MOUNTAIN SENTIIVEL EBENSBURG, PA. THURSDAY. MAY 9. FOR CONGRESS, 5EN. JOSEPH M'DONALD, Or CAMBRIA COUNTY, Subject t the decision of the Democratic Con. gressional Conference. ETThb Sentinel, has much the largest cir tuUtion of any paper published in this county --and as an advertising sheet offers superior inducements to merchants and business men generally. Those desirous of making us of this medium for extending their business can do so btf either sending their notices direct, or through the fallowing agents: John Crouse, Esq., Johnstown. E. XV. Carr, Evans' Buildings, Third st Philadelphia. 6 V. B. Palmer, Esq., yeioYork Philadelphi a and Baltimore. Col. Andrew Todd. We neglected in our last to announce that this gentleman has resigned his com mission as Lieutenant Colonel of the Cambria Legion. This step on the par1 of Col. Todd makes it incumbent on the Brigade Inspector to order a new election for the purpose of filling the vacancy. IThe Johnstown Echo and the Hoi lidaysburg Whig have united in a joint effort to abuse and vilify the Superinten dent of the Portage Railroad, and they are playing into each others hands at a great rate. We are glad to see the Echo get ting into the company to which it proper ly belongs, as it has been sailing under false colors long enough. OCT At our latest dates from Harrisb'g. no time has yet been appointed for the adjournment cf the Legislature. The Apportionment and Appropriation BMls Hill occupy the attention of the members, and there is no telling when they will finally be disposed of. It is reported in town that a letter has been received in which it is stated 'that the Legislature will probably adjourn on Friday next. In the Senate the law reducing the pay of the members after one hundred days has been repealed. Fi vc! The residence of Robert Given, Esq., in Westmoreland county, near Centrevilla was totally consumed by fire on Friday mt last, j ne building, which was a frame one, was discovered to be on fire on the roof about five o'clock in the morning, and in a few minutes after several hun dred people were on the ground, but not withstanding all their efforts to save it, the building was burnt to the ground in ...w ui nan an nour. it i not known how the fire was communicated by some it is rupposed to be the work of an incendiary, and by others that it origi nated from a stove pipe. Loss $1,000. OThe remarks of xMr. "Smith, of tho Johnstown Echo relative to the late con test for Delegates would lead one to sup pose that he thinkstho whole affair turned upon the merits or demerits of himself and us, and that he beat us. This is decided ly rich, and his bump of sell esteem must be enormous to make him believe for a moment that he is of such consequence to the party of Cambria county. But truth will not permit him to lay this flattering unction to his soul, and he will find that those who use him as a tool care nothing about him further than will subserve his their purposes. He knows that during the late contest his deviations from the paths of truth and political honesty aro of the most flagrant character, and he now wish es to appear magnanimous and have the matter hushed up, in order that his sins may be overlooked. But it won't do, M r. Smith. We are not disposed to ask any compromises with a man so totally lost to all sense of political honor. We shall take occasion in a short time to make some dcvelopements which will be calculated to open the eyes of some of the individuals with whom your are acting, and which will place you and them in a proper light before the public. We will also endeavor to expose some of the plans which aro uow being adopted by your unscrupulous associates to destroy the character of a man who would not permit them longer to prey upon the Commonwealth. E"The Alabama arrived at New Or leans from Chagres on the 7th inst., with 100 passengers and 6275,000 worth of pold dust. The news is anticipated by the lat steamer fp.-m New York. Plank Baadi A meeting favorable to the construction of a Plank Road from Jefferson to Ebens- burg, was held at the former place on Saturday last, the proceedings of which will be found in to-days paper. It must be a source of gratification to all interested in the welfare of Cambria county to per ceive such a spirit of enterprise and im provement manifested on the part of her citizens. We fed certain that there is nothing that will contribute more largely to the developement of the inexhaustable resources of the country than the con struction of Plank Roads, and we know that there is not a county in the State that is better supplied with the necessary ma terial. We believe that the principal difficulty in the way of having these roads traversing the counjy in every direction is the want of having the matter properly tested. Let the people once become sen sible of the advantage derived from them, and they will then cheerfully assist in their construction. The contemplated Road from Jefferson to Ebcnsburg is one in which all our citi zens should take a aeep interest. The cost of its construction will not exceed two thousand dollars per mile, and any one, who will for a moment reflect on the subject, cannot doubt that it will be a first rate investment. We have heard of one capitalist who has agreed to take six thou sand dollars of stock himself more than one third of the whole amount required to construct the road. If once constructed, who can calculate the amount of business that would be done on it. We sincerely trust, that this Road, of such vital impor tance to the interests of Johnstown, Jeffer son and Ebensburg will be taken hold of in such a manner by the capitalists and others of our county, as will ensure its speedy completion. Mr. Geddes, an engineer, gives the fol lowing account of the Salina road: The road is of hemlock plank, four in ches thick, and eight feet long, laid on four inch sills. The earth was broken up fine, the sills bedded into it, the sur face graded smooth and firm, and planks laid on the sills, care being taken that the earth is up to, and touches the plank a1 every point. This is very important, ior, if any space be left underneath for air, dry rot ensues. We did not let out to con tractors the construction of the road, for the reason that we were desirous. of secu ring tiie bedding of the timber perfectly, a thing that my observations in Canada convinced me was not always done when the work was done by the rod. By doing our work by the day, we not only secured a perfect construction in this particular, but we Eaved some thousands of dollars in the cost. If you make a plank road, I advise by all means, to do the work by the day, and to put at the head of the business a man competent to engineer and direct the whole business. A variation of a few inches in the line of the road may tIl largely in the cost The estimated coit ptr mile for a single track, eight feet wide, is 81,500. Plank Road Mecliug!! A number of the citizens of Summerhill and the adjoining townships, met at the School House in Jefferson, on Saturday the 4th inst., pursuant to a public notice, for the purpose of aking into consideration the propriety and practicability of procu ring a charter for a Plank lioad from Eb ensburg to Jefferson. There was a good turn out of the people, and there was a determination evinced to push forward the proposed road to a speedy completion. The meeting was organized by calling William Palmer Esu. to the Chair, and appointing John Brawley,R. S. Alexan der and Daniel T. Jones Vice President, and JVm. II. Gardner Secretary. The Chair stated the object of the meeting, af ter which it was briefly addressed by Jo seph nr Donald Esq. On motion the Chairman appointed the the following gentlemen to receive sub scription, viz: Daniel T. Jones, George C. K. Zahm, John Kean, Gorge J. Rodg ers, William II. Gardiier and John Prin- gle.. The following gentlemen were appoin ted a committee, to act as a committee of correspon dence, and to take charge of the survey. for the proposed road, viz: John Brawley Esq., John M'Farland and An thony Long. This committee to have power to call a meeting of the stock hold ers at any time. On motion. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the officers and published in the county papers. On motion adjourned. Why are a dead duck and a dead doc tor alike? Because they both stop auae k- . tag. Hon. Eobtrt J. Walker. This distinguished statesman and sound Democrat, being recently on a visit to Harrisburg, a larjre number of the Demo cratic citizens of the place joined with the members of the Legislature in a letter in viting him to partake of a public dinner at Buehler's Hotel, at such time as might be convenient to him. Mr. Walker's reply will be found below, copied from the Keystone. The editor of that paper prefaces the correspondence by saying: This mark of public approbation toward Mr. VVaiker, on the part of our citizens, we consider richly merited. He is a statesman of liberal and enlarged views, whose efforts have not been restricted to any mere sectional or local policy. His course eminently national and American. The bold and manly stand which he took in favor of commercial liberality and re ciprocity in trade, in the face of the most powerful array of talent that was ever combined to oppose any measure; and the success with which he carried his measures out and falsified the predictions of his opponents, is one of the most bril liant as well as beneficial achievements for his country ever accomplished by any statesman. Harrisburg, April 22, 1850. Gentlemen: I have received your let ter of this date, inviting me on behalf of the democratic citizens of the seat of gov ernment, and members of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, to a public dinner. For this mark of your kindness, and the ap probation you have expressed of my pub lic course in the Senate of the Union, and in the Treasury department, be pleased to accept my grateful acknowledgements. and fervent thanks. In advocating, during the last twenty years, the re-annexation of Texas, dona tions to settlers of the public domain, the specie receiving and specie circulating constitutional treasury, the extension of" our boundaries to the Pacific, and the great cause of commercial freedom, 1 sus taine d measures and principles believed DV me to hl hPct r1ulotwl vi A I vutvuiuitu iu auidutc the honor, interest and glory of my be loved country. In passing through this State, there is now presented, everywhere, abundant evi dence of great prosperity. Agriculture is! uiea&eu wan goou narvests, remunerating prices, and enlarged markets, commerce and navigation flourish, labor finds ready employment, and generally good wages, whilst nearly every branch of manufac tures prosper. If there be anv deDression in any one pursuit, it is but limited, par-' tial, and temporary, and in a very short' period there will be no exception to the! general success in every department of. American industry. Here, at the seat of government of this State, located on the beautiful Susquehanna, upon whose banks I was born, new and extensive factories; are going into operation, and there is eve-i ry evidence ot increasing wealth and pros perity. The credit of the government has riseri to the highest point, and our revenue from customs this year reaches forty millions of dollars. Never had any nation such cause for gratitude and praise to that be nignant Providence, which has carried us through so many tr.als, in war and in peace, to such a height of greatness, pros perity and power. By adhering strictly to the rules of equity and justice, by maintaining peace and enlarged commerce with all the world, by adjusting all our domestic difficulties in that wise, patriotic, American, and Christian spirit, of mutual concession and compromise, in which the Constitution was framed, and all its pow ers should be administered, we will bound forward in a career of increasing wealth and power, eclipsing in the next half cen tury even the glories of the past. Let us never forget that it was the Union' that gave us freedom, that crowned our arms with victory in every contest, that floats triumphantly in eveiy sea the honored ensign of our great republic, and is now advancing us to a height of prosperity and power upon which the world will soon gaze with surprise and admiration. If we could destroy such a union, so fraught with blessings to ourselves and cheering hopes to mankind, we would justly merit and surely receive the retributive chas tisement'of offended Heaven, and through scenes of internal strife and civil commo tion, through fields of war and carnage, thro towns and cities sacked, and farms laid desolate, amid the ruins of agricul ture, commerce and manufactures, our retrogade movement, towards a semi bar barian state, would be far .more rapid for the future, than has been our onward ca reer for the past. I rejoice to believe that Pennsylvania,1 my native State, will stand by the Union, by encouraging that fraternal spirit which animated her own immortal Franklin, when the government was first estab lished. In accomplishing this high and holy purpose of preserving the Union, let us all remember, that it was the constitution that made the Union, that the constitution and the Union are one and inseparable, and that in destroying the constitution, we would surely overthrow the Union which rests upon it. I regret extremely that circumstances beyond my control forbid my acceptance of your kind invitation, but this mark of your regard and confidence will be ever most gratefully remembered by your Obliging friend and fellow citizen, R. J. WALKER. To the democratic citizens of HarrisbV j and Members of the Legislature. Conundrums. Why is a restless man in bed like a lawyer? Because he lies on all sides. Tbe Cabinet InTntfgaticns. As there will bo a lull in the agitation of the great question of the day that of slavery, in connection with the new ter ritories for several weeks, until ihe com promise committee otthe State report, the subject which will now mostly engage the attention of the public press, and the public at large, is the progress of the in vestigation which is now going on, by a committee of the House of Representa tives, on a portion of the cabinet of Gen. Taylor: and also the movemant made by Mr. Richardson to create another commit tee, with power to investigate the con duct of another portion of the cabinet the Ewing and abolition. The commit tee on the other section of the cabinet, it seems, have examined a number of wit nesses, among whom is Mr. Harriman, a clerk in one of the departments; John G. Clark, the head of one of the bureaus; and various oilier persons. It is general ly supposed that the evidence which has already been given is of a very curious and inter sting chararier and thatnoother result can follow its publication than ihe retirement of all that portion cf the cabi net who were connected with the Gal phin claim, or who had a hand in it in an)' manner. The resolution proposed by Mr. Kichardson, we should guess, from the tone of the organs of the cabinet will meet with a great deal of opposition. But we trust that the House of Kepresen tatives will proceed without faltering in these investigations, and make them as broad and general as possible. It is our firm belief that a more attro- cious, imbecile, designing, and dangerous cabinet, have never been in office in Wash ington, than the present set of men, who got into office by false pretences, and by deceiving Gen. Taylor. Months ago, the very person whom they appointed Minis ter to Austria, termed them, in the col umns of his paper, the most corrupt cabi net that were ever in power, and of per petrating more nepotism, fanatacism, and rascality, in the distribution of appoint ments and offices, than any other cabinet from the commencement of the govern ment to that time. This charge wis open ly promulgated by Mr. Webb, and in the face of that declaration, the same cabinet frightened out of their senses, appointed him as minister to Austria, in order to shut his mouth. Since then new devel opements have been made, particularly in reference to their passing nd allowing claims of a doubtful and equivocal charac ter, which were rejected by previous ad ministrations. Thousands and thousands of dollars, it seems, have been paid out in this way, by order of the cabinet, for the settlement of claims, in which the mem bers of the cabinet, or their connections or friends, were concerned. Hence arose the necessity of increasing the appropriations, and of demanding additional supplies, to the extraordinary amount of sixteen mil lions of dollars beyond the revenue of the country. N. Y. Herald. Dr Parkman Alive The Boston Post of the 29th ult. says: We received the following letteryester day, tiirough the post office, postmarked as dated: Terre Haute, Ind. April 18,1850. To the Editors of the Iioston Post: Gentlemen, 1 feel it to be my duty to inform you and through you the public, that Dr. Parkman. who is supposed to have been murdered by Prof. Webster, and for which supposed murder Prof. Webster is now under sentence of death, was in this city on Sunday evening last. He came to this place on a calial boat from Covington and was recognized by a gentleman here who was formerly intimate with him. He accosted him, but Dr. Parkman turned abruptly away, and soon after left in the stage for St Louis, under the name of A M. Thiston. The gentleman who knew him is R. W. Dillinghamer, of this place, by profession a dentist. He is ready to swear to the identity of this person with Dr. Parkman. Hoping that this statement may be of some effect in at least restraining the too hasty execution of the uYijust sentence un der which Prof. Webster is now lying, I remain, gentlemen, Yours respectfully, Joseph A. Atwood. No doubt this letter will cause no little trouble to Mr. Littlefield, Dr. Parkman's heirs, and others, who make a fine specu lation inconsequence of the verdict against Prof. Webster. Another Mammoth Care. A Milwaukie correspondent of the Hart- fort Courant gives the following descrip tion of a western cave: It has long been known that near Mad ison, the capital of our State, and 90 miles west of this place, there was a cavern of considerable extent; but it was never ex tensively explored, until a couple of weeks ago. Then, a party of five men. headed by Howel Lumley, Esq., a member of our late Legislature, arranged for a full explo ration of the cave, taking with them rations for a week's absence, a canoe, and other needful provisions. The party were in the cave near 5 days. After exploring in all directions, they fi nally emerged from the cave, it was by another opening which they discovered, some miles distant from that by which they entered. Mr. L. speaks of the ex traordinary vastness of the cavern at dif ferent points; its gieat width, and at one place he supposed the height to be full 70 feet; his impression is, that it extends un der much of the tw -counties of Dane and Iowa, and he is enthusiastic when he re fers to the novelties, curiosities, and great mineral wealth which abound within this mammoth of a cavern. 1 At one point on their route they travcrs- ed over and among; large masses and blocks which they supposed to be rock, but which proved on examination, to be galena lead ore of fine quality; this was spread over a surface of 3 miles. Fine specimens of copper ore were discovered. and at one point 11 pounds of native silver we're found. They discovered a lake of considerable dimensions, and which in their canoe they partially explored. The greatest depth they discovered ou sounding this lake, was thirty-seven feet and four inches. Latcr from Florida. Indians Positively refuse to Emigrate. 1 he JNew Orleans Picayune, of the 22n ult., has news from Tampa Bay to the 27th of April, confirming the late indispo sition of the Indians to emigrate. The Picayune says: i ne steamer uoi. ujay had just ar rived there from Charlotte Harbor, with Capt. Casey, the Indian agent, on board who stated that he has had an interview with Billy Bowlegs, ard that the Indians positively refuse to remove from Florida. On Captain Casy asking Billy Bowlegs why he had formerly told them that they would remove he answered, "that they wished to. save their crops, and that they He likewise said that "he wished to be friendly with the whites, and if the United States wished the Indians to remove fur ther south in Florida they Would not ob ject to it, but they would not leave the country." " The Savannah Republican has similar information, and says that the Indians agree to surrender to the United States for punishment, any one who may be found North of srch a line as may be agreed upon. Later from Rio Dc Janeiro Dpplorablc Gara ges of the Coast Fever. New Ycrk. May 6. The barque "Isabella Myne" arrived at this port yesterday from ttio, whence she sailld on March 25ih. She brings deplorable accounts of Yellow c Coast Fever at Rio. Several Americans had fal len victims. There had been, however, a iiiitigatiun of its fatality. It raged the most among the shipping anJ lower clas ses. Many of the natives had died of fright. Several of the foreign mercantile houses had closed, owing to the univer sal sickness among the inmates; but the American firms hadbeen more fortunate. Many members of b ah Houses of the Le. gisiaiure had fallen victims to the disease- The United States sloop of war "Mnr ion sailed from Rio on the 18th March, having lost one midshipman and several of her err vv with the fever. The United States ship "Lexington" had sixty cases on her sick list seventeen being of the prevailing fever. Lieut. Van deihurst, ot the U. S. IS., died on the 17th of March. The epideimic was pronounced by med ical men if experience as not being Yel low Fever, but the kind that u.ually pre vails on the coast of Africa, whence the contagion probably came. Business generally was very dull at Rio. Detecting Handwriting. We find the following in a late number of the Provi dence Journal: "The evidence respectingthe handwri ting jf the nraes pronounced to have been written by Professor Webster is among the most curious that ihe recent trial has developed, although there was nothing novel in its nature. Men accustomed to examine handwriting acquire such a won derful facility that they can detect resem blances through the most labored attempts to disguise and conceal; and not only this, thi-y can tell with great certainty a counterfeit signature, even though they are not familiar with the genuine. Bro kers, bank officers and engravers acquire this facility in .he highest degree, but they can give no explanation of the mm- . ... i . i j.. . ner in wtiicn tney mae me aeiecuon. I hey only say, "This is a good bill, that is a had one; I cannot tell why, or how I know the difference, but so it is.' Every thing in nature militates against what is false, livery falsehood contains the ele ments of its own detection, constantly struggling toward the light. Robertson, the crazy man, who was arrested by order of the Senate for threat ening the life of Mr. Clay, has memorial ized the President fur justice, as follows: Thus saith the Lord God. Hear ye, hear ye, for why will ye die; for the soul that sins shall die. saitn the Lord God, and die eternally, without hope or tho't of escape from the pit, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Do you want to go there? If y.u do not. repent and do my servant, James Rob ertson, justice, or I the Lord God will pour out my vials of wrath upon you, and you shall sure-)' die, and that immediately to-day. Old Zack sent immediately for Clayton, being the member of the Cabinet charged with 'loreign anairs. Another awful Accident Death of two Wo men: St. Louis, May, 2. A dreadful accident occurred last night at Laclede Saloon, on Fifth, near Lccust street, to a May Day party. J. II. Purkett's scholars their parents had assembled for amusement; the first floor gave way carrying down some two hundred persons, breaking through the ground floor, and passing into the cellar, which was half filled with water. A great number were wounded, and some mortal ly, nr,d two killed instantly the wife of ,Beak8y' aa4 Vho wife of Chi- W Pumeroy. , cr Mary Abbott exacted to die, Eu.anuel BlackJ both leg, fractured, of them in two places. StRiorfLv I.-uuKKoJ-iltfraV JohtislQo teacher; Mrs. Malay; AIiss Sullivan. M Read, vyifeoflate Surveyor Oecerali piece of wood penetrated her hip and ca e out at the other side; Miss Virginia Clark, Miss Barlow. . 6 SuaiiTLY Injured Miss Gunn, Mi, Mary Pumeroy, Mr. P. . A. Ladew Mrs. L. T. Carr. Miss Sarah Knox, Dr' Sykes, Miss Atwood, Miss Carter, Wm' Waters. Mr. Tucker. Miss, Kate Ciark' Miss Brewell, Mr. Christopher. Mr Holmes, Mr. Purkett. principal of tht school; and several others i& all 2 Jeej and 4U wounded. Ohio" Homestead Exemption T The Homestead Exemption Law pfisied by the last Legislature of Ohio, exempts the family homestead of each- head of family, of a value not exceeding fire hun. drt-d dollars, made on execution on miW judgment or decree rendered in anycauit C ? f. a . oi action accruing alter me taking effect of the law. Any bead of a family who it not the owner of a homestead, is entitled to hold exempt from execution, or sale it aforesaid mechanical tools, or a team and farming utensils, not exceeding three hundred dollars in value, in addition to the amount of chattel property now by law exempt. The law is to take effect from and after the fourth of July next. Another Democratic Victory. The Democracy of the borough of Wei: Philadelphia achieved a glorious victory over the Galphia whigs, on Tuisday last. C. C. Pearson, the Democratic candi date for Burgess, was elected, by a hand some majority, and the Democrats also elected a majority of the councilmen, school directors, fcc. e Galphin claim furnishes 4 striking history of the result of perserer ing log-rolling. It was rejected over and over by the Georgia Legislature. It was rejected by the House of the Uni. ted States Congress. It was rejected by the Senate. It was passed in an equivocal form by long-rolling. The principal was paid by the Secre tary of the treasury. The interest was refused by him. It was refused by Comtroller McCul loch. It was refused bv Comtroller Wittlesey. It was ordered by Attorney General Johnson. It was paid by Secretary Meredith. It was pocketed by Secretary Crawford. Wheat. It is calculated that all the wheat in ports ou Lake Michigan to corns forward before the next harvest is net more than 620,000 bushels. Last j-earat the same time there was in store at the same ports 2,185,300 bushels. ThedrfS ciency frcm last year is put at 2,357.500 up to the commencement of the harvett, and grain merchants anticipate a consider able advance in flour by the 1st July. The amount of wheat and flour in store at Milwaukie is said to be not a third what it was last year. Anti-rent Trials. The anti-rent question, which involves the title of the descendants of the Livingston family to some 24,000 acres in Great Lot. No. 4, of the Hardenburg patent, situate in the counties of Sullivan and Ulster, will pro bably, be tried at the Ulster Circuit, now being held by Judge Watson. The plain- tins in trie case are the children of the late Commodore Ridely. one of whom is the wife of James Schott, Jr., Esq., of Dundaff, Pa., and another of whom is the wife of St. George Croghan, Esq., of Ulster county; the other plaintiff is Miss Ridgely. The plaintiffs derive title from the late Chancellor Livingston, who was grandson of Robert Livingston, named as one of the proprietors of the Hardrnburgh patent, in a partition of said patent, made in 1749, between the proprietors. His interest in the Hardenburg patent is deri ved from Johanes Hardenburg, Philip Rokely, and other patentees. The pres ent owners, and those under whom they claim, have been in possession, therefore, of the premises, for nearly 150 years. The anti-renters, who live upon the premises, and many of whom hold under leases of portions thereof, claim that Great Lot No. 4, or a great part of it, is in the Rochester patent; and one of their num ber having takan a deed under the trus tees of Rochester, they all claim under this latter conveyance. -A. V, Herald. Claims ou Portugal. Lisbon, April 2. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, has just laid the report of his department before the Cortes: "With reference to American claimi, it states, that the Cabinet had not yet been able to come to any resolution, that it had found it necessary to collect docu ments respecting those referring to 1814, fec, and "that it will do its best to satisfy such claims as may appear to be founded in justice.' This is no doubt meant ai an answer to the American President's message; and as respects the mode of settlement, I still believe that this Govern ment has proposed the arbitration of some friendly power, as named in one of my late letters." Ea?"Will you hare a pinch of snuffi" inquired an exquisite, of a young !adyr a few days ago. No sir. I thank you,' was the replyr I consider my nose an ornament to my face and net a dust hole,"
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers