Farmers' gazette, and Cheraw advertiser. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1839-1843, November 03, 1841, Page 8, Image 2
tho depths of poverty and despair.?Merchants'
Magizine.
From the National Intelligencer.
the power ok the Veto.
We took occasion in a recent number
rf oar paper to go somewhat at large into j
*n examination of that anomalous feature.
engrafted into our Constitution |
from monarchical forms of Government,
"which confers upon the Executive Magis- !
trnte of this free Republic the power of,
negativing and forbidding laws solemnly
and deliberately enacted by the Repre- >
pentatives of the People and of the Slates J
in Congress assembled.
We. do not recur to the subject now for
t . ?
the purpose of submitting anv further ;
suggestions of our own on this mische- |
vous principle of the Constitution; but it i
t< for the purpose of introducing, in sup
- . r.i. ..._
}>Oft ot tfl0 VICWS WHICH WP Hftvc mav.ii j
4>f it, an authority of which we were then
unapprized, hut one for which we enter-1
tain great respect, and consider entitled ,
to?much weight with our readers.
It was remarked hy E Imund Burke j
that "when popular discontents are very
prevalent, it may well be affirmed and .
supported that there is generally some- i
thing found amiss in the constitution or
in the conduct of government. This re.!
* I
mark, philosophically true, is practically
applicable to the present circumstances of
this country, and precisely descriptive of
ats condition. Never was popular . dis
contentmore prevalent, and nothing can j
t>e more certain than that this discontent
Jias its origin in "something amiss in the
' 'onstitution,'' and in the conduct ofj
<ioverninent." That something is *he i
* r
power of the Veto conferred on our Executive,
and its unwise exercise. This is
the position which we assumed in our
late argument on the subject, and it is to ,
strengthen this position that we ask .1t.
" tention for the authority which we now i
present. It may ho found in a volume j
published during the last year, from the
Jun)innus pen of the present distinguished i
Secretary of the Navv, entitled " 4 brief1.
Enquiry into the true nature and character
of our Federal Government." For the j
extract from this volume, which we subjoin,
we are indebted to the Virginia papers.
Our readers will be struck, as wo
have been with the forcible and truly j
Republican views which it presents in !
regard to the powers of the Executive, j
We confess our satisfaction at finding j
our own humble opinions sustained bv ,
such distinguished authority.
TUB EXTRACT.
'Another striking imperfection of the i
Constitution, as respects the Executive.
Bepartmenf, is found in the veto power.
The right to forbid the people to pass
whatever laws they please is the right to
sl?itrivA them of self, government. It is a j
r c
power which can never be entrusted to
one m m, or any number of men, sh?>r
of the people themselves, without the cer.
Jtuin destruction of public liberty. It is
"true that each department of the Govern
rnent should be armed with a certain power
of self protection against the assaults
of the other departments; and the Eve
cutive proliablv stands most in need ol
such protection, liut the veto- power, n>
it aftinds in the Constitution, ?oes far Ivyond
this object. It is, in effect, a power
in the Executive Department to forhiu
all action in any other. It is true that,
notwithstanding the veto of the President
a law may still tie passed, provided twothiixLs
of each House of Congress agree
therein; hut it is obvious that the cases,
areverv rare in which such concurrence'
J \
could he expected. In cases ol plain j
necessity or policy the veto would not Ik*
applied ; and those of doubtful necessity
or policy would rarely lie carried bv a ma.
jnrity so large as two-thirds of each
House. And vet in these it may he just
M I.!
as important that the public win sikmhu j
lie carried nut as in cases of less dbuht
and difficulty. It ma\ be, also, thai a
President may oppose the passage of laws 1
of the plainest and most pressing necessi. 1
ty. And if he should do so, it would
certainly give him a most improper powei
over the people, to enable him lo prevent
the most necessary legislation, with only
one-third of each House of Congress in
his favor- There is something incongruous
in this union of Legislative and
Executive powers in the same man.?
Perhaps it is proper that there should he a
power somewhere, to check hnstv and illfonsidered
legislation, and that that
power may he as well entrusted to the
President as to any, other authority.?
But it iti not necessary that it should f>e |
great enough to prevent all legislation,'
nor to control in any respect the free exercise
of the legislative will. It would no
quite enough* for the security of the
rights of the Executive, and quite enough
to ensure temperate and wise legislation, j
to authorize the President merely to send ,
^ack to the Legislature for reconsidera- j
lion any law which ho disapproved* By j
thus affording to that body time and ?P- j
portunity for reflection, with all the adJi-j
timial lights which the President hiinsel/.
could throw upon the subject, we should
cAfiiriiir fKo Atlt* I
flilVe VCry irasunauiviivvuiity .... v?.i? |
exercise of the legislative wisdom and a j
fuir expression of the public will. But if
alter all this, the Legislature, in both its,1
branches, should still adhere to their i
.opinion, the theory and the sound prac-1
iiee of all our institutions require that
llieir decision should be binding and ti- j
?ai."
Georgia Election ?Our correspondent
**Curtius.'' furni.tics belcw a kf,y to the
IWI Jfll.imMMHIjMH?HH??i^?BEfSHSK
ecent democratic victory in our sister.
State. The Whigs have been defeated
realise they taxed the people to preserve
:he faith and credit of the Slate?the
Democrats have beeen v.ctorious because
ihev promise relief from taxation, in disregard
ofthe faith and credit of the State.
Wj fear we liave indeed fallen on evil
ti nes, and that democratic ascendency
will he attended with faithless misrule.
It is remarkable, too, that it is the so styled
hard-monev party which has succeeded
in Georgia; and yet relief laws, state
bonds, and the worst of paper currency
are likely to be the fruits of its victory,
" It is much to he apprehended that we
are on the eve of beholding the wreck of
State credit. The test applied in many
of the elections now in progress, is whether
the candidate for favor is or is not friend
Iv to direct taxation, to sustain the faith
of the States. In Maryland, in the recent
canvass, the people have given their
suffrages for none of the candidates who
were favorable to increased taxation. We
fear that such will he the case also in
Pennsylvania. Now there is but one escape
from the disgrace of a deliberate infraction
of State engagements, and that
is the voluntary assumption of those burI
hens by the people, that they seem willing
to avoid by a sacrifice of honor in
all lime to come for present ease. Nothing
else can restore confidence in State
obligations?can give them any value in
the eyes of foreign or domestic capitalists.
But unfortunately the faith, as well as the
credit of several of the States, appears
on the verge of ruin, fro n the preva'ence
of counsels that dread | popular disfavor
and truckle to democracy."?Patriot 9th
inst.
There is startling truth in this. Whether
the direct uss'ie has been any where
m ide?whether the people have fairly
iin.-fprv/n^rJ ihnt the faith of their State |
was involved in the question of increased
taxation, we are not prepared to say. But
this much we do know?that in several
of the recent elections, whenever the democratic
ticket has been signally triumpnant,
all measures based upon an increase
of taxes as the onlv honest and effectual
means of liquidating the debts
nnd sustaining the credit of the States?
measures which should have consolidated
the integrity and patriotism of all parties
have been pro-tituted to electioneering
purposes, an l rendered odious to the people
as tvrrauy and misrule. '
This is especially applicalTle to the recent
Gubernatorial contest in Georgia.
The indebtedness of that State has grown
out of a system of Internal Improvement,
originated and prosecuted during the su- J
pre.iiucv of what is now known as the
Demooratic Party. The Legislature of
J 840, in w hich there was a decided Whig
majority, lest the permanent stigma of a
dishonored credit should attach to the
.State, made provision for the extinguishment
of her obligation hv direct taxation,
as the proper mode, and that to which she j
would sooner or later be obliged to revort.
This honorable nv asure, the only eirnest
f I ... :..U C'nfo /-/-killrt (JT| ve
01 gOOU IHIlll, W ?I'.;u lliru.uiu n
:o her creditors, and the burthen of
which is so lightly borne, that it would not
have heen sufficient to have attracted
public attention, but for the clamor ofde.
ogning politicians, has been stamped as
IVhig, held up to the people as the first
fruits of \\h:g administration, and, with |
ill the eloq::ence of partizan malice, ex-I
iiibited as fastening upon the party and!
'heir candidate a system of policy, grind- j
:ng and crushing in its operation. That j
if was brought to bear powerfully upon the ^
popular inind during the contest was evi- j
lent to the most superficial observer. If j
the honest payment of State debts by di- j
rect taxation is a financial expedient, pe- |
cuiiarly Whig, and repudiated as such !
by the Democracy, let it be proclaimed (
;ar and wide. If the party is to be over- j
whelmed under the ruins of State credit, j
let it not be without a desperate struggle ;
' ' l-l-L .1 I
to avert the evil destiny wiucri wnrmcua
the country. CURT1US.
FRINGE DK JOIN V1LLK.
Prince de Joinville is on a visit to the
Southwest. He has left Buffalo on his j
way to Cleveland, thenco to Detroit and
and along Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron
to Creen Bay. At the town of
tireen Bav at the mouth of Fox, sometimes
called Nenah River, he will doubtless
cross the stream and visit Fort Howard,
in mediaiely opposite to the village.
From thence he will pass, if he goes hy
water up Fox river, to Lake Winnebago
and l oad d ie Lac. He will then go to
Fort Winnebago, where he will stop and ,
receive the civilities of our officers stationed
at that outpost of defence. Here
iie may be able to reach Prairie due Chion,
hvgoing down the Wiskonsin River
if there should be a steamboat at Winne.
bago, at the time of his arrival.
We passed down that river from the
Fort about 4 y ;ars ago and found the
country bordering on it magnificently
picturesque and fertile. On our journey
we tarried a day at Prairie du Chien.
where the Prince proposes to stop a short
time on his way to St. Louis. Fort Crawford
is located at Prairie due Chien. The
o..?
route tie takes from ureen ouy, unwUS? ,
Wiskonsin Territory, is one of great
tieautv. It is over the same region of
country tiiat Capt- Marryatt travelled,
and which lie dusciibes to be of unsur>
pacing beauty. He will go trough fifty |
ini ev, of a reaeh, of the most enchanting
p ii k scenery, with deer and prairie fowls,
i sjiC' ies of grouse, frequently crossing
lis p'ltfi, in this I and rich in its native
grandeur.
His father wi.l be delighted to hear the
letails of his journey along the distant
loumiaries of our ex tensive Republic; next
o his o-A-ri France, A?n ?.ri ca in our judgeuent.
stands in the kin I recollections of
Louis Phiikppe. His early life here
dan led a number of pleasant reminivenc.
ia in his memory, not forgotten even
viie> ~<? satiricl*
I
ggrcggggggggg aB?oi?m
JWcLeod in Montreal.?The Montreal
Herald of Monday announces McLnod's
arrival there on the previous Saturday
forenoon in the steamer Princess
Victoria, and gives the following account
of his reception :
% On the arrival of the steamer at the
wharf, the anxiety to get a peep at the
lion' was intense, notwithstanding the
presence of a body of police stationed at
the landing place to prevent confusion
and overcrowding. The great feeling
seemed to be who could soonest shake
hands with the political and national martyr,
and congratulate him on again returning
to the ark of safety and freedom.
D
As he proceeded from the boat to a cab,
he was loudly cheered amid the waving
of hats and handkerchiefs, and his progress
to Rasco's hotel was marked like a
triumphal procession. Mr. McLeod is
very unassuming in his manner and address,
and appeared to feel a diffidence
and distress at the attention and in some
cases rough courtesy shown him, which
were th? outbreaks of the warm hearts
of his fellow countrymen. He looked
pale and sallow, which his "long confine,
ment sufficiently accounts for."
Taxgo Waxgo.?The Philadelphia i
u. S. Gazette gives the following account
of a new practitioner in the healing art.
" A colored doctor named John Claws,
was yesterday brought before Alderman
Redmin, under the following circumstances:
p appears tnut he had visited unsolicted,
tiie complainant, a colored wo.,
man, who was seriously ill, and had told
her that he could cure her quickly, and
without doub\ but that it was necessary1
for the success of his practice, which he
termed the 44 Yango Wango" school, that
hi; should have four silver half dollars.
These were obtained for him, and those
he placed with a number of herbs, in an
iron pot, and boiled them ; hut after this
ceremony he took care to put them in
his pocket, and in addition to them, five
dollars in silver, winch he found in a hureau.
The patient getting no better,
and thinking the taking of the seven dollars
a very had practice, determined to
have the professor of the " Tango Wango"
school before Alderman Redman, who,
after a hearing, committed to prison the
doctor to answer for the misdemeanor at
the General Sessions."?N. Y. Sun.
Highway Rohuery.?Mr. G. Bates,
a drover, of Ohio, wiio had just completed
1 n 1 j -^1' kotiv.ipn thrpp
the sale 01 a mr{j?ur?vc ?!
and four hundred head of cattle, for
which ne had received the money, and
was en his way to Philadelphia to pur.
chase goods, was waylaid and robbed of
between sevt-n and eight thousand dollars
on Sundav night on the Strasburgh road,
a short distance above Marshallton, some
twenfy-seven miles from Philadelphia.
Ibid.
WAR STE OIKRS.
Instructions have been issued for build,
ing at our Navy Yurds the following
staarn vewels :
At Norfolk, one of medium size, say
between six hundred and seven hundred
tons; and one of three hundred tons,
to he propelled by Lieutenant Hunter's
paddle wheels. The engine for the latter
is to bo made at the Washington Narv
Yard, where it is understood work equal
to any in the country has been turned
out.
At Philadelphia, one of six hundred
tons, to be propelled 011 Captain Stockton's
plan ; and one of medium size.
At New York, one of medium size, six
hundred to seven hundred tons.
The description of engines for the medium
steamers has not vet been determined
upon. The Commissioners of the
Xavy have opened n correspondence witn
the most experienced anil scientific gentlemen
in the country, as to the hirst models.
and have collected a large amount
of information upon the subject, which
will be increased by further communications
before the time arrives for making a
decision. They will by these means have
the aid of the best experience the country
can afford.
Captain Stockton and Lieutenant Hunter
will each have, as a matter of course,
a general superintendence of the building
of the vessels on their respective plans.
Army and Navy Chron.
A MOVEMKNT IN THE WEST.
It is in contemplation in many of the
Western States to hold a Convention this
fall at Cincinnati, to take into consideration
the subject of the Currency and the
present disordered condition of the exchanges.
Tile following resolution,
among others, was adopted not long since
\w * meeting of citizrns at Columbus.
"J O " -- -
Ohio:
Re soloed, That it bo recommended to
the several Western and South Western
States to appoint delegates, equal in number
to their representatives in Congress,
to meet at Cincinnati, or some other central
point, at such time during the present
fall as shall bo thought best, and take into
consideration the present deranged
state of the currency and of exchanges
iv. rf c r,P TTninn nnrl
UUItVCVJII Ullltivm |"nia wi ...v- .......J
to devise and recommend the host means
for correcting these serious evils.
It has been elsewhere proposed that the
Convention meet on the 25th November
next, and that it be composed of delegates
from Ohio. Michigan, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky.
The proposal for a Convention, as intimated
above, is urged by the leading
presses in Ohio. Kentucky, Indiana and
Missouri, it will be favorably regarded
throughout the whole region of the West
P ?..
and South West, and it wfi! be remarked
! generally in the language of one of the pi
journals: We wonder why the YY7est th
hare not heretofore held such a Conven- qi
tion."?Pha. Sentinel. ^
: . P
The Commission which sat some time th
during the last summer in New York, by in
appointment of the Executive, in exam* at
ining the affairs of the New York Custom- cr
house, is, we understand, about to resume =
that investigation. There will be one
change in the composition of the Com- c
mission, namely, William A. Bradly, Esq. 1
of this city, in place of Mr. Kellev, of Ohio.
The latter gentleman returned to
Ohio, we believe, soon after the Commis. *h
sion closed its examination in SepteuTOer'. se
Nat. Intel!. to
' ? ~
The Statue of Washixgton was
yesterday removed from the Navy Yard, w
i and such progress had been made in the
course of the day that at sunset a jjart of
the difficult ascent of the Capital hill had
been overcome. The Statue is verv mas- |-(
sive?weighing, with its casings, it is said, ^
near twenty tons. It was brought from
the Navy Yard to Maryland avenue Pc
- nr
through the canal, and thence on move- r
able ways, bv means of capstans, <fcc.
along Maryland avenue to the Capitol
The removal of the Statue is under the
direction of our enterprising fellow-citi- it.1
zen, Mr. William Easby; and, so far, in
his delicate task has been accomplished
without accident. Ibid.
ta
disaster ry the storm.
A young friend of ours, observes the ^
Salem Gazette, who is master of more fr<
leisure than we can find, has examined
the shipping lists, since I he late storm, and
finds one hundred and ninety-tiro vessels gr
reported as injured by that disastrous
tempest. Doubtless there are some which
have not yet been reported, and others va
which will never come to light?all vest- n(
iges thereof being " in the deep bosom of m
the ocean buried." VV
tri
effect of rail roads. j
That our Itail Road has exerted a most rv
beneficial effect in stirring tlip people rip y*j
to greater exertions in fanning matters,
is plainly perceptible to all who have occasion
to visit any of the counties, within
its influence, either direct or indirect. For
instance, we learn that in several coun- w\
ties, quite distant frotn the Road, many, ar
very many, are raising Tobacco and Grain 0|
this year, for Market, and in the counties n,
of Person and Granville, it is said, more {}
Tobacco has been planted than ever be- pj
forp. and crops fair. The simple fact that
a Rail Road exerts a direct influence on ()|
the energies of the people for nearly fifty
miles on either side of it. should convince
the most skeptical of the advantages of (j
such arteries through the country. rn
Raleigh Register. \\
(Correspondence of th: Savannah Gsorgian.
E\st Florida. 20tJi Oct. 19*1.
Dear Sir.?The glad tidings has come ^
to hand that Tiger Tail's brother, E-noc- ^
tho-la-math-la, has come in to Tampa
Bay, and reports that Tiger Tail is on his
way in, with the most of his people or ,
band. Should he comG in, and there cannot
now be a possibility of a doubt, but j.
he will, it will be glorious indeed, for the
settlements will he immediately relieved
i Wi
from these infernal savages and narrows i
iii
I down the line of operation, to hut a short ^
| space, comparatively the Fiverglades.
C1 n.no nf nrorrnnna arp to
OIX vuilipniiics ui
leave Florida for Fort Jesup and Towson, i *r
on the Arkansas Frontier. Their move I '
will be immediately. A Company of the
2d Infantry relieves the Company of Dra
goons at T.ader's Hill; nnother Company
of the same Regiment, relieves the Com. sn
pany of Dragoons stationed at Fort jl/bn>
iac. Yours,
w
U. S. Hank notes are si lling in Now. '*11
York at 50 per cent, discount.
, a?
A NATIONAL BANK.
Bicknell's Reporter, of this morning, a tc
neutral paper in politics, in noticing the ai
scheme of a Rank or Fiscal Agent, pre- ^
sented in the Madisoniun, says : 44 We j "
" -? a rt
begin to be of the opinion, However, mar ?
we shall have no National J3ank. The
results of the recent elections may be regarded
asauti-bank. and although we are
of those who think that some institution _
calculated to facilitate exchanges and to
regulate the currency, would be found exceedingly
useful in a commercial sense, ,
the popular prejudice seems so strong
now, that we much doubt the ability of ^
Congress to agree upon a measure likely c
to be enacted into law. Every scheme
will find opponents." r)
THE SABBATH. . I'
The new Postmaster General has en- "
tered on the discharge of the duties of his
ft
office. We Iqprn from the Washington .
? .L? XT V^rL- f'nm. ''
correspondence ui mo .,
mercial Advertiser, that he has *4 directed
the doors of his departments to be closed P
on the Sabbath day, in respect to both
the public sense of propriety, and to the
higher obligations of the day itself, and
not in any spirit of fanaticism."
A TIGEK AT LARGE.
At Louisville, on Thursday week, a ri
tiger at the JWenagerie and Circus got out ^
of his cage, sat some time upon the top
of it, and finally entered the ring of the
^ "* ~ L- ?-?L. ' ? - - knmnrr
cirrus, wnt;re nu was sooi, vviiuuui u?? ix^
injured any ono.
p
RAILROAD FARES. r
A committee was appointed some time b
since, by the Government in England, c
to make inquiries in different parts olf Eu- a
K?pe concerning the comparative ndvan- p
tage of high and low fares on railroads, h
The result of these inquiries, with all the tl
details, containing the answers to up- b
wards of eleven thousand questions put ii
by the committee, has been published by s<
the British Parliament, and has uniformly n
esented, in every case, the conclusion j ii
iat a low rate of" freight creates great j d
jantities of goods to be carried, and p
lerebv becomes he most profitable; that : n
eat masses of passengers are created by w
ie low fare ; and that a rise of fare has ti
variably diminished the nett income, l<
id a reduction of fare has invariably ineased
it.?Phil. American. ti
s
CHEaiW GAZETTE. a
. - O
WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1S41. f
v
Owing to the carelessness of a hand in f
ie ofiiee, last week some of the papers (
nt by the mails were so badly printed as f
i be in part illegible. r
i
The Camden Journal records the t
eight of a pair of Berkshire pigs, owned c
i Majt A. H. Boykin, of that vicinity, a
5 months old ; which exceeds any f
ing we recollect to have seen in shote
ie, unless there was some mistake. The *
to 'fngs weighed/bur hundred and ticqjvc
mnds, or 206 a piece, being about one *
>und and one third for every day of their
^ V
u
Ohio.?The Democrats have a major. ^
v of 2 .n the Senate of Ohio, and 0 or 6 (
, the House. f,
1 1
The Hon. John Forsyth, late Secre- f
ry.of State, died in Washington on the
1st. October, after a protracted illness I ^
orn an attack of Congestive fever. 0
We subscribe to the following para- J.
aph from the Southern Chronicle : ^
chivalry. tl
We never knew a nation or State grow J ii
tin of its character for Chivalry that did ! n
>t experience an early decline of every
anly virtue. See Spain for example, a
rhen men begin to blow their own y
Limpets it is strong evidence tuat their a
ind is better than their credit. Cbival- n
, by the bye, is but a windy sort of a t
rtue at best. j o
> j n
From the Southern Patriot. a
GEORGETOWN. (S. C.) Oct. 19. s
Gentlemen:?Our town was visited r
ith a dreadfull fire last night, su pposed v
id I have no doubt correctly, the work s
* an incendiary. The fire commenced $
ear Mr. Benjamin King's wharf. All t
le buildings from the Market to J. G. a
enings & Co.'s wharf, aredistroved on v
o water side of the str eet. The princi- t
ft sufferers are Est W. Chapman. R.
mg, 11. Frisbie, J. C. Porter, John Ral- o
on. S. Kirton. Colwoll & Lathers, G. 3
. As \V. J. Monro. Jacob Wayne, J. Far- f
iw & Son, C. A. Magill, B. J. Cutino, r
IcKcnzie.; a
It is impossible to say who are and who c
e not insured, nor what amount of loss, j
1 all was in confusion to-day. r
You will be be pleased to learn that the (
ank is in no way implicated. Yours, t
'C* I
The Committee appointed by the town
Id on the 10th inst. to investigate the /
gin of the event full fir? of that mornin g l.
srhnrged the duty the day following and 1
ere unanimously of opinion that the fire f
as accidental and that it had its origin t
ost prohahlv from a stove used in one 1
' tho stores. si
The losses by the fire, though severe, t
e not so great in the way of morchan- f
ze, ns was supoosad. The loss in the v
ay of cotton, did not exceed thirty-five d
lies in nil. f
Co'iccH Lathers, we are happy to a
iV, are not heavy lossers, as th?:y had t
iceived hut a portion of their fall supply 1
. . Th?,, I ?.
Kl n<VJ insurance on uh-h i.i? r\. , ?vj k
ill resume business as soon as they can i
I ii|> another store. s
We are advised that we have greatly i
moderated the losses of the merchants, t
-Messrs. S Farrow & Son are said not
have lost more than $14 or $15000? I
id so in proportion to others?and in- r
?ed one merchant vesterdav said to us <
mt he was satisfied that 840.000 would j
overall the loss of merchandize.? Win- It
iw Observer. i
{
from the xew york american of J
saturday. t
'HE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE. ,
IMFORTAN r PARTICULARS. ,
Macao, May 29, 1841. |
We stated last week that every thing {
t Canton horn so warlike an aspect that (
'e should probably have to report the ]
ommenecment of hostilities in this day's ,
wuo. We shall relate seriatim the occur- j
mees at Canton since Friday, the 21st, |
remising that up to the moment of our j |
writing this, no lator accounts than of (
ie 25th have been received from Can- (
3n, and of the 26th from Whampoa, but
: is probable that we shall have to add ,
?ter intelligence before our paper goes to |
ress. i
On the 21st. Captain Elliot issued at (
"anton the following circular: j
41 In the present situation of circum- |
tances Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipo- ,
sntinry feels it his duty to recommend ,
hat the British and other foreigners now j
emaining in the factories should retire j
" ? r J
rom Uanton ueiore suunm.
CHARLES ELLIOT, |
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary. |
British Factory, May 21, 1841."
Even without this notice the warlike i
reparations made by the Chinese in evey
direction were so apparent that it had :
ecome but too palpable that the Chinese
ontemplated commencing hostilities probbly
on that very day. In many of the
ackhouses, and even on their roofs, guns
ad been planted ; every street leading to
he river's edge had become a masked
attery, and pennons and flags were flyng
over every one of them; soldiers were
een everywhere, and even in the Hong
lerchunts' warehouses while teas were be
ng weighed. A party returning Frilay
from one of these Hongs saw, Whilst
assing to the foreign factories in a boat,^
aanv of the batteries, the soldiers ii?^
rhich, for amusement's sake, pointed
heir guns at them, without, however, mo2sting
them.
The whole river from the French Folljr
o the most northern end of Canton pre*
ented one continued line of fortification,
nd a large number of guns were planted
n Dutch and French Follies. A new
ort had been built at Shaming, and it
vas known that an immense number of .
ire-raIts had been prepared in many
;reeks in different parts cf the river. Enact
the marrnirnrto ?f th? rthinnM uraot.
n r~ ~?
ation9 prove that they were now bent off
iinst determined resistance, and to drive *
he English out of the rive* without muck
greater loss of time, and that to offect thia
i simultaneous attack on the different
>ositions of the English was ibtejyled.
How far the late arrangement, in pro'idihg
the Chinese Government with
arge sums of money, may have enabled
hem to prepare thus formidably, it would
>e a somewhat curious calculation to
nake. Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary
rill probably be Vile to throw some light
ipon this subject; ho has, indeed, proved
imself a most generous enemy, and the
Chinese have no reason to complain that
air play has not been given them.
Pursuant to the above notice of Capt.
Elliot, all foreign merchants then at Canon,
with the exception of two, left their
ictories, the last embarking at about six
'clock in the afternoon ; and, from what
ccurred after, we have little doubt that
: was intended to have surprised all the
-X M mofiihnnta iKot VAfV niuhr. and
IIICIlvllUIIH Miaip TVI^ H>0lt?v
3 have carried them off prisoners, had
hey escaped deathsrat the hands of the
ifuriatcd mob. They have iudeed had a.
Dost providential escape. ^
Owing to its being nearly calm, and to- W
strong ebb tide, the schooner Aurora,
/ith several British merchants on board,
nd Her Majesty's cutter Louisa, renamed
anchored right opposite thef Faeories.
and it was observed that the suburb*
>f Canton presented an appearance of
nore than usual quiet. All the innumerble
boats which are in peaceful time*,
cen on the river, gaily lighted up, were
10 longer there, and the foreign factoriea
rere, with the exception of two, dark and
ilent. Soon after six. Her Majesty's
hips Modeste and Algerine moved from f
heir anchorage, in the Macao passage,
,nd anchored as close to the town as the
vuter would permit, nor did this seem for
he tune to attract much attention.
At a little pest feD, however, a blaze
>f light in the direction of Futee was oherved,
and was soon found to proceed
rorn several fire rafts or junks, floating
lown fast with the tide upon the cuttpr
ind Schooner, which were in considerable
langer, the tide still ebbing, and weighng
anchor would have brought them
learer to the range of the guns from-the
Company's garden, and others which had
>y this time opened upon them, and kept
i,) a smart fire, by which the cutter was bit
wice and the schooner once.
1'he two small vessels were therefore
bliged to remain at anchor, exposed to
he fire from the battery at Shaming, the
Milter returning the fire gallantly, and
breing by her firu fix large cargo boats,
hat bore down on her in the wnko of
he fire ships, and probably filled with
oldiers to board her, to sheer off, when
he steamer Nemesis came down upon the
ire ships and towed them out of harm's
vay, opening at the same time a tremeo* .
Ions fire from her two 82 pounders. *
dor Majesty's ships Modeste, Algerine,
ind Pylades. had meanwhile also opened
heir fire, and a brisk cannonade ensued,
naintained chiefly against the new fort at
Shaming. The firing was kept up dung
part of the night, and the cutter and
chooner were at last, by the tide's turnng,
enabled to move out of the range of
he shot in the Macao passage.
Her Majesty's ships Alligator and Pyades
were at one time, we learn, in imnoilent
danger from the fire ships, but the
opportune arrival of the boats of her Maesty's
ship Herald, which towed them
\n ?hr>rp. ssvad them. In the morninff
;arlv of the 22d, the work of destruction
it Shaming was recommenced by .Her
Majesty's ships Modeste, Pylades, and Al*erine,
and steamer Nemesis. The fort,
vas, after a heavy cannonade, silenced
ind destroyed, and eight very tine new
>rassguns found in it. Meanwhile a num.
)er of war junks wvre seen issuing from 4
:reek opposite Fa tee, and the steamer
Xemesis went to meet them; but they,,
unwilling to have any thing to say to so
formidable an antagonist, retreated again
to the creek, and the steamer again gave
tier assistance at Shaming, which no soonsr
being perceived by the junks, than
they came out a second time.
This time, however, the steamer waa
not content with merely driving them
back, hut followed them into the creek;
what passed there was, from the position,
nf our informant, hid from his view ; but
loud reports and volumes of white andulack
smoke rising into the air at intervals,
but too plainly told that the work of
destruction was actively going on there.
In less than three hours upwards of 40|unks
were set fire to and blown up, a
sight which can have been any thing
hut pleasing to Yiksham, the rebel-quelling
general.
The return of the Nemesis from thin
successfull expedition, followed by the
Herald's and her own boats, is described
as affording a sight in the highest degree
-1 : -onmir-nl at the HAIfie
Clltrci lllg? Oliu JW VV""VW. ?r
time. The steanrrer was covered all over
with the and pennants captured from
the junks; the boats crews were ali a rayed
in handsome mandarin dresses and caps,
and the crew of one boat, in order to be
pcrfectin their new costume had each Ol^n
of them a tail, more sinico,.danghng.f/orp.
under their caps, which we hope
spoils from living Chinese, .who saved