The New York Herald Newspaper, February 6, 1848, Page 1

i | New York, Feb. 3, 1848. American Politics— Present State of Partiee— Candidates for the Presideney—Circumstances which will probably control the Selection and the Election. American politics would farnieh a mighty subject for the study and development of a great historian and philosopher. He who thinks that the division of parties is produced by the organ- ization whereby each struggles for triumph, or by measures and acts which are successively at- tacked ordefended, labors under an egregious error. That organization, and those measures, are the consequence, not the cause, of parties under democratic institutions. In every form of government wherever the people have secured to themselves a substantial portion of the law-making power, they divide into two great parties, based under all upon like principles, and with like tendencies, controlled, no doubt, to some extent, by collateral circum- stances. “One may be designated the party ef progress, of change—the other of stability or conservation—each has its good and its evil. Kither continued long in power, unless under the guidance of wise and honest men, necesseri- ly produces great lef; they are nistic powers—the one, without restraint, w drive the machinery of government with such »; and violence as to break the gearing—the other, without extraneous impu'se, would allow it to rust and decay upon its axis, In the party of progress will generally be col- lected that es e portion ot every community who hope, by change rather th na labor, to better their relative condition in life. In that of conservative, those who have aequired the substantial means which so the gre it object of all. This division would be alm: universal, were it not th rable tent education, habit, w 0c the natural tendencies ;, but, allo’ exceptions, it is extensive and Hence, those who are poor and are labor, capecially those of them wi lew he delice. bor—and how do nott—will gemerally be found in the party of progress, the y which is holding out new schemes ot ncement, new enterprizes, new motives. passions are captivated, hopes are encou: , any and all changes are looked upon ae pr ‘ising some- thing better than hard and daily toil. s Those hopes and promises are no doubt illu- cory, aud doomed to disappointment, for few, very few of the great mass, succeed; still they 0 before us, beckoning us forward, and we foi- low. The ranks of progress are swollen by the young; those just entering upon the field of worldly strug: ie, seeking for fortune—reluctant- ly courting it by the slow advance of labor, but wishing to effect 1t by some revolution, some new adventure io the affairs of men, which will cast 1t upon them by a single throw of the diee Again, those, and their name is legion, who are dissatisfied, who are envious of the condi- tion of their more successtul neighbors, who look with a longing eye upon the apparent com- fort and enjoyment which surround them, swell the throng—they call for change, for movement, for progress, whereby their relative conditions maybe reversed. ‘ Against these combinations, the conservative influences would present a feeble re: nce, were it not that the consequences of over action act back with fearful force upon the parties who excited it. They, are often the first to feel and to suffer from their own follies, Many become alarmed, and to stop the progress of the mischief fora period, throw themselves into the other scale until the balance is restored—sometimes until the beam is fairly carried down on the other side, and every thing is brought to adead stand. Without pursuing this subject further, enough has been said to ow that the democratic party-—the party of adventure and progress—must generally be in the ascendancy. The question, however, arises whether they have gone so far—whether these whom they have placed on the lead have so improvidently extended their field of opera- t'ons—as to alarm the most cautious and timid. We think they hav. py feel by no_ mesns sure of the result. 6 idea of bing the whole cf Mexico; of annexing it to the nited Stetes, is a most taking sentiment. {t appeals to the young with most dazzling effect. The love of victory, t e glory. of war, the pride of conquest, stirs up the young blood; b says they see the ingots of pure gold and silver piled up, heaps upon heaps, in her mountains, enough to make them ail rich as nabobs, and in cr apres they are riaing four in hand in splendid coaches. They never stop to enquire how much hard wo k must be performed betore the yellow boys can be ex- tracted from the ore. In fancy, the whole is now minted ready for circulation. = : The political contest, in all probability, will be carried on upon the single question—the whole of Mexico, or none? No party can be organized upon the question of the annexation of a part; it a partial annexation is made, it will be brought about by co-operation of the existing par‘ics. No new party can be formed upon this basis, and hence the notion of creating a third party to support General Taylor, by taking the middle course, is idle. Yet such seems to be the expec- tation of those who have enlisted under his ban- ner in different parts of the United States. With this object inscribed upon his standard, with this groundwork for a political movement, he cannot rally a corporal’s guard. ; We supposed until within a short time back that he might be selected as a candidate by one of the great political parties of the country. ‘That now seems impossible, and without it his friends cannot begin to move. The history ot General Jackson’s advent to the Presidency, must satiety any sonable mind. It wiil be remembered that during the administration of President Monroe, the strange spectacle was presented of au ad- ministration without a party. The war and subsequent peace with Great Britain Med, apparently, almost, in fact, amalgamated all parties into one—the party of the country ; yet, hefore he retired the division was again mani- fested, not with the strength and compactness which had been exhibited betore and have been exhibited since. At this time, and under these favorable circumstances, General Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, wus pregented as a candi- date for the Presidency, not by either political jacty, but upon his own personal merit. Le tailed, and never reached the Presidential chair until nominated by one of the great political par- ties of the country. The same must be the fate of General Taylor. The united and devoted adherence of the whig party to Henry Clay, does not arise from persenal copsiderations towards that distinguished states- man, but because he is truly the personification ot the wits and conservative principle. His election will be considered as giving evidence that the majority of the peopie have become alarmed at the proaresire conduct and course of the democracy, and foratime, at least, desire to halt, and try the effect of conservative and whig policy. There can scarcely be a doubt of his becoming the candidate, if he consents Whether he will receive Fe ea of the votes isanother question. Itis to be borne in mind, that independent of the addition of th navuralization ot immigrants, there is to be the immense addi- tion arising from the young, who have, end shall come to full age, in the lapse offour years. Upon a reasonuble calculation, the change in the vote, in the course of four years, will be equal to one- fifth of the entire number cast at the last presi- dential election. The addition consists of the young, the ardent, the ambitious, the enterpris- ing. The subtraction consists of the old, the cautious, the conservative. Another matter re- mains to be discussed. Who is to be the candi- date of the democracy? the exciting question in the contest being the annexation ot the whole of Mexico. We answer, James K. Polk.— He is the author of the splendid scheme— He planned it in whole and in detail. He set the wheels in motion; the democratic party have adopted it, and they will allow and require him to bring it to a conclusion. They will never consent, after due reflection and if they can pre- vent it, to allow the administration to be changed in time of war. Besides, what hold has Mr. Cass, Mr. Wood- biry, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. , or Mr. Dix, upon the democratic party t t most, the re- putation of either of them is scarcely natio: Neitner of them has any strong hold upon the country, When their merits come to be can- Yosseds insurmountable objections will be found to each. _ Clay nee Folk ri again become the cham- pions under which the great politic ‘ies will rally. God and Liberiy— A fair field to each. n thus speaks the coat of arms of Mexico. Axzany, Feb. 3, 1848. A Glimpse at the Divisions in the Democratic Party—The Results of those Divisions. The position of the State of New York being re- garded at the present moment with intense inter- est, we have taken some pains to ascertain the causes of the division in the democratic ranks in this State, and the probable results to which these divisions will lead. The main differences heretofore between the two branches of the party have arisen on the question of State banks, internal improvement, and the tariff. Messrs. Marcy, Croswell and Corning, have generally advocated the charter of numerous State banks, and the prosecution of works of internal improvement, and the estab- lishment of a high tanff. So recently as win- ter before last, for instance, Messrs Cros- well and Corning made a journey to Wash- ington to defeat the pesenge of the tariff law of 1846. Mr. Marcy, through his con- nection with hie father-in-law, Mr. Noah, was always largely interested in a protective tariff; and all these gentlemen, as the subscrip- tion list, published at the time showed, shared largely in the stock of the new banks recently created. The contractors who were inter- ested in internal i id whi worite leader was "Gerauen Bown ioised vernor Bouck, joined their torces with Messrs. Croswell, of the irgus ; Corning, of Albany, and . Marey (the Secretary of War,) and an_ intimate union existed between the interests of the con- tractors, the tariffites and the bank specula- tors. These leaders, and those who follow them, constitute what is known as the conserva- tive or old hunker party of the S ate of New York ; yd have great skill, activity, and talent; and have, till within a few years, always controlled the action of the democratic pasty, either by dictating its movements, when ina majority, or by throwing it into a minority. At the head of the radical or barn-burning por- tion of the party, stands Azariah C. Flagg; asso- ciated with him have always been Messrs. Dix, Michael Hoffman, Stephen Allen, and latterly, the younger leaders of the part) essrs. John Van Buren, Preston King, George Rathbun, G. P. Barker, (recently deceased) Grover, Tilden, Field, and others. The radical portion of the party have uniformly advocated « liberal trade— a sound system of internal improvement and finences, and have resisted the charter of banks, and have refused to participate in the profits of the distribution of their stock. di A_ reference to these principles of action will readily enable an examiner to comprehend the course taken by these two divisions in regard to every important public question which has arisen withia the last ten years. The hunkers opposed the independent treasury law because it curtailed the profits of the banks, of which they were directors, and stockholders, and borrowers. The barn-burners supported it, being free from such entanglements. From 1841 to 1844 the barn-burners supported a proneaad amendmeat to the constitution, introduced by Mr. Loomis, known as “ the people’s resolution,”’ and intend- ed to restrict the legislature in the creatien of State debt. The hunkers opposed this amend- ment, because it iaterfered with the internal im- provement schemes of Mr. Bouck and his friemds; but the popularity of the amendment itself, an the extent to which the State debt was swollen, under the influence of the Messrs. Ruggles, Seward, and others, enabled the barn-burners, in, 1845, who had failed in peer eats this amendment into the constitution in the mode pointed out by the old constitution, to force through the Le, ture, with the aid of the whigs, the celebrated act calling a convention to remodel the constitution itself. This act was fiercely resisted by the hunkers with the Argus at their head; but it became a law, and the new constitution is the result of that strug- gle. The tariff act of 1846 was another victory of the barn-burners over W. L. Marcy and his friends, Messrs. Croswell and Corning ; all three of these gentlemen being largely interested in manufacturing associations, the profits of which were reduced by th: aes Such are the general principles and measures which have divided the barn-purners and hunk- ers in the State of New York. — - In 1844, and for some time previ it became obvious, that eithergfrom dissatisfaction with Mr. John Van Buren, who had become a promi- nent barnburner, or from a fear on the part of the conservatives: that Governor Bouck be renominated, and that the elder Van Buren weuld not reinstate them in offices which they had enjoyed, in fact, during the greater pact of their natural lives, the huakers were not desi- rous that Mr. Van Buren should be nominated for President. Although lending to his nomi- nation a tormal support, it is suspected that, by active correspondence with other portions of the Union, and secret diseffection and intrigue, they defeated his nomination.. When Mr. Polk came to Washington, Mr. Wright was the prominent candidate of the democratic party for the suc- cession; and the hostility to him as the con- ceded head of the radical democrats in New York, called forth all the address and activity of the conservatives in forestalling his influence with President Polk. Mr. Polk, himself, had been much connected with banks in the State of Tennessee; and drawn to Gov. Marcy by this bond of sympathy, no difficulty was found by the hunkers, aided by ambitious aspi- rants in other States, in giving the New York representation in the cabinet to the present emi- nent head of the War Department. From the 4th of March, 1845, to the present day, the in- fluence of the administration at Washington, directed Aue knowledge and skill of Mr. Mar- cy and of his friend Mr. E. Croswell, has been freely used for the prostration of the barnburners in New York. With this view nearly every offi- cer of the general government appointed in this State nas been a conservative, or an individual under conservative control. Thus tortified, the huokers defeated the election of Mr. Wright in 1846, and the nomination of Mr. Flagg in 1847. The exasperation growing out of these cir- cumstances, together with the position as- sumed by the whig and democratic p:rties on the Wilmot proviso, threw the State, last fall, iato the hands of the whigs by nearly 40,000 ma- jority. The barn-burners, although they have never made the Wilmot proviso a test at an elec- tion, hi niformly insisted in conveutions, caucusses, and legislative action, that the State of New York should declare its uncompromising hostility to the extension of slavery to territory now tree. ‘The conservatives, wi hout venturing to deny the correctness of this position, have al- ways objected to the declaration as unseasona- ble—calculated to divide the party—to separate the democracy of New York from that ot the Union—and ag d.senabling them to sup, ort for the next Presidency either Messrs Buchanaa, Cass or Dallas (who have assumed an adverse Position), or Messrs. Polk or Woodb ity, who are supposed to agree with these last nam-d gen- tlemen. . ‘ The Syracuse {convention, under the influence of the conservatives or hunkers, laid the Wilmot proviso upon the table; and assumed to alter the established mode of choosing delegates to a na- tional convention, from the general ticket to the district system. ‘To prevent a State convention for choosing delegates, they appointed a State central committee, and clothed it with pewer to call State conventions. All State conventions previously held, had been called by a legislative caucus; and the hunker committee, it was, well understood, would not call a State convention to send delegates to the national convention The conservatives had thus arranged matters to their entire satisfaction. The barnburnere, however, under the lead of Mr. John Van Buren, assem- bled at Herkimer, and re-affinmed, in tne name of the democratic party of New York, their un- compromising hostility to the extension of sla- very, by torce, to free territory; they repudiated the State centr.l committee with the district system of delegates, und called a State conven- tion, to assemble on Washington’s birth day, at Herkimer, to choose thirty-six delegates to a na- tional convention. At this etage of the proceedings, tho demo- cratic members of the Legislature met in caucus at Albany, and, with four dissenting voices, called the State convention, which is to assemble at Uucaon the 16th of February, to determine whether the delegates tu the national conven- tion shall be chosen by districts or by a State convention, and if the latter, to choose such delegates. is ¥ 2 The barnburners, meanwhile, still persisted in the Herkimer convention ; an adjourned caucus of the members of the Li ture, reaffirmed, in behalf of the party, the principles avowed at Herkimer, and the radicals then very adroitly and sensibly gave up their convention, and went in for the Utica movement. The conservatives, on the other hand, being outnumbered in the caucus, stampeded—adopteda minority address— ead their State committee called the convention & which has just met in Albany, and nominated thirty-six Presidential electors, and attempted an entire reorganization of their party on the basis of hostility to the Wilmot pro- viso. They intend, also, to choose thirty- four delegates to the national convention from Congressional districts, and these thirty- four will cnoose two for the State at large. The barn-buraers, or radicais, will assemble with the mass of more moderate democrats in the compromise convention at Utica, called by the legislative caucus, in conformity fo a usage of twenty years’ standing. They will, donbr- less, if ina TANF repeat, in the name of the democratic party of the State, their unyielding hostility to the extension of slavery, and select thirty-six delegates to the national convention at Baltimore. Whose nomination those delegates will advocate is entirely unknown; but it is ob- vious that they can neither support the nomina- tion orelection of either of the democratic can- didates to whom we have alluded. If they are admitted to the convention, and are expect- ed to take part in the election, some new candidate must, be fixed upon who has not ex- cited their suspicion or hostility, and whom they can, without dishonor, sustain. Otherwise,the electoral ticket, already nominated at Albaay, will be the only one in the field pledged to the nominee of the democratic national convention, and that will be beaten out of sight. In view of all these circumstances, we again repeat, Mr. Clay is looking up. _ sith He ; We have given this faithful historical review of the causes which led to the disseverment of the democratic party of this State into two divisions, and of the subsequent proceedings of these divisions, because we are deeply im- pressed with the importance of the narrative, more parenlarly ut the present time, We have always kept aloof from both divisions, and maintained a perfectly neutral attitude in every respect. We have never purposely made a false or malicious allusion to either wing, and we intend to preserve our neutrality. Hereatter we intead to watch these sections very closely, and to give correct accounts of their operations. atleast until the termination of the next Pr dential campaign. Axgany, February 4, 1848. The Anti- War Report—The General Manufactu- ring Bill, §c. §c. The consideration of the anti-war report, which Mr. Wilkin lately made to the Senate, has been set cown for next week. This was the report of the select committee to whom was re- ferred so much of the Governor’s Message as re- lates to the war in Mexico. In his message, the Governor took strong ground in favor of the war and of ample military appropriations; in this pungent report or protocol a disagreeable rebuke is administered to the Execu ive for his heresy. The report is, in f ict, an iteration of the views of Henry Clay, as »vowed at Lexington. It sticks to his text withouta tittle of deviation. Resol i- tions, very similar ‘o those offered by Mr. Clay, were handed in with the report. Mr. Fine, from the same committee, submitted a mi- nority report immediately after the reception of the majority report through Mr. Wilkin.— I must say, that I could not discover any st: king differences in the general positions as- sumed in these reports; the Wilmot proviso report was radically whig in every aspect, except upon the question of boundary between Texas and Mexico. It attempted to prove that the Rio Grande was the true boundary. When the ques- tion upon the adoption of Mr. Wilkins’ report comes up, we shall see whether the Clay whigs outnumber the Taylor whigs in the Senate. The general manufacturing bill in which there is felt so much interest by the capitalists and the manutacturers was reposted to the Senate to-day, with amendments by Mr, Clark, from the staad- ing committee on manufactures. This bill, has already passed the House in a form which virtu- ally exempts stockholders in manufacturing com- panies from any personal liability for the debts of the company. Some persons predicted that the bill would pass through the Senate with these NEW YORK, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 6, 1848. ‘The Free Banki [From the Philadelphia One of the uewspapers sa! has set an example to all the other States upon banking, and it advises them, especially Penn- sylvania, to follow it without delay. Accord- ing to the free banking law of New York, any person owning any of the bonds of the State, for its debt, may make them the capital of a bank, by depositing them with the comptroller of the State, us security for the issues of such bank, and that the comptroller, upon such deposit, issues, in behalf ofthe banker, an equal amount of bank notes. Thus, State bonds for a hundred thousand dollars, perhaps worth in the market fifty or seventy-five thousand dollars, are secu- rity for a hundred thousand dollars of bank notes. The newspaper referred to says that under this law, the whole State debt is taken from the hands of foreigners, and converted, by citizens, 1nto security for the paper circulation, by which process, the interest of the State debt is kept at home, instead of being sent abroad. According to this system of banking, one pro- mise to pay is the only security for another pro- mise to pay, and this last promise is a substi- tute for coin. And this is called credit! And itis recommended as the safest mode of bank- ing! We canaot comprehend the soundness of that political economy which enables one man tomake his debts a substitute for coin, because he is another mun’s creditor. ‘I will give you a hundred of my notes,” says the banker to the farmer, “for a hundred bushels of your wheat. They are good, because my neighbor owes me the same amount.” ‘But both you and your neighbor may fail,” replies the farmer, ‘and therefore I prefer a hundred silver dollars,which are good with all men, in all times and places.” “Bat the State is my neighbor, and will not ‘States have failed,’’ replies tne farmer, ‘and may again; but coin never fails.” We regard as entirely unsound, the whole system of coining money, circulating medium, out of debts, espe- cially when secured merely by other debts. But this 1s not the only objection. The debt of Pennsylvania amounts to forty millions. If this be made the foundation of free banks, forty millions will be added to the present circulation. The present banking capital of the State | twenty miliions, nominally, and the current cir- culation founded upon it about ten millions; and whoever will examine the banks of each Stace, will find the circulation about one-half of the nominal capital. The continual return of notes in payment, and for coin, generally restrains the circulation to this point at most. Butwhena State stock bank 18 established, the whole amount of notes is delivered at once to the banker, who keeps them out while he finds bor- rowers, while none come in for specie. Thus the circulation of a stock bank willbe twice that ot a specie bank upon the same nominal capital; and thus stock banks are worse than specie banks in expanding the currency. If the whele circulation of Pennsylvania, in coin and paper, be fifteen millions, and forty millions were suddenly added, what would become of our exports? Anaddition of one hundred and sixty-six and two thirds per centum to the cir- culation, would enhance prices beyond its pow- er to export,and fillit with imports which would drain off all the coin in circulation and in bank. All the States owe about one hundred and filty millions, If they invest a hundred millions of those debts in banking, leaving their corporate banks as at presen, the crises of 1816, 1827 and 1838, will be repeated; agriculture, commerce and manufactures will be prostrate, and the country be deluged with foreign manufactures and toreign wheat, and drained of coin. Fine policy for Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and other great producing States ! The same journal says that Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan want banks, and have no banking system, and that their debts would furnish them with sufficient banking capital. If these States, with Wisconsin and lowa, are wise unto salvation, they will never allow a bank to be established, nor a bank note of another State to circuiate, within their borders. They are exclusively agricultural States, and depend upon amarket abroad. To secure this market, they should keep the prices of their pro. uce moderate ” obnoxious and unjust provisions still attacked to it; but those persons were ignorant of the char- acter and the views of the Senate when they adopted such a belief ; the standing committee of the Senate to which the bill was reterred re- ported itto-day, with some material amendments and modifications, one of which is that stock- holders shall be held and deemed to be person- ally liable for all the debts of the company exceeding the amount of the capital stock of the company; ‘hey also’ recommend the introduction into the bill of other salutary checks against the rapacity and disho- nesty of these moneyed stockholders. The bill, with the amendmenis reported by the committee, was referred to the committee of the whole Se- nate. It 1s earnestly hoped, thut this enlighten- ed body will not suffer it to become a law, with- out adding to it such wise and impurtial provisions as shall rather have a tendency to diminish than to increase the incentives to the association of wealth, under the style of ‘ cor- poration.” The superior advantages of which associated capital is already enabled to avail it- self are already too great; in the eye of the law, the artisan should be equal to the monarch. The bill pending ia the lower House, which proposes to make any city or town in this State liable for all the property which may be destroyed by mobs, in such city or town, will not probably pass. This bill was introduced in consequence of the late destruction by a mob of some emi- grant hospitals in Newtown, near New York. | The Canal Board are very busily engaged in making the usual appointments of canal officers. The number of applicants for these petty offices \ is unusually large. The Apolloneans will give a concert here next week. Tue NeGrors or Vixcinia.—A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, writing trom Rich- mond, Jan. Ist, says:—This is New Year’s day in Virginia, and I suppose it is so in Ohio; yet I assure you the day in the two places would net be recognised readily as the same. Instead of that social interchange of visits and greetings which marks our own and free State cities gene- rally at this time, every face here looks anxious, wistful, scrutinizing, and the whites are min- gling among the herds of blacks, turning this man around and asking questions of that, and here and there a nervous lady questioning the buxom, thick-lipped wench in regard to their several capacities, then reading their ‘*charac- ters” which the damsels carry in their hands in- stead of their sable faces—and all this because this day servants are hired for the year. Itis emphatically a day of business, and Rishmond does not see many such days in a year, with its ordinary dultne: Even the slaves look aax- tous, for ia their change of places to remain un- changed again for at leasta year, they must feel a natural auxiety in relation to the employment and masters during that season. But these slaves are a happy set of people. As a friend anda aympathiser with the whites, / would wish the blacks free; but as a friend to the slaves, and to them a well-wisher, I should keep them as they are. ‘They are better off in the country, on the plantations, than they are here in the city; and what is their cendition here? As contented as a race of mortals can be on this earth, I am satisfied. The slave knows that under every circumstance the master is bound to clothe and teed him, and to take care of his wife andchildren if he have them. Huis necessi- ties are ever under the care of others. If he get sick, it is to his master’s interest to procure the vest medical attendance. If Sambo then have a dollar—and there are but few slaves here who are not continually, one way or other, getting them —then this money is spentin some luxury. They are the best patronisers of confectionaries, grog- geries and pedlars. They are fond of dress, and tnese dollars are laid up to purchase all the fine- ries of clothing. Ifa siave die in the middle of the week, the body is preserved till the followin, Sunday, at which fime they have a grand tunera! procession. Now [challenge any one to find a processian of white men in the country with equal size with these, in which there are more well-dressed, or better, more fashionably clothed men. Those slaves employed in the factories, or at any mechanical labor, are tasked, and all they make over this is their own. Consequently there are slaves who can make as high as nine dollars per weck, and every cent of this is spent in ac- taal luxuries. Five out of six of the slaves of Richmond could in a few years purchase their freedom. ‘ney would not have it on the condi- tion of leaving the city. Swallow that, Mr. He- rald. Indeed, there are free blacks here who pass themselves off as slaves, and live as such to avoid being sent out of the State by an old law provid- lor their dism jal after a certain time of ves do but little work. They loiter around the streets, and take things easy while the white mechanics are forced to toil and live economically. by a dear currency; and the dearest currency is coin. The State debts of the three first amount to nearly thirty millions. If they issue thirty millions of paper upon their debts, wheat from the Bultic and Mediterranean will be carried, up the lakes to Detroit and Chicago fora market, as it was brought to Philadelphia in 1837, when flour sold for fourteen dollars to the barrel in the midst of abundance, through an artificial scarcity produced by bank paper. Then every dollar of coin would leave these States; they would soon become impoverished, and their bonds, the se- curity of their banks, could not be paid. If the farmers of the great West would secure a steady market, anda steady stream of coin for their produce, they will tolerate no bank paper or paper circulation. Our War with Mexico In 2 British Colonial Point of View. [From the Bermuda Herald, Dec. 30 ] _The celebrated Albert Gallatin, who has long since retired from active life asa statesman, has recently published his opinion of the Mexican war, in which the United States are engaged, and takes stronger grounds than even Mri y. He clearly proves, what no person acquainted with national law would dispute, upon principle, that in annexing Texas, when she was at war with another power, his government made iteelf a party to that war; and that if hostilities did not immediately commence on the part of Mexico, it was because of her weakness, and not because she had not just grounds. He farther shows up the misrepresentation of facta, on tne part of the President, when he stated that Texas exercised jurisdiction over the territory lying between the Nueces and Rio Grande; which was not the case, except in the vicinity of the former river ; and so far from the Rio Grande being consider- ed as the western boundary of Texas, he asserts that it was claimed by the United States as the western boundary of Florida. 2 It is difficult to perceive what will be the ef- fect of the opinion, thus prominently put forth at the present time; but as the whigs are deci- dedly in the ascendant in Congress, and as the future prosecution of the war will involve fur- ther outlay, and to an enormous extent, more pesceable counsels may prevail, and Santa Anna’s offer may yet be accepted, to make the desert between the two rivers, which is about 120 miles, a sort of neutral pean ; and this, as Mr. Gallatin observes, would be the best boun- dary, for reasons which must be evident. That of a narrow river would lead to incessant alter- cations among those of different nations navi- gating it; and interminable broils would be caused by the crossing of negroes from a land of slavery to one of freedom, and fugitives from justice. These would be rendered more fre- quent and ferocious from the teelings that have been engendered by the present war, which has been one of a most sanguinary character, the knile and the stiletto perhaps slaying more than fell in open combat. Even with such a boundary line as the desert, peace between the two coun- tries would not be too lasting or secure, on whatever terms or condisions one might at pre- sent be concluded. [From the sams paper of January 7 } _ One of the greatest misfortunes that can befall individuals, 18 a want of contentment; end the same remark will apply to communities, which are so constituted that it can have full p! wt and this is the case in the United States. After a period of extraordinary peace and prosperity, during which there has been a vast introduction of wealth and population from Europe, and with millions of uncultivated and wilderness land, which wouldafford a comfortable asylum,not only to their own inhabitants, but to the superabun- dant population of Europe, we fiad them urging an aggressive war for the acquirement of addi- tional territory, and meddling with the aflairs of every country, where dissatisfaction, real or groundless, prevails. A Accordingly We observe an account in the New York papers, of a meeting which has been held in that city, for encouraging the present en- lightened and liberal pontilf of Rome, in his noble career. 1t would seem that subjects ot a domestic nature have been exhausted; and that the citizens of the republic are willing to under- take a crusade, wherever its institutions can be introduced; as if tne future destiny of the world hung — their shoulders, or depended upon their eftorts in the cause ot human freedom; to which they seem to consider the long establish- ed usages of every other nation as opposed. _ We recollect reading somewhere, that at the time if the capture of the President, American frigate, by the Endymion, Commodore Decatur stated, that as he found the latter was the supe- rior sailing vessel of the two, he contemplated during the action, throwing his crew on board his opponent; and in this way making his es. cape, So this disposition to go abroad in search of adventures, may result in the curtailment of their own eg 4 , Probably by the time the nation has come out of the Mexican war, and counted up its cost of blood and treasure, those who compose it make up their minds to “ leave well alone, to try the excellent working of their own conati- tution—of which many among themselves enter- tainadoubt, considering it an experiment that has not yet been fairly tried and tested, and be content to benefit the world by a good example, rather than by an uncalled for interference in the affairs of others. Sr. Lovis, January 20, 1848. The Murder Case—Piracy—Affair of Honor— Libel Suit—Altempted Suicide—News from Chihuahua. Various statements have appeared in the pa- pers of this city, relative to the atrocious mur- der committed here on Sunday night last, some of which are quite erroneous, and none altogeth- ercorrect. The facts, as far as ascertained, are these :—On Sunday evening, two persons arrived in this city, on board the Laclede, from Helena, Arkansas, and put up at the Missouri Hotel. ‘The elder, a man of about hfty-five years of age, registered his name, ““W. Mathews, Monroe county, Missouri ;”’ the other, a person some- what younger, “E. W. Baldwin, Indiana.” They appeared to be intimately acquainted, and took a lodging room in common. Their bag- es, consisted of a small trunk, the property of lathews, and a valise, that of Baldwin. Both declined the assistance of the porter in convey- ing the baggage to their room, and it was ob- served by Mr. Vancourt, the keeper of the hotel, that the trunk appeared very heavy, as if fille with specie. is About 7 o’clock the same evening, Mathews appeared at the bar of the hotel, and asked per- mission to take the key of his room with him, ashe was going to walk out, and he did not wish to leave it at the bar, as, on such occa- sions, ig customary. This was granted, and in afew minutes after, Baldwin made his appear- ance, when the two walked out together. At7 o’clock Baldwin returned to the hotel alone. He appeared agitated, and was ina full perspiration, although the weather was quite cold. He immediately applied for a seat in the Western stage, which would depart next morn- ing at 1 o'clock, and also desived to pay the bill for himself and Mathews. Mr. Vancourt in- wired whether Mr. Mathews would leave by the same conveyance ; to which Baldwin re- plied, ‘‘yes, and you can put him down for a seat also.’’ Baldwin then asked for the key of their lodging room, and on_ being informed that Mathews had taken it with him, he seemed much surprised, and hastily left the room. Be- tween 8 and 9 o’clock he returned, in compan with astranger, and retired to rest. At1 o’cloc! next morning, these two persons, taking with thera the trunk of Mathews, departed ia the Western stage. 4 Early on Monday morning Mathews was fouad, lying dead Smpnie tate saw-logs, in the upper part of the city. is head had been per- forated by two pistol balls, and there were ether marks of violence on his person. His features were not distorted, and he appeared to have been killed instantly. On enquiry being made in the vicinity, it was ascertained that the discharge of a pists) had been heard near the spot where the dead body was found, the even- ing previous. The deceased and another per- son had also been seen walking near the spot a short time before. i The fact of the murder gaining publicity, eli- cited the information from a passenger on the Laclede, that Mathews wasa farmer, lately from the neighborhood of Helena, Arkansas, and that Baldwin was his son-in-law. This gentleman supposes that the two had a large sum of money in their possession. Police officers have gone in pursuit of Baldwin, and it is sincerely hoped hee me preve successful. ‘m. Broadhey, a Scotchman, about 45 years of age, was arrested in this city on ‘Tnureday, on his own confession to his participation, some dozen years since, in acts of piracy on the high seas. He since states that his tales were fabu- fous; but he is still under arrest, and will proba- bly be fully committed to answer. He acknow- ledged his participation in acts of the most fiend- like ssrooity, particularly while a pirate on board the Black Rambler, a schooner which was fiaal- ly wrecked on the coast of Florida. _An interesting libel suit is now pending in the circuit court of this city. A Mr. Seni . Barn- field, late conductor of the Age,a spirited week- ly paper, has been prosecuted by Sumuel Stailey for a libel on his wife. Rumor renders it quite notorious that the lady alleged to have been slan- dered is afflicted with an ignorance of meum and tuum, or probably a monomania for appropriating trifles not her own. Mr. Barnfield rather un- charitably alluded in his paper to this little fail- and hence the prosecution. esterday morning a Mr. Goadby, a nice young man, who follows the business of a journeyman hatter, was arrested and brought betore the Re- corder, charged with sending a challenge to a Mr. Parrott. It seems that the latter hud insu! ed the former, in refusing, in the presence of dies, to sell hima ball ticket. For this grievous offence the hatter felt determined to ruffle Mr. Parrott’s feathers, but the affair becoming public, Mr. Goadby was arrested, and required to give security for the observance of the peace. Mr. John Thornton, the capitalist, who at- toe to commit suicide a few days since, by stabbing himself, is yet alive, but no hope is en- tertained for his recovery. According to recent accounts from Chihuahua, not heretofore promulgated, Mr. Wm. Skinner, late of this city, had been arrested by the autho- rities, confined in the calaboose, and his mer- chandize confiscated. Aravs. Che Moniteur Algerien, of the 29th ult., thus deveril e meeting of Abd-el Kader and the Duke d’Aumale:—* At six o’olook P.M Emir, acoompanted by Generals Lamorieere and Ca nacend Lieut.-Colonel de Beaufort, arrived mou, and was presented to his Royal Highness: Con- forming himeelf to his present position, Abd-el- Kader humbly left his. sandals at the threshold, waited a sig. nal from the Prine to sit down, and, after « moment's silence, pronounced the following words, which were translated by M. Rousseau, the principal interprete “Loh ave wished todo sooner what | have done to-day ited the hour marked by the Almighty. The General gave me his word, and | have trusted to App-ei-Kaver I Aman for my family and myself.’ Duke briefly confirmed the promise of his lieutenant, and dismissed with dignity that personage towards whom the feelings which long pervaded the breasts of Frenchmen must now subside. Tents had been pre) d within ¢] cincts of the hospital of Nemours his family. He was conducted thither, and devoted the whole of the 24th to the arrangement of his private af- . Aceremony, which must have deeply wounded his pride, took Open in the morning:—At the moment when the Dake d’Aumale was returning from reviewing the cavalry, thi alten presented himself to bim on h kK. and surrounded by his principal chiefs alighted at short distance from the Princ orse,’ said he, ‘the last | mounte: token of my gratitude. [ hope it yy gift’ ‘I mocept it,’ replied the Pi ‘as an homage rendered to France, whose pro! shall hereafter cover you, and s sign ofoblivion of the past.’ The Emir then bowed with dignity, and retura- 4d on foot to his tent.” Anti-Rent_ Ovrraer.—Sheriff Tyler, and his deputy, Mr. Ferguson, and a clerk from the office of Teunis Van Vechten, went out to Bern yesterday morning, to sell some property belonging to a man named Mcintosh. The ssle attracted the attention of about two huadred of the inhabitant, who, when any- thing was offered, set up a hooting and hallooing. 1’ party was snow-balled and maltreated in various wa ir. Younglove, the clerk from Mir. Van Vechten’s office, was tripped up with a rope, and rolled down a bank He escaped without injury. The sheriff was obliged to abandon the pet a without selling anything —Avbany Knickerbocker. On get- ing yard of Barclay and Townsend, Hoboken. ti she careened over to the larboard into the we side, and got qui her beam eods, her masts and bul- ‘warks touching the water. There were on board about twelve persons, including the owner, master, and mate. These clung to t! by which they were saved from n cold water bath. No injury of any moment occurred. She was econ released from her awkward position by a steamer, which brought her safe and sound alongside the wharf.—Newark Datly Advertiser Fib 4. ArroInt MENTS bY THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE.— January 23—New York—Andrew Carrigan, com- missioner of ration. William W. Story, master warden; and Benjamin Harwood, oue of the wardens, rt of New York. David K. jo, William Bloomfield, Johi Camerden Jr , George D. Cooper, Charles Harman C. Tallman, Simeon Baldwin, Jam ‘Thomas 8, Somers, ‘Gordon M , Alexander M. Ross, George pear, Pierre M, Irving, William D. Wadding! Mam A. Darling, notaries public. Several whales were seen off Loi Island, last week, Law Intelligence. Surreme Covar, F —In Chambers— Before Judge Edwards— Underwood vs. Peter Felter, Jr.—This wase motion made to discharge the defendaat from arrest five civil suits on giving common bail. It appsared the defendant, who is resident of N this city In the latter end of 1946 or baginning of 1447, id purchased goods from the plaintif inthe different suits, to the amount ¢f $1000 or $12000, The plain- tiff, Underwood, and the firm of Patterson & Co., subse- quently alleged the goods were obtained by fraudeand misrepresentation, and procured the defendant to ba in- dicted by the grand jury of the city York. Mr. Underwood next obtaina the Governor of this 3 for the surrender of fagitivs from jus- tice. A warrant was ynted by the Governor of Lou- isiana, under which defendant was arrested aad brought to this =. He was bailed on the criminal charges; af- ter which he was arrested oa civil process on five differ- ent suits. Mr. Hoffman moved to-day to have him dis- charged on hie reoogalzance, on the ground that the criminal charges were got up for the purposs of briagi the defendant within the jurisdiction of the civil courts of this State. He contended that this proceed- ing ought not to be countenanced by the legal tribn- nals here. At all events, the rule applicable to wit- nesses and suitoré, namely, that they were exti- tled to protection while ing from their place of abode to a court of justice, aud retiring, also applied to this case, and upon thet ground the defendant ought to be discharged. Mr. Upton, on behalf of the) plalatite in all the suits, contended that there was no direct evi- dence to show that the criminal prosecution was instita- ted to briog the defendant withtn the oivil jurisdiction of this Sts id the judge was not at liberty to infer in the absenge of such testimony that such was the fact. The plaintiffs in three of the causes had no conuexion with getting up the criminal charge sgainst the dofendant, and it could not be contended that they were precluded from arr him on civil process when he cams within the jurisdiction of the State Courts. Decision reserved. 1 Cuncurr Covat anp Count or Oven ann Teaminan, —Mr. Justice Strong will open both those courts on Monday. Sursrton Counr.—The February Term of this Court commences on Monday next for the trial ef records. Two courts will sit. Common Puras.—In Banco—Decreioxs—Feb. 5.— Jesse C. Kinner ads Governeur S. Bebby.—Motions granted — terms of paying costsof default. Coste of these motions to abide the event. Mchorens ads Fitzgerald, et al,—Motion denied with coats. Summons ve Taaf.--Piaintift’s bill of exceptions over- ruled with costs. An‘hony and Crane, ve Aiken.—Verdict confirmed with ooste, Aidrich, ade The People of the State af N. ¥.—Mo- of costs of entering judgment, tion granted on pa} Gibson, vs Fitzmaurice.-Motion granted, unless de- fendunt stipulates ‘e. the costs up to the time of put- ting in bis plea, and the plaintif? be allowed to discon- tinue without costs Hogan, assignee $c., vs Eaton.—Order appealed from modified: Cost of appeal to abide the oe Bieakley, ads The Peaple.—Motion for deley ef farther proceedings to Ist of June next; granted, but not to ef- feot lien or security of the judgment and execution in this cause, Erhen adem Hale et al.—Referees’ report net aside and the case referred back to the same referees, to hear such further evidence as may be offered, and to report anew the evidence, 80 far as taken to stand, aid all costs to abide the event; but if plaintiff will remit part, as sug- gested, report for the balance, to stand confirm Mc Caller and others adsm Alen et al.—Case referred back to referees. ‘The following ia a copy of a rule entered on the minutes of the Court this morning :—The Court have adopted the rule, that in all motions argued at Cham- bers, on Friday of each week, the decisions will be given on Saturday in open Court. Count Cacennan—Monvar.— Circuit Court—Nos. 1 to No. 16 inclusive. Superior Court—Nos. 1, 8, to 21 inclusive. Common Pleas—Part 1—Noa. 89, 77,61, 83, 99, 115, 121, 123, 125, 127, 79, 87. Part 2-12, 49, 44, 62, 66, 70, 72, 84, 90, 92. Suruxme Count or tHe Unrren States, Feb. 4 Nos 31,34 The Planters’ Bank of Missisatppi, plaintiff io error, vs. Thomes L. Sharp et al.; and Baldwin, Vail, and Haity, plaintiffs in error, vs. James Poyae et al. The argument of these causes was concluded by Mr. Ser- gesut, for the plaintiffs in error. No. 167. Joho Perkins, appellant, vs. Edward ?. Fourniquetetal. The motion to dismiss this cause was argued by Mr. Fendall f port of the sams, and by Messrs. Mayer and Coxe in opposition thereto No. 100 Sam, L. Forgay et al, =. pellants, ve. Francis D. Con ko. The motion to dismiss this cause wi on the record and notes of co by Mr. Sergeant in sapport of the motion, and by Mr. May in opposition to the seme. Adjourned till Monday, 11 o’clook, Religious Intelligence, Cacenpan avany—6 Sih ergy hr iexd Epi- phany. 13 Sunday afcer Epipbavy. }. Septuage- sima Sunday. 27. Saxegesima Sunday. ‘A collectiga wili bs taken up in ese of the Catholle Churches of this city, (with the exception of St. James’) to-day, tor the purpose of aiding in re-buildlog the Churoh of the Holy Name of Jesus in Elisabeth street, recently destroyed by fre. A collection will be made this mcrning in St, John’s Chapel for the benefit of the Missionary Fund of the Diocese of New York. Cardinal Lambruschina, of Rome, bas been struck with an attack of apoplexy, ‘The Rey. John Larkin, 8. J, will deliver a lecture this evening ot half past 7. ofalock, in th sumption. corner of York aud Jay streets, Brooklyn, for the benefitof St. James’ Beneficial Temperance Soolety. ‘The Hon. Thomas James Bernard, member of her Ma- Jrsty’s counoil, in Jamaica. and chairman of quarter set- sions, has been admitted into the Roman Church. The government of Lucerne decided, on the 24th ult. thet the following religious bodies should pay, in the space of afortnight, 1 000 000 of france :—Ist, the C vent of St. Urbaim, 500,00uf. ; 2d, the pious establishment of Munster, 400,600f, ; and 3d, the other convents, 100,- 000 franca. Miss Sophia Shaker, of Philadelphia, took the white veil, on the 7th ult.,at the Convent of the Visitation, Rey. Bishop of the Diocese of St. Louis, contem- plates establishing a Society ef St. Vincent de Paul in the eity of Buffalo. Rev. D.C. Lansing, D. D , Professor of Sacred Rheto- ric in the Auburn Theolegical Seminary, and late of the Chrystie street Congregational church, New York, hav- ing received and accepted oall to the Clinton avenue Congregational church of Brooklyn, will enter upon his pastor to-day. There are frequent conversions in Western Penneyl- yanis among the Germans from Romanism to the Pro- testant faith. The confirmation of the election of Dr. Hampden as Bishop of Hereford, took place on Tuesday the 11th ult. in Bow Church, Cheapside, which was crowded with in- terested spectators. After the Litany, which was read by Archdeacon Hamilton, the Commissioners of the Archbishop took their seats, the Vicar General, Dr. Burnaby, presiding. The letter of the Archbishop, pointing tive Commimioners was reed, and them the let ters patent of the Crown for the confirmation of the Bishop elect. Dr. Hampden was then presented to the Commissioners by the Proctor for the Chapter, Mr. Un- derwood, together with the mandate for election. The opposers were then called, whereu Mr. Richard E. Townsend, Proctor, appeared in behalf of three of the porch ornmei Huntley, Jebb, and Powell, to oppose the con! tion. Objection being made to Mr. Townsend’s appearance. Dr. Adams, Advocate, came forward and addressed the court in along and very able argument, on his right to be heard upon the subject. and that they were bound to entertain objections which might be urged—Dr. Bayford, on the part of Dean sad Che} ter, objecting to his being heard at all Dr. R. Philli- more and Dr. Harding fullowed Dr. Adama, on thesame side. When Dr. Bayford rose on behsif of the Chap- ter, he was stopped by the court; and the Vicar General stated that they were bouod uoder the pro- visions of the statute of Henry VIII. to proc to the confirmation of the Bishop, and that they would incur the penelties of praemwnirs if they did not. Ac- cordingly the confirmation proceeded, just as if no objection was made; and when, ins subsequent stage of the proceedings, 0) were again publicly called, the words were received with shouts of “ Moekery, mockery,” from ‘assembied congregation. T' Bishop elect then took the onths required, aud the sen. tence of confirmation was signed, reed, and given. Oo the day following these proceedings, a rule was justant obtained in the Court of Queen’s Bench, before Lori Chief Justice Denman, and Justios oleride, Patterson and Wightman, by Sie Fitsroy Kelly, to show cause why 8 mandamus should net iarue to the Vicar General of the Archbiskop, commanding him to allow the objeo- tors to appear before bim, and to state their ot jeotions to the confirmation of the Bishop elect, and to deter. ming on snch opposition. Sir F Kelly mentione that b «3 objections refer to the doctrine of Dr. Hampden. So it the matter is not y Dr. Vaughan bes Jediator, Sebuyikill, A. F. Olmsted to 1 Hill, N.C. charge of the b street, Philadelphia. The Church of tl southeast about north. compelling | pt. L. to put his @ beat of bis way back again. d to w perfect gale, and the weather beiag thick, and the snow beginning to fy, Capt L. eculd uot find the marks on the outer bar, and in ororsing it, hia vessel struck heavily several times, and was put ashore near the North head of Long Pond, a fow minutes before 12 o'clock. The passengers wore landed about 2 0’clock, on horseback—the water being shoal within tho vessel—and the crew came ashore in their boat For about four hours the wind blew viclent- ly, {a squalls, accompanied with rain and snow. This wan the tirnt time that the Portugal bad attempted to aford, wince she capsized, just two weeks st to N (ore, om day. She is not much injured, we learn, and arrasgements are being je to get her oi. The si Clio, Capt. Mitchril, has taken ner place om the lime. Nantucket Enquirer Fob 4 Miscellancous. They have been enjoying excellent sleighing in Bos tom daring the past wee Southampton ou ond one, it is said, wae killed | ‘Thareday, bat b bie captors were obliged to cut from him, night me. The Lemitlethes of Ohio ia disgusting a general rail- road law. Major Blias le now in Lebancm, N, H., at the residence of big mother.