secuiity givPD for the future; f<r it is not to be
tolerated, that a government mealed by the
people, and maintained for their benefit, should
do injustice to any portion of its citizens.
Af'er averting her right to withdraw from
the Union, South Carolina, through her con
vention, aiuung other reasons, declares that she
is justified in exercising, at this time, that right
because several of the States have for years
pot only refused to fulfil their constitutional
obligations, but have enacted laws either nul
lifying the Constitution, or rendering useless
the acts of Congress relative to tho surrender
-of fugitive slaves—that tbey have permitted
toe open establishment cf societies to disturb
the peace of other Strios; that the people of
the uou-slavcbolding States have aided in the
escape of slaves from tfieir Blisters, and have
incited to servile iusturuction those that remain
—sod have announced thdr determination to
exoludu tho South from the common territory
of the Union. A.< the Rsprejeotitives ot the
people of Penney lvatua, it becomes your solemn
duty to examine these serious chargei, made by
tho authority of * sovereign State.
I'Vußsyivanm is included ia the list of States
that ate charged with having refused compli
ance with that mandate of the Constitution of
the United States, which declares "that no per
son held to service or iabor m cue State, under
the laws t.jereof, escaping into aroiher. shall,
in consequence of any law or regulation therein,
be discharged from such service or labor, but
sbsil.be delivered up, on claim of the party to
whom such service or labor, uny be duo." So
far troai admitting the truth of this charge, I
unhesitatingly aver, that upon a careful exam
ination, it will be fouud that the legislative aud
judicial action of Pennsylvania, whether as a
colony, as a member of the old con federal i< o,
or under tho existing Constitution or the Uni
ted States, Las been almost invariably iutlu-til
ed by a proper appreciation of her own obligi
tions, and by a high regard for the rights, the
feeiiugs and tho interests of her sister Stites.
As early as 1705, the provincial authorities
of Pennsylvania, after reciting iu the preamble,
that "the importation of Indian slaves from
Carolina, or other places, bath been observed
to give the Indians of this province sotue um
brage for suspicion and dissatisfaction." passed
u act tgainit the importation of Indian slaves
from any other province, or colony, in Ameri
ca, but at tbe same time declared, "that no such
Indiana sLve, as deserting his mister's service
elsewhere, shall fly iuto this piovince, shall be
understood or cotutrued to oe comprehended
within this act." And when, iu 17S0, more
than eight years before the Uousti'.utou of tue
United States item iuto operation. Pennsylva
nia passed.her law !or the graouai abolition of
slavery, mindful of tLo rights of hot conied-
e rates, she declared ib:l "tb.s act, or anything
in it contained, shall nut give any relief or sue!
ter to any absconding or runaway negro, or
mulatto slave, or servant, who lias absented
hiuiaolf, or ah all absent himself, from his or her
owner, master or iutsi:e>s, residing in any other
Siate or country, but such owner, master or
mistress, shall hive like tight uoi ail to de
mand, claim sod take away his slave, or ser
vant. as ho might have bad iu c isa this act bad
not been made." A provision much mors un
equivocal iu iis phraseology, aud diroc: in iu
eotritUatid-, than tlose found, on tire suiue sub
ject, iu the Constitution of the Union. The
by its terms was undo inapplicable to do
mestic slaves attending upon delegates ia Con
gress ftorn tuc other Ataetioau Slates, and those
held by persons while passing thtough thia Sute
r sojiurmug tbereie tor i peticu u • lancer
than six months.
in 1788't; s.s mad* high * nil ( {fen ; for
any person, by force, violence or trand, >o take
out of tftiiia State, toy negro r mulatto, r. :tn
the intention of keeping or seiliog'the sail ne
gro or mulatto as a suvc, for a t.wm of years.
Soon after tbe jassrge of this art, tbe Supreme
Oonit of Pennsylvania decided that it uii uci
apply to the lUicioie removal of u iLve, by the
owner or Lis agent, but that its object Was to
punts-h the forcible or fraduient abduction from
toe Stale of free uegroes, with the intention of
Keeping or selling thorn as slaves. Thus at
that oarty day, giving judicial sauct'cu to the
dootriue, that a master had tho right to take
his slaves wherever Le could fiui tf.em:
The fir.-t sol of Cougreas prori<i:pg for the
rendition of fugitive.- from justice t utor, wo 8
passed in 1793, and oiigiuttteii freui tbe refusal
of ibo Governor of Virginia to surrender and
deliver up, on the requisition of the Governor
of Pennsylvania, three persons who had been
indicted id Pennsylvania for kidnar-piug u ne
gro, and carrying liim into Virginia. And wi eu
t was found that this Congressional st .tutc did
not affoi'i a simple, speed) and tffiueut reined)
for the recovery of fugitives from labor, the
Uegi-latute of Pconsyivanii, at tie request ot
the adj lining Stat,; of Maryland, iu 1a26,
passed utr aul#to give affect to the provisions
of the Constitution of tbe United States reid
iive to fugitives from labor, for the protect! jQ
of free people of color, and to prevent ktduap
ning." f uis exceliout uu-1 well considered law
utt ail the existing emergencies. It required
tti jsniges, just ces of lb* peace and aldermen,
of tbe State, upon the oth of the cluiuant, 10
issue tin.if warrant lor the arrest of any fugi
tive from labor escaping into ibis ftstate; direct
ing, however, ihat such Warrants eboaid be
made returnable, by whomsoever Usuid, before
a judge of the proper county. It required
Sheriffs and Constables execute such war
rauts. If authorized the commitireut of the
fugitive to the county jail, aul otherwise uiade
provisions to secure tts effective ei.cu iou, and
si the s auie tioio to prevent its übuse.
This law eonriuued quietly in operation uu
til the decision of trie Suprouu Court of the
United Stales, made in 1842, in the ease of
Prigg vs. The Commonwealth of Pennsylva
nia. The his ory of iLc oase may be briefly
stated: Edward Pugg was lodteted io the
Court of Oyer sod Terminer of York couniy,
tot kidnap] lug a coioreu person, named Ma.-
garet Morgan. Llpoo the trial it appeared that
eha was held a slave in the St.te of Mary laud,
aud that bc .escaped into the State of Peou
>ylvnu in tho year 1832—that ta 1857, Ed
wtrd Prigg -vns appointed, by tho owner of the
slaty, to seize jnd arrest her ash fugitive from
tabor, iu ..uisnnice <-f ibis authority, und
i-t-di-r a wura.it issued DJ • a Jast-ee of tie
Peace, Prigg caused tbe negro worn in to be ar
rested, and without having obtained nuy war
rant of removal, he delivered her to her owuer
iu tho Slut* of Maryland. Tties# facts were
fonnd by a special verdict, uui by the agree
ment of eoutfti'l, a judgment was entered
s gainst Piigg- I'ioin this-judgment a writ of
trior was fatten to t:ie Supreme Couitcf the
State, where a yro Jorina judgment of affirm
ance was rgain, by agreement, euterod, uod the
ease removed to the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted State*.
It will be observed that 'he question, whether
Edward Ptigg was really gn.i of the oiimeof
kidnapping, under the Pennsylvania statute of
1826, was never actually passe < upon, either
by the court or jury, in the county of l r <>rk,
or by the Supreme Court of tbe State The
jury merely fouud the facts, and the fiction of
Loth coutt* was but a matter of form.
In the argument and determiuaii m of the
ease, in the Supreme Court of the U. States,
it appears to have teen taken for granted, that
our act of 1826 made it H criminal offence for
a mantei tj take bis slave out ®f this State,
without, a warrant of removal ; ami, upon this
construction, the aet was aeolared unconstitu
tional and void. This, I submit, wis a clear
ini.sapprfiben.iioa of tho purport and ineauiug
of our legislation. Tuo first section of-the
aet of 1826, uuder which the indictment
again.-t Prigg was framed, was almost literally
copied from the seventh section of the act of
1788, to which a construction had already been
giveu by tho highest judicial tribunal or the
State of Pennsylvania, where it wis held ta
have no application whatever to the removal
of a .HI.VC by the master or his agent, with or
without a warrant. Such was the uudoutu -d
law of the State under the statute o: 1788,
and iti re-enacting that statute, lu the aet ol
1826, with an increased penalty, it is manifest
that the intention and ehj tot of tbe Legislature
was to protect free persons of color, and to
punish ili.'oe who, by fraud, foreo of violence,
were guilty of ktduappiug, and holding or
selling i'tee men as slaves. This tin; OiaU. had
a clear right to do ; and nothing but a miscou*
9trnotion of her aot could have induced the
declaration that it was forbidden t-y J-.n
--atitutioa of the United States. It is prr.'ejtiy
clear, tiiat Edward Pngg had committed no
crime iu removing Margaret Morgan ft out the
Stute of Pennsylvania to the State of Mary
land, and delivering her up to her owner ; and
it is ifjuaily clear, that no attempt was made,
by the statute of Pennsylvania, to declare h:s
act a crime. He should have been discharged,
not because the &c; of the State was uueu
sii ut-oual, but because he had u, t transgressed
its e..inuirndf.
The Supreme court of the United Stifes not
only pronounced the paiticular aeetiou of tie
act of 1826, thou before them, unooustiiutioual,
but a majority of the court field that ids whole
act was void, because the power to provide for
the reuditiou of fugitives from labor, was
vested exclusively inOu r gross, aud the several
States wsre therefore iaamupetem lo pa>s
statutes either in eid of, or t> ruuder, deiay or
prcveut, tbe delivery of .-neh lugitives. That
this was the extent oi the deoieion, as delivered
by Judge Story, cot only appears iioiu the
opinions of the aiajtiiy, but also from tim
dissenting opinions delivered by toe minority
of the emit, iiy this unfortunate decbion, ft
was aathoritativelj proclaimed thatPcuosylva
nia, ia enacting her liberal statute of 1620,
making it lbs duty of her own orik'ers to aid
iu arresting aud delivering up fugitives Irotn
labor, iiad mistaken her constitution*! obliga
tion, una ihather act was tu violation of, raider
than iu obedienue to, the (Jonstitutiou of the
United Slates. Under each circumstances, it
was tuc manifest duty of the Stati to repeal
uar law tiies declared unceua'.utiouai. ' dots
Wee by toe act ul 184 i j and ii tb'.t act
h.d coetein *i nothing more than a repeal cf
tla J law of 1826, -mi the re-enactment of the
l*w against kin ppiag, it could not have been
subject to any just jouspiatut. Lit tae thira
sects.a of the act of 1817, prohibits, under
heavy penalties, our judges and magistrates
from acting under any a.t of Congress, or
othe. Wia-j taking jurisdiction vf tue .case of a
tugnive ftoui labor; and the i-juitu aeetiou
puuisbes with fine, and Impiiicauieot, 'be
tumultuous aud riotous arrest of a fugitive
slave, by -uy person or persons, under uuy
presence of authority wuatever, so as to create
a bieach of the public peace, l'tte sixth
section, denying the use uf the couuty jails
tor the detention of iugitivo slaves was re
pealed tu 1b52, auu ueoi ooly be referred to
-s show.tig ttie gcueral spirit of tne act. due
seven h section repealed the provisions of the
act of 1160, whieu authorized persons passing
tarougu out St ito to tuk-a their slaves wtih
tlicui, and gave to sojouraers tt.e iignt t.> onug
totrir s; iVeS iuto Hie Scale, and retiio theui
hoie tor any period uet exceeding six mouths.
i'ae provisions of the third and fourth sec
tions ot the aot of 1647, stem tol.ave been
predicated upon Ibe language of the Supreme
Court iu Uii'gg's c.se. It is there admitted
thai tie several Sut.-s may pronioit their
magi.-.iates, aud otuer olßeurs, Irom xeto.siug
au .authority conferred by an act of Congress;
aud that white au owner ot a slave, under au.t
iu viitue ot the Constitution uf the U. Status,
is cioihs i with power, iu every Slate ot tuo
Union, o seise aud recapture his aLve, lie
must, uev rtueltss, do so without using any
lisegat violence, or OJinumiuig a breach ot tue
peace. It ia evident laai Ihe irauier ot toe
act of 1647, had closely studied the case of
i'rtgg's us. d ue oouiuioowealih ot Peuusylva
ult and bid kc-} t his law strictly witbiu its
lei er. iu uuuy r.speon, tue act is aiu <d.ti
o/t.oQ ot the pfiuojples euuucuujd oy the
couri ; aud more fuuu uiay justly bo tuuuu
vith its temper than tts waai ot cuusiuutiouai-
Hy
if fugitive slave-. were st.ll olaiiuod under
the act of UoJgrCa-1 ot i7lfd, the dental lo t.ie
muster of tne aid of Sta'3 j ides and magis
trates, might be a source of great iucouveuieuce
to him j out me complete and peiteo* remedy
now piuviugj ny the act of Congress of Iboid,
renders htui entirely lujeptu.ioui of State
Officers. Aud toe puuisumeiu of uireal wiihout
warrußt, by a master iu the exurcue of his
constitutional light of recaptiou, hut m*do iu
a violent, lumuiioaa and unreasonable uiauuei,
amounting to a Ireeob ot too peace, is but
teoc-guiziug by staiuto, what wis before tho
common law.
These sections were re-enacted in the revised
perisi code cf fentisy Iv.uiu, at the last session
i f the Legislature, aud are still tao l.wof the
State : but they are not now of any practical
importance, aud as their retention ou our staiute
hook ia Calculated to create tho impiesston
that the peopio of this State tie unfavorable
to {; e execution of the fugitive siave law, ami
the discharge of itieir contoderatu duties, and
with the view of removing tuts subject of re
proach. 1 earnestly recommend their uueon-''
uiuouai repeal.
While a majority of the judgts of tha Snpremo
Oourt of the Jnited States, iu the case, lieid,
tnat a State aad no catuOtuunaal rignt to provide
by legislation for dei.vcriug up tuginves from iae-ir,
a minority were tiiea of toe opinion tajt dtite
laws, consistent with, an 1 in aid of, tho constitu
BEDFORD praUIRER.
tiotiai injunction, were valid ami proper. And this
minority opinion is now the judgment of the pre
sent court, as recently indicated in a case which
arose in the State of Illinois. There is, therefore,
nothing to prevent tbe revival of the act of 1826,
and i's restoration to the place in our code to
which, t>y its merits, it is so justly entitled. This
would leave to the option of the claimant, whether
he would seek his remedy under Stato or National
laws, lie had this right before the repeal of our
act of 1826, and in my opinion, no good reason
can he assigned for refusing to place him again in
the same position,
i would also reccuumend that the constat of
the State be given, that the master, while so
journing in our State, for a limited period, or
passiug through it, may be accompanied by his
slave, without losing bis right to his service.
While such legislation is duo to tbo coiuity
which should exist between the different States
of this Uuion, it would, undoubtedly, tend
greatly to res'ore that peace and harmony
which are not so unwisely imperiled. By it
Pennsylvania would concede no principle —wo
would simply he fulling back upon our aucicut
policy, adopted at a time when our people wore
themselves struggling for their rights,.and
never departed front, until, by a misconcep
tion of its meaning, otic of our most important
statutes was declared unconstitutional.. Front
1780 to 1847, a period of sixty seven y ars,
Pennsylvania, herself a free State, permitted
the citizens of other States to sojourn within
her limits, witli their slaves, for auy period not
exceeding six months, and to pa.-s through the
Stite, in traveling from one State to another,
free Irom all andestatioo. Was site injured,
or was the cause of human freedom retarded,
ny tno friendly grant of this privileged This
question ounuot be truthfully auswered in the
affirmative, but it may bo safely averred, that
by changing our policy, in this respect, we
h-ve, in some degree, at least, alienated from
os the feelings of fraternal kindness, which
!>uuud together, so closely, the sisterhood ot
Siatea. Lot us, rhea, renew the pledge ct
amity and friendship, *ud ouee mere extend a
kindly welcome to ths citizens tf our common
country, whether visiting us on tusiuess or
pleasure, notwithstanding they any be aecoui
panted by these who, under the Constitution
and the laws, are held to seivice aud labor.
The Territories of the United States belong
to ibe General Government, and in those ter
ritories the people of tbe several States un
questionably have equal rights. 'i' Ley were
acquired by means of iho common expendi
ture o I blood and treasure. By the Federal
Ousts tut ion, power is aivou to Congress ''to
di-pn'C ot and make ail needful rules and reg
ulations respecting the territory and oilir
property belonging to the United States."—
Whether under this, or any other power con
ferred ny tnu C institution, Congress cau pro
hibit or pro c.-t slaver; in the tenitoiies, has
been serionsiy que;iiou'-d. But.it. the power
to legislate upon this delicate and important
subject was clearly vested in Congress, iu my
judgment it ought not to bo exercised To
deeiare that slavery shall not exLt in the Ter
i itories, is calculated to exclude from their oc
cupancy Hie citizens of the Southern and
hi tvehoidiog Srntea, white, to unke it a legal
institution in ail the territories of the United
■states by Congressional enactment, and to pro
vide for it- continuance duriug their entire
Terr iter i ■ 1 existence, would be equally injuri
ous to th? people of tbo f.te Stales. The
prioeiple ah-p ei in the Ooutproori c mixtures
o; 1850, for ii?:o ing of tl* q i>t on 0.~ slave
ry to New Mexico and Uiah, nd reiterated in
Kansas and Nebraska bii sof 1854, of n>n
iutervca ion by U-'ugltss scith --every in the
States and iu th? lerntutiei, is the iruc rulo.
it is tho duty of Congress, when a 3uffi?ieut
number of hardy and adventurous' pioueers
iii.d thoir way into our distant T-.r Doric*, to
lut'iish them a shield of protection and a furm
ol govern ate ut; but to the people themselves
belongs tie ng'nt to regulate their own Un
mtsiic Institutions m their own w-.y, subject
only to the Constitution of the Uoired Stales.
While tueso views have b?en long entertain
ed by uio, vn 1 while 1 am sincerely of tho
opinion that t:i< ir general adoption and faith"
t'ul euloreemeot, would have preserved, and
may yet rcstire peace and harm ny io ad sta
tions of our couniry, I am nevertheless not so
wcddcu t > them as to rcj.et uocetrinoatously
ail oiber propositions for th 3 si-ttkment of the
vexed questions which unw threaten to sunder
tho bonds which for three quarters of a centu
ry havo mole ma one p-ople. Forty jeats ago
our tatficrs se,tied uu uugry controversy grow
ing out of u similar question, by dividing tiie
Territories purchased from France, and provi
ding t hut slavery. iu voluntary servitude,
should noi exist north of a certain line; uod
the wbolo oouulry acquiesced ia that coaipio
titiss. In 1854, that restriction upon slavery
was removed, aud the po >p'.e ot ill the Terri
tories were left free to decide the quect.on for
t.u'uiseives. Now trie S'-ctiou-al ts.;ue is again
[•resettled, by the North claiming that slavery
cannot legally go into the Territories, evea if
sanctioned by Congress or .he Territorial Leg
islature; aud that tt is the right and the
duty ot Congress tu proutcit its existence.
While the doetnuc niueb obtaiua with a
majority ol tbe people tu wo ot of toe Soutb
oi u Btatcs is, that uuder tiie Consiitu
ii , tho Territories are ali open to slavery;
tout ueiihur Coogress uor the Torr.torial L.g
i*laturo c.iu lawfully prohibit its existence, and
that it is the 'iusy of Congress to provide for
it ail ueodful protection, uny we not wisely
toliow too example of our fathers, by rt-eDaet
tug the old compromise lino of 18z0, aud ex
tending it to the boundary of Califoruk? Not
oy tbe means of legislation of doubtful consti
tutionality, but by an amendment to the Cou
stitu iou itself, and thus permanently fix the
couuitiou of too Teriituries, so that those who
desire to ooeupy them, may find a home at their
discretion, either where slavery is tolerated, or
where it is prohibited. If the adoption of such
an atneudiuuut wouid peacefully settle the dif
ficulties which now surround us, I am satisfied
ibat it would bo sanctioned by tbe people of
Pennsylvania. At all events, they should have
an opportunity to accept or reject it, if made
as a peace offering. 1 would, thcrefoic, recom
mend tho General Assembly to instruct and
request our Senators aud Representatives iu
Congress, io support a proposition lor such an
unreadmcut of tue Constitution, to bo submitted
for ratification or rejection, to a couveutiou ot
delegates, elected directly by the people of the
Biatc.
Iu tiie event of the failure of Coogress speed
ily to propose this or a similar aineudmettt, to
tue Constitution, the citizens of Peiirasylvauia
should Uave an opportunity, by tho application
ot some peaceable remedy, to prevent the dn
utemuerutent of this Union. This can only be
hone oy calling a convention of delegates, to
bo elected by the people, with a view solely to
the consideration of what measures should be
taken to meet the present fearful exigencies.—
If Congress should propose no remedy, let it
emanate from the source of all authority, tho
people themselves.
Every attempt, upon the part of individuals,
or of organized societies, to lead tbe people
away from their allegiance to the government,
to induce them to violate any of the provisions
of tbe Constitution, or to incite insurrections
in any of the States of this Union, ought ta be
prohibited by law as crimes of B treasonable
nature It is cf tbe first importance to the
perpetuity of this great Uuion, that tbe hearts
of the people, and the action of their consti
tuted authorities, should he in unison, iu giving
a faithful support to tho Constitution of the
United State. The people of Pennsylvania
are devoted to the Union. They will follow
its stars and its stripes through every peril.
But, before assuming tin* bigh responsibilities
now chuly foreshadowed, it is their solemn duty
to remove every just cause of complaint against
themselves, so that they may stand before High
Ileaven, and the civiliz-d world, without fear and
without reproach, re tdy to devote their hves and
their fortunes to the support of tbe best lorm of
government that bus ever been devised by the wis
dom of man.
In accordance with tb t provisions of the Consti
tution ot the State, I shall soou resign tti: oiMeo of
Chief Executive of Pennsylvary i, with which the
people have entrusted me, to him whom they have
chosen as my successor. I shall cirry with me into
the walks of ptivate life, the consciousness of hav
ing honestly discharged the du'ies that have devolv
ed on me during the term of my office, to the best
of my ability, and slmll ever cherish the warmest
affection for, and the deepest interest in, the iutui-R
welware of our beloved Commonwealth and our
glorious Republic. The shadow of a dark cloud
does indeed rest upon us; but my hopes and my af
fections still ciiug to our Union, and my prayer
shall bo that lie who orders the destinies ot nations,
when He shall have chastened us for our sins, aud
humbled UH before Him, will restore us again in
mercy, and bind us togethm in stronger and inorc
h tilowed bonds of fraternity, to remain unbroken
through all future time. " •
FFM. F. PACKER.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, 1
Harrisburg, Jan. 2, 1801. J
BEDFORD IN QUIRE R"
V "\y
BEDFORD, Pa.
Friday Moriifuy, Jsiu. 11, IHGO.
"miFLESS AND FREE."
s>. OVER - Editor and Proprietor.
Won't some of our subscribers who never pay
us any money, bring us some flour, wheal, rye,
corn, buckwheat and wood? We need ail these
thing®, and haven't the money to buy them.
SUFFERING KANSAS.
A meeting was held in the Court House, on
Tocsday evening, to nid the suffering people of
Kansas. It was addressed ty Mr. Daniels of
Coffee County, Kausas. 110 dej.i ted th" suf
ferings of the people in a feeling manner.—
During th last summer, there was a fuiniua
there—no rain—and nearly every stuck of corn
and blade of wiited up. Not less than
twenty-five thousand people are in a starving
condition, sud will need the necessaries of life,
to curry them over the winter, nd into the
sutuiner. TLeir cry fcr aid should bo respond
ed to heartily by the people cf other parts of
the country. Every one should give something.
Two Committees were appointed. One for the
ladies, cfutposed of Mrs. Barries, Miss Mary
Russell art'l Miss Gcorgie Mower; and th? one
for the genthmen, is Fraucte Jordan, O. 11.
Giither, and 11, 0. Reamer, to solicit subscripr
tions, to be forwarded ta Mr. J. E. Williams,
President of tho Metropolitan Bank cf New
York, who is th? person appointed to forward
relief subscriptions. We b->pe persons in the
coautry may call on cither of these committees,
and give their uiito to save their fellow-ore tares
in Kansas from starvation.
O. R. Shanuon, K-q , said in tho Bedford
Lyueum, ou iast Saturday night, iu discussing
tho question, "Was the President justifiable
in not reinforcing Fort Moultrie?" that if bo
was compelled to take up arms in this contest,
"Ar would go down South, and point his gt/n
at the people of the J\orth /" Wc are happy
to say that the expression was reoeived with a
general hiss. John Cossus, Esq., made a pa
triotic speech, and stated that the South had
no cause for its preseut treasonable actions,
and that tho time bad come for every man to
take sides, attd that be who went with tbe
South was a traitor. His speech was fre
quently loudly applauded.
HON. SIMON CAMERON.
Hen. SIMON CAMCUON has been tendered
tbe office of Seoretary of the Treasury, by
lion. Abraham Lincoln, and we understand
has accepted. This is gratifyiug to the peo
ple of Pennsvlvauia. It is tbe very positiou
in the Cabinet she would have him choose.—
Mr. Otiuierou has always been the friend of the
interests of Pcunsylvania, and as Secretary of
the Treasury, will be able to do much for her.
The appointment will givo general satisfaction,
and is one eminently fit to be made.
UNITED STATES SENATOR.
EDGAR COWAN, Esq., of Westmoreland
County, was, on Tuesday last, elocted to the
United States Senate, to take tbe place of
Win. Bigler, whose term expires ou the 4th of
March, uext. Mr. Cowan is one of the most
talented mou io tho State, and will make a
Senator of whom Pouusylvania may well be
proud.
HF'Our readers may remember a good Di
alogue publi'bed by us somotirue since, which
referred incidentally to that good, stiunch old
Journal for the Farm, Garden and Household.
i The publisher's card now appears in our ad
! vertisini: columns and we recommend all our
!
readers, whether residing in country or village,
| to respond to his invitation to try th e Agricul
turist for a year. We feel quite sure that the
dollar it ools will bo a good investment.—
WbeD you write for it please say it was upon
our recommendation, and we will guarantee
you good satisfaction. We have received the
first number of the 20th volume of the flori
culturist, which indieates a valuable treat to
ull who subscribe for this volum*.
Governor's Message.
To the exclusion of utuch other matter, we
this week, publish the la-t message*of Governor
William F. Packer. The message is well writ
ten, and shows the finances of the Stale to he
iu a good condition. On the all engrossing
question of the times, be takes strong and pa
triotic ground*, and opposes secessi&D,*and says
that the government will hive to put it down
by force. On the whole, tbe message is en
excellent one, and but few things in it to which
we can't agree.
It will be seen by reference to the Prospect,
us of The New York Ledger, which will be
found in another column, that the proprietor of
that popular weekly has secured an array of
distinguished contributors for bis paper for the
New 5 ear such as has never beeu eq mled by
j any publication in tho world. The L'.dgtr is
lways characterized by a high moral tone, and
has a circulation larger than that of auy oth'ir
ten literary journals to the eouutiy.
BASS —Two bears, tin old one and her cab,
were shot last v.eek,ontho Cove mountain, about
8 mil.-s from Bedford. The cub weighed 104 lbs.,
| and was shot oc Thursday, by Fr. Zimmors and
George Colei.augh. The old one weighed 104 Iks.,
ar-d was shot on Friday, by David In l.r and Geo.
Cobier. The bears were both very f it.
ill PORT AA 1' MJMOIt.
There is a rumor in town that tho Star of the
West, has beten fired at in the harbor of Charleston,
and that Maj. Anderson, has commenced the bom
bardment of Chailcstou. We don't know what
reliance to place on the rumor, however.
. ' i
A PRESENT—That is a nice vest presented
us as a New Year's Gift by our friend, Mr. W.
W. BnucK of the firm of 8 Shuck A Co , and
fits nicely. There's where you getjoar good
end cheap goods. That's so.
We learn, by telegraph, that Secretary
Thompson has resigned his scat in the Cabinet
cf president Buobauvn. This is another trai- j
tor less in that Cabinet.
THE NATIONAL FAST DAT. —Some of the stores ;
were closed oiviatt Friday, an.l business only par
: tially auspen led. Services were held in the
j churches.
ITlie steamship Stir of tbe IVest, left New York
for Charleston, last Saturday, with provsions, fuel,
I and 250 men to reinforce Maj Anderson.
__.*
Bedford fooaly Teachers' Associa
tion.
BEDFORD, Wednesday, Deo. 26, 1860.
! The Association met according to previous
; notice, in the hall of th? Union School House,
<at 1 4 o'clock, P. M. The meeting was or
i canizud by the election of A. N. llaub, Pros
j ident, -J. B. Fluck, Viee President, 0. W.
I Greene, Secretary, M. A. Points, Assistant
Secretary, and Geo. Sigafoos, Treasurer.
A Business Committee wis elected, compri
sing J. G. Fisher, M. A. Campbell, A N.
i llaub, J. E. Satterfi Id aud J. H. Miller.—
, After some remarks by tbo former President,
: Mr. yiuafoos, the officers took rheir seats.
A resolution was offerod aujouruiug tbe As
! sociation until Friday eveuing. and ooustilut
' ing tiio body of Teachers an Institute, under
tite direction of the County Superintendent,
; and was adopted. kfc
A Business Committee, consisting of Messrs.
Fisuer, Bliss aud Points, were sppuiuted to
report the programme of exercises for the In
stitute, and at the oloso of each session the
order for the next meeting was adopted. On
motion, "The best means of prom tiug the ed
ucational interacts of the County," was adopt
ed us tho tonic of discussion, and remarks
were made by Messrs. Fisher, Sigafoos, Greene,
Rawlins, Walker, Bliss, Kerr, Miller andßcp
logle.
A resolution fixing tbe hours of meeting at
84 A. M., 14 P. M., and 6} P. M., and of ad
journment at 114 A. M., 44 P. M., and 94 P.
M., was reported.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Institute was called to order by tbe
Presidcut, and as at each succeeding meeting,
the roll was called, aud the minutes read and
approved.
Mr. llaub delivered a very interesting leo
turo uponJfSohool E'bics." The question,
Resolved, That tho Legislature of Pennsylva
nia should enact a law oompolting parents to
send their children to school regularly, was
adopted. Me.-srs Fisher, Sigaloos, llaub and
Campbell, on the affirmative, were opposed by
Messrs. Points, LongeDeoker, Fluck, Osborne,
SatterficlJ. Filler, Tate and Barclay. The
question was decided by a vote of the Insti
tute iu tho affirmative.
Adjourned.
THURSDAY MORNING.
The lustitute wag called to order, and the i
exercises were opened by prayer, led by Rev.
Sigafoos.
After the transaction of regular business,
an exercise in the Elementary Sounds and Ar
ticulatiou, was conducted by Mr. J. IJ. Jltller.
Mr. Greene gave a lecture upon Reading,;
and the method of teaching it.
Mr. Osborue addressed the lustitute upon j
Physical Education. By request of tbe In- !
stitutc, Mr. llaub showed the manner of con- I
duetiisg an object lesson, and urged the neces- '
sity for their introduction into the common ;
schools.
| On motion, a committee of five were op.
; pointed to report tosaluiior.s expressive of tbo
souse of the liiitiiuie. It w.* composed of
Messrs. Kerr, Fisher, Stte*fi-| i, Miller and
| Campbell.
| Adjourned.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The Inf'itute wa- called to orde- b- t
; Presid-nt. ' ®
i Mr. Raub delivered lecture upon the First
Principles of Written Arithmetic.
J. B. liuek f.'llowctj with an excrei-■ i n
j English Grammar, and, as in all other cxer-
I eises, qoe-tions were proposed by members.
Methods of teaching Geography were given
by M s-re. Livingston, R*ub aud Greene.
Adjourned.
TUURSDAI' EVENING.
After the usual introductory exercise*, Mr
Longeuecker addressed the Institute.' His
th. uw wa# "Tbo Relation of the Tocher to
his Country J' "Jr. Gc-yer read an int resting
j fis ay upon "Teach-rs' lustiiuics." Mr. Wi.c
--j ders j a well written essay upon " improve -
meats. ! On motion, the question was adopted
t"i d;.-ctssion, "Resoli*?, ih t the study of
Mitheiuitiea is better calculated to develop the
mind ofir.su ti,..n the study of the Classics."
It Was discussed by Messrs. Points, on the af
firmative, urid llrab, <n the negative.
ihe di.-cussicu being closed by motion, the
qoestiou was adopted, 1 Resolved, Tisat Fe
male* are better adapter tor the profession of
teaching tbeta Males."
It was discussed by Messrs. Greene, Henry
v\ . F;-her, Stgafoon, Replogle and Kin-el, on
the affirmative, and Messrs. Miller, Eun\R-.nt,
j Campbell and Speice, ou the negative,
i Adjourned
FRIDAY MORNING.
The opening exercises were the singing u
the Doxology, and prayer by Mr. Sigafoos.
Mr. J, G Fisher lecture i upon Pcr.rasu
ship.
Mr. Sigafooa gave a practical exereiso ii
i Mental Arithmetic.
Me. H. \V. Fisher gave his method* s
teaching Orthography, and was lollowei b
Mr. G recur.
Mr. Greene then formed a Reading Clam
aud criiicised trio reading of each member.
Adjourned.
FRIP AY AFTERNOON.
After the introductory exercise?, .Mr. Ran
lecturrd upon Written AritbuA'tiit, explaioii
the principles or Long Division, Comnn
Fractious and Proportion
Misers. 11. P. Wiliiarus, Livingston and ,
G. Fisbcr conducted an exercise in Vocal Mu
si-", and with the assistance of others, f.vore
t e Institute with several sosg;3. On motsor.
"Tiic too. bods uf conducting schools" w;p
auopted for discussion, tht Institute being re
solved into a committee of the whole.
M*sr-. Fiuck, Sigafuor, Green "and Fuul
pniticip.ted.
Apj 'tiroed.
FRIDAY EVENING.
The As'oriatiori was called to order by lbs
President. Prof. Brim road a beautiful ao<
iustructive address, (akin* ..s Lis tbeinc "Tfc
Cultivation of ti.e Muid." An essay bv Mis*
L. P. Blackburn, s' iLeo rood by Mr! J.O.
Geyer.
Also, an essay, by .Miss ii. 0. Arnold, upon
" 1 tie Puieuit of Knowledge read by 0. W.
Greene.
1 he question for discussion, "Rescl'fd, That
tLe teacoer exerts a greater influence iu form
ing the e aracter of the youug," was re-d by
the Secretary, and an animated discussion en
sued between Messrs. Bliss, Cau.-pbell, Porter,
Raul>, Greene aud Rawlins, on the affirmative,
and Messrs Fiuck, G lither and Shatihcn, on
the negative. The question was decided by
the institute in too affirmative. Tae bus;-
noss committee reported that U A semi-aocual
meeting of the Bedfwd County Teachers' As
sociation, will be held at Bedford, on Friday,
April I9ib, IsGl, at oac o'clock, P. M."
ihe following persons were appoiotad !o re
port then on appropriate subjects.
As Lecturers, Messrs. A. N. llaub and J.
N. Lougcutckcr. As Essayists, J. ii. Fiuck,
M. A. i'oicti, Jas. J. B-rtidoliur, J. G. Liv
ingston, Miss Mary E. Allison, and Miss E.
C. Arnold.
The Committee on Resolution* leported the
foilowiug preamble aud resolutions :
\\ iltltt-AS, \\ c believe that Teachers' Insti
tuted aud associations of the friends of Edu
cation exc-rt a beneficial and lasting iuflaenoe,
upon all concerned, stimulating and encourag
ing teachers to attain to a higbcr standard of
excelleuoo ia their responsible calliug, and
arousing the poopie to a hotter appreciation of
our noble system, therefore
Resolved, That we hail with pleasure the
growing interest iu this subject among the
teachers ot this County, as evinced by the
large attendance at this suasion, and that wo
regard ttns us au auspicious omen, promising
rich fruits iu the future.
Resolved, That the Teachers of Bedford
Oouuty, who do not attend tiie meetiugs of the
Teachers' Association, stand in their owu light;
that tneir success iu teaching must necessarily
be hunted ou account of not availing them
selves of the opportunities within their reach,
to improve themselves.
Resolved, That we approve of grading
teaohers' salaries according to their qualifica
tions.
Resolved, i hat we, as teachers ol the Coun
ty Association, will use our influence in organ-
I iziug Township Institutes iu our respective
tovrnsuips.
Resulted, That the Treasurer be authorized
! to pay the contingent expenses of this Associ
ation.
Resolved, That teachers have a right to
conduct their schools independent of outside
influences.
Resolved, That we favor Vocal Mu.*io as ats
exercise iu Common Sohoole.
Resolved, That we offer our grateful ac
knowledgments to the School Board of the
Borough of Bedford, for so generously grant"
mg the Association the use of this liaii.
Resolved, That we tender our hearty thanks
to the citizens of Bedford tor the hospitality
which they have displayed in entertaining the
members of tbis Association.
Resoived, That it is the unanimous senti
rnout, of this Association ihat every teacher
should be a subscriber to tLe "I'euusylvauia
School Journal.'*
Resolved, That we heartily commend the
successful efforts of our able aud efficient
County Saperintent, in getting up and con
ducting this Institute.
Resolved, That too publishers of the county
papers be requested to publish the procceeiugs
of tbis Institute.