Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-02-03

following griPhic and highly interesting sketch
Of Gen. Taylor, as he appeared " at home -
\ Daybreak overlook us just below Batsn
\ Rouge on the left of the river. We have
passed during the night that most picturesque
portion Of the river called the coast. The
alluyial margin on both sides Of the river sprca ds
in breadth from 400 yards To mile and Il half.
! II is the garden spot Of the United States
Sugar plantations touch each other and elegant
residences stretch out as far as the eye can fol-
low the bold curves of the river. After run
of 80 miles, the Mississippi looks not whit
narrower than at New Orleans; It's average
width is about three quarters Of mile. AT
Baton Rogue, where we touch few minutes
To take in passengers, there stand in company
with two OF three other gentlemen, an elderly,
plain looking man, who after a brefleaye-taking
comes on board. We shove Off the breakfast
bell rings, and we find our way TO the table !
observed that the entrance of our new fellow
yoyager occasloned a subdued remark, and
brought upon himthe curious glanccs of several
spectators, and whispering to the clerk, who
was about to take the head of the table, asked
who he was - General Taylor WAS the re-
ply. Indeed Lucky chance, thought |, that
threw me on board this craft. There was the
yerliablc Rough and Ready sitting opposite
me, slipping his coffee; the most remarkable
man, in many respects, on the Western hem
isl.hcre. had missed the gorgeous spectacle
of his New Orleans receptlon-the most mag
nifcent affair which had ever shaken that city
with excitement; but vastly better, had him
now where | could see and study the mdn-a
man whose name belongs to history, and whose
achievements place him side by side with the
great captains of the world. The first thing
that struck me was his simplicity, an unfailing
attribute oftrue greatness. lleate, and talked,
and carried himself, with the unstudicd ease OF
a little child. You would have supposed hun
some plain country gentleman. who dreamed
not of attracting look or calling out remark
/ All right in that line thought ], but how differ
ent looking and better looking than the million
of hthograph likcnesses which stare you in the
face at the shop windows and every where else.
| There is in the living original none of that eX-
treme breadth between the chin and the back
ofthe head, very little of the protruslon of the
lower lip, to be found in the autographs. Ina
word they are bundle of carrcatures, one and
all. lie is precisely the height of your present
correspondent has a considerable sprinkle of
gray hairs, is siXty-two years Of age, erect and
! firm when on his feet, with one oithe kindliest
Expressions of face you ever saw. lie had on
a common blue frOck coat with flat buttons,
the covering of which was worn off, showing
that it belonged to an order of things which
passed away some two or three years ago
StLl his dress as whole was sufficiently becom-
ing, though exhibiting notrace whatever Of the
military. As we rose from the breakfast table
was introduced to the old hero. ] told him
was from South Carolina, and rejoiced in the
good fortune which had allowed me to see him
and tell him how much the people my native
state honorcd and loved him. His eyes were
filled with tears as he shook my hand warmly;
and saw that the simple assurance of love
could affect profoundly man who faced the
storm of battle with nerve that never moved.
His conversation exhibited fine, clear, COM
mon sense. without the slightest tnge of any
sort off affectation or personal vanity In the
course of the day, he gave me the details Of
the great battle of Bueua-yista, the key to all
the successes of the American army in Mex
leo. Had that field been lost, the fate of the
war would have beeu entirely different, even
though indomitable courage might in its long
rnn have cut its way to the Mexican capital.
Fiat victory won against odds 50 vast, gave a
prestige to American yalor that made the sub
sequent battles comparatively easy affairs.
But mnst put curb upon my galloping
The General remained with us until after
breakfast the next morning, and was landed AT
his own residence on the river, some distance
above Natchez. smiled to see the republican
simplicity with which couple of his negroes,
field hands, who happened TO be a, the landing,
walked up as he got on shore, and shook hands !
with him without dollng hat or cap and the
expression of delight with which they looked
into his face as he spoke kindly and iamliarly
to them. Our engine bell rang as soon as he I
touched the shore, aud we were off,"
STATE FISANcE.-The Finance Committee
have reported TO the General Assembly bill
for raising additional revenue. The bill pro-
vides for tax of S35 600 upon the rateable
property of the State, estimated by is produc-
tive value, and an addition of one tenth of one
per cent, upon the banking capital. This will
raise $40 900, ofwhch it is proposed to appro-
pirate $685. 900 to the support of public schools
IN the several towns in lieu of the sums they
are now required by law TO raise, SO 900 to
the reimbursement Of the sum which has been
taken from the United States deposit fund, and
the balance to the ordinary expenses of the .
State
We have always thought that the best plan
would be to divide the burden between the .
banks and the rateabIe property, although we
doubt If the proportion recommended by the I
Committee be the most judicious; but we can
not see the proprieiy of changing the mode in
which the school money is raised. The towns
pay this money with great cheerlulncss and
with increasing cheeriulhess, and they take
much better care of its expenditure than they
would if it came wholly from the State. We
cannot doubt that the proposed change would
be very disastrous TO the cause of public edu- /,
cation, which has made such gratifying pro-
gress, under the present system, within few
years, nor can we perceive any advantage to
be derived from it.
The State requires an additional revenue of
about twenty or twenty five thousand dollars.
This sum will enable us TO dclray all the ex-
pcnses of the government, to make such inn
proycmcnts in our institutions as are demand
ed by the spirit of the age, and TO provide for
the gradual reimbursement of the sum taken
from the deposit fund. 1t is quite impossible |
to provide any mode of taxation which shall
not be felt by the people We have but two
sources of revenue, direct tax and bank .
tax either will bear unpleasantly upon those I
who have to pay it, but the people understand
the necessity of it, and the sum required is so
small that we have no doubt 1t will generally
be paid cheerfully. We have very little fear