v?nlcc of Old Rye, forgot all their perils and and fatigue. "How near the rocks did wc go," said I to one of the master's mates, the next morn ing;. He mado no reply, but taking down his chart, showed mo a pencil line between the outside shoal and the Light House Island whioh must have boon a small strait for a fisherman to run his smack thlough in good weather by day light. For what is tho noble and dear old frigate reserved 1 I went upon deck; the sea was calm, a gentle breeze was swelling our canvass from our mainsail to royal,tho isles of Scilly had sank in tho eastern waters, and the clouds of tho dying storm were rolling off in broken masses to tho uorlhwaid and westward, like tho flying columns of a bea ten army. I have been in many a gale of wind, and have passed through scenes of great danger but never before nor since, havo I experi enced an hour so terrific, as that when the Constitution was laboring with the lives of five hundred men hanging on a single small iron bolt, to weather Scilly on the night of ihe 11th of May, 1835. Note. During tho gale, Mrs. Livings ton inquired of the captain if we were not in great danger, to which ho replied as soon as we passed Scilly; "you aro as safe as you would bo in the aisle of a church." It is singular that the frigate Boston, Capt. M'cNeal, about the close of the Revolution escaped a similar danger while employed in carrying out to France, Chancellor Ll'v igston, a relative of Kdward's and also Minister to tho Court of St. Cloud, lie likewise had his wife on board, and while the vessel was weathering a lee shore, Mrs. Livingston asked the Captain a rough but gallant old fire-eater if they were not in great danger ; to which he replied "You had better, Madam get down upon your knees, and pray to your God to forgive your numerous sins for if we dont carry by this point, we shall all be in h 11 in five minutes." From tho Lehigh Bulletin. PROCEEDINGS OF COURT. Commonwealth vs. Gustavus Adolphus Sage. The Defendant in this case was indicted for publishing a Libel upon the Character of David R. Porter, previous to the late election. The Libel charged Gov. Porter, with being a " perjured knave," and with ' fraudulent Insolvency." The indictment contained but two counts embracing these charges. As the case is ts be fully report ed, we shall not attempt now, neither have we time, to detatt tho facts, as given in cvi- uence 10 tne jury. Wc will however state behind the 7th section of the 9th aiticle of our constitution which permits, " in prose cutions for the publication of papers inves tigating the official conduct of officers or men in a public capacity, or when the mat ter published is proper for public informa tion, the truth thereof, to be given in evi dence." To this the counsel for the Com monwealth did not object, but cheerfully in vited the defendant to the enjoyment of eve ry right of defence, atTordcd him by the constitution and the Laws. The doors be ing therefore thrown wide open and nothing intentionally left to impede or resist a full and free investigation of the truth of the charges, the defendant commenced by pro ducing the notorious John Stonebraker as the first witness. From the undecided and equivocating manner in which he testified in chief, a jury could have scatcelv placed any reliance upon his testimony, and before he had undergone a thorough cross examin ation, it was easily to be perceived that his affidavits, which were tho original founda un .thc Libel, could not be supported. Aficr his examination had closed, his son Samuel StonebraKor (Stevens Boss) was called, whose testimony contributed but lit tle to the support of his Father. To com plete the trio, Robert Campbell the late Prothonotarv of TTimi;,! r.,... , , . fiu"" vuumy suc ceeded; and the wrecklcss manner in which mis man tcstilied, was sufficieut to maki one doubt the eftac.t - miu U J an oath have upon tho consciences of some au lusmmucr at trie depravity of liu man nature. We shall tint ; dm of the testimony of these mon, but content uu.ac.vca ,vn:i saying, mat it they can with quiet consciences there may indeed be on earth peace to the wicked. The character of John Stonebraker for uuin anu varacity was most awfully im peached by six of his most respectable iiei!'bor!, who testified, thatthoy would not believe him under hath. Neither did the character of Robert Campbell stand in a better light. For tho witness who succcd ed him, and called to. by defendant, testified that he (Campbell) has sworn to a positive fahr'ood. Upon the testimony of such witnesses as theso had the defendant the shameless audacity to ground his defence and justification of his conduct. Gov. Por ter wa3 present during the trial. His noble and digo led deportment was marked by no agitation no fearful apprehensions of the re sult. But seemed rather to bo laboring un der feelings, of pity and contompl for tho wretohed miscreants who was attempting to rob him of his characler. And when cal led to tho stand as a witness for the com monwealth, the mild nnd modest, yet, firm and convincing manner, in which he gave Ins testimony, oxoited tho sympathy, and it the same time the admiration of overy spcctator,and left upon all but one, deep impression, that ho was a much injured and abused man. Wishing to have every busi ness transaction of his life investigated, and to give his enemies no grounds of com plaint, ho went much further in detail than was even necessary for a triumphant vindi cation of his character. And after hi tes timony was closed, every shado of suspi cion that malice and calumny had brought upon him, was removed, and ho stood forth with an integrity as puro and unsullied, as the new fallen snow. Such has been tho glorious termination of a trial, which not only involved tho character of tho first offi cer of the commonwealth) but tho liberty and liccnciousncss of the press. His hon or Judge Banks in a very clear and lucid charge to the jury, drew a lino of distinc tion between them, and plainly defined tho rights of the press. They may canvass the political measures, or creed of a man, but cannot vilhfy and abuso. His charge was able eloquent and conclusive. So clear ly did the evidence enable him to sweep a way every matter, that m?y once have been doubtful, there was nothing left for the jury to do, not a solitary fact remained unex plained or required their deliberation. Tho cloud of suspicion which the lying affidavits of the Slonebrakcrs had hovering around tho character of Gov. Porter, was swept a way, and it shone forth clear as the sun in his meredian glory. Under such circum stances tho jury could not but return a ver dict of guilty against the defendant, which was done. Thereby declaring that the char acter of Gov. Porter is free from the foul charges made against him by his political cnomics. Bridges, Barton, of Phila. and Gibons for Commonwealth; Brown, of Easton, for defendant. VETO MESsTgToF THE GOVERN OR UrON THE LOCAL APPRO PRIATION BILL. To the Senate and House of Representa tives of the Commonwealth of Penn sylvania. Gentleman. The hill nntliTivl nn nni making appropriations to certain turnpikes, state roads, &c. within this commonwealth, and for other purposes" has been presented to me for executive approbation, but as I cannot give that approbation to this bill con sistently wiin my own sense ot duty, 1 re turn it to the House of Representatives, in which it originated, with my objections. It makes large appropriations to the pay ment of the debts of several incorporated companies: to the buildinrr nf l.ri.Ws. tlm improvement of streams; the repair of vari ous lurnpiKO roaus : anu tho building of a hall in tho citv of Lancastnr mnnv nr nil of which objects might be perfectly proper nntl rlrrtlt .mil llin nr.mmr.. -- "b . UIIIU wiu.u wo aro labonncr under an nviet.nir att ,ii,. of upwards of thirty millions of dollars, it does not appear to mc that it wnnM i.n n.ii,- er prudent or proper to borrow money, or .......... rv.ur,v, lu luinu minis io give away, with so profuse a hand on improvements, many of which are secondary at least in character and general importance. If it were even advisable to increase the slate debt for this purpose, under any circum stances, the present is not a propitious time, as there is difficulty in procuring monov for existing responsibilities on favorable terms, and that difficulty would no doubt be in creased by increasing the amount required. This bill makes the following apropria tions to tho objects named. Here follows a list of 125 incorporated Road and Bridge companies, to which are given about 275,000 dollars which we omit for want of room. In the message which I submitted to the legislature on the 20ih day of January last, I took occasion to communicate at some length, ray views relative to the system of internal improvements in which this com monwealth is so deeply embarked. I will again state in a few words the gen eral principles that in my judgement ought to regulate the action of our government in carrying that system into cflcct, so far as the same havo a direct bearing on the sub ject under consideration. The primary object avowed by all de partments of tho government in tho com mencemcnlofoursystem of internal improve ments was to secure to uor commercial em porium a due portion of the increasing Wes tern trado or commerce, and to developo the immense mineral resources of this common wealth, distributed throughout the coal and iron fields in such cxhaustlcss abundance, and tho agricultural productions of her fer tile vallies in herinterior.northcrn and west ern counties. To carry this design into operation, tho main lines between Philadel phia and Pittsburg and tho lakes were first undertaken and tho coal and iron fields on tho north and northwest penotrated by tho Susquehanna canals. The immediate tributaries of the main hnes.openmg into rich mineral deposites, of course form a part of the system, and are necessary to its entire completion. To se cure tho trade of the western slates, and of the northwestern portion of Now York was also an essential object of the founders of our improvement system. Experience clearly demonstrates tho wis dom and sound policy of the undertaking. Had all the energy and means of tho com monwealth been devoted in tlm prosecution of this system, in its original simplicity, the stable would now be reaping the full fruits of her expenditures, and the public debt, would not have boon swelled to its present enormous amount. Influen ced, howcvcr.by unfortunate causes fc coun cils, tho legislation of the slate, has recent ly tended to distract tho attention, and di vide the means of tho public by the prose cution of various undertakings, unconnec ted with the main lines, and in many in stances, wholly for tho benefit of private companies; thus placing the public means under their unlimited control, when the faith of the commonwealth was already pledged, to apply its resources to the com pletion of its own works, and to the pay ment of its own liabilities. It is manifest at a glance, that just so far as the original system has been departed from, so lar has tho system itself been retarded, and tho public money been squandered upon unpro ductive objects. I do not mean to say, theso objects may not have been of great value to particular sections, and particular individ uals, but tho public at large, had not the samo interest in them, nor could their com mencement, or even completion, materially contribute to the prosecution of tho main design. I rank them accordingly, among that class ot secondary improvements which should not be undertaken by the common wealth, while others of much greater im portance, remain unfinished and unprofita ble. It has only been within the few-last years, that this inftaction of the internal improve ment system has been carried to tho great est extent. The drains upon the treasury of the commonwealth, through a thousand unseen channels, have frittered down her resources, crippled her energies and invol- II' .1 1 . . . I I- ..1.1 cu ncr in tne most lncxtricauic uuncuiut-s. To a person not intimately acquainted with the fads, it would ho a question not easily to solve, from an examination of tho recent appropriation bills, whether the main lines of our improvements were prosecuted on account of their own intrinsic importance, or merely as pretexts for lavishing upon numberless other subordinate objects, mil lions of dollars of tho money of tho peo ple. In some instances, as in that ot the bill under consideration, the appropriations to secondary objects have been made first, while the appropriations to the main lines have thus far failed entirely. It will be but one step further in the doparture fiom tho original system, to drop the main lines alto gether and henceforth disperse the treasure of the commonwealth, among incorporated companies local prejudices, local interests, and expert bargaining to secure in tho gen eral sciamblc, the largest share of the pub lic money. It is far from my intention to attributo to any of these motives, or to the influence of any ot these causcst the formation ol the present bill' I am speaking of the direct tendency of this cource of lcfrislation to rrai vuliscqucnceanr rnuai ine?itubiy u-ati. not to what result it has already reached in its progressive influence on the legislation of the commonwealth. Unless a radical change of my opinion should take place I can never yield my sanction to the predominacy of this inno vation on our internal improvement system. I conceive it to be at open variance with ju dicious economy, sound policy and enlight ened legislation. Thus viewing it, I should be recreant to my duty, were I to sanction this bill. No man can be more reluctant than I am to ex ert the veto power. I shall never do it on light or trival occasions; still less shall I claim to set up my opinion in opposition to that of the two houses of assembly: but when tho completion of tho main lines of improvement anu the interest ol the people are all involved in a measure. I cannot hesitate in tho adoption of my course. It is highly desirable, no doubt, to those concerned, that tho debts of all turnpike companies, and in fact all other companies in the commonwealth, should bo paid, But the question is at this time, shall wc bur row money to pay them, when it requires tho joint exertion of everp branch of the government to sustain its eiedit which has been already stretched to its utmost limit to satisfy existing liabilities, and to defray tho expenses incident to the management of tho public affairs. I cannot believo the people of Pennsylvania are prepared to answer this question in tho affimative. If I havo misconceived my duty, or misunderstood the public sentiment, it is a gratifying con sideration that an ample romedy is provided by the constitution, Claiming only the merit of rectitude of intention, I cheerfully commit this bill to the action of the legis lature, and to tho final judgement of "tho people satisfied that on this as on all other subjects they arc the best judges of their own interests, and of tho fidelity of their public servants. Although not necessarily connected with tho main subject of this communication, it seems to mo not to bo improper, to call the attention of tho legislature again to the means of increasing tho credit of the state, and of rendering it at all times more certain ly available During the existence of our present currency, mainly composed as it is of paper, fluctuations in our pecuniary af fairs to a greater or less degree, are perhaps unavoidable. Apprehensions of this state of things, frequently oporato to deter capit alists from advancing money to the state when required for public purposes. It is believed that this evil would be principally removed if provision wcro rnado by law, for paying tho loan-holders tho interest on the loans, at all times, in gold or silver or in equivalent funds at their own discretion. This would be right and just, because the money loaned to the commonwealth was of the samo kind, and the interest on it should bo paid in a medium as valuable to the cred itots, as the original advancement. I re spectfully suggest to tho legislature the propriety of enquiring into the subject and of adopting such measures as aro compati ble with sound policy and enlightened jus tice. No occasion should bo spared cither on tho part of tho executive or of the legis lature to impart to tho credit and standing of this great commonwealth, all the strength and stability to which they aro entitled by her native resources, and tho industry, en terprize and integrity of her citizens. DAVID R. PORTER. Executive Chamiieu, ? May 0,1839 $ THE BRAGANZA TRAGEDY. Jin Appalling Narrative. Several of the New York papers contain detailed reportsjof tho trial of the Braganza Pirates and murderers. It is unnecessary to publish tho testimony at length, but the fnllnwincT slnrv nf tlm ilrpnilfiil cpnn no r- O - WW....... www,, w, I.W .V,- latcd by Robert Moir, the second mate will l. 1 .l. . uu rcau wmi interest: In the months of July and August, I was second mate on board the brig Bragan za. She sailed from tho port of Philadel phia on tho 7th July, 1838. The captain was Arncl F. Turley 1st mate Thomas Vandcrslicc myself second mate there were four able seamen, and two boys as or dinary seamen. The pnsoncis were on board as seamen. Wilhclm was known nn linnr.l nq Hill. Vnn Urimrrnn mna rnllr1 Joe and a man named Adams on board was called Harry. I here was a colored man on board named I nomas Brown who was cook. Mr. and Mrs. Dichl and the cap tain's wifo were on board as passcngeis Air. Dinhl wnn tlm nwncr nf tlm liriir. fin Saturday night 5th August, I loft the deck a , T. i.i ,..!..!. 1 T.. IT 1... quurmr utter i-i u ciocii, anu air. vnuuer- slice took chanre of the deck, as it was his O r - - watch. I cannot say which of the sailors were on deck after I left; I retired to my berth in the state room in the cabin. The captain and his wifo wore asleep in the starboard berth, and Mr. and Mrs. Diehl in tho larboard berth. There was a door from my state room into tho cabin. I fell asleep I was awakened about 2 o'clock by the cry of murder, which I took to be the chief mate s voice and so still I believe; I heard them twice after I awoke, and also heard a scuffle on deck. I at once jumped nut fif tnv l.nrtli nnrl ii'nnt .ntn tlm f'lm w . ua '"J uwm.l. Utah 1,W(,. .(..V .l.u UUUItl and found the captain and .Mr. IJiciil getting , r.i. i ,i . t . i t out oi tncir Dcrins. i went on ucck, prece ded by the captain, who, I think was not armed, I was at the bottom of tho steps when the captain was at the top. On the deck was Mr. Vanderslice first mate lying on deck wounded and bloody, his head hanffillff llnwn -the companion waV. lie spoke to mo; I found the four sailors, in cluding the two prisoners. Knudson and Adams on deck. I found Joe engaged with .no capiam, uui also engaged m tho attack. Jop was armed with a pump brake or hand spike. Wilhelms had a sheath knife in his hand ; Hans and Adams had no weapons as i saw. seeing Joe engaged with the captain, I struck at him wjth a belaying pin I had in my hand, and hit Hans on the tem ple. Hans being nearest to me, I got hold of him and tried to force him down. In the scuffle I was tripped, and fell on the top of Hans when Van Bruggen, or Joe struck mo with a handspike on the shoulder. Adams then cut me on the head with a knife, and wounded my fingers severely. l ne captain then returned to the cabin to get a cutlass, and said he would fix them. While he was there Wilhelms unshipped tho gang-way amidships, and kicked it over board leaving an open place in the bulwarks of the vessel, so that a person could be thrown overboard. Hans and me were still scuffling, and whilo we wcro, Wil helms and Adams took hold of mc, and tried to throw me overboard. I went over board through their means ; I held on to nans anu iooh nini overboard with mc and caught upon the after guy to which we.both clung. Hans then let go of me, and a rope was let down to Hans, who got hold of it, and 1 did also. Van Bruggen or Joe then got a handspike, and struck mo on tho arm, fracturing one of the small bones, while I held on tho rope. Mean while tho captain came on deck with a cut lass, and tho attention of the men was turn ed from mc to the captain and I got on deck and crawled to tho companion way of the cabin much injured by tho blows. Whon I got into the cabin, Hound Mr Vanderslice lying at the foot of the cabin, tho captain was lying on tho deck held down by Van Bruggen or Joe, and Wilhclm or Bill. The captain beggod for mercy, and prayed that they would spare his life for the sake of his poor wile, saying ho would forgive them all they had ever done. When I got into the cabin they fastened the door with spikes, to prevent any of us from going to the assistance of the captain. While there I continued to hear cries of the captain on deck they were cries for mercy. They continued some time, then there was a still ness of about five minutes; then I heard a splash in the water. I then heard a cry from the captain in the water exclaiming,"Oh,n)v God, I am dying." I could see the cap' tain from the cabin window in tho water. I observed the captain trying lo swim in tho watei until he was out of sight. It was night time, and I did not peo him sink. I came on deck tlm 7th .In,. t came on deck, I was confined by the crew, U ! t ti itflinm T ......... ! . . ...... wmujumuiivcu every uay, Tho crow had epinmnnd of the vossel; Wil hclm having tho chief command. The crow said it was very well known what' they had done with tho captain, and they should consider it their duly io put us out of tho way in like manner, for their own protection and safety. The course of tho vessel was changed in about six hours after the murder of the captian; Hid whole of tho crow spoko to mo and asked for various things out or the cabin which wo Hjscd to give them, until they would tell what they meant to do with us. At tho time of tho murder tho vessel was off tho Western Islands, in a right direction for tho Strait of Gibraltar, bound to Genoa. I asked them why thoy changed the course of the vessel; they said we Bhould find out soon enough ; they said afterwards, they were bound to the British Channel. After this, Adams said that he would take the brig to within a few feet af his fathers door, or to Hamburg. Wc icquested them to permit us to como on deck, they said they would think of it. The first three days wo wcro in the cabin they treated us very badly, tho next tlirco not so bad. They required us to give up tho arms ; wc at first refuscfl, but finally as wc had no ammunition, we agreed to throw them overboard. They demanded also the chronometer, and tho jewelry, spe cie, and other valuables in tho cabin. On our refusing to give them up they prepared to darken the cabin windows, and shut out all light. Wc gave them up ; thoy then attempted to sufTocatc us by smoking us, pnlcss wc would give up more money ; we were smoked 15 minutes. I went and beg ged them to remove tho smoke. They came and a3kcd what X wanted ; I told them and promised to look for some more money if they would remove tho smoke ; thoy did so and the smoke ceased. Tho first persons they allowed to come on deck were Mr. Dichl and his wife. Do would not go without his wifo. They proposed to give us the jolly boat, said there was a sail in sight, if wc wished to save ourselves now was the timo. Some time after this wc came on deck; Joe was at the wheel, and the tho others standing round near him. they wcro all armed, except the boy, with knives or hatchets. Wilhclm called him self captain and Adams was 1st male. Wo made a proposition to them to let us havo the long boat ; they at first refused but fi. nally consented, and stifleicd Mr. and -Mrs-. Diehl, Mrs. Turley, myself and the cook to go into the boat, at 2 o'clock in the after noon. When wc left the vessel, Mr. Van derslice was alone, lying on too cabin floor languishing under his wounds. Wc wcro taken up the noxt day by the brig Edwin, bound to Grecenock. I arrived in this city on the 20lh of October. I havo not sce;i the prisoners since I left the vessel befbro this morning. MR. STEVENS. It will be seen by the proceedings 6f tho House of Representatives that Mr. Steven's presented himself to that body on Thurs day, and claimed admission as a member, and that a resolution was offered to appoint a committee to enquired into the right upon which that claim was founded. Some of tho opposition affect to be furious at this course, and arc endeavoring to twist it into an outrage upon the people of Adams. Tho right of the Houso however to appoint a committee for the purpose indicated in thc rcsolution is undeniable, being one of its inherent as well as constitutional powers. That the case of Mr. Stevens is one in which that power may bo properly exercised is equally undeniable, and we shall bo much mistaken if tho result of the investigation, which ho and his friends so much dread, if gone into, will not prove that he has for feited his right to a seat. Engaged in a black conspiracy against tho rights of tiio people, selling himself up above the laws and the Constitution, and defeated in his unholy oVject, he has for five months re fused to discharge his duty a3a representa tive denied the validity and the constitution ality of the House to which ho now seeks to gain admission and heaped upon its members and the people who thoy repre sent tho grossest indignities. Nay, oven up to tho very hour of presenting himself before tho house, he declared it to bo an il legal body, and that consequently ho would not bo bound to observe cither tho oath im posed upon him, if admitted, or tho rules and regulations which govern tho body. With these facts staring them in the face, tho members of the House of representa tives would hare been false to their duty if they had not pausod before admitting a man who in acting upon tho great interests of people, would not, by his own declara tions, bo governed by the usual oaths to dis charge his duties as a member of the houso with fidelity. Reporter. Let the people have timo to become tho roughly and soberly grounded in the doc trine o equality, and ihcre is no danger of oppression either from Government or from anarchy. Very little instruction is nccessa iy to teach a man his rights; and there is no person of common intellect in tho most ICIlOrant cornnr nf 17,1.,,,. I..,. :.. i. --"x.Vjiu UIJV lUwCIVliS IBS- sons if they were of tho proper kind. The strength of Government does not consist in any tlnnir within iiKi.ir i,... :., ,i..,i . or a nation and tho interest which the peo- nln (nit in uiinn..i:... n ... F it. wnen this is lost, Government is hut a child in power. Thero is a man lu-irnr ;,. 1 ....... t .1 . . fa iwiuiiu who is so largo that it takes his dxg all day to trot around hjun,
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