r* ,:^'Vr THE ’BEAVER RADICAL. SMITH CURTIS. ‘JBEJATViBR* I*Au. ' ’ PlMtf Itlornln*, Sinvmrj%4,% lB73. CHEAP TBANSPOBTA^ION. . General Grant in; ‘bid message called attention to the import ance -of furnishing cheaper trans-. portation for the surplus, pro ducts of the South and West to the Atlantic, and the subject is ihg ith'e, thoughtful attention of our Statesmen, and ifc being" agitated somewhat by. the press of the coun try. General Grant pointed out twO foujfes, both feasible, and re commended Congress to g|ve them serious consideration. These routes were the extensions of the Ka nawha and James River canal to the Ohio and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. In regard to this latter route a committee has been ap pointed and instructed to secure a! charter for the improvement and'; navigation of the Youghiogheny river, and also to procure-such leg-; islation as would authorize and em power the Company to connect the slack water of this river by canal with the Chesapeake and Ohio ca nal at Cumberland, Maryland. extension is said to have been Gen eral Washington’s idea when the canal' was first and hy survey it has been found to be prac ticable, though somewhat expensive. By the Kanawha and James River route it will require two hundred and.forty miles of canal to be con structed, while by the Youghio gheny only about one hundred miles to make connection, making a dif ference of one hundred and forty miles in favor of the latter route. The national importance of this ronte cannot be well over-estimated. Jt will afford cheap transportation for the products of the West and South to the East, and also supply the South, the West and the East with the only Superior gas coal in the country. Boats laden with grain from the West can return freighted with coal. Corn that is burnt forfuel in the West, while persons are suffering for it in the East, can -then be exchanged for coal to the great advantge of both sections.. The East needs grain, the West fuel, and by this contem plated internal improvement a mu tual exchange of their products can easily and cheaply be made. This route passing through the very cen- v tre of the Youghiogheny coal basin, said to be the latest and richest in America, will not only be the rich source ot abundant freight, but will furnish a cheaper and better gas <;oal to the large cities of the East, and thus save to those places in an nual cost of consumption a sum of money nearly large enough, it is es timated, to construct the work. We think that it is a matter of national interest tp build both of the pro jected canals, for as the Southern and Western part of our country is becoming rapidly more productive, all the means of transportation'to the Atlantic seaboard will surely be taxed to the utmost to transport the immense annual surplus of pro- duots. We hppe, therefore, that this whole subject will carefully be con sidered by Congress, and that more than; ordinary efforts will be used to secure cheaper transportation be tween the West and East, an object certainly of vast interest to all sec tions of our common country. The Constitutional Convention so far has been occupied with prelimi- work. Many important sub jects have been presented and await discussion. Since the present Con stitution of the State , was made, there haS been so many changes, so many new ideas of government put afloat, and so many reform measures advocated, that it will be no, easy matter to frame an inStrumentwhich will meetevery demand, and satisfy . all classes. Radical , changes are proposed, in regard to every branch of the Government: the Executive, the Judiciary, and Legislative, as well as in the manner of choosing officers. The members of the con stitution we think should, be cau tious in regard to taking any very wide departure from the present Constitution, and especially in re gard to adopting changes that have already been disapproved by the -,te -<' people,- such asfillingcertain State and <;ounty< offices by appointment rather; than by an election. The tendency of the times is towards a democracy in which the’pCople 1 in all branches of the government, directly responsible for the conduct of their public servants, £nd Qpn make and unmake them according ;to the will of the majority. If the new Constitution favors this tenden cy, the people and their officers will be brought as near ,as possible to gether, and the officers be made de pendent upon the people iof their changes sweeping as some propose, appoint ing such officers in the county as Prothonotarles Clerk of Court of Quarter Sessions, and Judges, and in the State, Judges, Treasurer and other officers, there is great danger that the Convention, like the moun tain in labor, will bring forth a ri- SXCOB. diculous instrument that the people will reject. Without having great expectations, we hope to be disap pointed in the final result. ', Senator Morton’s speech Un the Senate of the United States on the mpde i of electing a President and Vice President of the United States, contains many valuable sug gestions. We agree with the Sena tor that the present mode of choos ing electors should be changed, but we. would not consent to adopt the plan bf direct voting, which he would substitute. If President of the United States were cfhosen by a direct vote of the people, that is all the States voting as one commu nity,, it would lead to the commis sion of frauds to an extent not even yet dreamed of. In the excitement of a close Presidential election where every vote counted, the dis- commit fraud would de velop 1 to an alarming extent, and would not be confined to large cit ies, but pervade the whole country. The stake would be so great, and thousands so deeply interested in the result, that every kind of fraud upon the ballot box would be at tempted. New York City would roll up one or two hundred thous and majority, if necessary, and Philadelphia and other large cities would imitate the example of New Y ork, and fraudsupon one side would be excused j|r reason of the frauds of the other. temptation and the danger are too great to warrant any experiment of this kind. If this plan is ever adopted it will prove the ruin of the country in the not distant future. Where the vbte is taken by States or dis tricts, the temptation to commit fraud is not so great. If a district or even a State is carried by fraud, it may not effect the general result, as it would under the plan proposed by the Senator from Indiana. In place of choosing electors by States, let them be chosen by districts, as the Congressmen are, and fraud would be checked and the will of the people more nearly ascertained. This plan maybe liable to objec tions, but it is certainly better —in- deed, every plan is better than that of direct voting. I-^ INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR HARTRANFT. General John F. Ilartranft, Gov ernor elect, was inaugurated last Tuesday. The city of Harrisburg was tilled with strangers. Various military organizations from different parts of the State were present, and participated in the ceremonies. Al though the day was unfavorable everything passed off according to previous arrangement, and in a very acceptable manner. Governor Geary walked arm in arm with General Hartranft to the main stand in front of the Capitol, where the inaugura tion took place. George H. Ander son, Speaker of the Senate, admin istered the official oath. After the cheering of the immense, multitude had subsided, the Governor proceed ed to deliver his inaugural, which is ezceiedingly able and practical, touching upon afl the leading ques tions of general interest to the State. This interesting document will appear in our next issue. The Governor’s vigorous style and i tolerant manner, will disarm his enemies and meet: with praise from all good citizens irrespective of party consideration. ♦ -■m' t' * - ge> the tn cal th wm aoon be at tiatelor yotes to Becnre tbe w^Bil. created a panic of intoxlc&uig desperate effort*will; ? hefe;Snide' to repeal' or so render it practically .inoperative* The party or ■ movement will Mqiitre unparalleled infamy. ' Let : the Representatives to understand th at hesitation in.this inatt^-eVCni is political death! The auestion ;has been submitted to thepeople, and any attempt to take it out ot their hands.can only spring corrupt motives, and must be visijted with the severest condemnatioife v The NjgjjsL Y ork Tribune has for five years consistently hndfably op posed the postal telegraph: scheme, and therefore its opposition cannot be charged to. its hostility to the Administration. In its isshe of Sat urday, the 18th instant, it prints a long and able article firom the Hon. David Wells against postal tele graphy, and closes an able editorial as follows: 1 • l We believe thatnp man with the interest of tile country at heart, wilt favor a measure that may be come an engine of political oppression; tint nay tarn a national election into the pleblacltoin of an eibpire.” V.:.." This sentiment is endorsed by the whole opposition press; and by many of the ablest friends -of tba Administration in the country. There are many honest: and true men, it is trite, who favor the scheme, and it was in deference to the opinions of such, no doubt, that the Postmaster General recommend*, edit. We regret very much tbit the recommendation of He. Cres well seemingly commits the Admin istration to the schem as we regard iras not only dangerous in its ten dency to centralization, bat as |s huge job of the worst kind. it will succeed yte hardly can lieve, although millions may be spen^ : to carry the project tbrongb r the selling i^ize: or three^times, the tbiif property andkiranobises. Oameron on Tuesday, though virtually elected before, hy the Republican caucus; was legally made, by die Legislature, a Senator for sit yeara from the fourth of March next. We'have already ex pressed ohr mind upon this election,, and have no cause to change or re peat it. Senator Conkling has also been elected without substantial opposi tion, from the State of New York. He has been a brilliant, able and faithful Senator, and his services during the last campaign were very valuable to the Republican party. Though Comparatively young, he has already gained an enviable rep- 4 utation as a brave and safe party leader, and won for himself the high est honors in the gift of a free , peo ple. His election, like Senator Cameron’s, was secured by the de cided victory of last fall, and in the Legislature was a mere matter of form. Also Senator Howe, of Wiscon sin, is re-elected, and Governor Og lesby, of Illinois, is chosenr in place of Senator Trumbull, who is permit ted to remain at home and look af ter his domestip aWairs. These Senators are some of the gathered fruit of the Presidential straggle, bat the crop is not all-in yet. Col. M. S. Quay, of Beaver, re cently, editor of this paper, has been appointed, bylGovernor Hartranft, Secretary of, the Commonwealth. His appointment has been conceded for some time, and now that it is made will take no one by surprise. The Repubticaipiress, of this. State, with, one or ■sss!-: exceptions, have warmly praised the selection of €>ol. Quay to fill so responsible a posi tion, and he will enter upon his new duties tawing t with him the kind wishes of £m innumerable multitude of tjiUwhich any man, in like circumstances, i|ould have good reasons to be prdud. ; t ’ /, ' • ... ■ ieted his second six years of Ser bs has made a vernpr, and his compare favora bly ;eding one. He has retiredfrom public life, but will nsside loHarrisbarg. It is not ’provable that: a citizen so foil of experience in public affairs will long be allowed to remain in retire menti and we shail expect sometime to pee the Governor occupy a sign er position even than be has left, ope commensurate with his ac knowledged ability. ' -« ; V Hon. Francis Jordan, whose term of office expire with Governor Geary’s, has served the Stale ac ceptably and efficiently for six years, and he has retired enjoying the respect of all good citizens, and meriting honor for the just and hon est discharge of his official duties. / The Pennsylvania Legislature, at p - the recommendation ot Governor Geary, has passed a bill which he has approved, to increase the Gov ernor’s salary to 110,000 per year. This law takes effect upon the re tirement of the late incumbent. We have just time to announce that Samuel E. Dimmick, of Wayne county,bah been appointed Attorney General by the Governor. He is a good lawyer, an able mao and a high-toned gentleman, and bis ap pointment will' be received with universal satisfaction by the Repub licans of the State. ■* n W FROM BARBISBtm 6. Senate and House Committee*—Local Option-Governor** Appointment*— Geary’s Promise*. Correspondence of the Radical. Habbisbubo, Jan. 20,1873* Speaker An derson announced the Sen* ate committees on im portant committees were as predicted, in our last. is well satisfied wUhthepoai&ms assigned him, although be objccls being charged to the Democrats. There is a very general satisfaction with the arrangement of the Committees, Republicans, Democrats and liberals all feeling that they have been fairly treated. ln the House, the. committees were not announced until .Wednesday, and Speak is emitted - Ihe jddgmeiitandrimpartiality manifested in the make-up of the committees- The inembers Tirom your district, considering that this is the first*session for all, fared usually well. Mr. Cross is on Ways and Means, Education, Public Printing, Manufacturers, and Estates'and Escheats. Allison is on Railroads, Apportionment, and thredptber committees. Waldron is pn five committees. Judiciary and Corpo* rations being the two important, while McKee ia also on five committees Of the regular committees Finance, as called in the Senate, and Ways and Means, in the House, Judiciary, Railroads and Corpora tions, in the order given, are the import ant regular standing committees. Appor tionment and Constitutional Reforms be ing special committees. Of course the two last named committees take prece dence in point of desirability during the Sessions for which they are constituted. As your Senator is Chairman of Appor tionment in the Senate, and Mr. . Allison of your district is on the committee in the House, your Legislative district will doubtjess be taken care of in the Congres- I sional Apportionment. Your members of the House are very attentive to' their duties, stand well with their associates, and willjjrove efficient and popular Representatives. Pew locai bills have yet been introduc ed, and the work of the session will not begin until after the Inauguration and election;of United States Senator, which takes place to morrow. Senator Rutan has introduced a bill construing the Lo cal Option law of last winter, so as to cover elections in boroughs and cities vot ingat a different time than that fixed for the township elections in general. The bill fixes the third :Priday of March for the taking of the vote under the law Jq all distriptk holding township and municipal elections before.that date where the vote wasnot taken, and legalizes elections held under the act where the authority to vote was Jo doubt. There is a rumor here, which seems to be- credited, that the li quor then are raising a large fund to se cure the repeal of the law. .No Repre sentative voting for the repeal of the law should ev’er' be returned, no matter what his politics or wbat his motives. The Legislature committed this subject to the people, and they should now decide it. Men may vote for the repeal without be ing corrupt, but it is safe to take it for granted bone will do so, and.those who allege differently should be compelled to furnish the clearest evidence to. the con- I trary. Certainly no Republican can. vote | for repeal, if he is true to bis party and | desires its success in the future. The city is already full of visitors^ life: bf office ■m a*/ come to visit the Inauguration, and what la to becomeof the thousandsOn the way is aqaestfon now agitating the cltiz