to aettle the
boundaries of the two countries (the annexation
question being considered settled,) in the follow
ing manner. The United States to pay an in
demnification of 4 or (.'1,000.000; their boundary
to be the Rio Bravo del Norte, including part of
the States of Tamaulipas, Cohahuila, Chihanhau,
and New Mexico, w ith the city of Santa Fe The
Vera Cruzano gives the following statement of
the loss of teiritory by Mexico under such an ar
rangement. The whole of Texas 21,000 sq
leagues; Chihauhau out of 21.020 sq. leagues,
she will lose 3.P00; New Mexico out of 1 1 .000
do. she will lose 6,000; Cohaihula out of 6 S00
do. she will lose 1,175; Tamaulipas out of 6.
400 do. she will lose 2,300. Total loss, 34,075
sq. leagues.
The writer ofthe letters from Vera Cruz does
not believe that the Mexican Government will
accede to such a proposition at least, not for to
small an indemnification as 4 or $5,000,000. It
is also stated by the same authority, that propo
sition have alio bren made for the arijuitilim of
AVu Cahfnrn:a. The boundaries would in that
case be the River Gili, which unites with the
Colorado near its month, and empties into the
Gulf of California. This stream runs almost due
West from the Rocky Mountains, through the
State of Sonora. This acquisition of territory
would give us the harbors of Sau Francisco,
Monterey, and ?an Tedro.
We give the above speculations for what they
are worth.
Correpondrnee nfthe If. Y. Herald.
Washington, Pec. 12. 1SI5.
Krgnciatiam are open for the purthare nf Cali
fornia, and in lens than sirty days it will be ours.
This is all I ran tell yon now, but you may rely
on this information. What I said thirty days
ago, is true now, and will be history in a few
weeks that by bold and unwavering firmness in
insisting upon our claims where our right is un
questionable, and by .wise and fonaumate diplo
macy where we csn win power and territory,
James K. Tolk and James Buchanan will extend
the sway of our eagle, and plant the pillars of
our Kmpire deep over the continent. The ac
quisition of California is the most important o
peration of our government since its foundation.
Another letter about this matter in a day or two.
K7 Wilms, in his last letter from the Conti
nent, dated at Frankfort, thus speak of a fine
painting of Huss, tbe celebrated msrtyr and re
former, which he saw in one of the gallcrys of
that city :
"I feel urged fo record my impressions of a
paintine by Leasing of Diuweldorf, representing
Huss pleading before the Council of Constance
utterly impossible as it would be to convey to
you the force end beauty ofthe story ss told on
canvass. Of some eight or ten ecclesiastics
sitting in council, (figures of the size of life,
and painted wih wonderful reality,) each one
has expression enough in his features to make
a biography unnecessary. The principal per
son in the c unci! is a fat voluptuary of a pontiff,
who holds the accusation in his hand u listen
ing carelessly to a crafty looking monk who is
j commenting on the martyr's argument. Three
Moiiy-hearted looking cradinals sit listening
with coidsnd crave attention. One old monk
seems dismsyed with the foreeofthe heretical
reasoning, and a younger bishop, seated behind
the cardinal, has given way, evidently, to con
viction. In the back ground is an old man gaz
ing on llu-s with a pity quite seperne from the
argument, and, so life-like are all these repre.
sentatkinsof men, that a sudden introduction in
to the presence of a human assembly could har
dly be more startling. But the countenance of
liw-s himself contains the lesson. It is the em
bodiment of a spirit far beyond warping by fear,
death or torture, calm, clear, and fearless, yet
full of beautiful humility. That face, pallid
with confinement and emaciated, with thought
and self denial, has in it a rebuke fur selfish and
uoexemplary enjoyment of life, which il would
be hard, I should suppose, for even the most
casual observer to evade ; and, so free from
exsggeraliou i the depicted worldlioess of
the other chsracters of the picture, that it is
frorri oneself, ss well as from the Council ol Con
stance, that the martyr's character seems to
separate him so reprovingly. Tbe picture is a
sermon. It is a pity that there were not more
such perpetual sermons, to send instruction in
I at the eyt which would be refused it the ear."
-' 1 -It. .1.. SSWffigS . i.lia l
Ctrrpen1na r tho PablU ledger.
Washington, Tuesday evening, t
Dec. 9,1845.
Messrs. Editors : It is no easy task to depict
the excitement and chagrin that prevails this
evening, in consequence of the elections held to
day, in the Senate. Disappointment seems to
exist all around to some an agreeable one, but
to many exceedingly mortifying. The elections
being the order ofthe day, at an early hour they
were taken up. On the first ballot for Secretary,
the vote stood for Mr. Dickens, Mr. Stnrgiss
24 Messrs. Benton, Bailey and Haywood voting
with the Whigs. So Mr. Dickens was declared
to be elected. The vote for Sergeant at-Arms
was nearly unanimous Mr. Beale (who was no
minated by both parties.) having received 40 out
of 4.5 votes. For Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms,
four balloting! were had before an election could
be effected. As there is something of an anomaly
in these, I add them entire.
First Ballot Dr. Salisbury 24. Mr. Young 10,
Mr. Txandolph 3, Mr. Holland 1, Mr. Stettinius
I, Mr. Chubb 1.
Second Ballot Salisbury 24, Young 22, Hol
lands. Third Ballot Salisbury 2,1, Holland 23, Young
3.
Fourth Ballot Holland 25, Salisbury 22, scat-
tering 2
From these several results, it would seem that
the three Democratic Senators above named and
the twenty-two Whigs changed sides on the third
balloting, each party aiming to secure the elec
tion of the candidate of the other. Prior to the
fourth ballot, it is probable an understanding
wsshad which secured the election ofthe Benton
candidate. Mr. Holland, I understand, was for
merly book-keeper in the office of the Globe, and
refused to he transferred with that establishment
to the now editors of the Union. This may ac
count for the fact of his being taken up by those
Senators and may show how the wind blows in
that quarter. There are twenty-eight Democra
tic Senators in the city, yet, owing to the sick
ness ol Mr. McDuffie, but twenty-seven were
present. These, bad they voted the caucus tick
et, would have secured its success by a majority
of five. The result, however, beine as it is. von
can readily imagine the amount of wrath it has
engendered among the Democrats, especially
those looking for places in the event of a charge
of S'-cretary, and those who expected the exam
ple of a Democratic Coneress to have an influ
ence on the F.xecutive and Cabinet in favor
ofthe removal of some ofthe numerous Whigs
in the several departments. The ihree Senators
are cursed without stint or mercy. It is not a
little singular that these men, some of whom, at
least, owe much to caucus, should holt the course.
while Mr. Cameron and Mr. Turney adhered
throughout to the nominees, and thus far have
stuck close to their party.
After the election of Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms,
the Senate proceeded to the election of
Chairmen for the Standing Committees, which
was partially progressed with when the hour of
adjournment arrived.
Among the other proceedings in the Senate,
was the presentment of a message from tbe Pre
sident, with the Constitution of the State of Tex
as ; and a communication from the proprietors
ofthe U. S, Journal, offering to do the printing
for the Senate at a price 20 per rent, less than
paid at the last session. Mr. Cass submitted
two resolutions, directing inquiries by the appro
priate committees relative to refbrms in the
management ofthe Army and Navy.
In the House of Representatives, to day, little
transpired that would be of interest to your rea
ders; and indeed but little csn be expected of an
important character until the holidays are over.
Mr. Schenck railed tip a resolution, offered by him
on yesterday, atking whether some ofthe mem
bers ofthe House had not been elected contrary
to law, (by general ticket,) w hich was laid on the
table by a vote of 1 12 yeas to 72 nays. Mr. Mc
Kay introduced a bill fixing the prices of public
printing in certain cases. A motion yesterday,
to print an extra number of copies ofthe Report
of the Secretary of the Treasury, was rejected.
A series of resolutions was offered by Mr. Mc
Kay, to refer the several portions of the Presi
dent's message to appropriate committees. When
that portion relating to the tariff came up, Mr.
Stewart, of Tenn., moved that the Committee (of
Ways and Means) be instructed not to report any
bill which may interfere with the provisions snd
policy of the tariff hill of 1R42. An interesting
and animated debate ensued on tbis, pending
which I left the House.
Official information has been received at the
State Department, of a decree by the Haytien
Government, prohibiting all intercourse with the
insurgent, ofthe Eastern part of the Island of
nayu; ami closing me pons ana coasi oi inai
purt against foreign commerce.
Monoay Fvinisg, Dec. 15, 1RJ5.
The Senate, to-day bas been ths theatre ot an
eloquent and very interesting debate, mainly
touching our relations, at this time, with Great
Britain. It arose on a rail from Mr. Cass for the
consideration of resolutions offered by him, in
the early part of last week, directing inquiry by
the appropriate committees into the state of our
means for national defence fortifications, ship
ping, ordnance, strength and condition of the ar
my, navy and militia, and also what additions to
each are necessary.
On making the motion, the Senator from Mi
chigan addressed the Senate tor a full hour, chain
ing bis audience on ths floor and the gallery in
admiration of his eloquence and interest in the
subject, and manner in which he handled it. He
reviewed the w hole ground of ths Oregon ques
tion the grounds assumed and maintained by the
Preaident, which he sustained in tbs most un
qualified terms, and urged wpon Senators tk im
portance of prompt preparations for any emer
gency that may arias, lie showed clearly the im
policy of standing with our arras folded while a
nation, powerful and jealous of eveiy advance
ment wa make towards prosperity, and in exten
ding the blessings of our institutions ever the fcu-
man race, is fortifying he son onr frontiers,
and arming herself to thu teeth, and that our
country could not be too soon prepared for a cri
sis with those who have watched the indicators
in England and other countries had for some time
been predicting.
He ahowed that the negotiations in the Oregon
controversy bad gone to their full extent, and
that the question could be settled without an ap
peal to arms, only by England receding from her
high demands to the territory which we claim,
or on surrendering to her what we believe to
be our right that the question could not be
settled by the arbitration of a thiid power that
tbe bias of European governments was against
our institutions, and we could not again trust our
rights to their decision. He deprecated a war as
a great calamity J but, said he, there is a greater,
the loss of national honor. He denounced the
idea of yielding a known right to the arrogant
demands of any power, snd from a dread of what
that power might do, in rae of a refusal ; show
ed that a people who would yield a right to pur
chase a temporary exemption from injuries or
wars that may be threatened by any arrogating
or grasping nation, will inevitably sink beneath
the oppression which weakness and timidity in
vite, and repeated what he had said on a former
occasion, that "it is better to fight for the first of
a territory than for the last." Yours, &c.
SyrHAX.
V nltcd Slates Senate.
The democratic members of the United States
Senate went into caucus and nominated their
candidates for ofiices, among whom we were ve
ry glad tn see Dr. Skth Salisdcrv, our wor
thy State Librarian, as Door Keeper; and we
supposed, of course, the democrats having a
clear majority, that the proceedings of the cau
cus would be confirmed by an election. But it
seems that Messrs. BENTON, Haywood snd
Bailey, democrats, followed the exsmple of
Messrs. Wilcox, Dimmick, Ebaugh, Hnrton,
Rnhn and Ross, of our last Senate, with some
of the members ofthe House of Representatives,
did not at'end the caucus, and refused tn be
bound hy its nomination. On the election they
voted with whiff s and defeated the caucus
nominations. We are glad to pee thnt Messrs.
CAMERON and STURGEON, supported the
party candidates. This movement produced, as
mifht h" supposed, considerable excitement a-
ffainst Mr. Benton, and his colleagues. The
correspondent of the New York Globe says :
"I hesitate not to pronounce the conduct of
Col. Benton upon this occasion as a most fla
grant outrape upon the party, and ss a danger
ous precedent to lie set by one who pretends to
so much regard for party usages."
We presume, however, that it had not much
eflect in the Senate, as we see Messrs. Benton
and Hiiywond, were afterwards placed at the
head of important committees.
The following are the chairmen of the se
veral committees as elected by the Senate. We
observe that Pennsylvania has been duly hono
red. Mr. Stirgfon is at the head of one and
Mr. Cameron tiro committees.
Foreign Relations Mr. Allen, of Ohio.
Finance Mr. Calhoun, of N. C.
Commerce Mr. Haywood, do.
Manufactures Mr. Dickinson, of N. Y.
Agriculture Mr. Sturgeon, of Pa.
Military Affairs Mr. Benton, of Mo.
Military Mr. Atchison, do.
Naval Affairs Mr. Fairfield, of Me.
Public Lands Mr. Breese, of III.
Private Land Claims Mr. Levy, of Fa.
Indian Affairs Mr. Sevier, of Ark.
Claims Mr. Bagley, of Ala.
Revolutionary Claims Mr. Simple, of 111.
Judiciary Mr. Ashley, of Ark.
Post Offices and Post Roads Mr. Niles.
Roads and Canals Mr. Hannegan.
Pensions Mr. Upham.
District of Columbia Mr. Haywood.
Patents and the Patent Office Mr. Cameron.
Retrenchment Mr. Lewis.
Territories Mr. Westcott.
Public Buildings Mr. Cameron.
Contingent Expenses ofthe Senate Mr. Niles.
Public Printing Mr. Atherton.
liirruburg Argus.
Some of the Philadelphia papers appesr te
think it strange that Coal should be scarce in
Pottsville. Strange though it may seem, it is
nevertheless true. Owing to the demand abroad
for Coal, the price has risen in this borough until
it now costs three dollars per ton by the time
it is put in the cellars, while it only costs $4 50
ner ton in Philadelphia, and many of our eitizens
j fc f b, their winter
supplies. We learn that complaints are made
throughout the Coal Region, that it is almost
impossible to get good Coal for family use
Miner's Journal.
IVeriATioN is Oim.oN. There sre from six
to seven thousand emigrants from the United
States in Oregon, and from preparations now in
progress in forming emigrating companies, there
is no doubt but this population will be next year
double at least, what it is now.
Ths price of Coal in Wheeling, is three and a
half renta a bushel, while at Cincinnati and Lou
iavill it ia thirty cents a bushel, and supplies
extremely limited.
A Bull, A gentleman in Massachusetts has
invented what be denominates an "invisible door
spring," which one ofwur editorial brethrea say
may be seen at his office.
Tux Clergy er Alabama have called a Sab
bath Convention, to be held in Mobils on the 28th
of February, 1845.
NswsrAsss- There are 1,555 newspapers
and periodicals in ths United States, and but 1,
891 in all ths world beside.