'which we already possess, or.may possess
if this is to be the fixed policy of the Govern
ment, Iask what will be our situation hereaf
ter. -
Sir, there is ample space fortwelve or fifteen
of the largest-description of Sittes in the terri
tories belonging to the United States. Already
a taw.is in course of passage thaon-h the other
House creating one north of Wisconsin.
There is ample room for another north of Io
wa; and another north of that ; and then that
large region extending on thisside of the Rocky
Mountains, from 49 degrees. down to the Tex
an line, which may be set down fairly as an
area of twelve and a half degrees of latitude
- that extended region of itsell is susceptible of
having-six, seven, or eight large States. To
this, add Oregon. which extends from 49 to 42
degrees, which will give four more, and I make
a very moderate calculation when I say that,
in addition to Iowa and Wisconsin, twelve
more States upon. the territory already ours
without reference to any acquisitions from
Mexico-may be, and will be, shortly added
to these United Statis. How will we then
-stand y .There will be but fourteen on the
part of the .South-we are to be fixed, limited.
.and forever-and twenty-eight on the part of
-the non-slaveholding States ! Twenty eight'!
Double our number! And with the same die
proportion in the other House and in the elec
toral college! The Government, sir, will be
entirely in the hands of the non-slaveholding
statcs-overwhelmingly.
Sir, if this state of things is to go on; if this
determination, so soleipuly made, is to be per
-sisted in, where shall we stand, as far as this
'Federal Government of ours is concerned 7
What, then, must we do? We must look to
justice-to our own idterests-to the Consti
tton. We will have no longer a shield even
in equality here. Now can we rely upon the
-sense-of justice of this body 7 Ought we to
.rely upon ti~s ? These are the solemn ques
tions which I put on all sides.
Sir, look to the past. If we ate to look to
that-I will not go into the details-we will
see from the beginning of this Government to
.the present day, as far as pecuniary resources
are concerned-as far as the disbursement of
revenne is involved, it will be found that we
have been a portion of the community which
has substantially supported this Government
without receiving anything like a tautamount
support from it. But why should I go beyond
this very measure itself? Why go beyond
this determination on the part of the non-lave
holding States, that there can be no farther
ad,lition to the slaveholding States, to prove
what our condition is ?
Sir, what is the entire amount of this policy?
-1 will not say that it isso designed. I will not
-say from what cause it originated. I will not
-say whether blind fanaticism on one side, who
titer a hostile feeling to slavery entertained by
many not fanatical on the other, has produced
it ; or whether at has been the work of men,
who, looking to political power, have consid
ered the agitation of this question as the most
effectual mode of obtaining the spoils of this
government. I look to the fact-itself. It is a
policy now openly avowed to be persisted in.
-It is a policy, Mr. President, which aims to
monopolize the powers of thia government and
to obtain sole possession of its patronage.
Now,-I ask, is there any remedy ? Does
'the Constltation afford any remedy ? And if
not, rs thuiee any hope,? 'hose, Mr. Presi
dent, are solemn questions-not only to us.
but, let me say. to gentlemen front the non
- slaveholding States, to them. Sir, the day
that the balance between the two sections of
the country-the slavelolding States and the
not-slavehoding States--r destroyed, isa day
that will not be far removed-from political rev
olution, anarchy, civil war, and wide spread
disaster. The balance of this system is in the
slavehelaing States. They are the 'conserva
tive portion-always have been the conserva
tive portion-always wilf be the conservative
portion; and with a due-balance on their part
may, for'generations to'come,/Iphold thitdglo.
- rtous Union crours. But if this p--liey should
be carried out-if we. are to be reduced to a
handfull-if we are to become a mere hill-to
play the Presidential game with-to count
something in the Baltimore caucus-if this is
to be the resut-wo! wo! I say to this Union.
Now, sir,'1 put again the solemn qutestion -
does the Constitution afford ay remedy ? Is
thiere any provision in it by which this aggres
siVe policy--boldly avowed, as if perfectly
consistent with our institutions and the safety
and prosperity of the United States, may he
confronted 1 Is this a policy consistent wihm
the constitution 7 No, Mr. Pr~usident. no !
It is. in alhis features. daringly opposed to the
Constitution. W~hat as it ? Oars is a federal
Constitution. The States are its conastituesnts,
and tnt the people. The twenty-eight States
-the twernty-nine States--(i nelnding Iowa.)
stand under dais government as twventy-nme
mndividuals would stand to a consolidaeted
power. It was not maade for the mere indivit
alg oap. rity ofthe Stt-s at individualh. No.
&ir*, it was mrade for higher ends. It was formed
that every State constituting a por tion oaf this
great Guion of ours. shutld enjoy all its ad -
vantuges, inaturarl and acquired. with greater
seurhry. aid enioy them more perfectly. The
wvhole system is based on jitstice anid equality;.
perfect egnality between the members of this
republic. Nor cer that be consistoeat with
egunahty which wvill make this pubhin doini
a mnonopily oni one side-which, in its conase
-quences, wouild plaice the whole power-in one
section of tthe Union to be wielded against the
-other portion of the Union 1 Is that equality
Hlow do we stand -in reference to thai.u terri
-torial question-this public don'uain of ours ?
Why, sir. what is it ? It is the common prop
erty of the States of thais Union. Th'ley are
called "the terriruries of the United States."
And what are the 'United States' but the Staies
united ? Sir, these territories are-the property
-of the States united; held jointly far thenir coma
mon use And is it cotisistent with justice-is
it consistent with equality, that any portion of
the partners. ontnmnberiing anotther portion
shall oust them in this conmon .property of
theirs-ahall paUss any law which shaldl pro0
scribe the citizens of other portions orte Union
from emigrating with their property to the ter
a itories of the United States ? Wouald that he
conasistent-can it be consistent with the idea
ofa common property, held jointly lfor the
commnn benefit or all? Would it be so con
sidered in private life ? Would it not he con
sideredl the greatest outrage in the world, andl
which any court on the face of the globe would
at once aoverrrle ?
Mr. Presiddat, not only is that propositin
grossly incon- istent with the constitution. but
the other. which undertakes to say that no State
shall be admeitte I inato this Union, which shall
not prohibit by its constitution the existence of
slaves, is equally a great outrage against the
constitution of the United States. Sir, I kold
it to be a fundametntal principle ol'onr political
a'v temn, that the people have a right to estab
lae what govemnment they may think proper
for aNemseves; that every State about to be
como a member of this Union has a right to
form its own government as it pleases- and
that, tua order to be admitted there is but one
qualifica inn1 and that is. that the governmnt
ishall be republican. It is not so expressly'pare.
scribed by the instrument itself, but by that
great section- whieln guarantees to every State
in-this Union a republican form ofgovernment
Now. sir, what is proposed ? It is prop oed,
- from a vague;, indefinite, erroneous, and most
dangerous conception of private individual lib
erty, to overrule this great common liberty
which have of framing their own constitution!
Sir, the individunal right- or men-is- not nearly
so easy to be established by any course ot'reat
soning. as his common liberty. And yet, sir,
hero .... ..e.. -of such diae feelin= on the
subject of liberty-there are men who cannot
possibly bear.what they call slavery in one sec.
lion of the country-(and it is not so much sla
very as an institution for the good of both ra
ces)-men so queamish on this point, that they
are ready to strike down the higher right of a
commuinity to govern themselves. in order to
maintain the absolute right of individuals in
all circumstances, to govern themselves!
- Mr. President, the resolutions that I have
proposed present, in exact terms, these great
truths. 'I propose to present them to the Sen.
ate; I propose to have a vote upon them; and I
trust there is no gentleman here who will te
fuse a direct vote upon these propositions. It
is manly that we shall-know the state of things.
It is due to our constituents that we should in
sist upon it; and.i, as one, will insist upon it:
that the sense oF this body shall be taken . the
body which represents the States in their ca
pacities as communities, and the members of
which are to be their special guardians. It
is due-ts them; sir, that there should be a fair
expression of what is the sense of this body
Upon that expression mnch depends. It is the
only stand which we can have. It-is the only
position which we can. take, which will uphold
us with anything dike independence-which
will give us any chance at all to maintama an
equality in this Unien. on those gteat princi
pies to which I have had reference. Overrule
these principles, and we are nothing ! Pre
serve them, and we will ever be a respectable
portion of the community.
Sir, here let me say a word as to the com
promise line I have always considered it as a
great error-highly injurious to l he South be.
cause it surrendered, for mere temporary pur
poses, those high principles of the Constitution
upon which I think we ought to stand I arm
against any compromise line. Yet I would
have been willing to continue the compromise
line. One of the resolutions in the House, to
that effect was offered at my suggcstian,.I said
to a friend there, .Mr. Burt.] ''et us not be
disturbers of this Union. As abhorrent to rrr.y
feelings as.is that compromise line, let it be ad
hered to in good faith ; and if the other portion
of the Union are willing to stand by it, let ut
not refuse to stand by it. It has kept peace
for some time. and in the circumstuances. per
haps it would be better to keep peace as it is.'
But, sir, it was voted down by an overwhelm
ing majority. It was renewed by a gentlemar
from a non-slaveholding State, and again vo,
ted by an overwhelming majority.
Well, I see my way in the Constitution, I
cannot in the compromise. A compromise it
but an act of Congress. It may be overruled
at any time. It gives us no security. But the
constitution is stable. It is a rock. On it I
can stand. It is a ; ri aciple on which we car
meet our friends .ran the non slavenolding
States. It is a fiaiaa ground, on which they
can better stand in opposition to fanaticism,
than on the shifting sands of compromise.
Let us be done with compromise. Let u:
go back and stand upon the Constitution !
Well, sir, what if the decision of this body
shall deny to us this high constitutional right
which in any opinion is as clear as any in the
instrument itself-the more defined and stable,
indeed, because deduced fron the entire body
of the instrument, and the nature of the sub.
ject to which it relates ? What then I That
is a question which I will not undertake to de.
cide. It as a quiestionfor our constituents-the
slaveholding States. A solemntt and a great
question, Mr. President. And if the decision
should be adverse at this time. I trust and do
believe that they will take under solemn con.
sideration what they ought to do. I give no
advice. It would be hazaraots and danger.
os for ame to do so. But I may speak as an
individaual inember ofthat'section of the Union.
There I drew my first breath. There are all
my hopes. I at a planter-a cotton planter.
I am a Southern man and a slaveholder-a
kind atid merciful one, -1 trust-and none the
worst for being a slaveholder. I say, for one,
I wonuld rather meet any extremity upon earth
than'give oj. one itch of our equality-one
inch of what belongs to as as members of this
great republic! What! acknowledge inferior
ity ! The surrender of life is nothing to sinking
down into ackbowleiged inferiority !
I have examined this subject largely-widely.
I think rsee the future if we do not stand up
now ; and in miy hmble opinioan, thte condition
of~ Irelatnd is mercriful and happy-the condi
tiorn o f Hindostan is pacec and happiness--the
ondition of Jamnaica is ptrosperoaas and h appy,
to what the Southern Sates wvill 'be if now
they yield
Mir. President, [ desire that the resolutions
which I now send to the table be read.
The reanlntions were read as follows.
'Iiosolved, Thazt thae territourmes of the Untited
States belong to the several States composing
this Union, and are held by them as their joint
anad comnat property.
Resolced. That Congresia, as the joitnt agent
and representautve of the States of this Union.
las no right to make aany law. or dlo any act
whaever, that shall directly, or by itsa effects,
nmake any discrimnination betweent thei States of
this Union, by whicrh any of them shall be de
prived of its full anal equal right itn anmy teryrito
y of the United States, acqutred or tao be c
quired.
Resolved, That .the enactmetnt of any law
which should directly, or by its effects, deprive
he citizens of any of the territories of the
States of thmis Umion from emigrating wvith their
property into aity of the territoaries of the U1.
States will mnake such discrimniration, and,
would, therefore. be a violation of the conastitn
tion, and -the rig;hts of the States froat whach
such cttizsens er.iigratid, anid in derogatiotn of
thats perfe't eqi.ality which bielongs to themn as
members of tihis Unaion, and would tend direct.
ty to subvert the Union itself.
*Resolved, Thiat, as a fdindamental principle
in our political creed; that a people in 'formning
a constittion have the uneonditional right to
formi and adopt the governatetnt wvhich they
may th-nk best calculated to secure their liberty,
prosperity and happiness; and thtat itt conform.
ity thereto, .no other coniditiona is imuposed by
the federal constitution on a State ta order to
be admitted intao this Union, except that its
constittion shall be strictly republicani; and
that the imposition of any other by Congress
would not oanly be in violation of the constian
tion, but ini direct conflict with the principle on
which our political system rests.
I amove thtat the resolutins he printed. I
shall miove that they be taken up to-monrrow ;
and I do trust that the Senate will give them
early attenttion, anad ana early vote upons thme
sub ect.
Mr. Benton-then rose anmd said-Mir. -Presi
dent, wve have somea buisinessa to transact. I do
not ittend to avoid business for a string of ab
stractionis.
Mr. Calhoun. The senator stays he cartnot
take up abstraction. Thte constittutiorn is an
abstraction. Propriety is an abstraction. All
the great iles of life are abstractions. The
DeclaratIon of Independence was made on an
abstraction; and when 'I hear a man declare
that lie is againsut abstract truath in a ease of this
kind, I am prepared to know what his course
will be ! I certainly supposed that the senator
frot Missouri the aepresentative of a slave
holding State, would have supported these res
olutions. I moved them ini good faith, under a
olnn convicticn of what was daue to those
whom I represent; and date the whole South
and the whole Union. I have as little desire as
rey Senator to obstruct public business. All
lwhat is a decision, anad a decision before the
Lthree million hill is decided. If thte senator fanm
issouri wants to morrow morning very well.
The resoluitions can be taken up ont Monday.
Mr. Benton. I will pursume my own couarse
hen the titne comes. I know what are ab
stractions, and what are not. I atn-for going
...vit t.:,e s.iness of the sesion:, and I say.
1 shall not vote for abstractions, years ahead,
to the exclusion of business. He.says he cal'
culated on my course. He is mistaken. Hi
knows very well, trom my whole course - in
public Fife, tbat'I never would leave public but
siness to take up fireurands to set the world on
fire.
Mr. Calhoun. The senator does'not at all
comprehend me.
Mr. Benton. I am from the right place. I
am on the side of my country and the Union.
The' resoutions were then ordered to be
printed.
Fron the N. 0. Picayune of the 18th inst.'
LATER FROM TAMPICO
The schooner St. Paul, Capt. Talbot,
arrived yesterday afternoon. froin Tamip,
cof having sailed on the 8th instr--tge
days later than the Charron's advtces.)
We grieve to say that the news in regard
to the volunteers on the Ondiaka is le
favorable than we had reason to expect
The main body of them had not t ived
et Tainpico. On the contrary, at E rai
test accounts from them they. deo
gaged in a conflict with a body of Mexicant
far superior to theta in ;numbers and
equipment. From two letters of Mr.
Lumsden, which we have ~before us, we
extract those portions which reate. to the
wreck and present position offhe volan
teers. In writing his first letter he was
evidently under no apprehension as to
their fate.. it-bears date.
Tastico, Feb.'6, 1817.
Yesterday an unpleasant bnor reached
here relative to the unfor.tunate-party whi
were wrecked. It is but a rumor, and-oue
that I do not credit, and theie are itn
others who also doubt-i. The rumbr wt
brought by the captain of 'tb-echobbe
who started to the relief of theoolunteers
but returned as I have statel.i'The cap
lain says that he fell in iwi(b a'boat, lair
to be from the wrock, with siteral of th
crew, % ho informed him thatavery large
number of armed Mexicans .had attacked
and made prisoners of all the--olunteers
as well as the party under Lietit.- Millet
who left hero for their assistance. The
men in the boat stated that? they were
trying to reach Tampico; but:as yet :he;
have not arrived, and I think their-stor;
altogether improbable. I do notknot
where a very large number. of armec
Mexicans" could be raised so near thi
place, and particularly on the sea-coastsii
that direction. But be this as it may,
am just informed that another expeditio
-100 strong-under Capt. Magruder
is to start to-morrow for the scene of th
wreck, so that in a few days'we shalgaov
all about it. . F. A;-L.
The following letter is the latest whici
has been received so far as we can learn
It is dated. /
TAMPICo, Feb. 8.
The plot thickens. Rutnor is- followe<
by rumor in quick succession. - I begin is
think there is something in the. repor
about the Mexicans having attacked Col
De Russey, but I claim that I. may be ex
cused for toy want of faith in ,the story a
it first reached us. Mexicagumors, ti
the main, are worth just whaglnportance
people taiy be whimsical enough to at
tech to them. "W olf, wolf !".s the com
mon cry; but it may be that tho iolf hat
come. At all events, thoserin authority
here have reached the city ' the - Ies
tweuty-four hours, to ordera ale brig
ade-in addition Lieut. Millers 'Capt
Magruder's forces, mentioue in my letter
of tbe-6tb-to go at once to the relief of
Col. De Rusey. This is what ought t<
have been duoe at first, if it were deemed
necessary to do any thing at all. If Vol
D., Russeyneed aid, -it -was aid beyond
ihe power of a mere handful of men tc
ronder, and a sufficient force sholild at once
have been despatched to his assistance.
But the last "bulletin"-whichs may oi
may not be true. A Mexican, said to b<
worthy of betief, has arrived here, and
reporis that Gen. Cosn had arrived or
IThursday last, the 4th inst.. from Tuspan
from the wreck of the ship Ondiaka, witt
480. troops. consisting of 280 of the bat tal
lion-of Yuspain, the rest National Guatrd
and ceavalry; .that on his way Gee. Co
was joineLd by 120 men from Taingua
180 from Papanrili, and 233 fruom Omnel
ma--in wtnole force amoutiung to (
men, with four pieces ef artillery; that arte
summoning Col. De Russey to surrendea
his force us prisoners of war, which sum
mous was protily rejected, an engage
enn took place which lasted till 10 o'clocl
P. Mi., aifter the Mexican left, and ihi
resiult wvas not knowvn. Gen. Cosn had
stationed an advanoce of 80 cavalry andl 5(
infantry at a pass to prevent re-inforc~e
meits arriving from this place.
TLhe brigade which has been ordered tc
go to the relief of Col. De Russy is undei
the command of Brig. (.en. Pillow, con
sisting jof three regiments of Tenneosset
voldnteels, t wo of foot and one of mouniec
and four companies of artillery. Thil
force started last night. Success to them
In great haste, F. A. L.
-In addition to the foregoing, we learn
from Mr. John C. Howard who cams
passenger on the ;St. Paul, that as the
vessel was coming over the baur on the
morning of the 9th inst., the propelloi
James Cage was seen returning from the
wreck of the Ondiaka. The Cargo has
no other person on boai-d than her regulai
crew anil as she took down Cap. Magro
der and hiscemmvand, it is certain that hf
efiected a lauding. We must remain h1i
suspense in regard to the fate of the vol.
unteers until another arrival.- If they
have two hundred guns and a tolerable
supply of ammunition we have great faitlh
that they will beatt oft the Mexiansor at
least hold them in cheek till G*eo. Pillow
arrives.
wrt o aTAMPro Feb. 6, 1847..
I woeyuasfrmthe Brazes. On
the 19th ult. I sailed from that place, anid
arrived here yesterday-just one week
from the day of sailitng. The passage was
a most disagreeable and uncomfortable
one. Only think of bei'g - at sea seven
days ini a small schooner with some sev
euty people ort board first encountering a
"norther" and then becalmed for the rest
of the time-drifting and beating about
,ith the current, and going where no one
no~board could tell. Ilut that's all over,
and thanks to Providence, I am nce mor e
safe on terrafirma..
Very great changes has taken, place
since I was last here, occasioned princi
pally by the large accessioni of forces frorn
various points. We have nowv at Tatnpico
about 7000 troops-regular and volunteerm;
Patterson, who succeeds Brig. General
bShield's in coimmand of this station. The
force now bere consist of the following brig
ades and commands, as nearly as I can
scertain, viz: Gen. Twigg's regular divi
fiin, being parts of the 1st. 21, 3d, and 7th
Infantry, and two companies of Rifles
Gen. Smith sommanding the Rifles and
7th Infantry ; Gen. Pillow's brigade, being
two regiments of foot and one of cavalry
-Tennessee troops ; Gen.Quitman's brig.
ade, the Alabama and Georgia regiments
and Baltimore battalion.: Gen. Shield's
brigade,-the 3d and 4th Regimentillinois'
volunteers.
'It is supyosed that the'1st and 21d Regi:
ments of Illinois troops, now with Gen.
Wool, near Saltillo will be ordered down
to fill General Shield's command.
. In addition to the above forces. there are
also four companies of the let Artillery,
three of the 2d, three of the 3d, and one
company of the 4th together with one
company of the 6th Infantry, which garri
son the lines of the defensive works of the
place, under Col Gates. I assure you-that
we have quite a nice little army here at
Tampico, and every thing seems to be
moving along as regular as clock-Work.
LATER FROM THE BRAZOS.
By the arrival yesterday afternoon of
the schooner Sea, Capt. Flanders, we
have dates from Brazos Santiago up to
the 6th, from Matamoras to the 5th, and
from Cattiargo up to the let inst. It will
be seen, by.tlie letters of our correspon
dects, that a party of our troops have been
captured near Saltillo, and that Majors
Borland and Gaines and Capt. Cassins M.
Clay have been taken prisoners. It will
also be seen that murders and outrages
are constantly being committed on the
roads by the Mexicans. As our letters
contain all.tbe more important, part of the
intelligence, we .hasten to lay them before
our readers: , .
Camp on the Rio Grande. near Palo Aito,
January, 30 1847.
Everything here betokens a sudden
movement of 'the troops. Seventy days
rations have been:issued, and ordersgiven
to be in readiness at a moment's warning.
Within a few days, if 1 am not greatly
mistaken, Gen,. Worth's division will be
on ship-board, moving towards Vera Cruz.
Gen. Worth is up again, and although
lame. is beginning to look quite well.
Capt. Arnold, (formerly of the dragoona)
of the Quartermaster's Departmedt, 'has
just arrived here and joinedthe command.
It seems that-the . Mkeican army at San
Luis have been making some movement,
as reports have several timesreacheld Sal
' tilla, since Worth's division left, that the
enemy was marching against that place,
and two regiments of volunteers were sent
up from Monterey to strengthen Gen.
Butler's command. No new's .froti Gen.
Taylor since he left Victoria.
Mouth of the Rio Grandc,
February 3, 1847.
I have plenty of bad news to give you,
gentlemen, and very little that is pleasant.
The fate of Col; May's rear guard and
baggage you have already heard of-but
intelligence has just reached this place,
toa painfully true and well authenticated,
which proves that the enemy have opened
on us in earnest, and that their hatred is
mortal.
On the 11th January T met Lieut. Rit
chie of the 4th infantry, but then acting
with tue 21 Dragoons, on his way from
Saltillo, with ten dragoons, to Victoria,
bearing important despatches for General
Taylor. rom Gen. Scott and others. It is
said tbese contained the whole plan of the
operations int whiLch we are about to engage.
While on the road betweeni Monterey and
Victoria, but at what place I cannot learn
tthe party was attacked, young Ritchtie
was lassoed and dragged acros a cornifieldi,
andl the despatches carried ol. The ten
dragoons were either killed or taken priso
tiers. Lient. Ritcbie was one of the most
disinguished andI excellent yonmg officers
in 'he army, His conduct at Palo Alto
and Resaca won rte admiration of the
army and he wvn much esteemed for his
talent, and the excellence of his heart.
Triite is little or no doubt of his death
still, whilst there is a shadlow of doubt,
thtere is a hope.
A fe w days ago an officer of the 2.1 Ohio
Regiment, Lt. Miller is tbelieve~d to be his
name, was tmutd'red, at Chichironi, and
awfully mutilated. His heart wams cur out
and hunt upon a shrub, to show us, I sup
pose how deoply seated was their hatred
towards us. I would like to have com
mand of- two hundred mounted men,
with unlimited power over the country
between Ccrralvo and Camnargo. .My
first act would be to shoot every mati ia
Mier; then go and burni every rancho on
thte rotute, for ten miles right And left, and
shoot every man, to Carralvo--and thben
cotimne to shoot them, in tha-t region, as
.fas't as they made their appearance.
But here is news that will create a deep
sensatiotn in the States. The followitng
letters reached Gen. Worth last evening.
O fcourse there is no doubt about its cor-.
rectness. It is from Capt. Chapman-, of
teay: SautILLxO, Jan. 25, 1847.
I have only time to write a wortd. Ma
for Borland, of the Arkansas cavalry, with
30men, and Maj. Gaines and Cassius M
Clay, with 30 teen, were surprised andl
captured at Encarnacion, [ahmmut 45 miles
beyondl Saltilloj on the mnorning of the
23d. o'f the Gen. Mitton. Hie heartd that
Borland was there anid marched from
Maehuala with 500 cavalry and took themt
withoiut firing a gunl. This is no stamperle.
Yours truly,
W. W. CHAPMAN.
The above is all that bas reached us on
thte subject; in fact, it is clear enough.
Betwveen 80 and 90 of our men have been
taken prisoners, and are undoubtedly at
San Lois Potosi ere this. The hatred of
of the Mexicans is so itnveterate, however
against our volunteers, that fears are en.
tertinedl for the safety of thme prisoners.
The troops are beginnitng to move down
from Camp Palo Alto. Gen. Scott would
have embarked o'day. tin the Massacho
serts. fot Tam pico, if a heayvy norther had
nctspruntg up yesterday. Heit will he ac
compatniedl by two or three companies of
the artillery battalion. Capts. C. F. Smith
and Vinton's' companies being of the num
ber. . . ,
The destination of the troops is Lobos,
abtout 75 miles from Vera Cruz. As
'thete is no impropriety in my telling you.
It is an island, 'very near the main land
and behind it is a safe harbor for vessels
of considerable size. The shore is-roc)ty
and the pass very crooked, but not ex
tremely dangerous. In the course'of the
week we shall be on the Gulf, and if the
northers and southeasters do not send us to
another world, you will soon receive a
description of the battle and capture of
Vra-Cruiz. H.
:Mouth of the Rio Grande,
February 4. 1847.
We have received further intelligence
respecting the fate of Lieut. Ritchie. It
seems that the ten dragoons reached Vic
toria in safety, but there is no longer any
doubt about the death of this valuable
young officer. The party halted at a town
on the road, and Lieut. Ritchie left the
men for a few moments to go with a guide'
and procure forage for the horses. They
had proceeded but a short distance when
a Mexican came dashing-up 'on horseback,
threw a lasso suddenly over Riteliie's
neck, and' dragged: bjm, full speed across a
fiel'd, a'nd then murdered and stripped
him.
It is said now th'at the itransports will
assemble at Lobos :Hjarbor. with all the
troops, and then moue together to a land
ing much n'rer Vera Cruz. H.
CAMARGO. Jan.25.
To-morrow or next day all the forces
composing Gen. Worth's, division will
have left here. New we must look out
for outrages dud murders, for war and ru
more of war. in real earnest, as the Mexi
cans in this neighborhood are firmly im
preesed wih-the opinion that we are re
treating from Santa Anna. The ranchero
hordes of Canales, or I am much mista
ken, will soon be on the 'roads on the look
out for straggling parties, and they will ,et
no favorable opportunity to rob and tinurder
pass. Mintk my words'for it, 'it won't be
long before I'll have to tell ynu of some
wag'ob train'being captured, or some small
-party cut off. Yours, &c.,
P.
The court martial recently held at the
-Brazos'for the trial of Col. Harney has
ordered him to he released from arrest and
reprimanded. We learn that Gen. Scott
has remitted the latter part of this sen
tence, but has reitrated his former -order
to Col. H. It ios thought, -however.
that he would'recall this order, and permit
the Colbuel to lead his regiment. We
-have 'reeeived a full account of the trial,
but cannot possibly find roim for it.
LATER FROM VERA CRUZ.
By the arival of the bark St. Mary,
from H avana, ee are placed in possession
of the advices by the British steamer frotm
Mexico. Our letters and a.portion our
papers have elro comeIto hand. The
Medway arrived at Havana the morning
of the 6th inst., from ~ Vera Cruz, with
dates from that city toihe evening of the
1st inst.. one from the city of Mexico to
:The 29th of January. The Medwa.y
brought over -$600.000 in speecie and
fifty-tivb 'passengers.
The rumor of the assassination of Santa
Anna turns out to be unfounded; so also
of his active position to the seizure of
church property. At last accounts h,e
was still at San Luis Potosi. Vera .Cr.
papers of the 28th.utr. aniotnce that let-.
ters from San Luis spdak of his immediate'
departure for Tula.
Our letters say that all the late Minis
ters have resigned. The Ministers offor
eign affairs and oflinances have certainly
done so. Senor Rejon. who so recently
quarrelled with Santa Anna, has gone
back to the Mtate Department. lie is an
ardent fe .eralist. arid relied upon to carry
through thd counscation of church pro
poarty. Neither our papers nor letters
mention wvho now has charge of the WVar
Departmnent. Senor Francisco Suarez
I riaie has taken charge of the Finances
lie was a -mtember of the Chatmber of
Deputies, anid received their assent to his
accepting the present ollice. To add to
the general disorganization, the Mtaican
longress is said to have determine~d to
dissolve about the first of thtis present
month.
'rho Mexicans appear to be particular
hy well informed of the movements and
positions of our troops. T1hey give, from
time to time, the lihrecs at Tamnpico, Sal
illo and Victoria anti other places
We find no tmention made- of the capture
of Chihuahua, lbut there has heetn an ac
tion itn the imtmediate vicinity of El Paso
del Norte, in which our troops were en
tirely successful.
On the 24th of December Senor Ouylti
was at El Paso at the head of 480 regu
lars, who added to the Pasenos, or troops
raised ntear El Paso, exceeded 1000 in
number. Trhe Amerienna were at Dona
Anza 400 strotng.-T1hey advanced upon
l1 Paso. Guylti preparcd to fight them.
but the evening he was to set forth on his
march he was seized with a violent brain
fever, wvhich rendered him helpless. The
cotmmand Jevolved upon Vidal, who pos
essed little military skill, atnd expected to
surround and destroy the Americans like
so tmany rahbitaslHe pushed forward 500
cavalry under Captain Antonio Ponce, of
whicth one half were Pasenos.--The
Amerioans demanded a parley, which was
denied, and the fight immediately cam
menced. Ponce charged at the heaa of
his cavalry, but in vain, as be was woun-]
ded in the first onset. .Just then the Pas- I
nos ran, and threw such disorder into thei
whiole that all took to flight, leaving ai
howitzer in thte hands of the Atmericans,
but carrying on'three oilier pieces. Vidal<
returned with all speed to Carrizal. forty
leagues frotm El Paso. The loss otn each
side was not known or is not stated. On<
the 27th the Americans took possessiotn of
E. El Paso with 600 cavalry and 400 itt.
faniry. The cavalry immediately startedr
in pursuit of' the runaways, and al hough<
it was not known at Chtihtuahua on the 2d
January that they had overtaken them it
wvas thought likely they would get posses
sion nf two wagons which were in thee
rear with the park, as well as of thirtyJ
men who escor-ted thetm. This seenms
probable tonus, too, t hough wve much doubf I
if the Americans ever got up the ru na~
ways
A letter from Maztlan, dated the 11th I
or Jantuary, is published. Gov. Cast rn was
then in thtat city. Both were askintr ment
and money to recover the .Californiias. I
They boast indeed, that we have no foot-]
hold on the land, that with only ninety I
men' an natmpt by sev'en hnntdred A mer. 1
cpusttoretake 'Los'Angelestad-beeor'-t4
fessfut1y' repulsed !
A project has been started in Mazatan
>f declaring Santa Anna 'dictator. Tlr
lrew from him an immediate deelarattio
hat as bedid not aspire tothe Preslden,
ie would use all his. force to put dwna -
movement in' Sonora or any o:h erStas
which should threaten to: kindle political
eummotion.- The latest dates ti6m San
Luis Potosi are to the .2611 -ult The
army had not then moved, but the Vera
Cruz Indicator of the 3lstauk. -thinks
chat it had done so subsequently, being.ena;. '
bled to do so by the funde raised by the
State of San Luis. ...
Gen. Valencia is said by the samepaper
to meditate a descent upon Tampico. -
From the N. 0. Picayune, February 21..
. LATEft FROM TAMPIC(J.O'
Safety of the Louisiana Voluniteeri.
The brig Cayuga'has arrived in the'river s
having Jeit Tampico on the morning of
Saturday, the 13th instant. Mr, Whele',i
who was a passenger in the brig, cameup
to town yesterday afternoon on a Balize
boat, and very kindly furnished us' with
interesting information from Tampieo sand
a copy of the Sentinel of the 10th inst.
Our readers will rejoice to learn thattlia
four companies of Louisiana volunteer,
wrecked on the Ondiaka, are all safe
with the exception of six whom the.ooo
nel was constrained to leave behind. Therp'- -
was no action between the volunteersanda
the Mexicans; they reached Tampico city .' I
the morning of.the 9th instant, generally
speaking it good health, but very much
exhausted) by their forced marches. Seven.
were 'abandoned a -few miles from their
first camp, being unable. to march, aodths'.
men -finding it impossible-to carry. theui
through the-sand on litters. -One of'thee
avertook the main body before they reach
Tampico; the remainder will probably fa 1
into the hanils'of the enemy. The- names
of those left behind are, Sweeny, of coor
pany F; Culburn, of company G; Winn,
Washburn and Serg't. Warner, of cot
pany I, and Dolke, of company E.
We subjoin the particulars of their atL
ventures nearly in the words of the Senth
4t appears that early in the dayb6it
which ithe volunteers bad . taken. refuge
from a watery grave upon the sabd'nearly
opposite the wreck, they received vishs
from several Mexicans, who 'casp, in the
character of peasants, fishermen, &c., a'nd
were led to expect assistance, 'in the way
of-transportation, from the various promi-;
se's unvoluntarily made by 'the scoundrels,
who were doubtless busily employed.at
that time in informing he -Mexican com
mander at Tuspan of the exact condition
or the volunteers, their number, &c.. It
the afternoon a flag of truce presented
itself, with a demand from Gen. Cos for
an immediate and unconditional Burren
der; and it was represented to them that
the country was swarming with armed
men, cutting off all retreat unless by sea
which ofcourse was impossible. -Cos rep- -
resonted the forces un ler his command to
amount to 1600 regular troops, whereas
in reality be could only muster about 980,
all told, of which at least three-fourths are.
sail to have been raw recruits. wh6 bad-'
entered into the siheme with -hehake~u
gain by plundering the wrecked si a 'nL
irough.Lieut. Ozier, iidiscbvei 'ifthb s
enemy's flag of truce. He was-metoutside
the enemy's lines by Gep. Cos, whoef
ed-him admission inside, but after some;... -
little reflection, upon the request of Col.
DeRussey., grauned him until -9 the next
mnorniug, at which time the Americans
wvere to surrender or an action must be
hazarded
At night-fall camp..fires were lighted,
and orders immediately given to' miarch,
leaving knapsacks and all burthensom,
materials which could in the least impede
and tvhich were not wanted for the pur
pose of sustenance. The lirst msvonty-four
hours-they are said to have made thirty-five
miles, and instead of 'hard fighting or skir
mishing not an armed Mexican was seen
an the way to Tampico.
GJen. Cos had so posted his men that
lie thought he had cut off the retreat of tho
voltunteers, as well as the advacce of sup
plies or succor. It would seem that lhe
did not pdrsue the retreating.- perty. Most
rif the intfa.utry under Gent. Cos came iin
ennoes frm Tuspan, and latnded in front
f thte wrecked volunteers. Ife had four'
pieces of light artillery, .and when he re
:eived Liu ut. Osai about one hundred
and Dity troops were drawn up id column.
We lea rn verbally that there.wvere ninety
>r one hundred servicable guns in posses,~
tion of the wrecked v'olunteers, ste others
yeing either lost in getting ashore or ren
lered unservicable-one reason for"De.
Russy's not w aiting the twenty-four hoursa
Tlhe same day the Cnyuga left. the
tchooners Wmn. Bryan, Knapp and Tioga
ilso sailed for this por and'domie othe~
vessels not recotledied. A very heavy
mail was put dn board the Tioga.
Gen. Scott ha'd not arrived ut Tampico,
but was still bourly expected.
L ATERf FROM VER A CRUJZ.
By the arrival at half past 2 o'clock, this
rnooning of the sehr. Wmn. Bryan,' Capt.
Ryan, from Tamnpico, we have later ac
rounuts from Vera Cruz, brouglht to the
ormer place by the prize schooner Belle,
Lieut. M.0C. Perry, Jr. commanding. Our,
etters from'the squadron are'' to the 4th,
nst., and our Vera Crttz papers to thie 25I
nst.
Gen. Valencia has been relieved of his
ommand', and his place suppliedl by tien.
lazquez.
The afexIcans having become convin
red that 'Vera Cruz is to be the object of
mtack, have set about fortifying the pas 4
es ont the rbad to Mexico. The meirchants
ffalapa have been called upon for a loaa
If- $1000 to fortify the Puen te Nacional.
Rlejon and iriarte have entered upon
hte discharge of their duties as Seota
ies oTForelan Affairs and Finances. Gu
vara has resigned the post of Minister loft
rustcec.
Senor L'emus had tendered his resigna'
ion to the Government, but it had been -
efusedl. Eight days' leave of abscence'
tas granted himt, and Genu. La Veg'a ap
inted temlior-arily to his post.
More Voluhutees.-The Newport Daily.
~ews sayvs:-A married woman in FaIJ
iver, fifteen years old, had a pair of't win.
toys last week.-Thefather is serenteen
rears old / They are afl doing" well.