VOLUME 38. NEW SERIES. THE CLERK'S MARRIAGE • Von area brave ytning man, or a foolish one.' •■Why do J' ou sa y ,ha: •" tTo think of marriage." ••What had bravery or folly lo do in the case?'* "The young lady is j>oor." I do not wed her for money.'' "There would be some hope for you if she were the possessor of some twenty or thirty thousand dollars. But being as poor as your self the folly of this purpose stands out in bold relief. Look before you leap, my friend, there's trouble lor vou on lh other side." •! am not sordid. Mr. Blair." The young man's fine face glowed, and his eyes flashed with a repressed indignation. "Not sordid enough, Adrian, for the iparriage, as society is now constituted. There are two tides to the question of marriage; the senti mental side and the matter-of fact side. fS'ow have you looked only on the sentimental side ; suppose we consider the inatter-of-faci aspects. You are a clerk receiving a salary of SI,OOO. How much have you saved ?" "Nothing to speak ot." "Nothing ! So much the worse. If it cost you SI,OOO a year to live, from whence is to come the means ot supiiortmg a wile & family 1" "Oh, I've been careless and wasteful in ex lendhures, as most young men are. I had on ly myself tu provide for, and was sell-indulgent. But that must erase of course." "Granted, lor argument's sake. The young lady you propose to marry is nampd Rosa New ell/' * "Yes." "A charming you nit girl; well educated, i finely acconr.plisheH ; used to good society, as we sav; and just suited for my friend Adrian, if she had money, or he an income of three or four thousand a year. But the idea of making ber • happy wife, in the city of New York on • thousand dollars', is simply preposterous. It j can't be done, sir, and the attempt will prove j ruinous to the happiness of both parlies to so j foolish an agreement. It is a matter of the; easiest demonstration, Adrian; and I wonder that to good an accountant as you are should ere this have tried Ibis question by mathemati cal rules. Let me do it for you. And fust we lock at Rosa's present sphere of life. She has a home with a Mr. Hart, an uncle, and is liv ing in rather.a luxurious way. Mr. Hait is a man who thinks a deal of appearances, and • maintains a domestic establishment that does rot cost leas tha-o four thousand dollars a year, hi* i bouse rent is equal to your salary. Now, in using Rosa from this home, into what kind of; a one can you place her!" A sober hue of thought came over the young itan'* lace. "You can't a fiord to rent a house at even one 1 half the cost of Mr. Hart's, even if \ou were j able to buy the furniture," continued Mr. Blair. j "We will board o( course," said Ad.ian. t '■Housekeeping is not to be thought of in the ; beginning." | "II not ir. the beginning, how afterwards V' j The young man looked quite bewildered but diii not answer. i "What are you now paying for board I" j "Five dollars a week." "You would require a parlor and bed-room after mariiage," "Yes." ' "At a cost ol not less than !?lfi a week." "We could hardly afford the pailor." "Hardly," said his friend. "Well, give up the pailor, and t; ke a pleasant front chamber on the second Hoo,' at twelve dollars a week. Hut the house is not firsl-cla-s nor the location very desirable. These are not to be had in New York at twelve dollars a week. You cannot afford for Rosa the elegance of her piesent home. Three dollars more a week for washing and etceteras, and your income is drawn up at the rate of S7BO a year. Two hundred and twenty left lor clothing and other - expenses. And, io far, it has taken nearly three times that sum to meet your own demands. It has a bad look, Adrian." "I was wasteful and i-ell-indulgenl,'' said the young man, in a voice from which the confident tones had departed. "It will scarcely cost Rosa and me lor clothing one-half of what I expend." "Say one-hall, and your income will not reach the demand. What wa3 your tailor's bill last year I" "One hundred and sixty dollars." "Say two hundred, including boots, hats, etc." "Yes." "You could hardly get this below a hundred and filt v." ''Perhaps not." The voung man'? voice was glowing husky. "That will leave seventy dollars for your' *il.e's clothing, and nothing for pleasure, recre ation,little luxuries, unanticipated but unavoid able expenses. And if it be so with you two 'n good health, what will be the condition of things in sickness and with children to support and educate. Adrian, my young friend, there '•debt,embarrassment, disappointment and mis arable life upon you. Pause and retrace your •Hps before it is too late. If you love Rosa, •pate her from this impending fate. Leave her "t her pleasant home, or to grace that of a man better able than you are to provide her with the , ♦aternal blessings ol life. You cannot marry °a a thousand dollars a year, and it is folly to ol it." "We could get board for ten dollars a week," j said Adrian. "That would scarcely help the business at all. At best, it would only make a diflerence in the amount of your indebtedness at '.he close of *ach year. It is folly for you to think of it, i m y young friend. You cannot afford to marry." "It has a c'aik look, but there is no holding "p now," replied Adiian, in a gloomy way. "We Jiave mutually pledged each other, and 'be day of our mariiage has been appointed." "1 am sorry for you," said the lriend, a bach- Mir of forty, who, on an income of fifteen nttn drd dollars a year, could see uo possible chance | lor a happy marriage in the ci'y of New Yoik, ! ami preferred celibacy to the embarrassments i which he saw hundreds of friends encounter in ; their attempts to live in style out of all propor ; lion to their resources. "I am sorry for you," | he repeated ; "jut if you will bend your neck | to the yoke, you must not complain of the bur ! den you will find yourself compelled to bear." Strange as it may appear, the young chrk, | Henry Adrian, had never before looked this . matter of income, expenditure, and style of liv ; ing, fair in the front. The actual asp.ct of the | rase, when clearly seen, threw his mind into a 1 state of troubled bewilderment. He went over ' and over again the calculations suggested by Mr. Blair, a book-keeper in the establishment I where lie was employed, cutting off a little lr.im one proposed expenditure and another, but ; not being able to get the cost of living down.to [ the range ot his salary, except when the style • war so far below (hat in which his wife must i move, that he turned half sick from its contem plation. The more steadily lie looked at the ■ truth, the more heavily came the pressure nl its stony weight upon Ins heart ; to go forward was little less than madness, and yet how could he hold back now ? "Rosa sat alone, reading, .in one ol her un cle's parlors, waiting lor her lover. He was later than usual, so late that the book began to lose its interest, and at last lay closed upon her lap; while a shade fell over her expecta-t face. A single glance at Rosa's countenance revealed the fact that she was a girl ol some character. There was iio soft voluptuous lan guor about her, but an erectness of position as she sat : and a firmness of tone in all her l-a lures that indicated an active mind .and self-re liance. An hour later than usual Adrian came. "Are you sick, Henry?" asked Rosa as she took his hand, fixing Iter eyes on his sober lace. "Not sick, but troubled in mind," he replied without evasion. "Why are you troubled, Henry ?" And Ro sa drew an arm tenderly around her lover. "Sd down, and I will tell you. The trouble concerns us both, Rosa." The young girl's lace grew pale. They sat down close together, holding each olhei's hand. But in Adrian's countenance there was a reso. lute expression, such a= we see on the counte nance of a man who had settled a question of difficult solution. "The day fixed for our marriage is only two months distant," he said. The tone in which he spoke chilled the Ireart of fieer. She did not answer but kept her gaz- upon his lace. "Rosa we must re-consider this mailer. We have anted without forethought." Her face became paler, her lip? fell apart, her eyes had a frightened expression. "I love you, Rosa, tendeily, truly. My heart is not turning lioinyou. I would hasten, rather than relard, the day of our marriage. But there are considerations beyond lhat day, which have piesenled themselves, and demand sob< r consideiation. In a word, Rosa, I cannot afford to rnariy. My income will not justify the step." The frightened look went out of Rosa's eyes •'lt was wrong in ine ever to have sought your love." Her hand tightened on his, and she sank close to his side. "I%m a clerk, with only a thousand dollars of income, ami ]do not see much beyond to hope for. Rosa, the furniture of these parlors ! cost twice the amount of my salary. The rent ol the house in which you now live, is equal to : what I receive in a year. 1 cannot lake you ' from all this elegance into a third class boarding ■ house, ihe best my means will provide. No, ' no, Rosa, it would be unjust, selfish, wrong, ' cruel. How blind in me ever to have thought of so degrading the one I love !" The young man was strongly agitated, j "And is tlfls all that tiouh'es you, Henry?" "Is it not enough ? Can I look at the two al ternatives that present themselves, and not grow heart-sick ? II we separate, each taking.differ- I ent ways in life—oh, Rosa, I am not strong e | nnngh to choose that alternative!" And Iris form trembled under the pressure of excitement. "You love me, Heiuy ?" Tlie voice ol Rosa was calm, yet burdened with feeling. "As my own life, darling ! Have I not said ' so a hundred times T' "And even as my life do I love you, Henry!" For.several moments her lace lay hidden in : his bosom. Then, tilling it, Rosa said: •■I am glad you have spoken ori this subject, Henry. I could not approach it myself, but now that we have it before us let it he well con sidered. Your income is one thousand dollars?" "Yes." "A sum large enough to supply all the real wants of two persons who have independence enough not to be enslaved by a mere love of appearance." "Why,darling, it will require more than half ol my salary to pay 10.- respeciable boarding." "Taking it fur granted that, after our mar riage, I am to sit down in a boarding house with hands lolded arm idle, dependent on your labor. But I shall not so construe my relation to my husband. I will be a helpmate for him. I will stand.by his side ; sharing life's burdens." "All that is in your heart, darlir.g, T know," said Adrian. "But we are hedged around by social forms that act as a hindrance. You can not help me. Society will demand of us a cer tain style of living, and we must conform to it or'be pushed aside from all ciiclea of refine ment, tasie and intelligence. I cannot accept this ostracism for you, Rosa. It is not right." "As if a false, heartless world were more to me ihan a till", loving husband. Henrv, the central point of social happiness is home; as Ihe home is, so will our lives be—rather let mo say, as we Bre, so will our homes he—centres ol gloom or brightness, nod what others may think of us is reallv of little account in making up the rum of our enjoyment as we pass through life, but what we are in ourselves is everything. Freedom of Thought and Opinion. - BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 7,1862. We must be the centres of our own world ol happiness, or our lives will be incomplete. Can a tine establishment like this, in which I live in weak dependence, fill the measure.of my de sires ? Cap it bring.peace and contentment ? So, no, Henry. The humblest apartment shared with you would be a palace to my soul, iniew I I am not speaking with the romantic enthusi asm ol an ardent girl, but sobeily, truthfully, Henry. No, dearest, we will not make our lives miserable by living apart, because we can not make a line appearance in other people's eyes. God has given love lor each other and the means'of happiness if we will use them L-d us lake his good drifts in thankfulness You have an income ol one thousand dollars. We must not expect to live as those of two, or three, or four thousand dollars a year. Be that loily lar from us, Henry. lam equal to the sell denial it will require, il Ihe word 'sell-denial' is lo be used. Ar" V"U not, also ? Oh, Henry! is there any joy to be imagined heyond that which flows from the conjunction ol two loving hearts? and shall pride and a weak spiiit ol so- I cul conformity come in to rob us 11 our bles sings ?" The young mm had come sternly resolved to put off the day of iniiriage. He jrarted from his betiollied that night looking Inward with golden-hued hopes tor its arrival. They lud talked over (he future, practically and sensibly. The lover's fond pride, which had looked to a lair social appearance lor his young wile, gave place to a better view of things. He saw his love had fixed itself upon s true woman, and lhat the sphere in which their let was cast all attainable happinss was in store lor Ihein, if they would hut open their hearts in an orderly way tor its reception. One thing said to hi.n by Rosa in that evening's talk we repeat, for the sike ol young wives or maidens on the eve of mariiage: "Be mine, dear Henry," said she, "the task ol ordering and regulaiiug our domestic atfiiis in cjiiformi'y to your means. I will give all thought to lhat. Y ollr income is fixed, and I shall exactly know the range of expenditures we must adopt. Do not fear debt and embar rassment. These wretched forms shall never er.tor your home while I stand sentinel at the door. If the husband gives Ins life and care to work, shall n .'t the wife do the same ? It he provides to the best ot Ins ability, shall she not dispense with wise frugality his earnings? She thai fails to do this, is nut worthy of her po.-itioo. "And so ynu are bent on 11.13 lollv," runt bachelor civile, on the day preceding that on which Adrian was to be married. "Y-'S, if you choose to call it folly," was the answer. "Whore are you going, to Saratoga ?" "We shall go nowhere." "What! Will you not make a bridal tour ?" "No. Aclok\ ho only receives a salary rd one thousand dollafe can't allord to spend u in making a biidal tour." .Mr. Blair shrugged his shoulders, an! arched his I'Vebrows, as much as to -ay, il I couldn't afford to make a bridal tour, I'd not many. , On the day alter Adrian's wedding, he was at In- usual place in the counting roonf. lie received from his fellow del ks a few feeble con gratulations, and most ol them thought huu a lord, to burden himself will) aw ife nut vvoiih a dollar. "When I marry, I'll heller my condition— not make it worse," was the unspoken thought of mure than one. "Where are you boarding?" asked Mr. Blait indifferently, two or three weeks after Adrian's marriage. "Nowhere," was the reply, "we are at house keeping." "What i" "At housekeeping." "What is your rent ?" "Two hundred dillars, and a half of that my good little wile is to pay in music lessons to our landlord's daughters. We have two pleasant rooms in a third story, I furnished these with tile money it would have taken for the bridal lour. Ro-a has the use of the kitchen, and in ! sisls on doing h*-r own cooking and house work for the ptesenf. I demurred, aod d i demur, but she says that "wnik is wors ip," il per formed conscientiously and c ulilnlly, as she is peif uming it. And with this we are very hap py, Mr. Blair, as you shall witness. To-mor row you must go borne with me, take tea, and spend the vTening." Mr. Blair accepted the invitation. He had met Rosa occasionally before tier marriage, and knew her to be a bright, accomplished yuting woman, fitted to m >ve in refined and intelli gent circles ; and he felt some curiosity to sec her in the new position of mistress and maid to l.er own household. The Third Avenue cars bore the two men a long distance from the city's throbbing heart, to the more quiet exteriors, wheie tliey alighted, and after a shod walk, entered a modest looking house with Well at tended shrubbery in a liiile front garden. To, the third story they ascended, and there the ] young wife met them. Not blushing 1 and with slammering apologies tor their poor home, but with such ease and sweet self-possession, and such loving smiles about her lips that Mr. Blair found himself tiansferred to an earthly paradise. As soon 39 time came for observation, ho took note of what was around him. The furniture of the room into which he had been ushered, could scarcely have been pla'ner. In the centre stood a small breakfast table, cov- ; ered with a snowy cloth and set for three per sons. Four cane-seat chairs, a work stand, a hanging shelf for books, and a mantel ornament or two, of no special value, an ingrain carpet on lli Hour, and plain white curtains, looped back with blue ribbons, made up the complete inventory, for there was a piano agaii -I the wall, the dark case and plan style of which' showed it to be no recent purchase. The in- I strumpet had been R >sa's as theobseivant visi tor correctly inferred. Alter a pleasant talk of some minutes Rosa j left the room, and not long after returned, bear ing a tiayon which were lea, tout, butler, bit c.uit, told tongue and sweetmeats. There was a beautiful glow on her lace as she entered, but nothing of shame or hint pride. With her own lair hands she arrang-d the table, and then took her plaie at the head to serve her husband and his fnend. The heart of Mr. Biair glowed and stirred with a new impulse as tie looked into ilie pure, sweet, happy face of the young wife, as she poured out the tea and served the meal which she had prepared. A Iter supper Rosa removed the things, and was absent nearly half an hour. She [.lurried through her chamber, which adjoined their Jit ile parlor, lueakUst and silling room, all in one, with just the slightest change in her atlire, and looking as fresh,' happv and beautiful as il en tering a drawing loom lull ol company. The evening passed in reading and pleasant conver sali in. As Mr. Blair wa* about retiring, Adrian raid: 'Do you think now thai we were tools to marry?' Rosa stood with her hands dra*n within the arm ol her husband and clawed, wah a lace radiantly happy. A shade cre,it over Mr. Blair's tountenance. "Not lools, but wise as others might be if thev were courageous enough to do as you have done, Mrs. Adrian j" and Ire loot, the young wite's hand. "1 honor your bravery, your indepen ilence, your true lore that was not overshad owed by worldliness, that mildew of the heart, that hlight on our social itl'e. You are a thou sand times happier in your brautiful seclusion than anv lashion-loving wife, or slave to exter nal appearance, cm over be." " 1 love my husband, ami I live for him." Uosa leam-d ci ts- 'o the manly lorrn by her side. '■l understood, when we were married, that he was a lite toiler; that our horn • was to be es t-ibtished and sustained by the work of his hands, and J undersiood, as well, that I was not hi 3 superior, but ouly his equal, and that il it was right and honorable for trim to wmk, it would be no less light and honorable tor me. Was 1 to sit idle, aud have a servant to wait on me when his was a lot of toil 1 No, no, no! f had my | art to perform as well as he, and I am per forming ii to the best of my ability." "You are a true woman, a wise woman, a good woman," said Mr. Blair, with ardor, "and you will be us happy as you deserve to be. 1 thought Harry a tool to marry on a thousand an I told him so. But I take back my if jijt.li wuiiiru us yuu WfrTf |'tr)t ifll! we could all marry, and find our salaries ample. Goo J night, and may G! bhss cu," And I tie bai In lor clei k, who could not afford to marry on fifteen hundred a year, went to his lonely home—bmele, though peopled thickly and, sitting down in his desolate chamber, dreamed ol the sweet picture of domestic feli city he bad seen, and sighed fo> a sweet hiding place irom the uoi Id, and all its false profes sions ami heartless show. £!) c 0 cl) oolma st c r 2br a a it. EDITED BY 8ttI0!f SYWTAX, ESQ, A VOiCS FROM JJMIATA. Juniata County has lately had her teachers in educational corn ention ass"mbled. A svn optia ol the la bor of "nine sessions" ha' been published to tlie world; we have perused it, and as a literary production, and an exposition of the status- of the public enlighteners of that pait of our Commonwealth, it is decidedly refreshing. In ord- r that our readers in general, and the teachers of this county in particular, may have an opportunity of judging of the merits of the labors of that body, we will give a poll ion of them in homeopathic doses, protesting, how ever, against the reporter's method of spelling some words, which is not in accordance wuh any standard of orlhojraphy that we wot of. "The procerdintj cl the Juniata County teachers association" informs us that ' the house was railed to order by J. 11. Poller, ex officio ' ami an "executive committee" was appointed, which "repotted the following items, for the njternoon session, viz:—orthography and syn tax." It appears they did'r.t follow (hat pro gram, lot the r.< xt item is—"A Wilt lectured on oilliography," and the next ('Mr. Caen? lectured on syntax, also, parsed and analized sentences." V\ e wonder wlielhei the re|>orter ' heaid Mr. Ws lecture, or Mr. 0. "analize." We rather think not, tor the next item is thus introduced—"The following evening's subject foi discussion, viz:. —Are all men of equal men tal abilities?" (!) After being discussed "the, subject was laid on the table." That was the pioper [dace for it. Thus end? "session Ist." In "session 3d" we are informed that "the subject laid on the table at a former session was then resumed." How this could be done without a reconsider ation of the former motion, we are at a loss to khow. Whose "rules ol Older" do you observe, gentlemen? But we will not quibble about rule?, for the impoitant subject ol "mental a bilities" is again before the concentrated wisdom of Juniata county: and, "on motion of Mr- Zim merman, the subject was amended a9 follows: Would all men be of equal mental abilities, if physical causes were removi d?"(! I) Most pro found question! and on-.' that indicates I lie wis dom of the age. A half century ago no one wouid have bv-ached so <h'. p, so philosophical ami so metaphyseal a ques-icm, yet to-ilay we are tdu that it "was 06,'j discussed" by the common schcml teachers of the aforesaid couo ly. No doubt of it. Why d:d"'i they de cide it, too? "The more's the pity." Query —Could "mental abilities" exist il "physical causes" were removed? The ladies, it seems, took an active pait; for we are told that one read an essay "in clear and graceful manner,'' and another had a production ''on the present age, which was well composed and gracefully read." Judging Irom the flattering terms in which he al'udes to their perlormances, we are decidedly ol the opinion that the reporter is an unmairied man. Among others the following was discussed: "Whether does the primary or advanced school, require the most talent, tact and labor?" We like that wording very much. Nothing ol importance 6eems to have trans pired for several sessions, save that some one "was appointed a committee," fo escort som one else "from the rail-road station to town." Then "on motion, the following resolutions was received and adopted." "WHCKCAS, a certain practice prevails in some districts of this county of employing teach ers from other counims; who manifest no inter- I est in the cause of education, and neglect to at tend either District Institutes or County Asso ciations. Thereiore Resolved, that we hold all such men as un worthy of the character and confidence of the teachers, and hope that Boards of Directors will cease to give employment to such impos tors." All of which we respectfully submit to some "foreigners" in this county. The commiitee on resolutions prefaced and illuminated their work thus:—"Whereas, the I great nd important cause of education is pow erfully augmented by the proper exertions of those who are engaged as teachers, 4*c. That is lucid and to the point. We want the "cause' increased, and the "effects" will be naturally grea'er. But the most prominent feature in the whole "proceeding," is the self-laudation which stands out in bold relief in every paragraph. No one read an essay but it was very "interesting," and pei formed in a " clear and graceful man ner;" no one delivered a lecture but in an "able and interesting manner," all the impressions \ou inav have received to the coriliary mt wi'hstanding; and it we take the reporter's word otilv, they must have had a very "inter esting" time, indeed. We do piui-st against the practice which prevails in some sections, of every teachers' in stitute "trumpeting" its own fame. If there is any virtue in such associations, and it their perll.rmances merit any applause, let the world say so. Though you will have to wail some t'me for the verdict, yet it will coine, and in youi tutor, too, if jou deserve it. So long as tin-proceedings of such conventions aie just subjects for common-place remarks and deri sive criticism, just so long there is no manner ol use in talking about raising the standard ol ihe profession. The profession will rise and seek its level just in proportion as its m*mbeis will endeavor to attain that moral and iniel leclua! dignity that should characteiize them. We have yet to see the rule that mak'S it incumbent upon the Secretary of teachers' as sociations to act as chief applauder and general critic ol its exercis-s. ]l is not in the pro gram. It is an absurd practice whichNs dele terious to. and noi at all calculated to enhance I the inteiests of the teachers' calling. 01 this our Juniata hiethren seem to be ignoiant. On the who!-, we think the importation of some foreign "impo'tois" would "powerfully aug ment the cruse" in that county,—provided tin y could be coerced into attending the "Insti tutes," S. S. AN EXCELLENT BLACKBOARD. We are indebted to Prof. J. W. Dickerson for the follow ing invaluable recipe far pre paring blackboaid surface; and, at Ins request, we publish it. School Directors, contempla ting the erection of new school houses, or re modeling old oner, will find it the cheapest and most durable suiface than can be made. A good and cheap blackboard surface has long been the goat want in schools of every grade. The following recipe will, it is thought, more fully supply that want than any heretofore in use. It is the result of much careful experiment, attended invariably with satisfactory iesulis. AII the blackboards in the Millersville Slate Normal School am made from this recipe. For twenty rquare yards of surface. 4 pks of white finish, or white coating, 4 " clean, fine, sharp sand 4 " Ground plaster, 4 lb3. Lamp-black, 4 gale. Alcahol or pure whiskey. Mix well together; small auantity at a time. Put the black coat on instead of the white coat of plaster. An old surface should be moistened before applying this mixture. ime care is imces-ary in making and put ting on this mixture but when well made and well put on it n a most excellent, durable and cheap blackboard. Cut out this recipe and preserve it. WHOLE NUMBER, 3091. VOL. 5. NO. 27. REMARKS UP MR- HOPKINS. op WASHIMGTO.N, : On the resolutions for the appointment of a | Committee to investigate alleged coriuption. Mr. SrKAKr.r. I confess lo some surprise at the opposition ihat lias been made to this resoiu ■ tion, as well as at the lange the discussion ujion !it lias taken. When 1 had the honor'of submit ling it lo the House on Friday last, I supposed as a matter ot course, it would be allowed to pass without objection, but in this I have been I disappointed. Now, sir, what is this lesolution, and what does it propose to do? The answer to this interrogatory is in the preamble. It affirms Ihat it has been alleged, and is believed hv many ol the citizen? ol the Commonwealth that im proper influences were, used in procuring the passage otan act of the last aes-ion, entitled '•An Att lor the commutation ofthe Tonnage duties."' Sir, is this true? It i r ue, I siv, that these allegations are believed? Itsn, then I sub mit, whether it is not, in the language of the preamble, "due alike to the parties implicated, and the public at large, that an investigation j should be had, in order that truth map be vin dicated, and justice done lo all." Well Mr. Speaker, who doubts that this belief prevails tg a very considerable extent throughout the State.' I do not suppose that there can be a man lound any where, who reads the papers, that does not know that these allegations have spread broad cast over the county lor months, and that an im pression has thereby been made on the public mind that can only l,e removed by an investi gation, and acquittal, by an impartial committee. But the gentleman from Philadelphia (Mr. Dennis) does not think that ll.e House possesses the [tower to investigate the acts of the Legis lature ol 1861- That body the gentleman tells us, is dead to all intents and put poses. Sir,has it | come to this? Have we really descended so low in the scale of decay thai bribery and cor ruption may run riot in our Legislative Halls', and subsequent Legislatures posses no power to investigate the allegations of fraud, however gross they may have been. That legislators may be bought and old like cattle in the mar ket.—ln a word, Ihat the whole revenues of the Commonwealth may be bartered away for the personal aggrandiz-ment of faithless, corrupt representatives, and the people have no redress, because, forsooth, the Huuse has no power to inquire into-the acts of its predecessors. Sir—this cannot be. If such a monstrous | doctrine can be sustained, then I ask the. gen* I tleman fioni Philadelphia—what have we left of nur Government worth contending for? Noth ing sir, absolutely nothing. Wicked and un just ifiible as is the present rebellion, which is attempting loover'hrow ihe Government, what will we have gained when it shall have been cicshed out, (which I trust in God may be speedily done,)if it be conceded that there is ; not sufficient vitality in the Government lo via licite its If ags'ivt the acts ol venal 1 men? Rut, Mr. Speaker, ] subscribe to no such ; a humiliating heresy. I maintain that it is a living, vital principle, possessing all the essen -1 tial elements of sejf-pres> nation, including, 1 0l course, tile inherent power to investigate fraud, whrever f uind lo exist, and although i 1 he 4 'body" may be ' Head to all intents and pur- I [loses," yet the individual niemher* who rmnpo* red the body may "still live," and may be tiied and, if found guilty ol inisdemean >re, may be punished. This, sir, is the only rational theo ry in well-organized society. But thegentle ; man (rorn Philadelphia urges another olj-ctioq ■to this resolution " asks, with apparent sin | ceiity, " Who are the people demanding this [scrutiny ?"„ The gentleman Irom Alleghany (Mr. Williams) lias answered this question ! most triumphantly. He lias pointed lo the I verdict at the ballot box, where Ihe people 1 spoke i. ilb an emphasis that cannot he 11 iron i deistood, and which may not b.- disregarded. Sir—cast vour eyes over this Hall and see how many there are who occupy seats on this ! Iloor, who voted for the repeal of the tonnage ; tax ' Ymi will find that, with the exception of Philadelphia, there is but a single man, (the gentleman lom Wairen.) ami yet, sir, in the lace of this unmiitakeable indication of the popular will, we are a-kvd, and that 100, iq lather a defiant tone, "Who are they that de mand this scrutiny ?" Another gentleman from Philad-lphia (Vfr. Abb -t) assails this resolution in another nu de. He thinks that "it is open to the suspicion hat it was prompted hv other motives than a desire to make an investigation." Waving, for the present, comments upon the exceeding good taste of the gentleman in making this allusion, I will reniaik Ihat I do not suppose that lite motives which prompted the resolution, what ever they may have been, will have much in fluence in making up Ihe judgment of Ihe House. I may simply observe, however, that were I disposed lo impugn motives, I might, perhaps, find as strong ground tor challenging the integrity of his, in opposing the resolutions as he has for suspecting mine for ottering it. But, this is not my mode of argument. I am alwais willing to concede to others the same integrity of purpose that I claim lor myself. The only other remark I have to make on this point is that I offered the resolution in good faith, with no other motive than to ascertain. Ihe truth or falsity of the charges, and if found to be true, then I hope (hat the investigation will be followed tip by such steps as will bring lo condign punishment every rascal, both in and out of the Legislature, who has, in any manner, been connected with Ihe nefarious business. It 1 this be done, may we not hope that ft will be Ihe means of driving from the Capital a diss of men, who have for years been prowling about our flails like a set of vultures, until legislation has become a reproach in Ihe estimation of all pure-minded men. ffhowever, it lurnsoutoa Ihe other hand, that these charges are enfoun circl, or cannot be sustained, then sir, f ivifl b# ! the first man to sign a verdict of acqrtjV*Jk* n(l , this, allow roe to add, would be + qjucbhßJfW lf
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