Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 4, Ed. 1, Monday, January 25, 1847 Page: 2 of 4
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ding compensation to tho superintendent and assistants.
dbe -hundred ana eleven tacusana collars;,
For completing tbeenstonvhonse at Wilmington,
JJorth Carolina, nWtbousand one hundred dollars ; I
For completing thawworiP'-of thft custom-house 'at
Boston, fifty thousandrdollars ;j- - J jK'
For paymontTo?HoratibGfcnouga fora group of
statues to adornvthe cal&rnportico'of the Capitol"
eignthousanddollars: Provided, inoworfcisin sncli
State oT prptrress as. in reference to the whole, sum U i
f Jfibsfpaid for its'exccution.'shall, in tho opinion of thu
"Prpjadpjit of the United.Statcs, render it proper tit
.W
Tg supply deficiencies in the fund for the relief dr
EiCKand aisamca seamen.iweniy-iive uionsana collars-;
,tsiwlfpor Uie repairs of that part of tho custom-Tiouso al
Mobile occupied by the United States court, throe hun--Jqdre-i
and -ninety dollars ;
-w4 -For tho building or purchasing of a revenue-cutter,
twelve thousanddollars ;
" '' For the sixth volume of tho fourth series of the Do-i?-iv
enmentary History of the United States, twenty-five
- "thousand four hundred and forty-nine doilars ;
-rf ." XFor payment of the excess of duties paid upon wines
hcimported from Fprtugal into tho "United States by
ise-John 0born, of tho city of New Yorfi, tho sum of one
thousand seven hundred and eighteen dollars and for-oSiy-two
cents ; and by Isaac Window and Son, of Bos--i
ton, tho sum of oue thousand and nineteen dollars and
v iwdbi fifty-four cents and Sy Alexander Soltan, of New
York, the sum of eight hundred and eighty-five dol
lars and ninety-six cents ; which said duties were le-
ai&Tied and collected contrary to the treaty stipulations
ton existing betwewj Portugal and this Government: Pro-
vided, hotcs&t, That the Secretary of the Treasury
shall not pay said snins of money to 6aid Osbom, and
Winslow and Son, and Soltan, unless ho is satisfied
-r.-Kthey nra.rightfully entitled thereto . &,
-v- For annual repairs of the Capitol, larijplightcrs, oil
for lamps, wicks, andTcpairs of lamps and lamp posts,
fe-jr-altendance on furnaces of the Crypt, attendance on
Ssfcwater closets, cleaning the rotundo and crypt, brushes
and brooms, laborers and cartage off Capitol grounds,
" -riwtools, wiretwmo, hjajhernalbv stages manure and
frwtf'ifiitiawifor. giumnlar'trce3, atfehdantSat-rho" western
; -iinca 01 mc Vjuuhui, rcpuus ui uuung ouuu, iiuiii'uii-,,
u- -and enclosures, keeping in order ironpipes that convey
o;rt the water to the Capitol andpublic offices, and gard-
ner's salary, nine thousand jiine hundred and fourteen
- dollars;
-t ' For constructing seven furnaces for wanning and
drying the lower story, halls, and passages of the north
-rd-wingof the Capitol, three thousand nine hundred, and
- -tea dollars;
ci-V-'For constructing six -water closets for the Senate
Jnland two for the Supreme Court, on the same floors,
respectively, thrco thousand four, hundred and sutty-
' - height dollars ;
jt- j? or enlarging me law liorary, constructing a new
stairway, and other work and tho materials therefor,
according to the plan of John Skirving, dated July
iwentieth,-ighteen hundred and forty-six, two thou-
sand four hundred and twelve dollars;
To replace the oil intended forlhe use of tho Gov-
ernment? which was destroyed, by the recent fire at
Nantucket, fourteen thousand dollars ;
For annual repairs of President's House, gardener's
salary, laborers and cartage, tools, wire, twine, leather,
naib, stakes, manure, arittraw for garden and plants,
tees-for President's grounds, Fountain square, Lafay-
ette square, and Pennsylvania avenue, repairs offence
at Fountain square, Lafayette square, and President's
garden, three thousand two hundred and seventy-
seven dollars.
' For replacins platforms on the dome, and repairing-
balusttfrs, (including materials and work,) repairing
hatchway, door, and frame, (including steps and plas-
tering in dome,) furnishing and repairing step-ladders
and platforms on the different roofs, furnishing two
double window frames and -sash (including painting and
'glazing) in open courts, white-washing walls m the
open courts, containing about twenty-five hundred
square yards, four hundred andninety dollars' and
,-5seventy-five cents.
And for tho removSt-of the building over tho statue-
t -"xaf Washington, and erecting an iron fenco around the
same, one thousand1 dollars;
- For -repairs of Congressional burial ground, rendered
necessary by the late freshet, five hundred dollars ;
1 'For repairs of the road leading from the Capitol
square to the Congressional burial ground, rendered
necessary by tho late heavy rains, to be expended un-
. der the direction of the Commissioner of Public Build-
ings, one thousand fivo hundred dollars;
And the sum of two hundred dollars, being a por-
j'jtion of the unexpended balance of an appropriation of
one hundred thousand dollars, made on the twenty-so-
5 venth of April, eighteen hundred and sixteen, to be
distributed among tho captors of certain Algerino ves-
ecsels which were restored lo tho Dey of Algiers, which
balance has been carried to the account of the surplus
fund, be, and tho same is hereby reappropriated, for
, the benefit of such of the captors' as have not yet re-
ceived their shares of the saidfund, or their representa-
h'thres;
To pay F. Gardner, lato acting United States naval
storekeeper to tho African squadron, from the twenty-
c fourth of August, eighteen hundred and forty-four,
when Floyd Waggaman ceased -to receive a salary,
until December ninths eighteen hundred and forty-
-Hfour, when Francis Alcxanderaprocogded to the post,
- tthree months and fifteen days, at fifteen hundred dol
lars per annum, fouf hundred and thirty-sevondollars
and fifty cents ; """'
. To pay the legal representatives of Thomas H.Ctorm,
for a balance duo to him as, agent for-prisoners at Bar-
badocs; two thousand two hundred and esventy-four
-dollars and twenty-six cents;
For the support and maintenance of tho penitentiary
tof the District of Columbia, eleven thousand six hun-
dred and eleven dollars and" forty-sbtxents ;
"For support, clothing, andmeaical treatment of in-
sane persons of the District of Columbia, including four
additional insane paupers ordered by the court to ba
sent to tho hospital, .five thousandseven hundred "and
seventy dollars and forty-five cents.
For continuing fjTpublication of the works of tho
j. Exploring Expedition, including the printing of charts,
. (the pay of the scientific corps, and the salary of thb
, .horticulturist, thirty thousand dollars;
. For paying tho principal and interest of the fourth
and fifth instalments of the Mexican indemnities due
in April and July, in the year eighteen hundred arid
fiuty-four, tho sum of three hundred and twenty thou-
sand dollars: Provided, The claimants, each for him-
, self, shall relinquish to the United States his right to
6aid instalments: Provided, further, That each of
.,the claimants shall agree to take in payment the scrip
jjfatock bearing interest at five per cent, payable in
fivo years:
For refunding to James JJucanan, lato her Britan-
nic Majesty's consul at the city of New York, moneys
disbursed by him, and for compensating him for services
performed in respect to the slaver Catharine, condemn-
ed'and sold at the suit of the United States, the sum
of two thousand no hundred and forty-four dollars
,aad seventy-five cents ;
r For reducing and preparing for publication, under-a
resolution of the Senate, plans and drawings, made by
the officers of tho Topographical Bureau, for the im-
firovement of harbors, rivers, &&, four thousand nine
hundred and eighty-eight dollars.
, PATENT OFFICE.
" For the purchase of such scientific works as are ne-
cessary for the use of the Patent Office, twelve hun-
' dred and fifty dollars ; to be paid for out of the patent
ifond.
LIGHT-HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT.
For supplying light-housesfcontaining two thousand
nvhundred and seventy-seven lamps, with oil, tube-
glasses, bnfT-skins, whiting, and cotton cloth, expenses
ofj transportation , and for keeping tho lighting appara-
flSin"'rcpair, ono hundred and twelve thousand eight
.Kmidred and eighty-three dollars and sixty-four cents ;
For repairs', incidental expenses, refitting, and im-
provements of light-houses and buildings connected
therewith, sixty-seven thousand seventy-Bcvcn dollars
'ahef ninety-nine cents; --
For salaries of two hundred and thirty-six keepers
and asistantkeepera of light-houses, (seventeen of them
charged with doablo and two with tripplo lights,) one
'hundred thousand five hundred and eighty-eight dol-
lars and thirty-threo cents ; "
" For salaries of thirty keepers of floating lights, six-
teen thousand dollars ;
For seamen's wages, -repairs, and supplies of thirty
rfloating-lights, eighty-one thousand svden hundred and
eleven dollars and sixty-two cents ;
For wcigliing, mooring, cleansing, repairing, and
' supplying the loss of beacons, buoys, chains, and sii!k-
exs, twenty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-ono
'dollars and sixty-nino cents;
For procuring, locating, and mooring buoys at such
places as the Secretary of the Treasury may designate,
and where ho shall deem them to be necessary for the
safety of navigation, fivo thousand dollars;
For expenses of rebuilding the Capo Florida light-
hooso, Florida, thcirtc en thousanddollars;
, For expenses of rebuilding Martinicus Rock light-
house, Maino, eleven thousand dollars;
For tho maintenance of the light on the Delaware
breakjwater, including four hundred dollars for the
Balaryjof keeper, eight hundred dollars ;
"For expenses incurred by superintendents in visiting
their light-houses annually, and examining and report-
ing the condition of each, two thousanddollars;
For superintendents' commissions, at two and a half
per centum, ten thousand thirty-eight dollars and
ecventy-scven cents, e
:.i
For salarvjuf an assistafifsurveyor, to survey
private claims in Florida, under the direction and si
pervision of the sun cyor general in Jyonoa.one thoi-
sand dollars; " .
i For salary of assistant surveyor, toave chargo ai
oyersiE-ht of the rcsurvoys'in the Grcensburg (late t S
rHelena) district, Louisiana, under the direction and si '
pervision of tho surveyor general of Louisiana, 01
thousand dollars ;
For pay of chain carriers, markers, transportatioi ;
provisions, &c., one thousand five hundred dollars ;
For suryoying the public lands, to be apportioned 1
the several districts according to the exigencies of tl ,
public service, one huudredTand ten thousand dollars
.For tho correction of erroneous and defective sui
veys west of Saganaw bay, in Michigan, at a rate n .
exceeding six dollars per mile, fivo thousand eight hui
dred and eighty dollars ; .
For detached surveys in Missouri, at a rate not e
ceeding five dollars per milo, on account of d fficultii t
in surveying lakes, swamps, &c, four thousand on
hundred and fifty dollars ;
' For the survey of towns and villages in Missour,
named in tho act of twenty-sixth May, eighteen hun
dred and twentfour, including offico work, in addi-
tion to the balanco of tho appropriation of tho third
March, eighteen hundred and forty-three, for that ob
ject, two thousand dollars ; $
Jt or surveying that part of Arkansas where, in con-
sequence of local attraction, the ordinary compas can-
not be used, at a rate, not exceeding eight dollars per
mile, four thousand eight hundred dona's;
For surveys at augmented rates, in Louisiana, three
thousand seven hundred and four dollars ;
i or surveys in tho Greeusburg district, Louisiana,
now in the course of execution, in addition to former
appropriations, twenty thousand four hundred dollars ;
i?or retracing old lines in the district west of Pearl
river, to supply deficiencies now existing in those sur-
veys, at fivo dollars and seven dollars per mile, in ad-
dition to balance of appropriations for same object, of
the third March, eighteen hundred and forty-three,
eighteen thousancLpne hundred and thirteen dollars;
.INTERCOURSETH FOREIGN NATIONS;
For saTanes- of ministers to"Great Britain, Franco,
Russia, Prussia, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil, sixty-three
thousand dollars ;
For salaries of secretaries of legation to tho same
places, fourteen thousand dollars ;
For outfit of a minuter to Great Britain, rune thou-
sand dollars ;
For salaries of charges des affaires to Portugal, Aus-
tria, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Chdi, Pe-
ru, New Grenada, Venezuela, Naples, Sardinia, and .
Buenos Ayres, fifty-eight thousand five hundred dollars;
For salary of a minister Tesident in Turkey, six
thousand dollara;
For salary of a dragoman to tho legation toTurkey,
two thousand five hundred dollars;
For the salary of a commissioner to.resido in China,
five thousand dollars: Provided, No part of this sum
Bhall be paid unless tho said commissioner actually re-
sides in China;
For tho salary of a secretary and Chinese interpre-
ter, two thousand five hundred dollars ;
For contingent expenses of all tho missions abroad,
thirty thousand dollars ;
For contingent expenses of foreign intercourse, thirty
thousand dollars ; , "
For salary of tho consul at London, two thousand
dollars ;
For clerk hire, offico rent, and other oxpensesof the
offico of tho consul at London, two thousand eight hun-
dred dollars ;
For compensation of commissioner to tho Sandwich
Islands, three thousand dollars ;
For interpreters, guards, and other expenses of tho
consulates at Constantinople, Smyrna, and Alexandria,
fifteen hundred dollars ;
For payment in full to Benjamin E. Green, for ser-
vices while employed in Mexico, lis charge d'affaires,
three thousand dollars ;
For the relief and protection of American seamen in
foreign countries, seventy-five thousand dollars ;
For carrying into eflect the acts for the suppression
ot the slave trade, including ihe-support of recaptured
Africans, and their removal to their countrv. twentv-
jfive thousand dollars;
ror completing me maps, speciiicauons, and astro-
nomical computations ot the line ol boundary between
the United States and the British provinces, heretotore
run and established, or run and marked by the joint
commissioners, under the tnaty of Washington, twen
ty thousand dollars, and for transmitting to the respec
tive states, WHOS3 boundanes architected tnereby, au-
thentic copies tbereol.
Sec. 2. Andlie it further enacted, That in addition
to the assistant appraisers,authonzd by law at the port
of New York, there may be appointed in the rnodenow
prescribed by law, cneadditionaLaas slant appraiser al
said port, at a salary, as heretofore established, of fif-
teen hundred dollars per annum, to be paid out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated:
Provided, Said salary shall not commence, or ap-
pointment take effect prior to the thirtieth of Novem-
ber next, and in appraising alL goods at any port of the
United StaU s, heretofore subjected to specific dut.es,
bjt upon which ad valorem duties are imposed by the
act of the thirtieth July last, entitled "An act reducing
the duty on imports and for other purposes," Teference
shall be had to values and invoices ol similar goods
imf orted during the last fiscal ear. under snch general
and uniform regulations for the prevention of fraud or
undervaluation as shall be prescribed by the Secretary
of the Treaeury
Sec. 3 And be it-further enacted, That it shall be
lawful for the respective heads of departments to con-
tinue in service during the mrrent fiscal year the offi-
ce's aid persons, and at the silancsiind compensations
authorized in the act approved twenty sixth of August,
one thonsand eight hundred and forty-two, entitled
"An act Iegajizing and making appropriations for such
necessary objects as have been usually included in the
general ppropriation bills without authority of law,
and to fix and provide for certain incidental expenses
)f the departments and officers of the Government, and
lor other purpose"," and also the clerks autho-ized to
be employed m tne olnce of tue First Comptroller of
tlieTreabury by the act of Jnnesetnieenth, onethou-
sand eight hundred and forty four, entitled "An act
making appropriations for the civil and dip omatic ex-
penses of the Government for the fiscal year ending the
thirtieth June, one thousand eght hundred and forty-
five, and for other purposes;" and also the clerk in tho
offaceofth; Second Auditor, authorized by the same
act: Provided, That nothing m this section shall be
construed to authorize the employment of any clerks
in the statistical branch of the Treasury Department.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the surveyor
general northwest of the Ohio, under the direction of
the President, be, and hereby is, required to be caused
to be surveyed, marked, and designated, so much of
the line between Michigan and Wisconsin as lies be-
tween the source of Brule river and the source of Mon-
treal river, as defined by the "act to enable the people
of Wisconsin Territory" to form a constitutinn and State
government, and for tne admissitn of such State into the
Union ;" and the expenses of such survey shall be paid
upon the certificate of the said surveyor general out of
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
not exceeding one thousand dollars.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That the fourth
section of the act, entitled ".An act making appropria-
tions for the civil and diplomitic expenses of- the Gov-
ernment for the year ending the thirtieth of June, eigh-,
teen hundred and forty t,ix, and for other purposes," ;
passed third March: eighteen hundred a'nd forty-five, ;
be, and the same is hereby, repealed.
Approved, Augu3t 10, 1846.
A Wife-in-Lavi. It is to be seriously regretted that
the following dialogue, which wo culroratho Repub-
lican Union, is quite true to life in a multitude of cases,
and many young married men find it so to their sorrow.
The writer may have made it up from materials gath-
ered from his own experience for aught we know or
care. At any rato ho has furnished a looking-glass in
which a modern fine lady may see herself. The young
ladies would do well to tako a look and govern them-
selves accordingly if they do not wish to have thoir hus-
bands consider them Wites-in-Law.
"Going tho wrong way, John," cried a young mer-
chant to his friend, as ho met him in the street.
"Got hungry," rejoined the other. "Going to tho
tavern to get my breakfast."
"Has your wife gone away?"
"No! but sho don't know how lo cook. Yesterday
she boiled the Icttuco and radisfi, and dished up tho
turnips raw. This morning the eggs wore boiled as
hard as bulletts. itoy would go into my gun I
could shoot crows with them. Ever since I was mar-
ried, I have laid under tho interdict of tho children of
Israel in the wilderness. I have no leavened bread."
"Well, John, I am in tho same predicament. Mary
don't know how to cook, so I tried it yesterday, but had
no luck ; and sho says bho'll try to learn, and I shall
send her forthwith ono quarter to school to my mother,
for I verily believe that half I carry into tho houso is
wasted."
"If your wife is willing to learn, you will do well
enough, and are a happy man. You have a wifo where-
as I've only a wife-in-law. Emmy is'nt willing to
cook or mend cither. Sho sajs her mother told her it
was quito vulgar now-a-days to know anything about
domestic concerns, cspccialjfe for a young wife. That
the latest fashion is for 'wives to be ladies, and havo
their servants. That she must tell John that she was
not made to drudgo, and he must not bo so selfish as to
want her to work. Fino times these, Gcorgo. A man
that don't stand roady to support his wifo, two or thrco
attendants, and much company m extravaganco is di-
rectly a niggard. Don't know what will bo done.
Men can't all bo thriving business men and become in-
dependent at onco ; wo must have some laborers, "and
they poor men, must take ows of perpetual ccjibacy,
for all I seo liko Catholic priests "
SURVEYS OF PUBLIC LANDS,
1 n ad a pretty bttio place when I was married, but
nortgaged now, and.! must not open my mouth to
its mnrtimo'fiii
say a word. If I do, I'm a niggard, and want a wife
on purpose to do my drudgery
THE TELEGRAPH.
EDITED BT FR,AJSTCIS MOORE, Jr.
HOUSTON:
Monday i January 25, 1S47.
We regret to notice that the proceedings of
Congress indicate that the federal party is de-
termined, as in the days of blue-light notoriety,
to cramp as far as practicable, the powers of
the Executive, and thus prevent him from pros-
ecuting the war with that energy and vigour
necessary to terminate it speedily, and secure
an honorable peace. The abolitionists with
tliat shortsighted policy, that peculiarly distin-
guishes their leaders, have cast in their feeble
weight of influence with the federalists, and
are endeavoring with blind zeal to protract
the- war, and to prevent the annexation of
any part of Mexico to the Union. If they were
but awakened to a true sense of their position,
and were actuated by a sincere desire to erad-
inotn 'tVii nr51c" nf wliinli fkov nmnlnin. tliAV
would cordially co-operate with the Executive
and labor incessantly to accomplish the great
objocts ho is accltifrg-"to cfibctjTho fccl-
eralists pretend to be actuated by a desire
to vindicate the national honor ; yet, all their
efforts tend to bring disgrace and foul dishon-
or upon the nation. They assert that the gov
ernment was in the wrong in commencing the
war, and that concessions, should be made to
the Mexicans,Jto induce them to treat for peace.
They thus on the one hand, endeavor to un-
dermine that moral influence "which should
nerve our soldiers in the contest, and on the
other, they bold out inducements to the enemy
to protract the war, under the belief that the
governments will not be sustained by the peo-
ple, and that the longer they resist the more
favorable termsTthey will obtain.
"Twice is he armodwho hath his quarrelust"
They assert thaOIexicb is in the right and
that our government is in the wrong. Mex-
ico then, according to their reasoning, is doub-
ly armed, and, as far as they have the power,
they aid and abet her in the quarrel. Their
frequent publications, in which they proclaim
to the world that their nation is engaged in an
unjust war, aid, as far as their power extends,
the enemy as effectually as they would if they
were actually citizens of the hostile country.
Their conduct evinces that they are -too cow-
ardly to fight, and too mean to contribute
money or any other articles to prosecute the
war. If therefore, they were actually citi-
zens of Mexico, they would doubtless do no
more there to aid the government of that coun
try than they do now in their own country.
They would cry out in the loudest terms of
denunciation, and exert their whole influence
"morally" against the American government ;
but they would not raise a finger to oppose it
by any pTrysicai force. Like the Mexicans
in petticoats, their tongues may be with the
enemy ; but their hands are only fitted for
the distaf. We will yet indulge the hope that
these noisy blusterers may be found as impo-
tent as they are obstreperous. We rejoice to
notice that a large portion of the Whig party
does not act in. concert, with them, but, ac-
tuated by'principles of true patriotism, they.
declare that the "question whether the govern-
ment was in the wrong in commencing the
war is not now open. It is sufficient
to know that the nation is involved in
war, and it is the duty of every true patriot
to exert his whole energies to aid the execu-
tive in conducting it in such a manner as to en-
sure success." If a majority of the Whig par-
ty could be induced to entertain a similar
opinion, "the Federalists and Abolitionists
would soon be silenced, and the proceedings
of Congress would be characterised by that
harmony and concert of action, which should
ever be observedwhen the honor or the safe-
ty of the nation is 'at stake. It has been ob-
jected to republics that the people are ever
liable to become the prey of parties, and thus
tyrants by exciting party prejudices and bri-
bing partizan leaders, may be enabled to over-
power republics more easily than kingdoms.
We hope, that the conduct of Congress during
the present session will not be such as to ver-
ify this assertion, that has been so often made to
flatter tyrants, and to strengthen their thrones:
but that such sentiments will prevail, that the
Senate and House of Representatives, will
unite to uphold the hands of the Executive,
that our armies may prevail against the com-
mon enemy.
The steamship Galveston arrived at Galves-
ton on the 17th instant, and brought dates from
New Orleans to the 13th instant.
The message of the President, recommend-
ing the creation of the office of a general officer,
to take the command of all our military forces
in the field was sent to Congress on the 4th
instant, and has excited great interest, it is as
follows :
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
In order to prosecute the war with vigor and
success, it is necessary that authority should
be promptly given by Congress to increase the
regular army, and to remedy existing defects
in its organization. With this view, your fa-
vorable attention is invited to the annexed re-
port of tho Secretary of' War, which accom-
panied my message of the 8th'ult., in which
he recommends-that ten additional regiments
of regular troops shall be raised, to gerve du-
ring the war.
Of the additional regiments of volunteers
which have been called for from several of the
States, some have been promptly raised ; but
this has not been the case with all.
The existing law, requiring that they slioiUj
be organized by the independent State gov-
ernments, has, in some instances, occasioned
considerable delay aud it 19 yet uncertain
when the troops required can be rcadyTor sew
- ,t' Z , j
vice jn the field.
, It is our settled policy to maintain, in tim
of peace, as small a regular army as the exi
gences of the public service will permit, hi
a state of war, notwithstanding the great ad-f
vantage with which our volunteer citizen-sol-
diers can be brought into the- field, this smalL
regular army must be increased in its numbers,
m order to render the whole lorce more erh-
cient. Additional officers as well as men Jhen be-
come indispensable. Under the circumstan-
ces of our service, a peculiar propriety exists
for increasing the officers, especially in the
higher grades. The number of "such officers
who, from age and other causes, are rendered
incapable of active service in the field, has se-
riously impaired the. efficiency of the army.
From the" report of the Secretary of War, it
appearsthat about two thirds of the whol&
numberof regimental field officers are either
permanently disabled, or are necessarily de
tached from their commands on other duties.
The long enjoyment of peace has prevented us
from experienciilihuch embarrassment from
this cause, but now in a state of war, conduct
ed in a foreign country, it has produced serious
injury to the public service.
An efficient organization of the army, com-
posed of regulars and volunteers, whilst pros-
ecuting the war with Mexico, it is believed
would require the appointment of a General
Officer, to take command of all our military
forces in the field. Upon the conclusion of
the war the services of such an officer would
no longerbc necessary, and shouldie-dispen-
seu wiin upuu iiiu reuuciion ui me army iu uie
peace establishment.
I recommend that provisions be made by
law for the appointment of such a General Cm
ficer, to serve during the war.
It is respectfully recommended, thaearly
action should be had by Congress upon the-
suggestions submitted for their consideration
as necessary to insure active and efficient ser-
vice in prosecuting the war, before the pres-1
ent favorable season for military operations in.
the enemy s country shall have passed away.
JAMES K. POLK.
Jan. 4, 1847.
It is currently reported in Washirigt
Senator Benton will be agrjointcd to the
general office if it shouldnfe created.
Senator Barrow, of Louisiana, died at Balti
more, onthe 29th ultimo, of a disease of the
heart.
The House of Representatives, on the 2d
instant, by a vote of 115 to 48, refused to levy
a tax on tea and coffee.
A bill for the raising of ten new regiments
has been introduced in t;he House of Repre-
sentatives,' and it is thought it will pass both'
Houses with little opposition.
Another bill to provide for expenses of diplo
matic intercourse'lhreatens to become a source
of discord equal to that which arose on the
Missouri question.
The first section appropriates $30,000 ibr
diplomatic expenses: the other sections are
as follow : t 9
Sec 2. Be it further enacted, That there shall bo
neither slavery or involuntry servitude in any territo-
ry, which shall hereafter bo acquired by, or bo annexed
to the United States, otherwise than in the punishment
of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly con-
victed, Provided, always, That any person escaping
into tho same, from whom labor or service is lawfully
claimed in any ono of tho United States, such fugitive
may be lawfully reclaimed- and conveyed out -of said
territories to tho person claiming his or her labor ser-
vice. Sec 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of
two millions of dollars be, and tho same is hereby ap-
propriated, out of any money in-the treasury not other-
wise appropriated, to enable the President to conclude a '
treaty of peace with the republic of Mexico, to be used
by him in the event that said treaty, when signed by
tho authorized agents of twa governments, and being
ratified by Mexico, shall call for the expenditures of tho
same, or any part thereof; full and accurate accounts
of which expenditure shall bo by him transmitted to
Congress at as early a day as practicable.
The Weather. We have again been vis-
ited by a series of severely cold "Northers."
The nights of Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday were exceedingly cold, and the
ground was frozen in many places an inch
deep. Ice continued to form even at noon on
Tuesday.
The steamship Mississippi, bearing the
broad pennant of Com. Perry, touched a't Ha-
vana on the 4th instant, and after taking in
coal, proceeded immediately to Norfolk. The
officers of this vessel confirmed the report that
Santa Anna has been elected President of
Mexico, and Gomez Farias Vice President.
Yucatan. The revolution in Yucatan-has
assumed a new aspect. The citizens of Cam-
peachy have raised an army of 6,000 men, and
at tho last accounts were marching upon Me-
rida, to overthrow the government, and compel
the people of tho capital to declare against
Mexico.
Guatamala has taken advantage of the pre-
sent weakness of Mexico to assert her claim
to the potion of Mexico lying south and west
of Totasco. General Curreor has marched
into that part of Mexico with 4,000 troops.
Freshet. The valley of the Great Miami
riverhas lately been inundated to the distance
of nearly one hundred miles, and the destruc-
tion of property had been very great. The
Cincinnati Gazette says: "The Hjdraulic
Works at Hamilton, were seriously injured.
The bridge over the Great Miami, at Middle-
town, is reported to be entirely washed away.
The canal, near the mouth of Madriver, has
given away, and it was not known where the
destruction would stop. The White Water
canal was so much injured, that it was believed
navigation on it would bo stopped for months."
Large Cannon. Eight sixty-four pound
cannon from the foundry at Pittsburg havo
been delivered at the navy yard in Philadel-
phia. It is said that each gun weighs 5,500
pounds. These guns,' and others, of a very
large size, that have been shipped on board
men-of-war are, it is supposed, intended for
the batteries that are to be erected in the
city of Vera Cruz, for the reduction of the for-
tress of San Juan do Ulloa. The distance
from the eastern verge of the city to this for-
tress is about tho third of a mile, and shells
and other destructive missiles may be thrown
with great force from these heavy guns into
Ihe cattle from batteries erected in tho c!ty.
an, mac
Irejv
. m. a& jm . - . - - -:
consisting of 876 half bales of cottony was .soTd
in New Orleans on. the 9th inst.for casBt -
The cotton brought 9 To 9J cents peflb.j'andj
was afterwards sold at private sale atlOf cts:
per lb.
Cotton factors in New Orleans are loolung
to the next advices from Europe with great in-
terest, as they expect that those advices will
be favorable. The next steamer to sail from
Liverpool is the Hibernia, and her advices are
expected in New Orleans by the 26th inst.
Mr. Navarro has addressed a communica-
tion to the commandant of the post at Bexar,
complaining that the troops stationed there
have taken the posts, stakes, &c, of the en-
closures around Bexar for firewood, thus leav-
ing the lots exposed to the depredations of
cattle. He requests that the people who have
thus suffered way be remunerated for the loss
es they have incurred. The request is rea-
sonable and just, and we doubt not remune-
ration will be extended to the sufferers, by the
government. This gentleman, with his usu-
al liberality, states that, although he has been
a sufferer to the amount of at least $100, he
asks no remuneration ; but says : "I will join
this, loss td' the many which I iave
iK2h
for tWpublic cause, without expecting
thiricr moro from Uflt eaerifiro4 than thn
fellow citizens will now enjoy a better lot.
Masonic The hall of the Holland Lodge,
No. 1, in this city, was dedicated on Satur-
day, the 16th inst. A procession was formed
at 11 o'clock, A. M., and, although the weath
er was rainy and unpleasant, a number of cit-,
izens attended and proceeded to the Methodist
Church, where an appropriate address was
delivered by P W. Gray, Esq- The frater
nity then repaired to the Houston House and,
partook of an excellent collation prepared for
the occasion by Col. JMilby. t
Capt. Ben McCulloch was at San Antonio
12th inst., and had at that time abo
40 menWisted in his company. He exnecd
to start for theseat of war in a few'days,
is probably now on the route to Saltillo,
A manjjamed Brown, was murdered a-few
weeks since on our western frontier. It is,
supposed that the murder was committed.by a
party of about - 200 Commanches that was
seen a few weeks since west of the Medina,
moving on the road towards Laredo.
The citizens of Galveston are making great
exertions to open several newroads, to connect
f that city with the settlements on the Brazos,
Trinity and other streams. A committee ap-
pointed for the purpose, lately explored a route
to the Brazos, and have reported that "a practi
cable communication between that city, and
those settlements can be made without a heavy
expense." The committee are expected to ex.
amine a route to the eastward, to tha lower
settlements on the Angelina, Ncches and Sa
bine, and many entertain the opinion, that the
trade of those settlements may be di-
verted to Galveston. There are, however,
formidable, and we apprehend, for the pre-
sent,insuperable obstacles to encounter in these
undertakings, tho difficulty of transportation
across the bay sth, and west of Galveston.
On tha west, the bay is two to three miles
wide, and on the north seven. The expense
of supporting ferries at these two points must
be immense, and will be alone sufficient to
deter planters from attempting to transport
the produce of their farms to Galveston. "We
have often noticed that planters, when they
have the advantage of good roads, prefer to
transport their cotton and other agricultural
products to market on their own teams, rather
than to place it on railroads, even when 'these
traverse their plantations. There are certain
seasons of the year when many of the hands on
plantations are at leisure, and as cattle require
no other food on the road except the prairie
grass, the planters can generally transport
their own produce to market cheaper than it
can be transported upon a railroad. Any city,
therefore, which is situated on the main land,
and connected with extensive planting settle-
ments, by good roads, must always possess ad-
vantages of trade far superior to those enjoyed
by an island city. This is strikingly exempli-
fied in in respect to ourowji favored city. The
roads in every direction around this city have
been excellent during the last eight or ten
months, owingto the dry weather, (not to the
entcrprize ofthe citizens,) and, as a natural con-
sequence, the trade of Houston has increased
to a wonderful extent. We may safely esti
mate, that moro than five times the amount of
goods have been sold in Houston the last year
than in that preceding it. The number offme-
chanics employed durinjthe last year, have
been more than tenfold gieater than the num-
ber employed in the previous year, and the
numerous large arid substantial brick stores
and other buildings that havo been erected,
evince that the amount of labor has been
proportionably great. It cannot be denied,
however, that if a wet season should suc-
ceed the late favorable one, the great sources
of our prosperity would be cut off, and dullness
and apathy would supplant the present activity
and enterprize. This evil, however, can easi-
ly be averted. The revenues of the city are
amply sufficient to defray the expense of open-
ing two good roads to the setdements ofthe in-
terior, and if proper exertions are made, this
city may be connected by commodious avenues-
of transportation with the dense settlements of
the interior, at less expense than that which
will bo required by the citizens of Golveston
to establish ferries connecting their city with
the main land. Let us then be up and doing.
The avenues of trade, when once established,
like the trade winds, are almost immutable : and
if we can succeed in establishing convenient
avenues of trade with the interior, they will
soon becomepermancnt sources of wealth and
prosperity.
Tho steam ship Palmetto- arrived al. Galves-
ton on the 18th inst., and brought da tcs from
New Orleans three days later -than those
brought by the Galveston. The report that
Santa Anna was marching with all ids forces
to attack Saltillo, is contradicted. Gen. Tay-
S lho- carco ol the pnze schooner iflyntau
on ma
d
JoV ortjlertrnirig that it wasjincprrect, counter-
,mafldgti the orders for the army to march to the
relief cf Gen. Worth, and has continued his
march uporf'Victoria. Gen. Scott at the last
a'c6lmts-h5f6rgone1fo'Comarg6J and intended
to proceed from that place to Monterey.
The proposition foffthe creation of,the new
office suggested by the President in his'special
message, meets with little approbation in
Congress,' On the 5th inst, the report of
the military committee recommending that
so much of the Message as relataMo'this
officer be laid on the table, was SSted-
but a motion was made -on the 6th, tp"recon-
sider this vote, and the motion was carried
by a vote of 86 to 84.
The small town of Laguna, 'orTtlie coast of
Yucatan, was captured on'-the 20th ult,by
Com. Perry, with the steamers Mississippi,
Vixen, Bonita and Petrel. He took 900 lbs.
of powderpdestroyed fifteen cannon, and. dis
armed about 50 soldiers who wefo. stationed in
the town.
Mexican Letters op Mabque. It ap-sr
pears from the Havana, papers, that, jjenor
Arago, who was sent by the, Mexican Goyern-
jnent to Cuba, with letters of marque, and na
turalization papers, had Keen- unable up to.the
4thonstamV tc-dispose of a sjngle'commission
and it is generally 'believed that the attemc
that government, to fit out privateers bv i
aid af foreisns, will be whollv unsnnr.oelf.
,u Fight. The St. Loujs papersmen-
tion thaft a severe battle was fouafcfea few
weeks since, near Council BluffsjfpSreen a
band3f" the OmahasanoT awar fartyof the
Sioi.'.z. The former were defeated, and,sixty
of '.heir warriors were slain in the contest.
There is reason, to fear that theOmahas will
soon be exterminated by their more' powerful
andrtvarlike 'adversaries, unless they are-protected
by the United States' Government.
f The. Pawnees'contlnue to commit, depreda
tions atong tne oanta re road, upon the tra-
-derff and feamsfers the service ofthe W
jlcu oiums. xne success mat nas"attended
their marauding expeditions, "las encouraged
them to such-a. degree, that large bands have
collected along- the Arkansas and Sernirone,
where they lie in wait for the teams that are
employed to transport provisions; and military
stores-fox the army in' Santa Fe Some tra-
dersi who met a parfy-of these marauders a few-
weeks since, reported that many ofthemwere
wearing the sacks thatnad 'conlained'coffee,
flour and other articles, as breech-cloutswitii
the brands XL- S., in large capitals,.- on the
front or hind part ofthe breech-clouts,'' The
Indians .appeared to be 'unaware of the mean-
ing of these letters ; but they majrprpve ra-
ther dangerous appendages,, if theyHoukT ,be
discoveredbythe parties of dragoons that may
soon. b& sent to punish the robbers; "
1 ' r-: '
It is not perhaps generallyloiownj'thaf ihe
small remnant of the Cherokeesw that were
driven from the vicinity of Nacogdoches a few-
years since, are located on the frontier, a few
miles above Torrey's "trading house. There
are only fifteen or twenty warriors- of this
band remaining, and they are remarkably
humble and pacific They have enclosed a.
few acres of ground, and cultivate corn, pump-
kins and a few other vegetables. They have,
also a few cattle. They appear to ba so much,
humbled by their reverses, thaMhere is not
the most remote portability that theywallever
engage in hostilities against our settlers! The
Kickapoos, their former allies, are so convin-
ced of this, that they refuse' to associate with,
them, and have sought alliances with ;the Wr.
chitas, and other thieving- tribes of theinorth.
The Kickapoos seem to rival the Wichitas in.
villainy? and many ofthe thefts lateljrcommffc-
ted on our eastern frontiers, are probably at-
tributable to these implacable savages..
Mexican Generals. -The editor of the
Courier des Etats Unis, endeavors- to excite
,the belief thatthe war with Mexico-has but just
commenced, and that a 'number of generals,
are soon to appear upon the scene of action",
whose feats of valor will equal thoseofthe most
renowned European commanders : and whose
prowess, will shed a bright hala of 'glory
around the tri-colored standard of Mexico-
This writer says:
""We believe, then, that the position of Santa Armar
in the post which he occupies as generalissimo (and his
most intimate friends affirm that he covets bo other)
is firmly established". Far from being reduced, ha ar-
my is strengthened from day to day, and he hasfbijhis
lieutenants men of proved capacity; among them aro
Generals Yillanil and Alcorta, ivhoso military slsfll is
equal, it b said, to that ofthe most renowned European
commanders Generals Cortazer, Minon, Torrejon, and
Guzman, who command 10,000 cavalry, posted m tha
vicinity of San Luis Potosi and General Don Francis-
co Perez, whose bravery is proverbial. To theso hold
hearts and able heads w must add General Canalho,
who has recently returned to Mexicaand at-onco mado
an offer ofTus services to Santa Anna. All are inva-
luable auxiliaries to the generalissimo, and the struggle
with them will be-desperate and lerrihbv The battles
that have as yet been fought, sanguinary as they were,
must be regarded as only the prologue- to the drama that
will ba played when theso great actors come upon the
scene."
We happen to know something about the
characters of several ofthe generals enume-
rated above, and we consider each of them to
be in no respect superior in military capacity
to Gen. Vega, or Gen. Cos- Torrejon is
merely a colonel, and if he had not succeeded,
with an overwhelming force, in capturing the,
handiull of dragoons under Captains Thorntonr
and Hardee last spring, would scarcely be re-
garded as in any respect more valliant, or
more skillful than Col. Carasco, who has re-,
cently been disgraced by Santa' Anna. Guz-
man has figured in' the revolutionary history
of Mexico, rather as a captain of bandits than
as an efficient military leader. Canalizo is
so stupid and slothful, that he was the laugh-
ing stock ofthe Texians who have had inter-
course with him in Mexico Cortazer is un-
questionably the ablest and most energetic of
all these generals ; but be is not regarded as
superior nor even equal to Arista, as a com-
mander. The other generals mentionedhave
hitherto displayed their military talents on so
few occasions, and with so little success, that
they
are almost "unknown to famet Like
tfi
t.
i
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Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 4, Ed. 1, Monday, January 25, 1847, newspaper, January 25, 1847; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48441/m1/2/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.