Awful Tragedy!

The rumor of the dreadfül occufrence on board the Princeton, of which most of our readers have doubtless been apprised, arrived just as ow pnper went to press last week; but as it was not known to be correct, we concluded not to publish it unless it should be confirmed. Our last exchanges contain arnple details, from which we extract the following particulars: "The Socretary of State, Mr. Upsher; the Secretary of the Navy, Gpv. Gilmer; Commodore Kennon, Chief of the Construction of the Navy; Virgil Maxcy, Esq. and Mr. Gardincr, of Soullnunpton, New York, were instantly killed; and six sailors were reported badly wounded, Óne of the President's servants has since died. Colonel Benton and Captain Stockton were Elightly injured. "The accident happened about 3 o'clock, some two'.or threo miles below Alexandria.- - Colonel Bcnton's injury arosc not from any fragment of the gun, but merely frora the concussïon. He was at the butt of the gun, taking its range, when it fired. He was not sensible of its stunning eíFect until he had cal'ed for aid to the bloeding sailors. He was stunned for a time, but was enabled to walk nfter reaching the shore, and has given a distinct account of the dreadfül 6cene. Captain Stockton was burned by the powder, but not seriously injured. Of the multitude of ladies who were on board the ship, not one was injured. There were two hundred ladies on board, and during the discharges of the gun were on deck; and many of tbem approached very near to observe the course of the ball after it struck the water. President Tyler was there also, but had attended the In dies to dinner before the third discharge. We understand thatMrs. Gilmer was upon the deck vvhen her husband feil. It was the thjrd discharge of the gun (and fired at the request of Mr. Gilmer) that burst it. The daughter of Mr. Upshur, several of the family of Com. Kennon, and the daughters of Mr. Gardiner, were on board the steaiuer; but none of them, except Mrs. Gilmer, were apprised of the death of tho se ruost dear to them, until after their return to the city. Almost all the ladies were below, at dinner, when the catastrophe occurred. Mrs. Gilmer was brought io the city altnost in a slate of distraction." Both Houses of Congress, after the receipt of a message from the President, announcing the melancholy disaster which occurrod on board the Princeton, and the adoption of suitable resolutions, expressive of their profound sense of the calamity, and jn testimony of respect for the memory of the deceased Cabinet oflacers, adjourned over from Thureday till Monday. A committee of ofücers of the Army and Navy instituted an examination, and were of opinión that the disaster was not attributable to rashness or carel assness, but was the result of other causes. The gun had been fired witli much larger charges of powder. It is supposed the gun was made of a poor quality of iron.Judge Wilkins was only saved by a witti cism of Lis. He had taken his stand by the side of Gov. Gilnaer, but some remarks falling from the lips of the latler, and peiceiving that the gun was about to be fired, exclaimed, "Though Secrctary of War, I don't like this firing, and believe that I shall t$in." So eaying he retreated, suiting the action to the word, and was saved. The President himself had taken his position but a few minutes previous, precisely where Gov. Gilmer was killed: but for some reason or other went off, and was thus providentially saved. In addiüon to the deaths already mentioned, about a dozen fiailora were badly wounded; one was dead, and beland him Col. Benton, Judge Phelps, and Mr. Strickland, as if dead, extended on the deck. Our neighbor of the Journal refers to the "ravings" from the Aboiition "corner," against Henry Clay. He denies the charges of "gambhng, debauchery and cruel ty lo the peopie on his farm," and thus tacitly admits what we alledged last week, that the laborera on his farm are govemed by the cartwhip. We did not eay that ït was immoderately or cru - elly used, for we know nothing to that effect. But look at the naked fact itself. Is it not rather disgraceful to your party to nominale a man for President who employs fifty laborers without wages, and compele their obedicnre by a cartiohip, wielded by his hired man? Look at itsoberly, neighbor. Do not fly into a passion, and cali ñames. That shows vou have the worst of the argument. Be candid about it, and eny you are sorry for it, and that you will sustain Judge McLean, or some other honorable Whíg who does not believe in whipping unpaid negro laborers. Just answer ub for once candidly. fl Do you not think it disgraceful to Mr. Clay that he not only robs his laborers of their wages, but rohs thein through the vse of the cartwliipiJ {Lƒ Some Whigs are circulating ïeports that 6undry Liberty men are forsaking their principies, and wil! support Clay and Van Buren. The object is to discourage Liberty men. This game will doubtless be pursued till after the Presidential election. In some cases, such reports will be lies; in others, mtstakes; and in a few, the truth. But there ia no ground of discouragement here. For every Liberty man that forsakes us, we will guarantee at the Fa 11 Election at least to two make their place good from the ranks of the olher parties. The vote in the Senate, about the removal of the seat of Government to Ann Arbor, by a vote of 14 to 4, it appears from some exDlanations in the papers, was only a piece of i'un before dinner, to be rectified in the nfternoon, but the clerk despatched the bill imrneth'atelyfo the House,ond thus rendered the joke rather serious to some of the members. OCP' Senator Walker, of Mississippi, is spoken of for Secretary of State . Mr. Wiltin8andMr. Tazewcll havoalso been mentioned.