The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-01 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED STATES.

MOM THZ IFIICIAL COILYILIPONDINT OP Tali DAILY
NZW9
NEW YORK, nu. 3.

Daring the last few days five anti-Nebraska free-
soil have been elected from five states to the
United Slates Senate—Mr. Trumbull, from Illinois,
in the place of General Shields; Mr. Wilson, from
Massachusetts, in the place of Mr. Everett, late
minister to England; Mr. Harlan, from Iowa; Mr.
Durkee, from Wisconsin ; and Mr. Seward, from
New York. These are significant facts ; nor is it be-
lieved that in a single instance these men would have
been elected had not General Pierce, who went into
the Presidency as the champion of the great compromise
measures of 1830, betrayed all the pledges he had given
before his election, and opened again the agitation of
the slavery question. In 1820, when the first serious
agitation ot t he slave ryquesi ion arose, after t he adoption
of the Federal Constitution, in 1789, it was solemnly
declared by the American Congress that so much of
the territory of the republic as extended north of
36 deg. 30 sec. north hiti•ude should be for ever ex-
empt from negro slavery. This law grew out of
the agitation which attended the introduction of
Missouri into the Union. No attempt had ever
been made to disturb wt:st was called "The
Great :Missouri Comprorcise." All the great
statesmen of the couutry had stood by that
compromise; and it was regarded as a compact
so sacred in its character that no subseq,uent legisla-
tion was likely to interfere with it. Every intelli-
gent American understood that the power to abolish
slavery. rested alone in the states where the ins itu-
tion existed—that over it, as an institution, the Con-

gress of the United States had no control. Any
other interpretation of organic or statute law would
bare involved an infringement of the individual
sovereignty of each separate state. It was with
this understanding that the compromise measures
of 1850 were enacted. Nor did any man dream
when General Pierce was elected, so soon after
tho tremendous crisis of 1830, that this com-
promise, or any compromise, would be disturbed ;
but the mtless ambition of a few demagogues, meet-
ing with ready encouragement from the newly elected
President, once more raised the slavery agitation,
and the introduction of Nebraska and Kansas, as two
vast territories, larger than France and Spain nailed,
was thrown u an apple of discord into our national
Congrtss a year ago ; and although the measure was
frowned down by the enlightened opinion of the
nation north and south, still, by the force of presi-
dential patronage. a bill was carried through both
hours which opened • territory nine times larger
than the great state of New York to African
servitude. North of the line the Missouri
compromise bad declared slavery
go. There never was, indeed, any prospect
that African slavery would ever be established in
Nebraska ; but • desperate effort was made to insti-
tute it in the territory of Kansas, and the probabili-
ties are now very strong that it will there be inau-
gurated. The south did not demand the abrogation
of the Missouri compromise, and it was abolished at
last only through the power of 'political corruption,
which enabled the President of the United States,
during hie term of office of four years, to distribute
the entire patronage and power of the government
upon his favourite creatures, involving the payment
of not less than three or four hundrrillion dollars,
the whole of which was to pass throdgh the hands of
the men of his choice.

A storm of indignation broke over the country,
and every election that followed that atrocious act
condemned Frank Pierce and his Nebraska Bill to
infamy and contempt. The stat.s of which I have
spoken were all of them ready to stand by the com-
promise of 1850, because it was an olive branch,
which every one of those states had clasped in their
hands, and accepted as the wisest and best alterna-
tive in the midst of an ill-omened excitement.

Mr. Buchanan, the able minister of the United
States at the Court of St. James, has been set aside
by the legislature of his state ; and a Know-Nothing
democrat has been nominated to represent Pennsyl-
vania in the national senate. Pennsylvania is one of
the largest and richest states in the Union. For
awhile she plunged recklessly into debt, in the con-
struction of her great system of public works ; and in
the general crash of 1837-8 she failed to meet her
liabilities ; but her resources were too vast to render
anything more than a temporary suspension neces-
sary, and her credit now stands high. She is wisely
deciding to sill those public works at auction,
to emancipate herself from the incubus under which
she has so long laboured. She is a noble state, al-
though she has, in proportion to her territory, popu-
lation, and wealth, furnished fewer 'eminent men for
the public service than almost any other of the old
states of the confederacy.
There seems to be a disposition on the part of
Congress to filially redeem its pledges, entered into
with the state of Texas, when the compromise mea-
sures of 1850 were passed ; and by virtue of which
ten million dollars were pledged to that state, as a
consideration for her giving up all claim upon the
territory of New Mexico. Five millions of the ten
were paid ; bat the other five millions were retained
until all the creditors of Texas should resign any
further claim upon her treasury. Most of them were
willing to do it ; but because some hesitated, the pay-
ment
of the five millions was postponed. A bill is
now being passed, appropriating six millions to cover
the last claims against the state of Texas, interest ,
and principal ; and it is believed that the law will
be enacted, and justice at last done to that new,
heroic, and vigorous member of our confederation.
Our present diplomatic delegation to Europe hav-
ing proved a most humiliating failure, is being dis-
solved, and its members are twining home. Mr.
Buchanan is an aspirant for the presidential office,
with no more chases of moms, nor so mach, as any
new man whose name has not yet been heard of.
But like an old statesman, he doss not so readily
come to that conclusion himself, and it is understood
that he is °owing home to look after his prospects.
Poor Mason, our minister to Paris, has been struck
with paralysis, and he is obliged to give up his office.
Soule, Belmont, and Owen, are all obliged to expend
far more than their salaries, and seeing no prospect
of retrieving themselves from the disgrace to which
they have bean subjected, they are willing to give
place to better men. In fact we are in the midst of
a ef peacul revolution which will end only in a
!borough reform, which will introduce a new regime
into affair publie affairs.

Loxpoit FAllll2B' Cum.—The ant meeting of
thie club will be oa the 6th of Kara. The subject for di-
sunion, " The Cultivation of Deli= Bye Grow" will be
latrathised by Kr. J. C. Morten. The Meensies will etet•
moue at half peat Ave °Wait.

RIOTS AT

LT GOLD

(Frcee the if rtberene drys' et Dee. L)

On the 20th November a meeting of 2,000 persons
was held at Ballarat, when it wu resolved no longer
to pay for a license to get gold. On the following
day the commissioner in charge sent out the police to
search for unlicensed miners.

BALLARAT, TBIURSDAT, NOV. 30, 11 P 11.—le great
haste 1 forward you the proceedings of this morning, and,
considering them of the greatest importance, I send them
by • special messenger. e
At 10 CIS Meer,. Commesionen Rode and Johnson,
with their troop of mounted and lost police, with drawn
swords and fixed bayonets, demanded from the diggers
their liaises. The diggers, on their appearance, assemb:ed
is mimes, many with arms, to resist the enlacement of
this most obnoxious tax. Mr. Commissioner Rode attempted
to reason the point with the digger,. He told them be
must do his duty, having received instructions from the
highest authority to that effect, and do it be would. He
drew their attention to what their own deputed's) had told
them yesterday—via., that if they memorialised the Lieute-
, nant-Governor they would gain their rights; and that,
I moreover, Mr. Fewkwir bad been selected as one of the
number to inquire into the grievances of the goldfields.
(Three Ghee. for Fawkner.) The cry of the diggers was—
"We will not have drawn swords or fixed bayonets."
" Where is the Governor t" Bend up the Charles Ho-
thaw" "We want justice, and we will have it."
Upon this Mr. Commissioner Redo declared he was deter-
mined to collect the licenses. (" We haven't got them ; we I
can't give them." "We have burnt them.")
Mr. Commissioner Rede—My lads, 1 m,.st read the Riot
Act. (The cry was, " Read it, read it.") He read it.
The scene of confusion and excitement which occurred in the
I sew road at this mome,.t eye-witayse alone can depict. I
I A moment of silence being obtained, Mr. Reds said,
" The licenses must be shown ; we mus: apprehend all who
have not their licenses." One great universal cry then
arose, "To the camp, boys, to the camp ! " For some dis-
tance the diggers followed towards the camp the retrograd•
ing military force, when suddenly there was a shout of
" Not to the tamp, boys, not to the camp ! Back to our
own ground on Bakery- bill."
During this period the detachment of the 40th and 12th
bad formed near the bridge.
Of the diggers, some went to the Eureka, some to the
Red-hill, where they boi-ted their fi.g—. The Southern
Cross"—while the commissioners and commanding officers
were hollidog a consultation on the new road, evidently
non-placed as to what were the inteatioes (.1 the diggers
and what they were next to do. At length the military and
police formed themselves into divisious on the Bakery• hill,
throwing oat their " light bobs" as sharpshooters behind
the heaps sort uniting the holes. The poeitian being thus
taken up, Mr. Johnson asked what he was to do if, in the
collecting of the licensee and the apprehension of the unli-
censed, violence were used. The answer from the offi,ev
in command of the police was—" If a man raises his hand
to strike or throw a stone, shoot him on the spot." These
were the orders given to the police. An unfortunate man,
riding, not being licensed, was taken prisoner to the camp
under the guard of two troopers, with orders from their
officer, if he made any attempt to escape, to blow his
brains out.

All this took up some time, of course, and the grand re-
slew having taken place on Bakery-hill, the government
(ores, for some reason which, though both an ear and eye
witness, I cannot understand, retired towards the camp, but
not in peace, tir hundreds of diggers had equipped them-
selves with revolvers and with weapons of all kinds, both
offensive and defensive. Scattered shots were heard about
this time, and one man, having " scaled" his piece, was
pursued by a party of the polies, who, acting under orders,
fired on him among the tants, but luckily missed, aid
eventually captured him.
Throughout the whole of this eventful morning, from
10 a.m. until 4 p.m , there was one nni 1, unanimous
cry—" We will not pay the license; we will h►ve our
rights."
I may state that the whole of the camp was barricaded
with sandbags, trusses of hay, &c., and parties of soldiers
and police posted behind these defences. No ene was al-
lowed to approach, but even in the main road all were told
to " move on."

At .5 p.m. we were aroused by reiterated shootings and
firiog, which we &wonted to proceed from the diggers'
stronghold, Bakery-hill. Oa going there I toned a large
number of diggers assembled, totaled in line, giving I. their
names in rotation, in order to become members of the Re.
form League. All were armed. The sailors were placed in
a division by themselves. Parties were going through the
manual exercise under the superintendence of an old sol-
dier, and all present gave strong evidence that they were
unanimous and determined.

A meeting will Like plus at 4 a.m. to-morrow.
7 p m.—An outbreak has taken place on Creswiek's-
creek, and a part of toe pollee hes been sent thane from this
place._

-- -
A strong party of diggers has occupied the road to Mel-
bourne to rescue the prisoners.
I believe Keen prisoners are taken, several wounded on
both sides, but no deaths.

MOVIMANTO OP THE MILITARY.
From the statement made in the Legislative Council
yesterday by the Colonial Secretary it wilt be sees that a
collision had taken place between the rioters and the
military, although happily without loos of life on either side.
The state of things at the diggings has indeed become most
critical, and any hour may bring us intelligence of the most
serious nature. The government is thoroughly aroused,
and is concentrating the whole military and police force of
the colony at Bellew. All the available men of the 40th
and 12th Regiments have left town for that locality. A
body of 300 rank and fLe of the former regiment, with their
band, were marched out yesterday afternoon, under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Valiant and the whole of

the officers of the regiment Thai tool; with ih;w7o;;;11
field pieces, two 6 and two 12-poanden. All the officers
and mm of the 12th Regiment, with the exception of Cep-
, tails Vereker, and the neesenary guard, have left for the
same place. They number about 300. 24 man-of-war's men
and about 20 marines from Mr Majesty's ship Electra have
also been sent off. 60 hone sad about the same number of
foot police wens to be &spieled yesterday alteraooa. A
large number of beggar sad ammunition waggons were
sant with the military. We also Misr that Sir Robert
Mehl*, Commander-ia-Chief of the Forces, and Colonel
M'Cartmy, Adjutant-Oeneral, intend to start for Ballarat
at 3 o'clock this morning. The amount of the force,
and polies, to be assembled at thess diggings will be
little short of 1,000 men.