BY MEYERS & MENGEL.
PERMS OF PUBLICATION.
TH E BEOFORN G AZETTE is published every Thurs
i ,r morning by METERS A MSVSKI,, at $2.00 per
annum, if paid strictly m advance ; $2.50 if paid
within six months; $3.00 if not paid within six
months. AH subscription accounts MUST be
settled annually. No paper will be sent out of
the State unless paid for I* ADVANCE, and all such
übscriptions will invariably be discontinued at
the expiration of the time for which they are
aid.
All ADVERTISEMENTS for a less term than
three months TEN CENTS per line for each In
sertion. Special notices one-half additional All
resolutions of Associations; communications of
limited or individual interest, and notices of mar
riages and deaths exceeding five line?, ten cents
per line. Editorial notices fifteen cents per line.
AH legal Notices of every hud, and Orphans'
Court and Judicial Sales, are r quired by law
t be published in both papers published in this
place.
All advertising due after first insertion.
A liberal discount is made to persons advertising
by the quarter, half year, or year, as follows:
3 months. 6 months. I year.
•One square - - - $4 50 $6 90 $lO 00
Two squares - t5 00 900 16 00
Three squares - - - 8 00 12 00 20 00
Quarter column - - 14 (JO 20 00 35 00
Half column - - - 18 00 25 00 45 00
One column - - - - 30 00 45 00 80 00
•One square to occupy one inch of space
JOB PRINTING, of every kind, done with
neatness and dispatch. THE GAZETTE OFFICE has
just been refitted with a Power Press *nd new type,
and everything in the Printing line can he execu
ted in the most artistic manner and at the lowest
rates —TERMS CASH.
letters should be addressd to
MEYERS A MENGEL,
Publishers.
printing.
mll 1: B E DFOR D G A ZKTT I:
POWER Pk ESS
PRINT IN G EST A B LIS lIM ENT,
BEDFORD, PA.
MEYERS & MENGEL
PROPRIETORS.
Having recently made additional im
provements t< our office, we are pre
pared to execute all orders for
PLAIN AND FANCY'
JO B PHINTING,
With dispatch and in the most
SUPERIOR STYLE.
CIRCULARS, LETTER HEADS, BILL
HEADS, CHECKS, CERTIFICATES,
BLANKS. DEEDS, REGISTERS, RE
CEIPTS, CARDS, HEADINGS, ENVEL
OPES, SHOWBILLS, HANDBILLS, IN
VITA TIONS, LA B ELS JR. i\c.
Our facilities for printing
POSTERS, PROGRAMMES, Ac.,
FOR
CONCERTS AND EXHIBITIONS,
ARE UNSURPASSED.
"PUBLIC SALE" BILLS
Printed at short notice.
We can insure complete satisfaction
as to time and price
rjMIE INQUIRER
BOOK S T O R E,
opposite the Mengel llouse,
BEDFORD, FA.
The proprietor takes pleasure in offering to the
public the following articles belonging to the
Book Business, at CITY RETAIL PRICKS :
MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS.
N O V E L S.
BIBLES, lIYMN BOOKS, AC.:
Large Family Bibles,
Small Bibles,
Medium Bibles,
Lutheran Hymn Books,
Methodist Hymn Books,
Smith's Dictionary of the Bible.
History of the Books of the Bible,
Pilgrim's Progress, Ac.. Ac., Ac.
Episcopal Prayer Hooks,
Presbyterian Hymn Books,
SCHOOL BOOKS.
TOY BOOKS.
STATIONERY,
Congress,
Record, Foolscap,
Letter, Congress Letter,
Sermon, Commercial Note,
Ladies' Gilt, Ladies' Octavo,
Mourning. French Note,
Bath Post, Damask Laid Note,
Cream Laid Note, Envelopes, Ac.
WALL PAPER.
Several Hundred Different Figures, the Largest
lot ever Wrought to Bedford county, for
sale at prices CHEAPER THAN
EVER SOLD in Bedford.
BLANK BOOKS.
Day Books. Ledgers,
Account Books, Cash Books.
Pocket Ledgers, Time Books,
Tuck Memorandums, Pass Books,
Money Books, Pocket Books,
Blank Judgment Notes, drafts, receipts, Ac
INKS AND INKSTANDS.
Barometer Inkstands,
Uutta Pereha,
Cocoa, and
Morocco Spring Pocket Inkstand?,
Glass and Ordinary Stands for Schools,
Flat Glass Tnk Wells and Rack,
Arnold's Writing Fluids,
Hover's Inks,
Carmine Inks. Purple Inks,
Charlton's Inks,
Eukolon tor pasting, Ac.
PENS AND PENCILS.
Gillot's, Cohen's,
Hollow bush A Carey's, Payson,
Dunton, and Seribncr's Pens,
Clark's ludellible, Faber's Tablet,
Cohen's Eagle,
Office, Fab-r'g
Guttkneeht's, Carpenter's Pencils.
PERIODICALS.
Atlantic Monthly,
Harper's Magazine,
•Madame Demorest's Mirror of Fashions,
Elevtic Magazine,
Godey's Lady's Book,
Galaxy.
Lady's Friend,
Ladies' Repository,
Our Y'oung Folks,
>ick Nax.
Yankee Notions,
Budget of Fun.
Jolly Joker,
Phunny Phellow.
Lippinc- M'S Magazine,
Rivei... j Magazine,
Waverly Magazine,
Ballou's Magazine,
Gardner's Monthly.
Harper's Weekly,
Frank Leslie's Illustrated,
Chimney Corner,
New York Ledger,
New Y'ork Weekly,
Harper's Bazar,
Every Saturday,
Living Age,
Putnam's Monthly Magazine,
Arthur's Home Magazine,
Oliver Optic's Boys and Girl's Magazine Ac.
Constantly on hand to accomodate those who want
to purchase living reading uiatttor.
Only a part of the vast number of articles per
taining to the Book and Stationery business,
which we are prepared to sell cheaper than the
• heapest, are above enumerated Give us a call
We buy and sell for CASH, and by this arrange
ment we expect to sell as cheap as goods of this
etass arc sold anywhere
na>2 -9
LECT R I 0
j TELEGRAPH IN CHINA.
THE EAST INDIA TELEGRAPH COMPANY 'S
OFFICE,
Nos. 23 & 25 Nassau Street,
NEW YORK.
Organized under special charter from the State
of New York.
CAPITAL $5,000,000
50,000 SHARES, $lOO EACH.
D I II E C T O It S.
Ho*. ANDREW G. CURTIN, Philadelphia.
PAI L S. FORBES, of Russell A Co., China.
FREI). BUTTERFIELD, of F. Bu tterfleld A C
New York.
ISAAC LIVERMORE, Treasurer Michigan Con
tral Railroad, Boston.
ALEXANDER HOLLAND, Treasurer American
Express Company, New York.
Hon. JAMES NOXON, Syracuse, N. Y.
O. 11. PALMER, Treasurer Western Union Tele
graph Company, New Y'ork.
FLETCHER WESTRAY, of Westray, Gibbs A
Ilardcastle, New Y'ork.
NICHOLAS MICKLES, New Y'ork.
OFFICE rts.
A. G. CURTIN, President.
N. MICKLES, Vice President.
GEORGE ELLIS (Cashier National Bank Com
monwealth,) Treasurer.
HON. A K. McCLURE, Philadelphia, Solicitor.
The Chinese Government having (through the
Hon. Anson Burlingame) conceded to this Com
pany the privilege of connecting the great sea
ports of the Empire by submarine electric tele
graph cable, we propose commencing operations
in China, and laying down a line of nine hundred
miles at once, between the following ports, viz :
Population.
Canton 1,000,000
Macoa 60,000
Hong-Kong 250,000
Swatow 200,000
Amoy 250,000
Foo-Chow 1.250,000
Wan-Chu 200.000
Ningpo 400.000
Hang Chcan 1,200,000
Shanghai 1,000,000
Total 5,910,000
These ports have a foreign commerce of $900,-
000.000. and an enormous domestic trade, besides
which we have the immense internal commerce of
the Empire, radiating froin these points, through
it? canals and navigabte rivers.
The cable being laid, this company proposes
erecting land lines, and establishing a speedy and
trustworthy means of communication, which must
command there, as everywhere else, the commu
nications of the Government, of business, and of
social life especially in China. She has no postal
system, and her only means nowof commuuicating
information is by couriers on land, and by steam
ers on water.
The Western World knows that China is a very
large country, in the main densely peopled; but
few yet realize that she contains more than a third
of the human race. The latest returns made to
her central authorities for taxing purposes by the
local magi -orate make her population Four hun
dred and Fourteen millions , and this is more
likely to he uDder than over the actual aggregate.
Nearly all of these, who are over ten years old,
not only can but do read and write. Her civili
zation is peculiar, but her literature is as exten
sive as that of Eurepe. China is a land of teach
ers and traders; and the latter are exceedingly
quick to avail themselves of every proftered facili
ty for procuring early information. It is observed
in California that the Chinese make great use of
the telegraph, though it there transmits messages
in English alone. To-day great numbers of fleet
steamers are owned by Chinese merchants, and
used by them exclusively for the transmission of
early intelligence. If the telegraph we propose
connecting all their great seaports, were now tn
existence, it is believed that its business would
pay the cost within the first two years of its suc
cessful operation, and would steadily increase
thereafter
No enterprise commends itself as in a greater
degree renumcrative to capitalists, and to our
whole people. It is of va:t national importance
commercially, politically and evangelically.
stock of this Company has been un
qualifiedly recommended to capitalists and busi
ness men, as a desirable investment by editorial
articles in the New Y'ork He raid, Tribune,
World, Times, Post, Express, Independent, and
in the Philadelphia North Ameriran, Press,
Ledger, Inquirer, Age, Bulletin and Telegraph.
Shares of this company, to a limited number,
may be obtained at $5O each, $lO payable down,
$l5 on the Ist of November, and $25 payable in
mon'bly instalments of $2.50 each, commencing
December I, 1868, on application to
I) HEX EL & CO.,
34 South Third Street,
PHILADELPHIA.
Shares can be obtained in Bedford by applica
tion to Reed A Schell, Bankers, who are author
ized to receive subscriptions, and can give all ne
cessary information on the subject. sept2syl
\V E combine style with neatness of fit.
And moderate prices with the best workmanship
JONES' ONE PRICE CLOTHING HOUSE
604 MARKET STREET,
GEO W. NIEMANN. PHILADELPHIA.
[aepll,'6B,yl ] <
riMIK BEST PLACE TO BUY
4 choice bands of chewing Tobaccos and Ci
gars, at wholesale or retail, is at Oster'a. Good
natural leaf Tobaccos at 75 cents. Try our 5 ccnl
Yara and llavanua cigars— they cant £• heat,
anellaaJ.
BEDFORD, PA., THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 16, 1869.
sni-60ofl$i, &(.
MEW GOODS JUST RECEIVED
i> AT J. M. SHOEMAKER'S BARGAIN
STORE.
NEW GOODS just Received ot J.
M. Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
NEW GOODS .jlist Received at J.
M. Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
NEW GOODS Just Received at J.
M. Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
NEW GOODS just Received at J.
M. Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
NEW GOODS just Received at J.
M Shoemaker's Bargain Sti.re.
BUY your Dry Goods, Groceries,
Clothing. Hats, Boots and Shoes, Queensware,
Fish, Notions. Leather. Tobacco, Ac., at J. M.
Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
BUY your Dry Goods, Groceries,
Clothing, Hats. Boots and Shoes Queensware,
Leather. Fish, Motions, Tobacco, Ac., at J. M.
Shoemaker's Bargain Store
BUY your Dry Goods, Groceries,
Clothing, Hats, Boots and Shoes, Queensware,
Notions. Leather, Tobacco, Fish, Ac., at J. M.
Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
BUY your Dry Goods, Groceries,
Clothing, Hats, Boots and Shoes, Queensware,
Notione, Leather, Tobacco, Fish, Ac., at J. M.
Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
BUY your Dry Goods, ' Iroeeries,
Clothing. Hats, Boots* and Shoes, ' picensware,
Notions, Leather, Tobacco, Fish, Ac., at J. M.
Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
BUY your Dry Goods, Groceries,
Clothing, ilats, Boots and Shoes, Queenswure.
Notions. Leather, Tobacco, Fii'h. Ac., at J. M.
Shoemaker's Bargain Store.
Bedford, Pa., June 11. 1869.
/ i It. OSTER & CO.
U.
READ AND SPEAK OF IT I
COME SEE AND BE CONVINCED
We are now receiving our usual extensive nd
well assorted STOCK OF NEW AND
CHEAP 5U3131 Elt GO O JS,
And are now prepared to offer SMASHING BIG
BARGAINS TO
*
CASH BUY E It >S ,
In Staple and Fancy Dry Good-, Nutio ?, (\i r-
P'ts, Oil Cloths, Cotton Yum t, Carpet
Chains, Huts, Boots, Shoes,
Clothing, Brooms, Haslets,
Wall autl Window
Papers, Groceries, tjaeens
rri re. Toharros, Cigars. Fish, Salt, r.
II e. invite everybody to rati anil .see for them
selves. NO TRUBLE TO SHOW GOODS.
T E R 31 S CASH.
BHISO ALONG vol" II CASH and we will guarantee
to SELL you Goods as CHEAP as the Same styles
and qualities can he sold in Central Pennsylva
nia.
Be assured that CASH in hand is a •wonderfully
winning argument, and that those who net and
SELL for CASU are always masters of the situation.
junelSm3 G. R. OSTER A CO
13 M. FISHER AND RABIES,
g. Next Door to the Bedford Hotel.
GOO 1) NE\V S A T LAS T.
The Cheapest Goods ev'r brought to Hedjire '.
We will sell Goons CHEAPER, by 15 to 25 -po. r
cent than ever sold in Bedford county.
The best CO FEE E at 25 cents, but the Jes£
we sell the better we are off.
The LADIES' HOSE, at 10 oents wo wifl not
have this time, hut come at us for li., 20 and 25
cents, and we will make you howl.
Y'ou will all be waited on by ELI and the BA
HIES , as the OLD ELI cannot do anything
himself A great variety of Parasols, Sunuiubrel
las, Pocket-hooks Ac. Linen Hanilkfs (Ladi3
and Gents) from 5 cents to 25 cents. CALICOES,
from 10, 12 and a few pieces at 15 cents. MUS
LINS. from 10 to 25 cents. \ ~A all know that WE
sell NOTIONS 100 per cent, cheaper than anybody
else All Wool Cassimeres, fromsocents toSI.IW.
All Wool Dress Goods, from 15 to 25 cents. Tick
ing, from 20 to 40 cents. Paper Collars, 10 cent S;
best, 25 cents per box 4 pair Men's Half Host,
for 25 cents. Clear Glass Tumblers, 60 cents A'
dozen, or 5 cents a peace. A great lot of Boots
and Shoes, to be sold cheap. Queens and Glass
ware, very low. Syrup, 80 cents and $1 00.
$1 30 for best as clear as honey, and thick as tar.
Bakers' Molasses, 50 oents per" gallon, or 15 cents
a quart. These Goods will "■positively" not be
sold unless for Cash or Produco. Come and see
us, it will not cost anything to see the Goods and
Babies. N. B. All these Goods were bought at
slaughtered prices in New York
E. M. FISHER A BABIES.
These Goods we sell so low, that wo cannot af
ford to sing (Auld Lang Syne )
All accounts must be settled by the middle of
July next, by cash or note, or they will bo left in
the hands of E. M. ALSIP, Esq., for collection.
junlBm3
NOTIOE. —I hereby give notice to
all persons not to harber or trust my wifo,
SARAH, on my account, as I will not be respon
sible for any debts she may contract — she having
left my bed and board without just cause or pro
vocation. ANDJTEW PQ3L'E.
Union tp. Aug 12 w3*
11 u
For the Gazette.
FOR EVERY STATE A STAR.
Air —"BONNIE BLUE FLAQ."
Come, sons of the old Keystone State,
And join the column strong.
That moves for Law and Liberty
Against the tyrants' wrong
We'll have no broken Union,boys,
No Poland in the South,
No Ireland ruled by iron hand,
No padlook on your mouth.
Hurrah I Hurrah ! for Liberty, hurrah I
Hurrah for oar Country's ting,
And on it every star !
Disuuionists may rant ami howl,
Zach Chandler rage and roar,
And Sumter in the Senate scowl,
And Nye his curses pour.
Our banner is the flag that bears
For every State a star;
And death to the Disunionist
Its symmetry would mar.
Hurrah I Hurrah! for Liberty, Ac.
Our Union's that of all the States—
From Maine to Oregon,
From Lake to Gulf, the sister hood
OfThirty-sev'n in One.
Oh" who would strike a single State
Fiutu out the glorious band '
Accursed be his traitor heart
And palsied be his hand !
Hurrah ' Hurrah ! for Liberty, Ac.
Ohwho would blot ft single star
From out that good old flag,
Or call it Grecly-liko, "a lie,
And "hate's polluted rag ''
The sacrificial blood that flowed
The Union to restore.
Appeals for that true flag that hears
For every State a star.
Hurrah ! Hurrah ' for Liberty, &e.
Speech of SenatorW, A.Wallace,
AT BELLEFONTE,
ISSUES OF THE FAKI'AICiN.
BELLEFONTE, PA., Aug. 24.
Senator Wallace, of Clearfield, spoke
this evening in the Court llouse here
to a large and enthusiastic meeting of
the Democracy. lie said:
At the threshold of Gubernatorial
campaign in a great State like ours, in
which the results are to be potential as
well without as within our borders, it
might seem appropriate to discuss the
grave questions in national politics
which present themselves on every
hand. The short-comings of a national
administration that assumed the reins
of power with flattering promises of
reform and good government; the fa
tuity of its official head in surround
ing himself with advisers without ex
perience and counselors without knowl
edge; their utter failure to create and
sustain a policy in our national affairs,
either foreign or internal; the broken
jiledges for retrenchment and economy;
the unsatisfactory condition of finan
cial affairs; the increased rates of in
terest ; the prostrated condition of all
kinds of business , and the onerous and
neverending weight of taxation, are
themes upon each of which the people
think and feel deeply, and to these we
might with profit devote our attention
in the pending canvass. But matters
of serious moment claim our attention
nearer home, and remembering that
our institutions are founded upon the
principles of local self-government,
and that the protection of our personal
rights and those lessor hut important
formsand privileges which aid in mak
ing up our form of government, is vit
al to its success as a whole, St becomes
otii duty to closely scan the condition
of afi*irs in our State government, and
to learß by calm scrutiny there wheth
er the agents we have employed in its
administration have been faithful to
their trust, and are worthy of a renew
al of our confidence. That a wide
spread sentiment of dissatisfaction ex
ists, nay more, that the prevailing
tone of the people and tie press of the
Commonwealth, is against the official
fealty and personal purity of the mass
of those why have made and* executed
our laws in the past three years, will
scarcely be disputed, Such a senti
ment could not exist unsupported by
facts, and it is our business to this can
vass to test its truth.
We broadly charge, that i:i every ele
ment of good government, in every es
sential feoture necessary to the protec
tion of the rights of the people, the ad
ministration of John W. Geary has
been a failure. He is the executive
head, and the policy dictated and the
ends obtained are equally chargeable
to his account, and he is justly respon
sible for the misdeeds of his subordi
nates and of those whose policy was
moulded at his dictation.
He is responsible that the expenses of
the State government are larger now
than during the war, and are increas
ing ; that the Treasury of the State is
managed in the interests of a corrupt
ring, and the money of the people used
to fasten new burdens upon them ; that
private legislation, to the detriment of
the public good, rapidly increases; 1
that monopolies are created and given
power to oppress the citizen in Ins bus
iness ; that the judiciary are attacked,
and the sanctity of the organic law
overridden for a price ; that legislative
borers and corrupt oflieials swarm a
round the seats of power, and fatten
on the body politic and the vast reve
nues that flow into the coffers of the
Commonwealth are diverted from their
legitimate .and constitutional purpose
in payment-of the State debt, and are
applied to the maintenance of a horde
of unnecessary hirelings about the log
isJative and executive departments of
the State government.
This is no fancy picture, but is the
portrayal of sober but startling reali
ties, and its truth will be demonstrated
by an investigation of the subject.
The expenses of the State govern
ment during the last three years of the
■war, under the administration of Gov
ernor Curtin, were as follows:
For ending Dt comber Ist, 18611, thoy
were $146,456; fo.r year ending Decem
ber Ist, 1861, were $600,021 j for
year ending December Ist, 1865, they
were $616,023.
For the three years since the war,
under the administration of Governor
Geary, they were: For the year ending
December Ist,
186 $668,909
186 802 878
1868 845,539
The expencses of 1868, is thus seen,
are 5245,518 greater than were those of
1864, one of the most expensive years
of the war.
All admit that during the war these
expenses would necessarily increase,
but can there he any reason why they
should be nearly fifty per cent, greater
now, when gold is 133, than they were
in 1864, when it was over 200.
The maladministration of the gov
ernment is the only reason that can in
truth be rendered for this frightful in
crease of expenditure.
The treasury ring is no myth, but is
a hideous reality, and only those who
have watched its operations and seen
its slimy fold again and again coiled
around men whose constituents elected
them as honest men ; only those who
have seen its uianipulationsof men and
its almost universal sucee. s in its move
ments, can justly appreciate the vicious
influence it exerts. The treasury ol
the State it regards as its inheritance,
and the money of the people as its leg
acy. To fid the Treasury and not pay
the deb;, to handle the deposits and
realize cent, percent, from their skill
ful manipulation, to redeem the loan
bearing five per cent, and replace it
with one bearing six, by an adroit ar
rangement with those in power, have
been some of its exploits in the last
throe years. Previous to 1867 the
mass of our debt paid an interest of but
five per cent., but under the shallow
pretext that it was over-due, the ring
enacted the law of Feb. 2d, 1867, by
which the Treasurer was authorized to
redeem the over-due five per cent, loans
and replace them with a loan bearing
six per cent. In this arrangement the
hand of Governor Geary is plainly
seen, for without his consent it could
not have been the law.
A loan of more than twenty-three
millions of dollars bearing interests at
the rate of five per cent, was transmut
ed by this operation, inioa six percent,
loan, and the amount of interest paya
ble by the people, in 1866, was $1,892,-
105, was increaced in 1867 to $2,257,-
033, or over $350,000 of an incrase in
the first year. In IS6S we paid $1,979,-
690 111 interests, or $87,000 more than
we paid in 1866. The expenses of
placing the new loan paid by the
State was nearly $90,000, making an
aggregate of over hal fa million of dol
lars paid since 1867 to enrich the treas
ury ring. All of this twenty-three mil
lions of six per cent, loan is yet to
mature and upon it this year and each
succeeding year until payment, $230,-
000 more of your money than before
was necessary,must be paid in interest.
These figures are from the official docu
ments, and the same documents
show that the State Treasurer had
in his hands, in 1867, an average
monthly balanceofover three and a half
millions of dollars, and in 1866, his
average monthly balance was over two
million three hundred thousand dollars.
With these princely revenues at their
command what could not the treasury
ring effect? Large fortunes flowed gent
ly into the laps of these shrewd finan
ciers and they controlled every ap
pointment to powerand place. No law
could be passed against their will and
their assistance in legislation was a
guaranty of success. No bili was ever
passed in which these men were inter
ested that was refused the signature of
the Governor, and he never initiated
a financial movement against their
will.
That corrupting and debasing influ
ences surround and pervade the at
mosphere of the State capital, scarce
needs proof. The closing hours of the
last session of the legislature wore full
proofs,of the wealth the power and the
corrupt purposes of the treasury ring,
and so vile and base have we become,
and so plainly was the power of money
in legislation proved, that the moral
sense of the people who hear me would
he shocked at the recital and the out
rageous character of the transaction
almost stamps it is a falsehood. Such
things could not be, had we a firm and
pure executive. The knowledge that
the calm and intelligent scrutiny of a
capable and honest Governor was to be
fastened upon their deeds, and that the
veto power would be exercised in hold
ing them and their purchased privileges j
up to the scorn and execration of an
outraged people, would go far to deter
these men from corrupting the weak
and purchasing the corrupt. The evil
is a terrible reality. It confronts us in
high places and it saps the vitals of the
State. The remedy rests with the peo
ple alone.
The vast increase of the private leg
islation and them any corporate monop
olies granted, to the injury of the peo
ple, can best be shown by a comparison
of different periods.
Under the administration of Governor
Packer, during 1858, 1859 and 1860,
there were passed a total of 2,019 bills
which became laws, or an annual aver
age of 673. During 1864,186-5 and 186G,
under Governor Curtin there were pass
el 3,131 bills which became laws, or an
annual average of 1,011. YV hilst during
the sessions of 1837, ,ISGS and 1869,
Governor Geary's, three -years, 3,689
bills became laws, showing an annual
average of 1,223, or nearly double the
average during Gov. ibicker's term. —
The necessity for special legislation
during the war was fur greater than
since, and the amendment to the con -
stitution depriving the legislature of
power to enact laws in eases in which
the courts have jurisdiction in the hands
of a firm executive officer, would have
vastly decreased the amount of vicious
enactment. Scores of laws' are found
upon the statute hooks of 1867,186-8 and
1 1869, in which the courts were vcsUd
with the control of the subject, yet
favoritism or some other reason, secur
ed the approval of the Executive. This
is the field too, in which special privil
eges are seeured and in which the pt
culiaar vocation of legislative borers is
made profitable, and when it is Jseen
that in the term of Governor Geary
over eight hundred laws have been en
acted granting charters to private cor
porations or enlarging the power of
those already granted, their profits may
be estimated and the vice of the system
understood. Two thirds of this legisla
tion is unnecessary and detrimental to
the people, and their safety demanded
a clearly defined policy 011 this subject
and a rigid adherence thereto by the
Executive. General laws are broken
through by special enactment with his
consent until the rule has become the
exception. For instance, to give him
patronage, the general law for the ap
pointment of notaries, defining their
number, has, in the session of 1860,
been again and again supplemented,
until he was vested in that single ses
sion with the power to appoint over
one hundred in addition tothosealready
in commission. Such a practice, multi
plying officials, overloads the statute
books and destroys a most salutary rule
of government, that of governing by
general laws as far as possible. The
remedy for this mischief was in the
hands of the Executive. lie has failed
to apply it and has aided and abetted
the wrong.
The deliberate overthrow of a judi
cial district, the attempt to nullify the
will of the people of that district of the
choice of their judge, and the palpable
violation of the Constitution, incurred
n so doing, are all chargeable directly
to J. W. Geary, for the bill was signed
on the very morning after the night of
its passage, under circumstances which
conclusively prove his knowledge of
its purpose and character. If he knew
these, is it unjust to charge that he
knew how it was passed and what base
means secured the necesary majority
for its speedy enactment? If thejudi
ary are to be attack ted and the express
will of the people defied by the use of
money iu a corrupt combination, of
what value are our institutions, and
whose life or property is secure ? John
W. Geary possessed the knowledge of
the wrong and the power to prevent
it, and failed to use them, and he is
justly responsible for the infamy.
Under the provisions of the law en
acted in days when national debts
were not considered national blessings,
and still unrepealed, certain revenues
belonging to the state were to be ap
plied to the payment of the State debt
through the oppcrations of a Sinking
Fund. Since 1860, the last year of Gov.
Packer's administration, $45,346,000
have gone into the treasury. By far
the larger portion of this proceeds from
the revenues specifically applied by
law to the payment of the debt, and yet
the debt now is only about four mil
lions less than it was in 1860, and
this calculation excludes the loans
for military purposes, and to redeem
the overdue loan. Where have those
millions gone, and why is the state
debt still so large? The mismanage
ment of the finances of the State, never
so great as within the last three years,
the payment of largely increase ! sal
aries, the employment of pasters and
folders and other useless officials, the
increase in the amount of interest, and
the necessities of the treasury ring,
have combined to increase our expen
ses to so great an extent as to divert
these large revenues from their prop
er destinations and therefore the debt
s ill exists,
Strenuous efforts were made at the
close of the last session of the legisla
ture to have the surplus in the Treas
ury applied toward the payment of th#
debt maturing, and a section was pla
ced in the appropriation bill by the
united vote of all the Democrats and
a part of the Republicans, ordering the
anticipation of the payment of about
$BOO,OOO thereof out of the surplus then
in the treasury. This would have sa
ved the State $50,000. The bill was
then sent to the committee of confer
ence,and they struck this section out at
the command of the treasury ring.
When the bill came upin the Senate,on
final passage, in this form, it was voted
down by a vote ol 22 to 10, mainly be
cause of the omission of this amend
ment and the payment of the pasters
. and folders in the llouse. Seven Re
, publicans voted with the Democrats
and defeated the bill and affirmed the
, wisdom of the amendment. Yet, with
in three days four of those Republicans
■ changed front and voted with their
brethren to reconsider the bill and they
[ passed it by a vote of 17 to 16, two Re
, publicans voting with the Democrats
. against the bill, and one Democratvot
! ing with the Republicans for the bill.
By this vote the State lost at least
sso,ooo,'and the ring gained the use of
over $BOO,OOO for more than a year.
. Why, in this exigency and under the
1 facts disclosed on the passage of tl.e
bill, did not the Executive do his duty
and send it back without his signature?
lie was too weak or he was the tool of
'. the Treasury ring ; in either case, he is
' unfit for the place he fills.
The administration of John W. Gea
-1 ry is a failure, the name of legislature
j under his rule has become a hissing an '
, a reproach, the fair fame of our noble
Commonwealth is tarnished, her reve
) nues are wasted, and her debt unpaid ;
1 her magnificent resources lie undevel
; oped or private enterprise must do the
- work ; the power to guide the State in
1 her noble career of progress, and (o
■) give to her that place among her sister#
. fir which nature has fitted her, must be
f sought elsewhere than in the feeble ca
! pacity of him who now is her Chief
9 Executive; and we point with conli
e d oice to the man of our choice, to him
a who has grappled with the rugged re
-1 alities of our mountains and our val
-1 l ys, and by his indomitable energy
J has made them the sources and the av-
VOL 65.—WHOLE No. 5,507.
enues of untold riches, to him who
with strong mind and iron will h; s
concentrated nil his powers in her de
velopment, to him who has by these
acts proved his capacity to successful
ly manage and control his own busi
ness, to him who has by his business
intellect, his upright deportment, his
spotless character and his deeds of
charity, won the highest grade among
his fellow men—to Asa Packer, tie
successful busine&s man, as the man
whom Pennsylvania now needs to
banish corruption, to pay her debt, re
store her credit and develop her re
sources. (Immense Applause.)
With unseemly haste Governor Gea
ry transmitted to the legislature the
resolutions of Congress proposing the
Fifteenth Amendment, and in doing
so he declares, "I cordially approve
this action of the National Congress
and unhesitatingly recommend the
prompt ratification of the same by the
Legislature."
He thus initiates the gross wrong
that has been- perpetrated upon the
people of the State. Sworn to support
a constitution which emphatically de
clares that the right of suffrage shall
vest in one class of citizens to the ex
clusion of ail others, he recommends
the destruction of that rule and the
substitution of another without the
authority of the people and in viola
tion of tneir right to pass upon it at the
polls.
In obedience to his command the
legislature with equally unseemly
haste passed upon the question of the
ratification of the Amendment and at
tempted to fasten the people in
favor of its adoption. I shall not pre
tend to discuss the abstract question in
volved in the Amendment, hut shall
endeavor to show how gross a wrong
has been perpetrated upon their con
stituents by the Legislature and the
Executive.
The express will of the people,
moulded in the organic law of the Con*
vention of 1838, ana adopted by the
people, was against the ratification,
and their right to be heard before their
verdict was reserved, was as clear
as was their a right to pass upon the
question origsnally. It has not enter
ed into the canvass in the election of a
single member or senator, and nearly
all of those who voted for its adoption
in 1869, voted against an amendment
of the same character in 1868, known
as the Ilickman resolution. Sodeteu
mined were they in their refusal to
permit the voice of the people to be
heard, that in the Senate, on the 11th
of March, the Radicals, by a stict party
vote, refused to postpone the question
for two weeks in order that an oppor
tunity might be had for the people to
be heard by petition and remonstrance
on the subject. Never before was the
right of petition denied in a Pennsyl
vania Senate. In the same body reso
lutions providing for the preparation
of a bill to submit the question of rat
ification of the amendment to the peo
ple at the polls in October, and to post
pone action until the result was aseei
tained, was also voted down by the
| Radicals, every man of them voting
against submitting the question to the
people. In the House the same propo
sition was submitted and there, too,
the Radical refused by a strict party
vote, to submit the question to a vote
of the people. The resolution ratify
ing the amendment was then adopted,
in both branches by the votes of
Radical members, and senators, and
we appeal from them to you. The
question for you to determine is,
•was it your right to pans upon so vital a
change as this, or will you be bound wit la
out your consent or opportunity to ex
press your dissent f The sentiment of
the people of the State is unmistaka
bly against the ratification of the a
mendment. Yet Radical orators ar
gue that the question is settled ami
cannot be re-opened, and that there
fore, you should not punish them for
their violation of duty. The principal
of local government is violated by
the servants of the people, who declaie
themselves their masters. The inher
ent powers of the people to determine
for themselves their rule of suffrage
and to adopt or reject their organic
laws, is denied and trampled upon ;
and they are deliberately told they are
without remedy and that their faith
less agents should be again employed.
Can impudence further go? The right
of appeal exists, and adheres in equity
and justice. The forms of our consti
tution, and sovereignty of the people, as
well as the powerful voice of our great
State, when deliberately announced
through the ballot, will demonstrate
to the petty tyrants, who would thus
deprive us of our dearest rights, thai
fraud and chicanery upon four millions
of people will not win, and that the
voice of Pennsylvania, the Keystone
of the Federal arch is not for but a
gainst the ratification of the Fifteenth
I Amendment.—[Great applause.]
YQU will never convince a man of
ordinary sense by overbearing bis un
derstanding. If you dispute with him
in such a manner as to show a due def
erence for his judgment, your com
pliance may win him, though your
saucy argument could not.
A friend at one of the summer resorts
writes that he occupies a 'cottage' made
of a French dry goods case with a sky
light at the top, and a front door on
the side. Unless it rains he sleeps
with his feet outside.
A sailor once had a high disputo
with his wife, who wished him to the
devil.
"Plague on me, Peggy," said he,
"if I don't think 1 should fare pur
ty well with the old fellow, as I mar
ried into the family."
When you have no observers, be a
fraid of yourself. Observe yourself as
your greatest enemy; so shall you be
come your greatest friend,