The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-04-22

W carry OUT uis euus uus IL NC Sou uo 50 WAtn
more JUNCTION of spirit than his second cousin,
Nicholas OF Russia, he will certainly have to
be stirring a; an early hour The following is
the Emperor's late manifest to his subjects, in
forming them of the war in which he is now
engaged:
NICHOLAS THE FIRST, &c
ave have already informed our beloved and
faithful subjects of the progress of our disagree
ments with the Ottoman Porte.
sSince then, although hostilties have COM
menced we have not ceased sincerely to wish
the cessation of bloodshed. We have entertain
ed the hope that reflection and time would con-
vince the Turkish Government Ofits misconcep-
tions..engendered by treacherous instigators. in
which our Just demands, founded on treaties,
have been represented as attempts at its indie
pendence, and yelling intentions Of aggrandize-
ment Vain, however. have been our expccta-
tions, SO far.
.'The English and French Governments have
sided with Turkey and the appearance of the
combined fleets at ConstantinOple served as a
further incentive TO is 0bstinacy; and now both
the Western Powers. without previously dcclar-
ing war, have sent their fleets into the Black
Sea. proclaiming their intention to protect the
Turks and impede the free navigation of our
vessels Of war for the defence Of our coasts. Al
ter so unheard of course among civilized ma
tions. VIC recalled our embassies from England
andFrance, and have broken off all political
| intercourse with those powers.
Thus England and France have sided with
the enemies of Christianity against Russia, who
is combating for the Orthodox faith
but Russia will not betray her holy calling;
and if enemies infringe our frontiers, we are
ready TO meet them with the iirmness bequeath-
ed to us by our forefatehers. Are we not
the same Russian nation of whose exploits the
memorable events of 1872 bear witness?
May the Almighty assist us to prove this by
deeds. With this hope, combating for our per-
secuted brethren followers Of the faith of Christ
with one accord let all Russia eXclaim, o, Lord
our Redeemer! whom shall we fear! May God
be glorifed and his enemies be scattered"
! ''St Petcrsburgh, 9th (2lsD Feb 1854"
/ AN INTERESTING LE1TEa-The battle of San
Antonia de Bexar-the fall of the Alamo. and
the butchery of Coils. Travis, Crockett Bowie,
aud their brave cOmpatriots, by the MeXicans,
during the struggle the Texans for independ-
cree. is still fresh in the minds of all. And as
everything connected with that struggle pos
sesses deep interest, we take pleasure in lay
! ing before our readers the following letter.
written by Col. Travis. while he and the gallant
few who were with him were shut up in the AL
amo. and surrounded by the combined Mexican
forces, amounting to ten or fifteen thousand
men under the command of Santa Anna. The
copy which we publish was obtained from q
son of Col. Travis, who is member of the Tex
an Senate, and was never before in print
! COMMANpENCY OF THE ALAMO.
BEXAEY, Feb. "a. 1896
To the People of Teras, and all americans
in the World:
| FELLow-CIrIzENs AND CoMPArRIoTs. am be-
t,y hnTr a,,1 NJ
under Santa Anna. | have sustained contin-
ued bombardment and cannonade, for "a hours,
and have not lost a man. The enemy has de-
manded a surrender at discretion otherwise the
garrison are to be put to the sw ord if the fort
is taken, have answered the demand with q
cannon shot and / shall neUer surrender or re-
treat. Then call upon you in the name OF
Liberty, of Patriotism, and every thing dear to
American character, to come to our aid with al!
dispatch.
The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily
and Will no doubt increase to three or four thou
sand in four or five days. If this CALL is neg
lected, am determined to sustain myself Sc
long as possible, and die like soldier, who
never forgcts what is due to his own honor and
that Of his country. Victory or DEATH
/ WILLIAM BARRETT TRAVIS,
/ Lieut.. Colonel Commandant.
| IS. The Lord is on our side. When the
enemy appeared in ght. we had not bushels
! OF corn. We hare since found in deserted hou
ses SO or 80 bushels. and got inside the wall q
or 80 bcevcs. TRAVIS.
| TIE RAPIDS IMpRovENEyr.-Thc following let
ter of Col. Albert of the Typographical Engi
neers, was furnished by the Secretary of War
in answer to a letter of inquiry of Hon. \. C
Dodge, Senator Of Iowa. 1t looks as if some
thing was really to be undertaken, and we
! trust, finished:
| BUREAU OF ToPoGEArHIc,L ENGs
| Washington March %, 1854.
| SiR,--In reference to the letter from the Hon
4. c. Dodge. OF the 18th inst, the following re.
port is submitted:
| Contracts have been entered into by the
agent, John q. Floyd, on the part of the Z. S.
and Robert Swan, James Fenlon, and Walter S
Blyth. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The general stipulations in the contract are,
that the parties Of the second part are to make
and clear out channels in the Mississippi river
at the Lower Chain and the nglsh Chain ofthc
Des Moines Rapids, aud at the Rock Island Ra-
pidS, of two hundred feet in width, and four feet
deep at low water: and specially ito remove
at least one thousand five hundred cubic yards
of stone per month. unless prevented by wca-
Their and river"
But as these stipulations Will be better I'M
derstood by the contracts themselves, copies OF
them are hereto appended.
The price to be paid is So 81 per cubic yard.
The quantity ofstone removed, while the work
was under the charge of Lieut.. (now Col.) Lee,
as stated in hisreport Of October, 1889, was up
wards Of 1000 tuns or about $50 cubic yards.
The whole amount expended by Col Lee. on
accounts, boats, machinery, labor, &C., was
about $4,000. Averaging the whole of this
expenditure upon the quantity of stone rcmov-
cd. 1t will make the cost per cubic yard about
500 "a. This cost would, however, have been
much reduced if the work had been continued.
AS the outfit of boats. machinery. &C.. would
have served for future operations
Respectfully, sir, your ob't servant.
J. ALBERT, Col. Corps T. L.
Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Sec'y ofWar.
NEW AND POWERFUL MODE OF APPLYING THE
BRAkEs.--A few days ago, large number of
gentlemen assembled at the depot of the Boston
and Worcester Railroad, for the purpose OF wit
Messing experiments with new rail car brake