The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-01-05


Hon Miles Taylor, the able representative
from the second congressional district Of tbs
State, has brought before the house judiciary
committee bill amending and modifying the
neutrality laws in various particulars, The ex-
isting law restricts the commerce Of the United
States, by forbidding the sale of ships or NUM-
/ tons of war to any one belligerent power en-
gagged in war with another with whom this
country is at peace. Mr.. Taylor proposes z
remove this restriction and to permit foreign
governments TO purchase any warllkc material
they may desire from citizens of the U. States
at any and all times, regardless Of the fact
whether the purchasers are at peace Or war
His bill also provides a method by which elti-
zcns of the United States who desire to &C
abroad for the purpose Of entering into the ser
vice Of any foreign power in time Of war, may
/ formally denationalize themselves, and while
preserving their free agency at the same time
relieve the federal government Of all response
bity for their acts The new bill will meet
with strong opposition, but as Mr. Taylor is
endowed with energy and perseverance, as well
as talent he may succeed it getting it through
I the house Of representatives.
Mr. Taylor has introduced another bill of no
small importance to the commercial interests
of the country. It autholises the State Of Lou
isiana to impose and collect tonnage duties for
the Improvement Of rivers and canals.
The Richmond Enquirer is out with a strong
article in opposition to running senator Hunter,
Of Virginia, for the presidency; but incident
ally recognising Tie candidacy of governor
Wise. The Enquirer says:
1--WE have but one object to secure by the
struggle, and that's fair representation ofthe
will of the democratic party Of Virginia at the
Charleston convention. So far as governor
Wise is concerned, We shall ask for him nothing
but what he is fully entitled to. II he IS the
choice Of the people the expression OF that choice
shall not be stiaed by Tie intrigucs of his enc,
mics. And we regard the present use OF Mr..
Hunters name in connection with the nomlna-
ton at Charleston, as constituting nothing more
nor less than just such an intrigue"
When it is recolected that governor Wlse's
son is one of the junior editors of the Enquirer
and that his exeellency hitaself is accused
Of penning many Of its leaders-the foregoing
must be accepted as a fair notice that Wise has
taken the field for the presidency. En- PEASANT
the Commercial Bulletin, abiding to the sin
gular political aspect presented to the country
by the Old Dominion, where politician who,
eight years ago sanctioned and endorsed the
most uItra-abolilion doctrines, was few days
since nominated for governor, says:
We are accustomed to hear the leaders of the
democratic party. in the south claim for it ex-
traordnary political virtue-that it is the only
party that the south can safely support and re-
y upon. They profess to have been and to be
lynx-eyed and particularly cautious in all their
nominations to bring forward men ''sound on
the goose" who have never uttered a word bat
in commentator of the peculiar institution In
a word, that theirs is the only party that hon
est southern men can support! The next time
they set up this preposterous claim in the pre-
sence Of any wing, let him exclaim Letchef!-
There will be no necessity forfmther argument
GooD.-The U. s. senate, on the 22d ult.,
passed a joint resolution creating temporary
brevet grade of admiral in the navy, with the
view OF comforting the honor upon the gallant
veteran, Charles Stewart, as a rebuke Of the
harsh and unjust treatment he received at the
hands of the naval retiring board. Now let
the secretary Of the navy complete the work IN
all appropriate manner, BY ordering admiral
Stewart to hoist his 'blue peter at the main
of the sold Ironsides." Let the old sailor
once more unfurl his flag on, and pace the
quarterback Of the vessel with which he won
50 much glory.
A mercantile house in New York, doing a
large business, says the Courier and Enquirer,
recently refused to pay more than 5000 yearly
salary for clerk in a responsible position in
the counting room, notwithstanding the clerk
who had Just vacated the situation committed
forgery, which he was doubtless led to do by
the Gradgrind meanness of his employers. The
concern, we are sorry to say, got competent
clerk for that pittance-less thanis paid com
mon field hand ii this parish. How can man
support himselfin the city of New York on two
hundred dollars a year?
A petition has been presented to the .. S.
senate BY senator Brown, Of Mississippi, from
Oscar J. E. Stewart, setting forth that his slave
was the inventor of useful agricultural ma
chine. for which the commissioner of patents
refused patent on tho ground that machine
invented by slave, though it be new and use
full, could not be in the present state Of the law
patented, and asking that The patent law may
Dc SO amended that patent may issue to the
master.
A correspondent Of the Daily Delta, writing
from the city Of Mexico, under date OF the 9th
ult, says that he has it from undoubted authori-
ty that the present government of Mexico, on
the 9th, sent formal request to France and
England, soliciting them to assume protecto-