VOLUME 56. NEW SERIES. GOVERNOTSJIESSAGE. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Harrisburg, Jan. 4, I860.: To the Honorable the Senators and Mem- J bers of the House of Representatives of the ; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania : GENTLEMEN :-In complying with that pro- j vision of the Constitution ol Pennsylvania, j which makes it the duty ot the Governor,, from time to time, to give to the General Assembly information of the stite of the Commonwealth, lam must happy, on this occasion, again to congratulate the representatives of the people . upon the highly favorable condition of the fi- | nances of I The receipts at the State Treasury from ail : sources, for the fiscal year ending on the 3Jth j of November, 1859, were $3,826,350 if, to: which add balance in treasury, December 1, ; 1858,5892,027 7(J, and it will be 6een that | the whole sum available lor the year, was $4, 718.377 90. The expenditures, lor alll jiurpo- j ses, during the same period, were §3,879,054 j 81. Leav ing an available balance in the Trea- i surv, on the Ist day oi December, 1859, of , $839,323 09. Included in the expenditures j for the fiscal year, are the following sums, j Loans redeemed $840,302 30 j Relief notes cancelled, 4,137 00 Interest certificates paid, 4,843 30 j Making of the'public debt ac tually paid,'during the year, tne sum of 849,282 60 The funded and unfunded debt ol the Com- j ir.onwealth, on the !si day ol Dec., 1858, was ; a- follows: FUNDED DERT. C per cent, loans $145,180 00 5 K ]) 0 . 38,420,905 67 : 4J Do. 388,200 50 4. Do. 100,000 00 Total'funded debt 39,354,285 67 UNFUNDED DEBT. Relief notes outstanding, $105,350 00 Interest certificates, 23,357 12 Do do unclaimed 4,448 38 Domestic creditors, 802 50 Total unfunded debt, 133,958 00 Making ttie entire debt of the Common wealth, at the period named, $39,488,243 67. The funded and unfunded debt of the State. ! at the Close of the lasi tLcal year, December 1, ' IBoS, stood as foihows . 6 percent loans, $400,630 00 5 jo 37,625,153 3/ j 4j do 388,200 00 j 4 da 100,000 00 Total funded debt, 3t,513,983 37 UNFUNDED DEBT. Relief notes in circulation, $101,213 00 Interest certificates outstanding 18,51.1 82 Do. unclaimed 4,418 38 Domestic creditors, 8 >2 50 Total unfunded debt, 12197/ i 0 Making the puolicdebt on the first day of Dec. last, $38,638,961 07 Since the close of the fiscal year, the Com missioners of the sinking fund have redeemed, of the five per cent leans, the sum of $160,000, leaving the real debt ot the Commonwealth, at this time, funded 3nd unfunded, $38,478,961 07. If we deduct Iroin this sum the amount of the bonds received by the State, from the sale of her public works, and now held by her, as fol lows : bonds of Pennsylvania rail road company, $7,300,000 00 Bonds of Sunbury and Erie railroad company, 3,500,000 00 Bonds of Wyoming canal company' 281,000 00 Total, 11, OS 1,000 00 we have $27,397,961 07, the remaining debt ot the Commonwealth, the principal and in terest to be provided for, from the ordinary sources of revenue. It will be observed, that f-om the Ist day of December, 1858,' to the 31st day of Decem ber, 1N59, a period of thirteen months, besides meeting all the ordinary demands upon the Treasury, there has oeen actually paid, on the i principal ol the pubiic debt, 1,009,282 doila.s j 60 cents. When it is remembered, that during this pe riod, the law reducing the State tax upon real and personal estate, from three to two and a halt mills, has been in lull force, and that noth ing for the last year has been received from tile Pennsylvania railroad company, on account of tax on tonnage, making the receipts, from those two sources of levenue, less by four hundred thousand dollars, than they were for the pre ceding year, it is a source ot congratulation that i under such circumstances, a result so favorable ; fas been produced by the ordinary operations of the treasury. Bv the twenty-second section of the act ap proved the 13th day ot Apitl, 1846, entitled j "An Act to incorporate the Pennsylvania rail- i loftdjcompany," it is provided, "that all tonnage, of whatsoever kind or description, except the ordinary baggage of passengers, loaded or re ceived at Harrisburg, or Pittsburg, or at any intermediate point, and carried or conveyed on or over said railroad, more than twenty miles, between the lOtb day of March and the Ist day of December, in each and every year, shall be subject to a toll or duty, for the use of the Commonwealth, at the rate of five mills per mile, for each ton of two thousand pounds; and it shall be the duty of said company, between i the 20th and 30 th days of July, and between the Ist and 10th day* of December, in each ana every year, after thirty miles or more of said railroad shall have been completed and in use, to cause to be made out, and filed with the Au : ditor General, a true and correct statement, ex | hibiting the amount of said tonnage, so loaded or j received, and the distance so carried and con ; veved, during the respective periods interve ' ning between the said 10th day of March, and the 20th day of July, and between the said 20th day of July, and the Ist day of December, in each and every year; which said statement shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the re ! ceiving or forwarding agent or agents, or other 1 proper otficer or officers, of said company, hat | ing knowledge of the premises; and at the time ! of filing said statement, or on or before the said j 30th day of July, and the 10th day of Decern j her, in each and every year, the slid company | shall pay to the State Treasurer, the amount of j said toli or duty, so accruing for the use of the ! Commonwealth, during the respective interv/m -! ing periods before mentioned." And, in a sup | plement to the act just referred to, passed on the | same day, it is further provided, "tint in case j the slid company shall, at any time, fail to j pay the'toil or charge on tonnage, which may j accrue, or become due to the Commonwealth, ! under the provisions of said act, ttie same shall j be and remain a lien on the property of the said I company, and shall have precedence over ail ! other tiensor incumbrances thereon until paid." i By the act of the 271h of March, 1848, the tax | or tonnage of five mills per ton, per mile, from i the lOlli of March to the Ist of December, was i commuted to a lax of three mitis per ton, per : rniie, during the whole year. S übsequently, | by the act of the 7th of May, 1855, lumber and ; coal, were made exempt from the tonnage tax. ; In pursuance of the provisions of the several ! acts referred to, the Pennsylvania raiiroad com j pany has paid into the Treasury or the Com : monwealth the following sums, viz : For the fiscal year ending Nov 30, 1851 $7,521 93 Do 1852 16,680 49 Do 1853 65,228 59 Do 1854 112,880 50 Do 1555 129,230 56 Do 1856 226,018 51 Do 1857 179,933 75 Do 1858 *222,363 02 Since July, 1858, the railroad company has refused to pay this tax, and consequently there is now due from said company, on that account ' exclusive of interest, tfie sum of $350,405 00 On the 21st of February, 1859, an account ! was settled, by the Auditor General, against the j company, for the tax on tonnage, from the 21st lay of July. to the-W-h day of .Vovemher I ! Inclusive," amounting to the 3um of $87,375 22. | From t:>i3 settlement, the company, on the 19th i day of April, took an appeal to the court of ' common pleas ot Dauphin county; and, in the specifications of objections which were filed, it was averred that the tax was unconstitutional, and an opinion to that ellect, signed by eminent j counsel, was filed in the office ot the Auditor | General, at the time the appeal was entered. In August last, the cause was tried, and after a : full investigation, and argument, the const it u ! tionahty of the law imposing the tax was aitir- I med by the court, and a verdict and judge ! rendered in favor of the Commonwealth, for the amount claimed, with interest. The i case has since been removed, by a writ of error, j to the Supreme Court of the State, and will, • probably, be heard and determined, bv that tri- S buna!, in the course of the present winter. On the 25th day of August last, another ac count was settled against the company, tor the * tax on tonage, from the 30th day of November, 1858, to the 20th day of July, 1859, amounting to the sum of $159,368 58, from which an ap peal has also been taken the railroad compa- I riv, "and which will probably be tried during the present month. As this question largely affects the revenues of the Commonwealth, and as the principle in volved is one ot the first importance, I have' deemed it a duty to lay before the Genera! As- j senibly, somewhat in detail, the history of this tax, ana the present condition ot the legal con- j troversy growing out of its imposition and en- : forcement. It will be observed, that the pow- , er of the State to grant chartered rights, and j corporate privileges, to a railroad company, up- 1 on the condition that it shall pay to the Com monwealth a portion of its earnings, in the ! shape ot a tax upon the freight carried o- | verthe road, is questioned by the company, and that, too, after the grant has taken effect, and . while the corporation is in the full enj >yment ; of all the benefits conferred upon it by its cliar ! ter. The question, it is tine, is a legal one, \ and its decision, therefore, rests with the ju ii- ■ ' cial department of the government; but, I have j not the slightest doubt, that the decision, when had, will vindicate the right of the ; Government to impose the tax, and to compel corporations of its own creation to obey the law from which they derive their existence. When i it is remembered, that the tax was originally imposed, in order to indemnify the Slate, to some extent, for losses which siie was sure to ; sustain from a competition, which was inevita | bie, between the railroad authorized, and her j I main line of public works; and that this compe- j tetion did, not only seriously affect the reve- i ! noes of the Commonwealth, derived ftorn her I public improvements, but Ciltimately induced ! the sale of the main line to the railroad cornpa iny itself, at a price many millions of dollars blow what it would have produced, in the ab sence of such competition, it is certainly not to be presumed that the Commonwealth will wil lingly yield her demand for revenue from this source, until she is, at least, fully indemnified for the pecuniary injury sustained in the de preciation of her" own property, by her liberal ity extended to the company which now denies her power to enforce a contract, voluntarily entered into, upon a consideration entirely ad equate. i In my inaugural address, as well as in try BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 13, 1860. i | last annual message, I expressed the opinion i that our present banking system was extremely defective, and that, unless it were radically , changed, I should consider it an imperative du ty to withhold the Executive approval from all bills creating new banks. Without again giv ing in detail ttie reason which influenced my action on this question, or repealing the sugges tions and recommendations heretofore made to I the Legislature, it is proper to remark, at this time, that ;ii) convictions have been confirmed bv lime and reflection—that my oyinions re main unchanged, and that I cannot approve of any increase of banking corporations under ex isting laws. If corporate privileges, for bank ing purposes, are needed, to accommodate the business wants of any portion ot the State, jus- requires, that such institution should be compelled to protect the community receiving its circulation, by requiring that ample securi ty shall be given tor the prompt redemption of its notes, the sufficiency of which no act of the corporation could impair. All experience .in this State, and elsewhere, has demonstrated, that the present system affords little or no pro tection to note-holders, beyond the personal in tegrity of the officers controlling the manage ment of the several banks. For a full exposi tion of my views on this question, I respectful ly call the attention of the General Assembly to my last annual message. Deeply impressed with the belief that the present mode of receiving, keeping and disbur sing the public revenue, is entirely unsafe, and inadequate to the complete protection of the interests of the Commonwealth involved, I a gain respectfully, though earnestly, invoke le gislative action on this highly important sub ject. The receipts and disbursements of the Treasury are eacn, annually, from three to four millions of dollars. At times there is on hand a balance exceeding one million of dollars. The State Treasurer gives security to the Common wealth in the sum of only eighty thousand dol lars. He deposits the money of the State, when and where he pleases, and is paid out upon his own check exclusively. His accounts are settled by the Auditor General, once a month, and this is, apparently, the only safe guard provided by law to prevent the illegal use of the public funds while under the control of the State Treasurer. That Treasury of j the Commonwealth has hitherto escaped from I disastrous defalcation, is owing to the integrity of the officer, and not to the efficiency ot the laws ; and while our main reliance, in the fu ture, must be on the honesty of the officers to whom the department is entrusted, it is never theless, the plain duty ot the government, by proper legislative enactment, to pre.e*- '■ i/, ■:n- ."-rt-'t. impii/per or fraudulent use ol the funds of the State by a faithless or dishonest public agent. 1 respectfully recom mend that provision be made by law that no money shall be deposited in any bank, or else where by the State Treasurer, without first re- i quiring security to be given to the Common wealth for the prompt re-payment of the sums deposited ; —that a!! checks issued by the State j ; Treasurer, shall be countersigned by the Audi tor General before they are used; —and that: i daily accounts of the moneys received, deposi- j led and disbursed, shall be kept in the office of j the Auditor General as well as in the Treasury Department; and that weekly statements ofthe balances in the Treasury, and the places and amounts of deposits shall be kept in a book to be provided for that purpose in each depart j meat. I have so repeatedly presented my views to the Legislature, of the evils arising from local j and class legislation, that it is not necessary to repeat them. I desire, however, to call the at tention ofthe Genera! Assembly to the fact that we have, on our statute books, general laws providing for the incorporation of railroad, turnpike, bridge, plank road, gas, water, insu j ranee and other similar companies, and that all corporate powers, granted by the Legislature, to sucli companies, should be under these"gene ; ra! laws, so that there may be uniformity in the provisions of similar associations, and tiiat the time of the General Assembly may not be oc j copied in passing bills of great length, when a simple reference to the details of general laws I would answer every purpose. The practice of sending to the Executive a ' large number of bills immediately preceding the final adjournment of the Legislature, is ! highly objectionable, and ought, as far as prac ticable, to be discontinued. Its necessaiy con sequence is, eiiher to compel the Executive to j approve bills which he lias not fully examined ,to sign them after the final adjournment, or, if he disapprove them, to returnUhem to the next General Assembly, with his objections, thus imposing upon a succeeding Legislature the fi | nal disposition of bills, with the origin and passage of which it had no connection. To li j iustrate the evils resulting from this practice, it is only necessary to inform you, that, oi the large number of bills presented for my appro val, within a day or two of the adjournment at the last Legislature, I am constrained by a sense ol duty, to return, with ftny objections, ; twenty-three to the present Legislature, for re consideration. It is apparent from the exhibit of the finan cial condition ofthe Genera! Government, re ; cently made public, that the wants of the Fed eral Treasury will demand a revisi n of the ex isting tariff laws of the Unite! States, with a view to an increase of the revenue derivable from imports. When this revision shall take place, it is greatly to be desired, that a proper regard for the industrial interests of the coun i try will prompt the Congress of the United States, to pLce her revenue laws upon such a basis, as to afford to our great mining and man ufacturing interests the largest incidental pro tection. To substitute specific for ad valorem duties, on a certain class of articles whicb from their nature are of equal or nearly equal value —or to change the foreign to a home valuation —with a moderate increase oFthe rates now im posed, would, I am satisfied, infuse new life and i Freedom of Thought and Opinion. vigor into all the various departments of indus try, and, it the same time, without imposing burdens upn a/Ford to the General Governmtfit a revenue amply suthcient for all its wantsi i he eatly admission of the Territory ol Kan sas as onept the sovereign States of the Union, under a constitution legally enacted, and Fully and fairly ratified by the direct votes of a large majority oi the people of the Territory, will remove from the .National Legislature a subject which hasfutherto, in no inconsiderable degree, attracted H? attention of the Nation, and which, irorn '.be nj'ure and extent of the discussion in Congress, h;s been productive of much crimina tion and rets imination between the various sections of our common country. Popular Sovereignty having finally prevailed, in the full, free ami lair adoption of the fundamental law of the Territory, according to the wishes of tne people, this vexed and dangerous ques tion, in thy Territory, may now be considered as satisfactorily and perpetually settled. Copies of tile correspondence between the Governor q' Virginia and the Governor of Penn sylvania, oh the subject of the recent outrage at Harper's Terry, are herewith transmitted to the Legislature. The letter addressed by the Governor of \ irginia to the Governor of Penn sylvania, missent to Harrisonburg, Virgi nia, and hence was not received until the first day of Dec .idrer, one day befjre the execution of John Br; wo ; and therefore, it was impossi to reply to tby mail, in time to reach the Governor c \ irginia before the execution. The answer waj consequently sent by telegraph, which will account for its brevity and senten tious character. !he rectit seizure of the public property of the United States at Harper's Ferry and the invasion ofthe State of Virginia, by a small band of de-heiadpes, with an intention to ex cite the ilar?population to insurrection, have drawn attention to the Jangers which beset our federal relapbns. It is a source of satisfaction to know thit the authorites of Virginia possess ed the meais and the determination to punish offenders vytfc promptness and justice ; —that the railkart' force of the United States was a power imnediately available to aid in putting down the (pßireak against the public peace ; that the sl.|v.■> population were contented with their condijiin, and unwilling to unite with disorderly ivfrite men in acis of treason and murder ; —ttf'i that the great masses of the peo ple have no sympathy, whatever, with any attack upon ; e rights and institutions of any of tile Slates, and have a deep and abiding de votion to r. at and glorious Union. To .. . - a - • that the citizen.' of this Commonwealth have not, in any fna.ne.-, participated in this unlaw tul proceeding and to know that when some ol the guilty perpetrators were arrested, within our jurisdiction they were promptly surrender ed to the j isti:e of the offended and injured State. The severafStates of this Union are inde pendent sovereignties, except so far as they have granted mrtain enumerated powers to the Federal Government. In cases not provided for in the Feleral Constitution, the several States, in tbeir|relatioßs to each other, ought to be governed by the principles which regu late the condu t of civilized nations. These principles lorbj, in all nations, "every evil practice tendig to excite disturbance in a notherjState and are founded on the maxim, "different natifis ought, in peace, to do one another all thegood they can, without prejudi cing (heir red interests." This maxim, re cognized by al civilized governments, applies with peculiar ltrce to the several States of this I lion, bound ligether, as they are, by a sacred corpact for mjtual support and protection ; ami, therefore, iny attempt in one State, to ex cite insurrection in an another, is an offence a gaiisl all the Sfctes, because all are Jbound by tiieC.nstilutioij to put down such disturbance; an-i he act of (ingress authorizes the Presi dentof the Unifed States to call out (the mili tia o| the several States for the purpose. It is a hi£ offence agiinst the peace of our Com mon tealth, for disorderly persons within our jurisdiction, tocimbine together forjthe purpose ol stiring up iriairrection, in any of the States, or to ndure the slaves in the Southern States toalsond from their masters ; and it would be proje, in my judgment, lor the General Asstrt ly toconsder whether additional legisla tion iay not be necessary to insure the punish ment if such offenders against our peace and securi'. In our relative duties to wardsour sister States, the morality of servi tude mot an open question, lor we are bound by th legal and moral obligation of the com pact (the Union, under which we have been brougf into existence, and preserved as in depeient States, as well as by the principles of iernationa! law, to respect the in stitutes which the laws ol the several States recorize, and in uojother way can we faithful ly fi.il our obligations, as members of this con feriecy. Uile I entertain no doubt that the great Repdican experiment on this continent, so hapjy commenced, and carried forward to its preat exalted position, in the eyes of the woi, will continue, under the Providence of Godo be successful to the latest generations, it isie part of wisdom and patriotism to be watiful and vigilant, and to carefully guard a trsureso priceless. Let moderate counsels preil—let a spirit of harmony and good will, am. national fraternal sentiment be cultiva tedmong the people, everywhere—North and So a—and the disturbing elements which terorarily threaten our Union, will now, as th have always heretofore, assuredly pass a- Wi enr.sylvania, in the past, has performed her ja with unfaltering firmness—let her now, fi in the future, be ever ready to discharge duties with unflinching integri ty. Then will her proud position entitle her, boldly and effectually, to rebuke, and assist in crushing, treason, whether it shall raise its crest in other States, in the guise of a ianatical and irrepressible conflict, between the North and the South ; or assume the t equa!ly reprehen sible form ot nullification, secession, and a dissolution of the Union. Her central geographical position, stretching from the bay of Delaware to the lakes—with her three mil lions of conservative population—entitles her to say, with emphasis, to the plotters of treason, on either hand, that neither shall be permitted to succeed—that it is not in the power ot either to disturb the perpetuity ol this Union, cemented and sanctified, as it is, by the biood of our patriotic fathers—that at every sacrifice, and at every hazard, the constitutional rights of the people and the States shall be maintain ed—that equal and exact justice shall be done to the North and to the South—and that these States shall be,forever United. We, as a people, have great reason to acknowledge the Providence ol God, who rules over the nations of the earth. Under His guardianship, hitherto so signally enjoyed, we feel unabated confidence' in the permanency of our free government, jj and look forward with cheerful hope, to a future glorious destiny. In the blessings that have crowned our own Com monwealth the past year—in the success that has accompanied all our iudustrial pursuits—in the steady advance of our educational 'institu tions—in the quiet and peace of our dumestic homes—in all that can advance a nation's prosperity and happiness—we recognize the hand of the Great Giver ot all Good. WILLIAM F. PACKER. Correspondence between the Governor of Virginia and the Governor of Pennsylvania, referred to in the foregoing Message [GOVERNOR WISE TO GOVERNOR PACKER.] RICHMOND, VA., November 25, 1859. To His Excellency, the Governor of Pennsyl vania : DEAR SIR:—I respectfully send to you the information contained in a letter to the Presi dent of the United States, of which the enclo sed is a copy. I submit it to you in the confi dence that you will faithfully co-operate with the authorities of this State ia preserving the peace ot our coterminous borders. Necessity may compel us to pursue invaders of our juris diction into you rs; if so, you may be assured that it will be done with no disrespect to the sovereignty of your State. Hut this State ex pects the confederate duty to be observed, of guarding your territory from becoming dan gerous to our peace and safety, by affording i of dtp-* inH to lawless des : peradoes who may seek to war upon our peo ple. With the highest respect, I am, sir, yours truly, HENRY A. WISE. [GOVERNOR WISE TO JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OP THE UNITED STATES.] RICHMOND, VA., November 25, 1559. To fits Excellency, JAMES BUCHANAN, Presi dent of the United States. SIR:— I have information from various quar ters, upon which I rely, that a conspiracy, of formidable extent in means and numbers, is for med in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Yoik and o ttier States, to rescue John Brown and his as sociates, prisoners at Charlestown, IVa. .The information is specific enough to be reliable. It convinces me that an attempt will be made to rescue the prisoners, and, if that fails, then to s=ize citizens of this State as hostages and victims in case of execution. The execution will take place nest Friday as certainly as that Virginia c?n and will enforce her laws. I have been obliged to call out one thousand men, who are now under arms, and, if necessary, shall call out the whole available force of the State to carry into effect the sentence of our laws on the 2d and 16th proximo. Places in Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania have been occupied as depots and rendezvous by these desperadoes, unobstructed by guards or otherwise, to invade this State, and we are kept in continual appre hension of outrages from fire and rapine on our borders. I apprise you of these facts in order that you may take steps to preserve peace be tween the States. I protest that my purpose is peaceful, and that I disclaim all threats when J >ay, with all the might ol meaning, that if an other invasion assails tbis State or its citizens from any quarter, I will pursue the invaders wherever they may go into any territory, and punish them wherever arms can reach them. 1 shall send copies of this to the Governors of Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania. With due respect and consideration, Yours truly, HENRY A. WISE. TELEGRAPHIC REPLY OF GOVERNOR PACKER TO GOVERNOR WISE.] STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, Executive Chamber, Ihrrisburg, Qec. 1, 1859. To His Excellency, the Governor of Virginia, Richmond, Va.: SIR :—Your letter of the '2sth, having BEEN ■nissent to Harrisonburg, Virginia, was not re vived until this morning. Of all the desper rdoes to whom you refer, not a man, so far I can learn, was a citizen ol Pennsylvania; nor was their rendezvous, (which you say was un obstructed by guards or otherwise,) in this State, but in Maryland or Virginia. In rela ion to them, Pennsylvania has done her dutv. Virginia has no right to anticipate that she will aot do so in the future. The information vou have received in regard to a conspiracy to res :ue Johu Brown, will, undoubtedly, be found, in the sequel, utterly and entirely without foundation, solar as Pennsylvania is concerned. Nor will we permit any portion ol our territo ry, along our borders, or elsewhere, to be made i depot, a rendezvous, or a refuge, for lawless desperadoes, from other States, who may seek to make war upon our southern neighbors. HOOLK \l mil lt 2884. When that contingency shall happen, tha,con stitutional and confederate duty of Pennsylva nia shall be performed ■ and, under all circum stances, she will take care to see that her hon or is lully vindicated. WM. F. PACKER. [Foa THE BEDFORD GAZETTE.] Side-glances at the Fashionables. SQUINT NO 1. There is nothing so charming on top of this earth, as a pretty, neatly dressed, intelligent, modest woman. I had almost said lady, but checked myself with the reflection that the greater portion of the adjectives used in the foregoing sentence, would have been entirely redundant if made to qualify that word. A Ja dy is a person, in my humble opinion, who is modest, neatly dressed and intelligent. There fore, if I had used lady in lieu of woman, pro priety oflanguage would have compelled me to omit the fine array of qualifying words dis played in the opening sentence, and my reader would have been utterly deprived of the plea sure afforded him bv that '-'elegantly rounded period." But lam digressing. There is nolh-' ing, I repeat, so charming as a pretty, neatly dressed, intelligent, modest woman, and this is the deliberate opinion of one who has felt the "hackles" of married life, as well as (he plea sing influences of those halcyon hours that are aote-connuoial, the hours of dawning love and courtship. But, whilst this is my firm convic tion, there is a conclusion to which I am irre sistibly driven, and that is, that of all disgusting sights in the whole range of human existence there is none more revolting than that of an immodest woman. I speak not onlyof the aban doned and the degraded. I include all who are rude, indelicate, or ill-mannered, whether by nature, or by education, by choice,or under the restraint of fashion ; and I hold in special detestation that ill-bred vanity so frequently and fondly displayed by the would-be aristocratic ladies of country towns, when passing persons of the sterner sex, or when crossing clean streets and walking dry pavements. Why can't they let their skirts hang naturally, and why must they elevate their hoops ? Were their ankles nraue lor Ttiespecial purpsie of being exhibited to the gaze of gaping mtfti ? Do they imagine that "the gentlemen" think they have no an kles, or what is their reason for this immodest practice ? lam sure that their pedal extremi ties are not half so pretty as their faces, and yet the latter are very often thickly veiled, whilst the former are uncovered to an alarming extent. Perhaps they are like the ostrich, which when its head is hidden in the sand, im agines its whole body concealed. At any rate, as a very modern poet has it, "In crossing the street, Each lady you meet, {lf she follow the prevelant fashion,) Lifts gently her dress, Say a foot, more or less. And keeps it thus raised till you pass on.'' How ridiculous and yet bow true! How indelicate and vet how frequent J Oh! modesty, "where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face ? Better dwell in the midst of alarms Than reign in this" hoop-lifting place !" CROSS-EYE. ANECDOTES OF A JEKSEYMAN.— Gen Wright of New Jersey, the Administration candidate' for Governor last fall, tells the following anec fote relating to and of himself:— One day, while electioneering for Governor, is stopped at a Jersey cabin in the interior of he State, for a bit of dinner. The good house wife served him with a better repast than he expected, tender and juicy fresh venison bein°- )ne of the courses, followed by a tempting dis' ilay of pastry. Cutting into 'one of the °pies, ind tasting the same, his palate was entirely iropitiated, and he paid his compliments to the ady byway of making inquiry. "Madam," said he, "this is very delicious )ie, but upon my word I don't know what is he fruit in it—pray tell me, if you please." "Why,stranger, where did you tome from?" demanded the lady, in turn. "Well, lam troni the lower part of the State, but no such fruit as thisgrows there. In deed, madarn, I am ignorant of this fruit, and beg you will inform me what it is." "Up for Governor?" exclaimed the astonish ed woman, "and don't know huckleberries! Weil, I mistrust you aint fitted for the office." The General would have relinquished the track, but his party wouldn't let him off, and tie was nearly elected, in spite of his igoo latice ot huckl- berries. On another occasion he stopped for supper it a carin not so well provided as the former. I ii- poor woman bad neither sugar, tea, nor roilee, and spread before him a dish of clap per, uttering a profusion of apologies and re frets that her house was so ill-provided. "Whv. madam,"said he, with perfect truth, *1 prefer this to tea or coffee, or even strawber ries and cream, and often take it in preference, HI hot evenings like this, when at home. It requires no apology, for I couldn't be better juited." "Now, stranger," responded the doubting lady, "are you lying, jist because you are a candidate ; for I've hearn teil them candidate# s the Ivingest critters on yearth ?" • The General could only vindicate his truth by bolting a dish of clapper. VOL. 3, NO. 24.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers