Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-06-09
Defeats of the Rebels in China.
From the Correspondence of the London New

many months previously.
Affairs at Canton look more settled; for the
time, at all events, the rebels have been driven
away from the city. The blockade has been
put stop to: and by a combined movement
of the imperial soldiers and the people, Canton
and the forts in its neighborhood have been
freed from the corresponding horrors OF the
insurgents On the 9th instant the rebels at
Blenheim Reach were taken by surprise, fed
precipitately in boats down the river, and for
the most part escaped, the imperialists being
but too well pleased to regain possession of the
forts.
The other strongholds of the insurgents also
fell into the hands of the imperialists, who are
reported to have effected their object by buying
up the ringeaders. The imperialists have
made shocking use of their triumph. The
place of execution has been vast carnage
field, where hundreds have daily been put to
death, in the hope of striking terror into the
minds of the population.
At Shanghai, also, the imperialists have sue
ceeded in recapturing the city, followed by
| frightful atrocities in revenge for opposing the
imperial rule. Beyond the mere fact of the
capture of the city little more is known with
certainty, the accounts being very conflicting
All accounts agree in representing the foul
atrocities committed by the Mandarins. Nearly
five hundred prisoners have been put to death,
and some were tortured in the most frlghttul
maner before being put out of the way. Some
| of the rebel chiefs have succeeded in escaping,
but by far the greater number of the ringleaders
have found themselves in the hands of their
relenting enemy.
Extract from letter dated Shanghai March 4th, 1855
You will by the papers the of the taking of
Shanghai by the Inperalists The city fell INFO their
hands almost quietly did into the hands Of The
hp ivfan ffc hafora pf
fact until breakfast time the following morning TN going
toward the city hundreds of the soldiers might be
getting the walls hest they could, adt ned with
plumber. Several Of the rebels were caught taken ino
the camp, and Immediately decaated. The city itself
scene OF desoation more easily agined than
described. Toward the and north sides the houses
completely rddled by the shot from the French fir
and about half Of the city is burnt the ground y the
rebels, who had hid trains Of gunpnwder and fire to il
in several pieces before they decamped. Where the
French had effected brefch in the walls they had made
most formidable preraraons to receive the enemy hav
ing fortified large building firmeily used pawn
brokers' shop by piercing holes through the walls and
FASTING white Paper over them so that to the eye they
presented nothing but blank wall. Between this and
the wallis is an open space, which was thicky studded
with traps, listing of round woeden cylinders
around pointing downward so that when yet his
leg in there getting it again the bamboo bent
the leg but preve ted his retreat These trays were
carefully covered with turf Around various deiences
built that they could have kept the enemy at bay
for a considerable tine. The nperal t. the cap
ture Of the city French having eff ctuay cut off
all SUI plies. for of themselves they could have
accomp ished this. The troops nearly all dis
LANDED sent off to N.,nkn, and the walls dis
mantled every gun having been taken away.
THE CITY LIGHTED WITH GAs.-On Friday even
ing last, our city was lighted with gas from the
public lamp posts, for the first time; and now,
after an experience of several nights, we question
if there is a single citizen who would under any
circumstances, be willing to dispense with these
brilliant and beautiful lights
The Episcopal Church has also been we'll lighted
up with gas, during the session of the Diocesan
Convention All of the stores in which the fixtures
have been finished have also been lighted and the
light is not only an economical one, and serves
better purpose for business than the old camphine
lamps, but causes the stores to present beautiful
appearance from the streets.
1t was expected that the first gas manufacture
ed would be, as usual, little impure and rather
offensive to the olfactores, but this has not been
the case. The gas is not only entirely free from
offensive odors arising from the same but We have
heard all remark the great purity and brilancy of
the lights. We have never seen more beautiful
and brilliant gas lights, and Mr.. Keats the supern-
tendent of the gas works. tells US that in long ex-
perience, he has never seen purer gas, or more
brilliant lights-far surprising New Orleans and
New York in that respect From the manifesto
tons of satisfaction, have no doubt but that in
a short time gas will be introduced into every
business house and private dwelling within reach of
the main pipes Vicksburg Wing, May %.
THE WASHINGTON UNION AND THE MoRMoNs.
"A recent original communication on the Nor
mons, in the Washington Union, published, we
presume, by and with the advice and consent of
the Administration, expresses the following
Just opinions of this heathenish community at
the Great Salt Lake: {
The case of the Mormons may serve further
TO illustrate idea of the rights of conscience
Without questioning their right to believe in
The divine mission of Joe Smith or Brigham
I oung, or to have as many wives and concu-
Dimes as King Solomon or the Grand Turk we
certainly do deny their right, as members of
his confederation, to set up the inspirations of
their prophet in opposition to the constitutional
powers of the President of the United States or ,
my other branch of the Government. Nor do
we think their privileges extend to a violation
If those laws and institutions which are the
basis of our manners habits and morals Poly
samy, however sanctioned by the example of
he patriarchs. is criminal offence in every
State of the Union, and community in which =
every man may have rs many wives as he a
oleases, no more assimiate with those who :
ldmit of but one, than iii sanctioned the COM Ii
mission of murder or any other crime against :
he laws of nature and society.
Coming at length to the main question, the
writer further informs us that
As might be expected, since they became i,
Territorial members of the Union, they have =
placed themselves in direct opposition to the 0
egitimate authority of the Government of the {
United States, by rejecting its officers and re- =
using to recognize any authority but that of k
heir inspired prophet In this we think, very 6
they were humored by Mr. Fill !,
nore who conferred on B. Young the office of J
ivil Governor in addition to that far higher Ia
tation he held the oracle of the Divine will a
'hus Governor Brigham Young now combines h
his person the sanctity of representative of H.
he Divinity and the temporal authority of an
fhcer Of the Government of the United States. +
The association is supremely absurd, if not alb p
olutely blasphemous. Il
BH~ Mr.. Buffum, in his speech in the Cali J
ornia Assembly, wherein he proposes to ex- =
mpt California wine from the provisions of the =
liquor law, give the following inter-
sting statictics concerning the culture of the P