THE BEDFORD liIZETTB.
Bedford, April 6, 1853.
G. W Bowman, Editor and Proprietor-
in the east, $9 a $9 50—Wheat
$2 30 as 2 38—Rye $1 25—Corn 93 cents
—Oafs 57 rents.
OGrTh* anti-License Law has no! yet passed
the Senate. 'J lie Ilarrisburg Union says it will
certainly pass and receive the Executive ap
proval.
QjP'The Sunday Liquor Law took e/Fect on
the Ist inst. Dealers in the article are adino-i
nisbed to be careful, as fine and imprisonment |
are the consequences of a violation of the act. It
refers to cider and beer a< u-ell as whiskey.
NEWS FROM El HOPE.
THE CZJIITS DEJITH CONFIRMED ' j
New Y'okk, March 27.
The steamship AtlanticJias reached her wharf,
with .Liverpool dates to the lOti).
Her advices confirm the death of the Czar
XicholaS, and announce that on the 2d instant,
the Emperor Alexander the Second ascended
the throue, havmg peacelully succeeded his
lather.
He has issued a manifesto, stating that lie will
adhere to the policy of his lather.
The Duke Constantino and the other brothers
anil officers, have taken the oath of allegiance to
the new Emperor.
Alexander has confirmed the diplomatic in
structions issued by Gortschakotf tor the negotia
tions of the Peace Congress, and the first prelim
inary Conference has been held at Vienna.
The Emperor Nicholas, prior to his death, had
recalled Menschikoff and appointed (General !
(JortsrhakoffChief in command, O-tensacken the
second, and given to Gen. Luders the command
in Bessarabia.
The Allies have-ordered their Generals to
press forward the war.
There has been more fighting in the Crimea.
The French stormed a redoubt, skillfully erected
hv the Russians during the night, and several
hundred were killed.
A strong rumor prevails that the Grand Duke
Michael was among the wounded at Sevastopol,
and has since died.
A large Russian force threatens Balaklava.
The blockade of the Danube is raised.
A speck of disagreement has risen between
Napoleon and England. Napoleon declared that
the two armies should not tight together if Mr.
Roebuck's Committee proceeded with its inquiry.
Lord Clarendon went by express to Boulogne,
and made matters straight. In the meantime
the Committee is proceeding, but it is thought
that Parliament will be dissolved to obviate the
difficulty.
The town of Brotissa is reported to have been
destroyed, with most of its inhabitants, by an
earthquake.
Serious difficulties are occurmg in Ticion,
Switzerland.
Pollock sent into the L-'g, Ma
ture, on Friday, his veto ofthe act to charter a
new bank at Pottstown. The message contains
a number of sound sentiments, and such as have
been presented time and again, l>ofh hv the
press and bis predecessors in office ; but never
theless is a bundle of self-contradictions. The
Governor trulv remarks, that "the advantages
to be derived from an increased number of
t>anks are more fancied than real." He is equal
ly true in denouncing it as "art error to suppose
lhat an increase of banking capital adds to the
actual capital of the State or nation." "With
out an increase of hanks and the facilities thev
afford," he says, and says truly, "the commer
cial and industrial interests of the country
would suffer no serious reverse." This is ail
good anti-hank doctrine, and if the Governor
would rest on it, he would save not onlv him
self from the charge ol inconsistency but the
currency from the dangers with which an oppo
site course threatens it. Boiling down what
the Governor savs in favor of more banks
amounts to this, and nothing more, namely,
that thev may do no harm. To sustain his con
sistency from the false steps taken in his inau
gural in favor of more hanks "were needful,"
has involved him in the unpleasant position of a
two-sided argument in his vet-. He is willing
to incur imminent risks to the currency for a
possible contingent convenience—"more fan
cied than real." The Governor admits that
the resources of the Commonwealth were nev
er more thoroughly developed, business never
more prosperous, nor the currency sounder than
it is and has been under the restrictive policy!
in banking, but for no better reason than that
his inaugural favored more banks, does lie ex
press himself'willing to butt his (lend against
his own strong argument, and sign some of the
hills. How many, we are left to conjecture, j
By this reasoning we should judge the number
would he few, but for his act in signing the very
objectionable bill for a hank at Allentown,
there is reason to fear the number may be large.
The Governor, we fear, has lost sight of the
homely old proverb, to "let well enough alone."
There is no need for experimenting with the!
currency, for it is now believed to be sounder,
more convenient, and more reliable than that of
any other State in the Union, and as good and !
healthful, perhaps, as we ca*i ever exwct it to j
be under our mixed currency* system. Why
♦hen experiment ? And wlwyLgreat interest of j
the State requires "stimulating I"—as the spec
ulators in the establishing of new banks are
piej>6ed to'turn their gambling operations! None
—none whatever. The Governor says: "In pop
illation,-Wealth, trade and commerce, our pro
gress siunng the past ten years has been rapid
and unprecedented.—Our mining, manufactu
ring and industrial interests have been largely
and permanently developed, and are now in pro
gress of more ample development; and jet, du- '
ring this period, the additions to our banking cap- I
ital had been almost nominal—hearing no ap
preciable proportion to the immense increase of I
the great interests already enumerated." These '
facts speak volumes, and are impregnable against
forty columns of just such special pleading as is ,
attempted to render them ineffective. Until Ihe j
stubborn facts admitted by the veto, can oe railed t
from the record, not a doljar should be added i
to Pennsylvania's banking capital.— LcJqer.
TUe Way (oluut-ls are Jiaiie
The following card we clip from the Eastori
-frgtt*. It would appear from this that Mr.
Gross is not even slightly gullible. How hu- ,
initiating it most be to the administration to
have unasked for honors thrust back upon their
hands. Sound Democrats, cannot be weaned
with "sugar plums P'
Col Hctter :—A rumor ha.sbe(>n re circula
tion for some months past that I had left the
Democratic (tarty and joined the Know-Noth-i
ing organization. This report was strengthen- j
ed by my recent appointment as Aid to Gov. j
Pollock. Ido not wish my old Democratic j
friends to labor under any such impression. 1 !
am as good a Democrat as T ever have been and
do not wish to be regarded as anything else. I j
never did, and do not now, belong to any party
but the Democratic party. 1 never did, and do !
not now, belong to the Know-Nothing or any j
other secret political organization. The com
mission for Lieutenant Colonel was sent to me j
without mv knowledge, and I do not want it.—
I never applied for it and promptly returned it.
J desire no such honor and ask no favor hut to
remain an humble member of the great Demo- '
cratic party.
PHILIP GROSS, j
Richmond, March 15, 1855.
From the Pittsburg Union, .March 30.
Accidfut on the Pfr.ua. Kailroad.
A Number of Passengers Scalded and other
wise Injured.
One or two Lives Supposed to be Lost!
Complete Wreck of Locomotive and several
Cur a !
We are indebted to Geo. P. Smith, Esq., of
this city, who was a passenger on the Express
train which left Pittsburgh for Philadelphia on
Wednesday evening, for some particulars ot the
late accident. Mr. Smith, we are glad to say,
escaped unhurt.
The catastrophe occurred at a point called
Jackson Narrows, about five miles below Mill
('reek and about ten miles below Huntingdon.
A few minutes before the arrival ol the express
train, which lelt Pittsburgh on Wednesday
evening, a rock became detached from the ttioun- j
tain side, wluc.i is at that point very steep, and
rolled into the middle of the railroad track.—
George King, who attends a lock on the canal,
about eightv rods below, observed the rock, and
sent a man to give warning to the coming train.
He met it, however, too late, coming at full
speed, and was unable, without a light, to make
any signal understood. The locomotive struck
the rock, knocking it about two rods, and was
thrown ofFthe track but rati un without becom
ing detached from the cais, about two or three
hundred yards, when it was overturned against
a bank between the track and the canal, ihe
tender and baggage car passed on clear ol trie
locomotive, and the former then overturned,
while the baggage car, a very long one, wa
thrown tiarisversed across the track, and lay
with one end against the stone wall at the south
side ol the road and with other end* hanging
over the canal. The first passenger car cleared
the locomotive with little injury, a rid "was
thrown slightly to the right against the wall,
which is built very near to the track. In the
mean time, to w it, a second, the locomotive was
failing back from the left bank toward the train,
and tore the entire leftside out of second pas
senger car, while the steam as it rushed from
the boiler entered the car, severely scalding
several passengers. The other cars had been
detached and escaped injury: hut those already
mentioned presented the most singular piece of
ruin that could be imagined. Indeed, were a
painter to have put such a scene otr~canvass, it
would have been criticised as a gross violation
of ail mechanical probabilities. The entire
scene of the disaster is one ol the wildest that
could he imagined. Between the mountain on
the south and the river, there is scarcely room
for the canal and railroad track. The high and
barren peaks thrown up hv some old convulsion 1
; of nature, seem to bear testimony of events <>n
the track of time, compared with which, the
ruin of human art beneath them was insignifi
cant, and one on which they could frown in dis- !
dain.
Taking into consideration all the circnm- '
stances, this is by far the most remarkable casq
aitv that has ever happened on the road. In re
spect to the personal suffering which it has oc
casioned, it is gratifying to know, that the event
was far less disastrous than an inspection ofthe
ruins would warrant one in supposing it must
have bet n. The names of the persons injured,
as far as have been ascertained, are as follows :
Lewis Peebles, engineer, badiv injured—re
. ported dead last evening.
Fireman, Nepley, badly injured.
Dr. Geo. S. Ghisehn, of Kv., scalded.
Edward Fox, of Cincinnati, scalded on (ace
and hands.
Emmor H. Price, of Md., scalded.
J. M. Cfievis, Carlisle, Kv., scabled.
J. P. Cummings, Carrollton, 0., scalded.
Wm. Smith, Point Pleasant, Va., scalded.
Samuel Pennotk, Pittsburg, slightly scalded.
John Masterson. Phiia., scalded.
Durbin H. Hawk, brcakmar, Hariisborgh,
, scalded.
George M. Carson, Lancaster, Pa. scalded.
Wm. F. Benedict, Salisbury, Conn, scalded. !
E. G. Reddv, Upper Midrileton, Fayette Co.
Pa., scalded.
Two gentlemen badly scalded in the face—
names unknown. It i< probable that all of the
persons scalded will soon recover,and that none
j of them will be disfigured. Prompt medical aid j
was rendered to them soon alter the acctdeut. j
and all but two or three were able to go on in
the cars of the evening express train from Phila
delphia, which could come no farther than the
scene ol the disaster and returned.
The escape of Mr. Martin, the baggage mas
ter. was almost miraculous. The car was crush
er! in on both sides, and the bottom was com
pletely shattered. He seems to have saved
himself by clinging to the bar on the top. ,
The locomotive, Atalanta, is the same
that met with an accident not long since, below j.
Altoona. This i< the third, and probably the
last adventure of the kind lor the_engine is.,
now in fragments.
We are-not able to state whether negligence
can be imputed to the officers of the Company.
The rock having lain but a few minutes on the j
track, it is bard to say that the accident was not [
i unavoidable. Two watchmen are kept on that
part of the road, whose duty it is.to walk over
tbeground immediately before car time. What
, ever delinquency there may have been, would ,
, st em to have belonged to Mr. Loughry, the
; watchman on the parted" the road where the j
rock descended. The Company, if in fault,
are punished pretty severely in the loss of lp
romotive and cars, to the amount of probably
$12,000. ' '
GTT* The naked Truth. —That Christian
who takes an oath to subserve the interests of
any secret organization whatever, is guilty of
the criminal folly of Hf.kou, without the ex
cuse that a heathen might plead "for his oath's
sake." The man who enters into such a com
bination against Jesuitism, puts himself under
the tyranny ot Jesuitism and.endorses its worst
feature.
tGu"The- Clearfield Republican gives the loir j
lowing communication as from the pen of on? j
of the most respectable citizen# of that county, j
whose position and character entitles him to re- ;
spect anil confidence:
KNOW NOTHING EXPOSI BE.
A Card.
BIBNSIDE TP., Feb. 21, IBf>s.
Xfe-sRS. MVioßt: &. WILSON :—Gentlemen. I
must ask the liberty to appear b-lore the pub
lic, for tlie first time in my life, in the columns
of a newspaper. To vindicate my own charac
ter, and to expose the corruption of a secret
oath-bound political combination in our midst,
is mv only object. I have all my life endeav
ored to keep mv obligations with my ft-1 law
man, and intend to do so in tuture, whenever i
sound morality hinds n.e to do so. I regret that I
dotv to my conscience arid mv country, compel ;
me thus publicly to renounce an obligation ta- i
ken without knowing its extent or its charac
ter. I mean the obligation imposed upon the
members of the order of the "Star Spangled
Banner," as it has been recently called, but
more familiarly known as the order of "Know-
Nothings." • I hecam- a member of Ihe order
previous to la*! election, and took the first j
two degrees. The order to which T belonged.;
was called the "New Washington Council,"
No. 2fil, and held its meetings in the town of
New Washington, Burnside township, Clear
field eotintv, Pennsylvania. The meetings
were held alwavs alter night, in a secret man- ¥
ner, in some out-bouse or uninhabited building,
with the windows darkened and made secure
from observation. One of the meetings was
called in mv wagon-shed, being able to find no
better place where the Council could meet
without f'-ar of defection. The instruction to
the members was, always to approach the place
of meeting alone, and to leave in the same man- j
ner, for fear of exciting suspicion. 1 must here j
confess that I always felt a degree of meanness |
in going to and returning from those places, that j
I had never before felt : and the more I knew j
and learned of their secret organization, and j
their movements, the more ] became convinced j
that no honest, uprights conscientious man
could, without great violence to his feelings,;
and an entire surrender of all self-respect am} i
dignitv of character, continue in their ranks.— I
I had always before felt the proud consciousness :
ofbeing an honest man and a fre-man. 1 bad j
never know n w hat it was to shrink Irom tie
gaze of anv man or set of men. I had always
felt, and feel now-, that it is a high privilege
for a "freeman to express hi* thoughts" on alt
occasions and upon ail subjects. 1 have beewi
(aught to believe that an "honest man is the j
noblest work of God" and m v highest ambition :
through life has been to occupy among my fej- j
low men thai exalted position. 1 soon found j
however, that I had been decoyed into a secret !
society, that claimed from me a very diflerenl >
character—a society that not only asked me •
voluntarily to falsify the truth anil lo act the j
knave , but actually imposed upon me an oath j
in advance, by which I was bound to" lie ati
their bidding. Having w ithont proper reflec
tion assumed these oaths, and become a member, I
I concluded for a while to remain with themj
and learn what I could nf them. I have now j
left them and forever ! 1 shall no more meet in
their secret conclaves, and no longer hear their
impious oaths administered. I rejoice to feel
that lam again a freeman ! Those whose con
science will allow them to remain in their ranks,
can do so. Doubtless pre this I have been -x
--pefled from their Council, for my denunciation
of the order, and if so, our obligations are dis
i solved bv "mutual consent."
The question here arises in my own mind—
have I done my who!* duty in merely freeing j
myself from their unhallowed influences ? Do j
I riot owe it as a duty to my fellow-men to ex- !
pose this combination, and to warn them against j
what I conceived to he the most dangerous po- j
litical movement that has ever existed in this j
i country. I know there are those who w ill •
think and sav that 1 am violating a high obliga- i
lion if I attempt to expose the doings of these i
midnight orgies, but I shall content myself]
with the belief that they are not those for whose '
opinions I have much regard. I have thought j
iong and anxiously on the subject. My cor- ;
. science approves the course. If the judgment]
■if the public w rendered in my favor, I shall
feel glad : if not. I shall be supported by the
purity of my own motives. I firmly believe
the oaths administered to he immoral in their
tendency, and corrupt in their inflences. Hav
ing sworn to become dishonest , and to practice
falsehood, am T hound to keep that oath? Having
sworn, it needs be. to perjure mvsell in a court
jofjustice, will the Almighty hold me responsi
ble tor the violation of such an obligation,
j Believing as I do, that my duly, both to my
■ God ami to my country demand at mv hands a
full renunciation of all such obligations, can 1
1 hesitate ? Certainly not! Every impulse of
my heart approve the course I have adopted,
and mv friends w iil allow me alone to be re
sponsible for the consequences. I shall settle
thot account before a tribunal far above the
! reach of Know Nothingism, and before which
neither their favors nor frowns can affect me.
' One thing I know, I should not be alone if oth
ers w ere not afraid to go with me. There are
hundreds in their ranks, whose outraged feelings
I dictate the same course ; and who, if they cat.
summon to their aid sufficient moral courage, i
will soon follow in my footsteps. I shall there
fore proceed to unmask the monster and expose
its iniquities to the public gaze.
organization of the secret societv to-,
wftit-b T alludgfti* after the following ffjrm -
Th the bestfßwg: it was called a society of
"Know NotHtfljlraLnnd I mav be allowed to saf
tin* name was pPelliarly appropriate. So soon,
however, as thai became generally known,
they changed it fbr another, and then another,
twsjil during the short p-riod of their existence
i they have been known by several appellations,!
: the last of which known to me was the "Sons
'of the Star Spangled Banner." There is a
; "Grand Council" for the United States, the
president q/ which has a sii|>erintendpnce and
control over all the "Councils" of the United
States. There is a subordinate "Grand Coun
] cil" lor each State, with a President who con
trols tiie "Councils" in the different counties of
fhe State. The "Grand Council" for Pennsyl
vania is in Philadelphia, and the President
thereof appoints an " fiistiuctor J ' for each coun
itv in tlie State, who has charge of the "Coun
cils in the different townships in the county.—
fhe " Instructor " for the county is sole dictator
and s'-ttles all questions arising in the "Coun
cils." He orders when their meetings shall be
held for making political nominations, and if
the nominations do not please him, he mav or- 1
der another to he held, and so on until they !
! are satisfactory. H-> a?*u appoints for each :
"Council," a "Deputy Instructor," who act# lor
him and under liis advice and directions. Each I
"Council" is bound in everything to the strict
est obedience toitssupeiior. This arrangement
first alarmed me. I joined the order, because I j
had been induced to fear the power of the •
"Pope." But when I learned that the Presi- j
dent of the "Grand Council" had more power |
than is even attributed to the Pope of Rome,
that "he was constituted for the purpose, and
willing to use his power to further the designs j
of the basest political demagougeism, I could:
not close inv eves to the tact, that he was a
more dangerous enemy to the civil institutions
rf our country than 1 had before thought the i
Pnpt-. I fear now that my worst apprehensions
will be realized. H. Bucher Swoope, of the!
borough of Clearfield, is the "losti uclor" lor
Clearfield county, and directs the movements .
of all the "Councils" in it. He is understood
to be among the first members of the order in the |
county.
Jn Burn side township there are three "Coun
cils," one held at New Washington* one near
Patchins, and one called the "Crooked Run
Council-" Dr. James i\!. Bunn is the "De
puty Instructor" under Swoupe, for tile New
Washington Council, and those who know that i
individual best, can judge of fhe character of the
instruction he would b<' likely to impart. I am
sure they will not charge him with much moral
instruction or many long prayers. In a recent
instance in our township, after a regular nomina
tion trad been made and ratified by a vote of the
Councils for township officers, these instructors,
H. Bucher Swoope and Dr. Bunn, (a pretty
pair.) orders a new nomination to be made, and
the Councils as in duty bound had to obey. How
humiliating to the old inhabitants of the coun
try, who were "pioneers" in its early settle
ment, and who have had a voice heretofore in
its political welfare, to be obliged to bow before
the dictation of one who lias not resided two
years in the cOonty. Let those who are oppos
ed to "foreign influence," condemn at the same
time ihis kind of 'foreign interference'and I am
with them. No matter how great a profligate, i
or how corrupt the man may be. the "Council"
must yield implicit obedience to their "Instruc
tor." He may he a gambler, a drunkard, a
•blasphemer of religion, and fresh Irom the scour
ges earned by his infamy, and yet the hv-laws
of this secret oath-bound societv require better:
men to surrender, not onlv their own judgment,
hut 'heir sense of right and wrong, to blindly
follow such a leader. Such is Know Nothing
ism, and such its votaries know it lobe.
The meetings so far as I attended them, were
generally occupier! in initiating members. They
have no object so far as I can learn, hut that of
controlling the politics-ofihecountry, and grasp- .
ing the offices. The President for each Ooun- !
ril call the meetings together by a written ru>- 1
tire, unintelligible to any except the initiated.
He takes the chair and presides during tile even
ing. Tim general topic of discussion in the
Council before the election last fall, was how to
best decoy the Democrats into their ranks, and
generally how to augment their forces, and gain
the ascendancy. Their hope is to ride into
power on the popular predjudice against the
Roman Catholic church, and indeed they are
making rapid strides towards effecting their oh- •
jec.f. I could go with them in an honest effoyt
against any political power attempted on the
part of that church, and with that object in
view many joined liieir ranks. But when I
saw that bad men of all parties had joined them, i
and were willing to prostitute the association lo >
the basest fiolitica! purfwses to obtain paver, I
.could no longer see any hope.of accomplishing f
; the original object. They are now composed '
very largely of the ignorant, who are to be
pitied: the bigoted sectarian, who is more design
ing than foolish ; the broken down and dtsap- j
pointed politicians of both parties : the demago- j
gues, who love spoils more than part v. and who
: fancy they can see a glimmer of hope ahead : a
part of the clergy in some of the Protestant
churches, who are longing for power, and
who carrv with them more or lessoftheir mem
bers, the floating population of the country, With
no fixed principles either moral or political,
usualiv denominated "majority men," or men
1 who vote on the strong side if they can find it.
i If these classes of men combined have the nu
| merical strength they will succeed. The order
| hopes to be able in 1556 to hold in their hands
i sufficient power to secure the election of a Know
I Nothing President,and by obtaining the reir;s of
government to perpetuate their power. A des- j
perafe effort will be made; perhaps such a one
as this country never witnessed. In my opin
i ion, il virtue, intelligent,- nntl honesty of pur
pose is in ascendancy in this country, they w ill
:be defeated; if not, they may triumph. For
j mv own part I have heretofore been a Whig, |
rind hav- always gloried in the triumph of
Whig principles, hut even to accomplish that
| object th" sacrifice is too great.
The following is a copy of the oaths and ex
amination which every member must undergo,
and subscribe to before becoming a member, as '
nearly as I ran recollect. That they are sub
stantially true, I pledge myself to prove in a
court ol justice if opportunity be afforded nv.
They are contained in a book, one copy of which j
is furnished to each Council. The "Instructor"
has possession of it. and administers the oath
from it. hut the members are not allowed to have
it. I suppose for the same reason that Roman
Catholic Priests do not let their numbers read a
bible ; because Ihev are too ignorant to read and
understand it. I thought it strange that they as
an order should adopt a course they so much
disapproved in others.
The candidate is first proposed bv a member
of the order to the Council, without his knowl
edge. Three negative voles black ball him.—
If elected, lie is secretly requested to present!
himself in the ante-rooin of the Council, w hen j
1 an officer appears from within and administers
to him the following oalh :
[ The Oath is precisely the some ns the Onth
published in Ike Gazette, a few days prior to the \
: hist Election, so that toe deem it unnecessary to
1 re-publish it here. |
1 have thus given the forms as lar as the se
cond degree. J never went further, it w ill
:be a matter of regret all my life that I ever !
went so far as I did. I have now, however,
done all I can to atone for it.
I may add, before closing this communication,
that the exposure published in the Pennsyl
j rani an last summer is substantially correct, and 1
j was so considered at that time in the Council.
I was then a member, and heard it discussed.
Yours Respectfully,
THOMAS MAHAFFEY.
8T;U"TO THE PUBLIC.— Having heen se- ;
| iluced into tin- order commonly called "Know- j
Nothings," by representations made to me by :
men in whom I had confidence, that the order
was to correct all abuses which afflicted our coun
try in past time, that the order was intended to j
carry out Dr-mocralic measures, and having
found by recebt developments thai tft< whole
things is a VVinc TRICK, la cheat Democrats out
of their principles, I have withdrawn from the
order and .severed my connection with it, a:>d I
deem it mv doty to warn all Democrats tnet by
remaining in the order they are aiding our an
cient enemies, the Galphin Federal Whigs to
laster upon the oM exploded Whig
doctrines, which had ttveir birth in the
Convention, and which have been repudiated by
the people tune and again since.
JOHN KFA FASTER.
Lancaster, Ohio, March If), 1555.
Correspondence ofthe Boston Host.
Letter from leua.
DAVENPORT, IOWA, March 10, '55.
Spring, bright and beaalilut, has come. For
severai days frast the weather has been warm
! and delightful, and the~breezes tiiat sweep over
our prairies come like whispering with
promises full of joy and gladness. YY inter is
passing, away to hi* stronghold in the mountains
! of eternal iceirt the north, and spring, radient I
with smiles, and ushered hy the balmy south
wind is with us. Clouds*of Pigeons, thousands
| of the different species of wild ducks, and those
sure harbingers of spring, the American Brant
anil wjld goose, are seen winging their unvary
ing flight to the regions far in the north. Our
noble river'that for several weeks past has been
ice hound, affording a safe transit U> the cease
less ebh artdjfow of the human tide, has, in the
1 majesty of if* power, burst its bonds aasumler.—
The breaking up WAS a sight worth the journey
of n thousand mites to see. Yesterday there
1 was ir crv in the street that the ice was coming,
and hundreds were quickly assembled to wit
ness (he crash, and among the rest myself: and I
I verily believe that the only word 1 uttered
for half an hour was 'magnificent,' but this w as
oft repeated. The upper rapids of the Missis
sippi extend from tins pomt fifteen mile* up,
and owing to the *u illness ofthe current have
been op-n lor several dav. Yesterday the ice
'■ above gave way and came sweeping down in j
immense masses ami with irresistible force.— '
When it came in contact with that which still
remained linn between the citv and Rock island
the scene was truly grand ami exciting, and'
gave evidence ofthe trymendbu* power that
the "father of waters" sometime* displays.
The floating field commenced gorging the
whole Width of the river, and httge pieces were
thrown with their edges fifty feet into the air.
Finally the ice commenced running under, and
was borne to the top again !>v the current from
below, thus forming, as if were, a vast revolv
ing cylinder of ice that glittered in the snn
light like a sea of fire: hut the pressure cmi
i stantlv accumulating, became go great that a
1 channel was forced, and down went the ic
hills, plunging and crushing as though possess
ed ofthe spirits of a thousand demons. Im
mense winiows of ice v ere formed on both
hanks ofthe river, burying wharf boats, skills,
wood piles and everything else within reach,
i utterly regardless of the damage done, or the •
punv efforts of men to preserve their property.
At the present tinw the river is nearly clear
and the opening of navigation is daily looked
, lor.
Emigration from the eastern states has al- I
ready commenced : fhe largest portion of which!
seems to come from the states of Pennsylvania,"
Ohio and Indiana, notwithstanding several live
i Yankees l ave marie their appearance, and can
ihe seen in 'he hotels reading newspapers, on
the corners taking notes, Irving the quality ol
i luwa lumber, with their jack-kniv<s, and carv
rng rbrtnos devices on the Rttnp posts with al
ways an eye out for the main chance. The
prospects of a heavy increase in the population
; of our state the present season are most flatter
! ing, and everything tends to substantiate the
fact that lowa, at no distant day, will take her
j place among the wealthiest and most powerful
1 ol the states.
Who are Your Companions ?
"He that walketh with wise men shall tie wise;
but u rnmpanwu of foots shall be destroyed."
It is said to he a property ofthe trep frog
I that it acquires the color of whatever it adheres
to for a short time. Thus when found on grow
ing corn, it is commonly of a very dark green.
It found on the white oak it has the color pecu
; liar to that tree. Just so it is with men. Tell
n.e whom you choose and prefer as companions,
and 1 certainly can tell who you are. Do vou
love the society ofthe vulgar ? Then vou are
already debased in your sentiments. Do you
seek to he with the profane ? In your hearts
you are like them. Are jesters and buffoons
yonn choicest friends ' lie who laughs at folly
is himself a fool, and probably a very stupid one,
i too. Do von love ant! seek society ol the wise
ar.rl good? Is this your habit? Would vou
j rather take the lowest seat among such than the
highest among others? Then you have already
learned to he wise and good. You mav not
have made much progress, but even a good be
ginning is not to be despised. Hold on your
way, and seek to he a companion of ail that
fear God. So you shall be wise for yourself,
and wise for eternilv.
SAGACITY OF AX EI.F.I'UAXT.—We passed an ele
phant working on the road, and it was most in
teresting to watch the ha If-reasoning brute: he
was tearing out laige roots from the ground by
means of a hook and chain, fastened mund his
neck with a species ot collar. He pulled like
a man, or rather like a number of men, with a
succession of steady hauls, throwing his whole
weight into it, and almost going down on his
knees, turning round every now and then to see
what progress he was making. Really the in
stinct displayed by the elephant in its domestic
1 state is little short of reason in its fullest sense,
i There is no doubt they do think, and also act
upon experience and memory, and their capaci
j t v seems to increase in an extraordinary degree
from their intercourse with man. The rernark
-1 able nicety and trouble they take in squaring and
! arranging the blocks of h<-wn stone when build
ing a bridge is incredible,unless seen ; they place
them with as much skill as any mason, and will
return two or three times to give the finishing
touches when they think the work is not quite
perfect. They retire a few yards and consider
what Ihev have effected, and you almost fancy,
you can defect them turning their segacious old
noddlesson one side, and shutting one eye in a
knowing manner, to detect any irregularities in
the arrangement.— The Bungalow and the lent
by E. Sullivan.
NOTICE.
All persons indebted to the estate of Solomon
Rice, late of Southampton Township, Bedford
county, deceased, are requested to make imme
diate pay merit, and those having claims against
said estate will present them properly authenti
cated for settlement.
P. DON* A HOE.
April ti, 1855. Adm'r.
mSTORE
Aid AVh (iouds.
GREAT BARGAINS, AND NO MISTAKE!
ELI FISHER
Wotihl lespectfully avail himself 0 f this t! „
thod of informing the citizen* of Bedford ' j
vicinity that he has opened an entirely \
J)ry Goods, Grocery, and Fumy Store
in the Borough of Bedford, in the room I
' inerly occupied hy Dr. Hofius, and secondduTr
west of Dr. Harry's Drug and Book N
where tie has just received from the cities'uj
New York and Philadelphia
one of the most elegant assortments of Good*
ver brought to Bedford, which, having been pur
chased for cash, under the most favorable fu .
cumstanceft, he leeks warranted in saving that |v
can sell them at price* so low a* to avtoniek t(, H
purchaser, and all in want of good Goods, at
the shortest possible profit, are invited | 0 av
him a call. His stock embrace* every variety
of "
Ladeis Dress Goods,
such as Silks, Satins, D.-laines, Bomlrazine,
Spring Shawls, novelties in Lawns, Brjfid,'
Prints, Plaid Ginghams, Lrrdersleeves, fiou,
121 cents up, Hosiery in every variety, Shoes
Boots and Slippers, for Ladies and Children—
in fact almost every aiticle adapted toa Lathe.'
wardrobe, which it would require too much
spare to enumerate in detail. His stock of
FLATS and BONNETS for Ladies, Misses,and
Children, is large, rich and CHEAP.
His Groceries, Teas, Spices, Syrup, &.c.
are all of the very best quality.
QJP*He will consider it no trouble to shew
his Goods, and he hopes the LADIES especial
ly will call and examine his assortment wheth
er they purchase or not. Always remember
however, that ELI FISHER'S is the place fu
j BARGAINS! ! ! April 6 1555
KEMOVAL.
The subscriber would respectfully announce
to the public that he has removed h;s Tinning
Establishment to the building recently occupi
ed by Mi. Luther, as a Confectionary Store,in
the Diamond, where he is better prepared than
ever to accommodate his customers with every
' arlicfo in the line of his business, either whoU
. sale or retail, and hopes they will give him a
call at his new location.
GEO. BLY.MIRL
Bedford, April 6, I<S55.
REMOVAL. -
JOHN J. EI THER A
Having removed his Con fectionary Store to
the white tiame building directly opposite tie
Store of A. B. Cramer fx. Co. would announce
to his old friends, and the public generally,that
he is prepared to render satisfaction to all who
favor him with a call. has fitted up a
private arid handsome room lor the accommoda
tion of Ladies, the entrance to which is through
his front family door, which they will find U.th
i convenient ami pleasant. ICE CREAM and
other delicacies will be served up in the best
wdyle, ' D season. April 6, 1855. j
LAND FOR SOLDIERS. *
To Soldiers, both regular and Volunteers,
sailors, Marines, Flotilla men, Musicians, Wa
gon Masters, Teamsters, Indians, and all per
sons who have served f ourteen days in any of
the wars of the United States since the \>ar
1790, the Law of 1855 gives you Cue Hus
dred and Sixty Acres ol Bounty Land, lam
prepared promptly to execute your warrant* ibr
Bounty Land. You will save time and narnev
by at once applying for instructions and blank
Forms. Widows and minor children ol an* of
the above are entitled to the same.
X tr* Warrants bought and sold on commissim.
JlP* Commissions received lor the -ale ot
Real Estate. Address
FRANKLIN G. MAY,
No. 12, Wail Street, N. V.
April 6, 1855—3t.
TO OFFICERS, SOLDIERS, SEAMEN,
SVC. OF ALL WARS,
Their WIDOWS and MI.VOR CHILD REX
S. AI. KNIGHT, Attorney for GovernmfDi
Claimants, WASHINGTON, D. ('.
CONTtNCF.S To give prompt antl personal attention
to the prosecution of Claim- ol every description a
gainst the General Government, anil particularly to
those lielore the i reasurv Department, Pension
Bounty-land Bureaus, Patent and General Land Offi
ces. and Board of Claims.
i An experience of years, and a familiarity ivitht:'
1 means of obtaining the earliext and nio-t favorable a,-
tion on Claims, with his tacihCe- for the dispatch ol
business, justify hun in assuring his Correspondent-.
Claimants, ar.tl the Public generally, that lulerest
intrusted to his keeping will not be neglected.
PKNSIO.X, BOUNTY I-\.YI>, lVrnx, A xt> PVBLIC LA>>
LAWS.
lie has nearly ready for gratuitou-distribution atnoni
his business Correspondents, (and those alio may
i become such.) a neat pamphlet containing a svoopsi
i of the existing Pension, Bounty Land, Patent, i- !
Public Land Laws, down to the end ol the late Con
gress, including the
Bounty Land Act of 3d MARCH. 1855,
under which all who have heretofore received if"
than 1 <SO acres are now entitled to additional k |; ' :
sanJ act grants also 100 acres to all Officers, N 1 •
: commissioned Officers, Chaplains, Soldier-, Wagt"-
j masters. Teamsters, an.] friendly Indians, of 'he ar
i my, including State Troops, Volunteers and Militia
—and all Officers, Seamen, ordinary Seamen. Marine
-1 Clerk-, and Landsmen, of the Navv, not heretntef
] provided for, who have served not less than fourteen
' days (unless in battle) at any period since 177 ft; as-.
to the widows and minor children ol all such persons
1 entitled, and deceased.
This pamphlet contains "Tonus of Application
j more full and complete than any elsewhere to he found.
adapted to the wants of every class of Claimants un
der the Act, with copious decisions and instructii"-
of the Department, and practical suggestions as to the
course to be purued in suspended or rejected cas<-
Parties not wishing to avail themselves ol the un -
ities afforded by this Office in securing /vwai*
personal riipennUOiltttre of their claims at the Prpi
: ments, can ohraiu copies of the above pa®phi'' - 1
remitting thirty cents in postage stamp*.
Inducement to Correspondents.
Correspondents who prepare and forward case
management by this Agency will be dealt witblihc i
ally ; supplied with ail necessary blanks giaO', "•
, | kept constantly advised of thechanges that Irofflhu
to time occur HI the execution ol law.
it is within the subscriber's pdwer to direct bis' o
respondents to the locality of very many persons#i •
; tied under the late Act: and having obtained sevrra.
i thousand Land Warrants tinder former law-, he "
possession of data that will materially assist i*
securing additional bounty.
Fees, below the Usual rates—and contingent 11P
the admission of claims.
The highest cash prices given for Land W arra ■
Revolutionary Scrip, and Itlmoise Laud Patent"
Address S. M. KNWfiT-
Washington ( "Y
April (t.