The Colorado Citizen (Columbus, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 43, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 5, 1858 Page: 2 of 4
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ment, and not alloding to Judge Buckley, for of
him, personally, 1 have nothing to say.] To re-
sume then: I think it is clear that whenever the
dominant party give their assent to the practice
of nominating Judges by political conventions,
the nomination is binding upon the party, except
in some clear case of corruption or bad faith on
the part of the convention, and being binding
upon the party, is to all intents and purposes,
final. And if it is admitted by the advocates of
the conveution system that the nomination of a
candidate for a Judgeship merely amounts to a
recommendation of the individual who is nomi-
nated, and that the members of the party are left
free to act for themselves, why in the name of
rea«on do we hear such wholesale denunciations
against tlwse Democrats who are protesting
against the nomination of Judges by conven-
tion* t
Why'are audi men told that they are traitors
to thuir party, whenever they claim the right to
think\and choose for themselves ? A moment's
reflection will convince yon, fellow-citizens, that
-there is really no difference between the nomina-
tion (or the making) of Judgec by political con-
.- ventious of a domiuant party, and the election or
. appointment of them by the Governor and Sen-
ate, unios that difference can be found in the
fa«*t that the Governor and Senators are sworn
officers, the former of whom is liable to im-
peachment under the Constitution, and are there-
lore mqre responsible for their acts than delegates
. in a political convention; and unless a further
difference might be found in the fact that con-
ventions usually ballot hurriedly and nnder great,
excitement, where*?, Senators, in acting upon an
«xoentive nomination, may take sufficient time
to act deliberately, and from a regard for the
decorum of their body, usually do so. I* voted
for the amendment of the Constitution which
took away tho election of Judges from the Gov-
ernor and Senate, and pave that election to the
people, bat I certainly never would have given
such a vote if I had supposed that the people
would bo willing to surrender the clfection of the
Judiciary to a convention of delegates, influenced
by a wild spirit of party.
I am well aware that the advocates of the sys-
tem of nominating Judges by political conven-
tions, will tell you that my arguments are weak,
and tliat they apply equally to the action of the
conventions in reference to all offices, political as
well as judicial. To those who think that this
declaration is any answer to the objections which
are urged against the action of conventions in
reference to Judicial offices, I reply that they can
only think so because they put political and judi-
cial offices on the same footing, and this is really
an error. And to any one who takes the position
that political and judicial offices ought to be
placed on the same footing, and subjected to like
influences and practices, I think it enough to say
that his position is at variance with the recorded
opinions and actions of all the great and wise men
who have illustrated the annals of the last cen.
tnry, and that no respectable authority can be
quoted in support of it, unless, indeed, the Black
Republican Senator, Mr. Seward, be considered
a respectable authority.
But, fellow-citfeens, permit me to say a few
Words in reference to the action of the Austin
convention on tht subject of Judicial nominations.
When the convention approached this subject, it
was felt to be a delicate one, and Col. Wigfall, of
Harrison, introduced some resolution* which were
denominated "a Platform for Judicial nomina-
tions." This Platform for Judicial nominations
did not assume that the Democratic party had
authorized their delegates to make such nomina-
tions, nor did the Platform declare that the nom-
ination of Judges by political conbentions was
now, or was ImreaAer to be, any part of the Dem-
ocratic faith or practice. So far from this, the
preamble to the resolutions nominating Judge
Wheeler stated that the undivided public senti-
ment of the State had already manifested itself
in his favor as the must suitable candidate for
Chief Justice. The preamble also spoke in just
terms of Judge Wheeler's learning and long ser-
vice on the bench, but said not one word about
his polities! opinions. The preamble to the reso-
lution that the convention would go into the
nomination of an Associate Juptice, stated that
there were several candidates, and that it was
desirable to secure the best abilities for the office,
and that the friends of the candidates desired the
convention to make a selection between them,
hot not a word was said or a hint given about
political opinions or Democratic faith or practice.
I hese resolutions were passed unanimously, and
if nothing more had' been intended than was
•aid, there was nothing in the resolutions them-
selves to give any one notice that it was a party
movement. The worst part of the whole maitcr
is that, after the thing had been done, it was
claimed as a party nomination,'and the conven-
tion men beuae unwilling to let the people
know how it O been «lone. •' The Platform
foi Judicial nominations," prnared with so much
care, and unanimously acce^^d by the conven-
tieji, was suppressed, and was not suffered to
appear in the published proceedings of the con-
vention.^ Judge Wheeler's letter, accepting the
nomination of the convention, after being good-
naturedly remodeled by the Judge, so as to make
ftappwr less disagreeable to the convention, still
did not please them well enough to incline them
to make room for it in the published proceedings,
and it too was suppressed, Nof wer# these things
even considered sufficiently interesting as mat-
ters of history to secure their publication by those
journals that defend the principle of party nom-
inations for Judicial offices, for not one of those
journals, as far as 1 am informed, has yet pub-
lished " The Platform for Judicial nominations,"
or Jodge Wheeler's letter to the convention.
And what was Judge W.'s letter to the cor-
veotion? In that letter the Judge says; ••The
expression of public sentiment, to which your
resolution , in terms so complimentary, refer, have
led me to believe that it is the wisb and expecta-
tion of the Bar and people of ti State, that I
should resign my present office, and receive at
their hands the honor proposed." And the Judge
farther says: " In accordance, therefore, with the
resolutions of the convention, I shall resign the
office of Associate Justice, upon the adjournment
of the court now about to take place, and to be-
come a candidate for that of Chief Justice at the
Augoflt election, believing that in doing so I shall
conform to the wishes of my friends and the
public sentiment of the State." Now is H not
e'sar fnm all this that those who claim that the
nomination of Judges by political conventions
has been established as a cardinal principle of
Democracy by the action of the convention, have
not had an opportunity to read the suppressed
" Platform for Judicial nominations," and the
suppressed letter of Judge Wheeler, or that in the
faoe of truth they are making assertions for the
purpose of deceiving the people. And inasmuch
as the convention admitted, without a dissenting
voice, that the people had selected the most
mutable person in the State as a candidate for
the office of Chief Justice, does it not seem that
the convention might have left the election of an
Associate Justice also to the people, without any
very great apprehensions about the result of their
choice?
This address, fellow-citizens, has groiA tosach
a length that I canuot flatter myself that I could
extend it further without greatly diminishing the
number of its readers. I deeply regret that the
eause for which I am contending has not found
in the person of a candidate an abler advocate
than myself. I have elsewhere said that to open
the doors of the court-house to the influence of
party would, in my opinion, bo to inflict on this
State a tremendous evil. My opinion has not
changed, and I believe that you will think as I
do, and that yov trill declafc your opinions at the
lallot-bftT, ,f yon will calmly reflect on the sub-
ject, and especially if you will notice the move-
nt nt« of political parties in other sections of the
Union, lu Massachusetts an able and houcst
man (Judge Loring) was lately removed from his
office upon the address of the Legislature, be-
cause he had, in his capacity of United States'
Commissioner, enforced the fugitive slave law.
Tt,e Constitution of Massachusetts provides that
the Governor may rtmove a Judge from office
upon the address of two-thirds of the members
of the Legislature. In the case of Judge Loring
there was no pretense that he lacked any quali.
(¡cations for his office, except a willingness basely
to comply with the wishes of a political party
arrayed against the laws of the United States.
Bccause he did his duty like an honest man, he
was sacrificed by an unscrupulous majority in
the Massachusetts Legislature.
The Constitution of Texas also provides tliat
the Governor shall remove a Judge lroni office
upon the address of two-thirds of the members
of the Legislature.
But we have recently had another warning,
and from a higher quarter. Senator Seward, the
ablest of the Black Republican Senators of (he
United States, has lately announced on the floor
of the Senate the intention ol his party to recog-
nise the Supreme Court of the United States, so
as lo place that tribunal in the hands of political
majorities. And for what purpose 1 That Black
Republicanism and Higher Law may sit en-
throned above the Constitution and laws of this
Union, aiid that the judgments whifth called forth
the noblest power of Marshall; and Storey, and
Taney, may be overruled by men moved by the
same fanaticism which governs Burliiigaine and
Sumner.
But I have Said enough. I submit the vvholc
subject to your consideration and action. I be-
lieve that in declaring the opinions which I have
here and elsewhere expressed, I am showing
more respect for your Intelligence and more regard
for your interest than is shown by those who arc
seeking to take from you your constitutional right
to elect your Judges, and who arc at the saine
time attempting to dcljule you with the shallow
sophism that their action is your actiou. !• know
that I shall be, as I have already been, misrepre-
sented. You will be told that I have gone over
to the opposition, that I have ceased to be a
Democrat, and that I am now invoking the aid
of the opposition to aid in the defeat of the party
to which I have hitherto belonged. These asser-
tions may impose ou you, fellow citizcns, but I
shall not allow myself, by iny own consent or
conduct, to be placed in any false position. The
people amongst whom I have been reared will
tell you, if you will take the pains to inquire of
them, that 1 have been a consistent Democrat,
and that I have given what little aid I could to
the cause of Democracy, freely and openly, at a
time when hundreds who will now be the fore-
most to call me recreant, were themselves deser-
ters from her rauks and banner. And I profess
now the same attachment to the true principles
of Democracy that I have always felt, and the
same desire for the success of the Democratic
party in the maintenance of those principles. I
wish no person to misunderstand my position, or
to be deceived about my opinions. But I utterly
deny that an assent to the propriety of making
party nominations for Judicial offices is any part
of genuine Democracy. And if it is contended
that the Austin convention put this plank into
the platform of the party, then I utterly deny
that any convention of delegates have the right,
of their own motion, to add to or take from the
principles of their party. I utterly deny that
any set of men have the right to assemble to-
gether and say that no man shall be considered a
good Democrat unless he assents to this and that
new fangled proposition, any more thau they have
the right to say that he shall not be considered a
good Democrat unlcsu he wears a coat of a pecu-
liar cut. I have always understood it to be the
duty of delegates of a party, wliert they act in
convention, to act in accordance with the princi-
ples of their party and not to make principles for
their party. And whenever delegates attempt to
embody in a platform a declaration of the prin-
ciples of their party, as it is oftentimes riirht they
should do, the platform should bo confined to
those cardinal and fundamental priuciphs upon
which the members of the party arc ugrjed. To
permit the delegate to frame a confession of faith
for his constituent, is simply to make the agent
greater than his principal, I assert, as I have
before asserted, that no distinction of party can
properly be made in the administration of justicc.
I assert that every man in tho community, no
matter what may be his political opinions, has the
same right to participate in the election of those
officers who arc to decide questions allceting his
life, his liberty and property, that he has to have
justice done him when he comes into court; and
I assert that this sacrcd right is virtually taken
away from all who arc in a party minority, when-
ever the ejection of Judges is surrendered to
party nominations.
Of myself, personally, and of mv character and
qualifications, I have but little to say. I believe
that those who know me have never been afraid
to trnst me. If I thought otherwise. I should
ccrtainly prefer the privacy of my humble home
to a station of high responsibility. In those ac-
quirements and that erxperience which qualify
men for the grave duties of the position which I
am seeking, I am sensible of much deficiency;
and I can only promise by well directed studies
to endeavor to supply that deficiency, and while
1 serve the public in any capacity to serve them
at least with fidelity. I am no master of the arts
of electioneering, and I do not rely upon arty
management to secure n\y election. I know that
many will vote against me because of an honest
difference of opinion. I believe, too, that many
who in their hearts approve my position, will vote
against me from an irrational devotion to party,
and because they will think that the honor of the
party is involved in the contest between me and
my competitor. But I believe that in this matter
I am right, and I make my appeal to the intelli-
gence of the people. 1 believe as Gen. Jackson
declared in his Farewell Address, that " the
people eau never deliberately intend to do wrong."
It is therefore by the whole body of my fellow-
citizens that I desire, on this occasion, to be
judged, and by their judgment I shall most cheer-
fully abide. JAMES H. BELL.
Hides.—The New York Shipping List
of May 15th reports sales of "700 stretched
Texas, 25 lb., 21 cts per ik; 1260 Texas,
25 lb., I7f; 252 do. 17 ct.s per lb.
Singular.—Mr. John House of this
county, informs us that, some days ago, a
mare in his lot gave birth to two colts, one
a hoise colt and the other a mule. This
be says is without paralell, so far as he
knows or has ever heard. Both were
dead when found.—Jacksonville (Ala.) Re-
publican.
Effect of the Kansas Act. — The
Richmond South speaks of the English
Kansas bill as follows :
" It achieves a congressional recognition
of the Lecompton constitution. It nffirms
the principles for which the South has con-
tended throughout the struggle. It admits
¡ Kansas into the Union as a slave State,
and thus consolidates the victory of 1854.
In practice as well as principle, it is now
established that no federal prohibition will
restrict the expansion of pro-hlavery power.
Money makes one independent as long
as it lasts.
" Thou art mv friend and supporter," as
the loafer said lo the voruer ¡ios
THE CITIZEN.
J. D. BAKER BEN. M. BAKER.... .A. II. BAKER
J. D. BAKER & BROTHERS,
EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS.
COLUMBUS, TEXAS:
Saturday Morning, Jtne 5,1858.
No Legal Advertisement will be inserted
in the Citizen unless accompanied by the
cash, as it is more trouble with such advertise-
ments, to collect the money than to make it.
¿CSrThe Rev. Godfrey Goodner, 'of
the Protestant Methodist Church, will hold
divine service in the Lutherati Church, of
this place, to-morrow, (6th inst.,) at ten
arid a half o'clock, a. m.
JC3?" A few evenings since, as the stage
for Richmond was just going out, the
horses turned suddenly, and capsized the
vehicle. Fortunately no o e was hurt,
though we observed several on the street
who did not wish to interrupt the horses on
their way to the stable !
&3T An alligator sómo ten feet in length
was killed near town the other day, while
leisurely taking a survey of the green
foliage on the batiks of tho river. Alas !
how often are we cut down iu die midst of
fancied pleasure !
— <►.
We direct the attention of those
desirous of having Blacksmith work done
to the card of Mr. M. ÍÍcLamore, to be
found in another colutfta He guarantees
to do work well, and on Kberal terms.
We have received the Caddo (ra
zette, Jr., a newspaper published in
Shreveport, La., by W. IT. & J. M. Scan-
land. It is one of the nost attic sheets
now printed—not that it is published in an
attic, but from the fact that it abounds
with wit and humor, and is the best recipe
for the blt'es we wot of. Terms $2 a year.
Ye who love fun, call at our office and
give us the tin to send for the Gazette.
We have received a copy of the
Independent, published and edited in Bon-
bam, Fannin county, by Jno. M.Crane
It is a quarto sheet, neatly printed, and
well edited, independent, of course, in
politics. It is gotten up with great care
and order, the different departments, as the
Editorial, Agricultural, Literary, <kc., being
arranged under their distinctive heads.
It is a first class county paper, and will
doubtless be the means of doing much
good for that flourishing portion of our
State. We are pleased to notice that the
merchants of Bonbam are giving it a lib-
eral patronage, by giving it whole columns
advertisements. Terms $2 per annum in
advance. We shall bo pleased to ex
change with the Independent.
IW Judge Buckley has written a letter
to the people of Texas in answer to one of
the charges «nade against his character.
It is ratther inexplicit, but we suppose it-
will suit those who would support him in any
event. We will publish it next week, and
mayhap, make some remarks thereon.
Departed. — Mr. Willis McMickan,
Esq., leaves on the stage to-night for South
Carolina, where he intends luxuriating
among the hills and vales for a sbol t time,
after a manner peculiar to his own. Ye
prosperous winds, bear him safe to us again !
JEST" An Irishman calling himself Mc
Mat, who we mentioned in our last was ar
rested for attempting to steal a horse, was
tried before Mayor Harden on lastSaturday,
and bound over in the sum of $500, to make
his appearance at the next term of the
District Court Being unable to give bond
he is now boarding at the expeh3e of the
county.
. JC3T Capt. Ford is doing gallant ser-
vice on our frontier. We publish to-day
an account of a battle he had with the In-
dians, in which seventy-six of the latter
were killed. A few such men wou'd soon
rid our frontier of these everlasting pests.
from
We leani from a gentleman
Gonzales that Judge Bell will get a
majority of the vote? of t&at. county.
Thi.« county votes about twelve hundred.
Bell's prospects are brightening. He will
git nearly all the votes through this sec-
tion of the State. This speaks loudly ib
his favor, since both candidates live here
and are known to the people. Bell i&
their choice. The snc^ ball gatheis as it
goes, and we trust the glorious principle
of a pure and spotless Judiciary will go
on gathering strength, until August next
it will crush to atoms all its enemies.
&3T We have received several numbers
of the Sunday Magnet, published in New
Orleans by Denis Corcoran. It is a first
class literary paper. Subscription price,
three dollars in advance; two copies five
dollars.
tW We have before us a copy of the
Homed Frog, (ve gods, what a name!)
published in Galves:on, and edited by
Gustavus Gas, as sen., Godfbet Gitout
as jr.. Oleaginous Owl as ass. editor.
It is devoted to the witty and humorous,
and appears to have arisen upon the ruins
of the Temperance Banner. It is an
amusing sheet.
gST We were shown, the other day, by
Mr. L. M. NewsoM, a singular freak of
nature in the shape of a bunch of corn
which grew on the top of a corn stalk in
the place of the tassel. It consists of a
small ear in the center surrounded by
fourteen other small ears or sprouts. The
stalk had six ears on it besides irt their
natural places. It came from Peabody's
Prolific corn, and is a good illustration of
the prolific nature of this corn.
Good showers of rain fell hereon
yesterday and last night, and the weather
is still showery this morning. It came in
good time, as coin began to suffer for want
of it. Ati abundance of corn in this coun-
ty is now beyond a doubt. Some of our
cit¡2ens are eating messes of roasting ears.
News from the I£;« gcrs !
terrific battle — seventy-six ikdians
killkd — eighteen indians and three
hundred and twenty iiok.-íe8 captured
two rangers killed and one
WOUNüEtí.
JC3T The Jacksonville (Ala.) Republican
says that recently, in several localities,
serious injury has been done to the young
cotton by a small species of grasshopper.
Wonder if they are of the same species
as those which played such sad havoc
with vegetation last spring i a the Western
portion of Texas ?
tW The Courier states that Gen. Hen
ningsen was in Iudianola for several days,
on bis return from Mexico, where it seems
his services were not accepted. He left
by the Texas for New Orleans on the 15th
ultimo.
Dentistry.—We direct attention ti-
the carJ of Dr. Ckonrrite, in this issue
Afcs'liN, May 27, 1858.
^Special correspondence of tlití Citizen.]
Editors Citizen: On last evening an
express arrived in this city with despatches
from Capt. J. S. Ford, Commander of the
Texas Rangers, to iiis Excellency. Gov; H.
R< Runnels^ from which I have been able
to giean the following items, knowing that
the readers of the Citizen like to keep
posted up in such matters :
It appears that on the 11th inst., after a
long and forced march, the spies which
Capt. Ford had sent out, returned and re-
ported having ^en Comanche running
buffalo; The Captain then prepared to
move immediately upon the enemy, which
was accordingly done on the 12th, in open
day, by a gallant charge on the part o^
the Rangers. Here, of course, followed a
terrific fight; and I cannot bettervdescribe
it than by making the following extract
from Capt. Ford's Report:
" We saw the Comanche? passing the
river and followed at a run—crossing the
stream without holding up—and reached
the camp just after they had giveu the
alarm. Capt. Ross led his Indians between
the lodge and the river, and they engaged
the enemy. I halted for a moment for my
men to come up, and then gave the order
to charge the camp, which wat executed
promptly and gallantly. The Coman-
cbes intended to have made a stand at this
point—the rangers pressed them closely
and they fled in every riirection. The
right wing, in charge of myself and Lieut.
William A. Pitts, moved straight through
the camp and poured in a galling fire upon
the retreating enemy. Lieut. Allison Nel-
son, in command of the left wing, assisted
by Lieut. James Tankersley and Lieut.
Wra. G. Preston, charged to the left and
pnrsued the flying Commanches with vitror
aud effect. Iu the meantime, the bead
chief, Iron Jacket, had ridden out in gor-
geous array, clad in a coat of mail, and
bore down upon our red allies. He was
followed by warriors and trusted for safety
to his armor. The sharp crack of five or
six rifles brought his horse to the ground,
and in a few moments the chief fell riddled
with balls. Our Shawnee guide, Doss,
and Jim Pockraark, the Anadarco Captain,
claim the first and last wounds. The fight
was now general, and extended, very soon,
over a circuit of six miles in length, and
more than three in breadth. It wa*, in
fact,' almost a series of single combats.
Squads of rangers and Indians were pur-
suing the enemy in every direction. The
Comanches would occasionaly halt and
endeavor to make a stand, however their
efforts were unavailing; they were forced
to yield the ground to our men in every
instance. The din of the battle had rolled
back from the river—the groans of the
dying — cries of frightened women and
children, mingled with the report of fire-
arms, and the shouts of the men as they
rose from bill-top, from thicket and from
ravine.
"The second chief had rushed into the
conflict with the friendly Indians. A shot
from the Shawnee Captain, Chul le-qua,
closed his career. The Comanches be-
tween the camp and the river were all
killed or driven from the field, and our red
allies sent up a wild shout of triumph.
By direction of Capt. Ross, a portion of
them held the camp of the enemy.
"The rangers and the friendly Indians
still pressed the Comanche , nor did they
stop pursuing until their failing horses
admonished tbem that they could do no
more. Between twelve and one o'clock
the firing had almost ceased ; and squad
after squad of the troops were returning
to the Comanche camp, bringing with
them horses, prisoners and other trophies
of*victory. Capt. Ross had very properly
suggested to Lieut. Nelson the propriety
of keeping the men well together; and
when I returned from the pursuit, I found
a huge portion of the men drawn up ip
order of battle.
" The Comanches had another large
encampment three or four miles above, on
the Canadian. They had heard the firing,"
embodied and threatened to charge us.
They were evidently playing for an advan
.tage, and their mi nee vers induced our
Indians to believe them very strong. Ourj
allies proposed to draw-them out, and re-
quested me to keep my men in line to
support them, if necessary. The Co-
manches descended from the hill to accept
their profered invitation. With yells and
menaces, and every species of insulting
gestures and language, they tried to excite
the Reserve Indians into some act of rash-
ness by which they could profit. A scene
was now enacted beggaring description.
It reminded me of the rude and chivalrous
days of knight errantry. Shields and
¡anees, and bows and head dresses ; pran-
cing steeds and many minutiae were not
wanting lo complete the resemblance.
And when the combatants rushed at each
other with defiant shouts, nothing save the
piercing report of the rifle varied the affair
from a battle field of the middle age. Half
an hour was spent iu this Without much
damage to either party. A detachment of
rangers was advanced to reinforce the
friendly Indians, and the Comanches quit-
ted the field, and the imposing pageant
vanished from the view, like a mimic battle
upon the Stage.
" It was determined to leaVe the Indians
in possession of the prisoners and capt tired
horses, and lo hurl the rangers upon the
Comanches; My men had a forward
movement, if not with the precision of
piacticed veterans, yet with as much cool-
ness and bravery. The enemy instantly
began to retreat. I directed Lieut. Pitts
to show himself rind detachment upon the
hill with the intention tb steal tipon them.
Lieut. Nelson anticipated me aud passed
around the base of the eminence at a run.
The unfortunate arrival of Toilctfhua In-
dians upon our left flank prevented the
complete success of the maneuver. "íflie
Comanches broke and fled in various di
rections.- We pursued as fast is our jaded
horses cotiid carry us. After jtrtin of tWo
and a half or three miles, I saW we cOUld
effect no more, and Called oft* the meb. In
this second conflict the eneir y lost seven
killed, and left on the ground, and several
wounded; Our loss was one Waco Indian
killed, and one ranger wounded (George
W. Paschal, Jr.) It Was now two o'clock,
P.M., and We had been running our horses
most ot the time since seven o'clock, a. m.
I determined to march to my camp that
night—fearing the Indians might ascertain
its locality and overpower the weak guard
I left to protect if. We learned from a cap-
tured woman that Buffalo Huntp was
twelve miles below Us with a considerable
body of warriors and we knew fugitives
had reached his camp ahd notified him of
presence
Death of Gea. Persifer F.
Gen. Persifer F. Smith is df
died at IFort Leavenworth, on i4
join the Utah array, the foil
the principal items of liis public li^
lie was boro in Philadelphia, in*1
His father was Jonathan Smith, first Casi
ierof the Bank of the United Stater in
1816. Persifer F. Smith graduated at
Princeton, New Jersey, will high honors,
adopted the law as his profession, and
settled in New Orleans about twenty-five
years siuce. ' *
He practiced law, and held several 1nu-
nicipal offices, flip to 1836, when he was
chosen to command a regiment of volun-
teers in the Florida war, where his oa-^
pacity as a commander so won upon the
admiration of Gen. Taylor that he after-
wards requested that Gen. Smith should
be given h high command, at the begin-
ning of the Mexican war.
He distinguished himself at the storming
of Monterey, the battle of Contreras, and
other hard-fought fields. The Delta save
"the victory of Contreras is indissoluble
linked with his name—for it was GeneraF
Smith who planned the battle, and elrieily
cartfed it to a glorious termination."
He has been for the Isst two years-in
Kansas, and at the time of his death was
in command of the force at Leavenworth*
then on its way to' crush the "rebellion iu '
Utah.
Fatal Steamship CoLLieoN.—A fearful
collison with serious loss of human life oc-
curred between the hours of eleven and
twelve between Wicklow head and the
Kish light ship on tho Irish coast. ' The
Brigand, screw steamer, from Bristol and
Swansea, with her ordinary complement
of passengers, was pursutug her way up
St. George Channel for Belfast and the
Clyde, when she came in contact with the
ship Wra. Campbell, bound to Trinada*!
from Greenock. Such was the force with
which the vessels came together, that both
of them foundered in a comparatively short
period. Capt. Si veil, of the Wm. Camp-
bell, and six of bis crow are supposed to
have perished, and twenty-oue of the pas-
sengers are missing.
The survivors of both vessels, numbering
in all nineteen picked up the Espoir, from
Ostend for Liverpool, which lauded them
atMilford Haven.
"The forces of the enemy iff these two
engagements amounted to upwards of three
hundred. The captured camp liad seventy
ledges and fires. The other party fWiiii-
bered over one hundred. Our entire force
was two hundred and thirteen. The loss
of the enemy, ascertained by actual Count
of those remaining oil the field whs seventy-
six. Our loss, two killed and three were
wounded.
" The enemy had many wounded, bdt it
was impossible to ascertain the number,
and, therefore, no guess at it will be made.
We captured over three hundred head of
horses—most of them are in possession uf
the friendly Indians; some fifty or sixty
are in the hands of my men. There are
few, if any; American horses among them.
We took eighteen prisoners, mostly women
and children."
Thus it will be seen that the company
of the Old gallant Texan Rangers have
been able to accomplish more in one en-
gagement than the Regular troops would
have done in ten years of hard service.
It is to be hoped that this affair will
arouse the Federal officers to a sense of
their duty to Texas, by enabling her to
marshal her own forces to protect her own
frontier.
Lieut. A. Nelson also makes a report of
the battle, which concurs with Capt. Fork's.
He states that one of the Rangers killed
was named Robert Nickle—the oilier killed
I have not been able to learn.
Capt. Ford well remarks that this expe-
dition ha° decided beveral questions.
Indians can be pursued and caught in the
Buffalo Region ; the country beyond Red
River can be penetrated and held by white
men, and the Comanches can be followed,
overtaken and beaten, if the pursuers are
prepared for the privations of the trip.
Capt. Ford is now awaiting orders from
the Governor.
Weather very warm—a rain very much
needed. Yours, R. J, L.
Great Storm in Illinois.—We con-
tinue to receive additional particular* of
the disaster occasioned by . the frightful ,
of Thursday and Friday, is Northern J
nois. Twenty-five houses were d« " '
in Gaiesburg, including two
Thirteen houses 'were blown down In
Paso} also the dwelling of Sheriff:
near that place, by which one
killed* and severely injuring set
and childien. A widow Bern
Lexington* was blown out into tl
and tvou'd have gone off euur
through the efforts of a young u:au
towed the craft to a safe h*ijjur. It is
ported that the Ft toses in tue prni
rolled over and oter by the- wt
while making unavailing effort
their feet;
A ñeivspapett Qcarkk;..—i
papér,- called the Trumpet
walks into á conteritpoiarv ;
of the Spy, like a sángHinari
out behind Us with bloody sv
with sangüinary gofd of other «
raising his bludgeon, attempts '
the heart with his steel pen,
poisoned Arnold** fluid, ofir little
We smile grimly and are ready."
' *
Vessels Searched.—The following to a
list of the vessels whose Captains declare
they have been stopped at aetc (ittost of
theui fired into), and searched, by the offi-
cers and crews of cruisers belbfrgfag to the
navy of Great Britain :
IBrig Robert Wing, Ship Tropic Bird,
Sch'r Wiugold, Bark ClaMf Windsor, Sch'r
Cortez, Bark Glenburn, Sch'r N. B. Bor-
den, íiarfe W. II. Chandler, Ship Jobs and
Albert, and Sch'r Mobile.
Twelve other vessels were also boarded
rtnd searched in the harbor of Sagua Li
Grande. '
Texas Boundary Survey.—We trust
that the question of the true boundary of
our Northern frontier will soon (^settled.
On the 18th ult., the U. S. Senate passed
the bill which had previously pasaed the
House of Representative , to provide for
establishing the boundary, on the part of
the United States. We belieVe it wis amen-*
ded in Senate, but take it fcr granted that
the House will concuV in the amendments,
and that the President will approve it.
Civilian.
No less than fifteen thousand head of
horses and mules, says the Gonzales/a*
guirer. have crossed the riyer at that place'
fin *e February.
It is estimated that 10,000 head of
cittle, and more than that number of
Spanish borses have passed through Dallas
countv this spring, for the western States
and Kansas.
We obs-rve from the Republican, that
Col. F. W. Pickens of South Carolina, U.
S. Ministe* to Russia, was married at Mar-
shall, Texas, on the 26th ultimo, to Miss
Lucy P. Holcombe, of that city.
An old horse, lame and unfit for ser-
vice, was lately killed in England, and cut
up for the hounds of its owner. The
butcher took out the heart for some young
hound ill of distemper ...and in cutting it
up, bis knife struck against some hard
stance, which he found to be a bl
shoeing nail,fully two inches and a half
embedded in the heart. The nail had
been clinched, but was nearly
it looked as if it had been rej
smith cn trying it in a shoe.
—-
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J.D. Baker & Bros. The Colorado Citizen (Columbus, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 43, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 5, 1858, newspaper, June 5, 1858; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth177537/m1/2/?rotate=270: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.