Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 10, Ed. 1, Thursday, March 9, 1848 Page: 2 of 4

                                
m
jSlv..
we ro continually prowling. around,1 and it was risking
their lives to leave thefort' 'r
The settlement at the Falls were more exposed than
those in the interior, on account of the facilities with
t?hich-the Indian could cross and rccrossthc river, and
thedifficulties in the way of pursuing them. The sa-
vages frequently crossed the river, and after killing
some of the settlers, and committing depredations upon
property recrossed and escaped. In 1780, Col. G.
"Slaughter arrived at the Falls with 150 State troops.
ThB inhabitansTvere inspired wflh feelings of security
gvhich led them loo frequently to expose themselves
with tpo little caution. Their foes wore ever ou the
'watch, and were continually destroying valuable lives.
Danger and death crouchod iu every path and lurked
behind every three. We give hero some illustrations
ofjthe incidents connected with Indian warfare.
iIn? March, 1781, seyeral parties entered Jefferson
county, and -killed Col. Wm. Linn and Capts. Tipton
liiffl Chapman. Capt Whittaker and fifteen men pur
sued aud traced them to the foot of the Falls. Sup-
posing that the eamy had crossed the river, they em-
barked in canoes to follow them. Whilf they were
making their way across the river, tbey were fired upon
by the Indians, who were still on the Kentucky side,
und nine were killed or wounded. Tho rest returned
unit defeated tho enemy. In the neat month, a party
luat hadmade a settlement under Squire Booney, near
ibe place where Shelbovillo now stands.-became alarm-
ed by the appearance of Indians, and resolved to r'e-
lapvo to the neighborhood of Louisville. On the way,
zne-party.onBistmgof men, women and children, en-
cumbered with the charge of household goods and
" cattle, were attacked by a large compauy of Indians
that pursued them, and were defeated and dispersed.
Col. John Floyd, on receiving intelligence of this event,
raised a company of twenty -five men, and hastened
to pursue the enemy, lie divided his men and pro-
ceeded with great caution ; but this did not prevent his
falling into an ambuscade. The Indians, whoso force
is said to have been three times as great as his, com-
pletely defeated him, killing about half his men. Col.
Floyd himself lost his horse, and was retreating on foot,
nearly exhausted, and closely pursued, when CapL Sol.
Wells rode up and gave him his horse, ruuniug by his
Ide to support him. These two gentlemen had been
.unfriendly towards each other, but ibis noble .act made
them friends for life.
' In 1793, a party of Indians fired on a fiatboat des-
cending tho river, but without serious injury to those
on board. On the succeeding day, they captured a
boy at Eastln's mill, and conveyed him to the Ohio.
Here, 'by a strange freak, they gave him a tomahawk,
knife, and pipe, and set him at liberty, unhurt.
. IuiIhos3 days,.the dress aud furniture were of tho
, simplest kind. Many who are now proud of their an-
cestors, would be ashamed of them if they were to ap-
pcarbefore them in the costliest dress of tho early times,
it is amusing to imagine the consternation of a belle at
.a fashionable party, if her ancestors should present
themselvesbefcre Jier her grandfather in cocuskin cap
aud buck-skin .breeches, and his wife dressed out for the
occasion in her best attire of liusey-woolsey. The very
fan of the belle would tremble, as if participating in the
ehame and confusion, and' tho odor of the smelling;bottle
would rise iu indignant steam.
x In 1783, Daniel, Brodhead began a new era, by ex-
posing, goods from Fhladelphia for sale iu Louisville.
"-Die merchandise had been brought from Philadelphia
4.0 Pittsburg iu wagons, aud thence to Louisville in fiat-
boats. The belle of our "forest land" then began to
shine in all the mifguificeuce of calico, and the beaux
iu the luxury of wool hats.
"After the old county of Kentucky had been divided,
in' November, 1781, into three counties Jefferson,
Fayette- and Lincoln Jefferson included all the part
of tho old county lying south of the Kentucky river,
north of Green river, and west of Big Beuton, aud Ham-
mond's creek. The county court of each county was
composed cf the most respectable citizens of such
country, and appointed its. own clerk. Tho limits of
its authority were rather undefined. The county
court of Jefferson sat also as a court of Oyer and Termi-
ner. In regard to capital offences, it acted merely as an
examining court when white persons woie concern ed,but
tried aud condemued slaves to death. " At a called court
held for Jefferson county on tho 10th day of August,
1785, for.thc examination of negro Peter, tho property
orTrancis Virgo, committed to the jail of this county
on suspicion of stealing ; present : James F. Moore,
William GIdham, Richard Taylor and David Meri
wether. ureter was found guilty, valued at eighty
pouuds, current money, and condemued to be executed
on the 24th day ollhat mouth. On the 21st day of
October, 1766, " negro Tom, a slave, the property or
Kobert Daniel," was condemned to death for stealing
-ifttwo and-Uhree-fourlhs yards of cambric, and ribbon
aud thread, the property of James Patten." The fol-
lowing appears-ou the early records of the court.
" The court doth set the following rates to
ia observed by ordinary keepers in this coun-
ty, to wit: whiskey fifteen dollars the half
jpinL; corn at ten dollars the gallon, a diet at
twelve dollars ; lodging in a leather bed, six
dollars ; stableage or pasturage one night,
four dollars."
" These seem to be very extravagant prices ;
but we suppose travelers took care to pay in
continental money. These were the times
a hat was worth five hundred dollars. The
following. is an inventory rendered to the court
off the property of a deceased person :
".To a coat aud waitcoat, 250, an old blue
"'Uo-anddo. JE50, j3C0 00
To pockcUbook, 6, part of an old shirt,
U3, 9 00
-"To old blanket, Gs., two iushels salt, 480, 4S0 06
180 G's
" The -following is recorded May 7th, 1848 :
i yfcV'George JPomeroy being brought before the. court-
charged with having been guilty of a,breach of the
act of Assembly, entiled, "Divulgex of .False News,"
on examining sundry witnesses, and the said Pomeroy
heard in defence, tho court is of opinion-that the said
Geo. Pomeroy is guilty of a breach of said,Ia.w, and it
is. therefore ordered that he bo fined 200 Ibsjof tobacco
lot tho same. And it a further ordered tbat.the said
Gap. Pomeroy give security for his good .behavior,
himself in lQi)Q with two securities iujEdOO, and
pay costs, 6vc"
,This may seem like making rather too serious a
matter of -divulging false news. It Is certain that if
all who are guilty of this crimo in our day were pun-
ished, it would add materially to the business of the
courts. The history of the matter is very, curious.
Toni'Paine wrote a book ridiculing the right of Vir-
giniato the lands of Kentucky, and urging Congress
. to "assume possession of the whole country. fTwo
liennsylvanians, whose names were Pomeroy and Gal-
loway, hadimbbed the principles of this production,
.and came to Kentucky to propagate them Pomeroy
to . Uie Falls, and Gallcway to Lexington. "Several
cf the good people," says Mr. Marshall, "yielded so
far to his persuasion, as to commence chopping and
, improving upon. theinueighbors'Iands, with the pious
intention of.eppropriatuig them, under an act of Con-
gress, which they were assured, would soon be promul-
gated. It was -decided that they must bo punished.
After this determination had been made.n old law of
Virginia was fortunately found, which inflicted a penal-
ly, iu tobacco, at the discretion of tho court, upon the
'jiropagation of false news to the disturbance of the
gcod people-of the colony.' Galloway was fined 1 000
lbs. tobacco. As it was impossible to procure eo much
tobacco in Kentucky, at that lime, ho had -a prospect
of spending some time iu prison. At length it .was in-
timated to him if ho would leave the country, justice
acould-be- satisfied. Ho iuUantly aught.at the offer.
Mr. Marshall says that at Jhe Falls no one.miuded
Panic's disciple. The extract fronxthe records shows
that ho as mistaken, and that Pomproy was fined
twics-as much as Galloway and.was ordered to pay.
vluto the original log cabins the light entered .by the
'topen door, or by any opening it -could find. One or
Tfthe first settlers would almostas soou have, thought of
bnngingsome ''bright particular star" into his.dwelling
-to illmiiine it, as of introducing light through a glass
wiudow. In the progress of time,bowever,tbeowner
of a certain shop, or "store," procured some glass and
inserted a few panes in his hoUkO. A young urchin,
t y7ho had seen glass spectacles on the noses of his elders,
saw the glass windows with astonishment, and running
homo to his. mother, exclaimed, "O ma ! there is a
.house down here with spectacles on ! " This may be
considered a very precocious manifestation of tic power
of generalization in the young Kentuckiau.
The first brick house was built in 1162. by a Mr.
Kaye, on tho square on which the Court llousa now
stands.
' Camden, Wo havo recently -briefly alluded to the
'decided business aspect which our little city assumes,
mow that the "rains of winter," have opened tho high-
tfWays of navigation and permitted the development of
4its commercial advantages. That thore is a great ira-
jprovement in business of cll-kinde indeed, a display
fXfof activity aud bustle quite surprising .in a town just
. "commencing its business career is observed in tho
P-daily appearance of our streets in the number of wa
gons steadily passing in the heavy and assarted
'freights landed ou our wharves by steamboats and in
the extensive stock of goods displayed by our merchants.
But perhaps the most solid and iudubitable proof of in-
creasing business is to be found in the amount of cotton
brought to and shipped from this point This is the
jtth week of navigation on our river theprcsentsearcn ;
and it will Jbe. seen by the cotton t-tafement, which
wc publish weekly, that already 4,481) bales have been
brought to Camden, and 2,777 havo been shipped.
This, we are confident is largely ahead of any other
B'.iippiug point in the Stato ; and it is believed that tit
the closo of tho season our city will como out still fur-
thcrin advanceofanyot'iertownin Arkansas. When
wo consider that three or four years ago the idea its
rivalling several older ports would have been laughed
at, its position now is surprising as well as gratifying.
But not ouly in commercial statistics does onr city
exhibit gratifying evideiices of advancement. There
are pleasing aud unmistakable proofs of its rapid im-
provement m social refinement and a high moral char-
acter. Oar streets are disgraced by no broils; no exhibi-
tions of drunken orgies offend the sight of even tho
most refined ; the habitual druukard and gambler have
no abiding place among us. In its schools those crea-
tions of enlightened pjbhc sentiment which perhaps
beat test tile social (-landing of a community, because
they afford a nuclous around which the popular tnsto
forinoutaland moral training can concentrate, Camden
preseuts a picture of which its citizens need not bp
ashamed. Wo believe that as many children attend
the several schools of our city, as can be found in any
towu of its size in tho West ; und our institutions of
learning would hardly suffer by a comparison with the
most favored. It would appear at first glance that
there are too many schools iu the place ; but if this is
an evil it will correct ikelf soon if not, the greater is
the cred.tof haudsomely supporting them all.
We intended in this article to deal only in plain uu-
varnished facts, and wo shall not, therefore, indulge in
any rhapsodies elicited by oilier objects which might
call forth the admiration of the beholder; but will
close by assuring those unacquainted with our city,
that "the half has not yet been told them of its beau-
ties." Camden Herald.
ENCOUNTER WITH ROBBERS IN CALI-
FORNIA. The hunter (though rarely) has been set upon by
robbers for the sake of tho pack of furs ho was carry?
iug on his back to some of tho sea port towns on' tho
coast to dispose of : but as the fur-hunters aro gone-
rally on foot, and from habit of watching about for
either hostile Indians or wild animals, they are al-
ways ou their guard, and as the robbers well know
that they aro to a man, riflemen who seldom miss
their mark, they avoid them. During my rambles in
wilds and fastnesses of California, I became acquainted
with many of them, some from back settlements of
tho United States, others from Canada.
I have hunted for months with them, and witnessed
some conflicts between them aud wild animals in which
the utmost daring and rocklessncsss was exhibited by
the hunter. Theso are not meu that robbers like to
encounter, but 1 have said tbey sometimes take a
fancy to the valuable pack of furs, which if they find
auy facility of obtaining, they make the attempt. It
Uihe very climax of cruelty to plunder these poor
fellow's of packs which were procured ouly by outlay-
ing for months in tho depths of tho forest and wilds of
the country, and not uufrenuciitly iu tho hunting
grounds of a tnbe of hostile Indians.
I once hunted three months in company with a
hunter well known in California. In idea, he was
wild and imaguialivo in the extreme ; but in his acts
of daring, &c, tho most cool and philosophic fellow I
ever knew. A commerciauta, or merchant, at St.
Francisco, on whose veracity I know from experience
I can depend, told me the following btory of this man,
which will at once illustrate his general character.
This huuter was, some months before I had fallen
in with him, making the best of Ins way down the val-
ley of Tule Lake from the interior, with a heavy pack
of furs ou his back, his never erring rifle in his hand,
and his two dogs by his bide. JJo was joined at the
northernmost end of tho valley by the merchant I havo
spoken of, who was armed ouly with his sword and
pistols. They had scarcely cleared the valley when a
parly of robbers gallopped on before them. Thero
were four whites fully armed, and two Indians with
their lassos "ready for a throw."
Tho hunter told tho merchant, who was ou horse-
back, to dismount instantly "and cover." Fortunate-
ly for them, there was a great deal of thicket, and
trunks ot large trees that had fallen were strewed
about in a very desirable manner. Behind these logs
the merchant aud hunter quickly took their portion,
and as they were iu the act of doing so, two Or threo
shots were fired after them without effect The huu-
ter coolly untied the pack of furs from his back aud
laid them beside him. "It's my opinion, merchant."
said he, "that them varmints there wants either your
6addle-bags, or my pack, but I .reckon they'll got
neither." So he took his rifle, fired, and the foremost
Iudian lasso in hand, rolled off his horse. Auolher
discharge from the rifle, and the second Indian fell
whilst in the uct of throwing his lasso at the head and
shoulders of the hunter as he raised himself up from
behind a log to fire. "Now," said tho huuter, as ho
reloaded, laying ou his back to avoid the hhots of tho
robbers, "that's what I call the best of the scrimmage,
to get them brown thieves with their lassos out of tho
way first See them raally whites now jump n
over the logs to charge us in our cover."
They were fast advancing, when the rifle again
spoke out, and the foremost fell ; they still came ou
till within about thirty yards, when another fell, and
tin remaining two made a desperate charge up close
to the log. The hunter, from long practico, was dexte-
rous in reloading his gun. "Now, merchant," said he,
"is the time for your pop-guus," meaning the pistols,
"aud don't bo at ail nervous. Keep a tteady hand,
and drop either mail or horse. A man of them shau't
escape."
The two remaining robbers were now up with tho
log, and fired each a pistol shot at.tho hunter, which
he escaped by dodging behind a tree close by, from
which he fired with effect. As only one robber was
left, he wheeled his horse with the.intention of gallo-
ping off, when the pistol bullets of the merchant shot
tho horse from uuder him. "Well done, merchant,"
said the hunter, "you've btopped that fellow's gallop."
As soou as the robber could disentangle himself from
tho fallen horse, he took to his heels, and run down a
long sloping ground as fast as he could. The hunter
drew his tomahawk from his bell and gave chase after
him. As he was more of an equestrian than a pedes-
trian, the nimbleuess of the hunter shorteued tho dis-
tance between them, and the last of the jobbers fell.
Trfns perished a desperate gang of six, by the singlo
hand of this brave hunter, and as tlie-"coinmercianto"
informed me, he acted as deliberately as if he were
shooting tame bullocks for the market The affair was
rather advantageous to the hunter, for on searching
tho saddle bags and pockets of the. robbers, he pulled
forth some doubloons end dollars, with othor valuables
they had, no doubt, a short time previously taken from
some traveller ; the saddle bags, arms aud accoutre-
ments of the four white men weretpicked up, and made
fast on the saddles of tho two horses, the hunter moun-
ted a third, the merchant mounted another, his horse
being shot, andlhus they left the scene of action tho
bodies of robbers to the wolves who were howling about
them, and entered St Francisco in triumph. Coul-
ter's Adventures.
Co-operation of the Wife. There is much
good sense and truth in the remark of a mod-
ern author, that no man ever.proepered in the
world without the cSjperation of his wife. . If
she unites in mutual endeavors, or towards
his labor with an endeavoring smile, with
what confidence jwili he resort to his mer-
chandize or his farm, fly over lauds, sail upon
the seas, meet difficulty or encounter danger,
if he knows he is not spending his strength in
vain, but that his labor will be rewarded by
the sweets of home ! Solitude and disappoint-
ment enter tlic history of every man's lite ;
and he is but half providuJ tor his voyage who
finds but an associate for happy hours, while
for his months of darkness und distress no
sympathizing partner is prepared.
Ejects of Imagination. A correspondent
of the MedicatJouru.il, who says he is a prac-
tising ph)ician in Worcester county, Mass".,
and is seventy-five years of age, cnin.i;uni-
cates for that Journal the fullowiug anecdote :
In an early part of my practice I was call-
ed into a neighboring town to visit a patient.
It being about the middle of the day, the old
gentleman of the house (being over sixty y-ars
of age) invited me to stop and dine. While
at dinner, lie says, " 1 d.n know a 3-011 like
my dinner." Why jes," aiJ I, " I d ; I
like it veiy well j it i icr g-md." ' gwss,"
said he, "you don't know what ymi a.e eal- i
ing." " Why, yes," said I, it is some new
corned beef." "Ah,"' said the old gentleman,
"it is horse beef." I icpiied, "1 don't be- j
lieve it." " It is," said he, '' I declare it is
some of my old mare." I was not much ac-
quainted vtith him at that time ; I looked at
him, supposing him to be joking, but could
not discover a muscle of the face to alter or
change. I had just taken another piece on my 1
.plate, aud a mouthful of the second slice iu my
mouth, and in fact it was horse meat, sure
enough ; I could taste it as plainly as my ol-
factory nerves could discover tho scent of an
old horse. The more I chewed it, the more
disagreeable it tasted. I continued picking
and tasting a little sauce which I could swal-
low, but the meat, as the- negro said, would
not go. I at last gave a swallow, as I do with
a dose of physic. I thought that I should have
thrown the whole contents of my stomach up
at the table. I afterwards tasted a little
sauce, but took care not to put any into my
mouth, and kept time with the family. Glad
was 1 when dinner was over. It being cool
weather, the old gentleman went to smoking
and telling stories. At last he says, " I won't
leave you in the dark about your dinner. I
told you we had horse meat for dinner, and so
it was. I told you it was some of my old
mare, and so it was, for I swapt her away for
a steer, and that was some of her beef."
I have ever since been glad that the gentle-
man put the joke upon me, for I should never
otherwise havo known how far imagination
would have carried me.
luxmjwiLf ,!Jtl.
THE TELEGRAPH.
EDITED BY EELANCI8 MOORE, Jr.
r . 52 JJ S T N :
Ttiur8day March , 3 848.
At the eleventh anniversary of Texian inde-
pendence, we found the tide of war roiled back
from all our borders, and peace and tranquil-
lity prevailed throughout everj- portion of our
land : but the foe, which had suffered defeat up
on defeat was still arrogant, and, at that junct-
ure was re-marshaling his troops for combats
more terrible than any that had occurred during
the long war that he had waged with an obstin-
acy and vigor worthy of a better cause. The
twelfth anniversary has just passed by,, and
lo the astonishing change ! The proud ban-
ner of the Union floats triumphant from the
towering battlements of the Mexican capital,
and the humbled, prostrate foe is waiting with
trembling anxiety for the ratification of a trea-
ty of peace. The haughty, self-styled Napo-
leon of the "West, who, twelve years since,
controlled the destinies of eight millions of peo-
pie, and proudly boasted that he would
sweep Texas with the besom of desolation, and
if requisite to conquer it, plant his victorious
standard on the American capitol, has boen
driven from his home and his capital, his army
dispersed, and he and his few retainers were,
a few weeks since, fleeing like hunted deer
before a band of gallant Texians, who had
tracked him amidstthe fastnesses of the snow
capped mountains of Anahuac. How strange
are the icisitudes of nations. The littlecommu-
nity which was at the outset of the war despi-
sed as too contemptible to form a separate
(State of the Mexican confederacy, has been
the instrument, in the hands of a mysterious
Providence, to crush the power andhumbie
the pride ofitsonce loimidablefne. This com-
munity that scarely numbered 30.000 when the
gauntlet of defiance was hurled against Mex-
ican tyranny, has triumphed over a population
of eight millions, and its destinies, now linked
with those of the great Anglo-American race
from which it sprung, have opened to it a ca
rcer of prosperity and glory that no human
knowledge can estimate. We look back upon
the past and trace with wonder and astonish-
ment the rapid succession of brilliant victories
that have crowned our arms. We turn with
pride and exultation to the flourishing set-
tlements that are springing ftp throughout
the territory that we have redeemed from Mex
ican thraldom ; and our bosoms fill with grati-
tude and joy as we reflect upon the countless
blessings that have been showered upon us.
Let us not be forgetful of that amiguty
friend that has guided us through the storm of
war, and that has thus diffused around us the
sunshine of prosperity.
By the arrival of the steamer Palmetto at
Galveston, we have advices fiom New Or-
eans to the 29lh ult.. and from Vera Cruz to
the 17th ult.
Tho American Star of the 11th ult.. con-
tains the official announcement that a treaty
of peace has been concluded and signed by
Sefior Rosa the Minister of foreign relations.
There had not been a quorum of members of
Congress at Quarataro, consequently the trea
ty, had not been ratified by tho Legislative
branch of the Mexican government. There
were but 24 deputies at Quaretaro on the 10th
ult.. and it requires according lo the Star,
nearly twice this number to constitute a quo-
rum. It was reported at Vera- Cruz, that Santa
Anna had applied'to Gen. Scott for a passport,
in oider that he might remove to some for-
eign country. It ws thought that the pass-
poit would be granted : but there is another
obstacle in his way, as it is said that the con-
stitution declaies that any person who has
exercised the duties of President, shall not be
permitted to leave the country for one year
after his term of seivico expires.
The commercial news is favorable. The
slight decline in the price of cotton that oc-
ciuicd imuiediittoh- alter the arrival of the
Sarah' Sands-, had given way, in consequence
of more favorable news by the Hibernia,
which arrived at New Yoik on the iGth ult.,
biinging Liverpool dates to the 30th Jan.
The Bank of England had reduced its rates
of interest, (l-w failures had occurred, and
iinnoy u as iniu' abundant. Trade, however,
sti'.lc .n.iwKM depressed, and in the manufltctu.
ting districts theie were many complaints
that huiu5 was unprofitable.
The qu latiuns fur cotton in die New
Orleans niaiket on the 20th ult.. after the re-
cepfioi o' ;he Hibcini.i's neus, were f.r
mi Id'iug, G t GJ, and iui g ., d midJ..ng, 7
to 7. Flour waspi';ted ai 0J for Ohio
and 8 j 25, for St. Louis.
A
The nomination of Gen. Mogginson, as
Judge of tho 1st Judicial District, has been
confirmed by the Senate.
Tub Mordurer Errcs. Yo learn from
a gentleman who arrived recently from Austin,
that the notorious Eppes, charged as tho mur-
derer of Mr. Muir, of Virginia, was lately
arrested at the Falls of tho Brazos, and is now
on his way to that State in charge of an officer
deputed lo an est him. He jesided at Austin
during nearly the whole of last spring and
summer, and passed uuder the assumed name
of Shelby. His department was so correct,
and his manners so ugreeable, that he was
generally tespeeted, and by many highly es-
teemed : but a few months ago, a gentleman
"from Virginia, who visited Austin, thought
that he recognized hiinas the muiderer Eppes,
and mentioned his suspicions to two or three
gentlemen who were on familiar terms with
him. One of the gentlemen regarding tho
statement as a vile slander against his fi iend,
went directly to ihc reputed Judge Shelby
told him that ho had been chaiged with tho
murder of Mr. Muir, and that it was necessa-
ry he should refute the charge immediately.
He very mildly replied that it was strange such
a lion id repot t should be circulated against
him, and that he should fi'rnish pmpor testimo-
ny to contiadict it. The next morning he
was missing, and it was subsequently ascer-
tained that he had removed to the Falls of the
Brazos. The suspicious that had previously
been excited were thus confirmed, and infor-
mation was communicated to the authorities
of Virginia, which led to his arrest under a
requisition from the Governor. It is a lact
worthy of notice, that among the frionds that
had become warmly attalched to him during
the period that he resided at Austin, not one
was found to sympathize with him or to feel to-
wards him anything but loathing and abhor
rence the moment that it was known that ho
was a murderer. All shrunk from him as if he
were branded with the horrid mark of Cain.
Such is the instinctive abhorrence that men
always feel towards those whose hands havo
been stained with the blood of man unlawful-
ly shed. How dreadful must be the feelings
ofthis wretched man, as he is daily conveyed
nearer and nearer to the scene of his' horrid
crime, there to atone probably with his own
blood for that of his victim, which, like tho
blood of Abel, cries to heaven for vengeance.
He has attempted, like the first murderer, by
concealment to screen himself from punish-
ment, but in vain ; the avengers of blood have
pursued him through every wind and turning,
and have at last traced him out. It is but a
few years since that a refugee from Kentucky
or Tennessee, charged with a similar crimo,
fled to the wilds of Northern Texas, and con--cealetl
himself for months in the deep forests
of that desolate region : but the officers of
justice slowly but surely traced him to his
wild retreat, dragged him back to tho place
from which he fled, and he there expiated up-
on the scaffold the horrid crime that he had
committed. Thus was the dread precept
fulfilled " Whoso sheddclh man's blood, by
man shall his blood be shed.''
Com. Mocre arrived in this city on Tues-
day the 29th ult., from Austin.
We learn that the three new counties lately
formed by the Legislature in the old San
Patricio district, named Starr; Webb, and
Cameron have all been organized, and the
county officers havo entered upon the dis
charge of their duties. One of these counties
we understand includes Brrfzns Island and
Point Isabel, and it is quite probable that
new difficulties will arise between the officers
ofthis county and the officers of tho United
Slates Army, who have for several months
enforced a sort of martial law in that section.
Some of these officers have actually driven
citizens of Texas by foice frum that section,
have destroyed the houses that they had built,
and prevented vossels engaged in the coasting
frade of the State from landing goods in the
port. The conduct of these officers iudicates
that they do not recognize tho right of Texas
to the territory immediately adjoining the east
bank of tho Rio Gando, and we hope our
Executive will take some steps to ascertain
whether the General Government intends to
allow the jurisdiction of the State to be ex-
tended to the east bank of that river. We
shall havo no objection to their claiming for
nlexico the jurisdiction of the river and terri-
tory west of it until peace is restored ; but
we surely must insist upon tho right to
exercise jurisdiction to theriver. We have
been informed that not loss than eight hun-
dred citizens have been banished from the
Brazos Island by the United Slates officers
in command there. It is certainly important
that our Stato Government should interfere
in this matter, and exert its authority, if .'l
has any that the General Government tci 11
recognize.
It is probable that the Legislature w IU
adjourn on the 13th inst. No resolution li is
yet been passed designating this day for tl ie
adjournment, but a majority of the membe rs
have expressed their determination to adjou rn
by the 13th if possible.
U'tica Coxventiox. A convention oft he
portion of the Denncratic party of New Yojk,
styled Barn-burners, was held at Utica, on the
16th and 17th ult. Mr. John Traeey, of Che-
nango, was appointed Ptesident. The meet-
ing was addressed by Mr. John Van Biiirp,.
who denounced the -pivoli of Mr. Chv at
Lexington and hi re luti ms in smei teim-.
Thirty-four di-tr , v "o appointed to at-
lend the Bi tun n ( ".c-iti m, but with no
instructions t. v t r ,i partK-u'ar candi-
date for the Presidency.
Tho Whigs of tho city of New York held"Wsnoultl pass arelolution authorizing the chief
mass meeting on tho night of the 16th ult. at
Castle Garden, and nominated Henry Clay
for the Presidency. Henry Grinnol, Esq.,
was elected Chairman, and tho meeting was
addressed by Horace Greely and other gen-
tlemen who advocated the claims of Mr. Clay.
The Alabama battalion is at last organized,
and arrangements are made to ship the troops
to Mexico.
Wa notice in several of our exchanges
soma speculations respecting the cause of the
apparent diminution of the size of the sun
about tho middle of last month. It is said that
he apparent diameter ot this luminary di-
minished nearly one-sixteenth, as seen from
the observatory at Washington. Various
opinions arc hazarded respecting the cause, of
this phenomenon. The Millerites may regard
it as an evidence that their prophecies are
about to be fulfilled : but probably in a few
weeks it will regain its former dimensions ;
and it will be ascertained that the diminution
is owing to some atmospheric change. It is
well known that the apparent diameter ofthe
sun increases or diminishes v. ith each change-
in the density of the atmosphere, and during
the prevalence of a hot, dry wind, its dimen-
sion may be apparently diminished to a great
extent.
Advices have been received at thVcity of
Mexico from Chihuahua to the 13th January.
The American detachrnent that marched from
Santa Fe to capture that city, was still en-
camuped near El Paso. A stnall party of
Americans, which had started out from El
Paso probably on a foraging expedition, had
been attacked, says the Chihuahua paper Fa-
ro, by a combined force of Commanches, M ex-
cans an Apaches, and twenty Americans
were killed. Their cattle were all destroyed,,
so that their wagons were rendered useless.
The band who attacked this party was com-
manded by a guerrilla chief, named Cortez.
The Hon. J. W. Stoddard, representative
from Goliad, has been reported to be dead, in
wie or two of our western exchanges; ee
.are authorized on his own authority, which
wo consider worthy of the highest credit, to
suite that he is still alive, and has so far re-
coaered his: health as to be able to attend to
his -official duties.
ICaylor Meeting. A public meeting of
sthetfriends of Gen. Zachary Taylor, was held
initbs Sen ate chamber at Austin, qn the eve-
.ningof the 23d ult. We learn from a gentle-
.mauwho vas present, that a large number of
Witrgs atU snded the meeting, and the proceed
ings indie ated that it was held in opposition
to the Der nocratic meeting held in the Capitol
on the. sa aie evening. Judge James Webb,
was r alle d to the chair, and was assisted by
F. W . Ri ibertson and E. S. Perkins, as vice
presii lent s. Messrs. Crutcher and Brew ac
ted a 3 sc icretarie?. The meeting was con-
j duett id v nth great decorum, and the persons
i pres ent exhibited much enthusiasm for the
j "old chi ef of Buena Vista." Judge Webb,
j Get i. H ugh McLeod and 3Ir. Epperson, ad-
die ssed the meeting, and warmly and elo-
gttently urged the claims of Gen. Taylor to
ttke presidency.- They did not advocate bis
iciaims on the grounds that he was a Whig,
.rr opp osed to the Democratic party; but be
cause he was independent of all parties, but
tthe gi -cat party of the people. These argu-
ments certainly are very plausible, but we are
inclir ied to doubt from the recent movements
I at VPasbington, whether Gen Taylor will
cons ,ent to run for the presidency, unless he
isn cminated by Ihe Whig convention al Balti
mo, ;u. it is now wen ascertained mat a
W! iig and a Democratic national convention
1 wi'd be heid at Baltimore in. a few months,
j an d it is quite certain that the old party lines
w:Jl be sustained: by the leading men of both
i pr irties. It remains to be seen whether their
li nes are sufficiently strong to resist the en-
c roachments which the Taylor party is rap-
i dly making upon. them. It appears to us
I hat the friends of Gen. Taylor should require
.' some more positive evidence than they
now have, that he will run independent of
the great political parties ofthe Union, before
they take a decisive stand for him. They
would be sadly disappointed if after tying
themselves fast to. the skirts of the-old hero,
he should cut them all loose to fall in a
quagmire.
We learn fcom our Austin correspondent,
that the election for District Attorneys took
place on the 213th ult., and the following gen-
tlemen were elected :
Hiram Wader, Esq.,
John A. Green,
1st Jndicial District.
2d " "
3d " "
4th " "
5th "
6th "
7th "-
Sth " " -
9th " "
10th " "
Thos. AI. Johnson.
C. W. Peterson,
R. S. Walker,
D. W. Fields,
Samuel Hay,
W. C. Young,
A. J. Fowler,
W. S. Glass,
The election, for Commissioner ofthe Gen.
Laud Office- occurred on the 2Sth ult,, and
resulted in the choice of George W. Smyth,
of Jasper county. The vote stood for Smyth,
42 ; Ward, (the late incumbent) 33 ; Patrick.
6 ; scattering 2. We learn, that Col. Ward
expressed his determination to retire from the
ofl're on the ist inst. Mr.. Smyth was not
at Austin when the election, took place, and
a message-bar, been sent to inform him.of his
e'ection. No business will probably be trans-
irted in the Land Office until he assumes tho
luties of his office, unless the Legislature
clerk to perfolrrnfthe duties of the Commis
sioner until .his arrival. He wilkprobably
reach Austin in ten or-fifteen days. ,V
There wasa violent hail -storm at tho Baltze
on the 23d uit., accompanied by thundeahd
lightning. t
Geruax Drafts. The holders ofthe drafts
issued by tho agents of, the German 'colony
have been sadly disappointed by receiving in-
telligence that the banking house cfFreisham,
which contained the deposits ofthe company,
had failed to a large amount. - This failure,
will prevent tho payment ofthe drafts at pres-
ent : but we do not regard it as an indication,
that the company has failed. It is possible
that thero were no funds in the hands ofthe
members of this firm when it failed; and in
this event, the company has lost nothing. It
is well known that the company is composed
of several princes and wealthy individuals re-
siding in different parts of'Gerciany, and they
will, doubtless, "be held individually responsi-
ble for the payment of the-"rLaft5, even if a'l
the funds. that have been deposited inthchands
of a"euts should be squandered. We'uqxfer-
stand that the amount ofthe drafts now outstand-
ing, in Texas, exceeds 100,000: and some
rate it as high as $200,000. The loss of the
smallest cf these sums wouidcause great incon-
venience to eiliaens. The loss will fall chiefly
on, the- citizens cftho western counties, who
have furnished corn, cattle and other aiticiesof-
food to the- colonists. A considerable amount
of these drafts has also been taken by the merchants-
ofthis city, and those of Galveston.
Probably, there are at least 40,000 in the
hands of merchant ia. these two cities. If
the holders of these drafts should combine and
appoint a competent person to act as their
agent, to. prcceedto Europe and demand.pay-
ment of the company, we-think there is little
doubt that the drafts woulil be promplly paid.
The expense however, that would thus be in-
curred, would be considerable i. but if it should
he divided among all those who bold claims
againsti the company, it would probaly not ex-
ceed ten per cent on the whole sum due.
We think thai some measure of this kind
should beadoptedby the holders of the drafts
as it is now well ascertained that the mem-
bers ofthe company have become prejudiced
against our government, because it hss refus-
ed to confirm the titles of the colonists, owing-
to the failure-oa their part to comply literaUy
with the terms of their contract. It has been
stated that the leading members ofthe compa-
ny have declared.that they will send no more
emigrants to Texas, until they obtain the pa-
tents foe the lands to which they consider they
have acquired aa equitable title. They have "
expanded more than half a million of dollars,
and have nothing to show that they have acr
jmireda. title even to-an acre of land from the
government It is not surprising that they
should desire to defer the payment of their
drafts until they can induce the government'to
"yield to their demands Perhaps, also, they
imagjne that by deferring the payment of these
claims, the holders will aid them effectually
by importuningjae Legislature acknowledge
their claims. It is, however, neither equita-
ble nor just that the citizens of the State
should be compelled fo 'suffer, from the errors
of the government ; and as the laws of Ger-
many require the subjects ia those countries
to fulfil their contracts, it behooves those here
who bold claims against the company to en-
force their payment under the laws ofthe
country where the debtors reside.
Corretfondence ofthe Picayune.
PtTEBLA, Jan. 21, 1848.
I wrote oz the 17th. inst. from. Mexico, and informed
you L intended tnaccorapany a. secret expedition uader
the command of Gen. Lane, which, at the time, was
supposed to be intended, to scour the valley of Mexico
in quest of ruernlki, aud niter giving it a thorough
search to, march in. the direction, of Santa Amid 's res-
idence for time being, Tho expedition consisting of
two companies ofthe id Dragoons, under the command
of Capt. ituperu andiLts. Addo and Martin, a company
of Mounted Rifles,, commanded by Lieut. Claiborne,
and four companies of Texas Rangers, commanded by
Captains Roberts and, Daggitt and Ueuts. Tucker and
Evans, numbering, in. all about 350 officers and men,
left Mexico on the morning: of tho. 18th, taking the
Benon, or Vera. Cruz, road, Major Polk in chief com-
mand ofthe Dragoons and Rifles, and Col. Hays in
chief command ofthe Ranger?, accompanied the ex-
pedition, together- with Mjj. Chevalie, lormcrly'of the
Rangers, Capt. Crittenden, ol the Rifles, and Lieut.
Butler, Dr. Hunt, ofKeutucby, andMr. Merriwether,
of Indiana, the former Aid, and the two latter volun-
teer Aids of Gov. BuUler, who followed the expedition
ss volunteers."
Teiioacan, Jan1. 23, 1848.
"-At this place Gen. Lane Informed the officers that
his immediate object now was to capture Santa Anna,
who, he hadiuformution, was at Tehuacan with about
one hundred andfilty men. In order that the Mexican
chiflaiu might not obtain, information ofthe presence
of our troops in this section-of country, the general or-
dered every Mexican in the hacienda and every ono
found in the road during- the day lo be arrested and
kept doe until we left in-the-evening. The order was
strictly enforced, and at about dusk tho march for
Tehuacan, distant nearly forty miles, wa.f taken up,
in the full hope that the wily Mexican would soon bo
within our gcasp. Shortly after leaving; the hacienda,
at a part ofthe road where it run3 through a deep and
narrow cut, and "before the moon rose, the general and
his stafFridiug in advance, came upon a party of mount-
ed Mexicans armed, before either saw the other at tho
distance of twenty feet. The Mexicans, eight in num-
ber where instantly disarmed ; but in the rear of them
we fouud a carriage, from which stepped a Mexican
with a passport from. Gen. Smith to travel from Mexi-
co to Orizaba and back, with nn escort of eight armed
servants. This being discovered the arms were o(
course returned, and the cavalcade was permitted to
gO OH."
" Within-eight. or ten wiles of Tehuacan, tho guide
received information that Santa Anna was, without
doubt, at that place, aud had with him from one hundred
to two huudesdmen. With renewed hope every man
now spurred his "-jaded steed," and on we went quick
enough until within five miles of.our goal, where a halt
of about half am hour was made, aud the plan of at-
tack aud capture disclosed by the general to his officers.
The party mounted ; orders were given to observe tho
strictest silence during the remainder of the rrarch.
Tho order was obeyed, you may depend"; for every
man had an intense anxiety to secure the prize a-
head. Atdawn we were within halfa mile of Tehnacau.
The report ofa solitary gun from the town, and the rap d
passage of lights to and from in the buildings next as,
gave hope that tho bird was about to be paged, and
sustained the expectiou of meeting an enemy. As tho
command came to the entrance ofthe town, the Dra-
goons and Rifles dashed to the right and left, and in a
few minutes every outlet was stopped, and the Bangers
galloped ahead towards tho plaza with their six -fehoote s
cocked, gianciug-au eye on every side with, the bebcf,
V