Huntingdon journal. (Huntingdon, Pa.) 1843-1859, February 24, 1847, Image 2

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    all the means which may be placed at my com
mand by Congress, to conclude a jug and honor
able peace.
Of equal importance with an energetic and vtg-
WOWS prosecution of the war are the means requi
red to defray its expenses, and to uphold and
maintain the public credit.
In my annual message of tLe Bth December
last, I submitted for the consideration of Congress
the propriety of imposing, as a war measure, reve
nue duties on some of the articles now embraced
in the free list. The principal articles now ex
empt from duty, from which any considerable
revenue could be derived, are tea and coffee. A
moderate revenue duty on these uncles, it is es
timated, would produce annually an amount ex
ceeding two and a half millions of dollars.
Though in a period of peace, when ample
means could be derived from duties on other arti
cles for the support of the government, it may have
been deemed proper not to resort to a duty on
these articles; yet, when the country in engaged in
a foreign war, and all our resources are demanded
to meet the unavoidable increased expenditure in
maintaining our &mice in the field, no sound rea
son is perceived why we should not avail ourselves
of the revenues which may be derived from this
source. The objections which have heretofore
existed to the imposition of these duties were ap
plicable to n state of peace, when they were not
needed.
We are now, however, engaged in a foreign
war. We need money to prosecute it, and to
maintain the public honor and credit, It cannot
be doubted that the patriotic people of the United
States would cheerfully, and without complaint,
to the payment of thie additional duty, or any oth
er that may be necessary to maintain the honor of
the country, provide for the unavoidable expenses
of the government, and to uphold the public cred
it. It is recommended that any duties which may
be imposed on these article. be limited in their
duration to the period of the war.
An additional annual revenue, it is estimated
of between half a million and a million of dolls: e,
would be derived from the graduation end reduc
tion of the price of such of the public lands as
have been long offered in the market at the min
imum price established by the existing laws and
have remained unsold. And, in addition to other
reasons commending the measure to favorable
consideration, it is recommended as a financial
measure. The duty suggested on tea and coffee,
and the graduation and reduction of the price of
the public lands, would secure an additional annu
al revenue to the treasury of not lees than three
millions of dollars, and would thereby prevent the
necessity of incurring a public debt annually to
that amount, the interest on which must be paid
semi-annually, and ultimately the debt itself, by a
tax on the people.
It is a sound policy, and one which has long
been approved by the government and people of
the United States, never to resort to loans unless
in cases of great public emergency, and then only
for the smallest amount which the public necessi
ties will permit.
The increased revenues which the measures
now recommended would produce, would, more
over, enable the government to negotiate a loan,
for any additional sum which may be found to be
needed, with mote facility, and at cheaper rates
than can be done without them.
Under the injunction of the Constitution which
makes it my duty 'from time to time to give Con
gress information of the state of the Union, and
to recommend to their consideration such meas
ures" as shall be judged "necessary and expedi
ent," I respectfully and earnestly invite the action
of Congress on the measures herein presented for
their consideration. The public good, as well as
a meow of my responsibility to our common con
stituents, in my judgment, imperiously demand
that I should present them for your enlightened
consideration, and invoke favorable action upon
them before the close of your present session.
James K. Pour.
Waehington,Feb. 18, 1847.
The Taylor Crusade.
All the wars of the administration,
national, partizan, individual, have been
unprofitable, but none so disastrous as
its its hostilities upon the hero of three
wars—the soldier whose every upward
step has been by a brevet or acknowl
edged superiority—who never fought a
battle but against overwhelming odds,
and never left the field but as a victor.
When the administration offered him
up as a sacrifice at the Rio Grande, he,
from the thistle danger, plucked the
flower safety ; and the cries of the ad
ministration against him for not having
done that for which Gaines was dis
graced—made a call upon the militia—
were lost in the shouts that hailed the
victories of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma. Every obstruction was subse
quently thrown in his way ; but all were,
by his genius, made to subserve the
glory of his country and his own ; and
the subjection of impossibilities to his
iron will at Monterey, the achievment
of that which even now startles belief,
and which leaves the loftiest military
triumph of the age behind it—crowned
a fame beyond the reach of petty envy.
The attacks made by the administration
upon that noble achievement, have more
intently directed public admiration to
the genius, energy, heroism, and hu
manity which characterized it. Mr.
Polk has gone beyond his depth in his
hostilities against the gallant Taylor ;
he has compromised himself with the
people, and with history. He is brand
ed as t hel friend of Santa Anna and the
foe of Taylor ; as the patron of the Mex
ican, the calumniator of the American,
arms. His effort to strew the pathway
of his ginger-bread Lieutenant General
with wreaths torn from the brow of the
real hero of the war, has excited against
him and his pet Napoleon of the palace
boudoir, feelings that will last while
lasts the memory of the war and its tri
umphs.—North dlmerican.
MEXTCO.—The National Intelligencer
has received full files of Mexican pa
pers, to Jan. 15. They are filled with
accounts of voluntary contributions to
support the expenses of the war, and
speak of the promises before them at
present as bright. They by no means
seem anxious enough for peace to sac
rifice for it honor or territory.
Otr Thos. M'Crea, son of Charles R.
M'Crea, was drowned in the Juniata
river, at Hollidaysburg, on Monday, llth
nst. He was about ten years of age.
THE JOURNAL.
Huntingdon, Wednesday, February 24, 1847
Err TAVERN KEEPERS who desire to
publish their applications for license in
the Journal, should hand them in imme
diately.
[t WOOD wanted at this office im
mediately. Subscribers who pay in this
article, will please fork it over.
v .- The recent message of the Pre
sident in relation to the organization of
the new military force, prosecution of
the war, &c., will be found in this paper.
Qj Thanks to Hon. A. Ramsey and
Hon John Blanchard, for Congressional
documents. Also, to D. Blair, Esq., for
favors from Harrisburg.
Conferee Meeting.
The Whig Conferees from Hunting
don, Blair and Bedford counties, appoint
ed to select a Senatorial delegate, to rep
resent this Senatorial District in the 9th
of March Convention, met at Hollidays
burg on Friday last, and appointed Hon.
JonN KER said delegate. We have not
yet received the proceedings, but learn
from one of the conferees, that the dele
gate was instructed to support Gen.
Irvin for Governor, and J. W. Patton,
Esq., for Canal Commissioner.
Opening of the Canals.
The Harrisburg Pa. lntelligencer says:
"We have made inquiry at the proper
quarters, and learn that the Canal Com
missioners are making every exertion to
open the Canals by the first of March,
and that if no freshets should occur to
produce breaches, they are confident that
the several lines will be in order for
transportation from the first to the 10th
of March."
THE LICENSE QUESTION.—The Chair
man of the Committee on Vice and im
morality, has reported a bill extending
the law of last session, giving the people
the right to decide by ballot whether li
cense to sell liquor shall be granted or
not, to the following counties, viz : Phil
adelphia city and county, Montgoniery,
Westmoreland, Armstrong, Bedford,
Dauphin, Northumberland, Cumberland,
Lycoming, HUNTINGDON, Franklin,Perry,
York, Clarion, Wayne, Potter, Bucks,
1 Blair and Adams.
The editor of the Washington
Union, the Organ of Mr. Polk, has been
expelled from the privilege of coming
upon the floor of the U. S. Senate, by a
vote of 27 to 21—for publishing a gross
libel upon a majority of that body, in
charging them with treachey to their
country. The motion to expel was made
by Mr. Yulee, a Locofoco Senator.
LICENSE IN WAEREN.-A vote on the
question of " license" or " no license,"
in Warren county, was taken on Tues
day, the 9th inst., and as far as heard
from, the townships, with one excep
tion, have voted for "no license," by
large majorities.
The following companies have
been accepted by the President, from
Pennsylvania, to form part of the ten
regiments, and will be immediately mus
tered into service:
Captain Butler's Dragoons,)
" B y i bdrg's Infantor
y,. f . phiLuiphim.
I" '
4. Hunter* from Cecile*
4 . Guthrie's, from Pitteburg,
" Irwin's, from Lewistown,
4. More'e, from Bedford and Franklin.
THE GAINES CASE.—The Judges of the
Supreme Court of the United States
have before them the Gaines case, known
as involving a large amount of money.
The counsel on the one side are Mr.
Brent, of Baltimore, and Mr. May, of
Washington city ; and upon the other
side, Mr. Johnston, of Maryland, and
General Jones, of Washington.
fl i- Westmoreland county has ap
pointed one Irvin and three Cooper dele
gates to the State Convention. Wash
ington county, one Cooper and two Irvin
delegates.
ID- Hon. Jos. R. Underwood, (Whig)
has been elected U. S. Senator from Ken-
tucky for six years.
THE MARICETB.—FIour and Grain have
declined a little in price during last week.
At the close of the week, in Philadelphia,
Flour sold at $6 25 per bbl. W heat at
$1,25 a 1,37 per bushel. Rye 85 cts.
Corn, 88 a 95 eta. Oats, 44 cts. There
is little disposition to operate until after
the arrival of the next steamer.
GEN. IRVIN'S VOTES.
The false charge made against Gen.
Irvin, of having voted, while in Congress,
to tax Tea and Coffee, has been most
effectually nailed to the counter by the
editor of the Daily Intelligencer, and a
correspondent of the Penn'a. Telegraph.
They show from the Journals of Con
gress and also from the Congressional
Globe, that the charge is just what we
pronounced it last week—a base, unmit
igated FALSEHOOD.
The object of the Locofoco press in
making a false attack upon Gen. Irvin
at this time, is too manifest not to be
perfectly understood by all. They are
alarmed at the sure. prospect of his nom
ination by the 9th of March Convention
—well knowing that the moment Gen.
JAMES IRVIN is made the candidate of the
Whig party of Pennsylvania, the doom
of Locofocoism and Free Trade is seald
in the State. But the slanders of pub
lic plunderers invariably have a contrary
effect upon the minds of the people, to
that which is intended ; and therefore
the abuse and calumny which is now
being poured out upon Geri. Irvin, by
the Treasury pap suckers about Harris
burg, will only increase the enthusiasm
with which the people, in all parts of the
Commonwealth, hail the name of the
"Popular Congressman"—and render
his nomination by the Convention doubly
sure. So lay on, Old Clo" of the Har
risburg Union; the people are vastly
obliged to you for lending your aid to
increase the overwhelming majority by
which they are determined to elect their
favorite, Gen. Irvin, in October next.
Relief For Ireland.
There was an immense meeting held
in New Orleans on the 4th inst., to pro
cure aid for suffering Ireland. The
Governor of the State presided, and on
his right hand sat Henry Clay, who, at
the particular request of the meeting,
rose and made a most eloquent and feel
ing appeal in behalf of the sufferers—
urging his hearers to efficient action in
their behalf.
In Philadelphia a large meeting, with
the same object in view, was recently
held ; and in that city and elsewhere,
the good work of collecting means in
aid of our transatlantic brethern, is now
going on with commendable spirit. The
reward of those engaged in procuring
food for the starving, is sure. The ap
proving smile of Heaven will rest upon
their generous exertions. We learn with
pleasure that some of our humane and
generous citizens have been sending on
liberal contributions to this object. Let
all who can afford it, "go and do like
wise." In connection with this subject,
we cannot refrain from giving the fol
lowing piece of poetry, taken from an
Engligh paper :
THE STARVING IRISH
The Irish Laborer's Pater-Noster.
Give us this day our daily bread:
Father! in mercy hear our prayer;
All hope of human aid has fled—
We sink in deep deapair.
Our little once !cream out with pain,
And clamor to be fed:
Father ! their cries to us era vain:—
Give us our daily bread.
O'er the gaunt infant at the breast,
The mother bows her head ;
The fount is dry, in vain 'tis presti—
Give us our daily bread.
Our eldest born, with hollow eye,
And eager stealthy treed,
Would TAM. th.: food we cannot buy;—
Give us our daily bread.
We must not beg, na shall not steal.
Though stone before us spread ;
But we will work with earnest seal;—
Give us our daily bread.
Famine bath kid her withering hand
Upon each little head :
Oh Christ ! is this a Christian land 1—
Give us our daily bread.
Thy will be done : Father receive
Our souls, when we are dead:
In Heaven we shell not pine and grieve—
Or want our daily bread.
ff The Lancaster County Farmer
devoted a column last week to the Li
cense Question. The editor is opposed
to all legislation on the subject, and ar
gues that giving the people a vote on
the question, would be an arbitrary way
of stopping the sale of liquors. We
clip the following from his article :
" It is notorious, that drunkards, and
even " occasional " drinkers, abominate
those who are known to belong to tem
perance associations. A mere prejudice,
of course—but sometimes excited by the
contempt with which some stupid tem
perance men regard their unfortunate
brethren ; being too ignorant to appreci
ate thegenerous and noble qualities which
in nine cases out of ten sink the drunk
ard to the grave !"
Is it not strange that some people are
so intolerably "ignorant" and stupid, as
not to be able to "appreciate" the "gene-
rous" and "noble qualities" which impel
a man to commit suicide? It would seem
that the editor of the Farmer thinks so.
BENTON OUTRANKED,
In the course of his recent speech in
the Senate, in explanation of his course
and his plan of Lieutenant General, Mr.
Benton, for the purpose of showing his
fitness to fill the office of Lieutenant-Ge
neral is reported to have said :
" Even in the Regular Army in 1813,
I was Lieut. Colonel, while most of the
present Generals were company officers,
and only one of them of the rank of Colo
nel I"
And further—
" In 1312 I was the military superior
of every General now in the service, and
had a right to have commanded the whole
of them, if we had chanced to serve to
gether. I was then Colonel in the ser
vice of the United States, commissioned
by President Madison, under a law of
Congress, and led a regiment of my own
raising, from Tennessee, to the lower
Mississippi, &c. &c."
Upon these statements a writer in the
New York Courier takes issue, and very
clearly demonstrates first, that in 1813,
he was Lieut. Colonel of one of fourteen
regiments raised for one year only, and
that his rank dates from the 18th July,
1813. As the regiments were raised
for only one year, Col. Benton's com
mand of course passed from him at the
expiration of that period. But the as
sertion that he was Lieutenant Colonel
while most of the present Generals
were only company officers, meets a
still stronger refutation in the following
extract from the list of regular officers
who held rank ns follows, in 1813:
Hugh Brady, Col. 22d Reg. Inf., 6th July, 1812.
E. P. Gaines, Col. 25th Reg. Inf., 12th March. 'l3.
Winfield Scott, Col. 2d Reg. Art.,l2th
W. K. Armistead, Lieut. Col.. 3 tat July, 1812.
G. Gibson, Lt. t 01. sth Reg. Inf., 15th Aug. 1813,
M. Arbuckle, Maj. Sil Reg. Inf., 15th Aug. 1812.
T. S. Jessup, Maj. 19th Inf., 6th April, 1813.
J. E. Wool, Maj. 29th Inf., 13th April, 1813.
Most of these are ' present Generals,'
and act according to the rules and regu
lations of the regular army, had a Lieu
tenant Colonel of the regular arm of ser
vice been called to act with a Lieuten-
ant Col. of Volunteers, his commission
as a regular would entitle him to take
precedence of the latter, no matter what
the dates of their respective commis
sions may be.
This is rather hard upon Col. Benton,
and as the facts to refute are drawn
from official sources, we do not see that
the Senator and disappointed Lieuten
anl-General can do any thing else than
to beat a retreat, a thing to which Colo
nels and Generals have generally a great
dislike.
lion. John Quincy Adams,
. .
The return of this venerable states
man to his seat in Congress, is thus de
scribed by the National Intelligence?:
A beautiful incident occurred in the
House of Representatives on Saturday.
While Mr. Hunt, of New York, was ad
dressing the Committee of the Whole
in support of the Wilmot Proviso (so
called), the venerable figure of ex-Pre
sidentgAdams presented itself at the cen
tral door of the hall. All eyes were
quickly attracted to the spot; Mr. Hunt
suspended his speech ; Mr. Mosely, of
New York, and Mr. Holmes, of South
Carolina, conducted Mr. Adams to his
former seat (temporarily occupied by
Mr. Andrew Johnston, of Tennessee,
who instantly relinquished the right
which he had to it under a late rule of
the House, as he had promised to do
when he selected it). The members of
the House rose at their seats, and num
bers of them approached Mr. Adams to
congratulate him on his recovery and
restoration to the hall.
"Mr. Adams, who seemed a good
deal subdued by this reception, express
ed his thanks, but in so low a voice that.
little of what he said could be heard at
any distance from that quarter of the
hall. All that we were able to catch of
these well-known tones was, that Mr. A.
was deeply sensible of the kindness of
the House in thus receiving him, and,
but for the feebleness of his voice, would
have more fully expressed his gratitude
to gentlemen of all parties for their kind
congratulations. As it was, he hoped
they would excuse him.
"Mr. Hunt, in resuming, noticed the
incident, and expressed his own deep
felt gratification at Mr. Adams' return
to his wonted place."
The Philadelphia Gleaner says
that the demand for vessels was never
greater in Philadelphia than at the pre
sent time. Every ship, brig or barque
in port is engaged, and we are informed
that ten vessels from Boston are about
to visit this port for the purpose of car
rying bread-stuffs to Europe.
COMMUNICATION.-MR. CLARK:-1 un
derstand that Mr. Ross, the new Super
visor on the Canal, is not making many
removals, only here and there. Where
he finds a good foreman or lock-keeper,
he is sure to get a notice from somebody
to leave. This is all right, when quali
fication is no longer a standard to judge
men by. You shall hear from me again
when the list is complete.
A LOOKER ON
LETTER FROM HARRISBURG,
Correspondence of the flundilgdori Journal.
HARRISBURdf Feb. 20, 1846.
JAMES CLARK, ESQ.-=- , SIR :—The week
which has just ended, has not been a
very eventful one in and about the capi
tol of Pennsylvania, and the letter-wri
ter has not, therefore, the wherewith td
excite the interest and astound the wis
dom of the newspaper reading public.
In the early part of the week several
divorce cases were on the tapis in both
branches of the Legislature. These do
not create general interest, although to l
the parties, and often to the members of
the Legislature, they are mostly of deep
concern.
The Governor sent a message to the
Legislature on Tuesday, announcing the
fact that the State Treasurer had not
available funds enough at his disposal
to meet the interest which became due
on the Ist inst., and urged the immedi
ate passage of a law authorizing the
State Treasurer to make a temporary
loan of two hundred thousand dollars, to
meet the deficit. This fact is a pretty
comment on the vaunting reports of the
late State Treasurer, James Ross Snow
den, to the effect that the interest could
be met by "anticipating the revenue,"
without legislative action, and that he
had, consequently, no legislative action
to suggest. And what is a little singu
lar in this matter, is the fact that the
Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means of the House, Charles B.
Trego, sustained this contemptible, pue
rile gasconading of James Ross Snow
den.
Mr. Evans, one of the members from
Chester county, urged upon the House
the necessity of compelling the State
Treasurer to give some satisfactory in
telligence on the subject of tha interest,
in order that the requisite steps to guard
against a deficit, might be taken.
But the chairman of the Committee
of Ways and Means thought the precau
tion unnecessary. Out of deference to
that gentleman, supposing him to be fa
miliar with the whole matter, the mea
sure projected by Mr. Evans was suffer
ed to fall. Mr. E. from similar feelings
and considerations, did not urge the mat
ter, although he believed that the State
Treasurer was deceiving, either witting
ly or unwittingly, the Legislature on
the subject. The facts announced in
the Governor's message prove that Mr.
Evans was right; and those who oppo
sed him wrong. It exhibits, too, the
financial skill of the late State Treasur
er, and the great want of judgment in
the chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, in relying upon that hum
bug functionary's statements.
A bill was immediately passed by
both houses ; authorizing the State Trea- '
surer to borrow on temporary loan, on
the credit of the State's revenue, two
hundred thousand dollars, to supply the
deficit in the Treasury. It is thought
there will be no difficulty in procuring
the money.
On Monday the Governor sent back
to the Senate, with his veto,
the bill in
corporating the Lancaster City Steam
Cotton Mills. On' Saturday the Senate
passed the bill over the Governor's head
by a vote of 20 yeas to 7 nays.
The appropriation bill was up during
the week, on second reading. It passed
along smoothly until the appropriation
to pay the judges salaries was reached.
The bill appropriates the same amounts
respectively as were paid last year:
which is, I believe, in conformity with
, the law of 1843. sy a law of 1839, all
I the judges were allowed two thousand
dollars per annum. By that of 1843,
they were again reduced to sixteen hun
dred dollars per annum. The constitu
tion says that judges' salaries shall not
be reduced during the continuance of
their term of office. In consequence of
this, the salaries of the president judges
appointed between '39 and '43, cannot
be effected by the law of the latter year,
so that they get four hundred dollars
more than those appointed before and
since. In addition to which, I believe,
the Supreme Court has decided the law
of 1843 unconstitutional. In making
the appropriation to pay the judges, the
Legislature of last winter adhered to
the law of 1843, as the bill now before
the Legislature proposes to do. Mr.
Knox and some other lawyers, contend
ed that this was an outrage upon the
constitution and the laws. But the
amendments to change the section were
voted down, and it was passed by a vote
of 56 yeas to 30 nays. An appropria
tion of three thousand dollars was in
corporated into the bill, in the shape of
an amendment, for the destitute fami
lies of the volunteers who have gone to
the wars. An amendment was also pro
posed, and carried, appropriating twelve
thousand dollars to defray the expenses
of the militia system. A great hum
bug ; and it was carried solely through
the influence of the military men in the
House. As thus amended, the bill pass
ed the House to-day without opposition.
The supplement to the Pennsylvania
Railroad passed the House to-day by a
vote of 47 yeas to 37 nays. The bill,
as it passed, allows all municipal corpo
rations in the counties of Philadelphia
and Allegheny, the city corporations in
clusive, to subscribe to the stock of the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
The Governor returned to the House
to-day the bill divorcing Eliza A.Whale,
with his veto. This veto is one of the
weakest of Gov. Shunk's productions.
He says in the message that he had no
eVidenee before Mtn, and could not,
therefore detertnine as tq its merits ;
and ydt, he takes it upon himself to use
the veto force against the bill. Is this
not one of the most glaring pieces of
presumption that any man was guilty
al The propriety of exercising the
Veto power, even in matters of public in
terest, has ever been questioned by a
large portion of intelligent and patriotic
citizens of the Country ; and its exercise
in local and private matters always rep
robated by the whole people. Notwith
standing these facts, our modest Gover
hot uses this franchise of his office, in
this extraordinary manner, without even
evidence to show. that he is using it in
a proper case. This is the most bare
faced abuse of this power that I have
witnessed for some time. The judiciary
committees of both Houses had examin
ed this case, and approved it. The
Houses respectively sanctioned this ap
proval. The committees and both Houses
had all the evidence before them, and de
termined to grant the divorce; but Gov.
Shank knows more about the case than
all, although he has no evidence on the
subject. Wise man, that thou art!
The House passed four divorce bills
this morning, and refused, for the pre
sent, to pass two others. The cases
acted upon, were hard ones, and I think
fully justifiable.
The Governor to-day, sent into the
Senate the nomination of J. Pringle
Jones. as President Judge of the Berke
district, in the room of Judge Banks.
Sergeant Reynolds, a non-commis
sioned officer of the United States Ser
vice, who was in the battles of the Bth
and 9th of May, at Palo Alto and Rom
eo de In Palma, d:el in this place on
Thursday. He was buried with the
honors of war, and the members of both
Houses of the Legislature attended the
funeral in a body.
Daniel Toy, a resident of this place,
was drowned in the Susquehanna about
noon to-day. He, in company with two
others, was out in a boat ; the boat struck
a large rock and upset. The party land
ed safely on the rock, but two of them
undertook to swim across. The first
succeeded; the latter, Toy, who was
somewhat intoxicated, sank, and up to
this time, has not been found
Yours, &c.,
CONGRESS.
The debate on the Three Million Bill
—which provides for giving the Presi
dent that amount of money to enable
him to purchase a peace with Mexico—
terminated in the House on Monday last,
and the House proceeded to vote on the
the several amendments proposed. Mr.
Hamlin moved to amend the bill by ad
ding the " Wilmot Proviso," which pro
vides that slavery shall be forever ex
cluded from such territory as may fall to
the United States, by virtue of the pro
posed negotiations. The amendment
was agreed to by a vote of 105 to 77
the members from the free State 3 gene al
ly voting for t he Proviso, and those from
the Slave States against it. The Bill,
as amended, was then passed finally by
a vote of 115 yeasto 106 nays. Seven
teen Locofocos from the North voted
with the South against this Proviso.
Messrs. C. J. Ingersoll, Black, Erdman,
Brodhead and McLean, of Pa., are among
the number.
The debate on the bill is still going
on in the Senate, and a number of able
speeches have already been delivered.
On the pith inst. Mr. Webster offered
the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the war now existing with Mex
ico ought not to be prosecuted for the acquisition
of territory to form new States to be added to tho
Union.
Resolved, That it ought to be signified to the
Government of Mexico that the Government of the
United States does not desire to dismember the Re
pnblic of Mexico, and is ready to treat with tho
Government of that Republic for peace, fnr a liberal
adjustment of boundaries, and for just indemnities
due by either Government to the citizens of the
other.
Mr. Webster is expected to make a
great speech in favor of the adoption of
these resolutions, and the Baltimore
American thinks they may pass the
Senate. We hope so.
On Friday last, Mr. Calhoun made
some interesting remarks in relation to
Wilmot's proviso, predicting the most
fearful consequences to the Union should
its principles be carried out, and con
cluded by offering a series of resolutions
of the following import :
First, That the territories belonging to the U. S.
are the joint and common property of the States.
Second, That Congress as the agent of all the
States, hae no right to make any law by which they
shall be deprived of this full and equal right to any
territory acquired, or to be acquired.
Third, That any law which would deprive the
citizens of any State from emigrating with their
property into any territory of the United States,
would be in derogation of their perfect equality,
and a violation of the constitution, and tend to sub
vert the Union.
Fourth, That the imposition of any condition
upon a State, in order for its admission into the
Union, other than that its constitution shall be re
publican, would be in direct violation of the consti
tution, and conflict with the principles upon which
our system rests.
Mr. Calhoun asked that these resolu
tions should be printed, which was agreed
to. He also hoped that when taken up,
Senators would be prepared to vote upon
them ; it was high time that the South
shouli know where they stood.
Mr. Benton pronounced the resolutions
a " string of abstractions," and was op
posed to throwing fire-brands into Con.
gross to obstruct the regular business.
SPY,