PROGRESS OF SCIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE AND CORRESPONDENCE

 

A clip from page two, McGrawville Express, October 14, 1847, showing incorrect date.

McGrawville Express, Thursday, October 14, 1847.

EDITORS TABLE.

Progress of Science and Knowledge.

   The intrigue and dishonesty practiced by leading and designing men, which are to be found in all parties, are becoming more and more apparent as the curtain of Time continues upward. The scales are falling from the eyes of the PEOPLE, as they continue to progress in Knowledge and the arts and sciences of the day. This, to us, is a bright omen, as it undoubtedly shows forth better and happier times. The mists of darkness and ignorance are being blown away before the bright blaze of the genius of SCIENCE and civil LIBERTY. We are living in an age of improvement, and at a time too, when the People, spurning and foaming at all restraint, are asserting their own right to  act and think for themselves without the assistance of extraneous aid or sympathy. The day of demagoguism is passing away, and although it may be regarded by the few who have held power and place by their subtlety, yet by the masses it will be hailed with demonstrations of overwhelming joy. The People have been ridden and crushed long enough, by the insatiate lust of Party, and the day of reckoning with them is coming. They will teach a lesson that will be looked upon, in all coming time with admiration. It will be a lesson that will show to the world that in a free country at least, Tyrants cannot rule, and that corruption and dishonesty in high places of trust will be an absolute idea; and that instead of "will he run well"—''is he popular'' being the interrogation of the thoughtless in relation to a public officer, the People will inquire, "how stands his moral character, and what are his mental qualifications."

   This, henceforth, is to be the language of the People, and it will be maintained with vigor and perseverance. It will be a day when JUSTICE shall triumph over ERROR, and VIRTUE over every species of INIQUITY. Men then will practice knavery and dissimulation no more. They will study honestly, and live in the precept of every virtue. Instead of hate and animosity bearing sway in our public assemblies, peace, harmony, and a desire to promote the public good will be uppermost in every mind. It will be a time that has long been looked after and sought by the wise and good. Men, then, will be moved by REASON, and will bow submissively to the potency of TRUTH. They will be led by a sense of DUTY, irrespective of the promptings of PASSION. It will be a day when revelry and rioting will die a natural death. INTEMPERANCE will then be driven to its last home, and crowded out of its last hiding place. Man, then, shall hail his fellow man and esteem him as a BROTHER. It wil1 be a time when enemies shall be enemies no more. The little foibles and invectives that have so long separated man, and poisoned his peace of mind, will be supplanted by GOOD WILL, and a desire to "do unto others as he would wish to be done by." It will be a time when CRIME will be purged out of the earth, and its devotees converted into reasonable and social beings. It will be a day when the People shall assemble together, en masse, and not be harassed and perplexed by a division of sentiment. A spirit of UNION shall characterize every public body, and PURITY, FIDELITY and COMMON HONESTY [will] be the ruling motive of every heart. It will be a day when Nations shall dwell in peace and shall have no use for hostile implements. It will be a day when the bright and dazzling radiance of spotless PURITY and VIRTUE, shall shine and glow without the intervention of a single cloud. The people, then, will love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly before God. And this, indeed, is the time that we hail, and which we believe is dawning. It is "a good time coming," upon which Poets have sung, and upon which Prophets and Divines have philosophized. We believe we see it indicated by a spirit now exhibiting itself on the part of the People, as shown by their desire to throw off all trammels and restraint, that have been thrown around them by designing men—to act and think for themselves, and in all things to be governed by a spirit of JUSTICE and CANDOR. It is a reasonable conclusion, but we trust not more reasonable than true.

 

   ◘ A very interesting letter will be found in our columns, in relation to the future course of the United States, in regard to the war with Mexico. It is from a correspondent of the N. Y. Herald.

   ◘ The lecture of Mr. Roy last Friday evening on important events in Bible History was excellent. The inclemency of the weather prevented many from attending on the occasion.

 

Nicholas Trist.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE N. Y. HERALD.

Highly Important from Washington.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 1847.

The future Course of the Government in regard to Mexico—Rumors—The Propositions entertained by Mr. Trist—Santa Anna.

   In view of the momentous posture of affairs in Mexico, and extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet was held to-day. It was resolved to immediately recall Mr. Trist, and to abandon all further attempt at conciliation. The condition of the President's health, precluded the possibility of arriving at any definite conclusion as to the future course to be pursued. But one thing is certain, that all that remains of the old government is to be prostrated, and one of our own erected in its stead.

   The opinion of the Cabinet is unanimous that to withdraw our army within the limits designated as those which our government would have been hitherto willing to accept as the future boundary of the United States, would be but to prolong the war indefinitely, and to expose unnecessarily the lives of our soldiers. On the crumbling ruins of the military despotism which has swayed the destinies of the Mexican people for the last twenty-three years must be erected a temporary government, half military, half territorial, which shall secure to us the revenues of the country and protect the citizens in the enjoyment of tranquility, and in the safe prosecution of their commercial and industrial pursuits. The public mines will be seized, a tariff of duties levied in every port, and the roads will be opened to admit the free circulation of the stream of commerce through every avenue to the heart of the country. The character of the war will be entirely changed. Hitherto it has been to conquer a peace. Henceforth it will be to maintain the government we are about to erect. Hitherto it has been offensive. Henceforth it will be almost wholly defensive, at the same time that the largest discretion will be given to the commanding general to act on the offensive or defensive, according as the execution of his measures for the pacification of the country may require.

   The Secretary of War has received a letter from a most reliable source at Vera Cruz, the writer having uninterrupted communication with the city of Mexico, which although of a later date than the account which represents Generals Worth, Smith and Pillow as killed by the explosion of a shell in a powder magazine, makes no mention of such a rumor. Had such a disaster occurred, the writer would have been certain to hear it, and would have as certainly communicated it in his letter. The explosion may have taken place and killed a number of our men, but it is improbable that the three Generals named would have been all on one spot and all killed by the same accident. The mail of this evening brings no dispatches to clear up the doubt.

   Let us do them justice, those Mexicans. They fought well and bravely before the gates of their Capital. It would be unjust to the prowess of our brave men to say they met an uninteresting enemy. They did not. Right valiant was that resistance and such as Americans love to meet. The last grand struggle of the Mexican people was worthy of the pristine glory of the Aztecs.

   In the absence of any explanation or contradiction of a report representing Mr. Trist as having entertained a proposition subjecting to negotiation an integral part of the United States territory, it would be unjust to censure that gentleman. It is difficult to believe that he could have done so. Such a step would have subjected him to the severest censure of his government, as it would have made that a subject of doubt and argument about which the United States could not suffer a question to be raised. New Mexico was equally a subject of positive instruction,  and Mr. Trist had the strictest injunction not to entertain any proposition embracing a line across from the western boundary of New Mexico north of the port of San Diego, as that port is destined to be even more valuable to us than San Francisco. Touching each of these points, he is said to have demanded forty-five days to consult his government, for the purpose of ascertaining whether each should be a sine qua non. Until Mr. Trist's report of the transaction be received, judgment should be suspended.

   If the negotiations had been conducted in good faith the Wilmot proviso would have had one result; it might have restarted the conclusion of a treaty. The project submitted by the Mexican Commissioners contained an article prohibiting slavery in whatever territory might be ceded by Mexico to the United States. No doubt the Council of Ministers took this one from the supporters of the Wilmot proviso in this country.

   The secret history of the negotiation on the part of Mexico will doubtless show that Santa Anna, really desirous of peace himself, was overruled by those about him. The instruction in no case to entertain a proposition embracing the 26th degree as a boundary, would seem to argue that he was not averse to a settlement on the basis of a line north of 26. Nothing shows so plainly that the people of Mexico are averse to peace, as the fact that Santa Anna is still for war. He may be regarded as a political barometer by which the feelings of the people may be judged of. He is still, beyond all question, the most dangerous man in Mexico. GALVIENSIS.

 

FLOGGING AN EDITOR.

   A tall flogging affair came off in Hallowell, Me., on Monday, the 20th of September, which created no little excitement in that orthodox town. The actors were Mr. Franklin Glazier of Gardiner, Me., as cowhider, and Rev. Austin Willey of Hallowell, editor of the Liberty Standard, as cowhided. Cause, a shameful indignity inflicted upon a little girl of eight years, a sister of Mr. Glazier, by the reverend gentleman. The latter took to his heels as soon as attacked, and sought refuge in a store; but did not escape till he had received several severe lashes, and sundry powerful and long-to-be-remembered "side winders" on his cranium. The Down-Easters all say, that if ever Lynch Law was justifiable, it was in the present case. We always thought Mr. Willey had a good deal of dormant "ugly" in him. Yankee Blade.