THE JOURNAL,
'\ e' ::Al l -4 . 1., , '
'- yrilts , ' r !•,,,,,
..,1
„ ; ,•,.."" ',, 4 , 11
,
.. ?st;/ ' ' '
'''
UN TING DON
Wednesday, April 1, 18.16.
Democratic Whig Candidate For
Canal Commissioner
JAMES M. POWER,
OF MERCER COUNTY
enualla.gs 2
large gupply of JUSTICES' BLANKS, on
ri=4 .. superior Impel, just printed, and for aak at
this office
cry Hon Simon Cameron Hon. John Blan
chard, and Han. A len. Ramsey, have our thanks for
Congressional Documents.
Alen, John Morrison, end J. I'. Sanderson,
Eagra., of the State `Senate, the first for various
documents and the latter for a copy of Mr. Gib
bon!' speech on the Right of Way.
tzry Those of our readers who may change their
plares of residence on tho first of April, will please
give us notice.
An important message from the President
may be found under our Congressional head. It
will he seen that the President recommends
milita
ry preparation, which has given a fresh start to the
oft-repeated question, " Will there be War?" For
our part we are willing to let time answer the ques
tint), without troubling our readers with any pre
mises on the subject. "Sufficient unto the day, is
the evil thereof."
Q` A communication in to-day's paper signed
X. is published entirely on the responsibility of the
author, as we know nothing whatever of the facts.
The gentlemen alluded to can have the name, if
they are wronged by his statements.
crj• The 'Whigs have been doing exceedingly
well all over the State at the late Spring Dections.
In Philadelphia city they carried every thing es
usual. The county divided between the Natives
end locofocos. In Lancaster, the Old Guard"
of true principles, the Whigs in several of the
townships, beat the Locos and Natives combined.
Our neighbor of the Register inform. us that the
Whigs done nobly in Hollidaysburg, carrying e
large majority for the Inspector and Assessor, and
only losing the Judge by 14 vote..
(0-EZRA HOLDEN, one of the editors of the
fdaturday Courier, died at lVashington a few days
since, whither he had gone to take recreation from
his labors, on account of the delicate state of his
health.
Est om AIL—We have received a perfect rower
of enigmas during the:last week, from our young
friend., and will therefore have to ask a suspension
of these favors until we get through with the pub
lication of the stock on hand. They shall all ap
pear in good time. We would suggest to authors
that they furnish but ore at a time.
11re1ancholy Occurrence.
A Father kited by his own son!
NVo are informed by one of our citizens, who
came from Pennayivenia Furnace on Monday last,
that a most melancholy and heart sickening occur•
mica had tatter. place in ring.. township, Oen- '
tae County, a short distance frorn the Huntingdon
County line, on Friday, the 27th ult. James Irvin,
an old, respectable and induati ions man, was sudden
ly launched into eternity by the hands of his own
son, Henry Irvin. The son it appears had been
drinking hard for so.ne time previous, and it is
thought was laboring under mania polua, agile sp.
peered to think that his father was meditating upon
his life. On Friday he walked into tiro yard, picked
up the a xis, felt its edge, and then went deliberately
into the house end made a stroke at his father.
which was received by the parent on his hand and
arm, which ha threw up to defend himself. The
eon then caught him with ono hand, while with the
other he inflicted a number of severe wounds upon
his head and face, which caused his death in the
course of el: hours.
The eon has been arrested, and lodged in the
Bellefonte Jail.
The Keeper and Kis Prisoner,
An account of the fight between Mr. Watson,'
the Keeper of the Dauphin County Prison, and his
prisoner, John Gibbs, may he found on our outer
page. No one need regret the result of this en
counter, as Gibbs was a most desperate and harden
ed villian--entirely beyond reformation, and ap
peared determined to set all law at defiance, or die
in the attempt. Mr. Watson has shown himself
to be a faithful and fearless agent of the laws, for
which he deserves the hearty plaudits of all right
minded people. It appears from the testimony ta
ken before the Inquest, that at one stage of the en
gagement, when Mr. Watson evidently had the
worst of the fight, Gibbs proposed terms of peace;
to which Mr. Watson replied, while snuggling for
his life, which all know who have any knowledge
of the desperate character of Gibbs, was in great
danger, "Irak no favors and I mil grant none."
Language like this, under the circumstances, is wor
thy the best days of the Republic, and clearly de
monstrates that Mr. Watson, although a gentleman
of but small stature, is possessed of a heart and
nerve equal to any emergency.
lied we a voice in the management of the Dau
phin Prison, we would vote for an increase of the
Kreper'ssalary forthwith, as conduct like his should
not go unrewarded.
Flits !—We are informed that the smoke-house
of Mr. Samuel Miller, living on the farm of Dr.
Jean, Wright, in Union township, in this county,
was consumed by fire on the 26th ult. It contained
about 500 lbe. meat, which, together with some
plough., horse gear., &c. were all consumed, ma
king the lose to Mr. Miller about $7O.
Pennsylvania Legislattre. towing up stream before embarking, in
order to make the island at the
_proper
Corresponaence of the Trlnnting4on . point. The II arrieburg Bridge Company,
Journal. are about eatablielting a Hope Ferry at the
tun] envns, March 28, 1840.
"C . , / DO. Captain.—Anothee week has putted old Bridge.
the glories of time, and although it would be 'no James M. Power.
small jab to inform you of all that has been done The nomination of thin gentleman as the \\
at the Capitol, much more to chronicle a tythe of candidate for Canal Commissioner has met with
what has been said, yet I think I may safely pre- ' the most enthusiastic response from the Whig
diet that I shell give you all that has been accom- I prom of the State. The friends of Mi. Foster, who
plisbed hero during the past week, which would be has been nominated through the influence of his
interesting to your readers, in a pretty small cam own officialpaironage, and against the known wish
pass. Sometimes, for want of time I out obliged of a large majority of the voters of his party, may
to write a long letter; for be it known to you that well feel alarmed for his success, when opposed try
it requires more time to condense into a nut shell I a man like Mr. Power.
the important facts %Ouch transpire during a week, I The Philadelphia Inquirer says of our
than it would to give the sense information more candidate : "Mr. PO %VIM is well known
I diffuaely.—But I most proc-ced to the matter in hand. throughout the State as an upright, intel-
The Bill grunting to the New York and Erie ligetit and accomplished gentleman. He
Rail Rood Company the right of Way through to a I engineer, and is every way
tike County in this State, hag been signed by the l competent to a proper discharge of the
Governor, and is therefore n Law. I duties of the Ake to which lie has been
The Bill to incorporate the Pennsylvania Rail nominated. We are told that lie Was kit
Road Company to sonetruct a continuous Railroad
from Harrisburg to Pittsburg, and thence to Erie if an orphan at only fifteen years of age,
and that his father died i nsolvent. 'l'llough
they deem it expedient, by any route the Company
chooses to adopt, has at length been passed finally I now only about thirty-five, lie has suc
h' both Houses, end sent to the Governor—the ceeded by dint of honest industry, close
Rouse having receded from its amendments non- application, and untiring effort, in paying
concurred in by the Senate, and having concurred ofi all his father's debts, in acquiring a
in those added by the Senate. The Bill will doubt- c „„ ipe r .ene y, and in sustaining in respect
less receive the approbation of the Governor in duo a ,
I•• l tl ' I. •I
as .1 let s atm y. Such a man
time.
The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Bill has been is entitled to the cotifidence and respect
permitted to sleep in the Legislature during the of his fellow citizens. An individual who
whole of the past week, which is a thing altogether has in:waged his own affairs with such
wonderful, and looks very much as if its friends faithfulness and efficiency, is exactly the
were afraid to calf it up. The fact is that the adop, p , rson best qualified to discharge with
lion of Mr. Kunkel's amendment, last week, by a fidelity and capacity, the duties of the
veto of 50 to 48, providing that the net shall not -
go into effect before the Ist of June 1847, which important post of Canal Commissioner.—
win tie after the meeting and final adjournment of A little of his energy of character exerted
the next Legislature, amounts to a negation of the in the office, would speedily put a bright-
Bill. The Bill lee passed the Senate and is upon err aspect upon the finanical conditimi of
second readingin the House. It isnot dead; but our State. In brief, the nomination is a
aleepeth. I good one in all respects, and tl e resolu•
'ells Bill authorizing the construction of an out
let lock at Well's Falls (below " Black's Eddy") lions adopted by the Convention, which
on the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Ca- we subjoin, breathe the true Whig spirit,
nal, has been the theme of almost daily discussion, and will be cordially responded to by our
during the past week, in the Senate. The Bill is political brethren hrougli out the Common
still pending on second reading, and is in a fair way „,..„1,1,.”
to pass the Senate. The United States Gazette says: "The
Thureday a communication was received frotn
the Canal Commisgonere, giving a detailed stale- gentleman nominated by the late Whig ,
ment of the damage done by the recent flood in the Convention, as the candidate for Canal
Susquehanna and the Delaware Rivers, together i Cuiniiii , sitinee, is competent to discharge
with an estimate of the amount which will be re- I the duties of the office in every depart
quired to put the same in navigable order. The meat, and is, therefore, confidently re
13oard estimate that the repairs on the Main Line commended to the tax paying citizens, as
from Harrisburg to Pittsburg will be completed by
the 30th inst. (Monday next) and from Harrisburg a man qualified to administer the internal
to Columbia by the 15th of April; and the West improvements of the Commonwealth, in
Branch and Delaware Division by the same day; I a way that shall make them subservient
the Susquehanna Division by the Ist of May next, i to the great good of the State, enabling
and the N. Branch by the 20th of May. The her to meet the interests, and dimiuish
whole cog of the repairs le estimated et $111,515, the principal of her enormous debt, and
as follows: Eastern and Juniata Division to the
Rope Ferry $26,700; from Rope Ferry to Holli-
also to secure the best uses of the canal
daysburg $5,200; Western Division from J o h ns .. and railroad for the business portions of
town to Pittsburg $1,440; from "Junction" (at the people.
tread of Duncan's Island) to Milton $20,000; from By the way, the candidate is JAMES
Milton to Queenstown $10,175; N. Branch, from NI. POWER—not Powers, but Power—
Northumberlaml to Lockawana $20,000 ; end Del- that which is wanted, or the proper use of
aware Division from Bristol to Easton $28,000.
A communication has been received from the which is most needed in this State. We
State Treasurer in reply too resolution of the Son. must get and keep all kind of power on
ate from which it appears that the amount of mo- our public works, motive power and steam
ney in the Treasury on the 27th Met. was $93,- power, arid then we can do a power of
275,44. and that no part of the amount appropria- bated."
tad at an early period of the Session for the commie
not, of the Eastern and Western Reservoirs has
been paid. I presume that appropriation will he
suspended, for the purpose of securing a fund suffi
cient to pay the expenses of the extraordinary re
pairs recently rendered indispensible. Some seem
to think these repairs will prevent the payment of
the August interest on the Public debt ; but I think
their feats are groundless, unless the Public works
should he permitted to remain long idle.
A Revenue Bill was discussed in the Howie al
most every day this week, after the morning busi.
nese had been gone through with. The principal
subject of debate, was a provision in the Bill
(which is on second reading) laying a tax of ten eta.
per ten on Anthracite Coal, to be estimated at the
pit's mouth. This morning a vote was taken on a
motion to strike out this provision, when the House
refused to do SO, by a vote of Yeas 31—Nayt. 56.
So the House declared in favor of toning Anthra
cite C.oal. Whereupon Mr. Kunkel, who was op
posed to the same, moved to arnend by adding a pro
vision laying a tax of 23 mills per huahel on bitu
minous coal; which was the question pending when
the House adjourned, to-day.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution
to adjourn sine die on the 9th of April. The See
-1 ate has not yet agreed thereto;—their Committee
to wham n Resolution on this subject wart referred,
reported in favor of adjourning on the 15th of April.
I My calculation is that they will adjourn about the
20th of April—not before; and unless they im
prove their time better, important matters, will then
be undisposed of.
Several bill, have been passed authori
zii.g, the reconstruction of bridges where
the same have been destroyed by the late
flood, and also the establi,liment of Fer•
ries to meet the immediate wants of the
community' ; amongst these is a Steam
lose boat Ferry at Shamokin, and a sup
plement us the Northumberland bridge
company. Some fitly or more private
Bills have been passed in each (louse du..
ring the past week, but the Calender gets
no less ; and if the Legislature would
sit till Christmas, the business would keep
them going. The fact is each Senator
bras his list of private Bills, and so has
each metnber of the !louse, sod the result
is th,it each llousr, being bent on the
I passage of its own bills, neglects or fails
to get the UMW bill through the other
House, and at the end of the session, lots
0! beautifully transcribed bills, which have
passed in one !louse only, will be found
amongst the archievs of the Legislature.
The Senate passed by it ante of two-
thirds (20 to 7) the bill to incorporate the
Conestoga Strain Mills Manufacturing
Company of Lancaster, which Governor
Shunk " in his profonnd wisdom I" vetoed
a few days ago. the House passes the
bib! in like manner, it will be a law in
spite of the veto. The Governor seems
to have a greater dread of. domestic, than
foreign corporations, or he would have
prevented the introduction of the N. Y.
and Erie Railroad within our borders.
The Susquehanna is quite high again,
and a consider able quantity of lumber is
passing down. The Ferrying here is
rather tedious, the cu ri en( being so strong
that it requires a great deal of pulp g or
Acceptance of Mr. Powers
By the following correspondence it will be seen
that J 03105 M. POWER. Esq., the nominee of the
Whig State Convention, has accepted said nomi
nation, and henceforth will stand before the Free- I ,
men of this Commonwealth as a candidate fot that
important and responsible office. The nomination
is hailed with such universal joy throughout the
State, that we can scarce have a doubt of success
by the triumphant vote of the People opposed to
political favoritism, extravagance, and in favor of
retrenchment end reform.
11An ,
nisarnG March 12, 1846
Dear Sir : —The undersigned a committee ap
pointed by the Democratic Whig State Conven
tion, which assembled in this place on the 11th
inst., take great pleasure in the discharge of their
duty, to inform you of your nomination 1y that
body as a Candidate to be supported by the Whigs
of this State at the ensuing election, for the office
of Canal Commissioner of Pennsylvania.
We sincerely trust that it will be in entire accor
dance with your feeling', to accept said nomination.
Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
L. A. MACKEY,
JAMES D. I)UNLAP,
ED. C. MARKLEY.
J. IL M'CRUM,
ALEX. INLAND&
To Js,trn M. rowan, Esq.
WRIT GIIEENVILLZ, March 19, 1846,
Gentlemen : —Your lettet of the 12th instant, is
at hand, informing me of my nomination by the
Whig Convention as a candidate for Canal Com
missioner. This ill an honor a rich I neither asked
nor expected. Since the Convention have seen fit
to select me as their Candidate, I consider it my
duty to accept the nomination.
I remain, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J. M. POWER.
JAMES D. DUNLAP, Esq., L. A. Macxsy, Esq.,
and other..
The Central Railroad,
We are gratified at being able to inform our rea
ders, that this important bill haspassed both Houses
and will now go to the Governor, who we doubt
not, will give it his approval. If this road is made,
and we doubt not that it will, Pennsylvania will
then take the position that nature his designed she
should assume among her sister States of the Union
—that of No. I--and be emphatically and truly
the " KET;TOZis of the Astor."
For Mc Jburnal.
Ignorance is the Enemy of Liberty !
The persons who concocted and prepared the ad
vertisement, in the last week's Globe—headed,
knowledge is power"—are William 1 Jacobs,
Esquire, George W. Watson, and another person,
whose connection with the transaction, I am not
sufficiently sathfied of, to now give his name.—
They are men,--in the language of a chaste and
elegant writer—whose sins ate certain, but whose
salvation is doubtful.
March 30, 1946. X.
az} , The nomination of Capt. Joon Rea Willi',
for Awociate Judge has been confirmed.
CONORESS. serve, both with Great Britain and Mexico,en lien.
Wasataarosr, March 24, orable peace; whichnothing will so.le effectually pro
le se unenimitv in ,our .nounot
Mr. Johnson, of AA., presented resolutions adopt- In° . ~; , I ' and a 4rm
of all
ed by theAregislatitio of tonisianat calling upon manucl"nee K.
POlija .. K.
Congress, ip viemof the, preserA septet oenur for- Wash pion lrcl 24 )840.
cigti relations, to sdopt measure. fee 'putthng The President, in the multiage, having glutted to
Orleans in a condition of .llefence. estimates— r ,
Mr. Johnson moved that the resolutions be refer! 1 Mr. Webster desired to know what they wore, If
red to the Secretary of War, with instructions to the Chairman of the Military and Novel Commit
report s plan for the defence of New Orleans, and i tees, would inform him. file thought it proper for
an estimate of the cost. The motion wan laid over the Senate to be placed in possession of the intelli
until to-morrow. genre before the Committees.
Mr. Allen said he desired to call the attention of I Mr. Benton said the Military Committee had not
the Senate to the question "on what day they will acted upon the matter, and there were portions of
be willing to terminate the debate and take the the information which lie thought ought not to be
vote upon the question of notice, now before the communicated to the Senate. -
Senate." Mr. Allen said the diseuesion lied now Mr. Fairfield appeared not to here a good remem
occupied forty .five days, and there were 'Many tea. brance of the information of the President, but void
sons, which he could not now mention, why it was that the ten war steamers had been proposed in re
desirable to bring it to a speedy close. For himself, forence to this recommendation, or in concurrence
,he would desite to name Saturday next, as the day with the recommendation of the Secretary of the
upon which the vote should lie token. Navy.
Mr. Morehead mid ho did not know how far the Mr. Cass said his resolution had been sleeping
• practice of the Senate would sustain the eugges the sleep of death, but he wee glad that an Execu
tion of the Senator front Ohio. I tive Message, instead of British cannon, had awa-
Mr. Allen said ho merely wished to direct the kened them to life. The Message was then laid
attention of the Senate to the subject, that they upon the table, and ordered to be printed, after
might fir in their own minds a period for taking which the Senate went into Executive session, and
the vote, and he therefore had no objection to it s soon after adjourned,
being passed over until to-morrow. In the House the Militia Bill was under conelde-
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration ration, but no vote woe taken before adjournment.
of the special order of the day, and the Oregon de. March 25.--In the Senate the debate on the Or
bate was resumed. egon question was resumed. Mr. Sevier addressed
Mr. Chalmers addressed the Senate et length the Senate in favor of the House notice.
upon the eubject of notice, and in favor of that In the House the consideration of the Military
measure. Bill was resumed. The bill having gone through
committee of the whole, and being before the
House,
Mr. Brinkerhoff moved the previous question,
which was withdrawn, and Mr. M'Koy addressed
the House in favor of an amendment to the Bill,
by increasing the rank and file at once to sixty men,
and by giving power to the President to make each
company 100 men.
Mr. ltl'Key renewed the motion for the Previous
Question, which the Heave refused to second, yeas
50, nays 91.
Mr. Boyd moved to recommit the bill. Lost 96
A message was here announced from the Presi
dent. 'rho reading was called for, end the message
was found to be in answer to the resolution of Mr.
Dayton. It is as follows:
Message of the President
To the Senate of the United States,--
In answer to the inquiry of the Senate, contained
in their resolution of the I7th instant, whether, in
my " judgment, any circumstances connected with,
or growing out of, the foreign relations of thin
country, require at this time an increase of our
naval or military force;" and, if so, "what those
circumstances are," 1 have to express the opinion
that a wise precaution demands such an increase.
In my annual message of the 2d of December
last, I recommended to the favorable consideration
of Congress an increase of our naval force, espe
cially of our steam navy, and the raising of an ad-
I equate military force to guard and protect such of
our citizens as might think proper to emigrate to
Oregon. Since that period, I have seen no tense
to recall or modify these recommendations. On the
' contrary, reasons exists which in my judgment, rem-
der it proper not only that they should be promptly
carried into effect, but that additional provision
should be made for the public defence.
The consideration of such additional provision
was brought before appropriate committees of the
two Houses of Congress, in answer to calls, made
by them, in reports prepared, with cry sanction, by
the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the
Navy, on the 29th of December and the sth of
January last; a mode of communication with Con
gress not unusual, and, under existing circumstan
ces, believed to be most eligible. Subsequent events
have confirmed me in the opinion that these re
commendations were proper as precautionary men
sores.
It was a wise maxim of the Father of his coun
try, fief "to be prepared for war, is one of the
most efficient means of preserving peace;" and
that, "avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating
peace," we should "remember, also, that timely
disbursements to prepare for danger frequently pre
vent much greater disbursements to repel a." 'lire
general obligation to perform this duty is greatly
strengthened by facts known to the whole world.
A controversy respecting the Oregon territory now
exists between the United States and Great Britain;
and while, as far as we know, the relations of tire
latter with all European nations ore of the most
pacific character, she is making unusual mad extra
ordinary armaments and warlike preparations,
naval and military, both at home and in her North
American possessions.
It cannot he disguised that, however sincere may
be the desire of peace, in the event of a rupture
these armaments and preparations would lie used
! against our country. Whatever may have been
the original purpose of these preparations, the fact
' is undoubted that they are now proceeding, in part
at least, with a view to the contingent possibility of
a war with the United States. The general policy
of making additional warlike preparations was 1.14-
i tinctly announced, in the speech from the throne, as
late as January last, and has since been reiterated
by the ministers of the crown, in both houses of
Parliament Under this aspect of our relations' '
with Great Britain, I cannot doubt the propriety of
increasing our means of defence, both by land and
sea. This can give Great Britain no cause of of•
fence , nor increase the danger of a rupture. If, on
the contrary, we should fold our arms in security,
and at last be suddenly involved in hostilities for
! the maintenance of our just rights, without any ad
! equate preparation, our responsibility to the cowl
t try would be of the gravest character. Should col
lision between the two countries ho avoided, as I
sincerely trust it may be, the additional charge
upon the treasury, in making the necessary prepa
rations, will not be lost ; while, in the event of such
a collision, they would be indispensable for the
maintenance of our national rights and national
honor.
I have seen no reason to change or modify the
recommendations of my annual message in regard
to the Oregon question. The notice to abrogate
the treaty of the 6th of August, 1827, is authorized
by the treaty itself, and cannot be regarded as a
warlike measure; and I cannot withhold my strong
conviction that it should be promptly given. The
other recommendations are in conformity with the
existing treaty, and would afford to American cit
izens in Oregon no more than the same measure of
protection which has long since been extended to
British subjects in that territory.
The state of our relations with Mexico is still in
an unsettled condition. Since the meeting of Con
geese another revolution has taken place in that,
country, by which the Government has passed into
the halide of new rulers. Thie event has procras
tinated, and may possibly defeat, the settlement of
the differences between the United States and that
country. The Minister of the United States to
Mexico, at the date of the last advisee, had notbeen
received by the eliding authorities. Demonstra
tMne of a character hostile to the United States
continue to be made in Mexico, which has rendered
it proper, in my judgment, to keep nearly two
thirds of our army on our southwestern frontier.—
, In doing this, many of the regular military posts
I hare bees reduced to a small force, inadequate to
their defence should an emergency arise.
In view of these " circumstances," it is my
1" judgment" that " an increase of our naval and
military force is at this time required," to place the
country in a suitable state of defence. At the same
time, it is my settled purpose to pursue such a
eourbe of policy as may be best calculated to pre-
to 00.
Mr. 'Jamison, of Ca., proceeded to defend the
bill as reported from his Committee. Mr. H. said
ho should bring forward another bill, to give the
President power to raise 50,000 men, and if the
exigencies of the country required it, he was ready
to vote :00,000 or 1,000,000.
The motion for the Previous Question was now
renewed, and seconded by a vote of 91 to 50.
The amendment of Mr. hPliay was rejected by
a vote of 105 to 76, and the amendment of Mr.
liungerford (raising each company to eitlity men,
if the President thought proper to do so, and to en
lint the new troops for three years) was agreed to by
a vote of 112 to 79.
A motion was now made to lay the bill upon the
table, and lost by a vote of 149 to 32. The bill
i was finally passed, 164 to 15. The bill, if passed,
would odd 29,000 men to the Army.
Nows from Mexico.
The Steamship Alabama arrived at New Orleans
on the 16th instant, from Galveston. Tho Captain
report, that Mr..T. P. Shatzell, our Consul at Mate
moms, was actually put in prison by the Mexican
authorities, charged with the crime of holding cor
respondence with Gen. Taylor, of the U. S. Army,
at Corpus Christi.
The Corpus Christi (Texas) Gazette of a recent
date mentions a number of rumors brought to that
place by Mexican traders and others. One of these
in that the Mexican forces were rapidly concentra
ting on this side of the Rio Grande, and erecting
breastworks. The Gazette says:—
It is reported that the object of the Mexican Gov
ernment in posting Generals Mejia, Garcia, Cana
les and Col. Savericgo, on this side of the Rio
Grande was simply to form a case for negotiation
with the United States, showing that they had
military occupation of the territory between the
Notices and the Rio Grande, and that they had been
forced to retreat before, or had been driven west
from the Rio Grande by the advance of the United
States Army.
In this view of the case no fighting in anticipa
ted. But it is also thought by others, that the
march of Generals Ampudia and La Vega indi
cates a determination in the Mexican Government
to reinforce the troops on this aide of the Rio Gran
de, with a view of disputing the advance of the
American Army, and that a battle will ensue when
ever and wherever the opposing forces meet each
other.
The Gazette says that the Northern States of
Mexico, consisting of Tamaulipas, Nuveo Leon,
Cohahuila, and Fortions of the States of Zacatecas
and San Louis de Potosi, had it in contemplation to
declare their independence of Mexico, and, like
Yucatan, form a separate independent nation, with
a government modelled after that of the United
States.
The editors of the Gazette think it possible that
this event has already taken place, and add that
they are in possession of a printed copy of the
proclamation and the orders appertaining to the
movement, which they refrain from publishing at
present.
Vassar. SUNK-Tint. Pause:vs DROWNSD.-
The schooner-rigged canal boat " Peter," from the
Schuylkill, which left Philadelphia about a week
since, with a load of lime for St. Georges, on the
Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, and thence with
a load of marl bound to l3ridgeton, N. J., with four
persona on board, was foundered in the gale on
Tuesday night, of Isst week, and sunk in the Dela
ware in four fathoms water, about ten miles below
' Reedy Island, slaty or seventy miles below the city,
by which the captain, Charles Ingle, of this city,
and twn of the crew, Richard Loper, of Elsenbor
ough Point, N. J., and a lad named Patrick, sur
name not learned, about 16 or 17 years of age,
were all drowned. Jobs Evans, of this city, one of
the crew, was the only pereon on board eased, and
he preserved his life by climbing to the masthead,
where he set some six hours, from three o'clock of
Wednesday morning till nine, when he was taken
of by the schooner Hero, from Baltimore, and
' brought up to the city.-- Daily Chronicle.
Great Lattic in India.
Thinly-Thrre Hundred British and Mist
Troops -frilkd ohs tiroAded, and Reported loss
of Thit-Thouiand &Pis at illoodkee and
Fero* ah. k , tl
The Priilieh paitifinntalies the account done
of the gniaiiest batO ever; anght by the Etrittsh in
the Indian Empireoh witch they suatalned a lass
of 3,300 men, including Sir J. M'lteekill and Mej.
It road foot.
AD Extraordinary Gaulle given the ofilcial ac.
count of all the military operations of this great
struggle. On the 12th, 13th and 14th of Decem
her, the Sikh army crowed—the Sutlej, with, at the
lowest-intimate,
, 80,000• men. (of whorn , so,ooo. or
30,000 were cavalry) and about 160 cannon of the
largest cahbre moveable in the field. •
A fierce conflict ensued, in which the Sikhs lost
the artillery attached to their division, in number
17 gone. It was in this stage of the battle that Sir
Robert Sale and General hl'Keekill fell. The con.
test proceeded languidly throuph the 10th end
20th, the armies on both sides being occupied with
the buriel of their dead, and the re•organiration of
their respective arriites.
Imagination cbn scarcely depict the fury and the
obstinacy of the two days' fight that must hews
preceded the capture of the invader's camp with all
its material and artilery, and the utter dispersion of
the invading army on the 22nd of December.—
, Their lose is variously estimated at from 25,000 to
35,000 in killed and wounded. Our loss in killed
and wounded, it is to be feared, fells little short of
3,300, including 50 European officers.
Tho new. of the reload of our Government to
arbitrate the Gregon difficulty created n• little sen
sation in England.
The London Standard may. the President has
abated none of that rabid violence which has
characterized all hi. official proceeding. in regard
to England," and adds that there can be no clearer
indication of Mr. Polk's wiehes and intention. then
is to be found in his answer to Mr. Packenham's
offer.
ANOTHER GROAT FIRE IN PITTNEVAH.--Serea.
teen Houses Burnt.—The Pittsburg American at
last weak goys:
" We have to word another destruction of pro
perty in our city by fire, which broke out thu mor
ning about 4 o'clock, in one of the two bokeries on
Seventh street, between Grant and Coat Lane, be
longing to Mr. M'Lcaky, and another man whose
name wo did not learn. The buildings 'acing frame,
the lire obtained headway before the engines arri
ved, and the destruction has been very great exten
ding from Seventh to Prospect street, including in
all sixteen honeys, most of them new, and many of
them of the better class of frame building., with all
the furniture and household property of every kind
in as many as four of the houeee. The sufferer.
are Mr. Murray, two houses; Mr. Smith,
one; Mr. John Penmen, two houses, including all
I his furniture, the fire spreading eo rapidly se to af
, ford him no time to save any part of it; Squire
Arthure, two houses; Joseph Wright, ono house;
Mr. Houston, one home, and six others, the owner.
of which we did not learn. Part of this was the
site of the second great fire last spring, which had
been rebuilt. We have no estimate of the lose,
which is serious, from being the all of many of the
eulibrers. Wo believe there was little, if any,
cured."
An Elopement Case.
The N. Y. Tribune of Wednesday says We
have heretofore referred to tho• case of the young
lady, daughter of Mr. Cruse, of Keyport, Nl.,who
eloped with an Irish gardener and came to ta city,
where they were married by the Rev. Mr. Hoyt, of
the Methodist Book Concern. We stated yester
day that her father declared her to be of unsound
mind. She was yesterday morning examined by
two physicians, who agree with him in this decla
ration, and have given certificates to that effect.,-
She was taken before Judge Daly, of the Court of
Common Pleas, on a writ of habeas corpus, and at
dark had not been returned to the city prison. It
is therefore believed that she has returned to Key.
port with her father. 'fire young woman certainly
appeared very strange, and it is to Le hoped that if
undue advantage w as taken of her imperfect intel
lect, that her father may succeed in obtaining re
dress."
Violence and Death.
The Nashville Gazette states that on Sunday
week, E. Z. C. Judson killed Mr. Robert Porterfield:,
They exchanged shots. Judson was arrested; but
the populace cried "hang shoot him"—
aid a brother of the deceased, as well as others,did
shoot at hint, but he escaped. Judson then ran off;
hid himself in the City 'twat, and in endeavoring
to escape, fell from the third story, but did himself
but little injury. The Sheriff then took possession
of him--and the people, says the Gazette, seemed
willing to let the law have its course. Mr. J. C.
Penticost woe shot by a stray boll in the melee.
A letter written at Nashville on the 16th ultimo,
and published in the Cincinnati Atlas says:—
0 Last night, about 10 o'clock, a mob broke into
the jail and seized Judson. Maimed and almost
naked, they threw him into the street, to be hang.
lie begged for a minister--which was denied him—
he feared not death, but requested to be shot, and
begged that if there was any gentleman present that
he would shoot him. They took him to the square
and ran him up over the rail of an awning post ;
the rope broke and he fell, when he was taken hack
to jail, where he lies to die some time during the
night.
This affair grew out of a criminal :ntereoursa be-
tween Judson and PorterfieliPe wife. His wife's
dishonor when rendered fully apparent to him, el
moat deprived Porterfield of his reason, who is rep
reJented to be a moat amiable and tender husband;
he was about 30 years of age. This fact, too, is
what excited the populace to so great an extent.
Hearn ins Mtraulat.—A negro named William
Freeman, entered the house of Mr. Van Ness, a
farmer and Supervisor residing near Auburn, N.Y.
one night a few weeks since, and stabbed Mr. Van
Ness, his wife, child and mother-in law, and also
the hired man. The four former have all died.--
Freeman has been arrested and made a confession ;
stated that his object was to obtain some money
that he knew Mr. Van Ness had received a few
days previous.
Tun Tx lAL of Thomas Riehre, Jr. for causing
the death of Mr. Plearant., au to take place On
Wedneaday last before the Supreme Court at Rich.
mond, Virginia.
'LI