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1 x I SARGENT S. PRENTISS. We hope that the d.y not fcr.dUUnt when weTwi full biography of h,. m.rkable man. accompanied by a collec an of hii speeches at bare been report.--Tr.'V..-.i.i tha srrtateat of his public ..non ihe huitinst. ia Congress, and, the bar, can merer be recalled. They were off hani. unpremeditated effusions, of which no report bat ever been made. But, judg ing from such specimen! of eloquence as hare been preserved, and from the accounts given of hit oratorical power by men of all descriptions, we are inclined to believe that S. S. Prentiss has had no superior aa-an ora tor in Ibis country, with the single exception of Patrick Henry. We have recently read aome very inter esting and well-written reminiscences of Mr. Prentiss by T. B Thorpe, Esq., from which we annex some extracts. Mr. Prentiss was born; in Portland, Maine, September 30th, 18(J6L His father was an enterprising and .successful ship master at Portland. Mr. 1 Prentiss was remarkable in hii yotyh for ' great personal beauty, for intelligence and fondness for reading. Mr. Thorpe gives the following gem, which ihe reader may have seen before, but which he will not regret to aee often: A nieture of the youthful Prentiss is beautifully portrayed by bis own exquisite mind in his address before the New Orleans "New England Society." On that occasion he said: The common Tillage school is new England's boast the brghtest jewel that a dorna her brow. 'Behold," said he, 'yon der simple building near the crossing of the Tillage roads ! It is of sma'l and rude con struction, but stands in a pleasant and quiet lpoJ. A magnificent old elm spreads its broad arms above and seems to lean towards it, as a ktrong man bends to shelter and protect child. A brook runs through the mead ow near, anl hard by there is an orchard; but the trees have iffered much, and bear no fruit, except upon the most remote and inaccessible branches. ' From within i's wall comes a busy hum, such as you may hear in a disturbed bee hive. Now peep through yonder window, and you will see a hun dred children with rosy che ks, mischievous eyes, and demure faces, all engaged or pre tending to be engaged, in their little lessons. It . is the public school the free, the com mon school provided by law ; open to all ; claimed from the community as a right, not accepted at a bounty. Here the children of the rich and poor, high and low, meet upon perfect equality , and commence upon the same auspices the race of life. Here the sustenance of the triad is served up to all alike, as Spartans served their food upon the public table. Here young ambition climbs its little ladder,; and boyish genius plumes its half fledged wings. From among these laughing children will go forth the men who are to control their age and country ; the statesman, whose wisdom is to guide the Sen.ate ; the poet who will take captive the hearts of the people, and bind them togeth er with immortal song; the philosopher, who co'dly seizing upon the elements them- selves, will compel them to his wishes, and through new combination of their primal laws, by some i great discovery, revolution ize both art and science." The , picture is complete. It was in the public school of New England that the boy Prentiss first climbed ambition's little Udder, that was eventually to take him to the height oft noble profession, and plumed his half fledged wing, destined soon to soar in regio -a of unrivalled eloquence. It was in the mtntion of the demure face and the orchard tript of fruit, except iri the most remote and inaccessible branches, that we distinguish the love of fun and the thoughtless daring, that ripened finally into the keenest wit and the bravest front." Mr. Prentiss graduated in Bowdoin Col lege in 1826. HaTing graduated, he went to the city of Cincinnati, where he made the acquaintance of an eminent lawyer, who judging that "the fiery temperament, chiv alrous thought, and the prompt action of the young adventurer would oest ripen unuer a southern sun, directed his steps towards the field on which he was to win. to many bril liant victories, and unhappily find an early grare," Mr. Prentiss first settled in Natchez, Miss issippi, where be continued bis law studies . a night, and taught school by day. Admit ted to the bar, he reached at one stride the first rank of the lawyers of Mississippi. Soon iter, he settled in Vicksburg, and in a few month was orerwhelmed with business His career at the bar, and in 'he field of pol itics, was one of unparalelled brilliancy. in connection with the latter, Mr. Thorpe gives the following amusing incident, which , occurred during an exciting canvass of Pren tiss for s eeaiife Congress : Among the shrewd worldings who took advantage of sucn times to coin money, JTM the proprietor of a traveling menagerie, and he soon found out that the multitude followed Prentisr. Gttting the list of that re markable man s '-appointments." he filled np his own ; and it was soon noticed as a singular coincidence, mat tbe orator "airired along with the other "lions." The reason of this meeting was discovered, and the '-boys" decided that Prentiss should next time" speak from tbe top of the lion's cage. Never was the menagerie more crowded. At the proper time, tbe candi date gratified his constituents, and mounted his singular rostrum. I was told bv a Der. ab. who professed to oe an eye witness, that ihe ' of the terrible and the cotmcai. Prentiss was. as-usual, eloquent, and, as if ignorant of the novel circumstances with which he was surrounded, wnt deeply into) the matter ia baod, bis election. For a while, the au dience and the animals were quie. the for. mer listening, the latter eyeing the speaker with grave intensity. The fiM burs of ap lftuse electrified the menagerie ; the ele phant threw hii trunk into the air, and ech oed back the noise whi'e the tigers and eats significantly growled. On vent Pren tiss, and as each peculiar animal rented his rage or approbation, he most ingeniously WfOOght in bis babitsr as a facsimile of some man or passion. In the meanwhile, the stately king of beasts, who had been quietly treading the mates of his prison, became -farmed at the footsteps over his head, and placing his mouth upon the floor of his cage made everything shake by his terrible roar. This joined with the already excited feelings of the audience, caused the ladies to shriek, and fearful commotion for a moment fol lowed. Prentiss, equal to every occasion, changed hit tone and manner; he commen ced a playful strain, and introduced the fox, the jackal, and hyena, and capped the cli max by likening some well-known political opponent to grave baboon that presided o ver the "cage with monkeys." Tbe resem blance was instantly recognized, and bursts of laughter followed, that literally set many into convulsions. The baboon, all uncon scious of the attention be was attracting, sud denly assumed a grimace, and then a serious face, when Prentisaexclaimed : "1 see, my fine fellow, that your feelings are hurt by mj unjust comparison ; and I humbly beg your pardon." The effect of all this may be vaguely imagined, but it cannot be describ ed. The following is given by Mr. Thorpe as an illustration of the completeness of Pren tiss's figure. Speaking of the Sub-Treasury he said: Sir, this government may determine to watch, like the Tutks, with jealous care its golden harem; but it will seek in vain for the financial eunuch, which has the power io guard without the desire to enjoy." Mr. Thorpe has an interesting sketch of Prentiss's great speech in defence of the Wilkinsons, tried on a charge of murder. Every kind of talent was displayed in this masterly speech. The following illustrates the playfulness with which he could relieve the soberness of the sombre picture . One of the witnesses, although "he fired a pistol," and knocked one of tbe defendants down," gave in his testimony in a manner that indicated such a perfect indifference to the shedding of blood and willingness to get into a fight, teat it afforded a fine opportunity for Prentiss's playfulness, and he treats this witness as follows Surely Mr. must be the knight- errant of the age; the Don Quixote of the West : the para eon of modern chivalry. ts, not from the base desire of ven- geance, nor irom trie sordid love oc gom; not from patriotism or friendship ; but from bigner and loftier sentiment ; from his pure, ardent, disinterested love ot glorious strife. He "smelleth the battle afar off." and to the sound of the trumpet he saith Ha ! ba !" To bun ' 'There is something of pride iu the perilous hour "Whate'er be tbe siape in which death may lower; For fume ia there, to tell who b'eds, And honor's eye no daring deeds." "You have heard, gentlemen, of the bright warm isles which gem the oriental seas, and are kissed by tbe fiery sun of the trop ct, wbere the clove, the cinnamon, and the nut meg grow ; where the torrid atmosphere is oppressed with a delicious but fierce and in toxicattng influence. there the spirit of man partakes of the same spicy qualities which distinguish the productions of the soil. Even as the rinds of the fruit split open with Nature's rich excess, so do the human pas- sions burst lortn wun an overwhelming vio lence and prodigality unknown till now, in our cold, U'-geutle clime. There, in the islands of Java, Sumatra, the Malacas, and others of the same latitude, cases simi'ar to that of Mr. are of frequent occurrence. In those countries it is called 'running a muck.' An individual becomes so full of fight that he can no longer contain it ; ac cordingly, he arms himself with a species of dagger, very similar to that from which Mr. 7-Wiped the blood with his pocket-hand - erchief, and rushing into the streets wounds and slays indiscrin i ately among the crowd. It is true, that this gallant exploit always re sult in the dea h of ihe person performing it; the people of the country entertaining a foolish notion that it is too dangerous and ex pensive a mode of cultivating national brave ry. But in the present instance, I trust tins rule will be relaxed. Mr. is the only specimen we possess of this peculiar habit of spice-itunds, and he should be preserved as a curiosity." Mr Thorpe thus -proceeds : "It was soon after Mr. Prentiss returned from Kentucky, that I had the pleasure of first seeing him. In his personal appearance be was eminently hands 'me, and yet emi nently manly. Although of medium height, there was that in the carriage ot his bead that was astonishingly impressive ; it gave a wonderful idea of power. I shall never for get him on one occasion, when he rose at a public meeting (a political discussion) to re ply jto an antagonist worthy of his steel His whole soul was roused, his high, smooth forehead fairly coruscated. He remain-d silent for some seconds, and only looked Th bald eagle never glanced more fiercely from bis eyrie ; it seemed as if his deep gray eye would distend until it swallowed up the thousands of his audience. For an instant the effect was painful ; he saw it and smiled, when a cheer buist from the admir ing multitude, that fairly shook the ear h. His voice was clear and sweet, and could be beard at an immense distance, and yet to bealllikeDtmosthenes, he had a perceptible impediment in his speech. As a reader, he had no superior , his narration wat clear and unadorned; proper sentences were subdued ly humorous, but the impressive parts were delivered wjth an effect that reminded me of descriptions of the elder Kean. "His imagination was unsurpassed, and the rich storks of his mind supp'ied him with never- nding material, quoted and original The s igbtest allusion to anything gave the key to all tbe peculiarities. If he had occa sion to speak of the diamond, its discovery by some' poor native, its being associated with commerce, its polish by the lapidary, its ad orning the neck of beauty, its rays brilliant and serene, its birth, its life, its history, all flashed upon him. So with every idea in the vast store-house of his mind; he seemed to know all things in mass and in particulars, never confused, never at a loss; the hearer listened, wondered and dreamed. Thoughts of moment came forth as demanded, but ten thonsand other thoughts, rare and beautiful, continued lo bubble up. after all effort ceas ed." .-.. "'Of Prentiss's power before a jury too much cannot be said. Innumerable illustra tions might be ga hered up, showing that he far surpassed any living advocate. The trial of the Wilkinkons is often cited, although ii was far from being one of bis best efforts Another trial occurs to me, worthy of parti cular notice, of which little has been said out of the community of those directly interes ted On one occasion, two young mer,only sons, and deeply attached as friends, quarrel ed, and in the mad excitement one of them of ihe mother of the deceased was so direct, that if seemed to render "ihe clearing ol tne prisoner" hopeless. Premiss spoke to the witness and in the blandest manner snu iuu courteous style. The mother arrayed in weeds, and bowed down with sorrw, turned towards Prentiss, and answered bis inquiries with all the dignity of a perfectly accomplish ed lady; shecalm'y uttered the truth, and every word she spoke rendered the defense appearently more hopeless. 'Would you punish that young man with death V said Prentiss, pointing to ihe prisoner. "The questioned looked and answered He has made me childless; let the law take its course.' " And would wringing her heart, and hurrying her gray hairs with sorrow into the grave, by rendering her childless, assuage your grief? "All present were dissolved in tears; even convulsive sobbing was beard in the court room. No!' said the witness, with all the gush ing tenderness of a mother 'JVb 1 I would not add a sorrow to her heart, nor that of her son!' "Admissions in the evidence followed, and hopes were uttered for the prisoner acquittal, that changed the whole character of the testimony. What was a few moments be tore so dark. ?rew li?ht: and without the slightest act that might be construed into a. unfair advantage, in the hands of Prentiss, the witness for the prosecution pleaded for the accused. "The extraordinary inspiration that the presence of ladies gave to Mr. Prentiss when addressing an audience was easily percepti ble, and consequently his addresses "to the Court were always freer from that soft im agery, so peculiar to his vein, than were his speeches before a promiscuous audience. An amusing incident occurred many years ago, that is worth relating. In one of the "new counties" of Mississippi, then just wrested from the aboriginal inhabitants, Mr. Prentiss had an Indian for a client. The log-cabin court-house presented little to excite the im agination, and the "etiquette of the bench" almost precluded anything but a very com mouplace speech. Mr. Prentiss took but lit tle interest seemingly in the matter before him, when two or three ladies were noticed peering into the "Hall of Justice,'1 evidently anxious to hear his voice, and see one of whom they had heard so much. Instantly the manner of Prentiss changed, and he was soon indulging in some of his most flowing sentences, i ne po'itenessoi inesnenu touua seats for the fair intruders in the court-room, and the consequence was, that Mr. Pren'iss was soon in the midst of an address in behalf of the "wronged Indian," that, for pathos. for beauty, and for effect was never excel led. "Here, perhaps, w hile speaking of the in voluntary compliments he paid to the presen ce of woman, it may not be improper to say. that, toward all connec'ed with him by ties of blood, he ever felt the most active affec tion, and more especially did his heart thro ugh youth and manhood turn toward his sis ters and mother. Of all the sons of New-England who have found a new home in the far South, none have surpassed him in attention to those outward tokens that tell of an ever cherished remembrance, an ever-living love. From the time that Mr. Pientiss left tho pa-j ternal roof, almost to tho hour of his decease, did he pour out his soul to an absent parent in continued correspondence, which, as now preserved, extends over more than a quarter of a century growing in quantity and increas ing in affection to the day of hU death. Upon the very threshold of his first success, he writes '1 am proud of my sisters and I am grateful to them also; for had I not had such kind and affectionate sisters, and such a mo ther as I have, I do most sincere'y believe that I nevershould have been successful in life. But the thought,' he continues, 'of home, and "he loved onesthere, has warmed my efforts by the reflection that there were, though afar off. those whose happiness was in some degree at least connected with mine; and I hold that no person can be entirely miserable while there is in the world a sin gle individual who will rpjoice in his pros perity, or feel sorrow for his adversity.' "A remarkably characteristic anecdote, not only illustrative of his filial affection, but also of his ready perception of the fitting thing to be said, is given as follows. When on a v'uit some years ago to the North, but after his reputation ha ! become wide-spread, a dist nguished lady of Portland took pains to obtain an introduction, by visiting the 8'eamboat in which she learned he was to take his departure in a few moments. 'I have wished to see you,' said she to Mr. Pientiss, 'for my heart has often congratulated the mother who has such a son ' 'Rather con gratulate the son on having such a mother!' was his instant reply; and it was unaffected and heartfelt. "No man perhaps ever lived who received a greater number of personal compliments than Mr. Prentiss, but he always received them with that peculiar grace and dignity so eminent in bis reply io the lady of Port land. One day, in New-Orleans, I met him in the street, leading by the hand his two sons, remarkab'y beautiful children. I was struck with their evident resemblance to their father, and complimented him upon it. 'Ah,' said he with the fondest look of affection, 'they have the light hair and blae eye of the Anglo-Saxon robber: they are American boys.' "The merits of Mr. Prentiss as a lawyer will, perhaps, except by his most intimate professional associates, nev r be justly ap preciated, because his brilliant oratorical powers caused the majority of persons to lose sight of the solid structure that was buried under 'the ornament profuse.' Had Mr. Prentiss been entirely destitute of imagina tion, his fame would probably have been less extended, but still he, would have ranked among the first legal luminaries, for he was indefatigable in research, solid in argument, and quick and subtle in perception. Like a skillful artist, he studied to disguise bis la bor, but no man more usefully or more fre quently 'consumed the midnight oil;' and his memory was so tenacious, that what he once garnered up in his well ordered mind, could, upon the instant, be called into use. W hatever might have been his quickness of repartee, or his almost instinctive knowledge of whatever subject came before him, yet his opponents in council always discovered that he had enteied into the most laborious re search, to conquer any difficulties in his path, and that he was never taken by sirprise in the Vast labyrinths of investigation peculiar to the legal profession. "Prentiss, when young in years, and young lawyer, appeared betore the Supreme shall, and called forth from lint master-mind nvoluntary praise. , , . ... MH,.nn-.n nn f ihdiarnifV of his calling he freqently adverted to in his public speech es. He often sketched ihe lawyer as one who should possess evety qualification tnai adorns the character of a man. He looked upon "the profession" as the true foundation of statesmanship, and the law as the protec tor and the delineator or tne ngnw oi c people, and the noblest field the cultivation of the intellect." " ... I had the melancholy pleasure of hearing his last, and, it seemed "to me. his greatest speech. Towards' the close of the last Presi dential campaign, I found him io the interior of the State, endeavoring to recruit his de dining health. He had been obliged to avoid all public speaking, and had gone far into the country to get away from excite ment. But there was a 'gathering' near by his temporary home, and he consented to be pressnt. It was late in the evening when he ascended the stand, which was suppor ted by the trunks of two magnificent forest tree-, through which the sef ing sun poured with picturesque effect The ravages of ill health were apparent upon his lace, and his high massive forehead was paler and more transpirent than usual. His audience, some three or four hundred persons, was composed in a large degree of his old and early friends He seemed to feel deeply, and as there was nothing to oppose, he atsumed the style of the mild and beautiful. lie casually alluded to the days of his early ' coming among his southern friends; to tne hour ot pleasure ne had passed, and to the hopes of the future In a few moments the bustle and confusion natural to a fatiguing day of political wrang ling ceased; one straggler after another tus pended his noiiy demonstration, and gathered near the speaker. Soon a mass of silent, but heart-heaving humanity was crowded com pactly before him. Had Frentiss, on that occasion, held the very heart-strings of his auditors in bis tyand, he cou'd not have had them more iu his Dower. For an hour he continued, rising from one important subject to another, until the breath was fairly suspen ded in the excitement. An uninterested spectator would have uppo.ed thnt he had used sorcery in thus transfixing his auditors While all others forgot, he noticed that the day was drawing to a close; he turned and looked toward the melting sun, and apostro nhized its Jading glory; then, in his most touching voice and manner, concluded as fol lows: "Friends That glorious orb reminds me that the d-v it spent, and that i loo must close. Ere we part, let me hope that it iTuy be our good fortune to end our days in the same splendor, and that when the evening of life comes, we may sink to rest, with the clouds that close in our departure gold-tipped with the glorious effulgence of a well-spent life." In conclusion, I would ask, will some his torian, who can sympathize wi h the noble dead, gather the now Meeting memorials that still live in memory, that future generations may know some thing of the mighty mind of Prentiss? The remains of the orator must ever be imperfect; the tone of voice the flashing eye the occanon, and the mighty shout of the multitude, how can these be perpetuated? But still Prentis has left enough in his bril hant career to show posterity that he was ever inch a man. Lst his fragmentary printed speeches let the reminiscences of hi friends that treat or his power as an orator, be brought to-tfther, and, unsatisfactory a they may be, there will be found left intrin sic talue enough to accomplish the object There wul be i i the fluted column, though shattered and defaced, an Ionian beau'y that will tell unerringly of the magnificent u m pie it once adorned." THE DONALDSON CORRESPONDENCE. il -a-v . NVe see inn me lwinoera'.ic pper re cimi. 1 1'n : paragraphs mpugning the au.hei i ityo:the reccul Donaldson i-'rrspondence. W hether or not there is any such person as Mr. Donaldson we cannot undertake to say. We suppose that Mr. Hallett. Mr. Uiddings, Alr.Lha&e. Mr. Com mander, and the other letter writers must have known their correspondent. They intimate noth ing to tlie contrary. Mr. Van Buren is tne. only nnc of tho writers who stiggesiB that he had not the honor of a personal acquaintance. But of one thinp. cerfHinly, there is no doubt t'lat a 1 of Mr Donaldson's correspondent are live men, and tht not one c tliem to this day has denied the author ship of tte letter attributed to him. Several of them on the other hand, hare confessed to their letters, and sought to excuse thera. Republic. O" The Editor of the Rnl.'ish Standard bas been presented with a cravat, which he says "is as fine a possible, and as black as the wing of darkness." Mr Harding had better mind how he makes such presents to friend H olden. He is not exactly himself ai al! times, and might take a no tion, -some of those days," with such a thing as the above, to hang himself. There's no telling what he might not do. as some few months ago he swa lowed Gen. Q,uitman, of Mississippi, re sistance to tVie Compromise and Secessiou, all at one dose. It proved indigestible, however, and a few weeks ago, he Hirew ihe greater portion of it up. We don't know what influenced the giver of the cravat in this instance. He may have presen ted it Ircm a feel ng of ki idness to tbe put) i un der the belief that in one of his Secession parox isms, friend H olden would clwke himselt to death of which we should be very sorry. Don't give him another, for goodness sake. There's no tel. ling the awfu! apprthensions entertained in these parts by seme for the softly of the Standard. We wonder he did 'n't go right fff on ihe "wing of darkness" which he called up the last time he tried the cravat on. Y. C- Patriot. ltALBIGH REGISTER. Ours are the plane of fair delightful peace, fJnwarp'd by party rage to live like brothers RALEIGH. N. C Wednesday, Oct, 15, 185L Court of the United States, and his pleadings, in spite of his youthful fire and highly, wrought fancy, were so happily fortified by deeD readincr and Aoon iM,i, ... inimi.. wa killed. Upon the trial, the testimony tly attract the notice of Chief Justice Mar, Bismo? W. M. Green The citizens of Natchez will learn with deep regret of the change of resi dence of ihe Rt Rev. Bishop W. M. Green, from this place to the vicinity of Jackson. The pasto ral connexion of this esteemed prelate with ihe Episcopal Church in this City has been closed. In future all his time and labor will be devoted to the discharge of his diocesan functions. The Trustees of the Bishop's fund of the Episcopal Church have recently purchased a very eligible site for an Episcopal residence within a mile or two of Jackson ; being what was formerly known as the Hunt property. To this' new home the Bishop with his firmly have already removed. They take with them not merely the ardent attachment of those who worship with them at the same altars, but the kindliest feelings of the members of other communions, and the warm wishes of an entire community. During a iwo years residence in Natchez, Bishop Green has en deared himself, alike by his instructions as by his example, to alt within the reach of bis influence. His fuithful labors, his spotless Christian character, his daily walk as a Steward of God's mysteries and as a man among his brother men, have been t jlaB encouragement, an example and a precept, NatfctreXnay well miss tho removal of auuba citi zen; antl bis own church regret the severance of such a pastoral relation. Sratchtz Courier A lazy fellow named Jack Hole, living near Covingtpa. Ky., has adopted a way of spelling His name which throws Fonotype clear into the shade He makes a big "J." and then jobs his pen thrc ugh ihe paper for ihe "Hole!" The Southern Press declares that " it is sjmply ridiculous to cajl the Christiana affair a case of trea son," - i-Mr O. W. JAMES. Na. I. Ilarnaon Street Cincinnati, Ohio, is our General Travelling Agent for vmir t sn the Western States, assisted by J. K. aniin, J. i. - . .... rw. i-r-r n V VtT A nlfaTDAVn DENT, JASU2i 1 A x IAS ft, O. w. Arvoioi vvx, PERRIN LOCKE, W. RAMSAY, Db, JOSHUA WADS WORTH, ALEX R. K. LAWS, ana a. J. SMILEY. irtTMr TTRVRY M. LEWIS, of Montgomery AUl, is our General Travelling Agent for the States of Alabama and lennessee. t-Mr. ISRAEL E. JAMES, Na 182, South TnH. Rrrr PlrilAffelnhia. is our General Travelling A.irent. assi-ted by WM, H. WELD, JOHN COL LINS, JAMES DEERING, A. KIRK WELLING TON, E. A. EVANS, JOHN T. JUDKINS, P. LOCKE, JOS. BUTTON, GEO. P. BUTTON, and THOS. D. NICE. A CASE IN POINT THE MIRANDA EX PEDITION. The leading Democratic presses, especiallly those of the Secession persuasion at tbe South, have been unsparing in their denunciations of the Administration for the zealous and active means it adopted to suppress the late disastrous expedi- tions against Cuba. In all this, the Administra tion did nothing more than what was demanded by the law s, and our treaty stipulations with Spain Ii may no! be uninteresting and uninstructive to appeal to the past history of the Country on this subject. There are many of these leaders of the Democracy of the present day, who, whilst di nouncing Mr. Fillmore for his conduct, affect the most profound reverence for the character of Afr, Jefferso.i, and hold him up, in all his policy, whilst at the head of the Government, as the great founder of true Democratic principles. There are a few passages in the political history of Mr. Jeffersok, to which our attention has been lately directed, which should ei'ber silence the m just complaints against Mr Fillmore or convict those who are denouncing and traducing him, ol the basrst insincerity and ingratitude. We shall recur to them briedy, as we find them before us : In his annual message to Congress of Decem ber 3, 1805, Mr. Jefferson, in reterring to our then relations with Foreign powers, said : u With Spain our negotiations for a settlement of differences nave not had a satisfactory isaue. Spo liatiotiA during the former war, iyr which the bad for nially acknowledged herself responsible, have been re fused lobe compensated, but on conditions affecting other claims iu no wise connected with them (Yet the same practices are already reuewed in tbe present war, and are already of great amo int. On tbe Mo bile, our commerce passing through that river contin ues to be obstru 'ted by arbi rary duties anJ vexatious searches. Inroids have been made recently into the tcrri ory of Orleans and tbo Miis sippi, and our citireus have been seized and their pro perty plundered, in the very parts of the former which have actually boon delivered up by Spain, aud this by tbe regular officer and soldiers of that 0v eminent. have therefore found U necessary to give order to our Iroop oh that front Ur to be in readincst to protect our citiztnt, and to rpl by arms any sim i.'ar aggressions in future. A few days after this message was sent to Con grcss, Mr. Jefferson transmitted a confidential com munication on the subject of our relations with Spain. It was referred to a Select Committee of which John Randolph was Chairman. On the 3rd Jan. 1806, the Committee made a Report de claring that the aggressions of Spain afforded am ple cause of War, and recom:nending the imme diate enlistment of such a number of troops as the President might deem sufficient to protect the Southern frontier. The Resolution reported by the Committee was rejected, and one introduced by Mr. Bidwell, of Massachusetts, a leading friend of the Administration, m.'.king an appropriation for the purchase of Florida, adopted in its stead. The special message of Mr. Jefferson was, for some time, discussed witli closed doors, and the general belief prevailed throughout the nation, that a declaration of War against Spain was in evitable. Duiing the latter part of tho year 1805, whilst these difficulties with Spain were pending, and every day becoming more and more threatening in character, who should present himselt at Wash ington City, chiming the ear of the Administra tion,. but the celebrated General Miranda! He wa a native of Caraccas, then a Colony of Spain. He had been engaged in the military campaigns of Napoleon, and had attained a high reputation for skill and bravery. His native Country, Caraccas, was weighed down under the galling despotism of Spain, and he was fired with a noble and patriotic desire to break her fetters, and establish her free dom and independence. He had appealed in vain to some of the Governments of Europe, and watch ing the progress of the difficulties between our Country and tho oppressors of hi people, he hartened to Washington City, and tendered his services to the Administration. It was evident at the time, that Mr. Jefferson and his Cabinet expected a collision with Spain: and many enter tained the opinion, that a state of war already ex isted between the two Countries, caused by their depredations upon our territories, and the conse quent necessity of military preparations for de fence. Gen. Miranda seized this opportunity (the condition of things being fully developed by the Messages of Mr. Jefferson to which we have referred,) to fit out and carry forward an expedi tion against the province of Caraccas with a view of its liberation from the Spanish yoke. He sue ceeded in enlisting in his enterprize the sympa thies, if not the aid, of many of our most patriotic and intelligent citizens. He affiiined that Mr. Jefferson and his Cabinet countenanced the expet dition, and gave him their encouragement. This was denied at the time, by the advooates of the Administration. Howerer jjiis may have been, Gen. Miranda and hia fronds were actjye, espec ially in tbe City of New Yorls, in pressing forward the expedition, and during the winter of I80j a part of the men enlisted for it, with monitions of war, sajled, for Soqth, America in a ship called the Leander. In April 1806, ' Col. William S. Smith and Samuel G. Ogden were indicted, in ihe Cir cuit Court of the United Statea, for the District of New York, for being connected with this expe dition, The prosecution was, no doubt, instituted at the instance, and under the express direction of Mr- Jefferson and his Cabinet, The trial, which began in July after the fjndjng of the Bill of In dictment, elicited legal learning and forensic elo quence of the highest order: Nathan Sandford and Judge Pierpont Edwards appearing for the prosecution, and Washington Morton, Cadwallader D. Colden, Josiah O. Hoffman, Thomas A. Em mett, and Richard Harrison for the Defendants. Two of the grounds assumed by the Defendants' counsel were 1st. That the Administration had countenanced and approved the expediiion, which amounted too justification. 2ndly.' That there existed when the expedition was begun a state of War between the United States and Spain, al though thtre had been no declaration of War by Congress. To prove the 6rst position the Defendants had summoned Mr. Madison, then Secretary of State, and other Government Officers resident at Wash ington City, all of whom tailed to appear, alleging as an excuse the "situation of public aff.irs," which required their attention at the seat of Gov ernment. The Defendants filed an affidavit, set ting forth the materiality of these witnesses lor their defence, and moved an attachment against them. This motion was refused Application was then made for the continuance of the case, and after a long argument of counsel the Court decided that the evidence would be inadmissible, as the. President had no right to dispense with the laws, and therefore refused a continuance. On the trial to sustain the second ground taken for the Defendants, their Counsel offered in evidence the annual message of Mr. Jefferson from which we have before quoted. This, after argument, was rejected, upon the ground, that Congress alone has, under the Constitution, a right to de clare war, and no declaration of the President made in his messages to Congress, could change the nation from a state of peace to that of war. The prosecution was urged with great zeal and ability, and for pathetic eloquence and indignant denunciation of persecution and oppression the defence has perhaps not been surpassed in the ju dicial displays of this, or any other Country. The Counsel for tbe Defendants boldly assumed the ground that the Jury were the Judges of the law as well as the facts of the case in criminal prosecutions, and that they had the right to go beyond the evidence given in on the trial, and notice the contents ot the public documents which had been sent to Congress and circulated through the Country, and as the Consti:uiion makes it the duly of the President to give inf rmation to Congress of (he state of the nation, the facts and statements contained in the annual message of Mr. Jefferson shewed conclusively that the United States and Spain were noi al peace. They also de nounced in bold terms the Administration for hav ing approved the expedition, uud then ins ituting a prosecution against the Defendants They pro claimed it the proseeution of the then Administra tion, that it was gotten up by them, and tvas die tated by a desire to break down the political in fluence of the Defendants, and shield themselves from the suspicion which had already attached of their having encouraged Miranda. Mr. Coldes, on the tri;il of Col. Smith, said : 'This, gentlemen, is avowedly a State prosecution, and the Defendant you are now to try, is brought before you as a criminal in consequence of Ike tpec ial order nf the President of the United Males. And could this have been poss.ble, we fancy some of the devout sympathizers exclaiming." It can't be, that Thomas Jefferson, the great Apo tie of Democracy, ever encouragtd tho prosecu tion of a iu:tn for being ready at any and all times to strike a blow for human freedom ! But it is nevertheless the trull of history, and then, to prosecute such a man ! Hear what was sxid of him. and even from the Counsel for the prosecution he received equally as high commendation : Mr. Coldes said : "The Defendant (Col. Smith) gentlemen, is your countrymen, your fellow citi zen a veteran of Uie Revolution he was ihe com panion, friend and fellow soldi r of Washington and the son in-law if Adams" tf-c Mr. EsiMTT said : "Respecting the character of the Defendant, (Col. Sui th,) it is surely unueces sary for me to trouble you with many words. He is an old Revolutionary OJJicer, that fought under the tys, and lived in ih family of the illustrious Wasmxgton, w hose honorable ctntiticate he bears, as the monument of his fame !" Oh ! cruel Mr. Jeffersou !' (we shall no doubt hear some of the Dmiocraiic sympathizers, who have denounced Mr. Fillmore for bringing the violators' of the laws and the peace of Nations to account, exclaiming.) '-Shame! that you should have had an old Revolutionary Soldier prosecuted, for giving way to his hatred of tyrauny and devo tion to man's freedom all over the world!" Un fortunate Mr. Jefferson! This is the unkindust cut of all! That his own disciples should thus repudiate his doctrines and traduce his memory ! The Counsel for the prosecution insisted thai it made but little difference, so far as the Defendant's guilt was concerned, if the President did counte nance or encourage the expedition. His consent was no justification to those who were engaged in it. He had no dispensing power, which gave him tho right to abrogate the laws. Such a doc trine was suitable to none but an arbitrary Gov ernment. It would not do for a Republic for a People living under a Constitution which gave to their Representatives in Congress the right to repeal laws: so too with the power to declare War. It was with Congress and Congress only. The President could not make war could not by a mere statement of certain existing facts, change the condition of the Nation from that of peace to war and especially to aggressive warfar ! In the conclusion of his very learned argument Mr. Sanford said : 'In the month of January last, ithat is 18' 6. after th moMogeof the President before quoted ) tbe Uni ted States and Spain were at peace, and all the rela Hons of amity, and the usual intercourse of commerce subsisted between tbe two countries. A military ex peditioo comprising extem-ive preparations for war was at th d time projected and prepared in the oity of New York against tbe colonies of Spain. Tha defer. dant engaged iu this Expedition from its commence ment, and procured men and means for its service. This. expedition actually proceeded frqm flew york to South America for the purpose of invading the Span ish Colonies, and wresting them by force from the dominion of Spain, fuel) is a plain statement of the case upon which you are to decide. J nqt this an of , fence a high and mot dangerous offence t Is it not the Yry offence described in the liws before you. Certainly, you must answer these questions in tbe affirmative 1 Yet you are called upon to acquit tbe Defendant W hat opmiqn wpuld the people of the United States and tbe world entertain of such an. ac qqittalin such a case? If you acquit the Defendant you say to the mo rid that the United States no lon ger rank tcith the civilized nation of the Ea th, that tbey haye renounced the law of nations ; that they permit their citizens not only to violate their own laws wjth impunity. Jjjut to invade tbe People of other countries, with hostile force, in lime of peace, as ava rice, ambition, or tbe thirst of plunder may dictate Such a- decision would justify tbe acts of the pirate aa tht) ocean, and would sink our national character to a level wit the barbarism, of Savage tribes f ' Thus spoke ihe prosecuting Officer. He spoke the language of the Administration. He uttered the sentiments of Mr. Jefferson. They were cor rect sentiments then. They are correct now. Nations who discard them, and establish the moral standard held out by Lopez and hia follower, will from that moment become in heart and principle pjrates. hear the Now conclus o.i 10 l"e Jurv n Wt Tbi, Ift ia , . nil Rrnfrt ,.r ,t tu States of .ffJ1" The ptt)1 5 Ha, one, ? ig with a dp.; T !e of a .Pt mose oppressed bv t), ?"'veral eniiu -duct i. .'. uPrig't aiui diim;fij ! tx '" """"flllOUS intprrm,.. ortliy 'be attHi '2 "T 'tb f 8W, . ni It nn .,.! : . .. " Weim ' w "jeut to cultivate ,niZZ Ha.T I l, 1 w observed ,1 ZV",U tin. ft ii ''em. onna princiiilfc oer can we m ain.l ". Br w. denceasanatinn o IT'nihL? anarchy and despotism. 'S It is true both Smith and 0Wer Upon what ground, th. hi ' J' V" which we have had access, doe n th-og ts certain, th, expedii ""li no P-Wfc-anctionfroo.th! then in power. On .he c ' dlnwnis. denounced, and rpnr,,t..,.j . WaPttklW. his Cabinet We appeal to the authority 0f Mr gam. In his annual , ' 1 resident 1806, he thus speaks : inessacn xr n O" vi Lit nt 'ecemWr 2, H - owes a great nunik., . i" iuun were comb ii m, t...i. 1 pnrat.i.j. sing themsiWcomWrv to Z'T ind Tu .rn, ,h.. - l"'a , to carrv S un miiii expedition I11C rTT hiri. . . it nee s,ry by proc uration, S orders, lo tku , ' a l..T - umwuius or Aiirtn... . lnU pnze for seizing lhe vesseu E S provided for it, and for ?.d 0,1r and for ar, 7 . ",ur uce. us autuors and abettors T tJ ,uia? js. faith which ought ever to be the rf be a. well as in pnvate tra.sa SK public force was acting strictly on tbe Tr h" merely to protect our cit.zen.f, m ' ''t stf criminal attempt, of private iiidivijHl their country, the question of peace 0Pl mencing active ff unauthorised hwti lfc ' U fi promptly and efficaciously supprS' ' U Thus spoke Thomas JEfFEfiS05, . nght or wrong ? Whs the avowal of UfU ciples by him hostile to hum freH serving of condemnation If nt. w . suppressing ihe expedition of MirJt J " abettors, at the time Spain was 111 predations upon our .emtorinZo! ? in doin the same thing in rtfcrrnce d.t.on of ly.p.z anJ hi, abdtors P- our Country fvas at peace with Spak 'aJy done n0 )lln5 ,n njatina of mr If the former acted com ctly and destrtj', commendation of the public, .hen, J J latter was right, and has been m.at uJU 2 sailed by ,w opponents. In their ea. Lit find fault with the fir,,, and patriotic Kalir, who guides the helm of State, they ha.etrS down the principle by which ihat man prof3 tj be governed, who has been enrolled aD,2 the fathers of their political dure!, ! ray parlizanship-.such unprinc pled douoWwliw such base ingratitude to such a public Unchur as Mr. Fillmore has prowd hjinst-lf i0 1 receive, from th good and patriotic , f , Lm and all sections. tUrir just meed of irdWintcw. uemnaiion : l hougti his enemies are un nun, ftc will be true io his Country uiijuit U GEOLOGICAL SURVjEY OF THE STATE We le:irn that the governor has jppomtti Prof. Ebe.nezek Emmons, of the Suu of Net York, to conduct the Geological, M ineralogirsi, Botanical and Agricultural survey of the Stiti, provided for by act of the Lst Assembly. l'rof. Emmons made a survey, some yeireiioci, ol the State of New York : and hi labors in thtt State, it is said, have resulted in much benefit ti the interests of her people, mid received the blu est commendations. He is recommended brttiMi well informed ot his professional acquirement,!! eminently qualified for the duties ot the post to whtch he has been called The "Standard"' states tli.it a let'er from Got. Marcy, of New Yoik, dated Albany. August 28, 1 851, contains the stronest testimoi.y in behalf of Professor Emmons' qualifications and acquit ments. Gov. Marcy says : "When it became my duty to arrange the Geo logical survey of this State, and to select pruper fersons to execute the work, I sought forjucfaa believed to have the liight qur.Iincations. Prof. E. Emmons was the,: (183ft) one of the Professors of William's College, (Ma-s.) and I became convinced th.it his qua itiratioiis and if quirements wt te such tliht 1 ought to ecijduj hia in that enterprise, if I could get liiru. 1 succeed ed in s'-curing his services He was appointed one of the principal Geologists and in that rapaci ty and kimlred pursuit aas been in the empty incut of the Stat? ever since more than iirte years. I can peiik with finite confidence ofw eminent titness for conducting any GVoliip survey. He has established lor Inmsclf i tot" character tor his knowledge not only m GeBrfp. but in Entomology, &e. This will ai'P' J' evident to those who ruav look at the pubk- of this Stale on these subjects. Five volumes the whole work-in all about twenty-taw"" prejared and written by IVf Euitnns. Ut w. Agricultural subjects constitute a W. uau.e pari. ri;s wumsaic . .. tion w hich can be given to him.' THE CENTRAL 110 AD. We learn that at the called meeting of the ... , M,m.or.Fridf rectors oi mis .uujjaiij -- j it was determined not to change the kxaln , the Road in its route througli this city- Be ' ... . . . i..,.,n.i haviiitrbeenlN rial totnat envoi, we unueiB-. : k..:... Kf.uft tlia Board. We learn further, though we have he. particulars, that that portion of the RW ' w n-u-i.-... .A tru Hf-ita. 6 miles ve 0 4..,etn.r..niDanyt'fcofl." Cliy, nas ueeu ici uu - i ir Wilmington. . ,..UrJ ... .., vnnrt""" r Ilrni tfrj- .MCfsrs ivkwj ... from the Editorial management ot . News," and that paper will hereof m -under the auspices of its fbroerl'ropmW Reynolds and C- Navy, with Graham, ped rtwff boronThurS'L-iKCs5. We aro unable to munication of -Commos btsss appear on C7" We learn that the WtUZ ti-..v RraH incomplete as it u' . ,i-J dU- totbaTwujM70ftb.Stat.U-nj" lars, , ' THESTUMi. .,,( Th. Hon. A S"""h. t being aniiouutc" - ( )e , (-.f t. ?JL: io the f- otf'J Hol and Senator Dou , T f J he maue nis u" ,,tiM m-i iti-wayJbrMr.0,h, uuu y i rke ffar, July oration agaxnst n 181b Rtpuu uns, Oct. p. mtha- preva-ledjotn New OatANs, ..... u.,.,lo ,i j vine. a. s -liiieal- m w uei-- 6lav . -: .r sw President of tbe u"v-
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 15, 1851, edition 1
2
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