Mi -.nr,--r'''r.,c.r yesk, aud read. The name cf Daniel M. lx was withdrawn. The Secretary, then called J.he rail, and the following waa announced as the firrt Lai lot : Taiker , t'J ; Cass 43 : liana k ; i ; McCandU?s3 5. Ccn.'Ic(inik'.-, ,u.J was withdrawn 'before proceeding to f be s cond ballot, which retulu-d us follows: Packer jS ; Cass 47; Hancock 10. Asa i'ackcr, having ;v majority of the votes cast, was de clared duly nominated. Mr. Petrikiu stated that there had been one hundred and thirty-four votes cast, one vote mora than" the total number of dele gates. This announcement created "intense confusion and excitement. Mr. Petri!; in moved fr a second billut, which was seconded by Mr. Hughes. Air. Mulligan laid he was a friend of Gen. Cass all through, but be believed Judge Packer was fairly nominated, and moved that he ba declared the unanimous choice of the Convention. Mr. Hughes favored another ballot. lie wanted the Convention to go before the peo ple with a fair record, by getting rid of the last ballot, and moved another ballot be taken and the first stricken from the record. Adopted. The following in the result cf the third ballot: Packer, 9o ; Cass, 37. Mr. J. II. Hopkins, tf Allegheny, stated that while Western Pennsylvania asked the nomination of Gen. Casj, her support to Judge Packer would be cordial, biucere and enthusiastic. Tremendous applause. Mr. Zeiglcr declared that Western l'enn rylvania was always true. SIir never shirk ed a Democratic vote. Renewed np phiusr.j Judge r.itkcr was then declared the nomi nee, which was shortly afterwards . made unanimous. The Convention then proceeded to the nomination fjr Supreme Judge. The first ballot ftood as follows: Robert Fisher, 4 : Silas W. Clark, 10 ; Cyrus L. Pershing, 'J3 ; William P. Jeuks. 8 ; llussell Brown, J3 ; Henry Chapman, 10 ; S. LI. llcynolds, 11; Hamilton Aldricks, 9: William J. I'ean, C ; Samuel B. Wilson, 10 ; E. Golden, U. No choice. , All the candidates were. then withdrawn except those named below. Another ballot was then taken which re sulted a3 follows : Pershing C9, Brown 43, Clark G ; Aldricks C. Mr. Pershing, of Cambria county, having received a majority of nil the votes, was de clared the nominee, which was afterward made unanimous. A resolution was offered that the State Central Committee consist of thirty-three members, one from each Senatorial District, equal to the number cf Senators, to be ap pointed by the delegates, and that the Chair man thereof bo appointed by the President of this Convention upin the ' recommenda tion of the candidates this day nominated. An amendment was offered to strike out the clause in relation to the appointment of the Chairman and that the Convention elect one. Not agreed to, and the original resolu tion was adopted. The Chairman was di rected to appoint a Committee of three, of which he was to he chairman, to inform the candidates of their nomination. Tho following was adopted : Itesolved, That this convention tender the thanks of the democracy of Pennsylvania, through thfir representatives assembled, to JJon. W. A Wallace, for the energy displayed and untiring zeal manifested during his entire Chairmanship of the State Central Committee. On motion adjourned sine die. Tlie Democratic Platform. F W. Hughes, Esq., of Schuylkill coun ty, from the Committee on Resolutions in the Democratic State Convention, submitted the following, which were adopted without a dissenting voice : The Democracy of Pennsylvania, in conven tion met, do unanimously declare 1. That the federal government is limited in power to the grants contained in the Constitu tion; thut tlie exercise of doubtful constkulional power is dangerous to the stability of the gov ernment and the safety of the people, and tlie Democratic party will never consent that the State of Pennsylvania shall surrender her great right of local sclfgovernraect. (. That the attempted ratification of the pro posed fifucnth amendment to the Federal Con-t-tiiution by the radical members of the Just Legislature, und their refusal to submit the same to a vote of the people, was a deliberate broach of their oilieial duty and an outrage upon every citizen of tho Stte, and the resolu tion making stu-h ratification should be prompt ly repealed und the amendment submitted to the people at the polls for acceptance or rejec tion. . . :i. That the Democratic party of renusylva t.i.i is opposed to conlerring upon the negro the l'iuht. to vote, find vie do emphatically deny that theie is any ritht or power hi Congress or else- lure to impose negro suffrage upon the people of this State in opposition to their will. 4. That reform in the administration of the federal and State governments, and in the man agement of their financial affairs, is imperative ly demanded. . . 5. That the movements now being made for the amelioration of the condition of the laboring-man has our most cordial co-operation. i. That the legislation of the late republican Congress, "outside of the Constitution," tho disregard of the majority therein of the will of the people and the sanctity of the ballot box, . in tlie exclusion from their seats iu Coure-s of representatives clearly elected, the establish ment of military governments iu .States in the Uuion and the overthrow of all civil govern ments therein, are acta of tyranny and usurpa tion that tend directly to the destruction of all republican government and the creation of the worst forms of despotism. 7. That our soldiers and siiiors who carried the Hag of our country to victory must be gnite lully remembered, and all the guaranties given in their favor must be faithfully carried into execution. 8. Equal rigtts and protection for natural ized und natiTe born citizens at home and ' abroad : the assertion of American nationality which shall command the ret-pect of foreigu jKvrera and furnish an example and encourage ment to people struggling for national integri ty, constitutional liberty and individual rights. 1. That the present internal revenue aud taxing- 6ystcm of the general government is grossly unjust,' tud means ought at once be adopted to cause a modification thereof. Anctueu Kailuoai Uoeroe. One o those terrible railroad tragedies which so frequently shock the public mind, bad its occurrence at Mast Hope, Pike county. Pa., on the line of tho New York and Krie R. R., on W'ednesday ii'ght of last week. There is but a single track at this joint, and tho engiuo of a freight train ran his train on to a siding to allow the express train from New York, due about midnight, t9 pass. While waiting, the freight engi neer fell asleep, and woko rjp impressed with the belief that the passenger traiu bad gone by, and at once Lean to move ou to the main track. He had j.ist gone far enough to thrust the side of his engine 'across the path of the express, and in a 'mo ment tho lightning train was upon him. The result was that the engine, mail, ex j.rcss, baggage and smoking cars were com-j.lotcly-wrecked, the Cro from tho locomo ,tive fet the combustible material &b well ae the depot iu flames, aud, terrible to relate, eotao eight or nine persons in the smoking ,car were eitLer killed by the collision or burned to death in the couflagratlon, while .fcorne ten or twelve other were more or less injured. Isone of the eu:p!cyte oa either train wore inj'ired. Cambria Freeman. THURSDAY, : t.r.JULY 22,. 1860. Democratic Stite and County Ticket. Fur (ioccrnor : II OX. ASA .PACKER, OF CAKBJN COUNTY. For Jii7e of the Svjwcmc Court : IIOX. CYlilJS I j. PEKSUING, - - - or CAMBRIA COUKTY. - Assembly : Hon. JOHN roUTEIl, 'Washington Twp. llfjlstcr and Recorder : GCO. W. OAT.M.VN, Ebeufcburg Borough. Treasurer : WILLIAM LINTON, Johnstown Borough. Commissioner : JAMES . NEASON, C'earfied Township - Poe.r House Director : JOHN ELOCII, Johnstown Borough. Auditor : ANTHONY ANNAT Chest Township. Declination. John H. Kennedy, Eq., the nominee for County Auditor, Las sent a letter of declination (assigning business en gagements as bis reason for doing so) to F. A. Shoemaker, Esq., Chairman of Co. Coin., and Anthony Anna, Eq., of Chest twp., bra has consented to fill the vacancy. Tlie XozuInatloUB. It was apparent long before the meeting of the Democratic State Convention that the nomination for Governor would narrow itself down to a contest be! ween Judge PictKC and Gen. Cass. They were. both unexcep tionable toeni for the position, and the choice of either could not have been a mistake. At the same time, it is very certain that if Gen. Hancock had permitted his narua to be used in the Convention he would not havo encountered any serious opposition. For reasons satisfactory to himself, he declined being a candidate, and tho Convention act ed discreetly in deferring to hia own ex pressed wish. Asa Packeii, of Carbon connty, was nom inated on the second ballot. The whole life of Asa Tacker is on instructive example of what can be effected by a man of honesty of purpose, perseveranca of character, sound, discriminatinating judgment, and great ad ministrative ability.. He is emphatically a self-made man, and indebted for bis won derful success in life,' and for Lis present high position before the people of Pennsyl vania, to those sterling qualities, both of head and heart, that have marked his career from the day that he Erst set his foot on our soil, a poor and unknown boy. He is not an orator, as that term is generally under stood a class of men of which the country has had a surfeit but he belongs to that order of earnest men, few in numbers but great in purpose, who have made two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, and who have been the great public bene factors of those sections of our country io which their lot has been cast. The valley of the Lehigh has grown with the giowth and strengthened with the strength of Asa Packer, and to no living man is that rich and floutisln'Dg section of our State so much i idebted fi r the steady and rapid develop ment of ber in-'xhauf tib'c mineral wealth as to Judge Pack eh, and no man more deserved ly enjoys the respect and confidence of hei people. No man ever impeached hU char acter fir i:jtgrity no spot or blemish stains hia private reputation. Rich in this woi Id's goods, he haa dispensed his wealth with a liberal hand and for the moit praise worthy and beneficent purposes. "Lehigh Univeis'ty" will stand as an enduring monu ment cf" the liberality and philanthropy of Asa Packer, long after the present and fu ture generations shall have passed away. Such is a brief but imperfect notice of the leading features in the character of the next Governor of Pennsylvania, for although it is a sound maxim in politics as well as in war never to underestimate the strength of your opponent, yet wc will not permit ourselves to entertain the least doubt about his trium phant election. To do so, after almost three years cf bitter and humiliating experience, would bo a direct and unpardonable imputa tion on the virtue and intelligence of the people. In our candidate we feel an hon est and sincere pride. With Asa Packer in the Executive chair, imbecility and the corrupt influences of the "ring" will disap pear, and honesty and intelligence will again exercise their legitimate control over public aflairs. Courts of law will not be swept out of existence to subserve a base party purpose ; honor and truth will once more have an abiding place in the Executive chamber ; pardons will cease to be a com modity of traffic, nor will the broad real of the Commonwealth ever again be prostitu ted either to obtain a fraudulent military v jte cr to nullify the legal election returns of a Congressional district on the floor of the House cf Representatives. Of Cyrus L. Persuing, Esq., the candi date for the Judge of the Supreme Court, a citizen of our own county, and who is well known and honored throughout the State, but little need be said. Mr. Pershing rep resented Cambria county for five consecu tive years in the lower branch of the Legis lature, and occupied a deservedly high posi tion in that body as a ready and skillful debater. He retired from the Legislature with an unsullied reputation and with clean hands. His ability as a lawyer is freely ac knowledged, while his character for integri ty is universally conceded. Of Lim it may with positive assurance be affirmed, that he would never soil his judicial robes with the dirt and filth of partisan politics. Such is the ticket which the Convention has presented to the people of the State for their support. The proceedings of the Con vention were characterized by great harmo ny and the utmost enthusiasm, the sure har bingers of a gloriou3. victory. Let that same spirit mark tho campaign ; let us re solve to win success, and we will win ; and then old democratic Pennsylvania, with all her bright and glorieus recollections, will be herself agaiu. -- The Democratic Connty Ticket. Wo have withheld any extended notice of the nominees of the Democratic Coiiuty Convention until the Democratic State Con vention should announce our candidates for Governor and Supreme Judge. Now that the Convention has placed before the people that statesman, philanthropist, and, what is i more in these days of corruption, that honest man, Asa Packer, and given to Cambria county the candidate for the Supreme rench in the person of her honored Eon.IIon. Cyrcs L. Tershinq, we shall give a brief glance at the County nominations. No convention ever, bad a greater number of coiapctant and reliable democrats from among whom to choose its standard-bearers, and while all the candidates Join in a ted arc eminently qualified for their rcFpective po sitions, it is net too much to say that others of equally strong claims upon the democra cy, and equally competent, were postponed by the convention. Capt. Jchn Toeteb was re nominated for Assembly by acclamation a fitting coin plimeLt to one who went to Harrisburg poor and returned poor, but "with hands un stained by plunder." For Register and Recorder GEOEOa. TV. Oatmam was the choice of the convention. He was a candidate three years ago, but bis claims were postponed to thosa of James Gbiffin, Eq., the present, upright and ef ficient incumbent, and he turned in and la bored actively for his competitor and the whole ticket. His present nomination over democrats who, lile Litr-eelf, sre honest and competent, is sufficient proof of Lis in tegrity and ability. Indeed, his high qual ifications are admitted by all. Capt. Willi au Linton, the nominee for Treasurer, like Capt. Pobtkb, served his country in the "tented field." Honest, manly and generous, be is a favorite with the true-hearted democracy. The convention, with many candidates before it of eminent fitness, selected JaiIes E. Neason, of C earfield township, for the position of County Commissioner. Mr. .Neason has never held or sought an office, but his election will certainly put "the right man in the right place." A thrifty and industrious farmer, he will be a watchful guardian of the interests and the money of the people. John Eloch. onr candidal e for Toor Di rector, is an honest, intelligent mechanic, who did not seek the office, but who will fill it with energy and integrity. He is a German by birth. aLd bis nomination is a fitting compliment to the unfaltering Ger man democracy. Anthony Anna, our candidate f. r Audi tor is an intelligent gentleman and good accountant, and will make a splendid officer. Such - is the ticket. Every man from Governor down to Auditor is worlyy the sup port of every democrat. Therefore let the watchword of the democracy be. "The tick et, the whole ticket, and nothing bnt the ticket." Mississippi ana Texas. The ways of Grant are not easily compre hended. He pledged himself, as several tel egraph dispatches frouv Washington assured the country, to leading citizens of the above named States, that elections should be Leld therein in the early part of September, be fore the cotton picking season wonld com mence. This was right and proper, if he had only adhered to it, for it is well known that when the work of securing the cotton crop has once commenced it will not permit of any interruption until it has been completed. A planter who has a large cotton crop to se cure cannot afford to run the risk of the negroes attending political gatherings, and theieby perhaps lose the one-half of it. A siugle day, just at that particular time, is of vast importance to him and his interests. This promise was made by the President be fore the Virginia election took place. The result of that election disappointed and alarmed the Cabinet, as well as the radical leaders generally. It would not do to per mit Mississippi and Texas to repeat the les fon of Virginia, as they were certain to do, before the elections would come off in Penn sylvania and Ohio in October. Its political effect on thos States was both apprehended and feared. Bontwell, therefore, snuffing the political breeze from afar, induced Grant and his Cabinet to pstpone the elections in those two States nntil the 30th day of No vember the most inconvenient time in the whole year for holding it. No other reason for the sudden change can be assigned than the one we have mentioned, and it cannot be defended on any principle of hoiestr or a decent rcgan for the convenience anl inter ests cf those two unreconstructed States. If Grant and his Cabinet suppose that the result of the election in Pennsylvania wculd have been materially affected by the action of the people of Mississippi and Texas, they are laboring under a fatal delusion. This will be made perfectly clear and manifest to their short-sighted visions m October, and then they can prepare themselves for tho response to the verdict of the Old Keystone which will bo given by these two Southern States on the SOth day of November. Penn sylvania has a stern duty to perform to her self and to the country, and she means to do it effectually, as Boutwell & Co. will learn in sorrow and in shame. The Democratic State Convention confer red upon its presiding officer, Mr. Buckalew, and tho two candidates, Judge Packer and Mr. Pershing, the- power of selecting the Chairman of the State Central Committee. This is an important trust, and ought to re ceive the serious consideration of the three gentlemen to whom it has been committed. We undertake to express the opinion, for many apparent reasons not necessary here to mention, that the position ought not to be conferred on any person, no matter who ha may be or how well qualified, who is connected with 4he Dublic nress TV An an would, in our judgment, be a political blun der, if not a fatal mistake. Geutral Hancock's tetter. Tho fallowing is the full text of General Hmcock's letter withholding permission to use his name in couuection with the nomi nation for Governor of Pennsylvania, and which was lead before tho recent Democratic State Convention : Saint Pavl, May 21st, 1SW). PrARPia: I had the pleasure to receive your favor of May 1st lastjust before leaving V'asbinpton for the west, ily occupation and duties prevented trie from promptly replying to your communication: and such is to be regret ted, for I was as well prepared 'to exprws to you my views then as now and by having promptly written I would have avoided the ap parauce of hesitation. ily Tiews on the subject, cotceming'whieh yon have addressed me, have never changed, urd I have freely expressed their to all persons who have in any form coiuinuuiented with m to that end. I am averse to obtrudicg myself oa the public," and hava therefore avoided writing anything for publication, although I have authorized my correspondents to make any other proper use of my sentiment. I write to you with the same limitation as to the pur pose to which my letter maybe applied, and for the same reason.. I feel highly honored by the preference showD me iu old Northumberland, as expressed in your letter; but notwithstanding the high hon or which you propose to confer by casting your influence for me iu the nominating convention for Uovemor, now close at huad, I must state, and without reservation, that under existing circumstances I cannot permit the use of niy name iu that convention. Were I in civil life, no distinction would be more agreeable to me than to be Governor of Pennsylvania, lbare, however, followed the profession of arms since boyhood ; and now that I have acquired con siderable rank, do not wish to abandon it and enter upon a life for which I em much less prepared by experience aud education. In declining to permit the use of my name I have considered that no injnry woald result to the State, f or there are numbers of distinguished men, k-iowing its interests far better than my self, whom the people would be pleased to hon or, and who could render more elHcieut service to the people of Pennsylvania than myself. I am truly jour obedient servant. Wikfield Scott ITancock.. To Messrs. G.H.Gondy. Win. Mitchell, Chas. Meade, Wm. H. Hutter, James Veal, L. II. Merrymsn, B B. Welsh and Z. Ilagermau, Bethlehem, Pa. . The Public Ledger is an independent pa per and has the largest circulation of any newspaper published in Philadelphia. To show its estimate of the character of Asa Packer we publish the followirg extract from an article which appeared iu its col umns on the day after the nomination o( that gentleman : "Asa Packer, through his entire career, has been widely known as an earnert, thorongh oing, consistent Democrat, of the old school. He uas been a member of the JHencevlvania Legislature, his term in that body ending in lt?4:i, and a member of the Howe of Repre sentatives in Congress for the Thirteenth Dis trict fro ni lbS3 to lti57. At the Democratic National Convention, held in 1608, in Kew York, he received the entire vote of Pennsyl vania as candidate for the Presidency for four teen ballots, aud was only withdrawn in favor of General W. S. liaocock. The nomination of Judge Packer as candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania is a becoming compliment to a life spent iu honest industry, and to a charac ter of blameleos purity and unspotted iutegrity." Tns last HolliUaysburg Standard speaks of the Democratic candidates in this county as "gentlemen of worth and character and great personal popularity," and pays the fol lowing high but none the less deserved trib ute to the characlnr of our nominee for As sembly, Capt. John Porter: "The re-noroination of Mr. Porter for As sembly was a merited compliment to a honest a legislator as ever occupied a sent in onr legis lative hails. It will be a fortunate day for the tax payers of the State when they are once more represented by a majority of just such men as he at Hartisburg. ilav his tribe increase!" Ijt onr paper this week wiil be found an admirable sketch of the life of Judge Packer, the Democratic candidate for Governor. It was republished in Forney's Philadelphia Press, with a complimentary editorial no tice, on the 14th of last December. Antici pating at that time that Mr. Packer would bo the nominee of our party for Governor, we preserved the paper for tho use we now make of it. It will amply repay a careful perusal. COM3I UK I CATIOST . LIFE ILLUSTRATIONS. No. 1. EXAMINATION OF TEACHEKS. The present mole of examining Uachcrs is not well calculated to elicit what they know. Six or eight questions on six or eight branches of knowledge will not bring out the latent knowledge of any mind. Without any desire to underrate the abil ity of County Superintendents to examine, we wish merely in this article to show that teachers are often marked too low. Perhaps forty teachers are examined in one day, and if each gets six questions, it will require two hundred and forty questions to be asked and proposed by a Superintendent, while six questions will not give margin enough to ar rive at any tolerable decision as to the mer its of each candidate. . We will illustrate by calling up tho spir its of Socrates, Virgil, Bacon, Newton, Vol taire, Webster, Adams and Benton, as a class of teachers, and by holding an exami nation. ' Such a class ought to know a good deal, but our questions will not elicit that knowledge. We will proceed : Mr. Socrates, please state in what city nomer. the poet, was born ? Answer I cannot tell. Mr. Virgil, which is the highest city in the world ? Answer I declare I don't know. Mr. Bacon, where is the Blewfield river and mud lake 1 Answer I am not able to say. Mr. Newtcn, How many Topes have there been, and who was the 41st? Answer I cannot answer. Mr. Voltaire, on what day and In what month was the battle of Arbela fought? Answer I am not able to answer that ques tion. Mr. Websfer, whether is Lake Erie or Massachusetts the larger? Answer I am not positive which. Mr. Adams, on what day was the Pirate Kidd executed ? Answer I could not say. Mr. Benton Udw .many rivers are there in the United States? Answer I do Dot know. Here is an intelligent class, yet if they were living we have not tho least doubt that they would fi;ive tho answers indicated. Well, how are they to be marked in this ex amination? Why very poor, or No 5,' which is the same. 'What! eight of tho most learned men that ever lived be marked very poor 1 x Yes. Why ? Because they did not answer a sing'o question. Neither could Benjamin Prankl'm answer to-day one-fourth of the questions in a common school gcogra-VhJ- Tridias. From Haney's (X. Y.) Journal .J ASA P A C K E K . BY JOHN' ELDEEKIK. C" C Asa Facker was born in the township of Groton, New London count'. Connecticut, iu the beginning cf the year 180G. His grand father, Elisha Packer, was the mott promi nent and successful business man of his native town. He was a farmer, tanner, and shoe manufacturer, diligent in business, and not neglectful of those higher responsibilities which he inherited with his puritan blood. Ha was a staunch member f tho Baptist denomination, and worshipped in the church erected ou the site of the old Pequot Fort, still in existence, and known as the Fort Hill Church. His father, Elbhi Packer, Sr., was a man of strong sense, industrious, eco nomical, and of independent character, bnt never very successful iu business. A young er brother of his father, Daniel Packer, how ever, had a watchful eye to the interests of hia nephew, and as soon as Asa was of an age to do something for himself, this Daniel Packer got him a situation in the tannery of Mr. Elias Smith, of North Stonington. Al though Asa Packer had enjoyed very limited opportunities of education, these hid enabled him to master the rudiments of knowledge, and he made every. (Sort to improve his mind, and increase his store of information. By diligence, faithfulness, and good temper, the first indications of a manly character.be won the confidence, and ultimately the affec tion of his employer. Despite his youth, be came to be regarded by the tanner as a con fidential friend and adviser, and if death had not interposed and broken the connection, Asa Packer would probably have become a partner in the establishment, and ended his lifa as a tanner. During Mr. Smith's last illness. Asa was his trusted manager, and after the hours of business, his sympathizing friend and companion. After the death of Mr. Smith, Asa en gaged himself to a farmer by the name of John Brown. This farmer was a man of strong character, aud still stronger convic tions. He was hard banded and hard-headed, able either to boo his own row in the corn field, or hold his own, ground in debate. He was a Democrat of the school of Thomas Jefferson, and always reiidy to maintain his opinions by reasonable argument, and never so happy as wheu pitted against a worthy antagonist. From this farmer Asa Packer got the bias which has ever inclined his heart and his judgment to the partywhich is now known as the Democratic, o e o o Like all young men f New England, when Asa Teached seventeen years of age. he felt that it was time for him to make a seri ous efibit to establish himself in the world. At this time Pennsylvania was attracting great numbers of Eastern men. The tide had not yet Bet for the more distant West ern portions of our national domain. Taken np by the current, in the year 1823, when btii just seventeen, with a knapsack which contained bis whole wardrobe, and a few dollars" in his purse, Asa Packer set out on foot for Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. Arrival at the town of Brooklyn, he appren ticed himself to tho trade of carpenter and joiner. He rightly Judged that a man in that frontier country was measured by his power to wield the axe, and that the skilled mechanic was tho man for whoso services there would be the Bteadiest and most profit able employment. This selection of a trade which involved manly work, showed the temper which the ymng man brought to the task of making his way iu a new field and among new friends.' After serving his time as an apprentice, and becoming the master of his business, ho continued to wdrk at it assiduously for sev eral years, when he invested his savings in a lot of wild land on the upper waters of the Susquehanna, and entered upon the hard but free aud adventurous hfe of the pioneer. He made a clearing, and reared with his own hards the calin to which he soon afier brought a bride. Tho lady whom ho select ed to be the mistress of his heme was a daughter of Zopher Blakslee, a name that will be recognized even now by many in Northern Pennsjlvapia. She proved a worthy wife to Asa Tackcr in his early struggles. While he was about his work in the fields, or striking sturdy blows In the forest .which hemmed !n his homestead on every side, Mrs. Packer was equally bard at work attending to the domestic affairs of the household. Her cimole fingers, with the aid of the spinning-wheel, made all the garments worn by the family during the first ten years of their married lifa. There was no dispute about the authority or sphere of either ; each found appropriate work close at hand, and was content with doing it, and with recipro cating sympathy and counsel. Here Asa Tacker lived eleven years. The circumstance which led to a change in his field of labor, was occasioned by a necessity common to the more enterprising pioneer settlers that of seeking employment in the thickly-populated districts during a portion of the 3'ear, in order to obtain ready money for taxes and articles essential to home com fort and enjoyment. The nearest point where labor ccu'd then command cash in band was a hundred miles away in the Le high valley. Tho j mrney had to be mado on foot, by paths through rough mountaiu passes and the forests which stretched be tween the upper waters of the Susquehanna and the Lehigh. In the valley of the Lehigh, Josiah White and Erskino Hazard, representatives of as sociated capital of Philadelphia, had project ed and executed improvements which made tho wonderful riches of this section its coal, iron, timber, lime, cement, and slate par tially available. Hither came Asa Packer, a poor artisan, to labor with his hands, to mix with a crowd of men similarly employed and undistinguished. What has raised Asa Packer so far above the throng of which he then was but a unit ? Observing the character of the country, the almost immeasurable' extent of the coal deposits, and the diversity of the rich pro ductions of the Lebigh valley, ho foresaw the establishment of those extensive collieries, of lines of transportation, and all the immense traffic which time has developed. Here was a field for the highest intelligence and the most untiring energy. According-, in the spring of 1833, when he was twenty-seven years of age, Asa Packer left his farm in Susquehanna county, and permanently Bet tied himself in the Lehigh valley. His advent into a region in which he was destined to accomplish -so much made na stir. He brought to tho new field but a few huudred dollars. His capital lay In his activo mind, stout heart, and strong arms, and in indus trious and thrifty habits. His first and second summcrB wore employed in boating coal from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia, in which he acted as master of his own boat. The energy which he displayed in this oc cupation, brought him "to the notice of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and ho formed a connection with the company, which was maintained for many years, great ly to his advantage. About this time Mr. Packer made a visit to his relations at Myotic. . To his brother, Robert Packer, and hU uncle, Daniel Pack er, he gave such an account of the advanta ges of tiw coal region that they were induced to accompany him on his return. They visited in company the collieries established in the valley, and went over the great field just opening for business. Daniel Packer was bo struck with the magnitude of the op portunity, that he declared that age alone deterred him from closing his business-, ond selling all hia property in Connecticut, and coming to tho" Lehigh Vu'lcy. II.) advised the brothers to unite their means and engage in business at Mauck Chunk, offjriu to assist them with money and credit, and to stand behind them iu'every emergency. This advice exactly accorded with the views of Asa Packer, and the two brothers imme diately engaged in business in genaral mer chandise in Mauch Chunk, under the firm name of A. & It. W. Packer, with a capital of five thousand dollars. The most of this m'ney had bevn saved by Asa Packer from the hard earnings of former years. The new house entered, from the moment of opening, upon an extended and profitable husine. It soon became knowu by its lare transactions both on the Lehigh and Schnylkitl rivers. Its operations ou the Le high during the fifteeu years between 1835 and 1850 embraced a large mercantile busi ness at Mauch Chunk ; on tracts with the Lehigh Cjal and Navigation Company, which involved tho building of dams and locks on the npper navigation ; working coal mines leased from tne corn p any, ud after ward Mr. Packer's own mines near Hazleton, and shipping coal to Philadelphia and New York. A similar shipping business was also done by them on the Schuylkill. They were the first through transporters of coal to the New York market, and it is a fitting re turn that the business hon!d still continue to 1 the largest item iu the income of Asa Packer, its projector. Throngh his coal mining operations he was brought into close relations with the late Commodore Stocktou, and between them there pprung up a warm friendship a friendship whith proved of great value to Mr. Packer at a trying mr ment when pushing forward to completion the great enterprise of his life, the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Up to the year 1850, the transportation cf the coal of the Lehigh valley to market had been altogether by water, but the business had now reached such a . magnitude as, in Mr. Packer's j ilgmont, to justify the build ing of a railroad aloDg the banks of the Le high river. Accordingly be urged upon the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company the policy of building a ro.d as a part of their eysrem of transport. vtion. But the project was not favorably regarded by the company. Experience, it was a?.nwerel, had proved that coal and iron wonld only pay water freights. The Trading Railroad, which enjoys nnrisu l facilties in grades and water connections, wbs instanced to c'.inch the argument. Asa Packer's opinion, however, was not affected by this adverse criticism of his proposition, and he determined to take the matter personally in band. The ground for a railroad in tho Lehigh valley wa embraced in'a charter for a road of much greater extent, projected by that grent Pennsylvania financier, Edward R. Biddle. It was embracel in the charter of the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and S:is qnrhanna Rulroad Company, incorporated April 21. 18J5. The first ctlrvey was made in -he fall of 1850. Not until the 4th cf April, 1851, seventeen drys before the char ter would have expired by its own limita tion, did Asa Packer take his place in the board of manager.. On the same day the board sanctioned the gradiug of a. mile of railroad near Allentown, and thertby tlie limitation was avoided. On the 30th of October. 1851, Mr. Packer became owner of a controlling portion of the stock, and sub sequently aubrnltied a proposition to build the road from Mauch Chunk to Easton, a distance of forty-six miles, for a considera tion, to be paid in the stock and bonds of the company, the name of which was now changed to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, to suit its extent and true field of work. Mr. Packer's proposition was accepted, and he commenced work in November, 1832 Under his personal supervision it was pushed wlfb great v;gor. As he receivod only stock j and bonds in payznent, he hazarded his whole I fortune in the enterprise. In its eany com pletion and profitable woi king, he saw every dollar cf his investment quadrupled, and every acre of land in the Lehigh valley en- j hanced in value. But it was a heavy load, and many times did it embarrass Mr. Packer to carry it; but hi; high character, atid his reputation as a business man, enabled him to commr.nd re. nrcea which wonld have been at ti e service f no other. Commodore Stockton, the New Jersey Central Railroad Company, and other rich corporations to w hose business the Lehigh road would con tribute, alao came to Mr. Packer's assistance, and mdu largo advances on its stock and bonds. The Lehigh Valley Railroad was finished and delivered to the company on the 2ith of September, 1855, and was put immediately in operation. Its coal freights, which in 1857 amounted to 500,000 tons, in the year 1866 exceeded 2,000,000 tons, C35.000 cf which were delivered along its route from Mauch Chunk to Easton, to works which the railroad itself had called into existence. The addition which it brought to Asa Pack er's fortune can bo stated only in millions. Within three years after the opening of the railroad from Mauch Chunk to Easton. with connections which made a railroad route from the valley to Philadelphia as well as Now York, Mr. Packer suggested the exten sion of a line of railroad into the valley of the Susquehanna, and up that valley to tho great table lands of the State of New York, there to connect with the New York and Erie Railroad. This would bring tho anthra cite coal region within the system of roads leading north an! west to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and also afford a direct route by connection with the Catawiasa and Erie roads to the Great West. Asa Packer has lived to see the whole of this stupendous conception realized. It is not possible to calculate the benefit which it is destined to confer upon tho whole country. It will set the wheels of machinery in motion thousands of miles in the interior as well as at tidewater, and bring about in a great sec tion of country that diversity of employ ments essential to the highest development of the people. On his return from a trip to Europe in 1865, Mr. Packer announced his inteution to found in Leh'gh valley an educational insti tution which should supply to its young men the means of obtaining that knowledge of which he had in his early life felt such a profound need. The branches of education to which it was Mr. Packer's design that the institution should be especially devoted were civil, mechanical, and mining engineer ing ; general and analytical chemistry ; min eralogy and metallurgy ; analysis of soils aud agriculture ; architecture and construction ; all branches of knowledge of exceptional value in the Lehigh valley. In carry in; into effect bis purpose, Mr. Packer gave a woodland park, sixty aeres in extent, situ ated on the borders of South Lethlehem, and $500,000 in mouey. This Institution, known as the Lehigh University, was formally opened September 1, 1866, and its success has realized the in telligent aud beneficent purposo of its foun der. .By its charter it L made a self-sustain ing institution ; intended to reach Lo;u r; . aud poor with its advantages ; its free arships being offrd as prizes to b0 'Jj' peted for by all the students. No wctariT bigotry limits its beneficent inthi-ce t) 5 single religious deaominsiion, hut tlr,t every creed find a welcorna to its balb ' Ou the 231 of November, lStij, r.t V d;a ner given to Mr. Packer at Bethlehem, a public ackno'Ala Igment of his prina-l f' at which many of the m st eminent st the State were piresent, Col. John W. Purfi" pa'd the following eloquent tribute to "I guest of the day.: "Here.ii a chara:ter jo career- for youth and manhoo.i t stujv" Here is a lesson to the one to niove on ii path of improvement, atid a stiinulart tj '' other never to depntr in the darkest hourf disaster and misfortune. We pick out Packer as the miner picks out a piece of , to bhow the valuo of the precious depj. from which it is taken ; we pick hhn out t show what'ean be won by ptT:.ynaTIi. industry, and kindness to r,en ; h? cuur.-j iu the niidsi of bad lock ; by co:i6duce the midst of gloomy prophecy ; by mode,;, in prosperity, and ly piiu&dy grrr,:: when fortune coined with both hanis (: q realizo a juat ambition." Among ).& ,TiT:i diatc friends and associates, Mr. , jj. q'j.' mer. the president of the Camdn and Auib y Railroad, bore high testimony to the rcr-V an l ability with which Mr. Packer had car. ried out his great mining and miiroaj entt-r. prises, and acknowledged that a.'ri'.ch Pennsylvania is only his adopt! S' a to, fcr of her sons have done more to dyvtAo mineral resource?. Mr. Packer er.joys to tho fullest extent tin confidence of the c rnmuuily iu h hicSi 1, lives. This it has shown by electing him v public office wht never he could he iijiiu.. to accept it. He served his neighbor- m:a'. years in the General Assembly of tlie his services there ending with the year 1M lie was then elected judge of the co--y court, which position he held five years. :. hence he is familiarly known as Judge Pack er. More recently he has represented l.i district for two con.-ecutive tern.s in tr Congress of the United Suites, and h fntuu insisted 'on presenting his name to the k National Convention of the DenvTratic jv ty, as a candidate f r the first office in tu gift of the American per. pie. Mr, Packer's whol- career exomydifies lit truth that in the United StatLH ihere is u distinction to which any young man r,, not aspire, and with energy, diligence. jL. lig'nee, and virtu?, attain. When he out from Mystic, Connecticut, to make t:.i journey to Pennsylvania on ft, it 'an probable that his entire worldly posse'iAi amounted to twenty dollars. The.-e p-w sions now are estimated at twenty rrji!!i.;.i, all of which has bea accumulated, sj known, without wronging a sir g'e ir.liv;.!. lial. On the contrary, tlie wealth 'hi h has gathered is bnt a tithe of that which r has been the means of creating in the L.-fc valley. TnE testimony in the Erie rn;'-1 slaughter indicates that no k-s than 'h-r emplnyee of tho road, iricln ling tho r were asleep on the train which c.vi? 1 ;.: disaster. The conductor ivas in hi-cii..;.-or sleeping ear; the train was moved ;i out a signal ; and, according to the cn;L.: o.'s teatinjot-y, it is customary to s-t run trains on tl.a Erie R a I aga:r;-t p'-is::-orders. The verdict holds the sleej y .; necr guilty, and exonerates ail other sir.,-1-.-ees of the road. Immediately on the rv.:. tion of the verdict the engineer. J-: Griffin, was arrested. He sh nld b trifdr murder and if convicUd hanged. A i- examples of this sort and thero woaii fewer railway smanh ups. A bot circus-rider at Louisville was i ff ? a horse and equipments worth S 2.000 ift would turn twenty-five consccut.ve saults on the horse's back while arviw :'.. headway. He accompli hei he fi-at out diffculty, and then turned nv -..-. - - ersaultj before dismounting. Sclii a c.v..' ?ct h:is never before been at tea: :?. A now family velocipeda wt k'i w ire ry four persons, and is worked wit'-c-i.t i-' ha- been patented in Springfield. .M.i-s,2-the Ih'pulAic savs it is a practical u Forney's Press assails Gn. Ilcs" ou account of his be'ng a Cath 'lie. fVlt KKW FA33X1LY SEWING MACHINE The superior merits of the "Siren" chines over all others, either for Fara:!.'" Manufacturing purposes, are so '!! f,-i:i' :.. ch and so generally admitted, that au triuncr of their relative excellences is no lors fidered neeessarv. .P UUP. NEW FAMILY MAC 11. which has been brought to perfection rtV';'. of lime, labor, or exp- n?e, i- rw f(v j . presented to the public as ineomr-v"3 " Bkst ?kwixg Machise is existemk. The machine in question i- 1M ' PACT, DURABLE and P.F.Al'TlF is qniet, light running, and CAr.-.t"1" rORMt.NO A UAMit AND VAE1ETT Or V; belore attempted upon a sir prlc Mac.'.:- either Silk, Twist, Linen or Cotton and sewing with equal facility the ve'T,jJ. and coarsest materials, and anytid:;g f the two extreme, in the niot leaut;-- substantial manner. Its attachme:;';.'s ming. Braiding, Cording. Tucking. Fellin?, Trimming, I.inUiui:. &c; 'tr. and Pcactical, and have been ii:-'"-adjusted especially for this MardJae. New designs of the Unique, Usefw . ular Folding Tope and Cabinet C lO to the Machines manufactured hj j'1- ny, have been prepared for cacloiit'i Machine. A faint idea, however, ciuatt1 ' veyed throuph the medium of aL'r. ,rfr limited advertisement; and we ti.e'.,( every person in quest of a e.'""1v all means to exatnine and test, il .''v, sibly do so, all the leading rival -fore making a purchase. A se.ct''j" be made understandingly. J?lirh.:.a cies for supplying ths "Singer" J!af"'-' be found in nearly every city andto out the civilized world, where -f v,'..; be cheerfully exhibited and fl,,.T. J promptly furnished. Or coinniuuK'?' be addressed to The Singer Manufacturing w-t-; SEW' Y O R -z& Philadelphia Ovy .ILK. 1 . f. 110j CiutsT r- r t vi i.-rT . ..-eat h and vicinity, keeps these Micu:n for sale at his store on High slrf.0''jf) .... l a si i ' I Hi" It lie are respectfully mviteu w t.--- tTit. in operation. Instructions ., ir.S;1' chines sold at citv prices. o rs j VX Also, Singer "S Needles, Oil, -'atf always oa hand- ' fvL IT
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers