Southern war News.
‘"Paddling his own Cause"’--no cotton from Charleston — the British Gunboat at Charleston, &c., &c.
From our Southern exchanges we make up the following summary of intelligence, which we think will prove interesting to the reader:
Paddling his own Canoe.
One of our citizens, says the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, of Thursday, while down the river, observed a man descending in a batteau. The navigator appeared so unskillful — so little used to handling a paddle, that our friend hailed him and asked him where he was bound. He stated that he was going to Savannah, and by that conveyance! Knowing the danger to be incurred by such a course he was kindly advised to come ashore, and our friend promised to see him safely to his destination by land, even at his own expense.He was finally induced to land, and his effects — a heavy trunk and valise — were taken out of the boat. To questions put to him, he said he was direct from New York, came through by way of Kentucky without a passport — was out of money — had relations in Savannah, (naming several well-known citizens there,) and was bound for that city, having purchased the boat at this point.
At this juncture, officer King rode up, and saying he wished the stranger to accompany him, took him into his custody and brought him to town. An examination before Mayor May was had, when the traveler gave his name as Mr.--Norris. An inspection of his baggage revealed nothing treasonable, and his pecuniary necessities being made known, the police generously made up a purse for him, and the Mayor gave him a bought ticket to Savannah. He was to leave for that place last night.
Mr. Norris is a young man of intelligence; but he will probably be more careful in future about navigating unknown rivers, ‘"paddling his own canoe,"’ or traveling in war times without a passport. We wish him good luck the balance of his adventurous journey.
No cotton from Charleston.
It is now settled, says the Mercury of Wednesday, by the patriotism of our shippers, and the will of the people of Charleston, that no cotton will be shipped from this port to foreign nations. The embargo which Congress has failed to put upon the exportation of cotton, the people of South Carolina have imposed on themselves. But it will be in vain for the people of South Carolina to practice this act of self-sacrifice and patriotism, unless it is supported by the people of the other States in our seaport towns. If cotton is exported from Savannah, Mobile or New Orleans, the policy fails. Foreign nations, by obtaining partial supplies of cotton, through a blockade rendered inefficient for the purpose, will hope for more, and thus be induced to withhold that decisive action, which should be enforced, to rid themselves and us of a blockade which no nation should respect, on account of its illegality, according to the law of nations. Will the patriotism of the planter and the merchant join together in these cities as they have done in Charleston, and withhold our cotton from the markets of the world? Our cause and destiny is one.--Let us have also one policy, and satisfy foreign nations by our free and resolute control of our property, that we cannot be used for their purposes, against their rights and ours; and that to obtain our agricultural productions, they must be true to their own rights and honor. We wish free and open trade with them; but a furtive trade, by the permission or neglect of our enemies, we reject and spurn.
Domestic manufactures.
The Raleigh (N. C.) Standard says:‘ This war at one and the same time illustrates the advantages of manufactures in the South, and the folly of our course in not sooner embarking in them. Had we manufactured for ourselves, instead of enriching the villainous Yankees by allowing them to do so for us, this war, perhaps, never would have been begun, or, if commenced, would have been of short duration; for, in our opinion, the Yankees are not now fighting for Sambo, but for the market, which we, by our improvident conduct, have taught them to believe was their's by inalienable right.--North Carolina is now the largest manufacturer of wool in the South, and but for the cloth turned out by her factories, what would have become of her troops? They could not, if raised, have been clad. The factories are still hard at work, and we are gratified in believing that our troops will be made as comfortable this winter as camp life will permit.
’
The British gun-boat at Charleston.
The Courier, of Wednesday, says:‘ The steamer Gordon, Captain Thos. Lockwood, left the city yesterday afternoon, taking with her the dispatches, &c., of the British Consul at this port, which were to go to New York by the British steamer Steady. In the Swash channel she met a boat, with an under officer and four men, from the English man-of-war, which communicated with the Gordon, and received from the latter the consular letters, &c. The wind being right in the harbor, the boat was taken in tow, in order to facilitate her return, and during this, there being a sharp sea on, the barge on several occasions came near capsizing, and she was struck by a wave which carried away her flag and staff; the jack tars, however, hung on, and were finally carried well up to windward. The Steady, it was thought, would leave for New York immediately. The Vandalia sloop-of-war and a propeller were noticed off the bar blockading.
’
A charge of treason Merged into misdemeanor.
On the State docket of the Davidson county (N. C.) superior court the only case that attracted much interest was the Hilton case. Some two months since John W. Hilton was arrested on a charge of treason. When the Sheriff went to serve the warrant, Hilton made violent resistance, but was overpowered and taken before Judge Saunders, who sent him to prison. The acting Solicitor this week, (Levi Scott, Esq.,) as Judge Bailey remarked, very properly abandoned the charge of treason, and only put him on his trial for a misdemeanor in resisting an officer; whereupon Hilton, through his counsel, Messrs. Gorrell and Waddell, submitted, and the court fined him twenty-five dollars, and bound him in a bond of five hundred dollars to demean himself as a good citizen of the State and Confederate States.
Extensive robbery in Charleston, S. C.
On Thursday night last the house of Mrs. White, corner of Tradd and Greenhill streets, was burglariously entered, and a small box, containing jewelry and stock, with some $800 in bank bills, was stolen. The matter was immediately given over to the police, who, on yesterday, succeeded in arresting two negroes, one named Alice, belonging to Mrs., White, and the other named William, belonging to Mr. Wm. Green. From these negroes the small box was recovered, containing $2,000 in city six per cents and a lot of valuable jewelry; upwards of $600 of the bank bills have also been recovered. The negroes are in custody for examination.
Wholesale reduction of salaries.
The City Council of Charleston has made a decisive break for retrenchment:The salary of the Mayor has been reduced from $4,000 per annum to $2,500. That of the Chief of Police from $2,000 to $1,200, the Chief of Police is furnished with a house, (rent free.) The First Lieutenant's salary is reduced from $1,200 to $1,000, and the Second and Third Lieutenants from $1,100 to $800. The pay of the Sergeants, except the Orderly, and the pay of the privates remain unchanged. The salaries of the Clerk of Council, Messenger, Superintendent Fire Alarm Telegraph, City Reporter, Port Physician, "c., have also been proportionably reduced.
Health of the seaboard section.
During the war of 1812, large numbers of the soldiers stationed at Norfolk died, and ever since sickness and death have been associated with Norfolk in the minds of many persons in the up-country. But we think facts will dispel this illusion. A comparison will show that there have been many more deaths among the soldiers about Manassas and on the Potomac and in the Northwest than about Norfolk. Many of the regiments about Norfolk have not lost a man during the season, and others only two or three. In the regiments stationed at Suffolk and in the vicinity of Smithfield, but few comparatively have died. Thus figures show that the idea of this being an unhealthy section of country is not well founded.
The French in New York.
The Charleston Mercury, of Wednesday, says:‘ We were yesterday visited by Prof. Du Bos, of Barhamville, who has just returned, by way of Louisville, from the North, having left New York on the 29th ult. He represents the reaction in feeling against the war as very general among commercial men. With the French population the war in especially unpopular, and the French regiment of New York, known as the Gards Lafayette, could only be mustered into service by filling up its ranks — once exclusively French--with men of other nationalities.
’
Changeable.
Cairo appears to be an unhealthy place for Yankee generals. First Gen. Prentiss was superseded by Gen. Grant, and now Grant has been superseded by Gen. Charles. F. Smith, We have not learned who will supersede Smith.
