election'. For ample"confirmatloii of this
fact, we refer to the testimony of Thomas
Downey, Self. the supcrinteudnnt of. the state
house clock, who was employed by the mi
nority judges as door keeper until the cou
sumotion Of their nefarious intentions. He
swears that shortly before the clock struck
twelve,-he was requested by one of the whig
judges io “STOFTHE CLOCK,” which he
■however effusedand - further 'declares, that
it wHs .noibeforc one o'clock in the night
when they had girt through*jvith niaking the
returns* •.
The returns thps clandestinely and fraud
ulently made,""were banded to the Sheriff
and. forwarded to the Secretary of the oom
ihoiiWealth by h locomotive prepared for the
occasion, as-if the'result of 1 an election de
pended on tlio swiffmjss,of,a steam engine!
.The federal. Sheriff affected,to consider these
*
the true returns, although in his testimony
he acknowledges his cognizance of,there hav
ing been another return made out by a ina-
jqoty of. diO-judges iiuthe-tnoiJaappuintetl by
jaw, and also that he knew the fact that the
democrats had a majority in the county of
Philadelphia , a fact which, as Ho admits, he
freely expressed to a number of his friends.
Dot In accordance with the acts of Assembly,
on (his subject, the sheriff has nothing to do
with the returns fm‘ members of the legisla
ture; the act of 1T99 imposing the duty-upon
that officer is repealed by the act'of 1803,
which directs that one copy .of the return
shall be deposited in the P.rothonotary’s office
by the return judges, and one copy, under a
sealed cover, directed to the Secretary of
the Commonwealth,-deposited in the nearest
past "office. The returns of the majority
judges were made up, forwarded and depos
ited in conformity to this law, and it is fully
substantiated by the testimony of Col.
. M’Cahan, that they reached the, ; Secretary
. through the post office, and were in his pos
.. -session-previous. to the meeting-of.thelegis-.
lature. Yet, with a full knowledge of ajl
these facts, "dnd in violation of the plainest
of reason ami law, Thomas H. Bur
/ rowes, the. Secretary of the commonwealth,
at-the assembling of the legislature, assumed
the fearful responsibility ot withholding from
both Houses the returnsof the majority judges
of the comity of Philadelphia, and .sent in
the minority returns only. That this was a
wanton, unjustifiable and daring assurapti,eft.,
jysj£%jiqne, vyc presuine., \Y,ilI be so hardy
■as to deny- The. office is one of a ministe
rial character, amt intended in this respect
as a mere depository for the-safekeeping of
these returns, until the legislature convened,
when it became the duty of the officer to de
liver them to the respective bodies to which
they belbnged.. This violation of law on (lie
part of the late.secretary was, however, hut'
partofadeep laid, well matured conspiracy
on the part oLihat jivcambent and others in
-high stations, to-which your cominitte will
[Call your attention. .That-'olficcr had ,pre■
vlously issued a semiofficial-proclamation
*to the friends of Joseph Riln,erf\n which he
exhorts them "to treat the election as if they
Juid riot been defeated and in that altitude
abide the. result. ” Merc, in the deliberate
opinion of your committee, was an unequiv
ocal- and openly declared determination to
resist the will of the majority, as declared
through the legal medium of the ballot boxes.
The plan of operations was to organize a
house of representatives suitable 'to their
views, and-having a majority in the senate,
.and a Governor whose constitutional term of
•office would not expire for some weeks, they
■would pass laws do contest the election of
Governor Porter, elect a United- States Sen-
ator, State Treasurer, and Canal; Commiss-
ioners; and if they could not succeed in so
moulding the return for Governor as to dc
•clafe Joseph Rifner re-elected, .then to pass
laws by which the .patronage of Governor
Porter should be in a great measure taken
away. These projects, are more fully de
■veloped in the testimony of John Montelius,
Esq. and were intended to be accomplished
by the organization of a house of representa
tives upon fraudulent returns, contrary to
the declared will of the people, and without
regard to the powers or the letter and spirit
•of the law. , , •
The testimony of Judge Huston also shbwp
(the intention of the federal party to contest
■the election ;,of Governor Porter. He re-
'ceived a letter from a whig or anti-mason,
■ one of his party friends, in which the judge’s
■opinion was asked in relation to the manner
.and effect of (he contest. This-letter was
■received before the meeting of the legislu
- -ture;~~ Judge Houston burnt 'thc I otter and
mow declines giving the name of the writer.
The testimony further shows that individ
mals were hired to come to Ha®risb,urg from
’Halifax and elsewhere to assist them in af
deoting these dark designs. In support thepc
"4# \ve would refer to the testimony of Mr.
‘John ’W-elkcr, a highly respectable wit
ness, who -say s the con tractors on the Wis-
jnzDaujdiin cpuirty,. told hini.
that they.-were coming down.tb, Harrisburg
■on the 4th of December, ihat-dhey were de
itefmined,to,secure seats to the''Philadelphia
■county whig members, that Governor Porter
, 'Should ‘riotbe sworn in, but Milner continu
ed in, dlfice tliree years longer;” and that on
ithe,4th of December .these desperadoes did
' mppear in Harrisburjj'and. boldly reiterated
their revolutionary declarations. He sinv
them iu the house of representatives at, the
■time of tlm- organization. : Tlds witness is
■corroborated by (jharlcs AV. Ilegins.'lßsq.,
■General Ailahi Oilier, and others;—-Nor, ac
’' •cording toThe testimony of John Abrahams,'
, slidfhey-abt; without ye ward—he swears that
l ihe observed, Thaddeua Stevens distributing
;h roll of'.bank notes among-them’; this .evi
' <<leh.c'e'As.ira some mfcasure corroborated-by
.otherwitnesses.,,' , : .-
This ami other.' testimony abundantly
proves, that there existed on the part of the
; autiThiasoni'c and whig party; a scttldd prfe;
“M'OBerfed determination to defeat the will
■ W»- : anaJ6rity,of the people. Jt. was. ah-,
ncedi’n tl(c Jeaditig federal paper at Mary
rishurg,.that;‘*thfiy n membOrs frqin the conni
ty .of., thpir scats,
j wisei'thatithey; would' defend 'tlmiiisgltvjVaj!
.heroic ,nieh "aj^avu ,'u tzAnOs.” "it
of
-poljdlcly boasted they, wbti!d seQUre;,ni rntgoj
el,ect’a
-- Saba tori ,-S la te ‘ rer, : ; Can aV: Cbin injs
sloners, 3S£c. ‘lt- is also’ manifested; by, the
testimony of, tVin, ;B. -lleedjvthe Attorney
cv.-ii ])idVy eatm3c!!or a;!d_ahet
ijrlhttlife'Ohiodi'lciit eooyluet;
I* lit ■Pbifndeljnmu ■•
Pursuant to'the plan of "operations pro- the occasion, and after the.forms of an oath
viously marked out, "circulars wore issued were administered to him, he likewise qiial
by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, re- ified those- who actcd-with him; when this
questing the attendance, of the federal mem- spurious and self-constituted hlpise adjourn-■
hers two or three days prior to the meeting ,ed; _ • ; . ! ■'■
of the legislature. They accordingly met Duriugallthis time, the democratic niem
ahd concocted their plan of.separate organ!- bers , fifty six in number, proceeded-in the
zatipn, as dcyclnpcd jn.thc house of repre- - - manner prescribed by law to the election of
sentalives on the 4th of December. The a Speaker,.which honor devolved oil William
testimony of .lolm Montolius, Esq. the lion- Hopkins; of Washington county, who as
es£ alul fearless representative from Union ceiidcd the platform, the minority speaker
county, on “this point is of an interesting giving way to him,as if an acknowledgment
character. He shows that a separate plan of his having acquired theutatipn-illegally;
of operations was agreed upon, Mr. Cunning- Mr,.Hopkins had the necessary oaths adimn-.
■ham to be. the speaker, who for-the purpose' istcred to. him by Mr. Smith, of Frahkjin;
of expedition was'provided with a : pocket and all the 'members then severally took and
biblp, for the. occasion. He also confirms subscribed, in accordance with the constitu
their determination to elect aU. States Sen- (ion'and laws, the usual oaths'in the test
ator, Canal Commissioners. State Treasurer
and Printers, and contest the election of
Governor Porter. This worthy gentleman
furnishes the reasons - whichuuluced him to
separate from men harboring such intentions.
~\s-at-firBt-inipressed-he-was-led-to-believe
that 'the whig members from the county of
Philadelphia were duly elected, - abd con
tending for the right; but he subsequently
discovered his error, and had the independ
ence and patriotism to speak of it in that
way, and advise his party li lends to compro
mise the difficulties; he was told “to adhere
to , his party right or wrong; and if he
flinched they would break him down.” Mr.
Montelius in the spirit of patriotism, how
ever, laid his liaiyl upon his breast and im
pressively replied “there is something here
that you cannot break down.”
Your committee having thus, at some
length, descanted upon the testimony which
reveals the plan's of the fbdcral leaders prior
to the convening of the legislature, will now
proceed to'"furnish a faithful detail of the oc
currences which'transpired at tiie seat,of
'government upon that memorable occasion;
a-duty.-whjch-is the moro-iinpeiious,- as up
on it depends (lie rCsult of (ho second point
of inquiry —‘‘the necessity of calling.the mil
itary to the scat of government.” And here
your committee will be permitted to pre
mise, that the suppression of'the legal re
turn from the county of Philadelphia, was
INDISPENSAUI.Y NECESSARY fpr the prosecution
of the illegal and disreputable designs of the
party who had been so lately ejected from
.ybeiv ill-gotten.power. The delivery of the
minority return, (inly a (forded the- federal
'members a pretext, perhaps the only one
that could have been seized Upon, to attempt
the introduction of individuals into-the house
of representatives who had neverboen chosen
by the majority of the people, to whose right-,
ful decision their claims had been submitted;
at the period of meeting,-we accordingly find
Michael Day, Adam Woelper, Wiliam F.
Hughes, William Lloyd, William L. C rails,
Samuel F. Reed, Dcnjumin R. 'Meets and
Jesse F. Suiith, the individuals named in
the minority returns, as having received a
certaiifiuiinber of votes ih lhe seven of the '
seventeen districts of the county of Phila
delphia (being however no certificate of e-
Icction) we.Cnd these individuaja appearing
at the bar of the house of representatives,
claiming seats as members, which they had
previously marked out as thfiir own, upon
no other pretensions than the.fraudulent and
deceptive paper referred to; a projebt so da
ring in its'conception, naturally de < iSiSK|ad,
desperate and extreme measures to elfoefns
consumation: these were not wanting on the
part of those engaged in this unlawful design
against the rights of the majority—af(er the
reading of the minority return by F. R.
Sluink, Esq., the clerk of the former ho'use
of representatives, the federal urged
the immediate admission of the individuals
named in said return, (if so it may be called)
oh the singular ground,’that the Secretary
had sent in'no other evidence of the election
of members from the count}', thus striving
to render a most gross violation of constitu
tional law, on the part of that officer, a pre
text for committing a still grosser outrage
on theyijght of free representation!
. 'it i|tmocratic members,- with a charac
tenStii#'regard for the rightrof the people,
when menaced either by invasion from wilh
out, or encroachment from degenerate sons
within, manifested at the outset a proper but
not less determined spirit of resistance n
gainst the consumation of intentions so rev
olutionary and daring. Accordingly, in
view of the unparalleled injustisc done by
the Secretary, Mr. Pray, a member duly e
lectcd from the county of Philadelphia (pre
sented a copy of the returns signed by the
imijori ty“ jtidges ~duly certified by llic : pro
tiionotary of said county, whichyvas read by
the clerk in connexion with the minority ye-.
turii received through’the channel of the Se
cretary’s office. In the course of these pro
ceedings, Mr.,T; Stevens, then a member
returned from Adams county; (and whose
certificate of election Avas the same as that
olfered by Mr. Pray,., being a certified _cp py
of the returns,) arose'and -made a- motion,
contrary to the-practice observed in the or
ganization of our. State legislature, since our
existence "as a Gommonwealthi and in direct
yioiatiqn to the genius and letter of our in
stitutions. This motion was that tellers be
appointed for' the purpose of electing a
speaker; a departure, from' the custom so
long prevalent of calling , the clerk of the
former house to superintend the election of
speaker; anil announce the result. Not con
tent';-however, with u unilei'mihing practice
and law Jong held inviolate, thatdanngCon
spifatbf prbgresseir'still : further InJiis j’evo--
lutionary intention, and we accordingly tind
him, openly pnil unhlushingly recommend-'
ing lha election of two speaKePS jii direct
and pptin .violation of .that most sacred
Britutii&»r;injunctjbn/.whicK declares'there
shall be but onu'. He.thcn put the'questipri
pyith pll imaginable haste himself, decided
4}}s motifni • as sustained .himself, named the
tellers himself;' who (iloubfless instructed in
the various scenes to be enacted iii this most
extraordinary drama;) ascended the platform
and'held'a'n)lrregular and .informal election;-
interfering-in'a great.degree; with;theoider-,
ly praceedjh'os ;ofV
the regular (lischarg'e of their 1 du ties. This
was f rollotyeirTup .by tlie’ tellers catlin'g dilt
the-namea of the eight pretchded'Vncmbers of
the equnty of Philadelphia.,
and extraordinary
by- Mr,
'annputice that Thds.
Sy.Cunnindham hadwe’deive Jythe: rimnberof
votes.
disproved;? ! bl s lt)i^ > lSBtti'
.ih^vjpat»\hls / -jtddtct'Y4is , 6tf#f furnishelr-Tb?
books which have always been used’on sim
ilar occasions. After transacting the custo
mary business, the house of representatives
then adjourned.
The startling design announced in the
proclamalion of tliii-Ex-Secretary-,-(if (rent
ing the election as if it had not occurred) to
gether with the well foh'nde.d and unconfra
dicted rumors of .the intended suppression of
the legal returns, and that inen from differ
ent sections of the Commonwealth would be
here to carry out these designs,’ had natufi
ally arrested (he attention of numbers.of ci
tizens. who were thereby induced to repair
to the scat of government to witness the de
nouncement of a project so revolutionary and
novel. 'Much indignation was doubtless en
tertained by tlic citizens here assembled,.at
witnessing, the unhallowed means employed
fur (he purpose of defeating (he public will,
a feeling which was, how ever, the spontane
ous production of an indignation as justly,
excited as it was honorable.
The democratic members’ continued to
meetjiml transact the usual business in the
ha'll dedicated to, the purposes of legislation,
having constantly a quorum, and on Mon 1
day, December 17th, received all accession
in the persons of Messrs.-Butler and Sturde
yant of Liizenic/’Siul Mr. Montclius of Un
ion, who,^under solemn conviction of duly,
left the seceders who were following in the
wake of Mr. Stevens,- presented themselves
before the house of representatives, and took
thc-oaths required by law,. <
The federal members iu the meantime, as
appeare by the testimony of Mr. Montclius,
mot in obscure places, .unknown to the peo
ple; and not ’recognized”’by any'written law,
refusing to take their, scats and enter upon
the fulfilment o.f tholr duties in the hall de
signed fur .that purpose, until the house of
representatives was recognized by the sen
ate, a tnajprity of which is composed of their
political friends. This took place, on the
25th of December, after which, shorn of all
power, either for good or evil, they succes
sively returned to the post ofduty,' with the
exception of their great leader, Mr. Stevens,
who'returned the trust confided to him.Thto
’the hands of his constituents.
Your committee deemjt necessary to ad
vert briefly to the scenes which occurred ou
the 4th of December, in the senate chamber,
which., afforded such copious topics of de
nunciation against the citizens, who had
been attracted thither by,the startling an
nunciation.of the Ex-Secretary. It is not’
in order to speak of the arbitrary course pur
sued by the speaker of'that body, nor of (heir
feTusal to call upon (he Secretary for (he re
turns in his office; if it were, we could show
that the spectators had every reason to be
indignantly aroused; we have examined,
however, several witnesses on the subject,
and so fay from their being any just ground
of■apprehension, it.is an undeniable fact that
several of the federal senators appeared in
their scuts on the morning .subsequently to
the alleged outragt’S, before (be so called
mobiles had dispersed, and they were un
molested; this your committee deem a satis
factory refutation of the unfounded allega
tion, that the peaceful action of the senate,
Was interrupted or the personal security of
its members jeoparded. ; In relation to that
branch of the duty enjoined upoji your com
mittee, whicli directs an inquiry into the tie-*
cessily for the presence of the military at-the
scat of government, they would respectfully
fieg leave to present in connexion with the
foregoing statement, the following plain, un
varnished detail of facts. The soldiers from
General Patterson's division, made their ap
pearance in Harrisburg on Saturday, the 9th
of December; now if is an undeniable truth,
that at-leiist-three days 6e/bre the .arrival of
the troops, the town of Harrisburg was (lie
■scene.-of--undisturbed -harmony and order’,
“with scarcely more thanthlTusuffiTFegrec of
excitement within her borders. It is: not
less a mailcr ot history, that these, citizen
siddieifeSyon their arrival expressed dissat
isfactiiiijSit the mis-statements which hail
been officially imposed , on them. So far
from finding the capitol of the State besiege
ed by,."an armed,■ lawless and, infuriated
mobJ?l|p'y.found:it:in.jiustateiof tranquilly
and of peace; So far from' finding “their re
presentatives interrupted and overawed,”
they found them in the peaceful;and unmo
lested exercise of their legitimate functions.
They, hath however, been summoned hither
under the requisitions of the commander-in
chief of the militia of the Commonwealth,
and as faithful citizens and devoted soldiers,
they .obeyed the call of their duly constitu
ted military superiors, although the crusade
jn' which those superiors were embarked was
illegal,'and unwarrantable. . , : •
l. :Rut,. strang’e-to-relate-*- notwithstanding
the prevalence of uninterrupted peace, the
requests of Gen. Patterson and of the sold
iery-for a,speedy disband nieiit, were disre
garded, aliU they were retained fit the' sent
pf 'government''for an entire week, wheii'np
earthly motive could -exist for their -reteh-r
fiorij except it was tooVcrnwwtho represen
tatives of the pfeppje arid'interfere whh their
legitimate On'lhe de'partuie.tif these
trodps’, others 'were Vmai'cKed ?to the scat of
: tHb :
Cumberland, althdtigh -nripossihle necessity,
existed for their presence, 'or the,least/ap-
foeHliii
order' Which .rihs" given. '■ The constit.utidh;
of the Commonwealth-makes' the governor
coihmandef-ihichief ,6f the' militia, except'
when.in the seryiob. of fh‘e ; United' States';
and thff sixty-second sectiondf tlie'act.prtss
bd in -1 SSi2, provides tlmtthe' rni 1 itid■ of.^th 1 3
UomtrionVealthdridy ; c’alldd; into -aptnal
service "by tHe -governo'r-.thefeof,' in'-.case'df
rebellion or’of an actual and tlireaferfed in
vasion of I his or-any
•TKws is no allegation in- (nis instance,' that
ohV%6mlndnwealth;was'invade<l Or, tlifeatetl
to'rihv.feyadddi' i'.Tlien.'tlm;'qUesfiori v anse9i
wis'ihvrh'i rehvlilbh? bjciiusts if tlk'ro vvcrc
no rebellion or invasion,‘then it follows that
(he governor acted unconstitutionally and
illegally in calling the .troops into the ser
vice of the State. . A rebellion pis correctly
defined to he “the.laking’up of arms traitor?-
ously against the government,” and it4s al
so. defined to be "an insurrection against
lawful authority. There is no'evidence,
neither is" it true that the democratic, citi
-zens who have been denominated “reic/s”
did any acts of this character, they came l to
(he seat of government from'motives of cu l
riosity; tfml when 'here did no act except
such jis’was calculated to protect tlie. con
stitution and laws from the treasonable pi tic
tices of those who declared that, they would
treat the election as if they had not been de
feated, or in other words set at naught the
lawful authority of (he people, and erect a
government in-violation of-their wishes, and
m direct hostility to the constitution and
laws-
The testimony clearly shows that the con
duct of -these cltizcnsHhus-assenibled,-\vas
calculated.to protect the laws and defend
the government; they'throw no obstructions
in the way of any existing law, but manifest
ed a peaceful; intention to maintain their
own principles and rights; rights which were
wantonly and daring assailed; rights be
queathed by the inestimable legacy of their
forefathers,-to defend ami maintain which,
(hey employed no means to which the con-,
stitulion and laws do not eminently afford
their best and holiest sanction.
Thc employmciit therefore, of these troops
by the late Governor will be regarded in all
time to con e, as the last miserable efforts of
a corrupt administration, to retain itsillgot
(cn power. 1 It will be pointed at, as a stri
king Illustration of the maxim, “that power
sometimes forgets right,” and this may be
said to he.univcrsall} true, where that pow
er is under the goverance and direction of
wicked amfcoriu'pt advisers. But the re
membrance of these scenes, into which your
committee was directed to inquire, will ever
present the gratifying fact that the represen
tatives of the people successfully maintained
the sacred principles of republican liberty,
against the of unprincipled
men, aided by the strong hand ot military
power. While tills.ls matter of congratula
tion, (ho sober liict, that the money‘of the
people 'has been taken to pay troops,' thus
miquitoilrly brought into service, will, re
dound to the’ disgface~of tlie late adminis
tration, as long at .that’administration will
be remembered'. But Ibis is not the only
expense' to which these scenes have-led;
near a month of the beginning of the present
session of the legislature was entirely lost
for all usual purposes of legislation, in con
sequence of The .late governor and-senatc re
fusing to recognize the legal and constitu
tional house of representatives, -thus retar
diiigtegisiatio/i, by preventing it from exer
cising its customary duties,,and contributing
thereby, to the necessity which existed tor
an extra session of tlie legislature, the bur
den of paving for which, lulls upon the peo
ple.tif the commonwealth. Your committee
are aware, thtit it is impracticable to dwell
at length on eacli feature of the political
drama, (he,scenes of which they were direc
ted to investigate; they are also aware, that
the testimony.taken is not a tithe of that
which might have been collected, 11 time anti
oppoiTunityliad permitted. It must also be
apparent to all, that frauds and crimes, such
as have been .committed at, and subsequent
to the late election, are exceedingly difficult
tube proved; They partake of' the nature
of tiie’ii- own darkness, and secret wicked
ness. They have, however, been enabled to
lay bare, and expose the acts and’frauds of
the federal party, in relation tn the late elec
tion, by clear and unequivocal t.slinuiny,;—
Your committee, before closing their report
beg leave to present tlie following'general
conclusions, unavoidably resulting ! rom the
inquiry, to which they have applied much of
their time and-aUe'ntloii.
I. The difficulties wliich took place at the
seat of government on the 4th day of De
cember last, the day appointed for-the'meet
ing of the legislature, had their origin in a
fraud concocted by certain return
judges, in the county of Philadelphia, with
the advice and co-operation of Whi. 1). Reed,
the Attorney. General of the commonwealth,
and John G. Watniough, the She rift - of-the
city and county "of* Philadelphia,. by which
the regularly, elected members of the house
of- representatives, —were- tiil(]u itously at
tempted to be deprived of their seatsj.a fraud
which Thomas H. Uurrowcs, Secretary of
stale ithdeFGov. Ritner, and Thaddeus Ste
vens, one of his canal commissioners, and a
member of the House from Adams county,
attempted to consumate, the jonher, by
suppressing the legal election returns ol said
.county; and the iattei, by attempting to or
ganize the legislature in a manner unknown
to the constitution_ajid_laws.
If -No necessity-existed, at:any period,-
for calling into-service, the military; on the
contrary’, such call was made by ex-Gover
nor Ritner, in the absence of, every sem
blance,.of necessity;- and was.manifestly a
stretch of power, in derogation of the plain-,
est dictates of law, justice and humanity.
lIL.If, in point of fact, there was such a
disturbance at'the seat of government, as is
alleged, then it was clearly the duty of those
in power, to' call upon the civil authorities
to suppress it. The law points out the mode;
and Gov. Ritner’s attorney general, adyjscd
that epufse todie taken. No such applica
tion was made, although the courts of justice
and officers of the law, were in the free and
undisturbed exercise of their usual duties.
The constitution ordains that “the military
shall, in all cases,: amUat all times, be in
strict subordination to tj.icJc.ivLl power.”—
The order,-therefore, calling out the troops
Was unconstitutional'"and illegal,-and'-there
being no necessity, for their presence at the
seat of goverhme'nt, the conclusion is irro
sistahle, that they were 'called-into' service,'
to md and assist the enemies of, rcpuhlipaii
ism,' in orgdinzing-a legislature', in violation
of the constithtidri nnd-lawsi'and contrary to
the wishes of the"people of this .common
wealth'.. '' ■''V,'. ' .
Your" committee have thus as briefly ns
possible’reviewed- the. evidence, and, made
such;comments thereon as .they deemed' ne
cessary, ,tp elucidate- flic subject;.;(They re
gretlive necessity which induced this exam
ination anti, inquiry.; The result presents a
pagein our, history, which the lover of Mils'
country-
Thq astounding fact,’, that'tlie'capitol of the
godpeacc,
and l.wlidji' her. .)e^slattt¥^ ; - ; wei«Hoißcupj(uijpf.
tlicsc sacred •Tvalls appriipnatcdi' tdHhelffiiisi-
nes’s of legislation, should be surroifhded by
bayds of armed men; by the order of the
Governor, is humiliating and mortifying.—
There arc, however, some consoling circum
stances connected with the event.— Ue never
wits the choice: of the people of the common
wealth, and his advisors were: neither Ve/in
sylvanidns by birth d'rfecfing. - They sought
to advance (heir own selfish and sordid in
tercsls, rft the expense of the honor, and in l
tegrity.of our beloved commonwealth.
But they signally failed; the calm, stern
operation of reason ami--of law/ prostrated
their unhallowed designs,, anil has left them
bn a barrnn.shore, neglected and .despised.
MAy these scenes serve as a lesson in all
time to come, and ob'iterato forever all these
practices,-by whatever specious name they
■ may be called, which strike at the foundation
of republican liberty, which proclaims that
the will of the majority shall govern. .
. liesolvcd. That the committee be- dischar
ged from the further consideration .of the
subject; ~ -
AMERICAN VOLUNTEER.
CARLISLE:
TIICrKSDAY, AUGUST 15,1^0.
' . ovjb. rjL,tsti.
“Now, our flag is flung to the wild wind tree,
Let it float o’er mir ‘father land,”
And the guard of its sprjless f one shall be,
t-'obnnbi.i’s chosen hand.*'* * '
FOR PRESIDENT IN I°4o,
MARTIN VAN BUREN,
AND AN
INDEPENDENT TREASURY.
• jtn fndc/iemlent Treasury % —whose officers re
sponsible to tlie pc'pje, instead' of privih get)
corporations, shall guard the people’s rhomy.—
Democracy asks in vain, \vh:it chum have the
hank's to use tilts public treasure as thru* own, —
sixain to convert it into an engine ot miaous ex
pansions’nncl tom ructions oftlie currency, and of
new’p lUical panics ami pressures, to enforce
submission to the Money Power.— lion* James
Ihtch;iTion'»'*7onffi. , •
/ To Correspondents.
T'lnec from tJis. Tepple”~\\x\\ have a’ place in
our next. * , ..
•“ Cioitas ” has been mislaid. If the writer will
funiish.us*with another copy, wo will endeavor to
find room for it next >veek.
i ]C/encu3 , \is crowded out. " ,
Dreadful Rail Road Accident, —On Monday morn
ing last, about 1.0 o’clock, Mr. John Fleming', of
this borough, of the firm of Murray & Fleming,
whilst; engaged in ~ detaching one Of iiis burden
cars from the train which had just arrived from
thccast, while it was yet moving, slipped and fell,
when horrible to relate the wheels passed over his
left leg.and tiiigh,-dreadfuUy.manglinghim.„„lle
survived the acmilenl bur about seven hours.—
Truly “in the midst of life wb arc in death.” Mr.
F. was an excellent citizen, and he has left an in
teresting family behind him, from which he has
thus suddenly been severed. This-is.thadirst- se
rious accident which has occurred on this rail road,
and wo trust it may prove a warding to others who
are engaged on the road to be more cautious for
the future in working about the cars when the
train is in motion.
The mean ami insidious method adopted by the
Herald in assailing our representative in Congress,
the lion. William S. Karnscy, is worthy of a pas
sing notice. Knowing the estimation Vn which
his political and private character is held, and fail
ing to make an impression against him by' open a
busc, they have recently resorted to low and dis
reputable slanders, which arc so cautiously word
ed (by the bold and magnanimous hero who jump
ed out of the back window, to save his* Riddle
blood from curdling in his veins' at the sight of the
honest countenances of the mqh whom be had
cheated,) as to'convcy the most malignant mean
ing, without exposing the authors to -tbb
bility’of making a direct charge. This Jesuitical
course is smoothed over by an affected regard for
religion and morality, which is disgusting in itself
when, we estimate the characters of. those, who
thus array themselves in the habiliments of the holy
church, for thb purpose' of expectorating their-filth
on one their superior in every moral and
social quality -“ s _
J Last week, during the absence of Sir. Rnmacy
at the Bedford Springs, where he had gone by the
advice-of his physician for the benefit of the wa
ters, an article appeared in the Herald, calculated
not only to convey the impression, that ho w'as
there moving in the society of gamblers and swind
lers, but the exaqt sum.of money ho lost at. Faro
,is given in glaring capitals, as follows:
“We have hoard, from good authority, that a
Locofooo Congressman well known to the .people
of this distriet, lpst in onenightTWELVE HU.V
DRED DOLLARS at the game of Fdro. % This is
a matter of recent occurrence, and happened at one
of the'celebrated watering places, in, this State,
where the Lawmakers and great
during doir-days, to, mix a iittlo-water with their
liquor," an 3 speculate in the gambling business.”
It is true Mr. Ramsey.is not named in the above,
but ho who runs may read. • -
Since Mr. Ramsey’s return, wo have called up
on him to ascertain whether there is any founda
tion for-this gross-and-infamous attack, and :\ve
are authorized to say that it is thdmere invention
of soma malicious scoundrel who has found an
endorser in the person of the bribed hireling of the
Bank of the U. States who still holds a seat in the
Legislature of this State,-‘to the disgrace of him
self, Ida party and his district, and we.now invite
him and all others concerned ;to make good the
charge, or to stand before the people of this county
as wilful, doliberateand malicious liars.
Tiieasurt Notes The following is the official
statement of .tho issue.of Treasury notes, made by
this Secretary of the Treasury: .
Amount issued under the provision of (lie act of
October 12, 1837, viz: $10,000,000; of that , issue
there has been redeemed so,o27,los,4o—leaving
outstanding $373,804,54. t lii lieu of these re
deemed there has:hcen iasued undcr act of 21st of
May, IB3Bi viz; $5,700,801,01; of thatisstte'there
has’ begA redeemed $4,776,450,42—1eaving of that
issue outstanding $933,350:50. Aggregate’of first
and second”issues'outstanding,
The issues under the provisjonsof the act of 2d. of
March, 1830,umount to 53,857,27G.21;"Dr tiiat
issue there bap ■ heen.redeomcd $3,100- Making
the aggregate of "all outstanding $5,160,430.34.
Flout is sclling iniGarlislcV from stores, n’tssi?s.'
The County Meeting: —Wo have only room
to say that it wee truly a large gathering of the
“bone atid-sinew” of “old mother Cumberland”—
just such an >wns to havo been expected
from the unbought aritT independent 'farmers and
of this ancient republican county. Tho
proceedings will bo.found.in another column, and
will speak for themselves.' We ‘will only observe
farther,, that tho meeting was conducted with thb
utmost harmony and.good feeling, and that all ap
peared highly delighted with what they saw and
heard upon the occasion* .. ■’ '
The Jlnii-masonth. Fedcral Mbolilion Peg totally
**Union and Harmony meeting” —camo off in tHo
County Hall on Monday evening last. . Wehavo
understood .it was blit a small gathering—quite an
array of empty seats, Mr. Penrose, as usual, de
livered himself of one of his fislwuoman harangues,
but wc havo’not room.this week to say any thing
more on tho subject, In our next we shall give a
history of this meeting more at length, and shall
-pay-st)ine attention to Senatcr
and his base slanders against the Sheriff and
Commissioners, In which he charges Wm with
“packing the Jury,” &c. &c, , .
. The Buckshot War. —Wo this week publish
entire, to the exclusion of much other matter, tho
report of tho committee appointed by the Legisla
ture to examine* into tho origin and existence of
tho difficulties which occurred at Harrisburg in
December last, and the necessity for tho employ
ment of a large armed force by Gov, Ritncr. It
*s a masterly document and embraces all the in
formation the subject requires. It should be read
by every man, woman and child'iq Pennsylvania,
who are desirous of arriving at the facts of the case,
in order .thqt’its contents may ho duly weighed in
the mind ami maturely deliberated upon. The ;;r-’
guments and facts in this valuable document arts
all abundantly sustained by tho testimony of hon
orable and'high-mmdcd men, and may be safely
relied on as “nothing extenuated, nor ought su
down in malice.” . '
The celebrated “Hnckshot War” was among
the lust of a series ol villainous en'-r, achmcnts
Ulion the rights and liberties of tire people, wli h
ttore attempted by the most corrupt and unprinci
pled administration that ever disgraced any State
or Nation. That adminisliation, to use the lan
guage of a cotemporary, “drew its infant.,breath
in corruption—was nurtured and brought up in the
cradle of villainy—and was consigned to its lun
dred petrifaction amidst the acclamations of a free,
people whoso dearest rights' had been-satfnficed
and betrayed to gratify the wicked propensities of
a band of unprincipled yrn/.-rrs, who controlled the
actions of Joseph Ritncr as a father controlletb his
child.” ‘ '
Wo hope all our subscribers will read the report
carefully themselves, and place it in the hands of
their neighbors for their edification. .
Quite a sensation has been produced among
some of the immamlale spirits of the fetleral party,
since the well-merited drubbing they received last -
week at the hands of uur correspondents! and with
all the vhnom of the wounded rattlesnake, they
would. };ct, if-they could', strike their poisonous
fangs'into their opponents, and have .revenge even
while struggling in tho agonies of death. Tho .
poisoned chalice, prepared by litem for tho “ras
cally democrats,” has been returned to their own
lips, and, however unwilling they may he to quaff
its contents, they aro_ nevertheless compelled to
dreg it to the bottom.
That pur reader? may be made fully acquainted
with'the merits of the tnattcr, wo shall here pre
sent a brief history cl the controversy from its
commencement up to the present time.
In the first place, then, some ‘of the leaders of
the “all decency”* party, at a celebration on tho
•Ith of July, when their wits were pretty well shar
pened by eopiousdlbalions at tho shrine of their
favorite deity, attempted to play off theij* gentle
manly sentiments at the expense-of tho Democrat
ic party. Now this was all very well in its place—
but unfortunately for them their sentiments worn
.directed against certain .vices to which they were
sadly addicted themselves , and, more unfortunatj
still, their toasts upon that occasion were made
the property o( the public by their publication tho
following' week in the Herald. A correspondent
of ours, who was disposed, without meaning any
harm, to be a little sarcastic on these federal lead
ers, as also to teach them more caution in firittfce,
perpetrated .affew gentle criticisms on their witty
sentiments and thus'held them up to deserved rid
icule. 'Smarting under tho lash, which was so
happily applied by our correspondent, one of their
number, tho,week following, over the signature of
“Hudibras,” ccndoGecndcd.siLfar-aS-taieU\ims(>U‘
dowm from his dignity and reply to theso criticisms;
but, in so doing, missed the mark entirely, and in
stead of a dignified reply, which all would have
expected fVom so celebrated a leader of so morel
and honest a party, made a violent, unprovoked,
uncalled for, and i ungcnUcmanly~attack upon a t*
spcctable young man and his family connexions
—and not only so* but he took occasion likewise
to heap all manner of abuse upon the honest and
intelligent, democrats.of the county, who celebra
ted the 4th with their democratic friends at Wun
derlich’s Grove, denouncing them as “bullies and /
vagabonds —the “mud and filth of society”—
“illustrious democrats Xvfio drinh in their principles
by the 6\hhyOnd cascade (heir bile ftlong with their
super-abundant. &c; &0.. This tissue of
fish-woman slang' and base attack -upon family
connexions, brought out, as was to have been ex- ,
peeled* a friend of the young* man and his family
and'of the democratic party, who in his rejoinder,
over tho~signature Veritas, — takes occasion,..
however much against his will, to repay “Hudi
bras” in His own coin,; and-holds dp this veritable
and respectable federal champion in a niost unenvi
able light, . . ■ ’
This,, then, is the state of tho controversy .at
present.- WKat course the matter will . take fc- *
mains to bo seen by this week’s Herald. We
shall exceedingly regret a.continuance of,.the
controversy, atleast in its-present shape;-but jus
tice to our democratic friends will prevent us from
closing our columns so long as our correspondents
arc acting on tho defensive.
, Governor Porter has partially Recovered from
hia illness and is now" at Huntingdon. -
Flour' in' 1 Baltimore,' $5,874*
(j)Y REQUEST.] , 1 • -
. : ; I'ot the Volunteer*
\tpssrs. Editors:—lf GeorgeF*Cain Estj»
of' consent to let his ■
name be used iih a a uoiuiiia -
tion lb"tlVt Lemslattirpi“
unclivid e_(llsupport : of the ilcinocrdtic votgra
of CutObbrlah^coiTto^yy-^",V -VT- <•-
> ■ ..'. 5