tub press, .MgHSD (SnajJATS. JtXOSfTBDI by john w. pomranr, |0f Ko*. *»■ 111 SOUTH FOURTH BTBEBI. •Tflfi DAILY PRESS, rga* Chktb Pbk Wees, parable to the .carrier; \ to Subscriber* out of the city at Bbteh Dollabb ill nrnii Tsbbb Dollabe asp Fifty Cbstb fob Bis TEB* Osa OOLUB ASD &BTSSTT KVB CbWTS FOB - layaiiably is adva&ce for the time or Ad*«rtt»ni»nt* laisrted U tli. mail rats*. Six , eoutUnto » wiumo. XHK THI WEKKtY PRESS, ' to Sutwerlbera oot of the city »t Foes Dollakh \ in advance. -coops "b /ttentjon of the trade OT.TR stock of >ST WOOLEN CO. mil-wool n»ln Flaunel*. ,LKD FLANNELS, Various makealn Gray, Scarlet mnd Dark Bln*. KD gaiBTSNG FLANNELS. [N OFEEA FLANNELS. IK COTTON WAEF CLOTHS, 15, 16,-17, IS, IS, JO. n, 8 oi. ;T CABSIMEHE3 AND SATINETTS. lOEAL SETS’! 8. all Grades. ’ON GOODS, DEMISE, TICKS, STBIPSS, SHIET INGS, Ac., from various Ullls, IE COURBET, HAMILTON, & EYAS'S, 83 LBTITIA Street, end 33 Sontb FRONT Street. v-watttseS 1864. -AMES, KENT, SANTEE, & CO., IMPORTERS JOBBERS OP DBY GOO DS, a3O Ui mi NORTH THIRD BT., abOTe Baca. SPRING, PBUjADELPEIA, now open their ustial VRGB AND COMPLETE STOCK FORBIGH AXH> DOStBSTIO DSY GOODS, withstanding the scarcity of many hinds of Dry s. onx stock Is now foil and varied in all its ac cents. - - rial attention Is invited to our assortment of PHILADELPHIA- MAP B GOODS, tall assortment'of Cloths, Casstmeres, Ac. all assortment of Prints, De Laines. Ac. oil assortment of Motions, White Goods, Ac. all assortment of Sheetings, Shirtings, Ac. all assortment of Omfsh OoodsAo fell wn XiBRAITH <Ss LINDSAY, OUTERS AIVD COMMISSION MERCHANTS, to. 81 STRAWBERRY STREET, call the attention of the trade to the followlnr. of . they are prepared to show fall lines. vli : S GOODS. 'WHITE GOODS. i A»D COLOBSD IRISH LINKNS, IGAS. liIBROT HDKFi* „ AB GLOTSS. BALMORAL SKIRTS Su. -VL IW-lm*. COMMISSION MOUSES. ,GS 1 BAGSI BAGS I 1W AND SECOND-HAND. SRJIMLSSS. BBKIiAP. AND GUHfIX BAGS, rLOUB pItHTI^ L T oBo^0 B 0^K A B L S- BIZBS OHN T. §J^J^|h^eohtbTke'lt. < BAGS.—A LARGE ASSORT KBKT of OBilH BAGS, riou d*a». »Al8l>» baBCBOTT * 00- 8m Ifos. 40* and 401MAKKBT Btied. HAZARD, & HUTOHIN W’ Ho. la* CHEST EUT BTEBBT. COMMISSION MERCHANTS, TOE THE SiLB OF htt. A THRT,FHIA-M APIS GOODS. 8m CARPETINGS. SPUING, ;£f ECHO MILLS, GKKMAHTOWJfi TA. teCALLUM & CO., IMPOETEES, AHD WHOLESAIiI DBALEBS IN C-AISJPJSTX^GHS, OIL CLOTHS, Ac. arebouae, 609 Chestnut Street, OPPOSITE IHDSPEWDE3CE HAIL. fel-tf EOIAL notice. BBT AIL DEPARTMENT, e McCALLFM & CO., le«,T« to Inform Jbe public that they i»Te IttMi&e ibli«i®4 Carpal Store, Ts?si® CHESTNUT STREET, Oopvclte Independence Hall, for k «T*ni DKFAETMBST, tILVT K* now opeoinc a HKW STOCK ol ’OSTEB AID AMERICAS CARPETS, CAE Eg™. ,hVr wUk a fall Msortment of everythin* itheC«CTotßo«liieB». -' bisk mills. ATWOOD, B&LSTON, & CO., ACTTJKMSS AJSB WHOT.BBALB PBAT.BRfi HI CARPETINGS, OIL-CLOTHS, MATTINGS, &c., Sc. (ABEHOUSE, 618 CHESTNUT STEEET, 618 JATTB BTRBBT. CIOTIUNG. G GOODS. EDWARD P. KELLY, JOHN KELLY, TAILORS, CHESTNUT STREET, (JONES’ HOTEL ) LATE MS SOUTH THIED STREET, just received a lane stock of choice PRI N G GOODS. LET.—BOOMS TO STAIRS, 813. 814 CHEOTHOT JET. fe23 tf .OK GASS. PANTS, $5.50, At 704 MARKET Street. !K him PARTS, *5.60, At 70S MARKET Street. OK CAfiS- PARTS, td 80. At 71M MARKET Street. & CASS. PARTS. M. 60. At 704 MARKET Street BE CASS. PARTS. *6. 60. At 704 MARKET Street. JC a TAM SORTER’S, Bo- 704 MARKET Street. 10 R TAM GUNTER’S. 80. 704 MARKET Btreet. IS 4 TAR SORTER'S.. 80. 704 MARKET Street. 10 k TAR SORTER'S, 80. 704 MARKET Street. 10 k TAM SORTER'S, 80. 704 MARKET Street. I-Bin '' OKUGS. ILLIAM M. WILSON, ' 308 MARKET Street. | True Turkey Vyxru, egrooua. I Coriander Seeds, baa. Corrawav Seeds, bagse Fob. Jam. <Sn*er,bW»r i Grain Ericot,iiew ctod. bbl*. Ber. Arrow Soot. Ice zs. Faion Salad Oil, M*ls» Oil Sastafras, cans.' “ Citronella, Winter’*, case*. I M . Citronella, native, cases I 11 Lemon, new crop, cases. I “ Bobo, Commercial, case*. I " Oranse, cans. 1“ Beriamat 9t. <?.. ©£» pWtt X&HmonTe 100 m Oft***, Gentian, fade*. ftoJfS ttds port and Hew York, and for ««!• «■ pd. .• • feltrtf 'BERT SHOEMAKER AOO, trtbeaet Vener ef PODRTH end RACE BtreeU. i rmULDBIiFHIA, Jill .TtMATiE druggists, ORTEXS ABD DEALERS IB . FOREIGN AMD DOMESTIO wnroo* um run suss. MABITPAOnntBXS OP UTB LIAP AJTD £HTG PAIHTS, PUTTY. *•. a«nmi roa tbb chubbatbp BENCH ZING PAINTS. » end coarun.r. rapplled at , to VERY LOW PRICK POR CASH. pINET~rui^ITUEE~ANI)^BIII ■IABD TABLES. I MOOBG & CAMPION, I 80. 061 BOOTH SECOND STREET •flection with their extensive Cabinet boilne*,. are ■oannfactnrljix a anpetlor article of I BILLIARD TABLES. ■foRKA CUSHIONS th * Kto’SHuSS 1 6T au wl, ° iaTe be gbe anally and flnlih oftheie T&IIm, the mane- tbcdr numerous patrons thionphont ■rtosTwho are familiar with the character U eel7-6m EVANS & WATSON’S ' store. BALAMA * MRBA ™ 10 SOUTH FOUBTH STEBBT a - PHILADELPHIA PA. * • variety of FIRE-PROOF SAFES alwart „ •TONSAIL DUCK AND CANVAS teft" and brands. BwuSS mSSv g of %P descriptions, for Wa«on Covers. ■ it* mots’ aiut, YOL. 7.—NO. 181. PRY-GOODS JOBBING HOUSES, BAINS, & MELLOR, VOI. 40 Mid 4S NORTH THIRD STREET. tXP OS TBS S OP HOSIERY, SMALL WARES, AND W HITE GOODS. MANUFACTURERS OP SHIRT FRONTS. feZ-Sm - 1864. EDMUND YARD & CO., go. 017 CKEBTHUT IIND go. 614 JAT3B STBBSTB.' Have now in Store their SPBItfG IMPOBTATIOM of BILK AND FANCY DBT HOODS, DRESS GOODS, OF ALL KINDS; BLAOK AND FANCY SILKS, SATINS, GLOVES, MITTS, RIBBONS, AID DRESS TRIMMINGS. AMO. WHITE GOODS, LINENS. EMBROIDERIES, A large and handsome assortment of SPUING AND SUMMER SHAWLS. BALMORAL SKIRTS, Of all grades. As. Which they offer to the Trade at the LOWKBT PRICKS. jt3Mm SILK AND DRY-GOODS JOBBERS. QHOIOE SPRING IMPORTATIONS, - 1864. DAWSON, BRANSON, & €O., 501 MARKET STREI T, COBIfEE OF FIFTH, HfcYQ now in store, and will be constantlylreceiving, during the season, an attractive line of PARIS, GERMAN, AND BRITISH DRESS GOODS, SLACK SILK&, STAPLE AND FANCY SHAWLS. Ac.. 4»: All of which will be sold at tbe fe23-2m LOWEST MABKBT FBtCBSL 1864. SPE_ING TABER & lIARBERT, No. 401 MARKET STREET. SILKS, RIBBONS, FRENCH FLOWERS, AHD Mix.i4ixaraßifsr ca-oo>i*s- Herchants are Invited to call and examine our itock or SPRINGt RIBBONS, which will be sold at the LOWBST PRICES. fe9lm NEW YORK ADVERTISEMENTS. gHAW <6 COFFIN, IMPORTERS, IG PARK PLACE AND 1G HURRAY STREET. 1864. Have In etore and constantly receiving direct from y«rmfactiirers; • BURLAPS, all width*. FLOOR CLOTH CANVAS,4, 8, and 8 yard*. BASHING, in Bond, or Exjort. CANVAS PADDINGS, HEMP CARPETING, RED PADDINGS, ' TOWELS, i DIAPERS, SHEETINGS, &G. FLAX AND JTJTEI YARNS, FOR CARPET MAHUF AOTUHERS^ For Bale on favorable terms. fel7>lm GENTS* FURNISHING GOODS. qEOHGE GRANT, Mo. 610 CHESTNUT STEEBT, Su now ready A LARGE AND COMPLETE STOCK OF GENTS’ FURNISHING GOODS, Of Us own importation and manufacture. **' HiaeelefeMteA “PßlSß MEDAL SHIBTS,” If UHLfiwtored under the suparintedence of , JOHN P. TAGfOBBT, * CPormeriy of Oldenberg & Taggert.) * Ire the most perfect-fitting Shirts of the axe. ___ Orders promptly attended to, jal3-wfm-8m JOHN O. &BBISON, SOI. 1 nad 8 NORTH SIXTH STREET, ra» IMPROVED PATTERN SHIRT, FUSST OUT BY J. BUEB MOOEE, WARRANTED TO TIT AMD QIYI SATISFACTION. rURNISIUNG GOODS. n. —All arti«l*s nude In a tnperior manner by hand >ad from the best materials, laM PINE SHIRT MANUFACTORY. D - va, snhssribers wonld invite attention to their IMPROVED CUT OF SHIBTS, rhieh they make a speciality In their business. Also, qkhtLBMEN’S trait Mo. Sl* CHESTNUT STREET, jalS-tf To nr doors below the Continental. 1864. PHILADELPHIA paper hangings. HOWELL & BOURKE, MANUFACTURERS OP -ygr LL P .A. 3= 33 H, S AND WINDOW CURTAIN PAPERS. COR FOURTH AND MARKET STS., PHILADELPHIA. CT, 5.— & fine stock of LINBN SHADES constantly on hand. ’ , fn27-2cn fp GAS FIXTURES, &c. J£R. CHARLES PAGE, Favorably known for the l&fct twenty years as Princi pal Designer of GAS FIXTURES for MESSRS. CORNELIUS ft BAKRS, U this day admitted a Partner in onr firm. We will continue the sale and manufacture of GAS FIXTURES under the firm-name'of VAX kirk & CO., MANUFACTORY AT FBANKFOBD. SALESROOMS—9I3 ARCH STBBBT. February 1, iget fel9-fmw2m WINES AND LIQUORS. IMPORTERS OF 1 WINES AND LIQUORS, I.AUMAN, SALLADE, & CO., Mo. 188 SOUTH NINTH STREET, Between Chestnut and Walnut, Philadelphia. O. H. T.AUKAN. A. M. BALLADE, ttolo-8m J, D. BITTING. giPECTAOLES TO SUIT ALL SIGHTS. ARTIFICIAL HUMAN BYES Inserted without pain, by JAMES W QUEEN St CO.. , 9a* CHESTNUT BTR&ET. /APERA GLASSES AND OFFICERS FIELD GLASSES. Microscopes for Physicians and Students. A Tery larse assortment for sale by _ _\ JAMES W. QUEEN A CO., 98* CHESTNUT Street. DRAFTING IN- Cheeterman’s Metallic and Stool Tape-meamrea. For sale bw JAMES W. QUEEN & C 0„ eaio by *> CHESTNUT Street. Priced and Uiuitrated catalogue B gratis. fe33-lm pAPER WAREHOUSE. FARRELL, IRVING, & CO., 810 MINOR STBBBT. HanufUcturers of BOLL WBAPPIBS. DOUBLE and SINGLE MEDIUM, CAP, and CROWN MANILLA, on. hand,"orm&de to order. Hliheet price paid for rope in largo or small q.uantl tieß. fe2s-3 m MACOARdNI AND VEBMIOELLL— "■ swwholeand halfboxes Italian and American iftc* .Zealand Y«nd«nU«t^.w s d| r d^«l A . i S fa 2» 107 South WAT£Bi{««t, SPRING, 1864. coKsisrnro OF AND LACES. NEW YORK. MANUFACTURER OF Import*! and Mannfastsror of GENTLEMEN’S PAPER HANGINGS. CURTAIN GOODS. 1. E. W ALB ATEN, (SUCCESSOR TO W. H. CARRYL.) MASONIC HALL, 719 CHESTNUT ST.BEIT, HAS OPENED A SPRING STOCK OP CURTAIN MATERIALS, FURNITURE COVERINGS, LACE CURTAINS, WINDOW SHADES, PIANO and TABLE COVERS, OF NEW AND RICH DESIGNS. AT EKTREHELY LOW PSIOBB. RETAIN, DRY GOODS. QPENING SPUING GOODS, JOHN W. THOMAS, Having completed the improvements in store, will .pen on WEDNESDAY MORNING. March Id. With a ■plendid stock of SILKS, DRESS GOODS, BRIGHT PLAIDS FOR CHILDREN, PERCALES CHINTZES, ROBES, &C Also, a fall stock of LINENS AND FVRNISHING GOODS, to which the attention of the public is invited. Noe. 403 and 4.07 NORTH BSOOND STREET. f<abS9- nawgt E. jSc L. EIRE & LANDELL, FOURTH AND ARCH, ARE OPENING FOR SPRING SALES.- 1864, FINE PLAID SILKS, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, INDIA PLAID SILKS, BEST GLOVES ONLY, STANDARD SHEETINGS, BROCADE GRENADINES, SHAWLS, NEW BTYLEB, 68 PIECES FANCY SILKS, MAGNIFICENT ORGANDIES, FINE PLAID BONNET SILKS, ORDERED POULT DE SOIEB, TOO PIECES GOOD BLACK SILKS, MAGNIFICENT - AND CHINTZES.* , - ‘ jhlg smwtjalS - 1864. 1864. COTTONS AT RETAIL. We call the attention of Housekeepers to tho LARGEST BTOCK OF COTTON GOODS Ever offered at retail In thle city. Haying purchased largely of these soods at the COMPARATIVELY LOW PRICES of last month, we can extend to out customers superior inducements, not only in the character of our assort ment, but IN PRICES. ... ~, Among oar extensive line of Cottons arotobe found the following popular makes of ; 4-4 Bleached Shirtings. Wamsutta, WUliamsviQe, Semper Idem, Attawaugan. Rockland, Union, New Jersey, Phenix* fte. In Pillow-Case and Sheetings We offer tbe following leading makes: . 40-inch Bart&lett. <P4 Pepperlll, 42-inch Waltham, 10-4Peppemf* 6-4 Bates* 10-4 Bates, 6-4 Boot W, extra heaTr^. fi iJid other makaa. g-4,10-4, and 11-4 UNBLBAC&ED BHEETINGS. Marseilles Counterpanes. We can furnish these goods In all si,ea and qualities. We have several lota In LOW-PRICED GOODS that aw FAR BELOW PRESENT IMPORTATION PRICE, and Are also prepared to furnish, In large quantities, the well known _ _ _ _ Lancaster, Manchester, and Honey-Comb Qnllts, In 10-4* 11 4, and 12-4 sizes House-Furnishing linen Goods* LINEN SHBBTIfiGS* all widths. TOWELS, from $2 to $7 per dozen. NAPKINS, all Linen, SL62. _ k . . -Bamsly Damask* Power Loom, and other standard makes o{ Table Linen. „ Persons about purchaeingLlnen Goods would do well to examine onr stock. We invite comparison. Mo trouble to show our goods. COW PERTH W AIT <fi 00,, Northwest corner Eighth and Market Streets. ja!6 fray tiyl v gPBING OPENING. NEW SILKS. FB33NCH CHINTZES, IST JEW DRESS GOODS. FRENCH CLOAKINGS. H. STE E L * SO N, fe2o-tf Nos. 713 and 715 North TENTH St tO*± CHBSTJrDT STRIBT. SPRING TRADE. E» M. NEEDLES Ie now receiving, and offers for sale below present market r» tes, manynoveUiea in LACS AHD WHITS GOODS .He Would call * * Special attention ” to Llw assortment of over 20 different new fabrics and styles <sf White Goode, anltable for "Ladies Bodies and Dresses," in etripea, plaids, and figured, puffed and tucked MUBlins 100 pieces of figured and plain Buff and White Plqizes, bought before the recent ad- T Hew invoices of Guipure-and Thread Laces, Thread and Grenadine veils, Edgings, Insert- Inns. Plounoincs, &c. Broad Hem-Stitched handkerchiefs, all linen, good quality, from 26 cents up. 1084: CHESTNUT STREET. H STEEL & SON HAVE NOW OPEN • a choice assortment of NEW SILKS. Moire Antiques. 83 to 86 - Plain Corded Silks, *L62Kfo 83160. Figured Corded Silks, liisk. Plain Foil de Soles, gi 26 to 43,26. Fauci Silks. 76c. to *5. . _ „ Black Gros Grain Silks, 81.26 to 83.26. Figured Black Silks. 81.26 to 82. Plain Black Silks. 87>4c. to 86. Plaid India Silks, 87Me. , „ , , Light-ground Rich-figured Foulards. 81.26 to 8162. fe2o-tf Nos. 713 and 715 M. TENTH Street. T7DWIN HALL * 00., NO. 26 SOUTH - B - J SECOND Street, are now OPENING new Goode Id every department: New Trench Chintzes and Brilliantes. Percale Bo lies, new designs, Organdies and Jaconets. „ Splendid analUy and Styles of Grenadines. Tine all-wool fie Laines* beautiful shades. New styles of Dress Goods of various kinds. Colored Alpacas and Poplins. w Tine Black Alpacas and Mohairs. New Goods opening daily TLfABSEILLES QUILTS-OF FINE quality at moderate prices. Good Blankels, in large sizes. Sheeting Muslins, of every width. Several grade, of ncktag.^ Jtut opened, a large loti marked low. Spring Be Laines and Print*. Mode Algmu, choice shade* . fttoUd Brilliant. and 14 fad S. B. Minor SIKTH and ymirwPg^ CBEOIAL NOTICE TO THE LADIES. S 3 —thb cheapest silks ihthb haekbt. i sg ss ssksL They make Ike moßt'serviceable drees a lady can wear* nail and make you* eholoe before .the aajortment is “o|h&.WWW’.TWARCHstmt, fell PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1864. C JSf 18 8. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1864. (.Correspondents of The Press. 3 - Nxw Yobk, February 39, 1884. A TEUTONIC COMMOTION. A rumor of dire import was spoutaneoueiy gene rated, end set forth in a earning paragraph, a few daye ago. It wae to the effect that a Danish and a Swedieh war vessel were about making a descent upon our peaceful harbor, for the purpose of re ducing all Teutonic vessels to Hinders, on behalf of the Danish side of the Schleswig-Holstein question. This rumor, it is said, created a fierce commotion among owners and consignees. Fat and influential German citizens strained their euspiaious eyes in the direction of the Narrowß, awaiting the oraok of doom'; and—so the etory runs—the Danish and Swe dish consuls were visited, and politely pumped on the eubjeot. These gentlemen, of course, disavowed all knowledge of the supposed raid; and thus the matter ended, ANOTHER SNUB FOR THE COUNOILMEN. Mayor Gunther hfi again snubbed the Common Council with commendable violence. That sapient and expensive body of ornaments to the olty had resolved that.tiie Committee on Arts and Sciences, whatever that may be, should provide them with suitable bidges. Badges were procured last year, but the City Fathers, believing in the laws of pro gress and reform, deeire something newer and more consonant with their dignity. Mayor Gunther' vetoea the resolution, " presuming that said badges are, as usual, to be of gold, and asthej-e are forty one members to be supplied with them, the size and weight of the same should be expressly mentioned. In appreciation of the high premium which said metal commands. The last and final objection is, that the resolution provides for a hew and more suitable badge than those procured last year, which renders the old ones useless, except as- old gold." Such persistent virtue oh the part of the new Mayor is causing a gradual dilation of Counoilmanie eye balls. The Fathers are not used to opposition in the matter of their outly and delicious physical and intellectual. There is evidently a ven detta somewhere. The Council will soon retaliate, and then for a war. ANDREWS, "THE VIRGINIAN.” The Grand Jury of the United States has indicted John W. Andrews, “the Virginian,” for “treason," for “ conspiracy- to levy war,” for “ resisting the draft,” and for “ inciting and engaglngln rebellion and insurrection. This is rather more than was ex pected. People had almost concluded that some how, between the State and the United States, the moral and legal obligation to take CopperheHiem byi the throat, in the person of the leading insur rectionist, would be sloughed off. Unexpectedly enough oame the details of these four bills of indiet ment. At least one oovert appeal for sympathy tn been made in behalf or this man; but it failed.- Be fore Andrews made his inflammatory speech the riot was looked upon as a temporary commotion, which would be speedily suppressed. The speech of fered testimony of a fixed and Irrevocable purpose and design in the undertakers. It precluded the idea Of an impulsive spontaneity. People then prognosticated insurrection, and that was exactly what the commotion proved to be. At least, so the Grand Jury would seem to think. CUSTOM HOUSE MATTERS. Messrs. Hulburd, Be Blond, and Rollins, the Con gressional Committee charged with the investiga tion of Custom House affairs, are now in the city. It seems to be generally anticipated that nothing new will reßult from their sessions, as the matter of frauds has already been pretty thoroughly inves tigated by Collector Barney and his assistants. Rumor says that as soon as this committee shall have absolved Mr. Barney from ail suspicion of cul pability or negligence, and refuted the absurd chargee made against him by the “ outs,” that gen tleman will tender hie immediate resignation to the Department at Washington. In such an event, Mr. Wakeman, the present postmaster, will, say the most noisy politicians, take his place. Quieter men, who speak with the dignity of oracles, and who seem to know, whether they do or not, point to Pieston King as Mr. Barney’s successor. Mr. Palmer, who still remains at Fort Lafayette, has bad a preliminary examination. This ie all that has reached the public ear relative to his case. His friends are very sanguine of his vindication When ail the testimony shall have been educed, and claim that the circumstantial appearances of guilt can be easily explained away. The revenue authorities, in whose side the Ha vana and Nassau steamer Corsiea has been a thorn, have, it is understood, demanded such heavy bondß as assurances of good faith, that the company (Cunard) seriously entertained the idea of refuting to carry any freight from this port, and suing the United Slates authorities for the deficit thereby caused in its treasury. As the Corsiea is receiving freight at present, the idea, if it was ever seriously entereained, has been abandoned. Mr. Barney has, in conjunction with Commodore Paulding, of the Navy YSrd, and Captain Hatford, U. S. N., been henored by the King of Italy, In a flattering maimer. The Oolleetor and the Com modore have been awarded the cross of Commander of the Older of St. Maurice and Lazarus. Captain Hatford receives the Cross of the Chevalier. These bestowals are acknowledgments of assistance ren dered to the iron-dad Be <P Kolia, dining her state of. being “ rocked on the bosom of the deep,” ofl' Barnegat. A bad joke la in circulation, as a se quence to the affair. It runs thus* '‘Barnegatthe Fsigate, and Barney got the Cross.” ANOTHER INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. . An Investigation of certain alleged abuses exist, ing in the management of the New York Institu tion for the Blind is also in progress. It will be re membered that a number of the inmates have eharged the managers with furnishing unwholesome food, placing them in damp rooms, and treating them with undue severity. The complaint was made to the State Senate, and on Saturday a committee, consisting of Senators Fields, Angell, and Strong, proceeded to the institution and commenced the in vestigation. The complaining pupils were examined, as well as others whose names do not appear upon the bill of allegations. The proceedings are not to be made public until the inquiry is concluded. NAVAL MATTERS. The great iron-clad ram Dietator is rapidly ap proaohing completion. Her boilers have been al ready placed; and In the courae of a few weeks, she will be ready for the reception of her tremendous armament. She is to be in command of the well known officer, Captain John Rodgers, who is now in the city, giving a theoretical supervision to the work upon bis vessel.' Captain Ericsson superintends in person. SHAWLS, An investigating board of offloera is holding aeoret sessions at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn. Judging from this fast, something may’be expected to “turn up” in naval circles. A new style of armor for veeaela has been sug gested by ah English gentleman doing business in thia city. It consists of wire cables oloaely interwo ven Elasticity and lightness are the chief merits daimed'for the new idea.- The plan embraces a pe culiar backing for this armor, detailed mention of which would not be appropriate at present. The idea seems to be ingenious; feut its success is, of course, merely speculative as yet. It is claimed as an invention par excellence, for light-draught-boats. A second invention, which has created no little in terest in marine circles, is a side wheel, for steamers and river-boats, which neutralizes the reverse' pres sure or the aolumn of water raised by paddles alter their propulsive force has been expended, aiu they are out of the stream or sea. Still a third inven tion, is a boat With side-wheels working horizontal ly. The contrivance Is singularly Ingenious, and experiments tried upon a small scale indicate that, by its adoption, a much higher rate of speed can be obtained with a smaller expenditure of fuel, a uniqtie connivance negatives the existence of any “reverse action.” The well-known clipper-ship Dreadnought, for the safety of which so many apprehensions have been felt, now lies safely In port. She lost her command er and two men during the voyage. She is the same vessel for which the Confederate pirates had a cruise sbme time sgo, A DONATION TO ARTISTS. Every one mutt remember Doctor Townsend, or “ Sarsaparilla Townsend,” the patentee oi patent medicine, who astonished the Fifth Avenoodieltes by suddenly unmasking a large fortune and building himself a magnificent dwelling in their very midst. Misfortunes overtaking the Doctor, he sold the man sion, which subsequently became a young ladies’ bosrding-Bobool. Now it Is being levelled to the ground, and c&rted away by ruthless ioonoelasts. It is an instance of that well-known poetic truth, which inculcates most sedulously that, break the vase if we will, the scent of the sarsaparilla will hang round ’it still. The author of this dismantling process is Mr, A- T. Stewart, the merchant prince of Broad way. He purchased the "vase;” and that which cost its thousands and tens of thousands was by him sold to a gross materialist of a builder, who agreed to tear down and cart away at his own ex pense, and pay the sum oi fifteen hundred dollars for the materials. On the site of the mansion the great merchant la about erecting a vast marble edifice, notable for its architectural beauty and its roomy capacities. - This is to be a house for American artists. A vast pic ture gallery, devoted exclusively to the productions of native painters, will occupy a prominent position on Hie architect’s plan. Boomy studios, with every advantage of light and convenience, are to stud the corridors, and here our native Titians, Angelos, and Mare Antonylßrowns wUI be enabled to luxuri ate, andjpalnt “good, bad,'and indifferent” pictures, without—as some contend—the fear of inexorable landlords clamoring for payment, and diatnrbing the elevated rhapsodies of pictorial genius by the presentation of bills with cruel unliquidation grin ning from every item. On the death of Mr. Stewart this magnificent edifice is to become a donation to the city and the eaute of American art. In the meantime It will probably be. oocnpied by artists as though it were already the property of the metropolis. AMUSEMENTS. “ Taming a Butterfly,” the new comedy at the Olympic, baa achieved a. temporary auccess. . It la sparkling, and full of genuine French vim,- ft most facetious exposition of the hot, headachy morals of Parisian life. Metropolitan eritics are not very se vere upon little peccadilloes of a dramatic nature; and although “Taming, a Butterfly” would be wofully raked by a Jeremy Collier, our good fel lows merely place it In theoategory oi those de liciously naughty affairs which n genuine -mo ralist might calf deliciously nasty, zt ig not la- NEW YOBK €ltY. tended to convey the Idea that the new tranelation ie exactly immoral —it ironly i'rcachly moral. The machinery of the plot hioges upon the inellnatlattt ol a huaband for the establishment of an Occidental seraglio, and their perverse frustration by a wife who evidently coneideie the whole affair funny, though perhaps somewhat cut of the way. The tone of the comedy la heartless; the dialogue (0 many paragraphic aparhlea aowu upon the rage of tattered and dingy ethics. The debut of Mica Harris, at the Opera House, baa eat the public in aflame. Her age la atated at about aixteen years; yet her vocal' powers are fln ely developed. This la goirg lower In the acale of immaturity than with “little Patti”'and “little Pic.” Wehave a weakness here for little people. There seems to'he' a flavor to recollections of the nuraety, like that which lingers In the black-slocked, military-looking bottles which Keats referred to as belfg “ cooled in the deep-dclved earth.” The Tri bune philosopher tefera to her an “ a sylph-like little person and the same austere critic, In a previous notice mentieacd, in cbanection with her name, I think, something which he called " pantalettes,” whatever they may be. Mias Harris bide fair to be come a pet. The Caroline Riohinga opera troupe appear at Nlblo’a to-night. George Thompson, Etq., the great apostle ol Abb lilioniem, will bo welcomed by his American friends, this evening, at Cooper Institute. Ho will make an addieea upon the-oecasion. STUXVEiSAN T. TBE CAMPAIGN IN FLORIDA. [Epecial Correitendence of The Press. 3 HKAEQUAETEHS, jjIBTBIOT FLORIDA, Jack&osvixlb, February 19,186 k Military affairs in ibis district are still in motion. On tbe llth teat, one company of fifty men, of the 4th Masaaehnaittß Regular Cavalry, Oapt. Mar ahall, entered tE) town Of Gainesville. driving out a far superior frffee of rebels. The enemy wag under the command ef-the notorious Captain Dickinson, who has been prowling about tfiis part of Florida the psat year. He has often been in the vicinity ol Fernandina and St. Augustine, capturing pickets, and otbeiwise annoying our forces. His camp in Gainesville was completely routed,and the tele giaph despatch says foity horses, and several rebels. weze killed and captured. The affair is repre sented as very brilliant) and as reflecting great credit upon these gallant troopers. The objeot or the at ■ tack waa to secure a number of locomotives,'and the town was held fifty-sift-hours against twice our own number, and a severe attack was handsomely re pulsed. THE PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION is quite encouraging. Every hour of the day, squads, ol citizens, Come OH foot, some in little one-horse earts, and otbers on bonebaek, are to be seen coming in to town to take the oath of allegiance, and avail themselves of Ihe President’s amnesty proclamation. Our commanders are sparing no pains to conciliate the people. All are assured that the rights of citizens, and of truly repentant rebels will be most scrupulously regarded. TiUers of the aoilare encouraged to make thla'seaaon as large aeropaspos sible. A feeling of sociability and confidence is growing up between soldiers and citizens. Such as can make themselves- useful, are employed In the quartermaster’s and other departments of the ser vice. Speolal privileges are granted. Floridians, in the way of Oiling up the empty stores of Jacksohviue. This may appear like paying a premium upon trea son, at the expense of loyal'Northern people, who have come here for the purpose of entering into business. YANKEE SHREWDNESS is already at work prospecting all the chances the State afibrds for a profitable outlay of capital for business and for trade. No one appears to doubt that Florida is to be redeemed, regenerated, and started in a new career more glorious by far than it* past history has been. Turpentine, lumber, cotton, stock, live 'oak, and sugar, are the staples of this country. All these things, together with climate and health, are daily discussed by sharp-featured Yan kees, as they sit whittling on street-corners. But few such are here at present, and these, of course, have tome other business on hand. One Is reminded of the spirit that prevailed among the pioneers, sharpers, and speculators of the West tome years ago. The discrimination made in favor, of the natives in bu siness matters is creating a little murmuring, hut, if it docs not have the effect of keeping goods onto the place altogether, these complaints will be eon fined to those landsbarks which have long followed the army, guch as come in and take the oath of al legiance? regard the amnesty proclamation aa the pallsdlum of their civil and property rights. ■ Sel dom has a more important State paper—one cm bedying prorounder judgment—emanated from the pen of a President, or any ruler of a people. MILITARY EXECUTIONS have commenced in this district. Three men, J. W. Cork, Spenoer Lloyd, and-John Smith, suffered the death of felons yesterday upon the gallows. These men were privates in the 65th Regiment Massachu setts Volunteers; weie duly tried before a military commission, and convicted of having committed a rape upon the person of a. white woman. .It is re ported that they were from the lowest strata of olty life, andi were among the hardest men in the regi ment. Through forbearance and clemenoy one of themlad been patdened'flH the commission' er a crime tor which he might have been shot. During the lasi hour oi the llle of these wretched men I wae with tbf m. By the commandant or Camp Shaw It was /made the writer’s duty to eommunieste to ' them the finding of the court, and the sentence of the commander of the district. I found them sitting by a oamp-fire with the guard, engaged in light and easy conversation. They were taken one aide, to a suitable place, and, having announced to them the objeot of my visit, they read in my own uacontrola ble emotions the message I had to convey. Being asked the question, “Are we convicted!” my ailenoe imputed the truth to their souls. Bui they were not satisfied till the-whole matter was plainly told to them. Only one had anticipated such a fate. To the last they denied that their crime amounted to a rape. If there was any truth in their dying statements thewomanjwaspofiieeipferiiaints; but jtheevidence was ovi rwfcelming against them. All sense of shame and of chastity seemed to have been eradicated from their minds, and they were astonished that so much importance theuld be attached to so unimportant an affair. “ Why were we not taught,” they often repeated, “that .such consequences would result from such an aotl” It was tome time before the convlotion could be fastened upon their minds that the hour of their doom was fixed and dose at hand; but gradually this awful truth went down into their ■culs, overwhelming them with the anguish of fears and horrors. Their pastlife, their present condition, their families, their impending fate, and their eter-' nity, were the subjects which alternately occupied their minds. Sighs, tears, groans, prayers, and every conceivable expression of remorse and horror attest ed the depth of their feelings. They appeared as if pleading against destiny. Their whole nature was finally changed into one desire, .one feeling, and that was a wish to be ready to meet their God. When the hour of their execution arrived, the offi cer, Provost Marshal Willoughby, and the aart stood ready to conduct them to the scaffold, this change wss a relief to the horrible feelings through which they had passed. Calmly, and with a firm step, they took their seats in the cart, and with but little apparent emotion they were oarrled to the place of execution. They occupied their seats just under their halters, whilst the charges, findings of the commission, and sentence of General Seymour were read in their hearing,! after which the chaplain of the Yd South • Carolina Volunteers offered an earnest prayer in their behalf. The halters were then adjusted, and in about fifteen minutes all was over. The “leap- into the dark” was taken, and the confines of eternity explored, gome thought these men were Indifferent to their ttixdlticu; but their apparent calmness was there suit that ai way s an exhausted storm. They had looked their fate fairly In the ,~? e : hid felt an<J passed through the shock; all hope Of life had ex pired; they had made what preparation they could for eternity; were trying to cling as with the weakest tendrils of hope to the Saviour, and sub mitted willingly to a doom thatcould not be averted. Cork and Lloyd were executed in Camp Shaw, near where the crime was committed; in the presence of the 2d and '3d South Carolina volunteers, and Smith was taken to Jacksonville, where his regi ment is encamped, where be met the last demands of justice. Their bodies still hang dangling in the air, and will not be removed till two o’oloek to-day. Terrible fate, but there can be no doubt of their guilt, and it is to be hoped that this swift and terrible ex ample will not be lost upon the living. . A OAMP OF INSTRUCTION for colored troop* has been organized in this district. Contrabands from the front are eomlng in pretty freely, and it is expeoted that the operations of the army in this district will soon bring within our lines a large amount of material for this class of soldiers. Colonel S. M. Littlefield has command of the camp, and is chairman oi the oommlttee appointed to ex amine candidates who may apply for commissions in colored regiments. The fractional regiments are first to be filled, and then new ones organized ad in finitum, or till the stookis all exhausted. This camp of instruction (called OamiP Shaw) is the same as that -occupied, by the rebel General Finnegan the past year. The quartern he occupied ate now in possession of Mr. Lincoln’s oolored troops. The weather, for some days past, has been quite cold, and everybody is complaining of the severity of a Florida winter. The wind has blown a stiff gale from the north dwlngthe last thirty-six hours, and blazing camp-fires are very Inviting. Extbadition Cash.— The American Government -having applied to that of Canada for the extradi tion of Israel Dufresne, a young man charged with being an accomplice in the murder of John Parker, who, under President Lincoln’s last call for three hundred thousand men, was reorulting for the town oi Derry, N. H-, an examination oi testimony in the ease took plaee at Montreal on Saturday and Monday, and at the close of the latter day had not been concluded. The evidence was substantially the same as was given on a former ocoaslon, when Dufresne and his associate in the alleged murder, Boisvert, were dieeharged for want of proof. The Montreal Transcript eays It is stated that, if the de cision given shall be in favor of the rendition of Du fresne, the case will be carried before the Court of Appeals, on the ground that no new evidenoe has been adduced, and also, that a prisoner eannot be put twice upon bis examination in answer to a de mand for rendition. , - Thb Charivari publishes a caricature representing a cauldron placed on a blazing fire, and entitled “The Germanic Confederation.” Außtria and Prus sia are sitting on the lid and trying with all their force to keep it down, but It already has risen at one side, and a number of small personages are seen be low heaving it gradually up. An inscription under neath declare* that the boiling pot no longer respeots the pressure on the cover. IHE BtiSEAL OF IHE FHGITIYE-SLAYE ge«Gt»T Snnmcr’B M®t»ort- We make thc'Tollowicg extracts from' the very able and conclusive report of the ehairmsn of the Committee oa Slavery and the Treatment cfFreed mes, to whom -were referred sundry csUtioeraticlQg for the repeal of the ffigitive-slave aet ofls&r>mtd also asking for the repeal of *U acts for the rendition of fugitive slaves: There are two fugitive-clave aaiswhich still continue unrelated on our statute lihok -he first, dated a. lens ago as 1783, was precedtd by 1 an oSeial correspondence. yfllot Xftb tneposed to Rhow’tHofl€W6fliw for The second. Onted In IS-50, wan Introduced hr a report fiom Mr. Butler, of 6oufch Carolina, at that time chair- Iran of the Judiciary Committee of rae Sanaee In pro rohieg the repeal of all JegißlsAiOn on the Butuost it seeum advisable to imitate the latter precedent by a report, aa ritniug fcrlsfly the reasons which feare lopnua the committee: RELATION - ZJBT-W’SEN SLAVERY Al«D' THE - FUfiITITB-SLAVR If. in time of peace, all lugitive* slave acta were offen sive. as xequtrlng whf.t humanity and religion Doth coidemn, they muet- he stiil more oftaisive oi this moment, whoa slavery, in whose behalf they were made, has risen In anas against the aaii«nal Govern ment. It is had* enough to fchr net an- escaped slave hack into bondage at any time. It is absurd to thrust him , back at a moment when slavery is rallying all its forces i foi the conflict which It hss .madly challenged. But the crime of tueli a transaction is Bot diminished byUs ab surdity. A slave, with courage and address to escape from hie master, has the qualities needed'tor a soldier of freedom; but emitting statutes lequiie'Ms arrest and sentence to bondage. ' . . ' In annulling these statutes. Congress- simply with draws an irrational support from slavery. It does nothing against slavery, but it merely refutes todo any thing for it. In this respect, the present proposition dif- . tern from all preceding measures of abolition, as a re- j fusal to help an offender on the highway differs from *n attempt to take Me liib. TEE FUGITIVE CLAUSE IE THE CONSTITUTION. AND THE RULES FOB ITS INTERPBETATION. ' . » These acts profess to be founded upon certain words o* the Constitution. On this account itla importanttocon steter the :e words with a certain degree of care'. They are as follows: .. _ "No person held to service or labor iaefiejgatqrWaaer the laws thereof, escaping: into another. *MraKi®gw>iiße qufpce of any law or regulation’ frt m such service or labor, but shall be fteiwered *ep on. claim of the party to whom such service or labor may tie due ''—(Article iV. §2.) ■ , . .. , John Quincy Adams has already remarked that in this much-debated clause the laws of grammar are violated in order to a;sort the claim of property ia man, for the words “no person?’ are the noun with whicq thewords 1 “»hall be delivered np ,r ase the agreeing v«rb, and-thws th« grammatical interpretation actually lorbidstheyendl tk-n. It ib on this jumble and muddle of words that a superstructure ot wroas has been built. Even baa gremmar may be disregarded, especially In behalf of j htm.an rights: but it is-worthy of remark that, ini this clause of ihe Constitution, an outrage on human righto ! was begun by an language. .. I But, assuming that this clause is not invalidated by its bad grammar, ft is ofteminairted, and here the commit- 1 tee concur, that, according to the best rules of interpre- j tation, it cannot be considered as applicable to fagittve : slaves: since, whatevermsy have been the Intentlon of its authors, no such words were employed as describe ft giiive slaves and nobody else It is obvious that this clause, on-Its face, is applicable to apprentices, and it Is kx own historically that .under it apprentices have-been delivered up on the claim of the party to whom “their e.rvtca or labor” WR« aw-. It Is, ttoroforo. only I»t p i£g behind Its primary signification, and by supplying a secondary sicniflcaTlom that this clause can be con sidered as applicable fo fugitive slaves. On any com mon occasion, not involving a question of human rights,, such secondary signification might be supplied bp ia terdment; but it cannot be supplied to limit or deny human rights, especially to aefeat liberty, withoiifc a vitiation of fundamental rules which constitute the glory of the law. _ ........ This principle is eominoai to- every syßteu of civilized jurisprudence: but it has been nowhere expressed with more force than in the maxims of the common law and the decisions of its coarts. It entered into the remarks, ble argument of Granville Sharp, - which preceded the judgment extorted from Lord Mann field, and led him to exclaim, in words strictly applicable to the Constitution of the United States, “neither the word slave or aav thing that can justify the enslaving of others can be found in the British Constitution, God be praised l” {Hearts Life ofhharp, vol 1, p. 58,-chap. 1.) It enter. eo into the jnuemext pronounced at last by Lord Mans field, under the benevolent pleasure of Granville Sharp, in the renowned SomerseU case, where this great magi strate decided that slavery could not exlst.in England. H s words on that occasion cannot be too often-quoted as an illustration cf the true rule of interpretation. ‘’The state of slavery.” he said, “is*of raoh a nature that it is incurable of being introduced on any reasons, moral-or political, but only by positive law It is so odious that nothing can be suffered to support it but positive law. Ufowell's State Trials, vol. 20, p. 82.) Of conrse, there fore, the authority for slavery cannot be derived from any words of doubtf-J signification. Such words are not • * positive*” And dearly, by the same rule, words are susceptible of two different significations, that must be adopted which:is hostile to slavery* But the same principle was also recognized by Chier Justice marshall in our own Supreme Court, when he said, * where rights are infrVhgea- + * * the legislative intention must bfc expressed clearness to induce a court of justice to tuppote a design to tfftci such ob jects. ” (2 Crunch's Rep. , 390.) Obviously in a clause which is capable of two meanings there can be-no such “irresistible clearness” as would justify an lnfringe- and Chief Justice Marshall were Blnply giving a practical application to these venerable maxims, which are cherished in America &b in England. It is nor necessary to repeat them now at length* They are substantially embodied in the words, Angtaj uravn c-rt.ni eaeu libertali dant favorem—the laws of England, in every case, show favor to liberty: and also, in the words of Portescue, Impius etcrudelisjuaicandusest out libertati non favet— he is to be adjadged impious and cruel who does no; favor liberty. By such lessons all Who administer justice have been warned, for ceatu riea against any sacrifice of human rights. Even Black stono, whose personal sympathies were With power, was lea to declare in moat suggestive words worthy of aconi mentaior on English law, that *‘ the law is always rsady to catch at an> thing in favor of liberty. ” (2 Black. Com., ■ 94 ) And Hallsm, whose instincts were always for free di m. has adopted and vindicated this rule of interpola tion as a pole- star of constitutional J iberty. ‘lt was, ” says this great author, *‘by dwelling ou all authorities in favor ff liberty, and by setting aside those which were against it, iliat our ancestors overthrew the claims of uotounced prerogative. ” (.Constitutional History of EriohnidtVQl 3, P 180 > Korean itibe doubted that this couduel helped to build In England those uafaguardfl of freedom which have been an example to mankind- But this rule has never received a plainer illustration thi-uib the writings of Ur. Webster, the eminent lexi ccgr&nber of cur own country. Iu a tr.'.ct, which bears daie 17P5, long befbre'tte heats engendered by the fugi tive-slave act, he used language which, if applied to our Constitution, mut-t defeat every interpretation favorable to tlavery. “Where there are two constructions, ” he says, “the one favorable and the other odious, that which is odiotts is always tobe rejected ” (Webster 8 Tracts . p 185 ) Tills principle thus AMiLentiQnsiy.exr pressed by the American lexicographer may bs fouad. also, in the judgments of courts.and the writings of civilians without number. It is one of the common places of interpretation. Lord Coke tells us that ’•■wfiere "words may have a double intendment , ana the one stsnaeth with law and right, and the other is wrongful and against law, the intendment which standeth with law shall betaken. (.OokeLttt 42 a ) And Vattel says that “weshouldpartlcularlyregard thefamouidtstinc ticn c-f things/ttroroftleand thiigs odious,'’ and then he assumes that “we must consider as odious everything ; that, in ltB owu nature, Ib rather hurtful than or us ato the huntau race.{ Vatiet, LdM of Nations, B. 2, Oil. 17, p 300. ) But the clause of the Constitution, which has i been made the apology of the fugitive-slave apt.ia clearly oceii to * * two constructions. ” according to fcb e language of Ur. Webster, or a “double intendment, ” according to the language of Lord Coke —“the one favorable and the other edious ” Thus far in our history, under the malignant influence of slavery, the odious construction or intendment has prevailed. .. . ~ , There is also another voice which must be heard in de termining tli6 meaning of adoubifal clause. It Is the Prombie which, by solemn declaration, on the threshold Proclaims the spirit in which the constitution was firmed, and furnishes aralo of interpretation. ‘Toes tabiish justice , insure domestic tranquility, provide for tl e common defence, promrte the general welfare, and sicute the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our pos terity,” such are the declared objects of the Constitu tion, which mußtbekeptpreEenttothemindas weread it* various provisions. And every word must be so ia tei preted as best to uphold these objecta. The Preamble wculd be powerless against any ‘‘positive sanction of slavery by unequivocal words; but, on the o.ner hand, any attempted sanction of slavery by words which are not “positive” and unequivocal, must be powerless against tbe Preamble which, in this respect, lain har mony with the ancient maxims of the law. ANALYSIS OF THE WORDS OF THE FUGITIVE CLAUSE. But locking more minutely at the precise words of this clause, we shall see how completely it Is stamped with eciuWooatlon from beginning to end. B yoxy descriptive word it contains is double in its signification. But the clause may tie seen* first, inwhat it does not contain, and, secondly, in what it does contain. It doea not con tain the word “slave” or “slavery, which singly and exclusively denotea the idea of property In man. Had either of these fatal words heen employe 1. there would, have been no uncertainty or duplicity. Bat, in abandon* ing these words. all Idea of property in man was aban doned also. Other words were adopted simply because they might mean something else, and, therefore, would not render the Constitution odious 5 on its face. But the unquestionable fact that these word*i might-mean something else makes* it impossible for them ,tomean ••slave”or ‘•slavery, 1 * unless, in this behalt. we set aride the most (commanding rules of interpretation. At is cl ear that the authors of this clause attempted au im possibility. They wished to secure slavery without plainly saying so; hut such Is slaverythat it cannot be secured without plainly saying so. Naturally and in evitably they felled, as if they had attempted to describe black by words which might mean white, or to autho rize crime- by words which naturally meau something whichls not crime. The thing conld not be cone. The attempt to tan are the circle was not more absurd. • The clause tegtae with the descriptive words • person held to service or labor 1a one State under the laws thereof,’* Now s * stave is not a person,” with the rights persons, but a chattel Qt thing. Such Is the *Cceived definition of the slave States, handed down from Aristotle. He is not * * held to service or labor, but he is held as property. The terms employed describe an apprentice, but not a slave. And he must be held under the laws” of a State. Here again is the'ease of an apprentice, who is clearly heid ‘under the laws c f a state But we have the authority 0| Hr, Hason, of Virginia, for saying that no proof can be ad duced that slavery ia any State? is established by ex isting laws. " ZCongressional Globe, yoh 22, part - p. 1684—Slei Congress, let session. 1 And the person thus described shall not “be discharged from such service or labor. ” Clearly an apprentice is discharged, but a slave is manumitted or emancipated. And thlsundis -•’* oerson * 'shall be delivered up on claim of the _«ach service or labor may be Bat party to whom or atieast debt, as In the all these words Imply Conrr~v—. . -“service or case of apprentices. Ti±S relations labor” to his master There is nothing in their.eiattons out of which any such obligation can condition stands on/orce,a,nd nothings!** *°SSSJ tempered by the lash—not merely robbery or _all the . l ““ ot indnslry, but robbery of wife and child. To such a terrible assumption the language of contract or debt IS totally Inapplicable. Hotting cm .ft f »»“» slave to a master, unless it be something ol that TSBlet ance to tyrautß which is obedience to (rod. it is absurd to tay that * ‘ labor or service” in any sense, whether of •justice or of law, can-be due” from him. The same power which takes wife and child.may exact this farther sacrifice; but not because it is ‘dde. . v . Such is the truth with Regard to this much-debated clause Aa we brinr it to ihe touchstone of unquestioned rules of interpretation its odious character disappears, and we are astonished that the public mind could-have been perverted with regard to it for so long a period. Nobody ean.doubt that this clause niqy bs lnterpretedin favor of freedom, so as to exclude allidea Of property in man. But if it may . such iB the voice of freedom, it wwi, •There 5 s no chemistry In time to tear smuts wrong Into right. Therefore, the whole question on the Constitu tion is itlll open as on the day of its adoption. The cases of misinterpretation are of no value; at least, they can not settle the queilion against liberty. Such was theno ble declaration of Charles James Fox, i a. the British Par liament, when,ln words stiictly applicable to the present occasion, heiaid: “Whenever any usage appears sub versive Of the Constitution, If is had lasted fox one ox two hundred years, it teas not a precedent out -t Fox's speeches, vo\A, V. 131. December 35, lW And such is the character of every instance in which our Constitution has been perverted to sanction slavery. THB TRUE ORIGIN 0? THE FUGITIVE CLAUSE. . The debates of the Convention attest beyond, question the little interest in this clause at the time. In all the general propositions or plans successively brought for ward from the meeting of the Convention on the 25th Slay. 1787, there was no allusion to fugitive slaves: nor was there any allusion to them, even in debate, till air late as the 28th August, when, as the Convention was drawtngto a cloze, they were incidentally mentioned In a discussion on another subject, ihe question was on the article providing for the privileges of citizens in dif ferent States. Here is the authentic report by Mr. Madi son of what was said: „ % , 4 4 General (Charles Coteswoith) Pinckney was not sa tisfied with it. He seemed to wish some provision should be included in favor of property in 8 laves. ’ ‘—Madison Papers, p. 1447. • , But he made no proposition. Mark the modesty of the suggestion. Here was no offer of compromise—not even a complaint, much less a suggestion of corner-stone The next article under discussion provided for the sur render of fugitives from justice, Mr. Butler and Mr. Charlek Pinckney, both from South Carolina, now moved openly, bnt without any offer of compromise, to require “fugitive slaves and servants to be delivered up like criminals” But the very boldness of the proposition, drew attention and aroused opposition . Mr Wilson,* of Pennsylvania, afterwards the eminent judge and lecturer on law, promptly remarked: '‘This would oblige the executive of the. State to do it at the public expense, ” Mr. Sherman, of Connecticut, followed'ln apt words, saying that “he saw no more proprietyin the public seizing and surrendering a slave or servant than a hone. +.• Under this proper pressure the offensive proposition was withdrawn. The article for the surrender of crimi nals was then adopted. On the next day, August 29, Mr Bntler showed that the lovers of liberty had not spoken in vain. Abandoning the idea of anyw'ovost tion openly requiring the surrender of fugitivestaves, he moved an equivocal clause substantially like that now found in tne Constitution, which, without debate or epposition of any kind, was unanimously adopted, or, .according to the report of Mr.' Madison.. nem. cotv. What could not be done directly was attempted indirect ly; and the partisans of slavery contented themselves, according to the teachings of old Polonius, with lan gxaga which only * by indirection finds direction out. ” at no 4 indirection’-- can find slavery oat. The lan ■inuKS which sa&ctioa* Bach a wren, wut be ‘ dlrctft." LENOX. THREE CENT;? SkT„^^%r d “' at<,fB9ominKtliu “^' fenob is theindubltable origin of a clause which ut terly has frees declared to be & compromise of theVon’ stitnlion and * comer atone of the republic. That i clauee for the hunting of slave* was recognized at th» time as cbmpremwo or corner-stone.. is an absurditv disowned alike by history and by reason. That the clause was adopted nem. con , with the idea that, ac cording to any 'received ruler of interpretation, it could authorise the hunting of slaves, it is difficult t<> be lieve The very state men t that it was adopted nem. con. show's that it amet hare been regard* a, according to re ct.iicd rules of interprtta*ion r as having no “positive” character; for Store were eminent member? of the Coni mention who. according to their declared optnions-couw never have conreiited to any, such provoaUton, if it W been supposed for a moment to turn tbrrepulMie which Jbey were then organising into a mighty slave hontor. There *at Gouveroeur aerrts,who only arehort time be /oie exclaimed, in the'tJonrenilon: He never would concur in upholding domestic slavery. Itwaoanefar iSons institution. It was the curse of Heaven oil tlie sr.lc wh.ie it n:evailed. ’ Tkera eat ulivsrjEllvworth. afterwards Chief JusticKwhoeaid. in words whicls strike at Ml support of slavery by the National Government: 4 ‘ ?he morality or wisdom of slavery are considerations heie**ing t*tfce States themselves. ” There sat*BlHWdge Gerry ©tterWArd* Vice President, who openly declared that we bad nothing to do with the conduct 0$ the Statec- a* to slavery: btcC r ute xtwpht to be cor refill not to gm avi? sanstlm to- U,“ -T1 ere tat Jkrger bhejimn, who avowed that he was 4 opporei to’-anytexon. .vlave* imported, a? making the ma-ttsr woite, becauhe it implied they-leers property. ,F And, gre*teei' of all, Waere sat JSdcjamla irankltn, whfr'by character and conviction, in - every fibre of his nror'Al and intelSftctual feting, was pledged against any saxetion of slavery. 'Wbocan suppots *bat these wise and ill us* trtous patadarebs *f liberty ait consulted, nem. ecm,- not only tc* sanction slavery, and toia»oguizfl property in mam, b%t to put a kennel of bloodhounds inttvthe Coß3tltntio>,ready so hunt tbofiyinsbondman? They did no eucb thing; or, if it is ‘delete®, contrary to ceived rules--vf interpretation, that wish, must bettte Bignifftatiou ef their language, clearly they did not on derstanu it so. Doubtless there 'Wtre* members of th.C’ Convention who, in their passloiWor ri&rery, cheered 4 themselves w!*h the deluetos thafthey had adequately? described. In 44 positive'* terms, the prttonsion which' they beped to embody in the Uonciitutie&pbnt the legal • mtaning of this provision mnfct determined. not. by the pafcsionof oacb. persons, but b7&fee-ae?n&L language employ f d,tcct li i&g to received rules of interpretation* from which tears is no at peal. Other ruieomay be set arlde as Inapplicable; but the iu ewhiohv.in presence of any doubtful pirate. any indirect language, or anv word capable of a double sense, requires thcAU shall be interpreted in ftot&r of liberty, is tnemoet oosamauding Thus, when this clause took Its place in-the- Oonstltu.- ticn nefh. eon n ht was clearly as a cipher. It meant nothing—or at lea*t nothing odious. 3ut tla&a conclu sion becomes mill more apparent iw the Hs&t ot two special incidents, which cannot be fcrsctt&n in deter mining the validily of any claim, foe slavery under equivocal words of the Constitution. Tbefirotia the saying of Hr. ffiadieon, which he has recorded in the report of the Convention, that “it wa&wrongfco admit in the Coßstiinticn- the idea of property in man*Admi rable words* constituting a binding rute-of Interpreta tion I And yet, in the ihee of thtsdeclaratiou.it has ueeu insisted that the ‘ldea of property in manvis embodied in the double-faced words of the fugitive clausa. But as the words are smoeptible of two meanings clearly they should he interpreted eo as to exclude- wh»t was *• wrorg, ” The other incident furnishes the same lesson* Jb a manuer more pointed still. It appoaT* tiratvo* the 10th of September, 1781. a fortnight after the- riwfitiTß clause was adopted in Us earliest form* end-while the Convention wae considering the report of its committee on >t?ld* “Onmoiionof Mr. Bandolph, the-word servi tude was struck out, and service unanimously-insetted; the former being thonght to expreis the condition of slaves, and the latter free persons."— £ Madison papers* September 13.3 Thus the word 4 4 service” ceases eTeu to be equivocal, for it was unanimously adopted l a* ex- Prtetifig ‘ 4 tbe condition of free persons.*' And such it would have continued to express always,.if slavery had notunh&ppUy triumphed over our Oovern«a«ut iu &U ite departments, ssesutlve. legislative, and', indleial. It is sot doubted that at home in the, slave States the fugitive clsme was interpreted as applicable to slaves, and that this assorted iletnse was at time* mentioned as a reason for the adoption of the Constitution. Sven Mr. Madison, who had declared in the National Con vention * * that it was wrong to admit in the Constitu tion the idea of property in man, ” argued afterwards in the Virginia Convention that * this clause was ex. P7etdr Insetted, to ensble owners of slaves to luciaim them ,, ~:lElioVs voi. s. p. 4C3]—all or which was doubtless true; but the question still occursas to the cocfetitutiouftl efficacy of the clause. Mr. Ireedell, who was not a member ol the National Convention, ander tcek in the North Carolina Convention to explain what It had done- fie said that the clause was intended to include slaves, but he added, 44 the Northern delegates, owing to their particular scruples on the subject of slavery, did not choose the word slave to be mentioned,'' —l2 bid, voi. 4. p. 176>t —so that on. the very statement of this expositor the question naturally arose whether slaver W6»ereMly included. In the South Carolina Conven tion, General Pinckney, who In the National Convention had first dropped the idea of **someprovisionin favorof Ereperty in slave* * n boasted that this had been obtained: ut he added, in suggestive words, 44 we have made the best terms for the security of this species of property It was in cur power to make. - We toould have made better if we could. '—Zlbid. vol. 4, p 286 1 True enough. The slave-master got all they could* if possible they would have got more. But the question still recurs wl ether in this equivocal provision they got anything. In the National Convention ihey adopted a clause which WAS only another illustration of 44 Mr. Facing—both— wtys.” At home, in their local conventions, they courageouslylnslstedtlatit forced only one way. It is an olu dramatist who tolls ns that 44 there is a moral in a villain outwitting himself and Falst&ff exclaims. In familiar words, “see how wit may be made a jackanapes when it is nponau ill-employ,” Clearly, the wit of the slave masters was 4 *in ill-employ” when it sought to foist slavery into the text of the Con etitntion, and It Is easyto see that all who engaged iu the work were like 4 ‘ the villain outwitting himself n Whatever they may have thought or boasted the thing wse not done. From this review of the origin of the fugitive clause, end the clrcnmttancra which attended its adoption, It ie appaient that it has bem the occasion of infinite exag gelation and misrepresentation. Like a Pagan idol, it a& been worshipped aud covered with tilts ; but the prevailing superstition which sustained the imposture has at last disappeared, and we see nothing but a vulgar image of painted wood. LEGISLATION FOR THE RENDITION OF FfOITIVE SLAVES. As early as 1783, while Congress was silting la Phila delphia, provltloue for surrendering fugitive slaved Ware fSMtned upon a bill for the surrender of fugitive* from justice, and the whole was adopted, apparently with very little consideration. Thus, accidentally, Congress undertook to assume the odious pi wer to organize slave bunting. But the act was scarcely passed before the cor science of the people, not only at the North, but even in Maryland, began to be arou«ect against it. Granville Sharp, who, in ingland, so bravely maintained onr na- TiozM cause ss well as the cause of the slave, add-esstd. & letter to the Maryland “Society for Promoting the Abolition of slavery end the Relief ef Free Segroe*, and otlersßUlawfnllr (ißtsined iQ Bondage,” If irMtl Be setforth elaborately those binolnff mUs of Interpreta tion, which, accoroiug to SnKlißh law, require a court to incline always in favor of liberty. This letter pur ports to b&ve been published as a pamphlet, by order o' the society, and to nave been printed at Baltimore, near the court-house, by I>. Graham, L. l andy, and W Pat ten, in 1793. In a brief preface, the Maryland society thus reveal the trials attending the new fugitive-slave act; 44 Still slavery exists,and inthecase of slaves escaping from their -masters, the friends of univeTßal liberty are often embarrasted'ln their eonduct by a conflict between their principles and tteo&fr'pafirmff imposed by unwise and perhaps unconstitutional laws Such is a contemporary record of the sensibilities of a slave State on this occasion ; and let it be mentioned to the honor of Maryland. But it Is reasonable to suppose that the sensibilities of States farther north were touched still more. Ur. Quincy, whose living memoiy embraces thiß early period, tells us that, wheu au enforcement of this act was attempted in Boston, the crowd, which thronged the room of the magistrate, quietly and spon taneously. opened a lane for the fugitive, who was thus enabled to save himself from slavery* aid also to save the country from the dUhonov of such & sacrifice. Almost at the same time, In the patriots State of Vermont, a jnfgeof the Supreme Court of the State, on application for the surrender of an alleged slave, accompanied by documentary evidence, refused to comply unless the ma*ter could show a bill of sale from the Almighty. Such was the popular feeding which this earlier legisla tion encountered. . . ... . , There Is authentic evidence teat this popular feeling wsb recognized by President Washixgtoa as a proper guide on an occasion when he waß personally interested. Jl Klaveot Mrs. Washington had escaped to New Hamp shire. The President, in an autograph letter, which has been produced iu theSeuate, addressed to Mr. Whip ple, the collector at Portsmouth, and rated at Philadel phia, November 28. 1786, after expressing the desire of •‘her mUtrets” for the return of the slave, lays down the following rule of conduct: x x , x 4 * I do not mean, however, by this request, that such violent measures should be uied as would excite a mob or riot, wi-ith might be the case if she has adherents, or even uneasy sensations in the minds of well-disposed dtisens Bather than either of these should happen, 1 would foreso her services altogether: and the example, also, which is of infinite more importance. 44 GEORGE WASHINGTON. ” The fugitive sever was returned; but lived to a good old age -down, to a recent period—a living witness to that public opinion wbidh made even the mildest of fu gitive-slave acts a dead letter. At last. in. lfifiO, after the subject of slavery had been agitated in Congress without interruption for nearly twenty years, a aeries of propositions was adopted, which were solemnly declared to be compromises by which all the questions concerning slavery were permanently settled, so as never again to vex the country—as if any question could be permanently settled except on the principles of justice. Bat the “ gruel” was adopted, and among itrfngredlents** for a charm of powerful trouble” was a new fugitive slave act, first reported from the Committee on the. Judiciary by Mr. Butler, of South- Carolina, but afterwards amended by a substitute from Mr. MasOß» Of Yifeini*. SO as to become substantially Ms measure. ' It. is not necessary now to mention its details. Suffice ifclto say that in these as well as in its feneral conceptiom'it was harsh, cruel, and vindictive. ew statutes in all history have been so utterly in human : not excepting even those British statutes for the oppression of the Irish Catholics, which are pictured by Edmund Burke iu words strictly applicable to the mon strosity cf our country*, ‘ w * “It Is truiy a barbarous system where all the parts are outrage on the laws of-humanlty and the lights ut nature: it is a system of .elaborate contrivance, as well fitted for the oppression;lmprisonment, and degra datiouof apaopie, and the debasement of human nature ittelf, as ever proceeded from the-pervefted ingenuity of man.” And such unquestionably was the fugitive slave act of 1850, which is still allowed to remain on the statute book, a blot upon our country and our age. Where a measure it so plainly repugnant to reason and to authority, and on the face of It has so foundation in the Constitution, any elatoor-*; against it seems superfluous., at “this moSeut when Blavery £verywb§r® yielding to freedom. The wneral ctmdemns'the inhuman statute, and this is BBChgn. But It is important to go farther in order to exhibit the extent to which the country has been deceived on this subject. Therefore, briefly tbe committee will call at tention to the constitutional objections, ' •. UNCONSTITUTIONAL USURPATION OF POWER UV CONGRESS. Forgetting, then, for the moment, the preamble of the Constitution, which epeaka always tor justice and Jibeity; forgetting also the venerable maxim of the law. that “we must incline always In favor of freedom,” and also that other maxim, that “he is impious and cruel who does not favor freedom; 7 ’ refusing, according to the requirement of law. ** to catch at anything in favor of liberty; 7 ’ and. in spile of all received rules of assuming that the words of the fugitive clause define fugitive slaves, the question then arises, li CZ? 1 * clause thus defiantly interpreted con fers any power upon voagroee. Clearly not. „ ... „ . Search the Constitution and you will find no grant, general or special, conferring upon Congress the power to legislate with regard tofugitivesfromservlceor labor. In the catalogue ox powers belonging to Congress, this power is not mentioned; nor does H appear in any special grant, f here is nothing in the clause itself; there is no* thing in any other olause applicable to this pretended power. The whole i abject Is left to stand on a clause which, whatever may be its meaning otherwise, is obvi ously on its thee calj a compact, and not a grant ofpow er. And in this respect it d lifers on its face from other provisions of the Constitution. For Instance, Congress is expressly empowered "to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subiset of . bankruptcies, throughout the United States, 77 Without this grant these two Important subjects would have fallen within the control of the States, the nation hav ing no power to establish a uniform rule thereupon. But, instead of the existing compact on fugitive from sei vice or labor, it would have been easy, had any such desire prevailed, to add this case to the provision on naturalization and bankruptcies and to empower Con gress to establish a uniform, rule for the surrender of fugitives from service, or labor throughout the United Stoles. Then would Congress havehan unquestionable jurisdiction over this subject. But nobody in the Con vention—not one of the hardiest partisans of slavery— presumed to make this proposition. Had it been made, it iB eeay to see that it must nave been most unceremoni ously dismissed. The genius of common law, to which our ancestors Were devoted, would have cried out against any such concession. If we refer to tie great master. Lord Coke, from whose teachings in that day there was no appeal, we shall find iU living voice. In the Third Institute (p. 189) he thus expresses himself; kt ltisholden. and so it hath been resolved, that divided kingdoms, unaei' several kings in league one with another, are sanctu arits for servants or subjects flying for safety from one kingdom to another, and upon demand made by them are not, by the laws and liberties of kingdoms , to be delivered.” Ucquestionably, if such “sanctuaries* may be overturn can be only in a manner consistent Wlintbe 4 ‘laws and liberties” of the States where the fugitive may be found, and not through the exercise of a domineering prerogative toy Cougreßß. . Whatever may be the real meaning of the clause in otbf>rreBuecte, it is obvious that it is a compact With a prohibition on the States, conferring no power on the nation, la Us natural signification it is a com pact. Ac cord ing to the examples of other countries, and theprin cipiee of jurisprudence it is a compact Ail arrangements for tbe eui render of fugitives have beefi customarily compacts. Except under the express obligations of trea ty, no nation is bound to surrender fag Itieee- Especial ly has this been the case with fugitives for freedom., In medieval Europe, cities refused to recognize this obliga tion is favor of persons, even under the same National Government. In 1631, while the Netherlands and Bpain were united under Charles V., the Supreme Council or Mechlin rejected an application from Spain lot the sur render of a fugitive slave. By express compact mone could this be secured. But ihe provision of the Con siitntlon waa borrowed from the ordinance of the Honhwestern Territory, which ia 4ll t? p tnunca. cJar.d to be a “compact;” and this ardinano* finally drawn by Nathan Daw» a compact In laseoagf in compel according gwaasstitefissi «• ■ of our ta * two tvtapco, of compact, lftTlJator, which UTtXE WAB PRESS, (PUBLISHED WEEKLY,) Tbs Wax Fbbbs Will be sent to eubsalbers by mail (per annum In advance) gg Three.ecples. *.««•-• *-»■»•********»«*** **“•*****«,,*,*« S Offi B Offi Ten copies .15 Oi Larger Clubs than Tea wifi be charged at the sam* rate, 81 So per copy, ' The money must always accompany the order, , oM nano ffufonee can these terms hi deviated from, aeVm turoravery uttu more than the cost of paper. T^wlTlW 10 “* ».«» « A *»“ b * iO-To the jett«Mip tk„ club or tan w twontr. •ztn copy «fth« Paper will be iw«n. * ■will illrfKljato the Breeant words. The fint ia f0,.,4 in e. treaty ofrtece Between Alexander ConaeamrOieek Emperor of Constantinople, and Oleg, King of Id the year of the C* rhtian era 901, as follow* - ,V3 - La » ‘•lf afiufisiAn slave Uke flightior eraa it hcrig aw»y by any one under pretence o! having been'bonAA bis master shall have the right and power to'purstia and hunt for and capture him wherever hershalc aedany person who.shall oppsse the master 6 »® ze^l l t sn n of this right shall be deemed, giAHyof Thii HfJ ™ attd b ® Panlehed accordtnily. ” v lnade unequivocal language of a> in ourJwa |Hy b R' n , ,''.^:, i!1 f 8 l oett , ss,i,toexi ? t * ai The i disdains to otjto a slave. onH ofSke Artfolss of meat ot MMrlchuKjtt? o antat , iolie slider the govern* govemmsDt ot H.w p'i. i? Plaa’ai.ons Odder tho’ a id ort 1 c K 0 V. r .T resit of?**l° plantations ali o asrS.d i taat wi£,t otlcnt . 1,910 u 1“: Blsmastfr into any mlier nr rva . nt .away front tlons. that in mch cr<o. hnn n «™!«jloHite4 jorUdlo yistiale in the jnriidiot!?® “fit one ma- Ard, or upon other doe proot ,li "r»al4 servant dsUvertti eithea to hh tnattsV orlny 1 ?,,?” V® 1 . ’ haU *•* aad Brinirs Mirff cc-tlfloato or proof Parana, Hetorde. yol. 9. p. 3. Bee alto Colony eardmeeits, p 722] “ no,it Chartora of Mas fitre, fry words of agreement, lots frnnv ..w. vesul ihan thesp of ibk earlier time? &38L£F &I MWlv\* delivered np. Bnt tb!e compact. Hire Its . lio tape, haa loir allot, ceastd 10 axi«t woto tJr rjoeeiiojiaMy the fagltive clausa of the Conv.-toUto, a* Bet her applicable to figitiye elayeaor Bofc we . ■ a«2f Intended to confer powsr open Conarees, bat wai elmrlv a commir.t to rereive ereh interpretation aa the Butwi where it w aa enforced ral*ht choose to adopt. AornoEiTijja no tr:--,T the poweitOP coeoeeW;- On this point Mr. Suznuer quotes a nUmbsr of dlstlm, !Snarta?le™“ l,< "’ Tie followliK iß perhaps the mooK ilarc£jBso:' p,d 111 sha famona speech of the 7Hr, ArVoLd^tfeif I ,^?? 8 thonght that the Constitution gressea iteelf to the legislatures of the Btvtes r *or to thoL* stelSSfi.?ff 1 B P«ipTn* iil*- other orates shall be delivered up, and I confess i havis-* opt”! 0 ’! that that wu 6iea upch Ike States theme 3)res. It is said that ■ ■ peicon into another beats, and coming, there* xore, within thfe jurisdiction ofthat State, shall do deli vered upf U sentos to mstiwtSjfie plain import of the • passagezis that the. State itSelr, in obedience lo the in junction of the-Constitution, shall cause Jnmto be d*lt vered upr This is my judgment, and I have a lways entertafnediti and Isnoto.” -AL 1 * it, tp4 I entertain it 3SY ara rthe «nphaticr words by Which Mr. ” GOlars * bl* jttfl gmen iof She nnoongtitationality „ h ? B* 4 alone Mr. Meson; the actual anther ®?P° M d lta uneonatitotioß. “‘iV* SB'Be ’>ery speech by wblcb he lntrodncftTit: a reading eflhese clauses of the Constitution far extradition <j? fugitives, of both classes- 1 advance the confident opinion that'-it devolves upon the Statco tka duty of providing by law both for their capture and di? iment of the Constitution wae* to*le l Sfre ll fi t upfntß Etstes as a federal duty to enforce, by their own laws within their respective limits, both Sheae-olauses of ml aa^^SKna 0 ! 01 ef Attd Mr. fintler. of Soath CarollM, at a laler day, • Wader the. Constitution each state of itself onaht to provide for the rendition of all fugitives from labir to their masters. This was certainly the’ desian at ihZ Constitution, r-ifonpressionai Olck laae Si. iBSI i Sucbare some of the authorities, judicial aadpoilHoal. by which the power of Congress over this snbject is de “led - r? ,be &ee uf atl aathority,. and in del ance of reason, Congress assumed this power. It was done at the demand of slavery, and for tie protection of elavexy. Of course, such an a.enmpticn of undelegated • P. OW ®£.Y!* s . a nsurpallrm at the time, and it is a naurus? fioi still—donbiy hattfnl when it is considered that it Is a usurpation in the name of slavery. It is hard to think 7 aBdr! ™> *? a ? unconstitntlonai asßamp tion in such a cause, and that, contrary to sover&im rules of inerpretatlon. It was constraffed to TSuiS slavery rather than to freedom Bnt the time has come to If nmi ConatUiitiom lh6 aUUndO Wkich sa'SSnasißMw- Congress of power UOt gi l Anted by the Brft even admitting the power, a slight examination will show that it has been executed In defiance of the Consti tution. The constitutional objections to the fugitive slave act sie abundant. It Is not too much to say that iu every section, and at every joint it Is repugnant -to admitted, principles of co> stltutlonal law. UNCONSTITUTIONAL DENIAL OF> TRIAL BY JTUHY. . Foremost among these objections It Is proper to put the denial of a trial by jury to the fugitive, whose liberty Is in question. It is well known that Judge Storyv who pronounced the opinion of the Supreme Court, af firming the constitutionality of the early fugitive tdava act, declared that the necessity or a trial by jury had not been argued before the court, aad that in his opinion this waß still an 4 ’ open question. "—ZStory's Idfe and: Litters, vol 2, p £66 } It haa never been argued sincel but it is difficult to say that it is still an 4 * open ques tion.” The battles of freedom are never lost*'and the longer (Mb right has been denied the .more Its justice has become apparent, until at last.it ehlnes-resplendeut beyond *U contradiction. Even if there were any doubt of the obligation of Courresß* there can be no doubt of the power. Nobody denies that Congress, if it legislates on this matter, may allow a trial by jury. But here again, if it may. eo overwhelming is the claim of jus* lire, it must. The text of tl e Constitution leaves the case beyond question And here, on the threshold, two necessary Incidents of the delivery may ba observed; First, it must be made in the State where the fugitive is louud t and. eecocdly. it restores to the claimant his complete control over theperegn of the victim, so that he may be conveyed to any part or iu© country where it isposAibl© to hold a slave, or he may be sold on the way. From these circurnttancee, it is evident that the proceedings cannot be regarded. In any just sense, us preliminary or auxiliary to some future formal trial, as in the care of the surrender of & fugitive from justice, but aa complete in themtelves, finer and conclusive On tbe one aide is a question, of property; on the other side is tbe vital question of human freedom in its most transcendent form: not merely freedom for a day or a year, but for life, and the freedom of generations that shell succeed a© long aa slavery endures. Bdi Whether viewed as a question of property or a question of human freedom* the requirement of the Constitution is equally explicit, and it becomes more explicit as we examine its history. It ic well known that at the close of the Na tional Convention Elbildge Gerry refused to sign the c-onatitation, bec&uee, among other things. It established “a tribunal without juries - a itsr chamber as to civil cases.” Many united ii> this opposition, and on the re commendation of ihe first Congress an additional safe guard was added In tbe following words : “In suits at ctvmriion Idw. where the value In controversy shall ex ceed twenty do'lars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved. ” Word* cannot be mot© p6»itlvo. TIIE STATE. The Murder at Silver Creek, Schuylkill County. To the Editor of The Frees: Sis: I .end you am correct a statement aa canba gathered of the late murder committed at Silver Creek, Schuylkill county: It item, that Jamea Shields and David MoAlister, two veteran volunteer, of the 48th Eegiment, had made themselves obnoxious to oertaln partiei by their Dee expression* in regard to Copperhead*, and there wac formed a *ettled determination to murder them. They were followed, on Saturday night last, by five men—John Stlnion, Fa, Gouldy, Hugh Curran, and two mere Stranger* in the vicinity, who ueem to have been detailed for the purpose. Shield* and McAlister were found in tbe house of the widowed slater-in law of the former. MoAlister escaped by jumping through a window, but his pistol was taken from him and three shots from it fired after him. Shields was struck at first by one of the strange man with an iron bar in the head, which deprived him or con sciousness, and wee then held by Gouldoy and stabbed in the breast by Curran in five places. Stinson had gone out, it Is supposed, to look for Mo- Alii ter, and in returning to the house waa met by Gouldy and Curran, and stabbed by them in mistake for MoAlister. The parties then went different roads, Gouldy and Curran having been .con ia Windy Harbor after the murder. Parties went Im mediately to Pottsvillei and a rquad of soldiers was sent up at daylight in the morning, who succeeded in arresting Gouldy and Curran, who were taken down. Immediately after the two strangers came through the town of New [Philadelphia, having home from Mlddleport, two miles above. Although no knowledge existed of their partiol* .pation in the murder, suspicion attached to them from the faot that they showed evidences of having been engaged in a brawl 'somewhere, and from the faot-that on their first coming to the place, a day or two before, they m.ade inquiry for Stineon, one of the parties eng-.ged in the murder. They were fol lowed by a of citizens and arrested: the sol dlere in emerge of Gouldy and Curran stopped, and the fo»::r carried to Pottsville and lodged in prison. Tb.d evidence before the Coroner fully implicate* the whole party, and if justice be done the whole will be hung. A great fear exists, however, that these men will not meet the proper punishment for this crime, end many citizens Of New Philadelphia gnq vicinity strongly arged the propriety of meting out to them summary punishment. These men liyye been the terror of Vue community for years past; and it is 061" **lliy to be hoped the terror they have inspired and their lives should be ended together. JUSTICE. POTT6VILLE, Feb. 29, 1564. > Shogkiko Mcbdbs.—A soldier belonging to thd 100 th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers was mur dered a lew days ago, about four miles from Darling ton. Lawrence county. He was home on a furlough, having re- enlisted for the war. During his absence his wife had formed another connection, of which he waa ignorant. One night, while he lay Asleep, his wife and her paramour slipped a noose aroimtf hie fit ck and soon had him hanging over a beam ia the room, and left him there to die. When dead, they deposited bis remains in a ooal bank in the vi cinity, Suspiolon was, however, soon excited, the body found, and upon the woman’s contention, the guilty pair were lodged in jail. Tub Wool Geowees —A large meeting of wool ? [rowers was held in Washington, Pa., last week, or the purpose of petitioning Congress for an in created duty on wool. A convention is to bs held on the Bth of Marsh, to which wool-growers of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Western Virginia are invited. THE DBAFT IN ELIZABETHTOWN. [Spc cial Despatch to The Press. ] Elizabbthtowh, Pa., March 1. —The quota of this borough has been filled by volunteers. D. Khepiko Open a Boon op Kbtbbat.— A letter from St. Augustine, Florida, mentions that senator Yuleehss never held office und&r the Confederate Government, nor in the State Government of Flori da since she seceded, and that he therefore comes within the terms of tbe amnesty proclamation. It would be a little curious if Yulee should avail him self of this. He was one of tbe active conspirator* at Washington during the dosing months of Mr. Buchanan’s Administration, forming one of that lit tle clique of Senators and member* of Congress from the South wbo directed the movements of the la bels in the Southern States, and pulled the wires or the Secession machinery. Among the letters re* cently found in the houses of leading rebel* at tha South, was one from Yulee, written from Washing ton early in January, 1861, saying that, upon con sultation, the Secession members had decided to re. main in Congress as long as possible, in order to da* feat measures that might be brought forward againit the rebellion— such as raising troops, Disking loans; Ac., &e.—Times, A PBESiDENTrAL Pbw-Wipbb. —On Monday, Febiuary S2d, the anniversary of the birth of Wash ington, a pen-wiper was received at the Executive Mansion for President Lincoln, as a gift from Mis* Laura Culbertson, Of Erie City, Pa. Me “wiper” represent* George Washington, in his old -Conti, nental suit, with buff breeshes, velvet coat, and ohaneau. The fioe it finely engraved, and it agood likeness. The wiper Is twelve inches long, and m ven ingenioußly executed. II i» a ntoe ornament upon tbe President 7 * table, Th« Lancaster Trumpet of Elizabethtown l&ys that a few days since, of a young woman atTbe residence of Martin Inly, l * Baphe townahip* 2 beautiful white rose and bud made their appear ance nn her lips, said horticultural phenomenon being SSrt. Uk« ivory, and continuing to growuntll her tatmmSl SkVptie* said it was •.natural ros» Disced on the face as an ornament, but were con vinced by incpectlon that they were mistaken. Suit bob Damages.— We understand that Ber nard autohell, Eiq., o( this town, has entered a salt against tbe Philadelphia, Wilmington, ana Balti more Bail road Company for damages in conveying a slave away as a passenger. We do not know what evidence there is against the company.—Havre-«*■ Grace Timet, Dr. J. V. O. Smith, ex-mayor of Boston, is serving as surgeon tn the Union hospitals in New Orleans.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers