Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, October 18, 1836, Image 1
CHE 11A W G A Z E T T E.
% I
M. MACLEAN, EDITOR & PROPRIETOR. CHER AW, S. c., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1836. vol. i. no. 49. J, \ .tg
G. H. TAYLOR, PRINTER.
Published every Tuesday.
T L K ?I S.
If paid within three months, - . . 3.00
If paid withiuthree months after the close
of the year, 3. 50
I not paid within that time, .... 4. 00
A company of six persons taking the paper at
the same Post Office, shall l>e entitled to it at ?15,
paid in advance, and a company of ten persons
at ?20 ; provided the names be forwarded together,
accompanied by the money.
No paper to be discontinued but at the option
of the Editor till arrearages are paid. ]
Advertisements inserted for 75 cents per square <
the first time, and 37 $ for each subsequent insertion.
Persons sending in advertisements are request- (
cd to specify the number of times they are to be :
inserted; otherwise they will he continued till 1
ordered out, and charged accordingly. I
0*The Postage must be paid on all commu- (
nications sent by mail.
? ? (
KlltVL EC0\0>IV. <
The following is from the New-York Cultivator,
and part of the system of British IIus- 1
bandry, extracted from that Journal.?South- *
em Agriculturalist. (
[Continued from our last.] 1
OF THE USES OF THE SOILS TO VEGETABLES. *
Soils afford to plants a fixed abode and
medium of nourishment.?Earths, exclu- *
sive of organized matter, (animal and vegetable
substances,) and water, are allowed (}
by most physiologists to be of no other use
Jo/piants, than that of supporting them, or 1
furnishing a medium bv which they may 1
tix themselves to tiie globe. But earths and 1
organic matters, that is, soils, alibrd at once 1
support and food. 1
The pure earths merely act as median i- i '
cal and indirect chemical agents in th? soil.
t
?The earths consist of metals united to
oxygen, (a constituent of the atmosphere) '
and these metals have not been decom- *
posed; there is consequently no reason to !
suppose that the earths are convertable inc
nf nrrmni'/ed COmDOUllds, *
IU UIC CIVUILUW V.
that is, into carbon, hydrogen and azote *
(three substances which make up the bulk r
of all plants.) Plants have been made to v
grow in given quantities of earth. They j I
consume very small portions only; and 1
what is lost mav be accounted for bv the ;
quantities found in the ashes; that is to say,
it has not been converted into any new product.
The carbonic acid united to lime or '
magnesia, if any stronger acid happens to 1
be found in the soil during the fermcnta- 4
tion of vegetable matter, which will disen- 1
gage it from the earths, may be decompos- 1
ed ,* but the earths themselves cannot be 1
supposed convertable into other substances, T
by any process taking place in the soil. c
In all cases the ashes of plants contain 1
some of the earths of the soil in which they j
grew, but these earths, as lias been ascertained
by the earths afforded by different '
plants, never equal more than one-fiftieth of
i i
of the weight of the plant consumed. 11
they be considered as necessary to the
vegetable, it is as giving hardiness and !
firmness to its organization. Thus it has
I been mentioned that wheat, oats, and many
of the hollow stalked grasses, have an 1
epidermis [outer bark] principally of sili- j
ctous earth ; the use of which seems to he j '
to strengthen them, and defend them from j'
the attacks of insects and parasitical j'
[which grow and ieed upon others]
plants.
The true nourishment of plants is water,
and decomposing organic matter, [rotted
vegetable and animal substances :J both 1
these exist in soils, not in pure earths; but '
the earthy parts of the soil arc useful in retaining
water, so as to supply it in the pro- j
per proportions to the roots of the vegetables,
and they are likewise efficacious in
producing the proper distribution of the
animal or vegetable matter When equally
mixed with it they prevent it decompos- (
inff too rapidly, and by their means the
soluble parts are supplied in proper proportions.
]
The soil is neccssanj to the existence of |
plants, both as affording them nourishment, j
and enabling them to fix themselves in such '
a manner as 'o obey those laws by which ;
their radicals are kept below the surface, i
and their leaves exposed to the free atmosphere.
As the system of roots, branches, i
and leaves, are very different in different
vegetables, so they flourish most in differ- i
ent soils; the plants that have bulbous
roots require a looser and lighter soil than
such as have fibrous roots; and the plants :
possessing only short fibrous radicles demand
a firmer soil than such as have tap- 1
roots or extensive lateral roots.
The constituent parts of the soil which
ffine tenacity and coherence arc the finely
divided matters; and they possess tiic power
of giving those qualities in the highest
degree when thev contain much alumina.
A small quantity of finely divided matter is
sufficient to fit a soil for the production of
turnips and barley; and a tolerable crop of
turnips has been produced 0:1 a soil containing
11 parts out of 12 sand. A much
greater proportion of sand, however always
produces absolute sterility. Vegetable or
animal matters, when finely divided, not
only give coherence, but likewise softness
and penetrability; but neither they nor any
other part of the soil must be in too great
proportion ; and soil is is unproductive if
it consist entirely of impalpable matters.
Pure alumina or silica, pure carbonate of
magnesia, are incapable of supporting healthy
vegetation; and no soil is fertile that
contains as much as nineteen parts out of
twenty of any of these constituents.
A certain degree of friability or looseness
of texture is also required in soils, in order
that the operations of culture may be easily
conducted; that moisture may have free
access to the fibres of the roots, that heat
may be readily conveyed to them, and that I
evaporation muv proceed without obstruc-1
?
W ^ -
tiort. These are commonly attained by
the presence of sand. As alumina possesses
all the properties of adhesiveness in
an eminent degree, and silex those of friability,
it is obvious that a mixture of these
two earths, in suitable proportions, would
furnish every thing wanted to form the
most perfect soil as to water and the operations
of culture. In a soil so compounded,
water will be presented to the roots by capillary
attraction. It will be suspended in
it, in the saine manner as it is suspended in
a sponge, not in a state of aggregation, but
minute division, so that every part may be
said to be moist, but not wet.
The jmcerofthc soil to absorb water by
roficsive attraction depends in a greiu urjusure
upon tiie state of division ot its parts;
jie more divided they are, the greater is
* .
:heir absorbent power. The different constituent
parts of soils likewise appear to act
jven by cohesive attraction, with different
Jegrees of energy. Thus vegetable substances
seem to be more absorbent than
tnimal substances; animal substances
nore so than compounds of alumina and
silica; and compounds of alumina and sili a
more absorbent than carbonates of lime
tnd magnesia ; these differences may, howJver,
possibly depend ujion the differences
n their state of division, and upon the surace
exposed.
The power of soil to absorb water from
lir is much connected with fertility.
iVhen this power is great, the plant is cupiliod
with moisture in drv seasons; and
he effect of evaporation in the day is conneractecl
by the absorption of aqueous valour
from the atmosphere, by the interior
>arts of the soil during the day, and by botii 1
he exterior and interior during the night, j
The stiff clays approaching to pipe clays in
heir nature, which take up the greatest i
juantity of water when it is poured upon
Item in a fluid form, are not the soils which '
ibsorb most moisture from the atmosphere '
n dry weather. They cake and present
mly a small surface to the air; and the ve- (
fetation on them is generally burnt up al
nost as readily as on the sands. The soils j
vhich are most efficient in supplying the
>lant with water by atmospheric absorption
ire those in which there is a due mixture of
;and, finely divided clay, and carbonate of
inic, witn some animal or vegetable matter, i
uid which are so loose and light as to be free- :
y permeable to the atmosphere, With respect
to this quality, carbonate oflime, and
mimal and vegetable matter are of great
ise in soils; they give absorbent power to
he soil without likewise giving it tenacity:
;and, which also destroys tenacity, on
he contrary, gives little absorbent pow.T,
The absorbent power of soils, with re)ect
to atmospheric moisture, is always
greatest in most fertile soils; so that it affords
one methed of judging of the productiveness
of land.
As examples of the absorbent poirers of
soils: One thousand parts of a celebrated
soil from Ormision, in East Lothian, which
contained more than half its weight of finely
divided matter, of which eleven parts
were carbonate oflime, and nine parts ve-1
actable matter, when dried at two hundred
and twelve degrees, gained in an hour bv
exposure to the air saturated with moisture at
a temperature of sixty two degrees, eighteen
grains. One thousand parts of a very fertile
soil from the banks of the river Parret,
in Somersetshire, under tho same circum
stances, gained sixteen grains. One thousand
parts of a soil from Mcrsea, in Essex,
gained thirteen grains. One thousand
grains of a fine sand, from Essex, gained
eleven grains. One thousand of a coarse
sand gained only eight grains. One thousand
of a soil of Hagshol Heath, gained
only tiirec grains.
0 c>
From the Southern Agriculturist.
OX GINNING COTTOX, FOR A LATE MARKET.
Charleston, Sept. 27,1836.
Mr. Editor,?As it is a very common
practice, with some planters, to hold back a
part, and sometimes the whole of a crop for
a late market; I would avail myseif of your
vcrv useful work, to direct their attention to
some matters, of which it is possible, some
may never have heard, or reflected upon.?
The object in retaining any article, is to obtain
an advanced price. To eflect this in
Rice, it is essential the grain should be kept
in the rough, and come to market fresh
beat. The advantage newly beaten rice
has over that, which has been kept a considerable
time after cleaning, is so well understood,
I will make a few remarks 0:1
Cotton, the only other article of importance,
which we grow for market. I believe it is
a very common opinion, that cotton is not
injured by keeping, unless kept an unreasonably
longtime. A little reflection, will
convince those holding that opinion, that it j
is not supported by facts. The facts are what
I intend to oiler to the planter for reflection,
leaving bis faith and conduct to the guidance
of his, perhaps better judgment. It is known
all, sonic water is used in packing, an l consequently,
the bale just from the gin, is a
few pounds heavier than it will be lbund, it
weighed after thorough drying, or evaporation
of the water. This ends the subject,
so far as preparation for the manufacture is
concerned. Rut the loss in weight, does
not cense with the dr\ ing away, or evaporation
of the water. It is progressive, and
will continue so, till the fibres become perfectly
dead, and rot commences. This
loss of weight is in itself of no great importance
to the grower, but it proves incontes.
tibly, a corresponding deterioration in quality
As it loses its essential oil, it becomes
dry, harsh, and weaker: and finally, when
that oil is exhausted, the rot commences.?
These positions are undeniable. Every
day deprives this article of a portion of vitality,
and diminishes its value to the grower,
and the manufacturer. This is true of both
ginned and un?inned cotton, buf especirillv
so of the former. Let as much seed cotton
of the same quantity, be set aside as
will make twenty bales. Gin ten on the
1st of November, the remainder on the
1st of June, and bring the whole to market.
The result will be, that any practical buyer
will not only discover the difference, but
will value the first ginning much less than
tiie last. This loss in price is to be added to
tiiat of weight. When this is done, the planter
will discover it to be good policy to keep
the cotton intended for a late market, in the
seed until the last moment. The reason it
seems to me is good and plain, for separate
the wool from the seed, in any manner you
please, the fibres are every one sundered
in one place at least. Each fracture facilitates
the escape of the oil, or life in the wool,
(cotton) while not the least particle is replenished,
by extraction orabsorbtionof oil
from the seed. That which is kept unginned
remaining as taken from the pod?every
fibre perfect?is not liable to, and cannot
sufFcr the same injury, or loss, in either i
weight or quality, tor as long as the wool
remains attached to the seed, and the seed
is alive, so long wiil the wool absorb or extract
oil or life from the seed. When the
essential oil of the latter is exhausted, both
will go into dry rot, as the ginned cotton j
has very long before done. Minute as are [
the fibers of cotton wool, each one is like a j
sponge, each has its own proner duct, com-!
municating with and deriving sustenance
from the pith, or heart of the seed. If this
be true, no farther argument is necessary
to prove the advantage of not ginning cotton
held for spring, or early summer mar- j
ket, till it is intended to be sold. If any one
can prove the opposite, I shall not be displeased,
for I am not so wedded to my opin-:
ions that I cannot abandon them. I think,1
however, there is 110 merchant in this city, i
buyer or seller, who cannot by sight dis-1
- ?-/* .1 I
cover a uinerencc oeuva-u uircu sam{>ic?ui
the same co.'ton, ginned at intervals of six
months. 1 do not pretend to say, he will
discover that the three samples are all the
same cotton, but ginned at different times.
If he is made acquainted with the fact, he
will arrange them in the order they came
from the gin. If sight is not sufficient, he
will call to his aid the sense of feeling.?
These two senses will not, and cannot fail,
making the required discrimination. If the
same samples should be offered him with a
request to say whether or not there is a difference,
and if so, to point it out, he will (if
a good judge) do so in double "Egyptian
darkness," and will not only aver there is a
ditferencc, but will take them for different
cottons, and tell you the second ginning is
better than the lirst, and the third better
than either. Crush the samples in the hand
and the resistance of one, contracted with
the pliancy of the other, will decide the
ginnings or qualities are not the same. But J
there is no use in dilating upon the art of
o?>r>,r>lirirr I lr>rwl hnwrc 11nflpr\<fnnrl mif.
If the planters do not, I am not surprised,
because too generally they think their own
the best cotton made, without troubling
themselves to compare with their neighbors,
or even the produce of one with another,
of their own fields. Let them practice
sampling, and they will soon he as wise as
we are, much to the satisfaction of the factors,
and of us who buy. The factors will
not he blamed for dilFerence of prices obtained,
when the censure should lay on the
cotton, because that grown on Air. Blue's
place was so stupid as to be finer than that produced
on Mr. Cream's. IFc should be gratified,
by finding uniformity in the brands called
"crack." I should think it as much their
business, to understand sampling cotton, as
to know how, and when to plant the seed.
That is nothing to me, however. I intend
' 1 * A' ^ f 1-vt rrontlir
10 DCnt'Ill [|]Cm UUU IIIVSUII lUU) uy
hinting, it is best for all parties that cotton
should be sold dry, but fresh from the gin.
Wishing the planters and yourself a good
harvest, I am, dear, sir, your most obedient
servant, A MERCHANT.
PARENT'S DEPARTMENT.
From the Mother's Magazine.
.MINISTERIAL AUTHORITY A HUNDRED YEARS
AGO.
The papers of an aged clergyman of Connecticut,
not long since gathered to his
fathers, were recently placed at my disposal.
Among them were several sheets con.
mining, besides other matters, a notice of a
usage, which will appear singular in these
days, (when every man?might I not add,
when every child ??does that which is right
in his own eye.) but which prevailed in a
certain town in Connecticut, somewhat more
than a hundred years ago.
An account of this usage may not he out
of place in the Mother's Magazine. It was
this. Whenever a child, or youth, was discovered
playing, or in any way disturbing
the order of public worship, the minister
would pause, and calling him by name
would publicly direct hini to repair to his
house on Monday morning, to give an ac
count of his conduct. In the study of the
minister the offence, with its aj?rravatin?? or
. . . o
mitigating circumstances, was canvassed,
and such admonition and discipline imparted
to tiie offender, as the overseer of his flock
deemed wise. .So well established was this
order of things, that few if any parents demurred
sending their children ; nor would a
child have presumed to decline obeying the
summons ofthe sacred functionary.
The clergyman above named gives the
following account of an interview between a
lad, and the pastor of a church, in the town
already alluded to. It was related to the
clergyman by the offender himself, when the
latter was between sixty and seventy years
old.
His name was Charles . When
about twelve years of age, ou a certain Sabbath,
he played during divine service. The
eve ofthe minister caught the action ;?lie
paused, and audibly pronouncing his name,
-I him to em no to his !) ? :<< on Men
??-J?
day morning, at nine o'clock. His parents
were present, and were witnesses, if not of
the ollence, of the solemn summons.
What was said by them to their son after
service is not stated ; but it was at once admitted,
that the call must be obeyed. Accordingly,
the following morning, his motho
* * o
er directed him to put on his iSunday suit,
and prepare to go to .Mr. C 's. When
ready, and about to go, she thus addressed
him :
"Charles,you now see what you suffer
for being a naughty boy, and for playing at
meeting. You have grieved your father
and mother,and greatly displeased Mr. C
; . Go to him, my son, and confess
| your fault; and more than all, ask forgive
ncss of'God, wfio.se command you have
! broken. I know you feel bad, but you deI
serve to sutler. Your conduct no one can
' justify, and you yourself would condemn in
another what you have done."
"Mother,"said Charles, "Will you not go
with me ?"
" No, my child," slie replied, 4,you must
( go alone ; and tell Mr. C that neither
.your father nor mother wish to screen you,
and do you submit to whatever punishment
I he may inflict upon you."
With a heavy heart, Charles proceeded
to Mr. C 's. Having reached the house,
he went round to the buck door, and gave
one or two gentle raps. This he did, as he
1 afterwards said, in the hope that no one
, would hear him, and that lie might be
1 able to say, that he knocked, and found no
one to admit him. Tims was he tempted
to screen himself;?hut the rap, gentle as
it was, was heard by Mrs. C , who happened
to be near by, and who opened the
door. Before her stood Charles.?She
knew him well, and immediately inquired?
"Charles, is it you ! and what do you
want ?"
"Mr. C told me," said the guilty
boy, "to come and see him this morning."
"Oh you are the boy that played at meet.
ing yesterday?are you ? Air. C is in
his study; I will speak to him."
Accordingly, advancing to the chamber
stairs, she called to her husband, "Mr. C ,
here is Charles , who played at meeting
yesterday, come to see you."
"Tell him to come up to my study."
Charles soon stood in the presence of the
kind-hearted but now somewhat stern Mr.
C . Laying aside his pen, lie cast a
severe look upon the offender; but noticing
his meek and humble mien, immediately
relaxed all appearance of the judge, and
gently drawing Charles towards him, mildly
j inquired?
"Charles, can you repeat the fourth commandment
?"
"Yes, sir;?Remember the Sabbath day,"
"And did you not break this commandment
yesterday, when you played at meeting
"Yes, sir."
"Well, and are you sorry that you broke
one of God's commands
"Yes, sir."
Other questions followed and were answered
by Charles to the acceptance of
Mr. C , who was satisfied, as well he
might be, of the sincere repentance and good
resolutions of the offender. At length Mr.
C , inquired?
"Charles, who sent you here ?"
"My mother."
"And was she not sorry that her son
should play on God's holy day, a .d tlvat in
the house of God ?"
"She was; and she told me to tell you,
that neither she nor my lattier wistiea
to screen me."
"Charles," said the worthy divine,
"Charles, you, should be thankful for
such a mother. Can you repeat the fifth
commandment ?"
"Honor thyfather and thy mother," ^*c.
"Well, now look at it, Charles; when you
play on the Sabbath, you ofiend God, who
says, 4Remember the Sabbath <lay, and keep
it ho/y"?and you offend your parents, and
then you break the fifth commandment,
which says, 4Honor thy father and thy
motherA re you willing to promise that you
will never play at meeting again ?"
"Yes, sir?1 never will."
"Now, my son, you may go ; and remember
your promise."
Upon this, Air. C arose, and opening
the study door, called with quite a strong
voice?
"Mrs. C , here is Charles coming
down?give him apiece of cake? lie says
he is sorry for playing yesterday at meeting,
and has promised that he will never do
so again."
Charles took the cake and retired. In
after years, he often related the above incident
; and always added, that his interview
; with Mr. C was, through the grace of
j God, blessed to his good. At first his disI
tress, which was great, arose from the fear
I of fhc man ; but the kind and atleetionate
I manner of Mr. C 's address, added to
the serious questions which he asked, at
length convinced him of the dishonor which
he had done to God. Never afterwards
did he exhibit a light or irreverent manner
in the sanctuary ; and in maturer years, and
j upon other occasions, the faithful dealings
| of Mr. C had its influence upon his
i conduct.
|
j Such was the custom a hundred years ago
I in the town of . Who admits not
j that it was a salutary custom ! What friend
to the order of divine worship, and the
j proper observance of the Sabbath, would not
wish it had descended to the present time ?
Ministers have no such authority iu these
davs. So far from it, the instances are not
* ,.
| few, in which their rebuke of improper conduct
in the house of God is met only with
contempt. Children, especially those who
occupy the galleries, not only whisper and
plnv?but the consecrated place has been.
within the knowledge of the wri:er, desecra- d
' ted by the perusal of newspapers, novels, \*
and plays. ci
Now we ask, wlience has come this change n
?this relaxation of good order?this tole- tl
ration of mockery in our sanctuaries ? Is it1 n
attributable to diminished ministerial influ-! w
ence and authority? Grunt it. But whence ' tc
that diminution ? Are ministers less res-1
pectable now than formerly ? A re they less [ d<
holy and devoted ? Are they more ready to j c<
sanction light and irreverent conduct in the th
house of God ! j ei
Who will pretend it ? Yet the truth is? ch
and a melancholy truth?that ministers have nt
no such influence, no such authority, as in w
the days of the 4,oIden time." And for our- 'f
selves, we trace their loss, among other cau- ci
ses. to parents themselves.
Who believes not that it is in the power fr
of the parents and guardians of any town in t0
the land, to introduce and establish the _j
above custom in a single month ? Suppose j ?
i n . i A ^ I
a minister was asssureti 01 me countenance se
and su[)port of the parents and guardians of Qj
his flock i:i reviving the practice?would he
hesitate ? And might not similar happy re- ^
suits be anticipated / Had the mothers off '
the land the firmness?and let me add, the j u|
kindness of the mother of Charles?especial- ] sa
ly if supported by fathers, would our church. j w
es be so often profaned as they are ? But |
in the present state of society?with the i
pride which prevails, what clergyman might j [,(
not expect dismission, who should summon j jn
by name a child of a parishioner in the pres. i ar
encc of the audience to his house, to an* 1 t
swer for his conduct ? j
1 have hinted above that the custom ob- j
served at might be revived; but Qj
whether this would be expedient, in the pres.
ent state of society, might be questioned. ^
There is another, and it is believed, a still a|
better remedy for the evil complained of.
It is to bring your children from the galllery
and to scat them in your peics with your- j*r
selves. This is an effectual preventurc to i,1
* " ? > :.i__ I la
all mischiet and irregularity ; uesiues, -now
decent and how wise" for parents and chil- Cl
dren to sit together at the feet of Jesus?the
former, by their serious deportment and at- .
attention, to show the latter in what estima- ,n
tion they regard the Sabbath, the sanctu- ^
arv, and the truth of God. i
But not in the sanctuary only is the Sab-! 01
bath to be honored. If not properly obser-1
ved in the family, it can never be thus obser- | a-!
ved. Irreverence at home will be carried f11
abroad. i
That the profanation of the Sabbath is a \ j1!
growing evil in all the land, is too apparent j
to be disputed. But a few weeks since it | ^
was stated in one oftlie papers of the city j
of New York, that probably not less than j
50,000 citizens are abroad every Sabbath | 01
on excursions of pleasure and relaxation; i tr
and the editor expressed his gratification at ie
the fact, adding that he believed it lawful, a
after refreshing the mind in Church, to pay n
attention to the comfort and relaxation of uj
"the outer man." lias it then come to this? 7
Our public papers the open and avowed ad. C
vocates of a desecration of the Sabbath ! ! s(
encouraging licentiousness and immorality! v<
smiling upon a mons:rous and wide-spread a,
perversion of a holy institution of God! j b
With such facts before the friends of or- ]
derand religion, they may well be alarmed, j it
It is time to awake, and lift up a standard? | r<
"to arrest, if possible, this growing evil, or , ti
the entire obliteration of the Sabbath will,; d
at no distant dav, be the result." j t(
11
From the National Intelligencer. ; f.
Natchitoches, (La.) Aug. 28, 1836. { v"
Messrs. Editors : Believing that every 11(
thing new or true concerning Texas is of I
great interest at this crisis in its history, I ! .j
devote a little leisure in placing at your dis-! l
jiosal a sketch of some of the " first impres-! ^
sions" of a short tour into that country, from
which I have but just returned. But, in
truth, I sit down to give you my last impressions,
for they arc the most vivid; and the
subject being the relations of our Govern- g
ment with Mexico, (for it must be so written ^
until Texas become an acknowledged Power,)
will demand attention for its intrinsic
importance. ^
As to the domestic aflairs of Texas, 1 ^
shall, then, at present, merely toucii upon
some of the prominent points. It has no jj
Government, in the modern acceptation of
j that term : all its pretensions to one are ;
founded on the hasty decrees of a Conven- j ^
tion?the remnants of the Mexican munici- j ?
pal laws or customs, and some symptons of;
military subordination. When the revolu- (?
tionary state of the times, and the transient !
nature of the population, are considered, it j
will be conceived that on such foundations i
j the structures totter under unskilled and uu- i j
certain hands. The simple truth is, the
whole country is under martial law; induced
often from a spirit of patriotic devotion, un- ? i
resisted from habit or weakness. ;
The Texians must not be blamed for ali
this; the only wonder is that they have done
so well. All have read their new "Consti- j
tution," (if they were justifiable is so calling | ^
this instrument without a sanction.) The |
5th of September decides its fate ; and on j'
i that day, the President, Senators, and Rep- j
sentatives are elected; and by the law of I
necessity, conformably to this Constitution ' f'
which may then be rejected.* And that I b
eventful day will hear the voice of the Peo- j c
pie pronounce their national destiny?wheth- j
er to bo a unit in the grand Confederacy, j
or an independent sovereignty, which she j
may well become, with millions of citizen s
supporters. (v
General Houston will be elected Presi. i (
dent, and a majority of the People, I pre- j
diet, will declare lor the star-spangled ban-1
ner.
Texas is said to be millions in debt; her j 1;
climate and soil are her only wealth. If the j c
i struggle be protracted bv Mexico (even for / s
I a year) and Texas receive not the national c
, credit, which an acknowledgment of i?? in- v
A
ependent existence by the United States
rould give her, the final result, the civil
ommotions of Mexico out of the question,
mst be yet considered very doubtful. And
lis brings me to the subjec. with which
iv mind was occupied when I sat down to
rite?the military interposition of the Unid
States.
On my return through Texas, an acci?nt
detained me a number of days at Na- *
Jgdoches, seventy miles west of the Sabine,
e United States boundary. There I found
icamped two regiments of our Army?
agoons and infantry, and felt myself fortuite
to find among them an old friend, a
anderer like myself from the far North,
o him I am indebted for most of the parti'
i/ars that follow. j
General Gaines, retiring in January last
om Florida, * * * * hurried
this frontier. * * * * A re
/ 1?C .1? yt__.u
mem was nrsi orueruu irom mc :>uiui iu
institute the nucleus of his " army of obrvation."
On hearing a report in April
"a rapid invasion of Texas, and a panic
nong the women, he inarched his forces to
e banks of the Sabine, and made a call
ion the Governors of many States for voliteers
in all to six thousand or eight thoumd
men. By the time these draughts
ere mustered into service, the rumors on
hich this most important step was founded
oved to be in a great measure hdse. The
jlunteers were discharged the service, but
the mean time large supplies for their use
id consumption had been purchased and
unspotted many hundreds of miles by war
and land. To state one article : there
c now at Camp Sabine 136,500 bushels
' corn! (see General Gaines's letter to
overnor Carroll, " corn for 3,000 horses
r six months.") This is now said to be
1 rotten.
The President of Mexico being captured
id his army destroyed at the memorable
ittlc of San Jacinto, and Texas rid of the'
st of her invaders, a stray captain or two,
died " commissioners," prisoners at Metnoras,
Mexico, wrote a letter bidding the
exians to prepare for another immediate
vasion; at the same time some reports of
tdian murders in Texas were raised by
e interested. Fired by this rumor of war
ily 800 miles beyond our frontier, and
e Indian stories, our venerable General f'jj
juin called upon the Governors for many
ore regiments of volunteers, and, attractg
by tiiis grand parade the public attenm
to himself on tne right side of the Sa
ne?the Rubicon of national honor?pass5
it obscurely with the garrison of Fort
ibson.
Fort Gibson, the most exposed of our
nt-posts, the centre of all the emigrating
ibes, the immediate region where the suln
and blood stained savages of the South
re sent, being thus left with a nominal garson,
the Governor of Arkansas was called
pon to send 1,000 men to reinforce Fort
1oicson, on Red river, in the midst of the
hoctaws; a race who strange to say, never
jalped a white man, and who had recently
oluuteered to fight for the United States
gainst her enemies, whoever they might
e.
One of the ostensible causes of this perlanent
military occupation of Texas is the
rported disaffected state of a number of
ibes, or fragments of tribes, Texian Inians,
and some that once lived on the Uni:d
States territory. The inhabitants of
Yxas, rejoicing at the countenance of our
oops to their cause, (and perhaps pleased
/ith their expenditures,) are highly interes*1
in their presence, and, with great policy
I ' w _
aise or spread rumors and reports of these
iireatened attacks, &c. being aware, peraps,
that such monstrous propositions as
tie following would be seriously listened to
a the proper quarter, and promote their
iews, to wit: That these scattered bands
if Indians, set on by Mexicans, (not one of
rhoni now treads the soil of Texas,) conpired
the immediate dsstruction ofNacogloehes,
in the presence of two regiments of
egulars, their protectors! the same Indians
vho, before their arrival, when Santa Ana,
lushed with victory, penetrated the heart of
lexas, and the few citizens ofNacogdoches
tresent were panic-stricken, remained quiet
is lambs!
"" ' * M !n?AMWt.
These aeiaus may not provt; su
ng as circumstances made them to me'.
Suffice it, that our Armv has taken a part
* i
if much importance in this war; that now,
while all is peace in Texas, and they are en[aged
organizing a civil Government, our
roops have been stationed more than a
nonth among them, and their winter supilics
have been sent for 400 miles to Fort
Gibson, where their presence is so much
leeded: that General Gaines is embodying
1:1 the frontier large bodies of militia, who*
letells Governor Carroll, (see his published
jtter.) may calculate on a '' comfortable as
well .'is profitable tour of service," and, hav.
ig learned their tactics, "wouid then, when
dded to the regular forces, under any proable
change of circumstances, afford cornicle
protection.1'
I am yours, See.
* If the Constitution, which was hastily
amed, almost in the presence of the enemy,
e rejected, the Congress will meet with powrs
tc amend it.
military correspondence.
The Governor of the State of Tonnes*
ee has caused to be- published in the Nashille
papers the following letter from Gen.
Jtines:
Head Quarters, Western Department, )
Camp Sabine, August 28, 1836. \
Sir : I liad the honor to receive by the
ist mail your Excellency's letter of the 8th
if this month, advising me of the suspenion,
by the President of the United States,
?f the movement of the Regiment ofMounr"!
Gunmen, which }urj did me the favour